_Caput apri defero_ _Reddens laudes domino._ The boar"s head in hand bring I, With garlands gay and rosemary; I pray you all sing merrily _Qui estis in convivio._
The boar"s head, I understand, Is the chief service in this land; Look, wherever it be fand, _Servite c.u.m cantico._
Be glad, lords, both more and less, For this hath ordained our steward To cheer you all this Christmas, The boar"s head with mustard.
_Ritson"s Ancient Songs._
THE BOAR"S HEAD CAROL.
SUNG AT QUEEN"S COLLEGE, OXFORD.
The boar"s head in hand bear I, Bedecked with bays and rosemary; And I pray you, my masters, be merry, _Quot estis in convivio._ _Caput apri defero_ _Reddens laudes domino._
The boar"s head, as I understand, Is the rarest dish in all this land, Which thus bedeck"d with a gay garland _Let us servire cantico._ _Caput apri defero_ _Reddens laudes domino._
Our steward hath provided this In honor of the King of bliss; Which on this day to be served is _In Reginensi Atrio._ _Caput apri defero_ _Reddens laudes domino._
TO BE EATEN WITH MUSTARD.
SUNG AT ST. JOHN"S COLLEGE, OXFORD, CHRISTMAS, 1607.
The boar is dead, So, here is his head; What man could have done more Than his head off to strike, Meleager-like, And bring it as I do before.
He living spoiled Where good men toiled, Which made kind Ceres sorry; But now dead and drawn Is very good brawn, And we have brought it for ye.
Then set down the swineyard, The foe to the vineyard, Let Bacchus crown his fall; Let this boar"s head and mustard Stand for pig, goose, and custard, And so ye are welcome all.
CHRISTMAS DAY IN THE MORNING.
Maids, get up and bake your pies, Bake your pies, bake your pies; Maids, get up and bake your pies, "Tis Christmas day in the morning.
See the ships all sailing by, Sailing by, sailing by; See the ships all sailing by On Christmas day in the morning.
Dame, what made your ducks to die, Ducks to die, ducks to die; Dame, what made your ducks to die On Christmas day in the morning?
You let your lazy maidens lie, Maidens lie, maidens lie; You let your lazy maidens lie On Christmas day in the morning.
_Bishop.r.i.c.k Garland, A.D. 1834._
PRAISE OF CHRISTMAS.
FIRST PART.
All hail to the days that merit more praise Than all the rest of the year, And welcome the nights that double delights As well for the poor as the peer!
Good fortune attend each merry-man"s friend, That doth but the best that he may; Forgetting old wrongs, with carols and songs, To drive the cold winter away.
Let Misery pack, with a whip at his back, To the deep Tantalian flood; In Lethe profound let envy be drown"d, That pines at another man"s good; Let Sorrow"s expense be banded from hence, All payments have greater delay, We"ll spend the long nights in cheerful delights To drive the cold winter away.
"Tis ill for a mind to anger inclined To think of small injuries now; If wrath be to seek, do not lend her thy cheek, Nor let her inhabit thy brow, Cross out of thy books malevolent looks, Both beauty and youth"s decay, And wholly consort with mirth and with sport To drive the cold winter away.
The court in all state now opens her gate And gives a free welcome to most; The city likewise, tho" somewhat precise, Doth willingly part with her roast: But yet by report from city and court The country will e"er gain the day; More liquor is spent and with better content To drive the cold winter away.
Our good gentry there for costs do not spare, The yeomanry fast not till Lent; The farmers and such think nothing too much, If they keep but to pay for their rent.
The poorest of all now do merrily call, When at a fit place they can stay, For a song or a tale or a cup of good ale To drive the cold winter away.
Thus none will allow of solitude now But merrily greets the time, To make it appear of all the whole year That this is accounted the prime: December is seen apparell"d in green, And January fresh as May Comes dancing along with a cup and a song To drive the cold winter away.
SECOND PART.
This time of the year is spent in good cheer, And neighbors together do meet To sit by the fire, with friendly desire, Each other in love to greet; Old grudges forgot are put in the pot, All sorrows aside they lay; The old and the young doth carol this song To drive the cold winter away.
Sisley and Nanny, more jocund than any, As blithe as the month of June, Do carol and sing like birds of the spring, No nightingale sweeter in tune; To bring in content, when summer is spent, In pleasant delight and play, With mirth and good cheer to end the whole year, And drive the cold winter away.
The shepherd, the swain, do highly disdain To waste out their time in care; And Clim of the Clough hath plenty enough If he but a penny can spare To spend at the night, in joy and delight, Now after his labor all day; For better than lands is the help of his hands To drive the cold winter away.
To mask and to mum kind neighbors will come With wa.s.sails of nut-brown ale, To drink and carouse to all in the house As merry as bucks in the dale; Where cake, bread, and cheese are brought for your fees To make you the longer stay; At the fire to warm "twill do you no harm, To drive the cold winter away.
When Christmas"s tide comes in like a bride With holly and ivy clad, Twelve days in the year much mirth and good cheer In every household is had; The country guise is then to devise Some gambols of Christmas play, Whereat the young men do best that they can To drive the cold winter away.
When white-bearded frost hath threatened his worst, And fallen from branch and brier, Then time away calls from husbandry halls And from the good countryman"s fire, Together to go to plough and to sow, To get us both food and array, And thus with content the time we have spent To drive the cold winter away.
WINTER"S DELIGHTS.
Now winter nights enlarge The number of their hours, And clouds their storms discharge Upon the airy towers.
Let now the chimneys blaze, And cups o"erflow with wine; Let well-tuned words amaze With harmony divine.
Now yellow waxen lights Shall wait on honey love, While youthful revels, masques, and courtly sights Sleep"s leaden spells remove.