Holly Song.

Holly Song.

(WILLIAM SHAKSPEARE.)

BLOW, blow, thou winter wind,

Thou art not so unkind

As man's ingratitude;
Thy tooth is not so keen,
Because thou art not seen,
Although thy breath be rude.

Heigh, ho! sing heigh, ho! unto the green holly:

Most friendship is feigning, most loving mere folly:
Then, heigh, ho! the holly!

This life is most jolly.

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Freeze, freeze, thou bitter sky,
Thou dost not bite so nigh
As benefits forgot:
Though thou the waters warp,

Thy sting is not so sharp

As friend remembered not.

Heigh, ho! sing heigh, ho! unto the green holly:
Most friendship is feigning, most loving mere folly :
Then, heigh, ho! the holly!

This life is most jolly.

Church-Decking at Christmas.

(WILLIAM WORDSWORTH.)

WOULD that our scrupulous sires had dared to leave
Less scanty measure of those graceful rites

And

usages, whose due return invites
A stir of mind too natural to deceive;

Giving the memory help when she could weave
A crown for Hope!-I dread the boasted lights
That all too often are but fiery blights,

Killing the bud o'er which in vain we grieve.
Go, seek, when Christmas snows discomfort bring,

The counter Spirit found in some gay church
Green with fresh holly, every pew a perch

In which the linnet or the thrush might sing,

Merry and loud, and safe from prying search,

Strains offered only to the genial spring.

Truly, to show you this is true,
His head I with my sword did hew,
To make this day new mirth for you-

Now eat thereof anon.

Eat, and much good do it you;

Take you bread and mustard thereto.
Joy with me that this I have done,

I pray you be glad every one,
And all rejoice as one.

II.

NOWEL, Nowel, Nowel, Nowel,
Tidings good I think to tell.

The boar's head, that we bring here,
Betokeneth a prince without peer
Is born to-day to buy us dear,

Nowel.

The boar he is a sovereign beast,
And acceptable at every feast;

So might this lord be to greatest and least;

Boar's Head Carols.

Welcome be ye that are here,

Ye shall all have right good cheer,
And also a right good fare;

And ye shall sing before ye go.

Welcome be ye every one,
For ye shall sing all right anon;
Hey! you sure that ye have done?
And ye shall sing before ye go.

IV.

HEY! Hey! Hey! Hey!
The boar's head is armed gay.

THE boar's head in hand I bring.
With garlands gay encircling,*
I pray you all with me to sing,
With Hey!

Lords, knights, and squires,
Parsons, priests, and vicars,

The boar's head is the first mess,t

With Hey!

The boar's head, as I now say,
Takes its leave and goes away,

Goeth after the Twelfth day,

With Hey!

Then comes in the second course with great pride,
The cranes, the herons, the bitterns, by their side,

* "Porttorying" in the original-a word not explained in any glossary. That is, "the first dish."

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