We must leave off to play, To-morrow's working-day; According to each calling Each man must now be falling, And ply his business all the year Next Christmas for to make good cheer.

Now of my master kind Good welcome I did find, And of my loving mistress This merry time of Christmas; For which to them great thanks I give, G.o.d grant they long together live.

A CHRISTMAS DITTY.

Sweep the ingle, froth the beer, Tiptoe on till chanticleer, Loose the laugh, dry the tear,-- Crack the drums When Christmas comes!

AT THE END OF THE FEAST.

Mark well my heavy, doleful tale, For Twelfth-day now is come, And now I must no longer sing, And say no words but mum; For I perforce must take my leave Of all my dainty cheer, Plum-porridge, roast-beef, and minced-pies, My strong ale and my beer.

Kind-hearted Christmas, now adieu, For I with thee must part, And for to take my leave of thee Doth grieve me at the heart; Thou wert an ancient housekeeper, And mirth with meat didst keep, But thou art going out of town, Which makes me for to weep.

G.o.d knoweth whether I again Thy merry face shall see, Which to good fellows and the poor That was so frank and free.

Thou lovedst pastime with thy heart, And eke good company; Pray hold me up for fear I swoon, For I am like to die.

Come, butler, fill a brimmer up To cheer my fainting heart, That to old Christmas I may drink Before he doth depart; And let each one that's in this room With me likewise condole, And for to cheer their spirits sad Let each one drink a bowl.

And when the same it hath gone round Then fall unto your cheer, For you do know that Christmas time It comes but once a year.

But this good draught which I have drunk Hath comforted my heart, For I was very fearful that My stomach would depart.

Thanks to my master and my dame That doth such cheer afford; G.o.d bless them, that each Christmas they May furnish thus their board.

My stomach having come to me, I mean to have a bout, Intending to eat most heartily; Good friends, I do not flout.

_New Christmas Carols, A.D. 1642._

TWELFTH NIGHT; OR, KING AND QUEEN.

Now, now the mirth comes With the cake full of plums, Where bean's the king of the sport here; Beside, we must know The pea also Must revel as queen in the court here.

Begin then to choose, This night, as ye use, Who shall for the present delight here; Be a king by the lot, And who shall not Be Twelve-day queen for the night here!

Which known, let us make Joy-sops with the cake; And let not a man then be seen here, Who unurged will not drink, To the base from the brink, A health to the king and the queen here!

Next crown the bowl full With gentle lamb's wool, And sugar, nutmeg, and ginger, With store of ale, too; And this ye must do To make the wa.s.sail a swinger.

Give then to the king And queen, wa.s.sailing, And though with ale ye be wet here, Yet part ye from hence As free from offence As when ye innocent met here

_Robert Herrick._

CEREMONIES FOR CANDLEMAS EVE.

Down with the rosemary and bays, Down with the mistletoe; Instead of holly, now upraise The greener box for show.

The holly hitherto did sway; Let box now domineer Until the dancing Easter day Or Easter's eve appear.

Then youthful box, which now hath grace Your houses to renew, Grown old, surrender must his place Unto the crisped yew.

When yew is out, then birch comes in, And many flowers beside, Both of a fresh and fragrant kin, To honor Whitsuntide.

Green rushes then, and sweetest bents, With cooler oaken boughs, Come in for comely ornaments, To readorn the house.

Thus times do shift, each thing his turn does hold; New things succeed as former things grow old.

_Robert Herrick._

ANOTHER CEREMONY.

Down with the rosemary, and so Down with the bays and mistletoe; Down with the holly, ivy, all Wherewith ye dressed the Christmas hall, That so the superst.i.tious find No one last branch there left behind; For, look! how many leaves there be Neglected there, maids, trust to me So many goblins you shall see.

_Robert Herrick._

THE CEREMONIES FOR CANDLEMAS DAY.

Kindle the Christmas brand, and then Till sunset let it burn, Which quenched, then lay it up again Till Christmas next return.

Part must be kept, wherewith to teend The Christmas log next year, And where 'tis safely kept, the fiend Can do no mischief there.

_Robert Herrick._

ANOTHER CEREMONY.