But hearken, Masters, ere ye drink While yet the bubbles boil and wink At the brink; Ere ye lift the pot aloft, Merrily wave it, laughing oft, With hood well doft.

And if I cry ye, sad, "Wesseyl!"

Woe's him who answers not "Drinchayl!"

_Translated by H. S. M._

A THANKSGIVING.

Lord, I confess too, when I dine, The pulse is Thine, And all those other bits that be There placed by Thee; The worts, the purslane, and the mess Of water-cress, Which of Thy kindness Thou hast sent; And my content Makes those and my beloved beet To be more sweet.

'Tis Thou that crown'st my glittering hearth With guiltless mirth, And giv'st me wa.s.sail-bowls to drink Spiced to the brink.

_Robert Herrick._

AROUND THE Wa.s.sAIL-BOWL.

A jolly wa.s.sail-bowl, A wa.s.sail of good ale; Well fare the butler's soul That setteth this to sale; Our jolly wa.s.sail.

Good dame, here at your door Our wa.s.sail we begin, We are all maidens poor, We pray now let us in With our wa.s.sail.

Our wa.s.sail we do fill With apples and with spice, Then grant us your good-will To taste here once or twice Of our good wa.s.sail.

If any maidens be Here dwelling in this house, They kindly will agree To take a full carouse Of our wa.s.sail.

But here they let us stand All freezing in the cold: Good master, give command To enter and be bold, With our wa.s.sail.

Much joy into this hall With us is entered in, Our master first of all We hope will now begin Of our wa.s.sail.

And after, his good wife Our spiced bowl will try; The Lord prolong your life!

Good fortune we espy For our wa.s.sail.

Some bounty from your hands Our wa.s.sail to maintain; We'll buy no house nor lands With that which we do gain With our wa.s.sail.

This is our merry night Of choosing king and queen; Then be it your delight That something may be seen In our wa.s.sail.

It is a n.o.ble part To bear a liberal mind; G.o.d bless our master's heart!

For here we comfort find With our wa.s.sail.

And now we must be gone To seek out more good cheer, Where bounty will be shown As we have found it here With our wa.s.sail.

Much joy betide them all, Our prayer shall be still, We hope and ever shall For this your great good-will To our wa.s.sail.

FROM DOOR TO DOOR.

Here we come a wa.s.sailing Among the leaves so green, Here we come a wand'ring, So fair to be seen.

Love and joy come to you, And to you your wa.s.sail too, And G.o.d bless you and send you a happy New Year.

Our wa.s.sail-cup is made Of the rosemary tree, And so is your beer Of the best barley.

Love and joy, etc.

We are not daily beggars That beg from door to door, But we are neighbors' children Whom you have seen before.

Love and joy, etc.

Good master and good mistress, As you sit by the fire, Pray think of us poor children As wand'ring in the mire.

Love and joy, etc.

We have a little purse Made of ratching leather skin; We want some of your small change To line it well within.

Love and joy, etc.

Call up the butler of this house, Put on his golden ring; Let him bring us a gla.s.s of beer, And the better we shall sing.

Love and joy, etc.

Bring us out a table, And spread it with a cloth; Bring us out a mouldy cheese, And some of your Christmas loaf.

Love and joy, etc.

G.o.d bless the master of this house, Likewise the mistress too And all the little children That round the table go.

Love and joy, etc.

Wa.s.sAILING CAROL.

We wish you merry Christmas, also a glad New Year; We come to bring you tidings to all mankind so dear: We come to tell that Jesus was born in Bethl'em town, And now He's gone to glory and pityingly looks down On us poor wa.s.sailers, As wa.s.sailing we go; With footsteps sore From door to door We trudge through sleet and snow.

A manger was His cradle, the straw it was His bed, The oxen were around Him within that lowly shed; No servants waited on Him with lords and ladies gay; But now He's gone to glory and unto Him we pray.

Us poor wa.s.sailers, etc.

His mother loved and tended Him and nursed Him at her breast, And good old Joseph watched them both the while they took their rest; And wicked Herod vainly sought to rob them of their child, By slaughtering the Innocents in Bethlehem undefiled.

But us poor wa.s.sailers, etc.

Now, all good Christian people, with great concern we sing These tidings of your Jesus, the Saviour, Lord and King; In poverty He pa.s.sed His days that riches we might share, And of your wealth He bids you give and of your portion spare To us poor wa.s.sailers, etc.

Your wife shall be a fruitful vine, a hus'sif good and able; Your children like the olive branches round about your table; Your barns shall burst with plenty and your crops shall be secure, If you will give your charity to us who are so poor, Us poor wa.s.sailers, etc.

And now no more we'll sing to you because the hour is late, And we must trudge and sing our song at many another gate; And so we'll wish you once again a merry Christmas time, And pray G.o.d bless you while you give good silver for our rhyme.

Us poor wa.s.sailers, etc.