[356-1] Is there a stove or a fireplace in the room where the poet sees
Christmas kept?
[356-2] What is cheer? What is festal cheer?
[356-3] What is a "train"? How could it be called a hospitable train?
Whose train was it?
[356-4] What is a rite?
[356-5] What bells were rung?
[356-6] What is a mass?
[356-7] What is a _stoled_ priest? What is a chalice? What did the
priest do when he reared the chalice?
[356-8] The kirtle was a dress-skirt or outer petticoat. _Sheen_ means
_gay_ or _bright_.
[357-9] What is mistletoe? Is there anything peculiar in its habits of
growth? What did they want of it? What custom is still said to follow
the use of mistletoe at Christmastime?
[357-10] A vassal was one of the followers of the baron and paid for
protection or for lands he held by fighting in the baron's troops or
rendering some other service.
[357-11] A tenant held lands or houses, for which he paid some form of
rent.
[357-12] A serf was a slave.
[357-13] At Christmastime even the powerful were willing to cease from
ruling and join with the common people.
[357-14] Instead of grand ceremonies, everybody joined in simple
amusements, without pride or prejudice.
[357-15] Who was the heir? What was he heir to? Why did he have roses in
his shoes?
[357-16] Was he permitted to dance with village maidens at any other
time?
[357-17] Without losing any of his dignity.
[357-18] An old-fashioned game of cards.
[357-19] Who brought the tidings of Salvation? To whom was it brought?
Who was "the crown"?
[358-20] A lord was one who had power and authority, while a squire was
merely an attendant upon a lord.
[358-21] Brawn, in England, is a preparation of meat, generally sheep's
head, pig's head, hock of beef, or boar's meat, boiled and seasoned, and
run into jelly moulds.
[358-22] What are bays? What is rosemary? Why should the boar's head be
called _crested_? Where was it? Why was it there? Why does the poet say
it _frowned_ on high?
[358-23] Who was a ranger? What did he do? Do you see any reason for his
being green-garbed?
[358-24] What is meant by _baiting_? Who tore the dogs? Why did he tear
them? What made the monster fall?
[358-25] Wassail (_wossil_): the liquor in which they drank their
toasts, and which signified the good cheer of Christmastime.
[358-26] Moves about; that is, the liquor in good brown bowls was
merrily passed along the table from hand to hand.
[358-27] What was near the sirloin? How many kinds of meat were there on
the table? Is anything mentioned besides meat? Do you suppose they had
other things to eat? Did they have bread and vegetables?
[359-28] In the _mumming_ or acting of these maskers could be seen
traces of the ancient mystic plays in which religious lessons were given
in plays that were acted with the approval of the church.
[359-29] Did the maskers have rich costumes? What did they wear over
their faces? How did they conceal their clothing?
[359-30] Does the poet think that rich maskers would enjoy their
pleasure as much as the old-fashioned Christmas merrymakers?