Nay, ivy, nay,
It shall not be, i-wis;[37]
Let holly have the mastery,
As the manner is.
Holly stands in the hall,
Fair to behold;
Ivy stands without the door,
She is full sore a-cold.
Nay, ivy, nay, &c.
Holly and his merry men,
They dancen and they sing;
Ivy and her maidens
They weepen and they wring.
Nay, ivy, nay, &c.
Ivy hath a kybe,[38]
She caught it with the cold;
So mot they all have
That with ivy hold.
Nay, ivy, nay, &c.
Holly hath berries
As red as any rose,
The foster[39] {and} the hunter
Keep them from the does.
Nay, ivy, nay, &c.
Ivy hath berries
As black as any sloe;
There come the owl
And eat them as she go.
Nay, ivy, nay, &c.
Holly hath birdës,
A full fair flock,
The nightingale, the popinjay,
The gentle laverock.
Nay, ivy, nay, &c.
Good ivy,
What birdës hast thou?
None but the howlet
That cries ‘how, how.’
Nay, ivy, nay,
It shall not be, i-wis;
Let holly have the mastery,
As the manner is.
[37] Certainly.
[38] Chilblain.
[39] Forester.