Come, bring with a noise,
My merry, merry boys,
The Christmas log to the firing;
While my good dame she
Bids ye all be free,
And drink to your hearts’ desiring.
With the last year’s brand
Light the new block, and
For good success in his spending,
On your psaltries play,
That sweet luck may
Come while the log is a-teending.[44]
Drink now the strong beer,
Cut the white loaf here;
The while the meat is a-shredding;
For the rare mince-pie,
And the plums stand by
To fill the paste that’s a-kneading.
CHRISTMAS EVE: ANOTHER CEREMONY
Come, guard this night the Christmas pie,
That the thief, though ne’er so sly,
With his flesh-hooks don’t come nigh
To catch it.
From him, who all alone sits there,
Having his eyes still in his ear
And a deal of nightly fear,
To watch it.
ANOTHER TO THE MAIDS
Wash your hands, or else the fire
Will not teend to your desire;
Unwash’d hands, ye maidens, know,
Dead the fire though ye blow.
ANOTHER
Wassail the trees, that they may bear
You many a plum and many a pear;
For more or less fruits they will bring,
As you do give them wassailing.
ROBERT HERRICK
[44] Kindling.