The Those twain knelt down to the Little One,
Glad
Evange!

Minstrels and maids, stand forth on the floor.

"And a marvellous song we straight did hear,
The snow in the street and the wind on the
door.

That slew our sorrow and healed our care."
Minstrels and maids, stand forth on the floor.

News of a fair and marvellous thing,

The snow in the street and the wind on the door.

Nowell, nowell, nowell, we sing!

Minstrels and maids, stand forth on the floor.

WILLIAM MORRIS.

An Ode on the Birth of Our Saviour

In numbers, and but these few,

I sing thy birth, O Jesu!

Thou pretty baby, born here

With sup'rabundant scorn here:
Who for thy princely port here,
Hadst for thy place

Of birth, a base

Out-stable for thy court here.

Instead of neat enclosures

Of interwoven osiers,

Old Christmas Returned

All you that to feasting and mirth are inclined,
Come here is good news for to pleasure your

mind,

Old Christmas is come for to keep open house,
He scorns to be guilty of starving a mouse:
Then come, boys, and welcome for diet the chief,
Plum-pudding, goose, capon, minced pies, and
roast beef.

The

The holly and ivy about the walls wind Glad And show that we ought to our neighbors be Evangel

kind,

Inviting each other for pastime and sport,

And where we best fare, there we most do resort;
We fail not of victuals, and that of the chief,
Plum-pudding, goose, capon, minced pies, and
roast beef.

All travellers, as they do pass on their way,
At gentlemen's halls are invited to stay,
Themselves to refresh, and their horses to res!,
Since that he must be Old Christmas's guest;
Nay, the poor shall not want, but have for relief,
Plum-pudding, goose, capon, minced pies, and
roast beef.

OLD CAROL.

Ceremonies for Christmas

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 heart's desiring.

With the last year's brand

Light the new block, and

For good success in his spending,

On your psalteries play,
That sweet luck may
Come while the log is a-teending.

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.
ROBERT HERRICK.

The Glad Evange

Christmas in England.

Heap on more wood!-the wind is chill;
But let it whistle as it will,

We'll keep our Christmas merry still;
Each age has deem'd the new-born year
The fittest time for festal cheer;
Even, heathen yet, the savage Dane
At Iol more deep the mead did drain;
High on the beach his galleys drew,
And feasted all his pirate crew.

The Glad Evangel

On Christmas Eve the bells were rung;
On Christmas Eve the mass was sung:
That only night in all the year
Saw the stoled priest the chalice rear.
The damsel donned her kirtle sheen;
The hall was dressed with holly green;
Forth to the wood did merry-men go,
To gather in the mistletoe;
Then open'd wide the baron's hall
To vassal, tenant, serf, and all.
Power laid his rod of rule aside,
And Ceremony doffed his pride.
The heir, with roses in his shoes,
That night might village partner choose;
The Lord, underogating, share

The vulgar game of " Post and pair."
All hail'd with uncontroll'd delight
And general voice the happy night,
That to the cottage, as the crown,
Brought tidings of salvation down.

66

*

England was merry England when Old Christmas brought his sports again. "Twas Christmas broach'd the mightiest ale; "Twas Christmas told the merriest tale:

A Christmas gambol oft could cheer

The poor man's heart through half the year.'

SIR WALTER SCOTT.

From "Marmion."