Then sett downe the swineyard, Lett Bacchus crowne his fall; XLIII. [A Christmas Carol, by George Wither. So, now is come our joyfulst feast; Each room with ivy leaves is drest, And every post with holly. From his "Juven Though some churls at our mirth repine, Round your foreheads garlands twine; And let us all be merry. Now, all our neighbours' chimnies smoke, And all their spits are turning. And ever more be merry. Now every lad is wondrous trim, And no man minds his labour; Our lasses have provided them Young men and maids, and girls and boys, And you anon shall by their noise Rank misers now do sparing shun; And dogs thence with whole shoulders run, The country folks themselves advance With crowdy-muttons out of France; And Jacke shall pipe, and Jyll shall dance, Ned Squash hath fetcht his bands from pawn, And all his best apparel; Brisk Nell hath bought a ruff of lawn With dropping of the barrel; And those that hardly all the year Had bread to eat, or rags to wear, Will have both clothes and dainty fare, Now poor men to the justices With capons make their errants; And if they hap to fail of these, They plague them with their warrants: But now they feed them with good cheer, Good farmers in the country nurse The client now his suit forbears, Hang sorrow! care will kill a cat, And therefore let's be merry. Hark! how the wags abroad do call Anon you'll see them in the hall For nuts and apples scrambling. Hark! how the roofs with laughter sound! Anon they'll think the house goes round; For they the cellar's depth have found, And there they will be merry. F The wenches with their wassel bowls And to the dealing of the ox Our honest neighbours come by flocks, And here they will be merry. Now kyngs and queens poor sheep cotes have, And mate with every body; The honest now may play the knave, And wise men play the noddy. Some others play at Rowland-ho, Then wherefore in these merry daies No, let us sing some roundelayes, Bear witness we are merry. XLIV. [From "New Carolls for this Mery Time of Christmas," 12mo. Lond. 1661. This carol is printed in the "Archæologist," No. 1. It was sung to the tune of "Essex last good night."] ALL you that in this house be here, And whereas plenty God hath sent, Our table spread within the hall, That wil unto their tacklings stand. The maids are bonny girles I see, Who have provided much good cheer, For I have here two knives in store |