University of Virginia Library

SONG OF THE REVELLERS.

1.

On with your dances free!
Raise, raise the merry glee,
Drain the full cup to me,
Turn night to day!
Who cares for rigid laws?
Who minds the parson's saws?
Who heeds the bailiff's claws?
Let us be gay!

2.

Ring out the festive strain!
Hence with all care and pain,
Pledge me the bowl again,
Fill, brothers, fill!

16

Come on my gallants brave!
Trowl me the merry stave!
Look not so sad and grave!
We'll have our will.

3.

Down with your church and creed!
Ours is the faith indeed—
Ours is the life to lead—
Live while you may!
Tread we a measure then,
Fill the round bowl again,
We are true Englishmen
Gallant and gay!

4.

Fear not the church's ban,
Fear not the Puritan—
Fear not the ‘salvage man,’
Let us be brave!
Then by some sparkling fount,
When we our joys recount,
We'll talk of Merry-Mount
By the blue wave!