[Now Christmas draweth near, & most mē make good cheare]
A Gentleman being on a Christmas Eue
in a very sollitary place, among very
solemn Company: where was but small
cheare, lesse myrth and least musicke:
beeing very earnestly entreated to sing a
Christmas Caroll, with much adoe sung
as followeth.
Now Christmas draweth near, & most mē make good cheare,
With heigh how, care away:
I lyke a siely mome, in drowsy dumpes at home,
Will naught but fast and pray.
Some syng and daunce for lyfe, some Carde and Dyce as ryfe,
Some vse olde Christmas Games:
But I, oh wretched wight, In dole both day and night
Must dwell: the world so frames.
In Court, what pretty toyes, what fyne and pleasaunt ioyes,
To passe the tyme away:
In countrey nought but care, sower Cheese curdes, chiefest fare,
For Wyne, a Bole of Whay.
For euery daintie dish, of Flesh or else of Fish,
And for your Drinke in Courte:
A dish of young fryed Froogges, Sodde houghes of mezled Hogges,
A cuppe of small Tap worte.
And for ech Courtly sight, ech shew that may delight
The eye, or else the minde:
In Countrey Thornes and brakes, and many miery lakes,
Is all the good you finde.
And for fine Enteries, Halles, Chambers, Galleryes,
And Lodginges many moe:
Here desert Wooddes or plaines, where no delight remaynes,
To walke in too and froe.
In Court, for to be shorte, for euery prety sporte,
That may the heart delight:
In Countrey many a greefe, and small or no releefe,
To ayde the wounded wight.
And in this Desarte place, I, Wretch, in wofull case,
This merry Christmasse time:
Content my selfe, perforce, to rest my carefull corse:
And so I end my rime.
