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104
THE MUMMER'S SONG
Ho, care away!
Fetch holly for our holiday,
And never a glimpse of ivy-spray;
Fie, fie
On its sullen purple and green!
Fetch holly for our holiday,
And never a glimpse of ivy-spray;
Fie, fie
On its sullen purple and green!
Laugh and be jolly
Under the mistletoe, under the holly;
Prudence and gravity, sure they're but folly?
Bid them fly,
And never a tear or a pout be seen!
Under the mistletoe, under the holly;
Prudence and gravity, sure they're but folly?
Bid them fly,
And never a tear or a pout be seen!
All's done,
Hark the bell's rung, the feast begun;
Forward mummers and start the fun!
Snow and storm,
What count ye by the yule-log's glow?
Hark the bell's rung, the feast begun;
Forward mummers and start the fun!
Snow and storm,
What count ye by the yule-log's glow?
Carol and quip,
As the cup it passeth from lip to lip;
Bid God's blessing and take a sip;
Blithe and warm,
Share we all in the glad wine's flow!
As the cup it passeth from lip to lip;
Bid God's blessing and take a sip;
Blithe and warm,
Share we all in the glad wine's flow!
Dance and sing,
To merry notes let the rafters ring;
Each lass a queen, each lad a king—
Who'll cry nay
This night of nights in the live-long year?
To merry notes let the rafters ring;
Each lass a queen, each lad a king—
Who'll cry nay
This night of nights in the live-long year?
Old and young,
O it's aye for the right and avast the wrong,
As we hark the angels' birthday-song—
In brave array
They're out on the midnight's frosty air!
O it's aye for the right and avast the wrong,
105
In brave array
They're out on the midnight's frosty air!
Ergo hodie
Dominum benedicite,
Down we've knelt our homage to pay!
Then up, up,
To sing, laugh, feast on old Christmas Day,
Te benedicentes, domine!
Amen.
Dominum benedicite,
Down we've knelt our homage to pay!
Then up, up,
To sing, laugh, feast on old Christmas Day,
Te benedicentes, domine!
Amen.
September 7th, 1920.
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