Part 1

Transcriber’s Notes:

Underscores “_” before and after a word or phrase indicate _italics_ in the original text. Small capitals have been converted to SOLID capitals. Old or antiquated spellings have been preserved. Typographical and punctuation errors have been silently corrected.

A BOOK OF CHRISTMAS VERSE

SELECTED BY H. C. BEECHING

SECOND EDITION REVISED

LONDON: HUMPHREY MILFORD OXFORD UNIVERSITY PRESS 1926

Oxford University Press

_London_ _Edinburgh_ _Glasgow_ _Copenhagen_ _New York_ _Toronto_ _Melbourne_ _Cape Town_ _Bombay_ _Calcutta_ _Madras_ _Shanghai_

Humphrey Milford Publisher to the UNIVERSITY

_Printed in England_ _At the_ OXFORD UNIVERSITY PRESS _By John Johnson_ _Printer to the University_ */

PUBLISHER’S NOTE

The original edition of _A Book of Christmas Verse_ was issued in 1895. At his death in 1919 Dean Beeching left a copy of the book marked with deletions and corrections, and an amount of new matter for insertion. This revision has been carried out, and both deletions and additions have been a little increased. But substantially the book remains the same; its editor’s divisions have been preserved, and the omission of his own preface to the first edition is in accord with his markings. A few poems by contemporary writers have been added.

Dean Beeching’s acknowledgements for permission to use copyright poems are here reprinted from his notes:

For No. 54 to the authorities of Christ Church, Oxford; for No. 71 to Messrs. Macmillan; for No. 112 to Mr. Robert Bridges; for No. 113 to Messrs. Kegan Paul and Trench; for No. 133 to the Chiswick Press; and for No. 114 to Mr. Davidson (with an omission specially sanctioned by him). Nos. 78 and 79 (by Gerard Hopkins and Selwyn Image) appeared for the first time in this book.

For poems now appearing for the first time acknowledgements are due as follows: for No. 77, by Coventry Patmore, to Messrs. George Bell; for No. 81, by R. L. Stevenson, to Messrs. Chatto & Windus; for No. 82, by Mrs. Meynell, to Messrs. Burns & Oates; for No. 83 to Mr. Robert Bridges; for No. 84., by Mr. Hilaire Belloc, to Messrs. Duckworth; for No. 85 (from _The Wild Knight_) to Mr. G. K. Chesterton and Messrs. Dent; for Nos. 86 and 87 to the Rev. R. L. Gales; for No. 88, by Miss Sayers, to Mr. Basil Blackwell; for No. 89 to Mr. J. D. C. Pellow; for No. 90 to Messrs. Macmillan; for No. 91 to Mrs. Chesterton; for No. 92 to Mr. Francis Keppel.

CONTENTS

EARLY CAROLS PAGE 1. Welcome Yule 3 2. I sing of a Maiden 4 3. As Joseph was a-walking 4 4. Now is Christëmas ycome 5 5. This Endris Night 8 6. Lullay, my Liking, my Dear Son 10 7. Saint Stephen was a Clerk 11 8. The Shepherds’ Offerings 13 9. Can I not sing but Hoy! 15 10. When Christ was born of Mary free 18 11. Be we merry in this Feast 18 12. Man, be merry as Bird on Berry 19 13. All this Time this Song is best 20 14. Mater, ora filium 21 15. Eya, Jesus hodie 22 16. Ave maris stella 23 17. Noël, Noël, Noël, Noël 24 18. Of a Rose, a Lovely Rose 25

TRADITIONAL CAROLS 19. God rest you merry, Gentlemen 29 20. Remember, O thou Man 31 21. I saw Three Ships 33

LATER POEMS AND CAROLS 22. Of the Nativity of Christ _William Dunbar_ 37 23. The Burning Babe _Robert Southwell_ 39 24. New Prince, New Pomp _Robert Southwell_ 40 25. New Heaven, New War _Robert Southwell_ 41 26. A Child my Choice _Robert Southwell_ 43 27. Nativity _John Donne_ 44 28. For Christmas Day _Joseph Hall_ 45 29. A Hymn on the Nativity of my Saviour _Ben Jonson_ 45 30. The Shepherds’ Song _Edmund Bolton_ 46 31. Of the Epiphany _Sir John Beaumont_ 48 32. The Angels _William Drummond_ 50 33. The Shepherds _William Drummond_ 50 34. A Rocking Hymn _George Wither_ 51 35. Gloria in Excelsis _Giles Fletcher_ 53 36. Who can forget? _Giles Fletcher_ 54 37. A Christmas Carol _Robert Herrick_ 56 38. An Ode on the Birth of our Saviour _Robert Herrick_ 57 39. Christmas _George Herbert_ 59 40. On the Morning of Christ’s Nativity _John Milton_ 60 41. A Hymn of the Nativity _Richard Crashaw_ 69 42. Satan’s Sight of the Nativity _Richard Crashaw_ 74 43. A Hymn for the Epiphany _Richard Crashaw_ 77 44. Hymn for Christmas Day _Jeremy Taylor_ 80 45. Hymn for Christmas Day _Jeremy Taylor_ 81 46. Christmas Day _Joseph Beaumont_ 82 47. Sonnet XXV _Joseph Beaumont_ 85 48. On the Nativity of our Saviour _J. M._ 85 49. The Shepherds _Henry Vaughan_ 87 50. Christ’s Nativity _Henry Vaughan_ 89 51. And they laid Him in a Manger _Sir Edward Sherburne_ 90 52. At the Sign of the Heart 91 53. Lodged in an Inn 92 54. Yet if His Majesty our Sovereign Lord 93 55. And art Thou come, Blest Babe? 94 56. Song of the Angels at the Nativity _Nahum Tate_ 95 57. Shepherds, rejoice _Isaac Watts_ 96 58. A Cradle Song _Isaac Watts_ 97 59. A Hymn for Christmas Day _John Byrom_ 98 60. A Hymn for Christmas Day _Philip Doddridge_ 99 61. A Hymn for Christmas Day _Charles Wesley_ 100 62. The Shepherds went their hasty Way _Samuel Taylor Coleridge_ 101 63. From Ottfried’s Paraphrase of the Gospel _Samuel Taylor Coleridge_ 103 64. The Virgin’s Cradle Hymn _Samuel Taylor Coleridge_ 104 65. Brightest and best of the Sons of the Morning! _Reginald Heber_ 105 66. They leave the Land of Gems and Gold _Aubrey de Vere_ 106 67. Christmas and New Year Bells _Alfred Tennyson_ 107 68. The First Christmas Eve _Alfred Domett_ 109 69. Christ was born on Christmas Day _John Mason Neale_ 111 70. A Christmas Carol _Charles Kingsley_ 112 71. A Christmas Carol _Christina Rossetti_ 113 72. Masters, in this Hall _William Morris_ 115 73. Outlanders, whence come ye last? _William Morris_ 117 74. Sir Galahad, A Christmas Mystery _William Morris_ 119 75. Aishah Schechinah _R. S. Hawker_ 128 76. King Arthur’s Waes-hael _R. S. Hawker_ 130 77. Regina Coeli _Coventry Patmore_ 131 78. Mary Mother of Divine Grace, compared to the Air we breathe _Gerard Hopkins_ 132 79. A Meditation for Christmas Day _Selwyn Image_ 136 80. A Morning Song for Christmas Day _Herbert P. Horne_ 137 81. Christmas at Sea _R. L. Stevenson_ 139 82. Unto us a Son is given _Alice Meynell_ 142 83. Noel: Christmas Eve, 1913 _Robert Bridges_ 143 84. Noël _Hilaire Belloc_ 145 85. A Christmas Carol _G. K. Chesterton_ 146 86. The Creatures’ Nowel _R. L. Gales_ 147 87. The Heavenly Noel _R. L. Gales_ 148 88. Carol _Dorothy L. Sayers_ 150 89. Christmas Carol _J. D. C. Pellow_ 150 90. The Oxen _Thomas Hardy_ 151 91. How far is it to Bethlehem? _Frances Chesterton_ 152 92. Epiphany _Francis Keppel_ 153

POEMS ON CHRISTMAS MERRY-MAKING 93. Nowell, Nowell, Nowell, Nowell 157 94. Man, be joyful 157 95. Make we merry 158 96. Holly and Ivy 159 97. Alleluia, Alleluia 159 98. Ivy Chief of Trees it is 160 99. Nay, Ivy, nay 161 100. Hey, hey, hey, hey 162 101. Caput apri defero 163 102. Nowel, Nowel, Nowel, Nowel 164 103. Proface, welcome, welcome 164 104. Christmas Merry-making _George Wither_ 165 105. Ceremonies for Christmas _Robert Herrick_ 169 106. The Wassail _Robert Herrick_ 170 107. Twelfth Night _Robert Herrick_ 172 108. To Sir Simond Steward _Robert Herrick_ 173 109. Song _Thomas Campion_ 175 110. Song 176 111. The Damsel donn’d her Kirtle Sheen _Sir Walter Scott_ 176 112. Winter was not unkind _Robert Bridges_ 178 113. Ballade of Christmas Ghosts _Andrew Lang_ 179 114. Christmas Eve _John Davidson_ 180 115. Now have good Day! 184

LATIN HYMNS 116. Puer natus in Bethlehem 189 117. Heu quid jaces stabulo _John Mauburn_ 190 118. Adeste fideles 191 119. Corde natus ex Parentis _Prudentius_ 193 120. Ave Jesu, Deus magne 194 121. Nowell, Nowell, Nowell 195

INDEX OF AUTHORS 197

INDEX OF FIRST LINES 198

EARLY CAROLS

1. WELCOME YULE

_Welcome Yule, thou merry man, In worship of this holy day._

Welcome be thou, heaven-king, Welcome, born in a morning, Welcome, for whom we shall sing _Welcome Yule._

Welcome be ye, Stephen and John, Welcome Innocents, every one; Welcome Thomas, martyr one; _Welcome Yule._

Welcome be ye, good new year, Welcome Twelfth day, both in fere; Welcome Saintës, lief and dear; _Welcome Yule._

Welcome be ye, Candlemas, Welcome be ye, Queen of bliss, Welcome both to more or less, _Welcome Yule._

Welcome be ye that are here; Welcome all and make good cheer; Welcome all, another year, _Welcome Yule._

2. I SING OF A MAIDEN

I sing of a maiden That is makeless;[1] King of all kingës To her son she ches;[2] He came also[3] still There his mother was, As dew in April That falleth on the grass. He came also still To his mother’s bower, As dew in April That falleth on the flower. He came also still There his mother lay, As dew in April That falleth on the spray. Mother and maiden Was never none but she; Well may such a lady Goddes mother be.

[1] Matchless.

[2] Chose.

[3] As.

3. AS JOSEPH WAS A-WALKING

As Joseph was a-walking He heard an angel sing:— ‘This night shall be born Our heavenly King;

‘He neither shall be born In housen nor in hall, Nor in the place of Paradise, But in an ox’s stall;

‘He neither shall be clothed In purple nor in pall, But all in fair linen As were babies all.

‘He neither shall be rocked In silver nor in gold, But in a wooden cradle That rocks on the mould.

‘He neither shall be christened In white wine or red, But with fair spring water With which we were christened.’

4. NOW IS CHRISTËMAS YCOME

Now is Christëmas ycome, Father and Son together in one, Holy Ghost as ye be one In fere, God send us a good new year.

I would you sing and I might Of a Child is fair in sight, His mother him bare this endris[4] night So still, And as it was his will.

There came three kings fro Galilee Into Bethlem, that fair citee, To seek him that should ever be By right, Lord and king and knight.

As they came forth with their off’ring, They met with Herod, that moody king, This tide, And this to them he said,

‘Of whence be ye, you kingës three?’ ‘Of the East, as ye may see, To seek him that should ever be By right, Lord and king and knight.’

‘When you at this child have be Come home again by me, Tell me the sights that you have see, I pray, Go you no nother way.’

They took their leave both old and ying[5] Of Herod, that moody king: They went forth with their offering By night, By the star that shone so bright,

Till they came in to the place Where Jesu and his mother was; Offered they up with great solace In fere, Gold and ’cense and myrrh.

When they had their offering made As the Holy Ghost them bade, Then were they both merry and glad And light: It was a well fair sight.

Anon as they away went The Father of heaven an angel sent To these three Kings that made present This tide, And thus to them he said,

‘My Lord have warned you every one By Herod king you go not home: For an you do he will you slowe And strow,[6] And do you mickle woe.’

They yeden all another way Thorough the might of Goddes lay[7] As the angel to them did say Full right: It was a well fair sight.

When they were come to their countree Glad and blithe they were all three Of the sights that they had see; By dene[8] The company was clean.

Kneel we now here adown; Pray we in good devotion To the King of great renown For grace In heaven to have a place.

[4] Last.

[5] Young.

[6] Lay low.

[7] Law.

[8] Forthwith.

5. THIS ENDRIS NIGHT

This endris[9] night I saw a sight, A star as bright as day; And ever among[10] A maiden sung Lullay, byby, lullay.

This lovely lady sat and sang, and to her child gan say, ‘My son, my brother, my father dear, why liest thou thus in hay? My sweetë brid,[11] Thus it is betid Though thou be King veray; But, nevertheless, I will not cease To sing byby, lullay.’

The child then spake in his talking; and to his mother said— ‘I am beknown for heaven’s king, in crib though I be laid; For angels bright Down to me light, Thou knowest it is no nay. And of that sight Thou mayest be light, To sing byby, lullay.’

‘Now sweetë son, since thou art king, why art thou laid in stall? Why ne thou ordainèd thy bedding in some great kingës hall? Methinketh it right That king or knight Should lie in good array; And then among It were no wrong To sing byby, lullay.’

‘Mary, mother, I am thy child, though I be laid in stall, Lords and dukes shall worship me, and so shall kingës all. Ye shall well see, The kingës three Shall come the twelfthë day; For this behest Give me thy breast, And sing byby, lullay.’

‘Now tell me, sweet son, I thee pray, thou art me lief and dear, How should I keep thee to thy pay,[12] and make thee glad of cheer? For all thy will I would fulfil, Thou weet’st full well in fay.[13] And for all this I will thee kiss, And sing byby, lullay.’

‘My dear mother, when time it be, thou take me up aloft, And settë me upon thy knee, and handle me full soft. And in thy arm Thou hile[14] me warm, And keepë night and day; If I weep And may not sleep, Thou sing byby, lullay.’

‘Now, sweet son, since it is so, that all is at thy will, I pray thee grant to me a boon if it be right and skill,[15] That child or man That will or can Be merry upon my day; To bliss them bring, And I shall sing Lullay, byby, lullay.’

[9] Last.

[10] Anon.

[11] Bird.

[12] Content.

[13] Faith.

[14] Cover.

[15] Reasonable.

6. LULLAY, MY LIKING, MY DEAR SON

Lullay, my liking, my dear son, my sweeting, Lullay, my dear heart, my own dear darling.

I saw a fair maiden sitten and sing. She lulled a little child, a sweet lording. Lullay, &c.

That ilke lord is that that made all thing, Of all lordës he is lord, of all kingës king. Lullay, &c.

There was mickle melody at that childës birth, All that were in heaven’s bliss they made mickle mirth. Lullay, &c.

Angels bright they sung that night and saiden to that child, Blessed be thou, and so be she that is both meek and mild. Lullay, &c.

Pray we now to that child, and to his mother dear. Grant them his blessing that now maken cheer. Lullay, &c.

7. SAINT STEPHEN WAS A CLERK

Saint Stephen was a clerk In King Herodës hall, And servèd him of bread and cloth As every king befall.

Stephen out of kitchen came, With boarës head on hand, He saw a star was fair and bright Over Bethlem stand.

He cast adown the boarës head And went into the hall: ‘I forsake thee, King Herodës, And thy workës all.

‘I forsake thee, King Herodës, And thy werkës all; There is a child in Bethlem born Is better than we all.’

‘What aileth thee, Stephen? What is thee befall? Lacketh thee either meat or drink In King Herodës hall?’

‘Lacketh me neither meat ne drink In King Herodës hall; There is a child in Bethlem born Is better than we all.’

‘What aileth thee, Stephen? Art thou wode[16] Or thou ginnest to breed?[17] Lacketh thee either gold or he Or any richë weed?’[18]

‘Lacketh me neither gold or fee, Ne none richë weed; There is a child in Bethlem born Shall help us at our need.’

‘That is also[19] sooth, Stephen, Also sooth, i-wis,[20] As this capon crowë shall That lieth here in my dish.’

That word was not so soonë said, That word in that hall, The capon crew, ‘Christus natus est,’ Among the lordës all.

‘Riseth up, my tormentors, By two and also by one, And leadeth Stephen out of this town, And stoneth him with stone.’

Tooken they Stephen And stoned him in the way, And therefore is his even On Christës own day.

[16] Mad.

[17] Become (mad).

[18] Dress.

[19] As.

[20] Certainly.

8. THE SHEPHERDS’ OFFERINGS

_Angel._ Herdmen hend,[21] Dread ye no thing Of this star that ye do see; For this same morn God’s son is born In Bethlem of a maiden free.

_First Shepherd._ Hail maid, mother, and wife so mild! As the angel said, so have we fand. I have nothing to present with thy child But my pipe; hold, hold, take it in thy hand; Wherein much pleasure that I have fand; And now, to honour thy glorious birth, Thou shalt it have to make thee mirth.

_Second Shepherd._ Now, hail be thou, child, and thy dame! For in a poor lodging here art thou laid, So the angel said and told us thy name; Hold, take thou here my hat on thy head! And now of one thing thou art well sped, For weather thou hast no need to complain, For wind, ne sun, hail, snow, and rain.

_Third Shepherd._ Hail be thou, Lord over water and lands! For thy coming all we may make mirth. Have here my mittens to put on thy hands, Other Treasure have I none to present thee with.

_Mary._ Now, herdmen bend, For your coming To my child shall I pray, As he is heaven king To grant you his blessing And to his bliss that ye may wend At your last day.

_Here the Shepherds sing_: As I out rode this enderes[22] night Of three jolly shepherds I saw a sight, And all about their fold a star shone bright; They sang _terli_, _terlow_; So merrily the shepherds their pipes can blow.