BETWEEN the moonlight and the fireIn winter twilights long ago,What ghosts we raised for your desire,To make your merry blood run slow!How old, how grave, how wise we grow!No Christmas ghost can make us chill,Save those that troop in mournful row,The ghosts we all can raise at will!The beasts can talk in barn and byreOn Christmas Eve, old legends know.As year by year the years retire,We men fall silent then I trow,Such sights hath memory to show,Such voices from the silence thrill,Such shapes return with Christmas snow,—The ghosts we all can raise at will.Oh, children of the village choir,Your carols on the midnight throw!Oh, bright across the mist and mire,Ye ruddy hearths of Christmas glow!Beat back the dread, beat down the woe,Let’s cheerily descend the hill;Be welcome all, to come or go,The ghosts we all can raise at will!EnvoyFriend, sursum corda, soon or slowWe part, like guests who’ve joyed their fill;Forget them not, nor mourn them so,The ghosts we all can raise at will,Andrew Lang
BETWEEN the moonlight and the fireIn winter twilights long ago,What ghosts we raised for your desire,To make your merry blood run slow!How old, how grave, how wise we grow!No Christmas ghost can make us chill,Save those that troop in mournful row,The ghosts we all can raise at will!The beasts can talk in barn and byreOn Christmas Eve, old legends know.As year by year the years retire,We men fall silent then I trow,Such sights hath memory to show,Such voices from the silence thrill,Such shapes return with Christmas snow,—The ghosts we all can raise at will.Oh, children of the village choir,Your carols on the midnight throw!Oh, bright across the mist and mire,Ye ruddy hearths of Christmas glow!Beat back the dread, beat down the woe,Let’s cheerily descend the hill;Be welcome all, to come or go,The ghosts we all can raise at will!EnvoyFriend, sursum corda, soon or slowWe part, like guests who’ve joyed their fill;Forget them not, nor mourn them so,The ghosts we all can raise at will,Andrew Lang
BETWEEN the moonlight and the fireIn winter twilights long ago,What ghosts we raised for your desire,To make your merry blood run slow!How old, how grave, how wise we grow!No Christmas ghost can make us chill,Save those that troop in mournful row,The ghosts we all can raise at will!
BETWEEN the moonlight and the fire
In winter twilights long ago,
What ghosts we raised for your desire,
To make your merry blood run slow!
How old, how grave, how wise we grow!
No Christmas ghost can make us chill,
Save those that troop in mournful row,
The ghosts we all can raise at will!
The beasts can talk in barn and byreOn Christmas Eve, old legends know.As year by year the years retire,We men fall silent then I trow,Such sights hath memory to show,Such voices from the silence thrill,Such shapes return with Christmas snow,—The ghosts we all can raise at will.
The beasts can talk in barn and byre
On Christmas Eve, old legends know.
As year by year the years retire,
We men fall silent then I trow,
Such sights hath memory to show,
Such voices from the silence thrill,
Such shapes return with Christmas snow,—
The ghosts we all can raise at will.
Oh, children of the village choir,Your carols on the midnight throw!Oh, bright across the mist and mire,Ye ruddy hearths of Christmas glow!Beat back the dread, beat down the woe,Let’s cheerily descend the hill;Be welcome all, to come or go,The ghosts we all can raise at will!
Oh, children of the village choir,
Your carols on the midnight throw!
Oh, bright across the mist and mire,
Ye ruddy hearths of Christmas glow!
Beat back the dread, beat down the woe,
Let’s cheerily descend the hill;
Be welcome all, to come or go,
The ghosts we all can raise at will!
EnvoyFriend, sursum corda, soon or slowWe part, like guests who’ve joyed their fill;Forget them not, nor mourn them so,The ghosts we all can raise at will,Andrew Lang
Envoy
Friend, sursum corda, soon or slow
We part, like guests who’ve joyed their fill;
Forget them not, nor mourn them so,
The ghosts we all can raise at will,
Andrew Lang
Basil. Sandy. Brian. Menzies.
Sandy.IN holly hedges starving birdsSilently mourn the setting year.Basil.Upright like silver-plated swordsThe flags stand in the frozen mere.Brian.The mistletoe we still adoreUpon the twisted hawthorn grows.Menzies.In antique gardens helleborePuts forth its blushing Christmas rose.Sandy.Shrivelled and purple, cheek by jowl,The hips and haws hang drearily.Basil.Rolled in a ball the sulky owlCreeps far into his hollow tree.Brian.In abbeys and cathedrals dimThe birth of Christ is acted o’er;The kings of Cologne worship Him,Balthazar, Jasper, Melchior.Menzies.And while our midnight talk is madeOf this and that and now and then,The old earth-stopper with his spadeAnd lantern seeks the fox’s den.Sandy.Oh, for a northern blast to blowThese depths of air that cream and curdle!Basil.Now are the halcyon days, you know;Old Time has leapt another hurdle:And pauses as he only mayWho knows he never can be caught.Brian.The winter solstice, shortest dayAnd longest night, was past, I thought.Basil.Oh yes! but fore-and-aft a weekSilent the winds must ever be,Because the happy halcyons seekTheir nests upon the sea.Brian.The Christmas-time! the lovely thingsThat last of it! Sweet thoughts and deeds!Sandy.How strong and green old Legend clingsLike ivy round the ruined creeds!Menzies.A fearless, ruthless, wanton band,Deep in our hearts we guard from scathe,Of last year’s log a smouldering brandTo light at Yule the fire of faith.Brian.The shepherds in the field at nightBeheld an angel glory-clad,And shrank away with sore affright.‘Be not afraid,’ the angel bade.‘I bring good news to king and clown,To you here crouching on the sward;For there is born in David’s townA Saviour which is Christ the Lord.‘Behold the Babe is swathed, and laidWithin a manger.’ Straight there stoodBeside the angel all arrayedA heavenly multitude.‘Glory to God,’ they sang; ‘and peace,Good pleasure among men.’Sandy.The wondrous message of release!Menzies.Glory to God again!Brian.Again! God help us to be good!Basil.Hush! hark! without; the waits, the waits!With brass, and strings, and mellow wood.Menzies.A simple tune can ope heaven’s gates!Sandy.Slowly they play, poor careful souls,With wistful thoughts of Christmas cheer,Unwitting how their music rollsAway the burden of the year.Basil.And with the charm, the homely rune,Our thoughts like childhood’s thoughts are given,When all our pulses beat in tuneWith all the stars of heaven.Menzies.Oh cease! Oh cease!Sandy.Ay; cease, and bringThe wassail bowl, the cup of grace.Brian.Pour wine, and heat it till it sing,With cloves, and cardamums and mace.
Sandy.IN holly hedges starving birdsSilently mourn the setting year.Basil.Upright like silver-plated swordsThe flags stand in the frozen mere.Brian.The mistletoe we still adoreUpon the twisted hawthorn grows.Menzies.In antique gardens helleborePuts forth its blushing Christmas rose.Sandy.Shrivelled and purple, cheek by jowl,The hips and haws hang drearily.Basil.Rolled in a ball the sulky owlCreeps far into his hollow tree.Brian.In abbeys and cathedrals dimThe birth of Christ is acted o’er;The kings of Cologne worship Him,Balthazar, Jasper, Melchior.Menzies.And while our midnight talk is madeOf this and that and now and then,The old earth-stopper with his spadeAnd lantern seeks the fox’s den.Sandy.Oh, for a northern blast to blowThese depths of air that cream and curdle!Basil.Now are the halcyon days, you know;Old Time has leapt another hurdle:And pauses as he only mayWho knows he never can be caught.Brian.The winter solstice, shortest dayAnd longest night, was past, I thought.Basil.Oh yes! but fore-and-aft a weekSilent the winds must ever be,Because the happy halcyons seekTheir nests upon the sea.Brian.The Christmas-time! the lovely thingsThat last of it! Sweet thoughts and deeds!Sandy.How strong and green old Legend clingsLike ivy round the ruined creeds!Menzies.A fearless, ruthless, wanton band,Deep in our hearts we guard from scathe,Of last year’s log a smouldering brandTo light at Yule the fire of faith.Brian.The shepherds in the field at nightBeheld an angel glory-clad,And shrank away with sore affright.‘Be not afraid,’ the angel bade.‘I bring good news to king and clown,To you here crouching on the sward;For there is born in David’s townA Saviour which is Christ the Lord.‘Behold the Babe is swathed, and laidWithin a manger.’ Straight there stoodBeside the angel all arrayedA heavenly multitude.‘Glory to God,’ they sang; ‘and peace,Good pleasure among men.’Sandy.The wondrous message of release!Menzies.Glory to God again!Brian.Again! God help us to be good!Basil.Hush! hark! without; the waits, the waits!With brass, and strings, and mellow wood.Menzies.A simple tune can ope heaven’s gates!Sandy.Slowly they play, poor careful souls,With wistful thoughts of Christmas cheer,Unwitting how their music rollsAway the burden of the year.Basil.And with the charm, the homely rune,Our thoughts like childhood’s thoughts are given,When all our pulses beat in tuneWith all the stars of heaven.Menzies.Oh cease! Oh cease!Sandy.Ay; cease, and bringThe wassail bowl, the cup of grace.Brian.Pour wine, and heat it till it sing,With cloves, and cardamums and mace.
Sandy.IN holly hedges starving birdsSilently mourn the setting year.
Sandy.
IN holly hedges starving birds
Silently mourn the setting year.
Basil.Upright like silver-plated swordsThe flags stand in the frozen mere.
Basil.
Upright like silver-plated swords
The flags stand in the frozen mere.
Brian.The mistletoe we still adoreUpon the twisted hawthorn grows.
Brian.
The mistletoe we still adore
Upon the twisted hawthorn grows.
Menzies.In antique gardens helleborePuts forth its blushing Christmas rose.
Menzies.
In antique gardens hellebore
Puts forth its blushing Christmas rose.
Sandy.Shrivelled and purple, cheek by jowl,The hips and haws hang drearily.
Sandy.
Shrivelled and purple, cheek by jowl,
The hips and haws hang drearily.
Basil.Rolled in a ball the sulky owlCreeps far into his hollow tree.
Basil.
Rolled in a ball the sulky owl
Creeps far into his hollow tree.
Brian.In abbeys and cathedrals dimThe birth of Christ is acted o’er;The kings of Cologne worship Him,Balthazar, Jasper, Melchior.
Brian.
In abbeys and cathedrals dim
The birth of Christ is acted o’er;
The kings of Cologne worship Him,
Balthazar, Jasper, Melchior.
Menzies.And while our midnight talk is madeOf this and that and now and then,The old earth-stopper with his spadeAnd lantern seeks the fox’s den.
Menzies.
And while our midnight talk is made
Of this and that and now and then,
The old earth-stopper with his spade
And lantern seeks the fox’s den.
Sandy.Oh, for a northern blast to blowThese depths of air that cream and curdle!
Sandy.
Oh, for a northern blast to blow
These depths of air that cream and curdle!
Basil.Now are the halcyon days, you know;Old Time has leapt another hurdle:And pauses as he only mayWho knows he never can be caught.
Basil.
Now are the halcyon days, you know;
Old Time has leapt another hurdle:
And pauses as he only may
Who knows he never can be caught.
Brian.The winter solstice, shortest dayAnd longest night, was past, I thought.
Brian.
The winter solstice, shortest day
And longest night, was past, I thought.
Basil.Oh yes! but fore-and-aft a weekSilent the winds must ever be,Because the happy halcyons seekTheir nests upon the sea.
Basil.
Oh yes! but fore-and-aft a week
Silent the winds must ever be,
Because the happy halcyons seek
Their nests upon the sea.
Brian.The Christmas-time! the lovely thingsThat last of it! Sweet thoughts and deeds!
Brian.
The Christmas-time! the lovely things
That last of it! Sweet thoughts and deeds!
Sandy.How strong and green old Legend clingsLike ivy round the ruined creeds!
Sandy.
How strong and green old Legend clings
Like ivy round the ruined creeds!
Menzies.A fearless, ruthless, wanton band,Deep in our hearts we guard from scathe,Of last year’s log a smouldering brandTo light at Yule the fire of faith.
Menzies.
A fearless, ruthless, wanton band,
Deep in our hearts we guard from scathe,
Of last year’s log a smouldering brand
To light at Yule the fire of faith.
Brian.The shepherds in the field at nightBeheld an angel glory-clad,And shrank away with sore affright.‘Be not afraid,’ the angel bade.
Brian.
The shepherds in the field at night
Beheld an angel glory-clad,
And shrank away with sore affright.
‘Be not afraid,’ the angel bade.
‘I bring good news to king and clown,To you here crouching on the sward;For there is born in David’s townA Saviour which is Christ the Lord.‘Behold the Babe is swathed, and laidWithin a manger.’ Straight there stoodBeside the angel all arrayedA heavenly multitude.
‘I bring good news to king and clown,
To you here crouching on the sward;
For there is born in David’s town
A Saviour which is Christ the Lord.
‘Behold the Babe is swathed, and laid
Within a manger.’ Straight there stood
Beside the angel all arrayed
A heavenly multitude.
‘Glory to God,’ they sang; ‘and peace,Good pleasure among men.’
‘Glory to God,’ they sang; ‘and peace,
Good pleasure among men.’
Sandy.The wondrous message of release!
Sandy.
The wondrous message of release!
Menzies.Glory to God again!
Menzies.
Glory to God again!
Brian.Again! God help us to be good!
Brian.
Again! God help us to be good!
Basil.Hush! hark! without; the waits, the waits!With brass, and strings, and mellow wood.
Basil.
Hush! hark! without; the waits, the waits!
With brass, and strings, and mellow wood.
Menzies.A simple tune can ope heaven’s gates!
Menzies.
A simple tune can ope heaven’s gates!
Sandy.Slowly they play, poor careful souls,With wistful thoughts of Christmas cheer,Unwitting how their music rollsAway the burden of the year.
Sandy.
Slowly they play, poor careful souls,
With wistful thoughts of Christmas cheer,
Unwitting how their music rolls
Away the burden of the year.
Basil.And with the charm, the homely rune,Our thoughts like childhood’s thoughts are given,When all our pulses beat in tuneWith all the stars of heaven.
Basil.
And with the charm, the homely rune,
Our thoughts like childhood’s thoughts are given,
When all our pulses beat in tune
With all the stars of heaven.
Menzies.Oh cease! Oh cease!
Menzies.
Oh cease! Oh cease!
Sandy.Ay; cease, and bringThe wassail bowl, the cup of grace.
Sandy.
Ay; cease, and bring
The wassail bowl, the cup of grace.
Brian.Pour wine, and heat it till it sing,With cloves, and cardamums and mace.
Brian.
Pour wine, and heat it till it sing,
With cloves, and cardamums and mace.
Brian.Hush! hark! the waits far up the street!Basil.A distant, ghostly charm unfolds,Of magic music wild and sweet,Anomes and clarigolds.John Davidson
Brian.Hush! hark! the waits far up the street!Basil.A distant, ghostly charm unfolds,Of magic music wild and sweet,Anomes and clarigolds.John Davidson
Brian.Hush! hark! the waits far up the street!
Brian.
Hush! hark! the waits far up the street!
Basil.A distant, ghostly charm unfolds,Of magic music wild and sweet,Anomes and clarigolds.John Davidson
Basil.
A distant, ghostly charm unfolds,
Of magic music wild and sweet,
Anomes and clarigolds.
John Davidson
NOW have good day, now have good day!I am Christmas, and now I go my way!Here have I dwelt with more and lessFrom Hallow-tide till Candlemas!And now must I from you hence pass,Now have good day!I take my leave of King and Knight,And Earl, Baron, and Lady bright;To wilderness I must me dight.Now have good day!And at the good Lord of this hallI take my leave, and of guestës all.Methinks I hear Lent doth call.Now have good day!And at every worthy officer,Marshall, panter, and butler,I take my leave as for this year.Now have good day!Another year I trust I shallMaken merry in this hall!If rest and peace in England may fall!Now have good day!But oftentimes I have heard sayThat he is loth to part away,That often biddeth ‘have good day’!Now have good day!Now fare ye well, all in fere![47]Now fare ye well for all this year!Yet for my sake make ye good cheer!Now have good day!Unknown
NOW have good day, now have good day!I am Christmas, and now I go my way!Here have I dwelt with more and lessFrom Hallow-tide till Candlemas!And now must I from you hence pass,Now have good day!I take my leave of King and Knight,And Earl, Baron, and Lady bright;To wilderness I must me dight.Now have good day!And at the good Lord of this hallI take my leave, and of guestës all.Methinks I hear Lent doth call.Now have good day!And at every worthy officer,Marshall, panter, and butler,I take my leave as for this year.Now have good day!Another year I trust I shallMaken merry in this hall!If rest and peace in England may fall!Now have good day!But oftentimes I have heard sayThat he is loth to part away,That often biddeth ‘have good day’!Now have good day!Now fare ye well, all in fere![47]Now fare ye well for all this year!Yet for my sake make ye good cheer!Now have good day!Unknown
NOW have good day, now have good day!I am Christmas, and now I go my way!
NOW have good day, now have good day!
I am Christmas, and now I go my way!
Here have I dwelt with more and lessFrom Hallow-tide till Candlemas!And now must I from you hence pass,Now have good day!
Here have I dwelt with more and less
From Hallow-tide till Candlemas!
And now must I from you hence pass,
Now have good day!
I take my leave of King and Knight,And Earl, Baron, and Lady bright;To wilderness I must me dight.Now have good day!
I take my leave of King and Knight,
And Earl, Baron, and Lady bright;
To wilderness I must me dight.
Now have good day!
And at the good Lord of this hallI take my leave, and of guestës all.Methinks I hear Lent doth call.Now have good day!
And at the good Lord of this hall
I take my leave, and of guestës all.
Methinks I hear Lent doth call.
Now have good day!
And at every worthy officer,Marshall, panter, and butler,I take my leave as for this year.Now have good day!
And at every worthy officer,
Marshall, panter, and butler,
I take my leave as for this year.
Now have good day!
Another year I trust I shallMaken merry in this hall!If rest and peace in England may fall!Now have good day!
Another year I trust I shall
Maken merry in this hall!
If rest and peace in England may fall!
Now have good day!
But oftentimes I have heard sayThat he is loth to part away,That often biddeth ‘have good day’!Now have good day!
But oftentimes I have heard say
That he is loth to part away,
That often biddeth ‘have good day’!
Now have good day!
Now fare ye well, all in fere![47]Now fare ye well for all this year!Yet for my sake make ye good cheer!Now have good day!Unknown
Now fare ye well, all in fere![47]
Now fare ye well for all this year!
Yet for my sake make ye good cheer!
Now have good day!
Unknown
[47]Company.
[47]Company.