In Praise of Christmas

All hail to the days that merit more praise

Than all the rest of the year

And welcome the nights that double delights

As well for the poor as the peer!

Good fortune attend each merry man's friend

That doth but the best that he may

Forgetting old wrongs with carols and songs

To drive the cold winter away.

Tis ill for a mind to anger inclined

To think of small injuries now

If wrath be to seek, do not lend her your cheek

Nor let her inhabit thy brow

Cross out of thy books malevolent looks

Both beauty and youth's decay

And wholly consort with mirth and sport

To drive the cold winter away.

This time of the year is spent in good cheer

And neighbours together do meet

To sit by the fire, with friendly desire

Each other in love to greet

Old grudges forgot are put in the pot

All sorrows aside they lay

The old and the young doth carol this song

To drive the cold winter away.

When Christmas' tide comes in like a bride

With holly and ivy clad

Twelve days in the year much mirth and good cheer

In every household is had

The country guise is then to devise

Some gambols of Christmas play

Whereat the young men do the best that they can

To drive the cold winter away.