Come and close about the ingle
While the caverned chimney roars!
Song and merriment shall mingle
Till the very rafters tingle;
Then shall sound the jangle-jingle
Of the sleigh-bells at the doors!
Out upon all frowning faces!
Out upon the ghost of Gloom!
In with games and glees and graces!
Loose (for once) smug Custom’s traces;
Put old Momus through his paces!
Give the merry maskers room!
Aye, a fig for Melancholy!
Garland Love, let Laughter rule!
Hail to Fun and hail to Folly!
Hail the jovial and the jolly!
Shall we not, sweet Mistress Molly,
Now the year is at the Yule!
The Three Kings
Came those monarchs, grave and hoar,
With their gifts, a goodly store,
Gold and frankincense and myrrh,
On that holy night of yore,—
Ator, Sator, Sarasin,
In their hallowed purpose kin,
Following the guiding star,
Each a sacred goal to win.
Did they bear their offerings,
Such a wealth of precious things,
Unto one of princely place,
Sprung, like them, from earthly kings?
Nay, but to an infant born
In a lowly spot forlorn
Yet around whose glorious face
Shone a halo like the morn!
For a spirit unto each
Spake in no uncertain speech,
Saying, “In a manger lies
One who God to man shall teach;
One who shall the night o’erthrow,
Bearing heaven with Him below,—
Love that triumphs over hate,
Peace and joy that conquer woe.”
So those monarchs, men of fame,
Bowed before Him, blessed His name,
Laid their offerings at His feet,
Passed as swiftly as they came.