95. ANOTHER GRACE FOR A CHILD.
Here a little child I stand
Heaving up my either hand;
Cold as paddocks though they be,
Here I lift them up to Thee,
For a benison to fall
On our meat and on us all. Amen.
Paddocks, frogs.
96. A CHRISTMAS CAROL SUNG TO THE KING IN
THE PRESENCE AT WHITEHALL.
Chor. What sweeter music can we bring,
Than a carol for to sing
The birth of this our heavenly King?
Awake the voice! awake the string!
Heart, ear, and eye, and everything
Awake! the while the active finger
Runs division with the singer.
FROM THE FLOURISH THEY CAME TO THE SONG.
1. Dark and dull night, fly hence away
And give the honour to this day
That sees December turn'd to May.
2. If we may ask the reason, say
The why and wherefore all things here
Seem like the spring-time of the year.
3. Why does the chilling winter's morn
Smile like a field beset with corn?
Or smell like to a mead new shorn,
Thus, on the sudden?
4. Come and see
The cause, why things thus fragrant be:
'Tis He is born, whose quick'ning birth
Gives life and lustre, public mirth,
To heaven and the under-earth.