A Christmas Carol, Sung to the King in the Presence at White-Hall

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 every thing

Awake! the while the active Finger

Runs division with the Singer.

From the Flourish they came to the Song.

Voice 1:

Dark and dull night, fly hence away,

And give the honor to this Day,

That sees December turn'd to May.

Voice 2:

If we may ask the reason, say:

The why, and wherefore all things here

Seem like the Spring-time fo the year?

Voice 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?

Voice 4:

Come and see

The cause, why things thus fragrant be:

'Tis He is born, whose quick'ning Birth

Gives life and luster, public mirth,

To Heaven and the under-Earth.

Chorus:

We see Him come, and know Him ours,

Who, with His Sun-shine, and His Showers,

Turns all the patient ground to flowers.

Voice 1:

The Darling of the World is come,

And fit it is, we find a room

To welcome Him.

Voice 2:

The nobler part

Of all the house here, is the Heart,

Chorus:

Which we will give Him; and bequeath

This Holly and this Ivy Wreath,

To do Him honor; who's our King,

And Lord of all this Revelling.