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

2What sweeter music can we bring,

3Than a Carol, for to sing

4The Birth of this our heavenly King?

5Awake the Voice! Awake the String!

6Heart, Ear, and Eye, and every thing

7Awake! the while the active Finger

8Runs division with the Singer.

9From the Flourish they came to the Song.

10Voice 1:

11Dark and dull night, fly hence away,

12And give the honor to this Day,

13That sees December turn'd to May.

14Voice 2:

15If we may ask the reason, say:

16The why, and wherefore all things here

17Seem like the Spring-time fo the year?

18Voice 3:

19Why does the chilling Winter's morn

20Smile, like a field beset with corn?

21Or smell, like to a mead new-shorn,

22Thus, on the sudden?

23Voice 4:

24Come and see

25The cause, why things thus fragrant be:

26'Tis He is born, whose quick'ning Birth

27Gives life and luster, public mirth,

28To Heaven and the under-Earth.

29Chorus:

30We see Him come, and know Him ours,

31Who, with His Sun-shine, and His Showers,

32Turns all the patient ground to flowers.

33Voice 1:

34The Darling of the World is come,

35And fit it is, we find a room

36To welcome Him.

37Voice 2:

38The nobler part

39Of all the house here, is the Heart,

40Chorus:

41Which we will give Him; and bequeath

42This Holly and this Ivy Wreath,

43To do Him honor; who's our King,

44And Lord of all this Revelling.