Volume Iv Part 4 (1/2)
I bid G.o.d bless them every one, And their bodies Christ save and see: Little children, shall I play with you, And you shall play with me?
But they made answer to me, No: They were lords' and ladies' sons; And I, the meanest of them all, Was but a maiden's child, born in an ox's stall.
Though you are but a maiden's child, Born in an ox's stall, Thou art the Christ, the King of heaven, And the Saviour of them all.
Sweet Jesus, go down to yonder town As far as the Holy Well, And take away those sinful souls, And dip them deep in h.e.l.l.
Nay, nay, sweet Jesus said, Nay, nay, that may not be; For there are too many sinful souls Crying out for the help of me.
THE HOLLY AND THE IVY.
The Holly and the Ivy, Now both are full well grown; Of all the trees that spring in wood, The holly bears the crown.
The holly bears a blossom As white as a lily flow'r; And Mary bore sweet Jesus Christ To be our sweet Saviour.
The holly bears a berry As red as any blood, And Mary bore sweet Jesus Christ To do poor sinners good.
The holly bears a p.r.i.c.kle As sharp as any thorn, And Mary bore sweet Jesus Christ On Christmas Day in the morn.
The holly bears a bark As bitter as any gall, And Mary bore sweet Jesus Christ For to redeem us all.
The holly and the ivy Now are both well grown; Of all the trees that are in the wood, The holly bears the crown.
THE CONTEST OF THE VINES.
Nay, ivy, nay, It shall not be, I wis; Let holly have the mastery, As the manner is.
Holly stand in the hall, Fair to behold; Ivy stand without the door, She is full sore a-cold.
Nay, ivy, nay, etc.
Holly and his merry men They dancen and they sing; Ivy and her maidens They weepen and they wring.
Nay, ivy, nay, etc.
Ivy hath a kybe,[P]
She caught it with the cold; So mot they all have ae,[Q]
That with ivy hold.
Nay, ivy, nay, etc.
Holly hath berries As red as any rose, The forester and the hunters Keep them from the does.
Nay, ivy, nay, etc.
Ivy hath berries As black as any sloe; There come the owl And eat him as she go.