Part 72 (2/2)

Down with the rosemary and bays, Down with the mistletoe; Instead of holly, now up-raise The greener box, for show.

The holly hitherto did sway; Let box now domineer Until the dancing Easter day, Or Easter's eve appear.

Then youthful box which now hath grace Your houses to renew; Grown old, surrender must his place Unto the crisped yew.

When yew is out, then birch comes in, And many flowers beside; Both of a fresh and fragrant kin To honour Whitsuntide.

Green rushes, then, and sweetest bents, With cooler oaken boughs, Come in for comely ornaments To re-adorn the house.

Thus times do s.h.i.+ft; each thing his turn does hold: _New things succeed, as former things grow old_.

_Bents_, gra.s.ses.

893. THE CEREMONIES FOR CANDLEMAS DAY.

Kindle the Christmas brand, and then Till sunset let it burn; Which quench'd, then lay it up again Till Christmas next return.

Part must be kept wherewith to teend The Christmas log next year, And where 'tis safely kept, the fiend Can do no mischief there.

894. UPON CANDLEMAS DAY.

End now the white loaf and the pie, And let all sports with Christmas die.

_Teend_, kindle.

897. TO BIANCA, TO BLESS HIM.

Would I woo, and would I win?

Would I well my work begin?

Would I evermore be crowned With the end that I propound?

Would I frustrate or prevent All aspects malevolent?

Thwart all wizards, and with these Dead all black contingencies: Place my words and all works else In most happy parallels?

All will prosper, if so be I be kiss'd or bless'd by thee.

898. JULIA'S CHURCHING, OR PURIFICATION.

Put on thy holy filletings, and so To th' temple with the sober midwife go.

Attended thus, in a most solemn wise, By those who serve the child-bed mysteries, Burn first thine incense; next, whenas thou see'st The candid stole thrown o'er the pious priest, With reverend curtsies come, and to him bring Thy free (and not decurted) offering.

All rites well ended, with fair auspice come (As to the breaking of a bride-cake) home, Where ceremonious Hymen shall for thee Provide a second epithalamy.

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