TO

RICHARD HEBER, ESQ.

HEAP on more wood!—the wind is chill;

But let it whistle as it will,

We’ll keep our Christmas merry still.

Each age has deemed the new-born year

The fittest time for festal cheer:

Even heathen yet, the savage Dane

At Iol more deep the mead did drain;

High on the beach his galleys drew,

And feasted all his pirate crew;

Then in his low and pine-built hall,

Where shields and axes decked the wall,

They gorged upon the half-dressed steer;

Caroused in seas of sable beer;

While round, in brutal jest, were thrown

The half-gnawed rib, and marrow-bone;

Or listened all, in grim delight,

While scalds yelled out the joys of fight.

Then forth, in frenzy, would they hie,

And wildly loose their red locks fly,

And dancing round the blazing pile,

They make such barbarous mirth the while,

As best might to the mind recal

The boisterous joys of Odin's hall.

And well our Christian sires of old

Loved when the year its course had rolled,

And brought blithe Christmas back again,

With all his hospitable train.

Domestic and religious rite

Gave honour to the holy night:

On Christmas Eve the bells were rung;

On Christmas Eve the mass was sung;

That only night, in all the year,

Saw the stoled priest the chalice rear.

The damsel donned her kirtle sheen;

The hall was dressed with holly green;

And forth did merry woods-men go,

To gather in the misletoe.

Then opened wide the baron's hall

To vassal, tenant, serf, and all;

Power laid his rod of rule aside,

And Ceremony doffed his pride.

The heir, with roses on his shoes,

That night might village partner chuse;

The lord, underogating, share

The vulgar game of “post and pair.”

All hailed, with uncontrolled delight,

And general voice, the happy night,

That to the cottage, as the crown,

Brought tidings of salvation down.

The fire, with well-dried logs supplied,

Went roaring up the chimney wide;

The huge hall-table's oaken face,

Scrubbed till it shone the day to grace,

Bore then upon its massive board

No mark to part the squire and lord.

Then was brought in the lusty brawn,

By old blue-coated serving-man;

Then the grim boar’s-head frowned on high,

Crested with bays and rosemary.