SONG OF THE HOLLY WILLIAM SHAKESPEARE Blow, blow thou winter wind-- Thou art not so unkind As man's ingratitude! Thy tooth is not so keen, Because thou art not seen, Although thy breath be rude. Heigh ho! sing heigh ho! unto the green holly: Most friendship is feigning, most loving mere folly. Then heigh ho! the holly! This life is most jolly! Freeze, freeze, thou bitter sky-- Thou dost not bite so nigh As benefits forgot! Though thou the waters warp, Thy sting is not so sharp As friend remembered not. Heigh ho! sing heigh ho! unto the green holly, Most friendship is feigning, most loving mere folly. Then heigh ho, the holly! This life is most jolly! * * * * * UNDER THE HOLLY-BOUGH CHARLES MACKAY Ye who have scorned each other, Or injured friend or brother, In this fast-fading year; Ye who, by word or deed, Have made a kind heart bleed, Come gather here! Let sinned against and sinning Forget their strife's beginning, And join in friendship now. Be links no longer broken, Be sweet forgiveness spoken Under the Holly-Bough. Ye who have loved each other, Sister and friend and brother, In this fast-fading year: Mother and sire and child, Young man and maiden mild, Come gather here; And let your heart grow fonder, As memory shall ponder Each past unbroken vow; Old loves and younger wooing Are sweet in the renewing Under the Holly-Bough. Ye who have nourished sadness, Estranged from hope and gladness In this fast-fading year; Ye with o'erburdened mind, Made aliens from your kind, Come gather here. Let not the useless sorrow Pursue you night and morrow, If e'er you hoped, hope now. Take heart,--uncloud your faces, And join in our embraces Under the Holly-Bough. * * * * * CEREMONIES FOR CHRISTMAS ROBERT HERRICK Come, bring with a noise, My merry, merry boys, The Christmas log to the firing, While my good dame, she Bids ye all be free, And drink to your heart's desiring. With the last year's brand Light the new block, and For good success in his spending, On your psalteries play, That sweet luck may Come while the log is a-teending. Drink now the strong beer, Cut the white loaf here, The while the meat is a-shredding; For the rare mince-pie, And the plums stand by, To fill the paste that's a kneading. * * * * * SANTA CLAUS ANON