1. Mark well my heavy doleful tale For Twelfth Day now is come, And now I must no longer stay, And say no word but mum. For I perforce must take my leave Of all my dainty cheer— Plum porridge, roast beef, and minc’d pies, My strong ale and my beer. 2. Kind hearted Christmas, now adieu, For I with thee must part; But oh! to take my leave of thee Doth grieve me at the heart. Thou wert an ancient housekeeper, And mirth with meat didst keep, But thou art going out of town Which causes me to weep. 3. Come, butler, fill a brimmer full, To cheer my fainting heart, That to old Christmas I may drink Before he does depart. And let each one that’s in the room With me likewise condole, And now to cheer their spirits sad Let each one drink a bowl. 4. And when the same it hath gone round, Then fall unto your cheer; For you well know that Christmas time It comes but once a year. Thanks to my master and my dame That do such cheer afford, God bless them, that each Christmas they May furnish so their board. [Illustration] The Lord at first did Adam make [Illustration] A CAROL FOR CHRISTMAS EVE. 1. The Lord at first did Adam make Out of the dust and clay, And in his nostrils breathèd life, E’en as the Scriptures say. And then in Eden’s Paradise He placèd him to dwell, That he within it should remain, To dress and keep it well. Now let good Christians all begin A holy life to live, And to rejoice and merry be, For this is Christmas Eve. 2. And thus within the garden he Commanded was to stay; And unto him in commandment These words the Lord did say, “The fruit that in the garden grows To thee shall be for meat, Except the tree in midst thereof, Of which thou shalt not eat.” Now let good Christians, etc. 3. “For in that day thou dost it touch, Or dost it then come nigh, And if that thou dost eat thereof, Then thou shalt surely die.” But Adam he did take no heed To that same holy thing, But did transgress God’s holy laws, And sore was wrapp’d in sin. Now let good Christians all begin A holy life to live, And to rejoice and merry be, For this is Christmas Eve. 4. Now mark the goodness of the Lord, Which He to mankind bore; His mercy soon He did extend Lost man for to restore; And then, for to redeem our souls From death, and hell, and thrall, He said His own dear Son should come The Saviour of us all. Now let good Christians, etc. 5.