“We come walking with our staves Wreathed with laurel, We seek the Lord Jesus, and would wish To put laurel on his knees; Are the children of Charles the King, Pater bonne Franselyn, Jeremie. We did come before Herod’s door, &c. Herod, the king, came himself before, &c. Herod then spake with a false man’s heart, &c. Why is the youngest of three so swart? &c. Altho’ he is swart, he is well be known, &c. In orient land he has a throne, &c. We all came over the lofty hill, &c. And there saw we the Star stand still, &c. Oh, Star! you must not stand still so, &c. But must with us to Bethlehem go, &c. To Bethlehem, the lovely town, &c. Where Mary and her child sit down, &c. How small the child, and how great the good, &c. A blessed New Year that gives us God, &c. [Illustration] [Illustration] CHAPTER X. THE term carol, appears originally to have signified a song, joined with a dance, a union frequently found in early religious ceremonies; and it is used in this sense by Chaucer, Boccacio, Spenser, and others. By some it has been derived from _cantare_, to sing, and _rola_, an interjection of joy. It was, however, applied to joyous singing, and thus to festive songs; and as these became more frequent at Christmas, it has for a long time past, though not exclusively yet more particularly, designated those sung at this feast. But strictly, it should be applied only to those of a cheerful character, and not to the Christmas hymn, which is of a more solemn cast; many of them, indeed, being more suitable for Passion Week than for Christmas; and a large and appropriate collection might be readily selected for that season, and an interesting work made to illustrate them. In practice, however, the word carol is applied indiscriminately to both classes, whether cheerful or solemn. In the earlier times, music, both instrumental and vocal, was introduced into religious ceremonies, and was a necessary accompaniment to all the sacred feasts and games. Jubal’s harp or organ, whatever that instrument may have been, was doubtless, like the harp of David, used on such occasions, and the science of music was a necessary part of the education of many of the priesthood. In the records and sculptures of the Hebrews, Greeks, Romans, Egyptians, and other great nations of antiquity, and in the recent discoveries at ancient Nineveh, we find descriptions and representations connected with it.