Marmion . m delight, While scalds yelled out the joys of fight. Then forth, in frenzy, Avould they hie, While 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 recall The boisterous joys of Odins hall. And well our Christian sires of oldLoved when the year its course had rolled,And brought blithe Christmas back again,With all his hospitable and religious riteGave honor 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.
Marmion . m delight, While scalds yelled out the joys of fight. Then forth, in frenzy, Avould they hie, While 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 recall The boisterous joys of Odins hall. And well our Christian sires of oldLoved when the year its course had rolled,And brought blithe Christmas back again,With all his hospitable and religious riteGave honor to the holy night ;On Christmas eve the bells were rung ;On Christmas eve the mass was sung :That only night in all the the stoled priest the chalice damsel donned her kirtle sheen ;The hall was dressed with holly green ;Forth to the wood did merry-men go,To gather in the opened wide the Barons hallTo vassal, tenant, serf, and all ;Power laid his rod of rule aside,And Ceremony doffed his heir, with roses in his shoes,That night might village partner choose ;The Lord, underogating, share. CAym bi\rn The \ulgar game of pobt and hailed, -with untoutioiled delight,And geneial \()ice, the hai)p} lu^ht,That to the tottage. as the ciown,Biought tidings of sihatKJU d()^. The file, with A\ell-dued log^ buppliul,Went 1 oaring up the thinmey wide ;The huge hall-tahk-- oaken face,Scrubbed till it shone, the day to grace,Bore then upon its massive boardNo mark to part the squire and was brought in the lusty brawn,By old blue-coated serving-man ;Then the grim boars head frowned on highCrested with bays and can the green-garbed ranger , when, and where, the monster fell;What dogs before his death he all the baiting of the Avassail round, in good brown bowls,Garnished with ribbons, blithely the huge sirloin reeked ; hard byPlum-porridge stood, and Christmas pie :Nor failed old Scotland to such high tide, her savory came the merry maskers in,And carols roared with blithesome din ;If
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Keywords: ., bookcentury1800, bookdecade1880, bookidmarmion00sco, bookyear1885
