From the French. A Christmas Carol

From The Noei Bourguignon de Gui Barôzai

I HEAR along our street

Pass the minstrel throngs;

Hark! they play so sweet,

On their hautboys, Christmas songs!

Let us by the fire

Ever higher

Sing them till the night expire!

In December ring

Every day the chimes;

Loud the gleemen sing

In the streets their merry rhymes.

Let us by the fire

Ever higher

Sing them till the night expire.

Shepherds at the grange,

Where the Babe was born,

Sang, with many a change,

Christmas carols until morn.

Let us by the fire

Ever higher

Sing them till the night expire!

These good people sang

Songs devout and sweet;

While the rafters rang,

There they stood with freezing feet.

Let us by the fire

Ever higher

Sing them till the night expire.

Nuns in frigid cells

At this holy tide,

For want of something else,

Christmas songs at times have tried.

Let us by the fire

Ever higher

Sing them till the night expire!

Washerwomen old,

To the sound they beat,

Sing by rivers cold,

With uncovered heads and feet.

Let us by the fire

Ever higher

Sing them till the night expire.

Who by the fireside stands

Stamps his feet and sings;

But he who blows his hands

Not so gay a carol brings.

Let us by the fire

Ever higher

Sing them till the night expire!

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