Robert Herrick

Here you will find the Poem A Christmas Carol, Sung to the King in the Presence at White-Hall of poet Robert Herrick

A Christmas Carol, Sung to the King in the Presence at White-Hall

Chorus.

What sweeter music can we bring, 
Than a Carol, for to sing 
The Birth of this our heavenly King? 
Awake the Voice! Awake the String! 
Heart, Ear, and Eye, and every thing 
Awake! the while the active Finger 
Runs division with the Singer.

From the Flourish they came to the Song.

Voice 1:
Dark and dull night, fly hence away, 
And give the honor to this Day, 
That sees December turn'd to May.

Voice 2:
If we may ask the reason, say: 
The why, and wherefore all things here 
Seem like the Spring-time fo the year?

Voice 3:
Why does the chilling Winter's morn 
Smile, like a field beset with corn? 
Or smell, like to a mead new-shorn, 
Thus, on the sudden?

Voice 4:
Come and see 
The cause, why things thus fragrant be: 
'Tis He is born, whose quick'ning Birth 
Gives life and luster, public mirth, 
To Heaven and the under-Earth.

Chorus:
We see Him come, and know Him ours, 
Who, with His Sun-shine, and His Showers, 
Turns all the patient ground to flowers.

Voice 1:
The Darling of the World is come, 
And fit it is, we find a room 
To welcome Him.

Voice 2:
The nobler part 
Of all the house here, is the Heart,

Chorus:
Which we will give Him; and bequeath 
This Holly and this Ivy Wreath, 
To do Him honor; who's our King, 
And Lord of all this Revelling.