My Christmas Gift to You, My Dear Readers...

What Sweeter Music
(Originally Titled: "A Christmas Caroll, Sung to the King
in the Presence at White-Hall)

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!

Dark and dull night, fly hence away,

And give the honor to this day,

That sees December turned to May.

Why does the chilling winter’s morn

Smile, like a field beset with corn?

Or smell like a meadow newly-shorn,

Thus, on the sudden?

Come and see

The cause, why things thus fragrant be:

‘Tis He is born, whose quickening birth

Gives life and luster, public mirth,

To heaven, and the under-earth.

We see him come, and know him ours,

Who, with his sunshine and his showers,

Turns all the patient ground to flowers.

The darling of the world is come,

And fit it is, we find a room

To welcome him. The nobler part

Of all the house here, is the heart.

Which we will give him; and bequeath

This holly, and this ivy wreath,

To do him honour, who’s our King,

And Lord of all this revelling.

What sweeter music can we bring,

Than a carol for to sing

The birth of this our heavenly King?

~ Robert Herrick (1591-1674)

Before listening to this lovely poem put to music by England's John Rutter and sung by Kings College Choir, please turn off Cassandra's Playlist at the bottom of the page by clicking on the large circular button...

Be of Good Cheer!

Cassandra