| |
| Can I not sing but ‘Hoy’, | |
| Whan the joly shepard made so much joy? | |
| |
I
THE SHEPARD upon a hill he sat; | |
| He had on him his tabard and his hat, | |
| His tarbox, his pipe, and his flagat; | 5 |
| His name was callèd Joly Joly Wat, | |
| For he was a gud herdés boy. | |
| Ut hoy! | |
| For in his pipe he made so much joy. | |
| |
II
The shepard upon a hill was laid; | 10 |
| His dog unto his girdell was taid; | |
| He had not slept but a litill braid, | |
| But ‘Gloria in excelsis’ was to him said. | |
| Ut hoy! | |
| For in his pipe he made so much joy. | 15 |
| |
III
The shepard on a hill he stode; | |
| Round about him his shepe they yode; | |
| He put his hond under his hode, | |
| He saw a star as rede as blode. | |
| Ut hoy! | 20 |
| For in his pipe he made so much joy. | |
| |
IV
The shepard said anon right, | |
| ‘I will go see you ferly sight, | |
| Whereas the angel singeth on hight, | |
| And the star that shineth so bright.’ | 25 |
| Ut hoy! | |
| For in his pipe he made so much joy. | |
| |
V
‘Now farewell, Mall, and also Will! | |
| For my love go ye all still | |
| Unto I cum again you till, | 30 |
| And evermore, Will, ring well thy bell.’ | |
| Ut hoy! | |
| For in his pipe he made so much joy. | |
| |
VI
‘Now must I go there Crist was born; | |
| Farewell! I cum again to-morn. | 35 |
| Dog, kepe well my shepe fro the corn, | |
| And warn well “Warroke” when I blow my horn!’ | |
| Ut hoy! | |
| For in his pipe he made so much joy. | |
| |
VII
Whan Wat to Bedlem cumen was, | 40 |
| He swet, he had gone faster than a pace; | |
| He found Jesu in a simpell place, | |
| Betwen an ox but and an asse. | |
| Ut hoy! | |
| For in his pipe he made so much joy. | 45 |
| |
VIII
‘Jesu, I offer to thee here my pipe, | |
| My skirt, my tar-box, and my scrip; | |
| Home to my felowes now will I skip, | |
| And also look unto my shepe.’ | |
| Ut hoy! | 50 |
| For in his pipe he made so much joy. | |
| |
IX
‘Now farewell, mine owne herdesman Wat!’— | |
| ‘Yea, for God, lady, even so I hat; | |
| Lull well Jesu in thy lap, | |
| And farewell, Joseph, with thy round cap!’ | 55 |
| Ut hoy! | |
| For in his pipe he made so much joy. | |
| |
X
‘Now may I well both hope and sing, | |
| For I have bene at Cristes bering; | |
| Home to my felowes now will I fling. | 60 |
| Crist of heven to his bliss us bring!’ | |
| Ut hoy! | |
| For in his pipe he made so much joy. | |
| | | GLOSS: tabard] short coat. flagat] flask. taid] tied. braid] time. yode] went. hode] hood. ferly] marvellous. hat]=am hight, called. |
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