When you startle awake in the dark morning

The stockings were flung in haste over the chair,For hopes of St. Nicholas were no longer there.The children were restlessly tossing in bed,For the pie and the candy were heavy as lead;While mamma in her kerchief, and I in my gown,Had just made up our minds that we would not lie down,When out on the…

Graunt us wele to spede,And gyf us grace so to doThat we may come thy blys unto,On Rode as thou can blede!Leve lordys, y schall you telleOf a tale, some tyme befelleFarre yn unknowthe lede:How a lady had grete myschefe,And how sche covyrd of hur grefe;Y pray yow take hede!Some tyme there was in AlmaynAn…

On the first day of Christmas,My true love sent to meA partridge in a pear tree.On the second day of Christmas,My true love sent to meTwo turtle doves, andA partridge in a pear tree.On the third day of Christmas,My true love sent to meThree French hens,Two turtle doves, andA partridge in a pear tree.On the…

Menskful maiden of myht;Feir ant fre to fonde;In al this wurhliche wonA burde of blod ant of bonNever yete y nuste nonLussomore in londe.Blou northerne wynd!Send thou me my suetyng!Blou northerne wynd! blou, blou, blou!With lokkes lefliche ant longe,With frount ant face feir to fonge,With murthes monie mote heo monge,That brid so breme in boure.With…

Come home again, come home again;My own sweet heart, come home again!You’ve gone astrayOut of your way,Come home again, come home again!

The richesse left, not got with pain;The fruitful ground, the quiet mind;The equal friend; no grudge, no strife;No charge of rule, nor governance;Without disease, the healthful life;The household of continuance;The mean diet, no delicate fare;True wisdom join’d with simpleness;The night discharged of all care,Where wine the wit may not oppress.The faithful wife, without debate;Such sleeps…