While fates permit us, let’s be merry;

Than a Carol, for to singThe Birth of this our heavenly King?Awake the Voice! Awake the String!Heart, Ear, and Eye, and every thingAwake! the while the active FingerRuns 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 tire thy patient ox or assBy noon, and let thy good days pass,Not knowing this, that Jove decreesSome mirth, t’ adulce man’s miseries?–No; ’tis a life to have thine oilWithout extortion from thy soil;Thy faithful fields to yield thee grain,Although with some, yet little pain;To have thy mind, and nuptial bed,With fears and cares…

Whereupon in anger flyingTo his Mother, said thus crying;Help! O help! your Boy’s a dying.And why, my pretty Lad, said she?Then blubbering, replyed he,A winged Snake has bitten me,Which Country people call a Bee.At which she smil’d; then with her hairsAnd kisses drying up his tears:Alas! said she, my Wag! if thisSuch a pernicious torment…

–I shall, ere long, with green turfs cover’d be;Then sure thou’lt like, or thou wilt envy, me.

First, for thy Queen-ship on thy head is setOf flowers a sweet commingled coronet;About thy neck a carkanet is bound,Made of the Ruby, Pearl, and Diamond;A golden ring, that shines upon thy thumb;About thy wrist the rich Dardanium;Between thy breasts, than down of swans more white,There plays the Sapphire with the Chrysolite.No part besides must…