John Mason Neale and Thomas Helmore

“ It is here sufficient to observe: that the original words and music range from the end of the twelfth to the beginning of the fifteenth century: that we give the music without alteration: and that the words are free imitations, for the most part, of these and other ancient Christmas Carols. ”

“ Christ is born to-day!
2.⁠Good Christian men, rejoice
With heart, and soul, and voice;
Now ye hear of endless bliss;
Joy! Joy!
Jesus Christ was born for this!
He hath oped the heav'nly door,
And man is blessed evermore. ”

“ From a Tree sall healing grow:
Therefore sing,—
Glory to the Infant King:
4.⁠Man was lost a garden in:
In a garden man shall win;
Woman's faith end Woman's sin:
Therefore sing,—
Glory to the Infant King! ”

“ XI.
"Good King Wenceslas."
1.⁠Good King Wenceslas look'd out,
⁠On the Feast of Stephen;
When the snow lay round about,
⁠Deep, and crisp, and even:
Brightly shone the moon that night,
⁠Though the frost was cruel,
When a poor man came in sight,
⁠Gath'ring winter fuel. ”

“ Toll! because there ends."
It Is a custom at Dewsbury in Yorkshire, to toll the passing bell on Christmas Eve at three o'clock in the afternoon. This is called The Devil's Knell; and is intended to signify that when "Christ was born, the Devil died:" a striking though exaggerated way of representing the truth that the Birth of our Lord gave the death-blow to the Empire of Satan. ”

“ Life and light to man appear;
And the Holy babe is here
De Virgine;
And the Holy Babe is here
De Virgine Mariâ.
2.⁠What in ancient days was slain
This day calls to life again;
God is coming, God shall reign
De Virgine ”

“ In Bethlehem.
3.⁠"Now go we forth, and see this wondrous thing,"
The Shepherds said, "and seek the newborn King,
In Bethlehem."
4.⁠Then Herod sought the Royal Son to slay,
Who rather should have come to kneel and pray
In Bethlehem. ”

“ Love makes all things pleasant.
3.⁠He is God ye go to meet:
Therefore incense proffer:
He is King ye go to greet;
Gold is in your coffer.
Also Man, He comes to share
Ev'ry woe that man can bear ”