A Knight’s Christmas

I hear the shrilling hautboys sound, The thrilling drums take up the din, And through the doorway’s gaping bound A lusty, mincing manikin Bears, garlanded, the boar’s head in. The great bells clamor in the tower Their jubilation. Down the hall Mirth bursts into a brilliant flower Of quip and toast and madrigal; “Noel! Noel! Noel!” cry all. And yet joy seems a thing foredone Forevermore in every place Beneath the red rays of the sun;— What is Christ’s mass that wrought man grace Without the favor of love’s face!