Song for the Eve of Yule

Here’s a fig for Melancholy, Now the year is at the Yule! Welcome Fun and welcome Folly! Welcome anything that’s jolly! What say you, sweet Mistress Molly, Shall not Love and Laughter rule? Come and close about the ingle While the caverned chimney roars! Song and merriment shall mingle Till the very rafters tingle; Then shall sound the jangle-jingle Of the sleigh-bells at the doors! Out upon all frowning faces! Out upon the ghost of Gloom! In with games and glees and graces! Loose (for once) smug Custom’s traces; Put old Momus through his paces! Give the merry maskers room! Aye, a fig for Melancholy! Garland Love, let Laughter rule! Hail to Fun and hail to Folly! Hail the jovial and the jolly! Shall we not, sweet Mistress Molly, Now the year is at the Yule!