Forget the unauthentic introductory and concluding "Nowell-s". This is how it might sound, but we'll do it better!
Didn't you get Dizzy following that fool around the hall?
Perhaps Berry will crawl around under the table again!
Here are the lyrics as published by Queen's College, Oxford in 1521:
The boar's head in hand bear I,
Bedecked with bays and rosemary.
I pray you, my masters, be merry,
Quot estis in convivio.
(so many as are in the feast)
Caput apri defero,
Reddens laudes domino.
Caput apri defero,
Reddens laudes domino.
(the boar's head I bring, giving praises to God)
The boar's head, as I understand,
Is the rarest dish in all this land,
Which, thus bedecked with a gay garland,
Let us servire cantico.
(let us serve with a song)
Caput apri defero,
Reddens laudes domino.
Caput apri defero,
Reddens laudes domino.
Our steward hath provided this
In honour of the King of bliss,
Which, on this day to be serv-ed is
In Reginensi atrio.
(in the Queen's hall)
Caput apri defero,
Reddens laudes domino.
Caput apri defero,
Reddens laudes domino.
For our purposes the boar's head will be represented by sausage rolls and ham sandwiches. Several fools may be present.
A chronicle of 'doings' for posterity... and other things of little consequence!
2 comments:
Two nuggets of wisdom, local to some quarters:
1) the song is commonly referred-to by the Spoonerism: "The Whore's Bed", and
2) the last line of the 3rd verse (In Reginensi atrio) is sung: 'in Reg and Nancy's patio'.
Hope that doesn't spoil it for you ...
You palastine!
That's PARODY! You already know, and show total disregard for, my feelings!
Humphh!
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