Now, Now, The Mirth Comes - The Hymns and Carols of Christmas

Christmas Poetry By Robert Herrick
Several similar verses are found in Hesperides, a few of which are reproduced in the Appendix
(“His Legacy”).
Many of his short poems show us old Christmas customs, as Vizetelly notes:
Among all our English poets, the one, who has left us by far the most complete
contemporary picture of the Christmas season, was a country clergyman of the reign of
Charles I., who held a small living in a remote part of Devonshire.
Herrick was also the author of many
well-known romantic poems, including "To
the Virgins, to Make Much of Time", which
begins:
Gather ye rosebuds while ye may,
Old Time is still a-flying;
And this same flower that smiles today,
Tomorrow will be dying.
The full text of this poem appears in the
Appendix.
The famous first line became the subject
of several paintings, including this one by
John William Waterhouse, (1909). Source:
Wikipedia.
Herrick's work was well known to later
authors. Washington Irving, in the "Christmas
Day" sketch from his well-known Old
Christmas, included the following passage:
The service was followed by a Christmas carol, which Mr. Bracebridge himself had
constructed from a poem of his favourite author, Herrick; and it had been adapted to
an old church melody by Master Simon. As there were several good voices among the
household, the effect was extremely pleasing; but I was particularly gratified by the
exaltation of heart, and sudden sally of grateful feeling, with which the worthy Squire
delivered one stanza: his eyes glistening, and his voice rambling out of all the bounds
of time and tune:
'Tis Thou that crown'st my glittering hearth
With guiltlesse mirth,
And giv'st me wassaile bowles to drink,
Spiced to the brink:
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