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

“Now, Now The Mirth Comes”
Editor's Note
Editing
of this compilation was nearly complete when I discovered a new website
concerning Robert Herrick. The site is called “The Complete Poetry of Robert Herrick,”
http://herrick.ncl.ac.uk/ (School of English Literature, Newcastle University); it contains the
complete text of Herrick's Hesperides and Noble Numbers, and other excellent resources. Their
intent is to publish two annotated volumes of Herrick's poetry: Hesperides and Noble Numbers,
and a second volume containing Herrick's other poetry found in manuscript. The intent is to
have the volumes published by Oxford University Press, according to their website. No
expected date of publication is given. Recommended.
Throughout the text, you will find references such as “Henry Vizetelly notes ...”, etc. To
ease the flow of writing, the full citation is found in the Sources, which occurs near the end of
this compilation.
I have reproduced each poem as found, including spelling and punctuation. Other
errors only are my own, and I am mindful of the advice of William Hone (1823):
"... I am bound to confess the existence of a few errors, not affecting the sense,
that were discovered too late for correction, though in sufficient time to enable
me to affirm, as a warning to others, that the worst editor of an author's writings is
himself."
In a similar vein, Herrick writes “To the generous Reader” in Hesperides:
See, and not see; and if thou chance t'espie
Some Aberrations in my Poetry;
Wink at small faults, the greater, ne'rthelesse
Hide, and with them, their Fathers nakedness.
Let's doe our best, our Watch and Ward to keep
Homer himself, in a long work, may sleep.
Additional poetry, recordings, and a large number of hymns, carols and other songs of
the Christmas-tide are also available at my website, The Hymns and Carols of Christmas,
www.hymnsandcarolsofchristmas.com .
Douglas D. Anderson
Tigard, Oregon, USA
May 14, 2007
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