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

“Now, Now The Mirth Comes”
Dean-bourn, a rude River in Devon, by which sometimes he lived.
ean-bourn, farewell; I never look to see
Deane, or thy warty incivility.
DThy rockie bottome, that doth teare thy streams
And makes them frantick, ev'n to all extreames;
To my content, I never sho'd behold,
Were thy streames silver, or thy rocks all gold.
Rockie thou art; and rockie we discover
Thy men; and rockie are thy wayes all over.
O men, O manners; Now, and ever knowne
To be A Rockie Generation!
A people currish; churlish as the seas;
And rude (almost) as rudest Salvages.
With whom I did, and may re-sojourne when
Rockes turn to Rivers, Rivers turn to Men.
Note: “Rockes turn[ed] to Rivers” in 1662 when Herrick was restored to his position in Dean
Prior.
Upon the troublesome times.
1. O! Times most bad,
Without the scope
Of hope
Of better to be had!
2. Where shall I goe,
Or whither run
To shun
This publique overthrow?
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