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Classic and Contemporary Poetry


FRENCH NOEL by WILLIAM MORRIS (1834-1896)

Poet Analysis

First Line: MASTERS, IN THIS HALL
Last Line: GOD TO-DAY HATH POOR FOLK RAIS'D, AND CAST DOWN THE PROUD.
Subject(s): CHRISTMAS; NATIVITY, THE;

Masters, in this Hall,
Hear ye news to-day
Brought from over sea,
And ever I pray you.

@3Nowell! Nowell! Nowell! Nowell! sing we clear
Holpen are all folk on earth, Born is God's Son so dear:
Nowell! Nowell! Nowell! Nowell! sing we loud!
God to-day hath poor folk rais'd, And cast down the proud.@1

Going over the hills,
Through the milk-white snow,
Heard I ewes bleat
While the wind did blow.

Shepherds many an one
Sat among the sheep,
No man spake more word
Than they had been asleep.

Quoth I "Fellows mine,
Why this guise sit ye?
Making but dull cheer,
Shepherds though ye be?

"Shepherds should of right
Leap and dance and sing;
Thus to see ye sit
Is a right strange thing."

Quoth these fellows then,
"To Bethlehem town we go,
To see a mighty Lord
Lie in a manger low."

"How name ye this Lord,
Shepherds?" then said I.
"Very @3God,@1 they said,
"Come from Heaven high."

Then to Bethlehem town
We went two and two
And in a sorry place
Heard the oxen low.

Therein did we see
A sweet and goodly May
And a fair old man;
Upon the straw She lay.

And a little Child
On Her arm had She;
"Wot ye Who this is?"
Said the hinds to me.

Ox and ass Him know,
Kneeling on their knee:
Wondrous joy had I
This little Babe to see.

This is Christ the Lord
Masters, be ye glad!
Christmas is come in,
And no folk should be sad.

@3Nowell! Nowell! Nowell! Nowell! sing we clear
Holpen are all folk on earth, Born is God's Son so dear:
Nowell! Nowell! Nowell! Nowell! sing we loud!
God to-day hath poor folk rais'd, And cast down the proud.@1




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