MARMION.

INTRODUCTION TO CANTO SIXTH.

ΤΟ

RICHARD HEBER, ESQ.

Mertoun-House,1 Christmas.

HEAP on more wood!-the wind is chill;
But let it whistle as it will,

We'll keep our Christmas merry still.
Each age has deem'd the new-born year
The fittest time for festal cheer:
Even, heathen yet, the savage Dane
At Iol more deep the mead did drain ; 2

[Mertoun-House, the seat of Hugh Scott, Esq., of Harden, is beautifully situated on the Tweed, about two miles below Dryburgh Abbey.]

2 The Iol of the heathen Danes (a word still applied to Christmas in Scotland) was solemnized with great festivity. The humour of the Danes at table displayed itself in pelting each other with bones; and Torfæus tells a long and curious story in the History of Hrolfe Kraka, of one Hottus, an inmate of the Court of Denmark, who was so generally assailed with these missiles, that he constructed, out of the bones with which he was overwhelmed, a very respectable

High on the beach his galleys drew,
And feasted all his pirate crew;
Then in his low and pine-built hall,
Where shields and axes deck'd the wall,
They gorged upon the half-dress'd steer;
Caroused in seas of sable beer;

While round, in brutal jest, were thrown
The half-gnaw'd rib, and marrowbone,
Or listen'd all, in grim delight,

While scalds yell'd out the joys of fight.
Then forth, in frenzy, would they hie,
While wildly-loose their red locks fly,
And dancing round the blazing pile,
They make such barbarous mirth the while,
As best might to the mind recall
The boisterous joys of Odin's hall.

And well our Christian sires of old Loved when the year its course had roll'd, And brought blithe Christmas back again, With all his hospitable train.

Domestic and religious rite

Gave honour to the holy knight;

On Christmas eve the bells were rung;

intrenchment, against those who continued the raillery. The dances of the northern warriors round the great fires of pinetrees, are commemorated by Olaus Magnus, who says they danced with such fury, holding each other by the hands, that, if the grasp of any failed, he was pitched into the fire with the velocity of a sling. The sufferer, on such occasions, was instantly plucked out, and obliged to quaff off a certain measure of ale, as a penalty for "spoiling the king's fire."

On Christmas eve the mass was sung:
That only night in all the year,

Saw the stoled priest the chalice rear.1

1 In Roman Catholic countries, mass is never said at night, except on Christmas eve. Each of the frolics with which that holiday used to be celebrated, might admit of a long and curious note; but I shall content myself with the following description of Christmas, and his attributes, as personified in one of Ben Jonson's Masques for the Court.

"Enter CHRISTMAS, with two or three of the Guard. He is attired in round hose, long stockings, a close doublet, a highcrowned hat, with a brooch, a long thin beard, a truncheon, little ruffs, white shoes, his scarfs and garters tied cross, and his drum beaten before him.-The names of his children, with their attires: Miss-Rule, in a velvet cap, with a sprig, a short cloak, great yellow ruff, like a reveller; his torchbearer bearing a rope, a cheese, and a basket;-Carroll, a long tawny coat, with a red cap, and a flute at his girdle; his torchbearer carrying a song-book open;-Minc'd-pie, like a fine cook's wife, drest neat, her man carrying a pie, dish, and spoons;-Gamboll, like a tumbler, with a hoop and bells; his torchbearer arm'd with cole-staff, and blinding cloth;-Post and Pair, with a pair-royal of aces in his hat, his garment all done over with pairs and purs; his squire carrying a box, cards, and counters ;-New- Year's Gift, in a blue coat, serving-man like, with an orange, and a sprig of rosemary gilt on his head; his hat full of brooches, with a collar of gingerbread; his torchbearer carrying a march-pain, with a bottle of wine on either arm;-Mumming, in a masquing pied suit, with a visor; his torchbearer carrying the box, and ringing it;-Wassal, like a neat sempster and songster; her page bearing a brown bowl, drest with ribbons, and rosemary, before her;- Offering, in a short gown, with a porter's staff in his hand; a wyth borne before him, and a bason, by his torchbearer;-Baby Cocke, drest like a boy, in a fine long coat, biggin, bib, muckender, and a little dagger; his usher bearing a great cake, with a bean and a pease."