Our American Holidays - Christmas/Annotated/The Boar’s Head Carol
THE BOAR'S HEAD CAROL
(Sung at Queen's College, Oxford.)
The boar's head in hand bear I,
Bedecked with bays and rosemary;
And I pray you, my masters, be merry,[1]
Quot estis in convivio.[2]
Caput apri defero
Reddens laudes domino.[3]
The boar's head in hand bear I,
Bedecked with bays and rosemary;
And I pray you, my masters, be merry,[1]
Quot estis in convivio.[2]
Caput apri defero
Reddens laudes domino.[3]
The boar's head, as I understand,
Is the rarest dish in all this land,
Which thus bedeck'd with a gay garland
Let us servire cantico.[4]
Caput apri defero
Reddens laudes domino.
Is the rarest dish in all this land,
Which thus bedeck'd with a gay garland
Let us servire cantico.[4]
Caput apri defero
Reddens laudes domino.
Our steward hath provided this
In honour of the King of bliss;
Which on this day to be served is
In Reginensi Atrio.[5]
Caput apri defero
Reddens laudes domino.
In honour of the King of bliss;
Which on this day to be served is
In Reginensi Atrio.[5]
Caput apri defero
Reddens laudes domino.
Notes
edit- ↑ Or: And I pray you, my masters, merry be.
- ↑ Translation: As you all feast so heartily.
- ↑ Translation of Chorus:
- Lo, behold the head I bring
- Giving praise to God we sing
- The boar’s head I bring,
- Giving praises to the Lord.
- ↑ Translation: Let us serve with a song.
- ↑ Translation: In the Queen's hall.