He looks, too, from a place so high,
The year lies open to his eye;
And all the moments open are
To the exact discoverer.

Yet more and more he smiles upon
The happy revolution.

Why should we then suspect or fear
The influences of a year,

So smiles upon us the first morn,
And speaks us good as soon as born?
Plague on't! the last was ill enough,
This cannot but make better proof;
Or, at the worst, as we brush'd through
The last, why so we may this too;
And then the next in reason should

Be superexcellently good :

For the worst ills (we daily see)

Have no more perpetuity

Than the best fortunes that do fall;
Which also bring us wherewithal

Longer their being to support

Than those do of the other sort;
And who has one good year in three,
And yet repines at destiny,
Appears ungrateful in the case,
And merits not the good he has.

Then let us welcome the new guest
With lusty brimmers of the best;

The New Year.

Mirth always should good fortune meet,
And render c'en disaster sweet;

And though the princess turn her back,
Let us but line ourselves with sack,
We better shall by far hold out
Till the next year she face about.

233

Charles Cotton.

20*

The old

A HAPPY NEW YEAR.

year now away

is fled,

The new year it is entered,

Then let us now our sins down-tread
And joyfully all appear.

Let's merry be this holiday,

And let us now both sport and play,
Hang sorrow, let's cast care away:

God send you a happy New Year!

For Christ's circumcision this day we keep,
Who for our sins did often weep;
His hands and feet were wounded deep,
And His blessed side with a spear.
His head they crowned then with thorn,
And at Him they did laugh and scorn,
Who for to save our souls was born:
God send us a happy New Year!

And now with New-Year's gifts each friend
Unto each other they do send;

God grant we may all our lives amend,
And that the truth may appear.
Now like the snake cast off your skin
Of evil thoughts and wicked sin,
And to amend this New Year begin:

God send us a happy New Year!

A Happy New Year.

And now let all the company

In friendly manner all agree,

For we are here welcome, all may see,
Unto this jolly good cheer.

I thank my master and my dame,
The which are founders of the same;
To eat, to drink now is no shame :
God send us a merry New Year!

Come, lads and lasses every one,
Jack, Tom, Dick, Bessy, Mary, and Joan,
Let's cut the meat up unto the bone,
For welcome you need not fear;

235

And here for good liquor we shall not lack,
It will whet my brains and strengthen my

back;

This jolly good cheer it must go to wrack: God send us a merry New Year!

Come, give's more liquor when I do call,
I'll drink to each one in this hall;

I hope that so loud I must not bawl,
But unto me lend an ear;

Good fortune to my master send,
And to my dame which is our friend,
Lord bless us all, and so I end:
God send us a happy New Year!

New Christmas Carols, A.D. 1642.

NEW-YEAR'S GIFTS.

The young men and maids on New-Year's day,
Their loves they will present

With many a gift both fine and gay,
Which gives them true content:
And though the gift be great or small,
Yet this is the custom still,

Expressing their loves in ribbons and gloves,
It being their kind good-will.

Young bachelors will not spare their coin,
But thus their love is shown;
Young Richard will buy a bodkin fine
And give it honest Joan.

There's Nancy and Sue with honest Prue,
Young damsels both fair and gay,
Will give to the men choice presents again.
For the honor of New-Year's day.

Fine ruffs, cravats of curious lace,
Maids give them fine and neat;
For this the young men will them embrace
With tender kisses sweet:

And give them many pleasant toys

To deck them fine and gay,

As bodkins and rings with other fine things For the honor of New-Year's day.