Christmas Poems » 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,
_Quot estis in convivio._
_Caput apri defero_
_Reddens laudes domino._

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._
_Caput apri defero_
_Reddens laudes domino._

Our steward hath provided this
In honor of the King of bliss;
Which on this day to be served is
_In Reginensi Atrio._
_Caput apri defero_
_Reddens laudes domino