Our American Holidays - Christmas/The Boar’s Head Carol

For other versions of this work, see 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 honour of the King of bliss;
Which on this day to be served is
      In Reginensi Atrio.
            Caput apri defero
            Reddens laudes domino.