Candlemas Eve

Down with the rosemary and bays,
Down with the mistletoe,
Instead of holly, now upraise
The greener box for show.

cho: Thus times do shift, thus times do shift,
Each thing his turn doth hold
New things succeed, new things succeed
As former things grow old.

The holly hitherto did sway
Let box now domineer
Until the dancing Easter day
or Easter's eve appear.

Then youthful box which now hath grace
Your houses to renew,
Grown old surrender must his place
Unto the crisped yew.

When yew is out, then birch comes in
And many flowers besides;
Bothg of a fresh and fragrant kin
To honor Whitsuntide.

Green rushes then, and sweetest bents
With cooler oaken boughs,
Come in for comely ornaments
To re-adorn the house.

From Harmonious Companions, Myers
From the singing of Arky's Toast
RG