Words from "La Musa Madrigalesca"

Source: Henry Vizetelly, Christmas With The Poets (London: David Bogue, 1851).

To shorted winter's sadness,
See where the nymphs with gladness
Disguised all are coming,
Right wantonly a mumming,
                    Fa la.

Whilst youthful sports are lasting,
To feasting turn our fasting;
With revels and with wassails,
Make grief and care our vassals.
                    Fa la.

For youth it well beseemeth,
That pleasure he esteemeth;
And sullen age is hated,
That mirth would have abated.
                    Fa la.

Note:

See The Custom Of Mumming - Henry Vizetelly. See also Mumming and Christmas Mummers from W. Carew Hazlitt, Faith and Folklore. In Two Volumes. London: Reeves and Turner, 1905 ("Forming A New Edition of "The Popular Antiquities of Great Britain" By Brand and Ellis").