A Merry Christmas

To All Readers and Followers of

'The Land of Lost Content'

The Nativity Robert Campin (c.1375-1444)

The Adoration of the Shepherds in the Presence of the Midwives

The Snow in the Street

From far away we come to you.

The snow in the street, and the wind on the door,

To tell of great tidings, strange and true.

Minstrels and maids, stand forth on the floor.

From far away we come to you,

To tell of great tidings, strange and true.

For as we wandered far and wide,

The snow in the street, and the wind on the door,

What hap do you deem there should us betide?

Minstrels and maids, stand forth on the floor.

Under a bent when the night was deep,

The snow in the street, and the wind on the door,

There lay three shepherds, tending their sheep.

Minstrels and maids, stand forth on the floor.

“O ye shepherds, what have ye seen,

The snow in the street, and the wind on the door,

To stay your sorrow and heal your teen?”

Minstrels and maids, stand forth on the floor.

“In an ox stall this night we saw,

The snow in the street, and the wind on the door,

A Babe and a maid without a flaw.

Minstrels and maids, stand forth on the floor.

“There was an old man there beside;

The snow in the street, and the wind on the door,

His hair was white, and his hood was wide.

Minstrels and maids, stand forth on the floor.

“And as we gazed this thing upon,

The snow in the street, and the wind on the door,

Those twain knelt down to the little one.

Minstrels and maids, stand forth on the floor.

“And a marvellous song we straight did hear,

The snow in the street, and the wind on the door,

‘That slew our sorrow and healed our care.”

Minstrels and maids, stand forth on the floor.

News of a fair and marvellous thing,

The snow in the street, and the wind on the door,

Nowell, Nowell, Nowell, we sing.

Minstrels and maids, stand forth on the floor.

From far away we come to you,

To tell of great tidings, strange and true.

William Morris (1834-96)