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THE WASSAIL.

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= THE WASSAIL. Wassail is a custom ctill continued in many parts of the country, and almost everywhere it is usual to place good cheer before visitors. Wassail," prepared from spiced wine, ale, &c., was formerly carried from house to house in a bowl or cup either by parties of men and youths or of women. For the origin of the term we are referred to the following story: When Hengist and Horsa came over to England at the request of Voltigern, Prince of the Silures, a banquet was given to Hengist in honour of the event. During the entertainment Ravenna, the fair daughter of Hengist, of whom Voltigern had become enamoured, smilingly offered to the prince a cup of spiced wine, saying as she did so, Was heal hlaford, Oyning," i.e., "Be of health, King;" to which he replied, "Drinc heal," i.e., "I drink your health. And that, as Robert of Gloucester has sung, Was in this land the first" waas-heal." The following song Wasselling," called a Carol for a Wassel Bowl, is still, or was recently, sung in some parts of England: A jolly Wassel Bowl, A Wassel of good ale, Well fare the butler's soul, That settetli this to sale- Our jolly Wassel. Good dame, here at your door Our Wassel we begin, We are all maidens poor, We pray now let us in With our Wassel. Our Wassel we do fill With apples and 'with spice, Then grant us your good will To taste here once or twice Of our good Wassel. If any maidens be Here dwelling in this house They kindly will agree To take a full carouse Of our Wassel. But here they let us stand, All freezing in the cold; Good master, give command To enter and be bold With our Wassel. Much joy unto this hall With us is entered in; Our masters first of all, We hope, will now begin Of our Wassel. And after, his good wife Our spiced bowl will try. The Lord prolong your lite. Good fortune we espy For our Wassel. This is our merry night Of choosing king and queen, Then be it your delight That something may be seen In our Wassel. It is a noble part To bear a liberal mind. God bless our master's heart, For here we comfort find With our Wassel. Much joy betide them all Our prayers shall be; still We hope and ever shall For this your great good will To our Waasel."

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