| WAES-HAEL for knight and dame! | |
| O merry be their dole! | |
| Drink-hael! in Jesu's name | |
| We fill the tawny bowl; | |
| But cover down the curving crest, | 5 |
| Mould of the Orient Lady's breast. | |
| |
| Waes-hael! yet lift no lid: | |
| Drain ye the reeds for wine. | |
| Drink-hael! the milk was hid | |
| That soothed that Babe divine; | 10 |
| Hush'd, as this hollow channel flows, | |
| He drew the balsam from the rose. | |
| |
| Waes-hael! thus glow'd the breast | |
| Where a God yearn'd to cling; | |
| Drink-hael! so Jesu press'd | 15 |
| Life from its mystic spring; | |
| Then hush and bend in reverent sign | |
| And breathe the thrilling reeds for wine. | |
| |
| Waes-hael! in shadowy scene | |
| Lo! Christmas children we: | 20 |
| Drink-hael! behold we lean | |
| At a far Mother's knee; | |
| To dream that thus her bosom smiled, | |
| And learn the lip of Bethlehem's Child. | |
