Guest Author - Elizabeth Bissette

I Bring Back the Boar's Head

The boar's head in hands I bring
with garlands gay and birds singing.
I pray you all, help me to sing
qui estis in convivio! (all who are at this banquet!)

The boar's head I understand
is chief service in this land.
Wheresoever it is found, seruitur cum sinapio! (It is served with mustard!)

The boar's head I dare well say
anon after the twelfth day,
he takes his leave and goes away, exiuit tunc de patria! (He went out from his native country.)

(Recorded in the 1500s, this song probably pre-dates that by several centuries.)

Another version:

BOAR'S HEAD CAROL
Queens College Version, Oxford, England. First published in 1521.




The boar's head in hand bear I
Bedecked with bays and rosemary
I pray you, my masters, be merry
Quot estis in convivio (so many as are in the feast)

CHORUS: Caput apri defero, Reddens laudes domino (the boar's head I bring, giving praises to God)

The boar's head, as I understand,
Is the rarest dish in all this land,
Which thus bedecked with a gay garland
Let us servire cantico. (let us serve with a song)

CHORUS

Our steward hath provided this
In honor of the King of bliss
Which, on this day to be served is
In Reginensi atrio: (in the Queen's hall)