The boar's head in hand bear I,
Bedecked with bays and rosemary;
And I pray you, my masters, be merry,
Quot estis in convivio. [As many as are at the feast.]
Caput apri defero, reddens laudes Domino.
[I bring in the boar's head, giving thanks to the Lord.]
The boar's head, as I understand,
Is the rarest dish in all the land,
Which thus bedecked with a gay garland,
Let us servire cantico. [serve it with a song.]
Caput apri defero, reddens laudes Domino.
Our steward hath provided this,
In honour of the King of bliss,
Which on this day to be servèd is
In Reginensi atrio. [In Queen's hall.]
Caput apri defero, reddens laudes Domino.
Caput apri defero, reddens laudes Domino.
####.... Author unknown. Variant of one of the oldest known Christmas carols first published by Wynken de Worde (Christmasse Carolles, 1521) ....####
Note: A traditional English ballad sung to this day by the Oxford University Queen's College choir at the Boar's Head Gaudy, where a procession of students presents a rather sizeable boar's head to the Provost, who then slices and serves the meat to all in attendance at College Hall.
Recorded on a compilation album by various artists (Christmas In The Harbour, First City Productions, Inc.; Iceberg Alley Intl, 1998); and contributed through UseNet by Fergus O'Byrne.
The youtube video above features The King's Singers (A Little Christmas Music, EMI, 1989).
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