Classic Poem

Can I not syng but hoy
Whan the joly sheperd made so mych joy.

The Sheperd upon a hill he satt,
He had on hym his tabard and his hat,
His tarbox, hys pype and hys flagat;
Hys name was called joly, joly Wat;
For he was a gud herdes boy,
Vith hoy!
For in hys pype he made so mych joy.

The sheperd upon a hill was layd,
Hys doge to hys gyrdyll was tayd;
He had not slept but a lytill broyd,
But " Gloria in excelcis" was to hym sayd.
Vith hoy!
For in hys pipe he mad so myche joy.

The sheperd on a hill he stode,
Rownd a-bowt hym his shepe they yode
He put hys hond vnder hys hode,
He saw a star as rede as blod:
Vith hoy!
For in hys pipe he mad so myche joy.

" Now farwell Mall and also Will,
For my love, go ye all styll
Unto I cum agayn you till,
And euermore, Will, ryng well thy bell."
Vith hoy!
For in hys pipe he mad so mych joy.

" Now must I go ther Cryst was borne;
Farewell! I cum a-gayn tomorn.
Dog, kepe well my shep fro the corn,
And warn well, warroke, when I blow my horn."
Vith hoy!
For in hys pipe he made so mych joy.

The sheperd sayd anon ryght:
" I will go se yon farly syght,
Wheras the angell syngith on hight
And the star that shynyth so bryght."
Vith hoy!
For in [his] pipe he made so mych joy.

Whan Wat to Bedlem cum was,
He swet; he had gon faster than a pace;
He fownd Jhesu in a sympyll place,
Betwen an ox and an asse.
Vith hoy!
For in his pipe he mad so mych joy.

" Jhesu! I offer to the here my pype,
My skyrte, my tarbox and my scrype,
Home to my felowes now will I skype,
And also loke unto my shepe."
Vith hoy!
For in his pipe he mad so myche joy.

" Now farewell, myne own herdesman Wat!"
" Ye, for God, Lady, even so I hat;
Lull well Jhesu in thy lape,
And farewell, Joseph wyth thy rownd cape!"
Vith hoy!
For in hys pipe he mad so myche joy.

" Now may I well both hope and syng,
For I haue bene at Crystis beryng,
Home to my felowes now wyll I flyng;
Cryst of hevyn to his blis vs bryng!"
Vith hoy!
For in his pipe he mad so myche joy.