ly be
placed nine months later.

[8] Cf. chap. xviii. of Dr. Yrjoe Hirn's "The Sacred Shrine" (London,
1912). Dr. Hirn finds a solitary anticipation of the Franciscan
treatment of the Nativity in the Christmas hymns of the
fourth-century eastern poet, Ephraem Syrus.

[9] No. 55 in "Hymns Ancient and Modern" (Ordinary Edition).

[10] No. 56 in "Hymns Ancient and Modern" (Ordinary Edition).

[11]

"Come rejoicing,
Faithful men, with rapture singing
Alleluya!
Monarch's Monarch,
From a holy maiden springing,
Mighty wonder!

Angel of the Counsel here,
Sun from star, he doth appear,
Born of maiden:
He a sun who knows no night,
She a star whose paler light
Fadeth never."

(Translation in "The English Hymnal," No. 22.)

[12]

"Lords, by Christmas and the host
Of this mansion hear my toast--
Drink it well--
Each must drain his cup of wine,
And I the first will toss off mine:
Thus I advise.
Here then I bid you all _Wassail_,
Cursed be he who will not say, _Drinkhail!_"

(Translation by F. Douce.)

[13] It is difficult to be sure of the authenticity of the verse
attributed to Jacopone. Many of the poems in Tresatti's edition,
from which the quotations in the text are taken, may be the work of
his followers.

[14]

"Come and look upon her child
Nestling in the hay!
See his fair arms opened wide,
On her lap to play!
And she tucks him by her side,
Cloaks him as she may!
Gives her paps unto his mouth,
Where his lips are laid.

* * * * *

She with left hand cradling
Rocked and hushed her boy,
And with holy lullabies
Quieted her toy....
Little angels all around
Danced, and carols flung;
Making verselets sweet and true,
Still of love they sung."

(Translation by John Addington Symonds in "The Renaissance in
Italy. Italian Literature" [1898 Edn.], Part I., 468.)

[15] "In the worthy stable of the sweet baby the angels are singing
round the little one; they sing and cry out, the beloved angels,
quite reverent