he angels flying
over our field?
_R._ They are leaping
_J._ Down from above.
_R._ I couldn't do the thing; 'twould break my neck and legs."

[75]

"_J._ My child, canst find no lodging? Must Thou bear such
frost and cold?
_R._ Thou liest in cold swaddling-clothes! Come, put a
garment about Him!
_J._ Cover His feet up; wrap Him up delicately!"

[76] "Three eggs and some butter we bring, too; deign to accept it! A
fowl to make some broth if Thy mother can cook it--put some
dripping in, and 'twill be good. Because we've nothing else--we are
but poor shepherds--accept our goodwill."

[77]

"_J._ The best of health to thee ever, my little dear; when
thou wantest anything, come to me.
_J._ God keep thee ever!
_R._ Grow up fine and tall soon!
_J._ I'll take thee into service when thou'rt big enough."

[78] Jacopone da Todi, whose Christmas songs we have already considered,
was probably connected with the movement.

[79] An interesting and pathetic Christmas example is given by Signor
D'Ancona in his "Origini del Teatro in Italia."{35}

[80] Though the ox and ass are not mentioned by St. Luke, it is an easy
transition to them from the idea of the manger. Early Christian
writers found a Scriptural sanction for them in two passages in the
prophets: Isaiah i. 3, "The ox knoweth his owner and the ass his
master's crib," and Habakkuk iii. 2 (a mistranslation), "In the
midst of two beasts shall Thou be known."

[81] With this may be compared the fair still held in Rome in the Piazza
Navona just before Christmas, at which booths are hung with little
clay figures for use in _presepi_ (see p. 113). One cannot help
being reminded too, though probably there is no direct connection,
of the biscuits in human shapes to be seen in German markets and
shops at Christmas, and of the paste images which English bakers
used to make at this season.{10}

[82] Among the Scandinavians, who were late in their conversion, a
pre-Christian Yule feast seems to have been held in the ninth
century, but it appears to have taken place not in December but
about the middle of January, and to have been transferred to
December 25 by the Christian