I'oPULAR SONGS. 409 



sixteenth century, described the joy of the animals at the news of the birth 

 of the Holy Child, and gave an opening for musical effects, as the singers 

 imitated the crowing of the cock, the lowing of the ox, the bleating of the 

 goat, the braying of the ass, and the bellowing of a calf. It ran as follows : 



" Comme lea bestes autrefoia 

 Parloient mieux latin que francos, 

 Le coq, de loin voyant le fuiot, 

 S'ecria : Chrittui natna et (le Christ est ne) ; 

 Le bieuf, d'un air tout ebaubi, 

 Demande : Ubi, M, ubi ? (Ob, on, oil ?) 

 La chevre, se tordant le groin, 

 Respond que c'est a Bethltem. 

 Maistre baudet, curiums (curieux) 

 De 1'aller voir, dit : Eamiu ! (Aliens !) 

 Et limit sur sea pattes, lo veau 

 Beugle deux fois : Tola ! volo ! (je veux ! je veux !) " 



This was only an exception, for, as a general rule, the carol was so distin- 

 guished above all other religious songs for its pious and touching simplicity 

 that it might almost have passed for a canticle. The most picturesque and 

 emotional carols were those of Brittany, though all over France, in town 

 as well as in country, the carols preserved their former characteristics as 

 long as religion remained supreme in men's hearts. The whole song was 

 devoted to glorifying the Divine Messiah, and at most it contained a final 

 couplet praying God to pardon miserable sinners. But gradually human 

 thoughts displaced divine and religious thoughts in this popular song, and 

 the carols, while still retaining their original form and pretensions, became 

 changed into personal appeals addressed to Jesus and the Holy Virgin in 

 the interests of those who sang them. 



In the Beauce district, for instance, it is still the custom to sing 



" Honneur a la compagnie 



De cette maison. 

 A 1'entour de votre table, 



Nous voug saluons. 

 Nous sommcs v'nus de pais strange 



Dedans cos lieux : 

 C'est pour vous faire la demande 



De la part a Dieu." 



There is also a very long carol which was composed and sung during the 



3 G 



