The original melody employed, as a Cantus firmus, in the following composition, is to be found in an old German book published in the year 1570,—which, from its title and contents, appears to have contained the ritual of the Protestant Congregations of Zweibrücken and Neuburg. Even there it is called "A very ancient song (uraltes Lied) for Christmas-eve;" so that there can be no doubt that it is one of those old Roman Catholic melodies which Luther, on account of their beauty, retained in the Protestant service. It was formerly sung in the processions which took place on Christmas Eve, and is so still in those remove parts of Germany where people yet retain old customs. The words are written half in Latin and half in upper German dialect. I have translated them to fit the music, and endeavored to preserve, as much as I could, the simplicity of the original. R. L. de Pearsall
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