[Illustration: A NEAPOLITAN "PRESEPIO." _Photo_] [_Meisenbach, Riffarth & Co., Munich_.] |109| The choir and people took their part in the singing; and dancing, to the old Germans a natural accompaniment of festive song, became common around the cradle, which in time the people were allowed to rock with their own hands.{47} "In dulci jubilo" has the character of a dance, and the same is true of another delightful old carol, "Lasst uns das Kindlein wiegen," still used, in a form modified by later editors, in the churches of the Rhineland. The present writer has heard it sung, very slowly, in unison, by vast congregations, and very beautiful is its mingling of solemnity, festive joy, and tender sentiment:-- [Illustration: Music] "Lasst uns das Kindlein wiegen, Das Herz zum Krippelein biegen! Lasst uns den Geist erfreuen, Das Kindlein benedeien: O Jesulein suess! O Jesulein suess! * * * * * Lasst uns sein Haendel und Fuesse, Sein feuriges Herzlein gruessen! Und ihn demuetiglich eren Als unsern Gott und Herren! O Jesulein suess! O Jesulein suess!"[38]{48} Two Latin hymns, "Resonet in laudibus" and "Quem pastores laudavere,"{49} were also sung at the _Kindelwiegen_, and |110| a charming and quite untranslatable German lullaby has come down to us:-- "Sausa ninne, gottes minne, Nu sweig und ru! Wen du wilt, so wellen wir deinen willen tun, Hochgelobter edler furst, nu schweig und wein auch nicht, Tuste das, so wiss wir, dass uns wol geschicht."{50}