the zincali-第59章
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going home on his steed; is stabbed by a Gypsy who hates him …
Facundo; a Gypsy; runs away at the sight of the burly priest of
Villa Franca; who hates all Gypsies。 Sometimes a burst of wild
temper gives occasion to a strain … the swarthy lover threatens to
slay his betrothed; even AT THE FEET OF JESUS; should she prove
unfaithful。 It is a general opinion amongst the Gitanos that
Spanish women are very fond of Rommany chals and Rommany。 There is
a stanza in which a Gitano hopes to bear away a beauty of Spanish
race by means of a word of Rommany whispered in her ear at the
window。
Amongst these effusions are even to be found tender and beautiful
thoughts; for Thugs and Gitanos have their moments of gentleness。
True it is that such are few and far between; as a flower or a
shrub is here and there seen springing up from the interstices of
the rugged and frightful rocks of which the Spanish sierras are
composed: a wicked mother is afraid to pray to the Lord with her
own lips; and calls on her innocent babe to beseech him to restore
peace and comfort to her heart … an imprisoned youth appears to
have no earthly friend on whom he can rely; save his sister; and
wishes for a messenger to carry unto her the tale of his
sufferings; confident that she would hasten at once to his
assistance。 And what can be more touching than the speech of the
relenting lover to the fair one whom he has outraged?
'Extend to me the hand so small;
Wherein I see thee weep;
For O thy balmy tear…drops all
I would collect and keep。'
This Gypsy poetry consists of quartets; or rather couplets; but two
rhymes being discernible; and those generally imperfect; the vowels
alone agreeing in sound。 Occasionally; however; sixains; or
stanzas of six lines; are to be found; but this is of rare
occurrence。 The thought; anecdote or adventure described; is
seldom carried beyond one stanza; in which everything is expressed
which the poet wishes to impart。 This feature will appear singular
to those who are unacquainted with the character of the popular
poetry of the south; and are accustomed to the redundancy and
frequently tedious repetition of a more polished muse。 It will be
well to inform such that the greater part of the poetry sung in the
south; and especially in Spain; is extemporary。 The musician
composes it at the stretch of his voice; whilst his fingers are
tugging at the guitar; which style of composition is by no means
favourable to a long and connected series of thought。 Of course;
the greater part of this species of poetry perishes as soon as
born。 A stanza; however; is sometimes caught up by the bystanders;
and committed to memory; and being frequently repeated; makes; in
time; the circuit of the country。 For example; the stanza about
Coruncho Lopez; which was originally made at the gate of a venta by
a Miquelet; (63) who was conducting the said Lopez to the galleys
for a robbery。 It is at present sung through the whole of the
peninsula; however insignificant it may sound to foreign ears:…
'Coruncho Lopez; gallant lad;
A smuggling he would ride;
He stole his father's ambling prad;
And therefore to the galleys sad
Coruncho now I guide。'
The couplets of the Gitanos are composed in the same off…hand
manner; and exactly resemble in metre the popular ditties of the
Spaniards。 In spirit; however; as well as language; they are in
general widely different; as they mostly relate to the Gypsies and
their affairs; and not unfrequently abound with abuse of the Busne
or Spaniards。 Many of these creations have; like the stanza of
Coruncho Lopez; been wafted over Spain amongst the Gypsy tribes;
and are even frequently repeated by the Spaniards themselves; at
least; by those who affect to imitate the phraseology of the
Gitanos。 Those which appear in the present collection consist
partly of such couplets; and partly of such as we have ourselves
taken down; as soon as they originated; not unfrequently in the
midst of a circle of these singular people; dancing and singing to
their wild music。 In no instance have they been subjected to
modification; and the English translation is; in general; very
faithful to the original; as will easily be perceived by referring
to the lexicon。 To those who may feel disposed to find fault with
or criticise these songs; we have to observe; that the present work
has been written with no other view than to depict the Gitanos such
as they are; and to illustrate their character; and; on that
account; we have endeavoured; as much as possible; to bring them
before the reader; and to make them speak for themselves。 They are
a half…civilised; unlettered people; proverbial for a species of
knavish acuteness; which serves them in lieu of wisdom。 To place
in the mouth of such beings the high…flown sentiments of modern
poetry would not answer our purpose; though several authors have
not shrunk from such an absurdity。
These couplets have been collected in Estremadura and New Castile;
in Valencia and Andalusia; the four provinces where the Gitano race
most abounds。 We wish; however; to remark; that they constitute
scarcely a tenth part of our original gleanings; from which we have
selected one hundred of the most remarkable and interesting。
The language of the originals will convey an exact idea of the
Rommany of Spain; as used at the present day amongst the Gitanos in
the fairs; when they are buying and selling animals; and wish to
converse with each other in a way unintelligible to the Spaniards。
We are free to confess that it is a mere broken jargon; but it
answers the purpose of those who use it; and it is but just to
remark that many of its elements are of the most remote antiquity;
and the most illustrious descent; as will be shown hereafter。 We
have uniformly placed the original by the side of the translation;
for though unwilling to make the Gitanos speak in any other manner
than they are accustomed; we are equally averse to have it supposed
that many of the thoughts and expressions which occur in these
songs; and which are highly objectionable; originated with
ourselves。 (64)
RHYMES OF THE GITANOS
Unto a refuge me they led;
To save from dungeon drear;
Then sighing to my wife I said;
I leave my baby dear。
Back from the refuge soon I sped;
My child's sweet face to see;
Then sternly to my wife I said;
You've seen the last of me。
O when I sit my courser bold;
My bantling in my rear;
And in my hand my musket hold;
O how they quake with fear。
Pray; little baby; pray the Lord;
Since guiltless still thou art;
That peace and comfort he afford
To this poor troubled heart。
The false Juanito; day and night;
Had best with caution go;
The Gypsy carles of Yeira height
Have sworn to lay him low。
There runs a swine down yonder hill;
As fast as e'er he can;
And as he runs he crieth still;
Come; steal me; Gypsy man。
I wash'd not in the limpid flood
The shirt which binds my frame;
But in Juanito Ralli's blood
I bravely wash'd the same。
I sallied forth upon my grey;
With him my hated foe;
And when we reach'd the narrow way
I dealt a dagger blow。
To blessed Jesus' holy feet
I'd rush to kill and slay
My plighted lass so fair and sweet;
Should she the wanton play。
I for a cup of water cried;
But they refus'd my prayer;
Then straight into the road I hied;
And fell to robbing there。
I ask'd for fire to warm my frame;
But they'd