第 53 节
作者:
指环王 更新:2024-01-24 16:00 字数:9322
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 have scorn'd my prayer;
If I; to pay them for the same;
Had stripp'd my body bare。
Then came adown the village street;
With little babes that cry;
Because they have no crust to eat;
A Gypsy company;
And as no charity they meet;
They curse the Lord on high。
I left my house and walk'd about;
They seized me fast and bound;
It is a Gypsy thief; they shout;
The Spaniards here have found。
From out the prison me they led;
Before the scribe they brought;
It is no Gypsy thief; he said;
The Spaniards here have caught。
Throughout the night; the dusky night;
I prowl in silence round;
And with my eyes look left and right;
For him; the Spanish hound;
That with my knife I him may smite;
And to the vitals wound。
Will no one to the sister bear
News of her brother's plight;
How in this cell of dark despair;
To cruel death he's dight?
The Lord; as e'en the Gentiles state;
By Egypt's race was bred;
And when he came to man's estate;
His blood the Gentiles shed。
O never with the Gentiles wend;
Nor deem their speeches true;
Or else; be certain in the end
Thy blood will lose its hue。
From out the prison me they bore;
Upon an ass they placed;
And scourg'd me till I dripp'd with gore;
As down the road it paced。
They bore me from the prison nook;
They bade me rove at large;
When out I'd come a gun I took;
And scathed them with its charge。
My mule so bonny I bestrode;
To Portugal I'd flee;
And as I o'er the water rode
A man came suddenly;
And he his love and kindness show'd
By setting his dog on me。
Unless within a fortnight's space
Thy face; O maid; I see;
Flamenca; of Egyptian race;
My lady love shall be。
Flamenca; of Egyptian race;
If thou wert only mine;
Within a bonny crystal case
For life I'd thee enshrine。
Sire nor mother me caress;
For I have none on earth;
One little brother I possess;
And he's a fool by birth。
Thy sire and mother wrath and hate
Have vow'd against me; love!
The first; first night that from the gate
We two together rove。
Come to the window; sweet love; do;
And I will whisper there;
In Rommany; a word or two;
And thee far off will bear。
A Gypsy stripling's sparkling eye
Has pierced my bosom's core;
A feat no eye beneath the sky
Could e'er effect before。
Dost bid me from the land begone;
And thou with child by me?
Each time I come; the little one;
I'll greet in Rommany。
With such an ugly; loathly wife
The Lord has punish'd me;
I dare not take her for my life
Where'er the Spaniards be。
O; I am not of gentle clan;
I'm sprung from Gypsy tree;
And I will be no gentleman;
But an Egyptian free。
On high arose the moon so fair;
The Gypsy 'gan to sing:
I see a Spaniard coming there;
I must be on the wing。
This house of harlotry doth smell;
I flee as from the pest;
Your mother likes my sire too well;
To hie me home is best。
The girl I love more dear than life;
Should other gallant woo;
I'd straight unsheath my dudgeon knife
And cut his weasand through;
Or he; the conqueror in the strife;
The same to me should do。
Loud sang the Spanish cavalier;
And thus his ditty ran:
God send the Gypsy lassie here;
And not the Gypsy man。
At midnight; when the moon began
To show her silver flame;
There came to him no Gypsy man;
The Gypsy lassie came。
CHAPTER II
THE Gitanos; abject and vile as they have ever been; have
nevertheless found admirers in Spain; individuals who have taken
pleasure in their phraseology; pronunciation; and way of life; but
above all; in the songs and dances of the females。 This desire for
cultivating their acquaintance is chiefly prevalent in Andalusia;
where; indeed; they most abound; and more especially in the town of
Seville; the capital of the province; where; in the barrio or
Faubourg of Triana; a large Gitano colon has long flourished; with
the denizens of which it is at all times easy to have intercourse;
especially to those who are free of their money; and are willing to
purchase such a gratification at the expense of dollars and
pesetas。
When we consider the character of the Andalusians in general; we
shall find little to surprise us in this predilection for the
Gitanos。 They are an indolent frivolous people; fond of dancing
and song; and sensual amusements。 They live under the most
glorious sun and benign heaven in Europe; and their country is by
nature