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Cerqués plus dins un marrit estable  
(Don’t search no more in a poor cowshed)
Lyrics by Nicolas Saboly, known as Micoulau Sabòli. Traditional from Provence.
Tune de la bohémienne.
The 2nd and 4th verses allude to extension of Saint-Pierre square in Avignon, by demolition of part of the old jails.
This Christmas carol has been published on 1669 in the 3rd book. It appears with number 24 in the Fr. Seguin’s new edition.
| 1st verse |
Cerqués plus dins un marrit estable
Un enfant jòli, petit, mignoun :
L’Enfant Jèsu, tan bèu, tan amirable,
Lou troubarès eici dins Avignoun. | | Don’t search no more in a poor cowshed
A pretty child, small, cute:
The infant Jesus, so much handsome, so much admirable,
You will find him here in Avignon. |
2nd verse |
Pèire l’amo bèn, de talo sorto
Que lou vòu louja dins soun oustau :
Tan pèr ubri que pèr sarra la porto,
Lou benurous se countènto dei clau. | | Peter (1) well loves him, in such a way
That he wants to put him up in his house:
As well to open as to shut the door,
The lucky contents himself with the keys. |
3rd verse |
Se vèi-ti dins toutei leis istòri
Un pu grand e pu puissant Segnour ?
Despièi qu’éu a manifesta sa glòri,
Grans e petit li van faire la court. | | Was it seen in all the stories
A greater as more powerful Lord?
Since he has indicated his glory,
Old and young alike go and pay court to him. |
4th verse |
Pèr li faire uno fort bello plaço,
Li aven mes la mita dei presoun,
Pèr counteni lou pople que s’amasso,
Toutei lei fèsto, davans sa meisoun. | | To make him a very beautiful square,
We have put at this half the jails,
To hold people gathering,
At each feast, in front of his house. |
5th verse |
Mai de tout n’en fau douna la glòri
E l’ounour à moussu Lomellin ;
Fau qu’Avignoun celèbre sa memòri
Jusques à tan que lou mounde age fin. | | But for all [of this] we have to give all the credit
And honour to Mr Lomellin (2);
It’s necessary Avignon celebrates his memory
Until the world ends. |
1. Pèire: Peter. In this carol, Peter gets keys of the jail. In the Christian tradition, Saint Peter gets keys of the paradise.
2. Praise of Laurent Lomellini, papal legate in Avignon, from 1665 to 1670.
| Bibliography | | • | Saboly (Nicolas), Lei noé de San Pierre de l’année 1669 (Christmas carols of Saint Peter for the year 1669), Pierre Offray printer, Avignon, 1669, p. 14-15. | | • | Recueil des noëls composés en langue provençale (Collection of Christmas carols composed in Provençal language), reprint Fr. Seguin, printer and bookseller, Avignon, 1856, p. 28-29. |
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