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Dòu tèms de l’Empèri rouman  
(In the days of the Roman Empire)
Lyrics by Nicolas Saboly, known as Micoulau Sabòli. Traditional from Provence.
Tune Berger, va-t-en à tes moutons.
This Christmas carol begins the 4th book holding 8 carols, published on 1670 by Pierre Offray. It appears with number 25 in the Fr. Seguin’s new edition. It is part of the cycle entitled Histori de la naissenso dou Fis de Diou (History of God’s Son birth) made up of the seven carols from #25 to #31.
| 1st verse |
Dòu tèms de l’Empèri rouman,
Li a mai de milo e sièis cèns an,
Lorsque tenié l’Africo,
Que l’Uropo èro sout sa man,
L’Asìo e l’Americo ; | | In the days of the Roman Empire,
There is more than one thousand six hundred years (1),
When he had under his control Africa,
When Europa was at his hand,
Asia and America; |
2nd verse |
Cesar Augusto, l’emperour,
Diguèt ei prince de sa court :
« Qu’un chascun me secounde !
Fau qu’iéu sache dins quàuquei jour
Quand li a de gènt au mounde. » | | Caesar Augustus (2), the emperor,
Said to princes of his court:
“Let everyone assist me!
I want to know within a few days
How much people are on the world.” |
3rd verse |
Milo courrié, milo pietoun
S’en van pèr caires e cantoun ;
Fan pertout faire crido
Qu’un chascun dounara soun noum,
Sus peno de la vido. | | One thousand couriers, one thousand pedestrians
Are going up hill and down dale;
They make everywhere announce
That everybody will [have to] give his name,
On pain of life (3). |
4th verse |
Li avié, dins toutei lei ciéuta,
De coumissàri deputa
Pèr prendre leis òumage,
Lei noum, surnoum e qualita
Dei gènt dòu vesinage. | | There was, in all the cities,
Delegated representatives
To fetch tributes,
Names, nicknames and positions
Of people from neighbourhood. |
5th verse |
La troumpeto de Nazarèt
Metè leis abitant sus pèd.
Tout lou mounde s’emprèsso
D’ana vite dire soun fèt,
Per evita la prèsso. | | The trumpet of Nazareth
Set inhabitants on their feet.
Everybody hastens
To go quickly and say his fact,
To avoid the rush. |
6th verse |
Marìo diguèt à Jòusè :
« Chascun s’en vai, vous lou vesè ;
Ai ausi la troumpeto.
Parten deman, si me cresè,
E menen la saumeto ! » | | Mary said to Joseph:
“Everybody is going, you see;
I’ve heard the trumpet.
Let’s leave tomorrow, if you believe me,
And let’s ride the she-ass!” |
7th verse |
Lou lendeman, toui dous ensèn
Eisecutèron soun dessèn ;
Li avié trop grand journado.
Quand fuguèron à Betelèn,
Fuguè grand nue sarrado. | | The day after, both together
Accomplished their fate;
There was [a] too long journey.
When they arrived in Bethlehem,
It was great impenetrable (4) night. |
1. This Christmas carol was composed on 1670 AD at the latest (date of first publication).
2. Caius Julius Caesar Octavianus Augustus: (Rome, 63 BC - Nola, 14 AD), Roman emperor from 27 BC to 14 AD. He was Julius Caesar’s great-nephew and his heir. His reign – the “Augustan age” – appears as one among the brilliantest periods of the Roman history.
3. Sus peno de la vido (on pain of life), understand “on pain of losing life”, i.e. on pain of death.
4. Sarrado: building term, meaning impervious, impermeable.
| Bibliography | | • | Saboly (Nicolas), Histori de la naissenso dou Fis de Diou composado en noé (History of God’s Son birth composed in Christmas carols), Pierre Offray printer, Avignon, 1670, p. 2-3. | | • | Recueil des noëls composés en langue provençale (Collection of Christmas carols composed in Provençal language), reprint Fr. Seguin, printer and bookseller, Avignon, 1856, p. 29. |
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