| |
Pastre dei mountagno  
(Shepherds from the mountains)
Lyrics by Nicolas Saboly, known as Micoulau Sabòli. Traditional from Provence.
Tune De la pastouro.
Nicolas Saboly has proposed four versions for this Christmas carol, whose fourth one is on familiar tune De la pastouro (Xxx) having its origins in Our-Lady-of-the-Doms, in Avignon.
This Christmas carol begins the 7th book holding 9 carols, published on 1673 by Michel Chastel. It appears with number 46 in the Fr. Seguin’s new edition.
| 1st verse |
Pastre dei mountagno,
La Divinita
A pres pèr coumpagno
Vosto umanita.
Soun dins la persouno
D’un petit Garçoun
Que soun Paire douno
Pèr vosto rançoun. | | Shepherds from the mountains,
The Divinity
Took as his companion
Your humanity.
Both are gathered in the person
Of a little Boy
His Father gives (offers)
For your ransom. |
2nd verse |
La troupo fidèlo
A pres gran pleisi
D’ausi la nouvello
Que l’Ange li a di.
An peno de crèire
Qu’acò sié verai;
Volon l’ana vèire
Aqui vounte jai. | | The faithful people
Where pleased
To hear the news
That Angel said them.
They can hardly believe
That this is true;
They want to go and see
Where he is sleeping. |
3rd verse |
Lou pu vièi dei pastre
E lou pu savènt
Counsulto leis astre
Se fara bèu tèms:
Dis qu’en luno pleno
Fai toujour tèms dre,
E quand l’auro meno
Dis que fai bèn fre. | | The oldest from the shepherds
And the most learned (wisest)
Consults the stars
[To know] if weather will be fine:
He says that with the full moon
There is always “straight weather (1)”,
And when breeze leads (blows)
He says it’s quite cold. |
4th verse |
Guihaume s’abiho,
Viestis soun jargau
E dis à sa fiho:
“Istas à l’oustau,
Debanas la sedo,
Gardas lou troupèu,
Mousès vòstei fedo,
Largas leis agnèu.” | | William gets dressed,
Puts on his coat
And says to his daughter:
“Stay home,
Wind the silk (2),
Look after the herd,
Milk your ewes,
Take the lambs out.” |
5th verse |
Se vesias sa femo,
Gounflo coume un biòu.
Jito de lagremo
Grosso coume d’iòu!
Es descounsoulado
Quand noun pòu ana
Vèire l’Acouchado
E l’Enfan qu’es na. | | You should see his wife,
Swollen up as an ox.
She sheds tears
As big as eggs!
She is sorry
She cannot go
And see the New Mother
And the Child who is born. |
6th verse |
Leis àutrei pastouro,
Deman de matin
Viroun lei sèt ouro,
Saran pèr camin.
Crese que sei mouflo
Li faran pas mau,
Car lou vènt que souflo
N’es pas gaire caud. | | The other shepherdesses,
Tomorrow morning
Around seven,
Will be on their way.
I think their mittens
Will do them no harm,
Because the wind blowing
Is not very hot. |
1. This weather is about mistral, a cold and dry wind that blows from North in the Rhône Valley and the Southern France.
2. Produced by the magnans, the silkworms.
Back music page - Top
© 2001-2024 Jean-Gabriel Maurandi.
|
