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Sus lou coutau  
(On the hillside)
Lyrics by Nicolas Saboly, known as Micoulau Sabòli. Traditional from Provence.
Tune Dis-moi, Grisel (Tell me, Grisel).
This Christmas carol has been published on 1670 in the 4th book. It appears with number 28 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 |
Sus lou coutau
Lei pastres en repau,
Près de soun cabanau,
Gardavon lou bestiau
Que noun prenguèsse mau.
La negro nue li avié gara la visto,
Uno clarta dòu cèu à l’emprevisto
Venguè
E leis esblouïguè. | | On the hillside
The shepherds resting,
Near their shed,
Were looking after the livestock
[In order] that they don’t catch cold.
The dark night had removed their sight,
A brightness in the sky, unexpectedly,
Came
And dazzled them. |
2nd verse |
N’i’aguè bèn nòu,
Pulèu mato que fòu,
Que, de la malo pòu,
Dounèron tous au sòu,
E de cap e de còu.
L’ange diguè : « Sus ! Levas-vous, bregado !
Que vosto pòu à la fin sie passado :
Iéu siéu
Lou messagié de Diéu. | | There were may be nine,
Quite silly than crazy,
That, because of bad scare,
Hit on the ground,
With head and neck.
The angel said: “Upon! Get up, shepherds!
May your fear be got over:
I’m
The messenger of God. |
3rd verse |
« Diéu a douna
Soun Fiéu Jèsu qu’es na,
Que vèn vous perdouna.
Vous li fau tous ana,
Vous li vole mena.
Vous troubarés aquéu Diéu adourable
En Betelèn, dins un marrit estable,
Au sòu,
Près d’un ase e d’un biòu. » | | “God has given
His Son Jesus who was born,
Who comes to forgive you.
All of you have to go,
I want lead you there.
You will find this sweet God
At Bethlehem, in a poor cowshed,
On the ground,
Near a donkey and an ox.” |
4th verse |
Aurien ausi
Voulountier, à plesi,
Un councert bèn chausi
Qu’avié deja brusi ;
Mai n’avien pas lesi.
D’ange disien dessus sei lut d’ivòri :
« Au Diéu d’en aut sie tout ounour e glòri !
E pas
Eis ome d’eilabas ! » | | We would listen
Gladly, for pleasure,
A concert well choosen
That was already heard;
But we didn’t have leisure.
Angels were singing on their ivory lute:
“For God from on high be honor and glory!
And peace
To men here below.” |
| 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. 7-8. | | • | Recueil des noëls composés en langue provençale (Collection of Christmas carols composed in Provençal language), reprint Fr. Seguin, printer and bookseller, Avignon, 1856, p. 32. |
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