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Tòni, Guihèn, Peiroun  
(Tony, William, Peter)
Lyrics by Nicolas Saboly, known as Micoulau Sabòli. Traditional from Provence.
Tune Tout mon plus grand plaisir.
This Christmas carol has been published on 1669 in the 3rd book. It appears with number 22 in the Fr. Seguin’s new edition. This carol uses the rondo form, and the concatenation stylistic device.
| 1st verse |
Tòni, Guihèn, Peiroun, Jouan, Esteve, Sauvaire,
Quitas vòstei moutoun, leissas vòstes araire, | | Tony, William, Peter, John, Stephen, Sauveur
Leave your sheep, leave your swing ploughs, |
Chorus |
Courrès, despachas-vous, venès vèire vitamen
L’Enfant emé la Maire. | | Let run, hurry up! Let come quickly to see
The Child with the Mother. |
2nd verse |
Quitas vòstei mòutoun, leissas vòstes araire,
Lou Fiéu de Dieu es nat, eici dins lou terraire. | | Leave your sheep, leave your swing ploughs,
Gos’s Son was born, here on soil. |
3rd verse |
Lou Fiéu de Dieu es nat, eici dins lou terraire,
Es dins un marrit jas tout descubert, pechaire ! | | Gos’s Son was born, here on soil,
He is in a bad sheepfold completely exposed, well! well! |
4th verse |
Es dins un marrit jas tout descubert, pechaire !
Quand sarés dins lou jas, veici ce que fau faire. | | He is in a bad sheepfold completely exposed, well! well!
When you will reach the sheepfold, here is what you have to do. |
5th verse |
Quand sarés dins lou jas, veici ce que fau faire :
Anas beisa lei pèd dòu Fiéu de Dieu lou Paire. | | When you will reach the sheepfold, here is what you have to do:
Let go and kiss Son’s feet of God the Father. |
6th verse |
Anas beisa lei pèd dòu Fiéu de Dieu lou Paire,
E recouneissès-lou coume voste bon fraire. | | Let go and kiss Son’s feet of God the Father,
And recognize him as your good brother. |
7th verse |
E recouneissès-lou coume voste bon fraire.
Quand l’aurés adoura, metès-vous à-n-un caire. | | And recognize him as your good brother.
When you will have worship him, take you in a corner (1). |
8th verse |
Quand l’aurés adoura, metès-vous à-n-un caire.
Li dèu veni trei Rèi, emai n’istaran gaire. | | When you will have worship him, take you in a corner.
Three Kings will come, but they won’t stay very long. |
9th verse |
Li dèu veni trei Rèi, emai n’istaran gaire.
Quand saran arriba, lei fagues pas mau traire. | | Three Kings will come, but they won’t stay very long.
When they will have arrived, don’t embarrass them (2). |
10th verse |
Quand saran arriba, lei fagues pas mau traire,
Car vous farien vira coume de debanaire. | | When they will have arrived, don’t embarrass them,
As they would make you turn as reels. |
11th verse |
Car vous farien vira coume de debanaire ;
Regardas soulamen aquélei bèus afaire. | | As they would make you turn as reels;
Only look at these beautiful things. |
12th verse |
Regardas soulamen aquélei bèus afaire,
E pièi gagnas dòu pèd coume leis amoulaire. | | Only look at these beautiful things,
And then bow (3) as do grinders. |
1. Caire: as English “cairn”, a heap of stones over a grave or as landmark on a mountain top. Here, idea is to be discreet, in a corner.
2. Mau traire means to feel ill at ease; lei fagues pas mau traire, don’t hurt them, don’t embarrass them.
3. Faire lou pèd en arrié, or just faire lou pèd: to greet while pulling the foot backwards, to bow.
| 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. 9-12. | | • | Recueil des noëls composés en langue provençale (Collection of Christmas carols composed in Provençal language), reprint Fr. Seguin, printer and bookseller, Avignon, 1856, p. 27. |
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