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Un pau après lei tempouro  
(Soon after the “four-times”)
Lyrics by Nicolas Saboly, known as Micoulau Sabòli. Traditional from Provence.
Tune L’autre jour, dans sa colère...
This Christmas carol has been published on 1668 in the 1st book. It appears with number 6 in the Fr. Seguin’s new edition.
| 1st verse |
Un pau après lei tempouro,
Lei pastres èron debout ;
Saurriéu pas bèn dire quouro,
Fasien chut, sèns dire mout.
Lou tèms, negre coume un Mouro,
Èro sour en aquelo ouro (twice)
Coume uno gorjo de loup. | | Soon after the “four-times (1)”,
The shepherds were up;
I couldn’t say when,
They were being silent, without a word.
The weather, black as a Moor,
Was muted in this hour (twice)
As a wolf throat. |
2nd verse |
Lorsqu’au travers d’un gros nivo,
Que s’ubrié de tout coustat,
Sourtèt uno flamo vivo
Que cassè l’ouscurita.
Alor un chascun s’abrivo
De crida : « Qu i’a là ? qui vive ? (twice)
D’ounte vèn tan de clarta ? » | | When through a big cloud,
Opening from all sides,
Went out a bright flame
That dispelled darkness.
Then everyone hastens
To shout: “Who is there? Who goes there? (twice)
From where comes such a brightness?” |
3rd verse |
Quaucarèn de plus estrange
Arribèt après l’uiéu :
Li perdèron rèn au change,
Avien grand gau d’èstre viéu
Pèr ausi canta leis ange
Qu’entounavon lei louange (twice)
E la glòri dòu grand Diéu. | | Something stranger
Happened after the flash of lightning:
They didn’t lose on the exchange,
They were full of a great joy to be alive
And hear the angels starting
Singing praises (twice)
And glory of the Great Lord. |
4th verse |
Aquesto fuguè plus bello :
Un ange foundèt en bas
Plus subit qu’uno iroundello.
Se pausè sus un roucas
Pèr li dire la nouvello
Que d’uno maire piéucello (twice)
Diéu èro na dins un jas. | | This was more beautiful:
An angel swooped down
More sudden than a swallow.
He landed on a rock
To say the news
That from a virgin (twice)
God was born in a cowshed. |
1. In Catholicism, the “four-times” means a 3 fast days period (Wednesday, Friday, Saturday) during first week of each season.
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