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Uno estello   , (bis) , (ter)
(A star)
Lyrics and music by Nicolas Saboly, known as Micoulau Sabòli. Traditional from Provence.
Tune La bouteille me réveille.
Nicolas Saboly has proposed three versions for this Christmas carol, whose first one is on familiar tune La bouteille me réveille (The Bottle Wakens Me).
This Christmas carol has been published on 1672 in the 6th book. It appears with number 43 in the Fr. Seguin’s new edition.
| 1st verse |
Uno estello
Dei plus bello
Meno lei Rèi de Tarsis,
De l’Ilo e de l’Arabìo,
Dins lou jas ount es Marìo
E lou Rèi de Paradis. | | A star
Among the most beautiful
Leads the kings from Tarsis,
The Island and the Arabia (1),
To the sheepfold where is Mary
And the King of Paradise. |
2nd verse |
Se soun riche,
Soun pas chiche:
Porton de fort bèu présent.
An uno mièjo dougeno
De grand caisso toutei pleno
De mirro, d’or e d’encèn. | | If they are rich,
They aren’t niggardly:
They bring very beautiful gifts.
They have half a dozen
Of great boxes all full
Of myrrh, gold and incense. |
3rd verse |
De gendarmo,
Sout leis armo,
N’i’a cinq o sièis regimen:
An un fort bèl equipage
D’estafié, lacai e page
Abiha superbamen. | | Men-at-arms,
Under arms,
There are five or six regiments:
They get a very beautiful equipage
Of valets (2), lackeys and pages
Superbly dressed. |
4th verse |
Dins la vilo,
Mai de milo
An mai de pòu que de mau;
An quàsi tous près l’alarmo
En cresènt que léi gendarmo
Loujaran dins seis oustau. | | In the town,
More than one thousand
Have more frightening than anything else;
They almost all have the price of the warning
Believing that men-at-arms
Will billet on their houses. |
5th verse |
D’aquelo ouro
Lou Rèi Mouro
A fa dire à tous sei gènt
Que qui plumarié la poulo,
Sarié pendu pèr sa goulo
Au mitan de Betelèn. | | At this time
The Moorish King (3)
Has made to all his servants say
That the one who should pluck the fowl
Will be hanged by his face
In the middle of Bethlehem. |
6th verse |
La noublesso,
Bèn apresso,
Vòu pas gis de councussioun;
Touto aquelo poupulasso
Dins lou jas vai prendre plaço,
Pèr vèire l’Adouracioun. | | The nobility,
Well hastened,
Don’t want any dishonest compromise;
All this rabble
In the sheepfold is going to take place,
To see the Worship. |
1. Lei Rèi de Tarsis, de l’Ilo e de l’Arabìo: the kings from Tarsis, the Island and the Arabia, i.e. the Magi, the Wise Men, the Three Kings: Belshazzar, Gaspard, and Melchior.
2. Estafié: valet who was holding the stirrup. Pejoratively, hired killer.
3. Lou rèi mouro: the Moorish king, i.e. Gaspard.
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