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Venès lèu vèire la piéucello  
(Let come soon to see the virgin)
Lyrics by Nicolas Saboly, known as Micoulau Sabòli. Traditional from Provence.
Tune Qu’ils sont doux, bouteille jolie !
This Christmas carol ends the first book holding 12 carols, publicated on 1668 by Pierre Offray. It appears with number 12 in the Fr. Seguin’s new edition.
A variant can be found in the Christmas carol from County of Nice O ! Cristou.
| 1st verse |
Venès lèu
Vèire la piéucello,
Venès lèu,
Genti pastourèu !
Soun enfant es pu blanc que la nèu
E trelusis coume uno estello.
Ai ! ai ! ai ! que la maire es bello !
Ai ! ai ! que l’enfant es bèu. | | Let come soon
To see the virgin,
Let come soon,
Kind shepherd boys!
Her child is whiter than the snow
And he sparkles as a star.
Ai ! Ai ! Ai ! How good-looking is the mother!
Ai ! Ai ! How handsome is the child. |
2nd verse |
Hòu ! Cristòu,
La nuech es fort claro.
Hòu ! Christòu,
Sauto vite au sòu
E vai-t’en au païs dei Jusiòu
Vèire Jèsu, qu’es causo raro.
Hòu ! hòu ! hòu ! me lève toutaro,
Hòu ! hòu ! toutaro li vòu. | | O! Christ,
The night is wide clear.
O! Christ,
Jump quickly to the ground
And go to Jew land
To see Jesus, it’s a rare thing.
O! O! O! I get up a few minutes,
O! O! In a few minutes I’ll go there. |
3rd verse |
Qu ’s aqui
Que bat de la sorto ?
Qu ’s aqui ?
« Sian vòsteis ami
Que pourten un parèu de cabrit ! »
Dison qu’es bon ami qu porto.
Ta ! ta ! ta ! druvès-nous la porto,
Ta ! ta ! venès nous druvi ! | | Who is there
Knocking such a way?
Who is there?
“We are friends
bringing a pair of kids!”
They say that is a good friend [the one] who brings.
Ta ! Ta ! Ta ! Open the door,
Ta ! Ta ! Come and open to us! |
4th verse |
Avès tort,
Vous e vòstei fiho,
Avès tort
De pica tan fort ;
Vàutrei, pastre, sias tous de butor,
Poudès jamai teni sesiho.
Chut ! chut ! chut ! que l’enfant soumiho,
Chut ! chut ! que lou petit dor. | | You are wrong,
You and your daughter,
You are wrong
To knock so strong;
You, shepherds, all of you are boors,
You can’t stay quiet (1).
Sh! Sh! Sh! The child is dozing,
Sh! Sh! The child is sleeping. |
5th verse |
Gros badau,
N’aurés jamai pauso !
Gros badau,
Teisas-vous un pau !
Parlas plan e marchas tan pu siau
Coume fai uno cacalauso.
Plan ! plan ! plan ! que l’enfant repauso ;
Plan ! plan ! leissas-l’en repau. | | Big onlooker (2),
You’ll never get rest!
Big onlooker,
Be quiet!
Speak gently and walk more silently
As does a snail.
Slowly! Slowly! Slowly! The child is resting;
Slowly! Slowly! Let him rest. |
1. Poudès jamai teni sesiho, you couldn’t know how to hold to the seat (from Roman sesilha, little seat), i.e. can’t stay quiet.
2. From Provençal badar, to stand open-mouthed, to be lost in wonder, to be flabbergasted.
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