The language of the originals will convey an exact idea of the Rommany of Spain, as used at the present day amongst the Gitános in the fairs, when they are buying and selling animals, and wish to converse with each other in a way unintelligible to the Spaniards. We are free to confess that it is a mere broken jargon, but it answers the purpose of those who use it; and it is but just to remark that many of its elements are of the most remote antiquity, and the most illustrious descent, as will be shown hereafter. We have uniformly placed the original by the side of the translation; for though unwilling to make the Gitános speak in any other manner than they are accustomed, we are equally averse to have it supposed that many of the thoughts and expressions which occur in these songs, and which are highly objectionable, originated with ourselves. [292]
RHYMES OF THE GITÁNOS
Unto a refuge me they led,
To save from dungeon drear;
Then sighing to my wife I said,
I leave my baby dear.
Back from the refuge soon I sped,
My child’s sweet face to see;
Then sternly to my wife I said,
You’ve seen the last of me.
O when I sit my courser bold,
My bantling in my rear,
And in my hand my musket hold,
O how they quake with fear.
Pray, little baby, pray the Lord,
Since guiltless still thou art,
That peace and comfort he afford
To this poor troubled heart.
The false Juanito, day and night,
Had best with caution go,
The Gypsy carles of Yeira height
Have sworn to lay him low.
There runs a swine down yonder hill,
As fast as e’er he can,
And as he runs he crieth still,
Come, steal me, Gypsy man.
I wash’d not in the limpid flood
The shirt which binds my frame;
But in Juanito Ralli’s blood
I bravely wash’d the same.
I sallied forth upon my grey,
With him my hated foe,
And when we reach’d the narrow way
I dealt a dagger blow.