THE MUFTI. [1]
Mahameta, per Giourdina,
Mi pregar sera e matina.
Voler far un paladina
De Giourdina, de Giourdina;
Dar turbanta, e dar scarrina,
Con galera, e brigantina,
Per deffender Palestina.
Mahameta, per Giourdina,
Mi pregar sera e matina.
(To the TURKS.)
Star bon Turca Giourdina?
[1]
To Mahomet for Jourdain,
I pray night and day.
I wish to make a paladin
Of Jourdain, of Jourdain.
Give him a turban, and give him a sword,
With a galley and a brigantine,
To defend Palestine.
To Mahomet for Jourdain
I pray night and day.
(To the TURKS.).
Is Jourdain a good Turk?
TUR. Hi Valla. Hi Valla. [Yes, by Allah!]
MUF. (singing and dancing). Ha la ba, ba la chou, ba la ba, ba la da.
TUR. Ha la ba, ba la chou, ba la ba ba la da. [2]
[2]
Thus separated, these words have no sense; but by joining and
correcting them, we have: Allah baba, hou, Allah hou, which
are really Turkish, and which signify, "God my Father; God my
Father." (Auger.)
SCENE XI.—TURKS, singing and dancing. Second entry of the BALLET.
SCENE XIII.—THE MUFTI, DERVISHES, MR. JOURDAIN, TURKS, singing and dancing.
The MUFTI returns, wearing on his head the state turban, which is of enormous size, and adorned with lighted candles, four or five rows deep; he is accompanied by TWO DERVISHES bearing the Koran, and wearing cone-shaped caps also adorned with lighted candles.