Por un Español doy medio;
Por un Cubano—un doblón;
Y por un Dominicano
¡Doy vida y corazon!
in which a Spaniard is estimated at two-pence, a Cuban at a doubloon, and a Dominican at nothing less than 'life and soul.'
Here is some sage advice for a young lady seeking a husband:—
Chiquilla, si te casarás,
Cásate con un 'scribano;
Qu' aunque no tenga dinero,
Siempre con la pluma en mano—
recommending to her notice a hard-working clerk, who, although possibly deficient in fortune, has the power of earning one with his pen.
A baker is (in song) also considered an eligible match in preference to a tobacconist, for whereas the latter cannot always provide the necessaries of life, the former is at least sure of bread, chocolate (which every Cuban baker manufactures and sells), and a few 'reales,' at a very early hour of the day; as the original words clearly demonstrate:—
La mujer del tabaquero
No tiene nada seguro.
La mujer del panadero
Todo lo tiene seguro;
Que á las cinco de la mañana
Tiene el pan y el chocolate,
Y los tres reales, seguros.
The following is a specimen of a serenade, which is more remarkable for its local associations than for its originality:—
No te causas espanto, ne admiracion,
Que los que te cantan, tus amigos son.
Y abrime la puerta, que estoy en la calle;
Que dirán la gente?—Que es un desaire!
Cuatro rosas traigo, en cada mano dos,
No te canto mas, porque ya nos vamos.
Fear not, nor marvel greatly; for those who sing at your window are your truest friends. So, open wide your doors to me, for behold me in the street. And what will people say, then? Why sure, that you are slighting me! I bring with me four roses fresh—two in every hand; but I'll sing to you no more, because—we all must go elsewhere.