1.
A cottage my castle is,
By the side of willows, wood, and oak copse;
A flock
Such as mine is of no great worth,
Yet it is all I need.
Ah! my lot is not so bad!
I am master of this little house.
2.
Tranquil I live by night and day,
Of aught from no quarter afraid am I;
Here dwell
No king more proud.
What need I more?
Ha! it is not so bad!
Peter is master in this little house.
3.
Almost at daybreak each morn I rise,
My sheep I drive to the pastures;
And then
'Neath the shade reclined I pass the day.
Where is there one more happy than I?
No! my lot is not so bad!
I of my flock the master am.
4.
The sons of the nobles in the castles,
Their hearts are black, their thoughts dull.
Joyful
(Always am I; to be sad)
I have not time enough for that.
Ah! my lot is not so bad!
In the cottage of which I the master am.
5.
Eating too much, and ever full,
The rich they never feel hunger;
Yet always
My rude good health they envy;
With money they cannot purchase that.
Ha! it is not so bad!
The cottage the lord of the castle is.
6.
Once on a time I grieved the Lord,
Sending me full of riches;
Of sorrow
Full then was I at heart,
My little house here suffering.
Lord! spare me!
Leave me the master of my little house.
A pretty cradle song, "Lo! Lo! ene Maitea" ("Sleep! Sleep! my
Darling"), by M. Larralde, a physician of St. Jean de Luz, won the
prize at Urrugne in 1859. It is written to a tune composed by the
Vicomte de Belzunce; the words have been printed in the "Lettres
Labourdines," par H. L. Fabre (Bayonne, 1869).
1. 1.
Lo! Lo! nere maitea! Sleep! Sleep! my darling!
Lo! ni naiz zurekin! Sleep! I am with thee!
Lo! Lo! paregabea! Sleep! Sleep! without peer!
Nigarrik ez-eghin; Shed no tears;
Goizegui da! Munduko It is too soon! Of the world,
Gelditzen bazira, If thou seest long days,
Nigarretan urtzeco For tears thou wilt have
Baduzu dembora. Enough time.
2. 2.
Lo! nik zaitut higitzen, Sleep! I am rocking thee,
Lo! Lo! nombait goza. Sleep! Sleep! and be still.
Es duzuya ezagutzen Dost thou not recognise
Amattoren boza? Of thy mother the voice?
Exai guzietaric From every foe
Zure begiratzen To guard thee
Bertze lanak utzirik. I quit all else.
Egonen naiz hemen. I am watching here.
3. 3.
Lo! Lo! nere aingerua! Sleep! Sleep! my angel!
Bainan amexetan, But borne on the wings of a dream
Dabilkasu burua; Thy spirit far away flies;
Hirria ezpainetan; A smile plays on thy lips;
Norekin othe zare? Who are with thee?
Non othe zabiltza? Where dost thou wander?
Ez urrun ama-gabe Not far without your mother
Gan ene bihotza. Go my (dear) heart.
4. 4.
Lo! Lo! zeruetarat Sleep! Sleep! toward the heavens
Airatu bazare, If thy spirit has flown,
Ez bihar zu lurrerat Do not to earth return
Ardiexi-gabe Without having obtained
Ungi zure altchatzeko To bring thee up well
Enetzat gracia; For me the favour;
Guciz eni hortako This duty is all
Zait ezti bizia! That is life to me!
5. 5.
Lo! Lo! gauak oraindik, Sleep! Sleep! now it is night,
Nombait du eguna; The day is still distant;
Ez da nihon argirik There is no other light
Baizik izarrena. Than that of the stars.
Izarrez! mintzazean The stars! At the word
Zutaz naiz orhoitzen; I am thinking of thee;
Zein guti, zure aldean And (I say) than thee
Duten distiratzen! A star is less bright.
6. 6.
Lo! Lo! dembora dela! Sleep! Sleep! while there is time!
Iduri zait albak I see that the dawn
Histen hari tuela Is making pale
Ekhi gabazkoak. The stars of the night.
Choriac arboletan The birds in the trees
Kantaz hasi dire; Their songs have begun;
Laster nere besoetan Soon on my bosom
Gochatuko zare. Thou wilt begin to play.
7. 7.
Bainan atzarri zare But thou art waking
Uso bat iduri. Like a sweet dove.
Una nik zembat lore(ac) See what flowers
Zuretzat ekharri! I have gathered for thee
Ametsetan ait-amez Tell me, in thy dream
Othe zare orhoitu? Didst thou think of me?
Ai! hirri maite batez Ah! what a dear smile
Baietz erradazu! Doth answer me, Yes!
The following belongs to a more quaint and popular class of lullaby,
or cradle songs; as it is so simple we do not give the Basque:--