PASTORELA PASTORALE
Airas Nunez - (Galician) trans. James H. Donalson
Oí oj' eu a pastor cantar
d' u cavalgava per a ribeira,
e a pastor estava senlheira,
e ascondi-me pola ascuitar;
e dizia mui ben este cantar:
So-lo ramo verde florido
vodas fazen a meu amigo,
e choran olhos d' amor.

E a pastora parecia mui ben
e chorava e estava cantando,
e eu mui passo foi m'achegando
pola oir e sol non falei ren;
e dizia este cantar mui ben:
Ai estorninho do avelanedo,
cantades vos e moir' eu e peno,
d' amores ei mal.

E eu vi-a sospirar enton
e queixava-s' estando con amores,
e fazia guirlanda de flores;
des i chorava mui de coraçon
e dizia este cantar enton:
Que coita ei gran de sofrer,
amar amigo e non o ousar veer,
e pousarei so-lo avelanal.

Pois que a guirlanda fez a pastor
foi-se cantand', indo-se manselinho,
e tornei-m' eu a meu caminho,
ca de a nojar non ouve sabor;
e dizia este cantar a pastor:
Pola ribeira do rio
cantand' ia la virgo
d' amor.
- Quen amores ha
como dormirá,
ai bela frol!
 Today I heard a singing shepherdess
while I was ridinq on the river-bank;
the shepherdess was very good at it,
and I hid out so I could hear her sing;
she sang this song and did it very well:
Underneath the green and flowery branch
they're pledging now the vows of one I love,
and my eyes weep for love.

The shepherdess looked very good to me,
and she was weeping as she sang her song,
and very slowly, I went closer still,
but just to listen, and without a word;
and she was sinainq very well this song:
Ah, starlinq in the grove of filbert-trees,
sing on and let me die of grief alone
for love has stricken me.

And then it was I saw her heave a sigh
as she complained of suffering from her love,
and she was making up a wreath of flowers
and all the while she wept as from her heart
and then she sang the song that I repeat:
What worry must I undergo for this,
to love my friend when I dare not see him!
I'll rest beneath the filbert-tree.

And when the shepherdess had made her wreath
she went off singing in a modest way
and I went back and rode upon my way
for I had no desire to bother her;
and then the shepherdess went on to sing:
Along the river-bank
the virgin sang a song
of love
- When one's in love
how will he sleep
O pretty flower!
Trans. Copyright © James H. Donalson 2005 







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