The Horseman and the Shepherdess
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I - Tell me, shepherdess, what do you do, here alone? - I am making a bouquet of broom blossoms. - - Tell me, shepherdess, whom for do you make it? - For Yves Le Henaff, my most beloved one. -. - If it is Yves Le Henaff, they say about your husband That seven years ago he was buried in "oats earth". - (1) - If my husband is dead, God may pardon him! If he is still alive, God may console him - If he is still alive, God may console him! And since I am his wife, God may comfort me! - Come with me, shepherdess, under the leafy grove. I'll choose for you a dress of scarlet cloth. - - With your leave, horseman, with your leave, I shan't - A dress of coarse canvas is good enough for me. A dress of coarse canvas once it is cleaned and bleached Is enough for the like of me to go to mass. - Come with me, shepherdess, under the leafy grove, The weather is so cold, and the wind is so fierce. |
- O, with your leave, horseman, with your leave I shall not. Lest I'd harm my honour and show disrespect to my husband. - What did you say, shepherdess, that his name was? -Thank you for asking. Now it is "Yves Le Henaff". - - If it is Yves Le Henaff, they say about your husband That seven years ago he was buried in "oats earth". - - If my husband is dead, God may pardon him! If he is still alive, God may comfort him! - As he got disheartened, thus discussing with her He took off his gloves to palaver with her. - If my husband is dead, as you say, I'm sure that my diamond in on one of your fingers. - Tell me, shepherdess, if I would be well lodged In the inn where you are appointed to guard the sheep? - - O yes, said she, horseman, lodged you will be well And there are stables, too, to put your horses in. And there are stables, too, to put your horses in. And soft feather beds for you sleep in. - |
II The horseman goes and asks for a dinner To be served to him by the shepherdess. - With your leave, the landlady said, this can't be Never in the seven years she was here did she serve to anyone. The horseman came and offered her a drink Which the shepherdess happened to accept. The shepherdess happened to accept it. The landlady rushed to slap her in the face. - The shame of it! he said, insolent landlady, To slap my wife's face, in my presence! Tell me, shepherdess, where are your clothes Because, when I left from home, you were well dressed? - In fact, she said, horseman, they were used to clothe my son. He's been going to school for seven years. A well-educated child. He's been going to school for seven years. A well-educated child. But if you told the truth, he'll never see his father!... Note (1): cultivable soil |
