RIU, RIU, CHIU (Villancico a 4)
Anon., Cancionero de Uppsala, Venice, 1556
Now attrib. Mateo Flecha (El Viejo)
Lyrics ed. Paco Marmol & Manolo Casaus

Coro
Riu, riu, chiu, la guarda ribera,
Dios guardó el lobo de nuestra cordera,
Dios guardó el lobo de nuestra cordera.

1.
El lobo rabioso la quiso morder,
Mas Dios poderoso la supo defender,
Quisola hacer que no pudiese pecar,
Ni aun original esta Virgen no tu viera.
2.
Este qu'es nacido es el gran monarca,
Christo patriarca, de carne vestido;
hanos redimido con se hacer chiquito,
a un qu'era infinito, finito se hiziera.
3.
Muchas profecias lo han profetizado,
Ya un nuestros dias lo hemos al consado
Adios humanado vemos en el suelo,
Y al hombre nelcielo porquel le quistera.
4.
Yo vi mil garzones que andaban cantando,
por aqui volando, haciendo mil sones,
diciendo a gascones: "Gloria sea en el cielo
y paz en el suelo," pues de sus nasciera.
5.
Este viene a dar a los muertos vida
y viene a reparar de todos la caída;
en la luz del dia aqueste mozuelo;
este es el cordero que San Juan dixera.
6.
Mira bien queos quadre que ansina lo oyera,
Que Dios no pudiera hacer la mas que madre,
El quera su padre hoy della nascio
Y el que la drio su hijo so dixera.
7.
Pues que ya tenemos lo que deseamos,
todos juntos vamos, presentes llevemos;
todos le daremos muestra voluntad,
pues a se igualar con el hombre viniera.

---

Partial free English translation

The river bank protects it-
As God kept the wolf from our lamb.

The rabid wolf tried to bite her
But God almighty defended her.
He wished to create her impervious to sin
Nor was this maid to embody original sin.

He who is now born is the mighty monarch,
Christ, our Holy Father, clad in flesh,
Has brought atonement by being born humble;
Though He is immortal, as mortal was created.

4.
I saw a thousand herons, singing, passing overhead,
With a thousand voices, exhulting,
"Glory be in the heavens, and peace on earth,
For Jesus has been born."

I will try and find a more satisfactory translation but most singing versions in English are abbreviated.

Links to Sheet music and versions, some with midi, at:
Riu Riu Chiu

Mateo Flecha (1481-1553) was born in Tarragona, a Catalan. At least one album of his compositions is available on cd; ensaladas mostly (a lyrical style employing different metrical forms but not really a medley), a form of which I am ignorant.

The lyrics in Mudcat DT are incomplete. Those posted by Trevor are much better, lacking only one verse (thread 106256). Spanish Pronunciation