The Mudcat Café TM
Thread #28247   Message #2515585
Posted By: Monique
15-Dec-08 - 06:00 AM
Thread Name: Origin: Bring a Torch Jeanette Isabella
Subject: RE: Origin: Bring a Torch Jeanette Isabella
VENÈS LÈU VÈIRE LA PIÉUCELLO

Venès lèu vèire la piéucello;
Venès lèu genti pastourèu
Soun enfant es pus blanc que la nèu
E trelusis coume uno estello
Ai! ai! ai! que la maire es bello
Ai! Ai! que l'enfant es bèu.

Hòu! Cristòu,
La nuech es fort claro,
Hòu! Cristòu,
Sauto vite au sòu,
E vai-t'en au païs dei Jusiòu,
Vèire Jèsu, qu'es causa raro.
Hòu! hòu! hòu!, me lève toutaro
Hòu! hòu! toutaro li vòu

Qu's aqui
Que bat de la sorto?
Qu's aqui ?
Sian vòsteis ami
Que pourten un parèu de cabrit:
Dison qu'es bon ami qu porto.
Ta! ta! ta!, druvès-nous la porto
Ta! ta! Venès nous druvi!

Avès tort,
Vous e vòstei fiho
Avès tort,
De pica tan fort;
Vàutrei, pastre, sias tous de butor,
Poudès jamai teni sesiho
Chut! chut! chut! que l'enfant soumiho,
Chut! chut! que lou petit dor.

Gros badau,
N'aurès jamai pauso!
Gros badau,
Teisas-vous un pau!
Parlas plan, e marchas tan pu siau
Coume fa uno cacalauso.
Plan! plan! plan! que l'enfant repauso;
Plan! plan! leissas-l'en repau


Literal translation


Quickly come to see the virgin
Quickly come nice shepherds
Her child is whiter than the snow
And shines like a star
Ah! ah! ah! how beautiful the mother is!
Ah! ah! how beautiful the child is!

Hey! Christopher
The night is very clear
Hey! Christopher,
Quickly get up (lit. jump on the floor)
And go to the Jews' country
To see Jesus, for it's a rare thing.
Hey! Hey! Hey! I'm getting up at once
Hey! Hey! I'm going at once.

Who is here,
Knocking this way?
Who is here?
We are your friends
Who bring a couple of kids:
They say that he's a good friend who brings (something)
Knock! Knock! Knock! Open the door (for us)
Knock! Knock! Come and open up (for us)

You're wrong,
You and your daughter
You're wrong
To hit/knock this loud;
You, shepherds, you all are boors
You can never gather*
Hush! hush! hush! for the child is dozing
Hush! hush! for the little one is sleeping.

Big on-lookers
Won't you ever stop!
Big on-lookers
Hush a little!
Speak softly and walk as silently
As a snail does
Softly! softly! softly! for the child is resting
Softly! softly! Let him have a rest.

*You can never gather: implied, "without making so much noise"

I couldn't find anything about Jeannette and Isabelle either