The Mudcat Café TM
Thread #164528   Message #3938296
Posted By: Richie
19-Jul-18 - 12:49 PM
Thread Name: Origins: James Madison Carpenter- Child Ballads 4
Subject: RE: Origins: James Madison Carpenter- Child Ballads 4
Hi,

Looking at the roots of Child 12. Lord Randal was known in Verona, Italy in 1629 from a broadside "L'Avvelenato" (The Poisoned Man). Anyone know this where to find this broadside and a translation?

Here's the A version in d'Ancona, Poesia popolare italiana, 2nd ed., 1906, p. 124, taken down in the country near Pisa before 1906:

"Where supped you yestereve,
Dear son mine, noble and wise?"
   "Oh, I am dying,
    Ohime!"
"Where supped you yestereve,
My noble knight?"
"I was at my lady's
   I am sick at the heart,
   How sick am I!
   I was at my lady's,
   My life's at an end."

"What supper did she give you,
Dear son mine, noble and wise?"
"Oh, I am dying,
   Ohime!"
"What supper did she give you,
My gentle knight?'
"An eel that was roasted,
   Mother, dear mother;
   I am sick at the heart,
   How sick am I!
   An eel that was roasted,
   My life's at an end."

From: British Ballads and their Continental Relations- Gerould (ref. Gardham last thread). The ballad has not been known in France and the transmission is a mystery. Comments?