Hi,

This is a translation of an Italian version recovered by G. B. Bolza who first recovered a version in 1865. I've added the translation to my post dated: 19 Jul 18 - 01:25 PM from this which is the entire version.

In his notes Child says of this version, "A, 'L'Avvelenato,' Bolza, Canzoni popolari comasche, No 49, Sitzungsberichte of the Vienna Academy (philos. histor. class), LIII, 668, is of seventeen stanzas, of seven short lines, all of which repeat but two: the 8th and 10th stanzas are imperfect."

It's taken from Alessandro D'ancona: La Poesia Popolare Italiana (Livorno, 1878), pp. 108-111. Translated in Folk-ballads of Southern Europe edited by Sophie Jewett, Katharine Lee Bates, 1913.

THE POISONED LOVER ("L'Avvelenato")

(Piedmontese)

1. "Where were you yesterevening,
Dear son so fair and noble?
Where were you yesterevening?
"I have been with my sweetheart;
O Lady Mother, sick at heart am I!
I have been with my sweetheart;
O woe is me! O woe is me! I die!"

2. "What supper did she give you,
Dear son so fair and noble?
What supper did she give you?"
"A little eel a-roasted;
O Lady Mother, sick at heart am I!
A little eel a-roasted;
O woe is me! O woe is me! I die!"

3. "And did you eat the whole, then,
Dear son so fair and noble?
And did you eat the whole, then?"
"Only the half I've eaten;
O Lady Mother, sick at heart am I!
Only the half I've eaten;
O woe is me! 0 woe is me! I die!"

4. "What did you with the leavings,
Dear son so fair and noble?
What did you with the leavings?"
"I gave them to my good hound;
O Lady Mother, sick at heart am I!
I gave them to my good hound;
O woe is me! O woe is me! I die!"

5. "Where have you left your good hound,
Dear son so fair and noble?
Where have you left your good hound?"
"It fell dead in the roadway;
O Lady Mother, sick at heart am I!
It fell dead in the roadway;
O woe is me! O woe is me! I die!"

6. "Oh, she has given you poison,
Dear son so fair and noble!
Oh, she has given you poison!"
"Now call to me the doctor;
O Lady Mother, sick at heart am I!
Now call to me the doctor;
O woe is me! O woe is me! I die!"

7. "Why do you want the doctor,
Dear son so fair and noble?
Why do you want the doctor?"
"That he may see what ails me;
O Lady Mother, sick at heart am I!
That he may see what ails me;
O woe is me! 0 woe is me! I die!

8. "Now call to me the curate;
O Lady Mother, sick at heart am I!
Now call to me the curate;
O woe is me! O woe is me! I die!"

9. "Why do you want the curate,
Dear son so fair and noble?
Why do you want the curate?"
"That I may make confession;
O Lady Mother, sick at heart am I!
That I may make confession;
O woe is me! 0 woe is me! I die!

10. "Now call to me a lawyer;
O Lady Mother, sick at heart am I!
Now call to me a lawyer;
O woe is me! 0 woe is me! I die!"

11. "Why do you want a lawyer[1],
Dear son so fair and noble?
Why do you want a lawyer?"
"My will to draw and witness;
O Lady Mother, sick at heart am I!
My will to draw and witness;
0 woe is me! 0 woe is me! I die!"

12. "What will you leave your mother,
Dear son so fair and noble?
What will you leave your mother?"
"I leave to her my palace;
O Lady Mother, sick at heart am I!
I leave to her my palace;
O woe is me! 0 woe is me! I die!"

13. "What will you leave your brothers,
Dear son so fair and noble?
What will you leave your brothers?"
"My carriage and my horses;
O Lady Mother, sick at heart am I!
My carriage and my horses;
O woe is me! O woe is me! I die!"

14. "What will you leave your sisters,
Dear son so fair and noble?
What will you leave your sisters?"
"A dowry for their marriage;
O Lady Mother, sick at heart am I!
A dowry for their marriage;
O woe is me! O woe is me! I die!"

15. "What will you leave your servants,
Dear son so fair and noble?
What will you leave your servants?"
"The road to go to mass on;
O Lady Mother, sick at heart am I!
The road to go to mass on;
O woe is me! 0 woe is me! I die!"

16. "What will you leave for your funeral,
Dear son so fair and noble?
What will you leave for your funeral?"
"A hundred and fifty masses;
O Lady Mother, sick at heart am I!
A hundred and fifty masses;
O woe is me! O woe is me! I die!"

17. "What will you leave your sweetheart,
Dear son so fair and noble?
What will you leave your sweetheart?"
"The gallows-tree to hang her;
0 Lady Mother, sick at heart am I!
The gallows-tree to hang her;
0 woe is me! O woe is me! I die!"

_____________

1. perhaps instead "notary"