The Zincali: An Account of the Gypsies of Spain

er exalted or however degraded, but is

ave the wild and barbarous tribes of Soudan, and the wandering Esquimaux, their ditties, which, however insignificant in comparison with the compositions of the former nations, still are entitled in e

ater certainty and exactness than in its songs. How truly do the warlike ballads of the Northmen and the Danes, their DRAPAS and KOEMPE-VISER, depict the character of the Goth; and how equally do the songs of the Arabians, replete with homage to th

feelings of the Gitanos. A Gypsy sees a pig running down a hill, and imagines that it cries 'Ustilame Caloro!' (62) - a Gypsy reclining sick on the prison floor beseeches his wife to intercede with the alcayde for the removal of the chain, the weight of which is bursting his body - the moon arises, and two Gypsies, who are about to steal a steed, perceive a Spaniard, and instantly flee - Juanito Ralli, whilst going home on his steed, is stabbed by a Gypsy who hates him - Facundo, a Gypsy, runs

nd frightful rocks of which the Spanish sierras are composed: a wicked mother is afraid to pray to the Lord with her own lips, and calls on her innocent babe to beseech him to restore peace and comfort to her heart - an imprisoned youth appears to have no earthly friend on

me the ha

I see th

balmy tear

collect

cter of the popular poetry of the south, and are accustomed to the redundancy and frequently tedious repetition of a more polished muse. It will be well to inform such that the greater part of the poetry sung in the south, and especially in Spain, is extemporary. The musician composes it at the stretch of his voice, whilst his fingers are tugging at the guitar; which style of composition is by no means favourable to a long and connected series of thought. Of course, the greater part of thi

Lopez, g

ing he w

s father's

ore to the

o now I

of the Gitanos. Those which appear in the present collection consist partly of such couplets, and partly of such as we have ourselves taken down, as soon as they originated, not unfrequently in the midst of a circle of these singular people, dancing and singing to their wild music. In no instance have they been subjected to modification; and the English translation is, in general, very faithful to the original, as will easily be perceived by referring to the lexicon. To those who may feel disposed to find fault with or criticise these songs, we have to observe, that

ces where the Gitano race most abounds. We wish, however, to remark, that they constitute scarcely a tenth pa

that it is a mere broken jargon, but it answers the purpose of those who use it; and it is but just to remark that many of its elements are of the most remote antiquity, and the most illustrious descent, as will be shown hereafter. We have uniformly placed the original by the side of t

OF THE

efuge me

rom dunge

ng to my w

my bab

he refuge s

s sweet f

ly to my w

en the la

sit my co

ling in

hand my mu

y quake w

e baby, pra

tless stil

and comfo

oor troub

uanito, day

with ca

carles of

rn to la

swine down

as e'e

runs he cr

eal me,

ot in the

which bind

anito Ral

y wash'd

forth up

m my ha

reach'd th

a dagg

d Jesus'

to kill

lass so fa

e the wan

up of wat

refus'd m

ht into the

to robb

fire to wa

have scorn'

ay them fo

pp'd my

down the vi

le babes

y have no c

sy co

charity

e the Lor

ouse and wa

d me fast

psy thief,

rds here h

he prison

scribe th

ypsy thief

rds here h

he night, th

in silen

eyes look le

the Spani

y knife I h

he vital

e to the s

er brothe

cell of da

death h

e'en the Ge

's race

came to ma

the Gent

th the Gen

their spe

e certain

will los

e prison me

ass they

me till I dri

the road

e from the

me rove

'd come a

them with

o bonny I

ugal I'

o'er the

came s

love and ki

ng his d

in a fortni

, O maid

of Egypt

love s

of Egypt

wert o

bonny cry

I'd thee

mother

ve none

e brother

a fool

d mother wr

d against

rst night tha

togethe

window, sw

ll whisp

ny, a wo

far off w

ipling's sp

ed my bos

eye bene

er effec

from the l

with ch

come, the

eet in

an ugly, l

has pun

take her

the Spa

ot of gen

g from Gy

l be no g

Egyptia

ose the mo

sy 'gan

aniard com

be on t

of harlotry

s from t

likes my s

me home

ove more dea

ther gal

unsheath my

is weasan

conqueror i

to me s

the Spanis

s his d

he Gypsy l

the Gy

t, when th

her silv

to him no

sy lass