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Provençal song

The Galley Slave

In Provençal: Lou Galerian

Song no. 14 Frédéric Mistral,

Song no. 14 from the collection Frédéric Mistral et les félibres by Frédéric Mistral (1830-1914). Public domain. Source spelling: mistralienne, reproduced unchanged.

Text

Iéu ausi amount lou gau Que canto sus lou teume Adiéu Patroun Sigaud Lou brande de Sant-Èume Lou gau o noun lou gau Fasèn coume se l'èro Lanliro, lanlèro E vogo la galèro Iéu ausi lou siblet Dóu mèstre d'equipage Adiéu lou risoulet Dei fiho dóu rivage Siblet o noun siblet Fasèn coume se l'èro Lanliro, lanlèro E vogo la galèro Iéu vèsi Garlaban Emé la Santo-Baumo Fau metre pèd sus banc La Madaleno embaumo S'acò's pas Garlaban Fasèn coume se l'èro Lanliro, lanlèro E vogo la galèro Iéu ausi lou trignoun De Santo Reparado De Naple en Avignoun N'avèn qu'uno estirado Trignoun o trignoun Fasèn coume se l'èro Lanliro, lanlèro E vogo la galèro Iéu vèsi au miradou Rosoun touto esmougudo Emé soun moucadou Nous fai la bèn-vengudo S'es pas lou miradou Fasèn coume se l'èro Lanliro, lanlèro E vogo la galèro

English translation of the full text forthcoming.

Notes

Lou Galerian follows a galley slave who recognizes, or believes he recognizes, the landmarks of his voyage: the crowing of the cock, the boatswain's whistle, the Garlaban and the Santo-Baumo, the bell of Santo Reparado between Naples and Avignon, and finally a woman waving her handkerchief in welcome. Each verse closes on the same doubt and the same resignation: whether or not it truly is what he thinks he sees, the galley must row on as if it were.

Notable words

ProvençalFrench
galèrogalère
sibletsifflet
equipageéquipage
trignouncarillon
miradoubelvédère
moucadoumouchoir

Glosses are given in French, as delivered by our lexicographic source; an English gloss is not yet available for these words.

Source: Frédéric Mistral, Frédéric Mistral et les félibres, song no. 14. Public domain. Transcription and formatting by Lingua Nostra.

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