Por que lloras blanca ninia

Jerusalem National Sound Archives placement: Y2856/4
Referenced and notated in: Romancero Sefardi de Marruecos, pg. 140, Editorial Alpuerto, Pardes Publishing House, 2018 Susana Weich-Shahak.

The theme of the husband going off to war, leaving his wife to care for the children, is common in pan-European ballads.

Text:
- ¿Por qué lloras, blanca niña? ¿por qué lloras, blanca flor?
- Ay, lloro por vos, caballero,   que os váis y me dejáis:
me dejáis chica y muchacha,  chiquita y de poca edad.
Metió la  mano a su bolso,  cien ducados la fue a dar.
- Para qué me abonda eso?  para  vino y para  pan?
-  Si no te abondare eso,   venderéis  media ciudad,
venderéis campos y viñas,   lo mejor de la ciudad.
Pasó un día y pasó otro,    un pajecito por la mar.
- Pajecito, pajecito,  si habís visto a mi marido por la mar?
- No lo he visto, no, señora,   ni tampoco sé quién es.
déme una señal, señora...
- Mi marido es alto y rubio....

Translation:          
– Why do you weep, white girl? why do you weep, white flower?
– Ah, I weep for you, my knight, for you are leaving and forsaking me:
you leave me young and tender, little and of few years.
He put his hand to his purse, a hundred ducats he went to give her.
– What will that avail me? for wine and for bread?
– If that is not enough for you, you shall sell half the city,
you shall sell fields and vineyards, the best of the city.
A day went by and another passed, a little page came by the sea.
– Little page, little page, have you seen my husband by the sea?
– I have not seen him, no, my lady, nor do I know who he is.
Give me a sign, my lady...
– My husband is tall and blond...