Tres hermanicas 2

From Morenika Izmirlia - Judeo-Spanish songs from Smyrna, 2020

The title given to this romance is Hero and Leandro, from an ancient legend (in poems by Ovid, Virgilio, Horacio and other poets) about the loved woman locked in a castle in the middle of the sea but her lover swims across, she throws him her braids, he goes up and she serves him fine meals.

Lyrics:
Tres hermanicas eran, tres hermanicas son,
las dos ya stan casadas, el amor,  la chica’n pedrición.
Su padre con vergüenza  a Rodes la mandó.
En medio del camino, el amor,  castillo le fraguó,
de piedra minudica,  sisicos derredor,
ventanas altas l’hizo, el amor,  que no suba varón.
Varón que ya lo supo  a nadar ya se echó,
sus brazos hizo remos,  el amor,  su  puerpo navegó.
Nadando y navegando  al castillo arribó,
le echó sus entrenzadas, el amor,  arriba lo subió.
Le lavó pieses y manos,  la aguica se bebió,
ya le traie a comeres ,  el amor, piscado con limón.
Ya le traie a beberes   vino de treinta y dos,
ya le trae mezelikos,  el amor, almendras de Stambol.

Translation:
Three little sisters there were, three little sisters there are,
The two are already married, my love, the youngest in sorrow.
Her father in disgrace to Rhodes sent her away,
In the middle of the road, my love, a castle he forged for her,
Of very small stone, little pebbles all around,
High windows he made for her, my love, that no man might climb.
The man who learned of it into the water he plunged,
His arms he made into oars, my love, his body sailed along.
Swimming and sailing to the castle he arrived,
She threw down her braided hair, my love, it lifted him up to her.
She washed his feet and hands the water he drank,
Already she brings him food, my love, fish cooked with lemon.
Already she brings him drink, wine of thirty-two,
Already she brings him sweets, my love, almonds of Istanbul.