El rey cuando amadrugaba 2

From Kanta Gayiko, Judeo-Spanish songs from Bulgaria, 2025

Orit Perlman : voice
Yarden Erez : accomapanyment and arrangements

This romance, La reina adúltera ("The Adulterous Queen"), recounts the story of a queen who believes she is confiding in her lover, unaware that it is her husband the King, who is actually listening. In her speech, she describes many times the ways in which she favors her lover’s children over the King’s, a motif common in Jewish versions of this romansa, suggesting a transgression that goes beyond adultery alone. The narrative is rooted in medieval French sources involving King Chilperic, his wife Fredegunda, and her lover Landarice, known by various names in Sephardic ballad tradition, and here called Angelino. When the King forgives her with a “coral necklace,” the gesture alludes ironically to her execution by beheading. The final scene appears only in the Bulgarian variants: the queen, fearing for her life, turns to her lover for counsel. He coldly replies, “Having the King for a husband, why did you seek another?”

Lyrics:
El rey kuando amadrugava,    ande la reina pozava,
la topava 'n el espejo,    mirando su ermozura.
- Dos ijikos del rey tengo,    i dos tuyos s'azen kuatro,
los del rey komen desparte,    i los tuyos kon mí en djunto.
Los del rey son kavaleros,    i los tuyos son kavayeros,
los del rey visto de panyo,   los tuyos de plata i sirma. -
Eya ke se aboltava,   el rey ya se demudava.
- Pedrónamelo, senyor rey,    k'esto fue una sonyada.
- Ya te lo pedrono, reina,   kon un yerdán korolado.
- Anjelino, Anjelino,    tú premer m'enamorado,
dame tú a mí un konsejo,    ke del rey vo ser matada.
- Para mí tengo konsejo,   para ti, va búshkatelo,
tuviendo tú marido rey,  ¿para kválo bushkas otro?

Translation:
The king rose early and went to the queens abode
where she was at her mirror, admiring her own beauty
– I have two sons from the king and two from you make four,
those of the king eat alone, and yours together with me.
The king’s sons ride simple horses, yours ride steeds
The kings' sons are dressed in wool and yours in silver and silk cloth
- When she turned and saw the king she paled
- Forgive me king , for I must have been dreaming
- I will forgive you queen, with a red coral necklace 
- Anjelino, Anjelino, you are my best love
Will you give me advice the kings wants to kill me
- For me I have advice, for you, go look for it
If you have a king for a husband, why would you look for another?