Caterina asentada

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

Against the backdrop of medieval wars, the romance The Return of the Husband (La vuelta del marido), reflects a pan-European theme. The husband returns after a long absence, now unrecognizable, and tests his wife’s fidelity by telling her that her husband has died and has instructed him to marry her. Only when she refuses does he reveal his true identity.

Text:
Caterina sta asentada,    sta asentada 'n el balcón,
vido pasar un lindo soldado,    por su marido demandó.
- ¿Dime tú, lindo soldado,     si al mi marido lo vites?
mi marido 's alto y rubio,   alto y rubio y dragoles.
- Ya lo vidi al tu marido,    hay un mes que ya murió,
me dejó las señas, siñora,     que mos casemos los dos.
- Yo nunca me casaría      y nunca me vo a casar,
los bienes del mi marido      a los probes lo vo a dar.
Tres criaturas me dejó,   a las dos las vo a dar,
a la trecera es con mí,    con mí yo me la vo llevar.
- Caterina, mirame bien,    mírame el quen so yo:
yo so' l buen del tu marido,    alto y rubio y dragoles.
Caterina que lo vido,    en sus brazos ya se echó,
por pasar su descariño,    en sus brazos se durmió.

Translation:
Caterina is seated, she is seated on the balcony,
she saw a handsome soldier pass by, and asked about her husband.
– Tell me, handsome soldier, did you see my husband?
My husband is tall and blond, tall and blond and valiant.
– I saw your husband; it’s been a month since he died,
he left me the message, lady, that we two should marry.
– I would never marry, and never will I wed,
the goods of my husband I will give to the poor.
Three little children he left me; two of them I will give away,
the third one is with me, with me I will take her.
– Caterina, look at me well, look who I am:
I am your good husband, tall and blond and valiant.
Caterina, when she saw him, threw herself into his arms,
to ease her longing, in his arms she fell asleep.