El rey cuando amadrugaba 3

From Arboleras Vol. 2 - Romances Sefardies Tradicion Oral

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 Andalino. When the King forgives her with a “coral necklace,” the gesture alludes ironically to her execution by beheading. 

Text:
El rey cuando amadrugaba,    ande la reina posaba,
la topaba ' n el espejo,    mirando su hermosura,
dando loores al d'en Alto   que tan lucia la hay criado.
El rey por burlar con ella   tres dadicas le ahí dado
Tate, tate tu Andalino     tu mi primer namorado
- Dos hijicos de ti tengo,    y dos del rey s'hacen cuatro,
los del rey van a la guerra,   y los tuyos al mi lado
los del rey visto en sirma,   los tuyos sirma y brocado. -
los del rey benean mula       los tuyos mula y caballo
Ella qu'avoltó su cara,   al rey lo topo en su lado
Perdon, pardon, señor rey,  un suenio mabia soñado
El rey spanios espada la cabesa le hay cortado
- Ya te lo pedroni, reina,   con un yerdán corelado.


Translation:
The king, when he rose at dawn, he went to the queen's abode,
he found her at the mirror, gazing at her beauty,
giving praises to the One on High who had raised her so radiant.
The king, to jest with her, three little touches he gave her:
- Stop, stop, you Andalino, you are my first beloved.
- Two little sons by you I have, and two by the king so they make four;
the king’s sons go to war, and yours stay at my side;
the king’s sons I dress in silk, and yours in silk and brocade;
the king’s sons ride a mule, and yours a mule and a horse.
She turned her face, and found the king at her side.
- Pardon, pardon, my lord king, a dream I had been dreaming.”
The king drew his sword; her head he has cut off.
- I have pardoned you, queen, with a necklace of coral.