El rey que muncho madruga

Jerusalem National Sound Archives placement: NSA Yc1038/1
Referenced and notated in: Romansero Sefardi de Oriente pg. 129
Editorial Alpuerto S.A. 2010 Susana Weich-Shahak

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 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 Andaleto. When the King forgives her with a “coral necklace,” the gesture alludes ironically to her execution by beheading. There are versions of this romansa in the North Moroccan tradition as well.


Lyrics:  
El rey que muncho madruga     ande la reina se ía.
La reina staba durmiendo     con sus cabellos deshechos.
Tomó peine d'oro en mano,   pein ndose sus cabellos;
tomó spejo d'oro en mano,   mirándose su hermosura,
dando loores al d'en Alto   que tan lucia la hay criado.
El rey, por burlar con ella,    dos dadicas le hay dado.
- State, state, Andaleto,     tú me sos primer namorado;
dos hijicos míos tengo  y los del rey se hacen cuatro:
los dos míos en mi lado   y los del rey van a la guerra. -
Ella que avoltó su cara     al rey se lo topó en su lado.
- Pardón, pardón, siñor rey,  esfueño y me hay soñado.
El rey esvanió su espada     la cabeza l'hay cortado.
- Ya te lo pedroní, mi reina,  con un yerdán corelado.

Translation:
The king who rises very early went to where the queen was.
The queen was sleeping with her hair undone.
She took a golden comb in her hand, combing her hair;
she took a golden mirror in her hand, looking at her beauty,
giving praises to the One Above who created her so radiant.
The king, to jest with her, gave her two little touches.
– Stay, stay, Andaleto, you are my first beloved;
I have two sons of mine and the king’s make four:
my two are at my side and the king’s go to war.
She who turned her face found the king at her side.
– Pardon, pardon, my lord the king, I was dreaming, and I dreamed this.
The king unsheathed his sword, and he cut off her head.
– Now I pardon you, my queen, with a necklace of coral.