Moricos, los mis moricos,los que para Franza ían,
traísme una esclava, una esclava cautiva,
no sea de baja gente, ni menos de villanía
Ya se esparten los moricos, ya se esparten, ya se ían
Toparon al Conde Flores, y a la condesa cativan
Pasan tiempos, vienen tiempos, las dos paren en un día
la ‘sclava parió un hijo, la reina parió una hija
las cumadres eran agudas, trocan a las criaturas
A la nana y a la buba, se endurma la criatura
Criada de los mis pechos, de mi tripa no nacida
Si estuvieras en tu tierra, que nombre tú le metías?
Yo la nombrara Malquesa, nombre de una hermana mía.
Y de ahí se conocieron, que eran hermanas querida.
Moors, my Moors,those who were going to France,
bring me a slave, a captive slave,
let her not be of lowly people, nor of base lineage
Now the Moors set off, they set off, they were going
They came upon Count Flores, and captured the countess
Times pass, times come,both give birth on the same day
the slave bore a son,the queen bore a daughter
the midwives were clever, they exchanged the babies
With lullabies and with nursing,the baby falls asleep
Raised at my breast, but not born of my womb
If you were in your homeland,what name would you give her?
I would name her Marquesa, name of a sister of mine.
And from that they knew, that they were beloved sisters.
From Arboleras Vol. 2 - Romances Sefardies Tradicion Oral
This is a partial version of a Romansa centered on themes of captivity and identity during the era of the Christian–Moorish wars. The story, preserved in the oral traditions of Spain, explores the emotional recognition between two long-lost sisters. One, now a queen and once a Christian captive herself, asks for a Christian slave to be brought to her. A stark contrast is drawn between the queen’s privileged life and the slave’s humble condition. Both women are pregnant and give birth on the same day—the queen to a daughter and the slave to a son. The midwives secretly exchange the newborns, giving the son to the queen. Later, the queen overhears the slave singing a lullaby to her daughter, expressing that if the child were hers, she would name her after her lost sister—the very name of the queen. This moment of recognition leads to a heartfelt reunion, and the sisters embrace and restore the babies to their rightful mothers.
This website was created by Orit Perlman with the collaboration and blessings of Dr. Susana Weich-Shahak in 2025