Prision llevan al Vergico

Jerusalem National Sound Archives placement: 2287/10,11      

Although known in some versions from the Canary Islands and Portugal, in no tradition has this romance been preserved with as much vitality as in the Sephardic one (from the Eastern Mediterranean and Morocco). It recounts an episode from the legends forged in the Middle Ages around the Latin poet Virgil, in which he is portrayed not as the wise poet he truly was, but as a love-struck courtier. Within that tradition falls the adventure told here, where he is said to have been imprisoned for seducing a noble maiden. In most versions the king is impressed by Virgil's love and he is released from prison and is wed with his beloved. In this version, he has not yet been released.

Text:
Prisiones dan al Vergico,     el rey lo manda a prender,
por una traición que ha hecho,    en los palacios del rey.
A falsado a una doncella,   la cual se llama Isabel,
Un día fue el rey a misa,    se encontró aquella mujer
toda vestida de luto   ella y sus damas también.
- Por qué está vestida en luto,    ella y sus damas también?
-Por el Vergico senior rey   ,que en tus prisiones yace.
Cabalgad, mis caballeos   ponid mesas a comer
A comer ricas gallinas    y a beber vino francés.
Mientras las mesas se ponen,    al Bergico yo ire a ver.
Cuanto ha que tu el Vergico   en las prisiones yases
- Siete años, mi sinior rey,   siete anios mas un mes. 
Cuando yo entré a prisión    empecí a embarbecer,
y ahora, por mis pecados,        empecí a encanecer.
- ¿Qué dariás tú, el Vergico,    port tu ver a Isabel?
La cuenta de las prisiones   la volveria otra vez.

Translation:
They cast Vergico into prison, the king commands his arrest,
for a betrayal he committed, within the palaces of the king.
He dishonored a maiden, whose name is Isabel,
One day the king went to mass, he encountered that woman
all dressed in mourning, she and her ladies as well.
- Why are you dressed in mourning, you and your ladies too?
- For Vergico, my lord king, who lies within your prisons.
Mount up, my knights, set the tables to dine,
to eat rich hens and to drink French wine.
While the tables are being set, to Vergico I will go to see.
How long have you, Vergico, lain in the prisons here?
-  Seven years, my lord king, seven years and one month more.
When I entered the prison I began to grow a beard,
and now, for my sins, I have begun to turn grey.
- What would you give, Vergico, if you were to see Isabel?
The tally of the prisons I would go through once again