“Heer Halewijn” is a popular ballad of the Dutch / Flemish tradition, the first text of literature in ancient Dutch, rediscovered in full romanticism and still sung by folk groups in the great wave of folk revival of the 1970s. The first printed version we find in a collection of the fifteenth century but the ballad dates back at least to the thirteenth century. The mythological themes addressed in the ballad are much more ancient than the Middle Ages and recall the pre-Christian Germanic / Celtic culture, starting with the elf knight, or at least a creature endowed with magic, in the role of the sexual predator and “multiple uxoricide“. This creature is often associated with water and some scholars identify it with the mythological Germanic / Scandinavian nix , a solitary male aquatic spirit that attracts its victims with music, a shapeshifter that could present itself with the appearance of a horse or a beautiful man (see more). Heer Halewijn attracts women in the thick of the forest with his magic song and then kills them by making them dangle from the branches of a tree. But a princess of rare beauty succeeds in deceiving him and cutting off his head. “Heer Halewijn” è una ballata popolare della tradizione olandese/fiamminga, il primo testo di letteratura in antico neerlandese, riscoperto in pieno romanticismo e ancora cantato dai gruppi folk nella grande ondata del folk revival degli anni 1970. La prima versione stampata la troviamo in una raccolta del XV secolo detta “Antologia d’Anversa”, ma la ballata risale quantomeno al XIII secolo. I temi mitologici affrontati nella ballata sono molto più antichi del Medioevo e richiamano la cultura germanica/celtica pre-cristiana, a cominciare dal cavaliere elfo, o comunque una creatura dotata di magia, nei panni del predatore sessuale e “uxoricida multiplo”. Questa creatura è spesso associata all’acqua e alcuni studiosi l’identificano con il mitologico nix germanico/scandinavo, uno spirito acquatico maschile solitario che attira le sue vittime con la musica, un mutaforma che poteva presentarsi con l’aspetto di un cavallo oppure di un uomo bellissimo (continua). Messer Alichino attira le donne nel folto della foresta con il suo canto magico e poi le uccide facendole penzolare ai rami di un albero. Ma una principessa dalla rara bellezza riesce a ingannarlo e a mozzargli la testa.
THE TALKING HEAD [LA TESTA PARLANTE]
The head of Heer Halewijn, however, can still talk and order the girl to play his horn, so that his friends hear it and can come and help him. Faced with the girl’s refusal, the knight’s severed head insists: “Rub me with sage on my bloody neck and I will heal!” (translated from here) La testa di Heer Halewijn, però, può ancora parlare e intima alla fanciulla di suonare il suo corno, in modo che i suoi amici lo sentano e possano venire ad aiutarlo. Davanti al rifiuto della ragazza, il capo mozzato del cavaliere insiste: “Strofinami della salvia sul collo insanguinato e guarirò!” (da qui)
For the Celts (and the Norse) the head was the home of the Soul and in particular of the value of a warrior, preserving the enemy’s heads was equivalent to possessing a talisman, so the elf’s head has much in common with that of the giant Mimir, kept alive by the magic of Odin to be consulted as an oracle. Per i Celti (e i Norreni) la testa era la dimora dell’Anima e in particolare del valore di un guerriero, conservare le teste del nemico equivaleva a possedere un talismano, così la testa dell’elfo/nix ha molto in comune con quella del gigante Mimir, mantenuta in vita dalla magia di Odino per essere consultata come oracolo.
Rum in Rum 2 1974
Heer Halewijn zong een liedekijn; Al die dat hoorde wou bij hem zijn.
En dat vernam een koningskind, Die om haer schoonheid zoo werd bemind.
Zij ging voor haren vader staen; ‘Och vader, mag ik naer Halewijn gaen?’
‘Och neen, gij dochter, neen gij niet! Die derwaert gaen en keeren niet.’
Zij ging voor haren broeder staen: ‘Och broeder, mag ik naer Halewijn gaen?’
“‘t Is mij aleens waer heen gij gaet, Als gij uw eer maer wel bewaert”
En gij is dan naer haer kamerken gegaen En trok haer allerschoonste kleeren aen.
Toen trad zij al haer vaders’ stal, En koos daer ‘t besten ros van al.
Schrijlings zette zij zich op het ros: Al zingend en klingend reed zij door ‘t bosch.
Als zij te midden ‘t bosch moge zijn. Daer zag zij heer Halewijn.
‘Gegroet!’ zei hij, en kwam tot haer. ‘Gegroet, gy schoone maegd, Gegroet bruin oogen klaer!’
‘Vermits gij de schoonste maget zijt, Zoo kiest uw dood! Het is nog tijd.’
‘Vermits ik hier dan m’n dood kiezen zal, Zoo kieze ik dan het zwaard voor al.
Maer trekt eerst uit uw opperst kleed, Want maegdenbloed dat spreit zoo breed;
Maer eer dat zijn kleed getogen was, Zijn hoofd lag voor zijn voeten ras;
Zij nam het hoofd al bij het haer En waschte ‘t in een bronne klaer.
Toen ze aen haer vaders poorte kwam, Zij blaesde den horen als eenen man.
Daer werd gehouden een banket; Het hoofd werd op de tafel gezet.
English translation Lord Halewijn(1) sang a song (2), all who heard it wanted to be with him. And that became known to a king’s child, who was very beautiful and beloved. She stood befor her father: ‘Oh father, may I go to Halewijn?’ ‘Oh no, you daughter, no not you: none who go there, ever return!’ She stood befor her brother (3): ‘Oh brother, may I go to Halewijn?’ “I will agree, that you can go, as long as you keep your honour” She then went to her room and put on her finest clothes (4). She went into her father’s stable/ and there she chose the best steed of them all. She sat herself astride on the steed: And singing (5) and riding through the woods. When she was in the middle of the forest, She found lord Halewijn. ‘Greetings -he said, and came to her- Greetings, beautiful maiden, Greetings clear brown eyes ‘Because you are the most beautiful maiden, you may choose your death! there is still time.’/”Well, if I have to choose here, I choose the sword above all. But first take off your upper cloth. Because a maiden’s blood spreads far” But before his cloth was taken off, his head already lay before his feet; She took the head by the hair (6), and washed it clear in a well (7). When she arrived at her father’s gate, she blew the horn like a man. There was held a banquet (8), And the head was put on the table (9).
traduzione italiano Cattia Salto Messer Alichino cantava una canzone e tutti coloro che la sentivano volevano stare con lui. E questa era l’intenzione di una figlia di Re, che era molto bella e amata. Andò dal padre dicendo: “Oh padre posso andare da Alichino?” “Oh no figlia, non puoi: nessuno di coloro che c’è andato e più ritornato” Andò dal fratello dicendo: “Oh fratello posso andare da Alichino?” “Ti do il mio consenso per andare, purchè tu mantenga il tuo onore” Allora lei andò nella sua stanza e si mise gli abiti più belli andò nella stalla del padre e scelse il migliore destriero tra tutti: montò sul cavallo e andò cantando e cavalcando verso il bosco. Quando fu nel folto della foresta trovò Messer Alichino. “Benvenuta -disse andando verso di lei- benvenuta, benvenuta, bella fanciulla dagli occhi color nocciola poichè sei la più bella fanciulla, puoi scegliere la tua morte fin che sei in tempo!” “Beh, se devo decidere qui, preferisco la spada. Ma prima levati la tua casacca, perchè il sangue di una vergine schizza lontano” Ma prima che si levasse l’abito la sua testa già giaceva ai suoi piedi; lei prese la testa per i capelli e la lavò bene in un pozzo. Quando arrivò all’ingresso del castello di famiglia, soffiò nel corno come un uomo. Si teneva un banchetto e la testa venne messa sulla tavola.
NOTE 1) some scholars underline the similarity between the name Halewijn and Harlequin(Halloween)and interpret it as a deity of the Otherworld that requires a sacrifice for the welfare of the community (the return of the spring) to the god of the underworld / winter. Erlenkönig (King Erlen) is an elf of Scandinavian mythology, Herla King (King Herla) leads a “hellish hunt” of souls and howling beasts in stormy nights (the wild hunt) Called by Dante Alighieri Alichino alcuni sottolineano la somiglianza tra il nome il nome Halewijn con Arlecchino (Halloween) e lo interpretano come una divinità dell’Altromondo che richiede un sacrificio per il benessere della comunità (il ritorno della bella stagione) al dio del mondo sotterraneo/inverno. Erlenkönig (Re Erlen) è un elfo della mitologia scandinava, Herla King (Re Herla) è alla guida di una “masnada infernale” di anime e belve ululanti nelle notti di tempesta (la caccia infernale). Dante Alighieri lo cita nella quinta bolgia con il nome di Alichino, traducendo dall’Harlequin francese (o Herlequin o Hellequin) 2) the music was an instrument for spells in ancient times, in particular the melody played by the elf’s horn is an irresistible song to the ears of the girls, like a siren’s song. It is the demon lover equivalent to the Queen of Fairies (the dame sans mercì) who brings her knight-lovers to death. la musica anticamente era uno strumento per gli incantesimi, in particolare la melodia suonata dal corno dell’elfo è una nenia irresistibile alle orecchie delle fanciulle, come canto di sirena. E’ l’amante demone equivalente alla Regina delle Fate (la dame sans mercì) che porta alla morte i suoi cavalieri-amanti. 3) in the Nordic sagas the figure of the brother (major) is of equal importance compared to the paternal figure and in the Carolingian culture he was the one who watched over the honor of the sisters nelle saghe nordiche la figura del fratello (maggiore) è di pari importanza rispetto alla figura paterna e nella cultura carolingia era colui che vegliava sull’onore delle sorelle 4) in the ballad there is a long description of the beautiful dresses and the magnificent jewels worn by the princess; in later versions, nice clothes and jewelry (as well as some gold bags) are the main motive for the murder nella ballata ci si dilunga nella descrizione dei begli abiti e dei magnifici gioielli indossati dalla principessa; nelle versioni successive begli abiti e gioielli (nonchè qualche borsa d’oro) sono il movente principale per l’omicidio 5) also the princess sings, it is a counter spell that will allow her to escape the magic-seduction of the elf. The girl definitely takes on the appearance of a warrior girl, strong and courageous who faces the dangers of the forest with the intention of defeating the elf-demon that dwells there anche la fanciulla canta, il suo è un contro incantesimo che le permetterà di sfuggire alla magia-seduzione dell’elfo. La fanciulla assume decisamente l’aspetto di una ragazza guerriera, forte e coraggiosa che affronta i pericoli della foresta con l’intenzione di sconfiggere l’elfo-demone che vi alberga 6) the stanzas in which the head speaks are omitted sono omesse le strofe in cui la testa parla 7) the fairy context is evident we find ourselves in the greenwood next to a sacred well, the elf is the guardian spirit of those magical waters to which sacrifice is bestowed, except that now it’s the elf’s head to being cutted. Our heroine is a warrior girl, the strong and courageous teenage virgin. il contesto fatato è evidente ci troviamo nel bosco più fitto accanto ad un pozzo sacro, l’elfo è lo spirito guardiano di quelle acque al quale è tributato il sacrificio, senonchè è la testa dell’elfo a essere mozzata. La nostra eroina è una ragazza guerriera, la vergine adolescente forte e coraggiosa 8) probably the banquet was held just to celebrate the victory of the maiden probabilmente il banchetto si teneva proprio per festeggiare la vittoria della fanciulla 9) abrupt and disturbing conclusion with the head – presumably alive on the table brusca e inquietante conclusione con la testa -presumibilmente viva- posata in tavola
The centuries go by, but the big questions and the answers are still the same, so in the film directed by Nancy Meyers “What Women Want” (2000) it is revisited in a contemporary key the story of the medieval ballad entitled “King Henry“. [Passano i secoli ma le grandi domande e le risposte restano sempre le stesse, così nel film diretto da Nancy Meyers “What Women Want” (in italiano “Quello che le donne vogliono”) (2000) si rivisita in chiave contemporanea la storia della ballata medievale intitolata “King Henry”:]
This ballad to ask the question and give the answer, however, recalls the language of the fairy tale and so re-elaborates the story of “Beauty and the Beast“: it is King Henry who agrees to sleep next to a monstrous woman and she will transform in a beautiful lady. In the ballad the magic is accomplished because the man submits completely to the will of a woman, and here is the answer to the question “What do women want?” -The power on men! [La ballata medievale per porre la domanda e darsi la risposta ricorre tuttavia al linguaggio della fiaba e così rielabora al femminile la storia di “Bella e la Bestia”: è re Enrico ad accettare di dormire accanto ad una donna dall’aspetto mostruoso che si trasformerà in una bellissima fanciulla. Nella ballata la magia si compie perchè l’uomo si sottomette completamente al volere della donna, ed ecco la risposta alla domanda “Cosa vogliono le donne? “ Il potere sugli uomini!] A similar story can be found in the scandinavian saga of Hrólfr Kraki and in the Celtic tale of Diarmuid and the daughter of the King of the Otherworld, while in The Wedding of Sir Gawain and Dame Ragnelle the narration depicts a typically courteous and arturian context. Later also Chaucer claims the story in his novel “The Wife of Bath’s Tale” (Canterbury’s Tale) [Un racconto analogo lo ritroviamo nella saga norrena di Hrólfr Kraki e nel racconto celtico di Diarmuid e la figlia del Re di Altrove, mentre nelle Nozze di Messer Galvano e Madamigella Raganella (The Wedding of Sir Gawain and Dame Ragnelle) la narrazione si cala in un contesto tipicamente cortese e arturiano. Più tardi anche Chaucer inserisce la storia nella sua novella “The Wife of Bath’s Tale”]
The Wedding of Sir Gawain and Dame Ragnelle [Messer Galvano e Madamigella Raganella]
King Arthur, chaising a deer, encounters Sir Gromer heavily armed and angry with him because he dared to give the lands belonging to his family to Sir Gawain. Instead of killing Arthur, Gromer subjects him with an enigma “What is the most desired thing for all women?” Arthur will have a year to find the answer and saving his own life. [Artù nell’inseguire un grosso cervo s’imbatte in Messer Gromer armato di tutto punto e arrabbiato con il re perchè aveva avuto l’ardire di donare le terre appartenute alla sua famiglia a Messer Galvano. Gromer invece di uccidere Artù gli sottopone un enigma “Qual’è la cosa più desiderata da tutte le donne?” Artù avrà tempo un anno per trovare la risposta e avere salva la vita.] The year passes and Arthur has many answers but none seems the right one, when he meets Dame Ragnelle, a woman horribly ugly and deformed, willing to solve the enigma only in exchange for the wedding with Sir Gawain, the most beautiful knight of the Realm. [Passa l’anno e Artù ha tante risposte ma nessuna gli sembra quella giusta quando incontra Madamigella Raganella, una donna orribilmente brutta e deforme, disposta a risolvere l’enigma solo in cambio delle nozze con Messer Galvano, il più bel cavaliere del Reame.] Gawain agrees to marry Ragnelle and all the courtiers are horrified by the ugliness and the voracity of the bride during the banquet. When it comes time to go to bed Ragnelle asks for a kiss and as soon as they kiss, the loathly dame turns into the most beautiful lady. Perplexed and dazed Sir Gawain asks her “Who are you?” and the lady answers “I am your loving bride” But this isn’t over: Ragnelle explains she is the victim of a spell and she can keep her beautyful appearance only for half a day, it is up to her husband to decide if he prefers her beauty at night (in his bed) or her beauty during the day (for the all court ). And Gawain answers “You decide” and breaks the spell forever. [Galvano accetta di sposarsi con Raganella e alle nozze sfarzose partecipa tutta la corte. Tutti inorridirono davanti alla sua bruttezza e alla voracità della sposina durante il banchetto. Arrivato il momento di andare a letto Raganella chiede un bacio e non appena si baciano la megera più brutta si trasforma nella più bella delle belle. Perplesso e frastornato Galvano chiede “Chi siete” e la fanciulla risponde “Sono la vostra amorevole sposa”. Ma non finisce qui: Raganella spiega che essendo vittima di un incantesimo può mantenere il suo aspetto solo per metà giornata, spetta al marito decidere se la preferisce bella di notte (nel suo letto) o bella di giorno (davanti a tutta la corte). Ed ecco Galvano che risponde “Decidi tu” e spezza per sempre il maleficio.]
The answer to the riddle that only Ragnelle (that is, the woman made grotesque by the fear of men) knows: it is the women autonomy or the sovereignty of their lives. But since the male and female principles are interrelated, they depend on each other, so Ragnelle’s self-determination depends on Ragnelle’s relationship with Gawain. As we can see the answer is not exactly the same as before, the autonomy and self-determination of the women does not necessarily mean that they have power over men, not as the patriarchal society has exercised male power over women. [La risposta all’enigma che solo Raganella (cioè la donna resa grottesca dalla paura degli uomini) conosce è: l’autonomia o la sovranità della propria vita. Ma poichè il principio maschile e quello femminile sono correlati tra loro, dipendono uno dall’altro, così l’autodeterminazione di Raganella dipende dal rapporto di Raganella con Galvano. Come si vede la risposta non è esattamente la stessa data in precedenza, l’autonomia e l’autodeterminazione della danna non vuol dire necessariamente avere il potere sugli uomini, non come fino ad ora la società patriarcale ha esercitato il potere sulle donne.]
King Henry
Child #32
Professor Child reports only one version of this ballad from a late eighteenth-century transcription (Jamieson-Brown MS) classifying it to the number 32; it follows a Celtic tale collected by John Francis Campbell in “Popular Tales of the West Highlands” titled “The Daughter Of King Under-Waves “: story goes that at the time of the Fianna a wild woman went on a winter’s night to ask the most talented warriors to welcome her in their bed, but both Finn and Oisin cast out her, only Diarmuid welcomed her , first next to the fire and then allowing her to get under the covers with him. The woman turned out to be a beautiful girl who gave him a sumptuous palace stocked with servants and every good. It is obviously a fairy creature and the story goes on with the return to Otherword kingdom of the beautiful girl, her illness and her healing always because of Diarmuid who, however, will lose at the same time the love he felt for the fairy. (see) [Il professor Child riporta una sola versione di questa ballata da una trascrizione tardo settecentesca (Jamieson–Brown MS) classificandola al numero 32, la quale ricalca un racconto celtico collezionato da John Francis Campbell in “Popular Tales of the West Highlands” dal titolo “The Daughter Of King Under-Waves”: si narra che ai tempi dei Fianna una donna selvaggia andasse in una notte d’inverno a chiedere ai più valenti guerrieri di accoglierla nel loro giaciglio, eppure sia Finn che Oisin la scacciarono, solo Diarmuid l’accolse, prima facendole spazio accanto al fuoco e poi permettendole di entrare sotto le coperte con lui. La donna si rivelò essere una bellissima fanciulla che gli dona un sontuoso palazzo rifornito di servi e di ogni bene. Si tratta ovviamente di una creatura fatata e la storia prosegue con il ritorno ad Altrove della bella fanciulla, la sua malattia e la guarigione sempre a causa di Diarmuid il quale però perderà nel contempo l’amore che sentiva per la fata. (vedi storia)]
So the ballad at first describes King Henry hunting in the woods and then feasting in his castle, when a ugly shrew comes in demanding to be fed with his hounds, his goshawk and his faithful horse; then she claims to sleep with Henry in his bed! Henry fulfils all her requests witout avoid that “kiss” (clearly in the dark of the night they did not just go to sleep) but in the morning the sun bathes the room and Henry, in his bed, sees a beautiful lady. [Così la ballata descrive prima re Enrico che è andato a caccia nel bosco, poi riunito con la sua corte a banchettare quando irrompe nella sala una orribile megera, brutta come la fame, che esige di essere sfamata con gli animali da caccia nonchè animali d’affezione di un cavaliere (i suoi segugi, l’astore e il fedele cavallo) e pretende di dormire nel letto di Enrico con lui sdraiato al suo fianco, Enrico soddisfa tutte le richieste della dama arrivando anche al fatidico bacio (chiaramente nel buio della notte non si sono limitati a dormire) ma al mattino il sole inonda la stanza e al suo fianco nel letto Enrico vede una bellissima fanciulla.]
If on the one hand the ballad fits into the group of fairy encounters (with a troll or witch as in Her Mannelig) it is undeniable its connection with the Captain Wedderburn’s courtship: the woman subjects her knight to a series of impossible requests / tasks that are in fact some riddles to be solved. [Se da una parte la ballata s’inserisce nel gruppo degli incontri fatati (con una trolla o strega come in Her Mannelig) è innegabile il suo collegamento con la Captain Wedderburn’s courtship: la donna sottopone il suo cavaliere a una serie di richieste/compiti impossibili che si trattano in realtà di enigmi da risolvere.]
The ballad has known a certain disclosure in the folk revival circuits with the version of Steeleye Span [La ballata ha conosciuto una certa divulgazione nei circuiti del folk revival con la versione degli Steeleye Span]
Steeleye Span in Below the Salt 1972 (which recorded it again in 2002 on the occasion of their reunion tour) [che la registrano ancora nel 2002 in occasione del loro tour di reunion]
Martin Carthy, a former member of the Steeleye Span, also took up the ballad a few years later, but combined it with a melody (Bonaparte’s Retreat) which he thought was best matched with the verses [Martin Carthy ex membro degli Steeleye Span ha ripreso anch’egli la ballata qualche anno più tardi abbinandola però a una melodia (Bonaparte’s Retreat) che secondo lui meglio si abbinava ai versi]
Let’s listen in a version of the Cloudstreet (2002) [Ascoltiamola in una versione dei Cloudstreet del 2002 ]
Heather Alexander
The Furrow Collective in At Our Next Meeting 2014
Emily Portman commented in their sleeve notes: “A tale of bewitchment and metamorphosis with a moral to men that appearances can be deceptive and they shall reap great rewards if they give women what they want! I came across King Henry in Bronson’s The Traditional Tunes of the Child Ballads and, feeling like the first person to unearth such a gem in hundreds of years, I set about collating my own text, adapting the melody from Mrs Brown of Aberdeenshire.” [Emily Portman ha commentato nelle note di copertina: “Una storia di incantesimi e metamorfosi con una morale per gli uomini che le apparenze possono essere ingannevoli e raccoglieranno grandi ricompense se daranno alle donne quello che vogliono! Ho conosciuto King Henry in The Traditional Tunes of the Child Ballads di Bronson e, sentendomi come se fossi la prima persona a portare alla luce una simile gemma dopo centinaia di anni, ho iniziato a mettere insieme il mio testo, adattando la melodia della signora Brown di Aberdeenshire. “]
I Let never a man a-wooing (1) wend That lacks these virtues three: A routh of gold, an open heart, A cup of charity. King Henry’s taken him (2) to his hall For to make burly cheer, When loud the wind was heard to sound An earthquake rocked the floor. II And darkness covered all the hall Where they sat at their meat. The greyhounds, yowling, left their food And crept to Henry’s feet. And louder howled the rising wind, Burst the fastened door. In there came a grisly ghost (3), Stood stamping on the floor. III Her hair was hanging at her heels, Streaming with the rain. She said, “It has been seven long years Since I felt fires flame.” Her teeth were like the tether stakes (4), Hideous was her form (5). He’s thrown to her his mantle, Saying, “Lady, come into the warm.” IV “Some meat, some meat, King Henry, Some meat you give to me!” “Oh, what meat’s in this house, Lady, That I can give to thee?” “Oh, you can kill your good greyhounds And bring them here to me!” Oh, when he slew his good greyhounds How his heart was sore. She ate them up, both skin and bone, Left nothing but hide and hair. V “More meat, more meat, King Henry, More meat you give to me!” “Oh, what meat’s in this house, Lady, That I can give to thee?” “Oh, you can kill your gay goshawk And bring it here to me!” Oh, when he slew his gay goshawk How his heart was sore. She ate it up, both skin and bone, Left nothing but feathers there. VI “More meat, more meat, King Henry, More meat you give to me!” “Oh, what meat’s in this house, Lady, That I can give to thee?” “Oh, you can kill your berry-brown steed And bring it here to me!” Oh, when he slew his berry-brown steed How his heart was sore. She ate it up, both skin and bone, Left nothing but hide and hair. VII “Now a drink, a drink, King Henry, A drink you give to me!” “Oh, what drink’s in this house, Lady, That I can give to thee?” “Oh, sew you up your horse’s hide And bring a drink to me!” So he sewed up the bloody hide, A wine he has put in. She drank it up all in one sip, Ne’er a drop left in the skin. VIII “Now a bed, a bed, King Henry, Now make for me a bed! Pull from the heather so green And over with your mantle spread.” So he has pulled of the heather green, Made for her a bed, He’s taken his mantle gold, And over he has spread. “Now take off your clothes, King Henry, And lie down by my side!” “That I forbid,” King Henry said, “That ever the like betide! That ever a fiend from out of hell Should lie down by my side!” IX But as he spoke a bloody tear Trickled from her eye, Softer grew King Henry’s heart And down he went with her side. X When night was gone and day was come And the sun shone through the hall, The fairest lady that ever was seen Lay between him and the wall (6). “Oh well is me,” says Henry, How long will this vision last? (7)” And up and spoke the lady fair, “Till all your days are past.” XI “For I was witched to a ghastly shape By my step-mother’s skill Till I should meet with a corteous knight That gave me all I will.” “And I’ve met many’s the gentle man That’s given me such fill, But never before with such a man Who’s given me all I will.”
Traduzione italiano Cattia Salto I Che mai uomo vi corteggi Che manchi di queste tre virtù: Profusione d’oro, buon cuore, Abbondanza di compassione. Re Enrico lo portò nel suo castello Per fare una gran baldoria Mentre forte ululava il vento E il terremoto squassava il pavimento II E l’oscurità copriva la sala Dove si sedevano per il banchetto I levrieri, mugolando, lasciarono gli avanzi E strisciarono ai piedi di Enrico. E più forte ululò la raffica del vento Rompendo la porta chiusa. Entrò un’anima dannata Stava impalata sul pavimento III I capelli lunghi fino ai piedi Gocciolavano di pioggia e disse “Sono passati sette lunghi anni Da quando sento il fuoco delle fiamme” I suoi denti come rastrelliere Orribile di forma. Egli la coprì con il mantello Dicendo “Madama venite dentro al caldo” IV “Della carne, della carne, Re Enrico Datemi da mangiare carne!” “Oh quale carne in questa casa, madama, Vi posso dare?” “Potete uccidere i vostri buon levrieri E portarli qui da me” Oh quando lui uccise i suoi buon levrieri Aveva il cuore addolorato. Lei se li divorò, con la pelle e le ossa, lasciando solo pelle e peli. V “Altra carne, altra carne, Re Enrico Datemi altra carne da mangiare!” “Oh quale carne in questa casa, madama, vi posso dare?” “Potete uccidere il vostro bell’astore E portatelo qui da me” Oh quando lui uccise il suo bell’astore Aveva il cuore addolorato. Lei se lo divorò, con la pelle e le ossa, lasciando solo le penne. VI “Altra carne, altra carne, Re Enrico Datemi altra carne da mangiare!” “Oh quale carne in questa casa, madama, Vi posso dare?” “Potete uccidere il vostro destriero morello E portatelo qui da me” Oh quando lui uccise il suo destriero morello Aveva il cuore addolorato. Lei se lo divorò, con la pelle e le ossa, lasciando solo pelle e criniera. VII “Ed ora da bere, da bere, Re Enrico, datemi da bere!” “Oh che bevanda in questa casa, Madama Posso offrirvi?” “Oh cucite la pelle del vostro cavallo e portatemi da bere” “Così egli cucì la pelle insanguinando Il vino che ci mise dentro. Lei lo bevve tutto in un sorso, E nemmeno una goccia lasciò sulla pelle. VIII “Ora il letto, il letto, Re Enrico, Ora preparate per me il letto” Prendete dell’erica verde E stendete il vostro mantello” Così lui raccolse la verde erica e le fece il letto, Prese il suo mantello dorato E sopra lo stese. “Ora toglietevi i vestiti, Re Enrico e coricatevi al mio fianco!” “Questo lo proibisco -Re Enrico disse “Che mai accada una cosa simile! Che mai un demone dell’Inferno Potrà giacermi accanto!” IX Ma mentre lui parlava una lacrima di sangue Spuntò dagli occhi di lei Si addolcì il cuore di Re Enrico E accanto a lei si stese X Passò la notte e venne il giorno E il sole brillò nella stanza La donna più bella mai vista Giaceva tra lui e il muro. “Oh beato me – Enrico dice- Per quanto durerà questa visione?” E così parlò la bella dama “Finchè tutti i tuoi giorni saranno trascorsi XI Perchè fui stregata in forma spaventosa Dall’arte della mia matrigna Fino a quando non avessi incontrato un cavaliere cortese Che mi avrebbe dato tutto ciò che voglio. E ho conosciuto più di un gentiluomo Che mi ha dato della soddisfazione, Ma mai prima d’ora un uomo simile Che mi ha dato tutto ciò che voglio”
NOTE 1) the first stanza puts the ballad inside the warning song and warns us that the following is a love courtship, a teaching on marital relations [la prima strofa colloca la ballata all’interno delle warning song e ci avvisa che cioè che segue è una schermaglia amorosa, un insegnamento sui rapporti coniugali] 2) probable mistake: the king was first hunting so him is the prey for the banquet; in reality, the game just killed usually was not consumed immediately, but left to hang in the cool place for a week [probabile refuso il re è stato prima a caccia e porta le prede al castello per il banchetto; in realtà la selvaggina appena uccisa non veniva consumata subito, ma lasciata frollare al fresco per una settimana] 3) here ghost means a damned soul, not exactly an incorporeal creature or a revenant and in fact in the next stanza she said “It has been seven long years Since I felt fires flame.” [qui s’intende un’anima dannata, non esattamente una creatura incorporea o un revenant e infatti nella strofa successiva dice che ha trascorso sette anni all’Inferno] 4) tether stake: the upright post in a stall to which a cow is fastened 5) more than describing an old one she is a wild and grotesque creature. In the Arthurian story, the name itself recalls in the features of the face a frog: low and receding forehead, large eyes and out of the orbits wide mouth without lips and toothless, stubby limbs and bent shoulders.[più che descrivere una vecchia si tratta di una creatura selvatica e grottesca. Nel racconto arturiano il nome stesso richiama nelle fattezze del viso i lineamenti di una rana, fronte bassa e sfuggente, occhi grandi e fuori dalle orbite bocca larga senza labbra e sdentata, membra tozze e spalle incurvate.] 6) in the Middle Ages the bed was an alcove in the wall more than a canopy in the middle of the room, it was the woman to sleep on the side of the wall, a sign of her submission to her husband see more[nel medioevo il letto era un alcova nel muro più che un isolato baldacchino al centro della stanza, era la donna a dormire dalla parte del muro, segno della sua sottomissione al marito continua] 7) in the Arthurian story the transformation is first temporary: the lady explains that the spell of which she is the victim allows her to have her true form only half the day and leaves to Gawain the power to decide if he wants her beauty only for himself or in front of others. Gawain leaves the decision to the lady. [nel racconto arturiano la trasformazione dapprima è temporanea: la dama spiega che l’incantesimo di cui è vittima le permette di avere la sua vera forma solo per metà del tempo e lascia a Galvano il potere di decidere se la vuole bella solo per sè oppure se la vuole bella davanti agli altri. Galvano lascia la decisione alla dama.]
Herr Heinerich
Fauntranslated the song into Germanas “Herr Heinerich” for their album Buch der Balladen [Faun traducono la canzone in tedesco con il titolo “Herr Heinerich” ]
Wenn einer um eine Fraue freit Der braucht der Dinge drei Ein offen Herz, ein Säcklein Gold Und hohen Mut dabei
Herr Heinrich, er reitet im tiefen Wald Trinkt Wasser statt kühlem Wein Wohl sieben Meilen vor der Stadt Denkt an die Liebste sein
Er jagt den Hirsch von Berg zu Tal Er treibt ihn vor sich her Hart fliegt sein heller Eschenspeer Bringt jäh das Wild zu Fall
Er trägt die Beute in sein Haus Sein Herz ist freudenvoll Er setzet sich zum Mahle Es wurde finstere Nacht
Da fängt der Hund zu heulen an Schmiegt sich an Herr Heinrichs Knie Es tritt ein Trollweib in den Saal Ein graues, grausiges Ding
Elf Ellen hoch ihr Riesenrumpf Zwei Säue breit ihr Leib „Bedecket euch, Dame“, Herr Heinrich ruft „Nehmt meinen Mantel als Kleid“
Die Zähne wie ein Zaun im Moos Die Nase wie ein Baum Kein Ding auf Erden, das ihr gleicht Es sei denn der Höllengeist
„Schafft frisches Fleisch, Herr Heinerich Schafft frisches Fleisch herbei“ „Sagt an, wo gibt es Fleisch im Haus Das euch willkommen sei?“ „So schlachtet euer braunes Ross Und bringt es her zu mir“
Er schlachtete das braune Ross Das Herz ward ihm so schwer Sie schlang es in ihr Maul hinein Kein Knochen blieb zurück
„Mehr Fleisch, mehr Fleisch, Herr Heinerich Mehr Fleisch schafft mir herbei“ „Sagt an, wo gibt es Fleisch im Haus Das euch willkommen sei?“ „So schlachtet euern guten Hund Und bringt ihn her zu mir“
Er schlachtete den guten Hund Das Herz ward ihm so schwer Sie schlang ihn in ihr Maul hinein Kein Knochen blieb zurück
„Ein Bett, ein Bett, Herr Heinerich Ein Bett schafft mir herbei Ein Lager weich von Heidekraut Soll unser Brautbett sein“
Er rupft und zupft das Heidekraut Bereitet ein Lager fein Er breitet seinen Mantel darauf Die Hexe legt sich hinein
„Legt ab eure Kleider, Herr Heinerich Und legt euch mir zur Seit“ „Gott sei davor“, Herr Heinrich spricht „Dass jemals das geschieht Dass ich mit einem Höllengeist Des Nachts mein Lager teil“
Die Nacht verging, der Tag war da Die Sonne durchs Fenster sah Die schönste Frau im ganzen Land Lag zwischen ihm und der Wand
„Ein guter Tag“, Herr Heinrich spricht „O dass er doch immer so blieb“ Darauf die schöne Fraue: „Er währt bis an euer End
Gar manchen Ritter fing ich mir Ein jeder hat versagt Ihr seid der erste, der mit mir schlief Die liebe lange Nacht“
English translation * I When one courts a women, There are three things he needs An open heart, a little sack of gold And a lot of courage, too II Sir Heinerich rides into the depths of the forest,/Drinks water instead of cool wine About seven miles before the town, He thinks of his beloved III He hunts the deer from the mountain to the valley,/He goes after it Violently flies his ash tree spear, Suddenly bringing the game to its fall IV He carries the catch to his home, His heart is filled with joy He sits at the table And the somber night falls V Then the dog starts to howl And presses against Sir Heinerich’s knee A troll woman walks into the room, A gray, horrible thing VI Eleven cubits high is her torso, Two sows wide is her body “Cover yourself, Lady”, calls out Sir Heinerich/”Take my coat by way of dress” VII The teeth, a moss-covered fence The nose, a tree Nothing on this earth ressembles her, She must then be the ghost of hell VIII “Bring some fresh meat, Sir Heinerich, Bring some fresh meat over here” “Tell me, where in this house is there flesh To which you’d be welcomed?” IX “Then slaughter your brown steed And bring it here to me” He slaughtered the brown steed, His heart became so heavy X She threw it down her throat, And there was not even a bone left “More meat, more meat, Sir Heinerich Bring some more meat over here” XI “Tell me, where in this house is there flesh To which you’d be welcomed?” “Then slaughter your good dog And bring it here to me” XII He slaughtered the good dog, His heart became so heavy She threw it down her throat, And there was not even a bone left XIII “A bed, a bed, Sir Heinerich, Bring me a bed over here A soft heather bed Should be our wedding bed” XIV He plucks and pulls at the heather, Prepares a good bed He spreads his coat over it And the witch lies down on it XV “Remove your clothes, Sir Heinerich And lay down by my side” “Heaven forbid”, says Sir Heinerich “That I would ever do such a thing, XVI To share my bed at night With a ghost come from hell” The night passed by, the day was here Through the window, the sun saw The most beautiful woman in this country Lying there, between the wall and him XVII “What a nice day”, says Sir Heinerich “May it forever stay that way” To which the beautiful woman answers: “It will stay that way until your end XVIII I found myself many knights, But every single one has failed You are the only one who slept with me Throughout the entire lovely night”
Traduzione italiano Cattia Salto I Quando si corteggiano le donne Occorrono tre cose: Cuor sincero, un po’ d’oro E anche molto coraggio. II Messer Enrico cavalca nel bosco più folto Beve acqua invece di vino fresco A circa sette miglia dalla città Pensa alla sua innamorata III Caccia il cervo dal monte a valle Lo insegue Con forza vola la sua lancia di frassino Facendo cadere di colpo la preda. IV Trasporta la preda a casa Con il cuore pieno di gioia Si siede a tavola E scende una notte oscura V Allora il cane inizia a ululare E preme contro le ginocchia di Messer Enrico/ Una trolla entra nella stanza/Una cosa grigia e orribile VI Alto 11 cubiti il suo torso Come due scrofe il suo corpo “Copritevi Madama – grida Messer Enrico Prendete il mio mantello per vestirvi” VII I denti, uno steccato ricoperto dal muschio Il naso un albero Niente sulla terra le assomigliava Doveva essere uno spirito dell’Inferno VIII “Portate carne fresca, Messer Enrico, Portate un po’ di carne fresca qui” “Ditemi, dove in questa casa c’è la carne Che vi aggrada?” IX “Macellate il vostro destriero morello E portatelo qui da me” Egli macellò il destriero morello Con il cuore diventato pesante X Lei se lo ficcò in gola E non ne rimase nemmeno un osso “Altra carne, altra carne Messer Enrico Portate altra carne qui” XI “Ditemi, dove in questa casa c’è la carne Che vi aggrada?” “Macellate il vostro buon cane E portatelo qui da me” XII Egli macellò il buon cane Con il cuore diventato pesante Lei se lo ficcò in gola E non ne rimase nemmeno un osso XIII “Un letto, un letto Messer Enrico Portatemi un letto qui Un soffice letto d’erica Sarà il nostro letto nunziale” XIV Egli raccoglie e prende l’erica Prepara un buon letto Stende il suo mantello sopra E la strega ci si sdraia dentro” XV “Toglietevi i vestiti, Messer Enrico E coricatevi al mio fianco” “Non voglia il cielo -dice Messer Enrico- “Che io faccia mai una cosa simile XVI Condividere il mio letto di notte Con uno spirito venuto dall’Inferno” La notte passò e venne il giorno Dalla finestra il sole vide La donna più bella del paese Distesa lì, tra il muro e lui XVII “Che bella giornata -dice Messer Enrico Che possa restare così per sempre” A cui la bellissima donna risponde “Sarà così fino alla vostra fine XVIII Mi sono ritrovata con molti cavalieri Ma ognuno ha fallito Voi siete il solo che ha dormito con me Per un’intera notte d’amore”
In the most placid rivers of Ireland and in the dark depths of the Scottish lakes live water demons, fairy creatures, that feed on human flesh: they are “kelpie”, “each uisge” (in English water-horse), “eich- mhara “(in English sea horse); to want to be picky kelpie lives preferably near the rapids of the rivers, fords and waterfalls, while each uisge prefers the lakes and the sea, but kelpie is the most used word for both. Similar creatures are also told in Norse legends (Bäckahästen, the river horse) – and Germanic (nix in the form of fish or frog). (first part)
MORAG AND THE KELPIE
At the summer pastures of the Highlands they are still told of the beautiful Morag (Marion) seduced by a kelpie in human form; she, while noticing the strangeness of her husband, did not understand his true nature, if not after the birth of their child and … she decided to abandoning baby in swaddling clothes and husband shapeshifter!
On the Isle of Skye they still sing a song in Gaelic, ‘Oran-tàlaidh an eich-uisge’ or ‘Oran each-uisge’ (The water kelpie’s song) the “Lullaby of the kelpie” a melancholy air with which the kelpie cradled his child without a mother, and at the same time a plea to Morag to return to them, both he and the child needed her.
Of this lament we know several textual versions handed down to today in the Hebrides. The melodies revolve around an old Scottish aria entitled “Crodh Chailein” (in English “Colin’s cattle) evidently considered a melody of the fairies.
Another song, sweet and melancholic at the same time, is entitled Song of the Kelpie or even ARRANE GHELBY
Dh’èirich mi moch, b’ fheàrr nach do dh’èirich
So translates from Scottish Gaelic Tom Thomson “I got up early, it would have been better not to” (see)
Julie Fowlis in Alterum 2017
Scottish gaelic Dh’èirich mi moch, dh’èirich mi moch, B’fheàrr nach d’ dh’èirich
Mo chreach lèir na chuir a-mach mi. Hill ò bha hò, Hill ò bha hò.
Bha ceò sa bheinn, Bha ceò sa bheinn, is uisge frasach
’s thachair orms’ a’ ghruagach thlachdmhor. Hill ò bha hò, Hill ò bha hò
Bheir mi dhut fìon, Bheir mi dhut fìon, ‘S gach nì a b’ ait leat,
Ach nach èirinn leat sa mhadainn, Hill ò bha hò, Hill ò bha hò.
’Nighean nan gamhna, ’Nighean nan gamhna, Bha mi ma’ riut,
Anns a’ chrò is càch nan cadal Hill ò bha hò, Hill ò bha hò.
An daoidh gheal donn, An daoidh gheal donn, Rug i mac dhomh.
Ged is fuar a rinn i altram, Hill ò bha hò, Hill ò bha hò.
[instrumental]
Bha laogh mo laoidh, Bha laogh mo laoidh, ri taobh cnocan
gun teine, gun sgàth, gun fhasgadh. Hill ò bha hò, Hill ò bha hò.
A Mhòr a ghaoil, A Mhòr, a ghaoil, Till ri d’ mhacan,
’S bheir mi goidean breagha breac dhut.
Hill ò bha hò, Hill ò bha hò.
English translation *
I arose early
I arose early –
would that I hadn’t.
I was distressed by what sent me out (1). Hill ò bha hò, Hill ò bha hò.
There was mist on the hill
There was mist on the hill
and showers of rain
and I came across a pleasant maiden
Hill ò bha hò, Hill ò bha hò.
I’ll give you wine
I’ll give you wine
and all that will please you
but I won’t arise with you in the morning (2). Hill ò bha hò, Hill ò bha hò.
Girl of the calves (3)
Girl of the calves
I was with you in the cattle-fold (4)
and the rest were asleep.
Hill ò bha hò, Hill ò bha hò.
The fine brown wicked one (5)
The fine brown wicked one
bore me a son
although coldly did she nurse him Hill ò bha hò, Hill ò bha hò.
The calf (6) of my song
The calf of my song
was beside a hillock
without fire, protection or shelter (7). Hill ò bha hò, Hill ò bha hò.
Mòr, my love
Mòr, my love, return to your little son
and I’ll give you a beautiful speckled withes (8). Hill ò bha hò, Hill ò bha hò.
NOTE
English translation also here
1) the kelpie, suffering from loneliness, leaves the lake early in the morning and takes on human form
2) the shapeshifter promises food and comfort to the girl to convince her to follow him, but he warns her, he is a nocturnal creature and will not wake up with her in the morning!
3) gamhna = cattle between 1 year and 2 years translates Tom Thomson stitks; that is heifer, the cow that has not yet given birth, the verse in addition to qualifying the work of the girl (herdswoman) also wants to be a compliment, in Italian “bella manza” as a busty woman, with abundant and seductive shapes
4) the kelpie remembers the night meeting when they had sex (and obviously nine months later their son was born)
5) after the good memories of the past it comes the present, the woman has discovered the true nature of her companion and she dislikes their child
6) continuing in the comparison the kelpie calls “calf” its baby, that is “small child”
7) A typical “exposition” of fairy children is described. A practice of “birth control” widespread in the countryside of Europe, was the abandonment of newborns in the forest, so that fairies would take care of them; once the practice was widespread both against illegitimate people, and newborns with obvious physical deformations or ill-looking. The custom of “exposing” the baby was connected with the belief that he was “swapped” or kidnapped by the fairies and replaced with a changeling, a shapeshifter who for a while resembles the human child, but ultimately always takes its true appearance.
8) breagha breac dhut. Tom Thomson translates = speckled band (of withy). I searched the dictionary: it is a crown made by intertwining the branches of willow; it reminds me of the Celtic crowns of flowers and leaves
Margaret Stewart & Allan MacDonald recorded it under the title “Òran Tàlaidh An Eich-Uisge” in 2001 (from Colla Mo Rùn) following the collection of Frances Tolmie (‘Cumha an EichUisge’ vol I)
english translation *
I and III
Sleep my child, Sleep my child
Sleep my child, Sleep my child
Chorus Hì hó, hó bha hó, Hì hó, hao i hà Fast of foot you are Great as a horse you are
II and IV
My darling son
Oh my lovely little horse
You are far from the township
You will be sought after (1)
scottish gaelic
I
O hó bà a leinibh hó, O hó bà a leinibh hà
Bà a leinibh hó bha hó, Hó bà a leinibh hao i hà
(chorus) Hì hó, hó bha hó, Hì hó, hao i hà ‘S luath dha d’ chois thu, hó bha hó ‘S mór nad each thu, hao i hà
II
O hó m’eudail a mac hó
O hó m’eachan sgèimheach hà
‘S fhad ‘n ‘n bhail’ thu, hò bha hò
Nìtear d’iarraidh, hao i hà
NOTE
1) The kelpie sings the lullaby to its child abandoned by the human mother and comforts him by telling him that when he grows up he’ll be a little heartbreaker
A similar story is told in the island of Benbecula with the title of Bheirinn Dhut Iasg, Bheirinn Dhut Iasgsee
Caera in Suantraighe, A Collection of Celtic Lullabies 2006 sings another fragment with the title “The Skye Water Kelpie’s lullaby” (see the version of Marjory Kennedy-Fraser below)
English translation *
Mór (1), my love! Mór, my treasure!
Come back to your little son
and you will get a speckled trout from the lake.
Mór, my darling! Tonight the night
Is wetly showering my son
on the shelter of a knoll.
Mór, my love! Mór, my treasure!
Lacking fire, lacking food, lacking shelter,
and you continually lamenting (2).
Mór, my love! Mór, my darling!
My gray, old, toothless mouth
to your silly little mouth,
and me singing tunes by Ben Frochkie. (3)
Scottish gaelic
A Mhór a ghaoil! A Mhór a shògh!
Till gu d’mhacan is gheabh
thu’m bradan breac o’n loch.
A Mhór a shògh! Tha’n oiche nochd
Gu fliuch frasach aig mo mhacsa
ri sgath chnocain.
A Mhór a ghaoil! A Mhór a shògh!
Gun teine, gun tuar, gun fhasgadh,
is tu sìor chòineadh.
A Mhór a ghaoil! A Mhór a shògh!
Mo sheana-chab liath ri
do bheul beag baoth
is mi seinn phort dhuit am Beinn Frochdaidh.
NOTE
1) Mhórag or Mór is the name of the maiden loved by the kelpie
2) it is the incessant cry of the child abandoned by his human mother in the cold and without food
3) mountain between Gesture and Portree on the Isle of Skye
Skye Water Kelpie’s Lullaby
With the title “Cronan na Eich-mhara”, the same fragment sung by Caera is also reported in the book of Marjory Kennedy-Fraser and Kenneth MacLeod “Songs of the Hebrides” 1909 (page 94)
Kenneth MacLeod I
Avore, my love, my joy
To thy baby come
And troutlings you’ll get out of the loch
Avore, my heart, the night is dark,
wet and dreary.
Here’s your bairnie neath the rock
II
Avore, my love, my joy,
wanting fire here,
wanting shelter, wanting comfort
our babe is crying by the loch
III
Avore, my heart, my bridet
My gray old mouth
touching thy sweet lips,
and me singing Old songs to thee,
by Ben Frochkie (1)
NOTE
1) between Gesto and Portree in Skye
Scottish gaelic
A Mhór a ghaoil! A Mhór a shògh!
Till gu d’mhacan is gheabh
thu’m bradan breac o’n loch.
A Mhór a shògh! Tha’n oiche nochd
Gu fliuch frasach aig mo mhacsa
ri sgath chnocain.
II
A Mhór a ghaoil! A Mhór a shògh!
Gun teine, gun tuar, gun fhasgadh,
is tu sìor chòineadh.
III
A Mhór a ghaoil! A Mhór a shògh!
Mo sheana-chab liath ri
do bheul beag baoth
is mi seinn phort dhuit am Beinn Frochdaidh.
In the most placid rivers of Ireland and in the dark depths of the Scottish lakes live water demons, fairy creatures, that feed on human flesh: they are “kelpie”, “each uisge” (in English water-horse), “eich- mhara “(in English sea horse); to want to be picky kelpie lives preferably near the rapids of the rivers, fords and waterfalls, while each uisge prefers the lakes and the sea, but kelpie is the most used word for both. Similar creatures are also told in Norse legends (Bäckahästen, the river horse) – and Germanic (nix in the form of fish or frog). (first part)
In the time of the myth it was believed that there was a certain symmetry between the terrestrial creatures and those of the waters, so men and women were the newts and the mermaids, while among the marine animals there was the horse with the fish tail. It sleeps in solitary ponds or in the sea, is shown on the banks of rivers and lakes, and although its reign is the aquatic one, the kelpie can take the form of a beautiful horse (sometimes with a white mantle sometimes with a black mantle) but also of a beautiful boy or of a lovely girl.
a Kelpie in the form of a maiden
FAIRY LOVERS
Being a solitary creature, Kelpie is often looking for a partner who is described as a “leannan-sith” (a fairy-lover). Mary Mackellar in her essay ‘The Shieling: Its Traditions and Songs‘ writes of the many enchanted seductions to the summer pastures, when shepherds carried sheep on the highlands, going to live for the whole season in the isolated huts (shielings) next to rivers and ponds. The only way to distinguish the shapeshifters when they took the form of a young boy or a girl was to comb their hair: if sand and algae were caught in the comb it was a kelpie!
LOCH GARVE’s KELPIE
In some legends the kelpie is described as a solitary crature that to find a partner, it abducts a young woman: the kelpie is considerate and kind to her, and while keeping her prisoner, tries to comfort her. This one comes from the land of Clan Mackenzie and concerns the kelpie who lives in Loch Garve (Inverness)
“There’s a spot at the eastern end of Loch Garve, ye ken,” [Rupert] said, rolling his eyes around the gathering to be sure everyone was listening, “that never freezes. It’s always black water there, even when the rest o’ the loch is frozen solid, for that’s the waterhorse’s chimney.” The waterhorse of Loch Garve, like so many of his kind, had stolen a young girl who came to the loch to draw water, and carried her away to live in the depths of the loch and be his wife. Woe betide any maiden, or any man, for that matter, who met a fine horse by the water’s side and thought to ride upon him, for a rider once mounted could not dismount, and the horse would step into the water, turn into a fish, and swim to his home with the hapless rider still stuck fast to his back.
With the passing of time in Scotland the kelpie has become however a monster of the waters as the infamous Nessie of the Loch Ness.
THE WATER DEMON
The Kelpie is considered an evil creature a kind of demon that hunts victims to seduce and drown (and devour) them in the abyss (a memory of ancient sacrifices to the spirits of the waters?) So popular wisdom first recommended not to climb incautiously on the back of a lonely horse (because once we climbed on a kelpie there is no possibility of going down) and secondly if we have climbed and we are going to end up dragged in the deep water, we have to look for bridles to tame it (easier said than done naturally).
THE WATER FAIRES
Nix of german river
The equivalent in Germanic folklore is nix or nixie (depending on whether male or female) of which the kelpie is one of the possible incarnations: the nix is shown in the form of frog or toad or small fish or a strange fish to human form. Wanting to make a distinction between Kelpie and Nix we can say that the first prefers to attract the victims in the form of a horse to get them on the back and carry them to the abyss; the second instead attracts them in human form with sweet melodies (they are sirens / nymphs with a beautiful singing or mermen skilled musicians)
Nei fiumi più placidi d’Irlanda e nelle profondità oscure dei laghi scozzesi vivono dei demoni acquatici, creature fatate mutaforma, che si nutrono di carne umana: sono “kelpie“, “each uisge” (in inglese water-horse), “eich-mhara” (in inglese sea horse), cavalli d’acqua e del mare; a voler essere pignoli il kelpie vive preferibilmente nei pressi delle rapide dei fiumi, dei guadi e delle cascate, mentre l’each uisge preferisce i laghi e il mare, ma kelpie è la parola più usata per entrambi. Di creature analoghe si narra anche nelle leggende norrene (Bäckahästen, il cavallo di fiume)- e germaniche (nix sotto forma di pesce o di rana). (prima parte)
Nel tempo del mito era convinzione che esistesse una certa simmetria tra le creature terrestri e quelle delle acque, così uomini e donne erano i tritoni e le sirene, mentre tra gli animali marini non mancava la figura del cavallo con la coda di pesce. Dorme negli stagni solitari o in mare, si mostra sulle rive dei fiumi e dei laghi, e benchè il suo regno sia quello acquatico, il kelpie può assumere le sembianze di un bellissimo cavallo (a volte dal manto candido a volte dal manto nero) ma anche di bel ragazzo o d’amabile fanciulla.
un Kelpie in sembianze di fanciulla
AMANTI FATATI
Essendo una creatura solitaria, il Kelpie è spesso in cerca di un compagno/compagna e viene descritto come un “leannan-sith” ovvero una “fata-amante”. Mary Mackellar nel suo saggio ‘The Shieling: Its Traditions and Songs’ (Gaelic Society of Inverness 1889 qui) scrive delle molte seduzioni fatate ai pascoli estivi, quando i pastori portavano le pecore sugli altopiani, andando a vivere per tutta la stagione nelle isolate malghe (shielings) accanto a fiumi e laghetti. L’unico modo per distinguere i mutaforma quando prendevano le sembianze di un giovanetto o di una fanciulla era quella di pettinare i loro capelli: se sabbia e alghe restavano impigliate nel pettine si trattava di un kelpie!
IL KELPIE DI LOCH GARVE
In alcune leggende il kelpie è descritto come una cratura solitaria che per mettere su famiglia, rapisce una giovane donna, eppure è premuroso e gentile con lei, e pur tenendola prigioniera, cerca di confortarla. Questa viene dalla terra del Clan Mackenzie e riguarda il kelpie che abita nel Loch Garve (dalle parti di Inverness)
Nel libro “La Straniera” di Diana Gabaldon troviamo questa versione della leggenda del Kelpie. “A quanto potei capire, questi esseri abitavano in qualunque tipo di massa acquatica, ed erano particolarmente frequenti nei fiordi e nei canali, benché molti vivessero dentro agli abissi dei lochs. «C’è un punto, nell’estremità orientale di Loch Garve», disse, spostando lo sguardo tra i vari membri del gruppo per accertarsi che tutti lo stessero ascoltando, «che non gela mai. L’acqua lì è sempre nera, anche quando il resto del loch è tutto ghiacciato: si tratta infatti del comignolo del cavallo d’acqua.» Quello di Loch Garve, come molti altri della sua razza, aveva rapito una fanciulla che era venuta al loch ad attingere acqua, e se l’era portata con sé in fondo agli abissi perché gli facesse da moglie. Qualunque donna, o uomo se è per questo, provi il desiderio, dopo aver trovato un bel cavallo in riva al lago, di salirgli in groppa, andrà incontro a parecchi guai, perché una volta montato il cavaliere non potrà più scendere; a quel punto il cavallo si tufferà in acqua, si trasformerà in un pesce e nuoterà fino alla sua dimora con lo sventurato cavaliere saldamente attaccato al dorso. «Orbene, una volta sott’acqua il cavallo avrà solo denti da pesce», disse Rupert, ondulando il palmo per imitare il movimento delle pinne, «e si nutre di lumache, di alghe e di altri cibi freddi e bagnati. Ha il sangue gelido come l’acqua, e non gli serve nessun fuoco, mentre una donna umana ha bisogno di calore.» …«Dunque la moglie del cavallo d’acqua era triste e soffriva il freddo e la fame, nella sua nuova dimora subacquea, non piacendole granché le lumache e le alghe che lui le serviva per cena. Così il cavallo, essendo di buon cuore, si recò sulla riva del loch vicino alla casa di un uomo che aveva fama di essere un bravo capomastro. E, quando l’uomo scese giù al fiume e vide il bell’animale dorato con le briglie d’argento che risplendevano al sole, non poté resistere alla voglia di montargli in sella. «Naturalmente il cavallo si tuffa in acqua e lo porta fino alla sua dimora fredda e viscida negli abissi. A quel punto dice al capomastro che se vuol tornare in libertà dovrà costruire un bel caminetto, con tanto di comignolo, in modo che sua moglie possa avere un fuoco dove scaldarsi le mani e friggere il pesce.» «Così il capomastro, non avendo altra scelta, fece come gli era stato chiesto. E il cavallo mantenne la promessa: lo riportò sulla riva vicino a casa sua. Fu così che la moglie del cavallo d’acqua poté starsene al calduccio, tutta contenta, con grande abbondanza di pesce fritto per cena. Dunque l’acqua non gela mai, all’estremità orientale di Loch Garve, perché il calore del comignolo del cavallo d’acqua scioglie il ghiaccio. » (Pag.317)
Con il passar del tempo in Scozia il kelpie è diventato tuttavia un mostro delle acque come il famigerato Nessie del Loch Ness.
IL DEMONE ACQUATICO
Più spesso il Kelpie è considerata una creatura malvagia una sorta di demone che va a caccia di vittime da sedurre e far annegare (e divorare) negli abissi (un ricordo di antichi sacrifici agli spiriti delle acque?) Così la saggezza popolare raccomandava per prima cosa di non salire mai incautamente in groppa ad un cavallo solitario (perchè una volta saliti su un kelpie non c’è più possibilità di scendere) e per seconda cosa se proprio ci siamo saliti e stiamo per finire trascinati nelle acque profonde, di cercare le briglie per domarlo (più facile a dirsi che a farsi naturalmente).
I FOLLETTI ACQUATICI
Nix del fiume
Il corrispettivo nel folklore germanico è il nix o nixie (a secondo se di sesso maschile o femminile) di cui il kelpie è una delle possibili incarnazioni: il nix si mostra nella forma di rana o rospo o di piccolo pesce o di uno strano pesce a forma umana. Volendo fare un distinguo fra Kelpie e Nix possiamo affermare che il primo preferisce attirare la vittima sotto forma di cavallo per farla salire in groppa e trasportarla negli abissi il secondo invece l’attira in forma umana con dolci melodie (sono sirene/ninfe dal bel canto o tritoni abili musicisti).
A ghaoil, leig dhachaigh gum mhathair mi (O love, let me home to my mother) is a Scottish Gaelic song from the Hebrides: it is the plea of a girl kidnapped by the kelpie to be allowed to return home. It was customary for the Kelpie to take a human bride to feel less alone, but the brides were not always happy to live on the bottom of the lake, to take care of the kelpie’s house! Although the Scottish maidens are dissuaded by many folk tales to walk alone on the moors and on the banks of the loch, there is always the most innocent or adventurous, which inevitably ends up making bad encounters.
[A ghaoil, leig dhachaigh gum mhàthair mi (O love, let me home to my mother) è un canto in gaelico scozzese proveniente dalle Isole Ebridi: è la supplica di una fanciulla rapita dal kelpie affinchè le sia concesso di ritornare a casa. Era consuetudine per il Kelpie prendersi una sposa umana per sentirsi meno solo, ma non sempre le spose erano felici di vivere sul fondo del lago ad accudire alla casetta del kelpie! Sebbene le fanciulle scozzesi siano dissuase da molti racconti popolari ad andarsene sole solette per la brughiera e sulle rive dei loch, c’è sempre quella più ingenua o avventurosa, la quale immancabilmente finisce per fare brutti incontri..]
Ulli Boegershausenguitar arrangiament [arrangiamento per chitarra]
Scottish Gaelic
I
A ghaoil, leig dhachaigh gum mhàthair mi;
A ghràidh, leig dhachaigh gum mhàthair mi;
A ghaoil, leig dhachaigh gum mhàthair mi –
An tòir chrodh-laoigh a thàine mi.
II
Gur ann a-raoir a chuala mi
Mo ghaol a bhith ri buachailleachd,
’S ged fhuair thu ’n iomall na buaile mi,
A ghaoil, leig dhachaigh mar fhuair thu mi.
III
‘S mi dìreadh ris na gàrraidhean,
’S a’ teàrnadh ris na fàirichean,
Gun d’ thachair fleasgach bàigheil rium,
’S cha d’ dh’ fheuch e bonn ga chàirdeis rium.
IV
Ged bheireadh tu crodh agus caoraich dhomh,
Ged bheireadh tu eachaibh air thaodaibh dhomh,
Ged bheireadh tu sin agus daoine dhomh,
A ghaoil, leig dhachaigh mar fhuair thu mi.
V
Trodaidh m’ athair ’s mo mhàthair riut,
Trodaidh mo chinneadh ’s mo chàirdean riut,
Ach marbhaidh mo thriùir bhràithrean thu
Mura tèid mi dhachaigh mar thàine mi.
VI
Gheall mo mhàthair gùn thoirt dhomh,
Gheall i ribean a b’ ùire dhomh,
Is gheall i breacan ùr thoirt dhomh
Ma thèid mi dhachaigh mar fhuair thu mi.
English translation *
I
Love, let me home to my mother
Darling, let me home to my mother
Love, let me home to my mother
I only came for the cattle.
II
It was only last night
That I heard that my love was herding
And though you found me at the brim of the fold
Love, let me home as you found me.
III
I was clambering up the dykes
And descending the ridges
When a friendly lad met me
And he did not enforce his friendship on me.
IV
Though you were to give me cattle and sheep
Though you were to give me tethered horses
Though you were to give me that and men
Love, let me home as you found me.
V
My mother and father will chastise you
My clan and my relatives will chastise you
But my three brothers will kill you
If I don’t return home as I came.
VI
My mother promised me a gown
Decorated with the newest of ribbons
And she promised me a new plaid
If I return home the way you found me.
traduzione italiano Cattia Salto
I
Mio caro, fammi tornare a casa da mia madre
Fammi tornare a casa da mia madre
Amore (1), fammi tornare a casa da mia madre
Sono arrivata qui solo per il bestiame (2).
II
E ‘ stato solo la scorsa notte
Ho sentito che il mio amore era al pascolo
E anche se mi hai trovata ai bordi del pascolo
Fammi tornare a casa come mi hai trovata.
III
Mi arrampicavo sulle erte
E scendevo dalle creste,
Quando un giovanotto cordiale mi ha incontrato
E non mi ha imposto la sua amicizia.
IV
Anche se tu potessi darmi bestiame e pecore,
Anche se tu potessi darmi dei cavalli impastoiati,
Anche se tu potessi darmi questo e dei servitori,
Fammi tornare a casa come mi hai trovata.
V
Mia madre e mio padre ti puniranno
Il mio clan e i miei parenti ti puniranno
Ma i miei tre fratelli ti uccideranno
Se non tornassi a casa come sono venuta.
VI
Mia madre mi ha promesso un abito
Decorato con i nastri più nuovi
E lei mi ha promesso un nuovo mantello
Se tornassi a casa come mi hai trovata.
NOTE
1) the girl coaxes the kelpie, but to call him “my love” it is a bit out of the context of a fleeting encounter, maybe they have lived together and now she feels homesick . Yet that of the girl is clearly a plea of not being violated to return home with her virginity intact [la fanciulla blandisce il kelpie, ma chiamarlo amore mio è un po’ fuori dal contesto di un fugace incontro, forse i due hanno vissuto insieme per un po’ di tempo e adesso lei sente la nostalgia di casa. Eppure quella della fanciulla è chiaramente una supplica di non essere violata per ritornare a casa con la sua verginità intatta]
2) the girl justifies her curiosity by explaining that she had gone to those solitary places for her job as guardian of the family’s cattle; in the next stanza she even explains that she hoped to meet another herdsman / shepherd boy; that is she is there for the cattle, not for sex [la fanciulla giustifica la sua curiosità spiegando di essersi spinta verso quei luoghi solitari nella sua mansione di guardiana del bestiame della famiglia; nella strofa successiva addirittura spiega che sperava d’incontrare un altro mandriano/pastorello; lei è li per il bestiame, non per fare sesso]
“Dream Angus” is the Scottish version of Sandman (affectionately called Sandy) a mythical character of Northern Europe folklore, the sandy wizard, who brings happy dreams sprinkling magic sand into the eyes of sleeping children. In the animated movie by Dreamworks “Rise of the Guardians” he is a mute character who communicates through images formed with his magic golden dust; always cheerful, provides children with beautiful dreams and unleashes their imagination.
[“Dream Angus” è la versione scozzese dell’Omino dei Sogni (in inglese Sandman chiamato affettuosamente Sandy) un personaggio mitico del folklore del Nord Europa, il mago sabbiolino, che porta sogni felici cospargendo di sabbia magica gli occhi dei bambini addormentati. Nella versione animata della Dreamworks “Le 5 Leggende” (in inglese “Rise of the Guardians”) è un personaggio muto che comunica attraverso immagini formate con la sua dorata polvere magica; sempre allegro, fornisce ai bambini dei bei sogni e sbriglia la loro immaginazione.]
In the fairy tale of Andersen, Ole Lukøje (in English Ole-Luk-Oie) tells the sleeping children fantastic stories opening up an umbrella full of drawings on their heads (but only good children can make happy dreams, the disobedient ones sleep without dreams and the little man opens an umbrella without drawings on their heads). The italian Gianni Rodari has undergone the charm of this character dedicating him a nursery rhyme in which he outlined a mischievous but good-natured spirit.
[Nella fiaba di Andersen Ole Chiudigliocchi (Ole Lukøje in inglese Ole-Luk-Oie) racconta ai bambini addormentati delle storie fantastiche aprendo sopra alla loro testa un ombrello pieno di disegni (ma solo i bambini buoni possono essere felici nel sogni, quelli disobbedenti dormono senza sogni e l’omino apre sulle loro teste un ombrello senza disegni). Il nostro Gianni Rodari ha subito il fascino del personaggio dedicandogli una filastrocca in cui l’onimo dispettoso ma bonario dorme sotto il nostro comò di giorno.]
And yet Hoffmann recounts about Der Sandmann who is a dark version of the boogeyman: he snatch the eyes of the children who does not want to sleep to feed his ravenous offspring.
E tuttavia Hoffmann racconta dell’uomo della sabbia (Der Sandmann) che è una cupa versione dell’uomo nero: ai bambini che non volevano dormire strappava gli occhi per darli in pasto alla sua è famelica prole dal becco ricurvo come i rapaci della notte.]
Angus
In the Celtic mythology Angus (Aengus) is the god of youth, of poetic inspiration and love, son of the Nymph Boann and of the Dagda of the Tuatha Dé Danann. In a scottish goodnight song he is called “Dream Angus“, the god of dreams and by night he carries a bag full of dreams. His wife is Caer Ibormeith and their love story is the meeting of the twin souls that can not be separated.
[Nella mitologia celtica Angus (Aengus) è il dio della giovinezza, dell’ispirazione poetica e dell’amore, figlio della Ninfa Boann e del Dagda dei Tuatha Dé Danann. In una canzone della buonanotte è chiamato “Dream Angus”, il dio dei sogni e la notte porta una sacca piena di sogni in vendita. Sua moglie è Caer Ibormeith (Bacca di Tasso) la loro storia è l’incontro delle anime gemelle che non possono essere separate. ]
Twin souls
Illustration from The Dream of Aengus, by Ted Nasmith
According to the myth, Angus fell in love with a maiden he saw in his dreams.
But she was under a spell and to be able to free her, Angus had to recognize her while she was living in the form of a swan. After much research he knew he would have to waited till Samain for going to Lake Dragon’s Mouth (Loch Bel Dracon), where he found 150 swans tied to couples with silver chains.
[Secondo il mito, Angus si innamorò della fanciulla che vedeva nei suoi sogni. Ma la fanciulla era sotto un sortilegio e per poterla liberare Angus doveva riconoscerla mentre viveva nella forma di cigno. Dopo molte ricerche seppe di doverla aspettare per la festa di Samain al lago di Dragon’s Mouth (Loch Bel Dracon in italiano Bocca del Drago) dove trovò 150 cigni legati a coppie con catene d’argento.]
Aengus sings in front of the lake during his transformation into a swan [Aengus canta davanti al lago nella sua trasformazione in cigno]- John Duncan 1908Angus turned into a swan to call Caer, so they flew together over the lake three times singing a sweet melody that fell asleep all Ireland for three days and three nights; now they live in Brugh Na Boinne (Newgrange).
[Angus si trasformò in cigno per poter chiamare la sua Caer, così volarono insieme sorvolando il lago per tre volte cantavano una dolce melodia che addormentò l’Irlanda per tre giorni e tre notti; ora dimorano nel Brugh Na Boinne (Newgrange).]
Yeats dedicates a poem to him The song of wandering Aengus published in 1899, in the collection of poems “The Wind among the reeds”. The first to put the poem into music was the same Yeats who composed or adapted a traditional Irish melody: in 1907 he published his essay ‘Speaking to the Psaltery’ in which the poem is recited bardically, sung with the accompaniment of the psaltery; but many other artists were inspired by the text and composed further melodies. (see more)
Yeats gli dedica una poesia The song of wandering Aengus (La canzone di Aengus l’errante) pubblicata nel 1899, nella raccolta di poesie “The Wind among the reeds” (Il vento fra le canne). Il primo a mettere in musica la poesia è stato lo stesso Yeats che la compose o che vi adattò una melodia tradizionale irlandese : nel 1907 diede alle stampe il suo saggio ‘Speaking to the Psaltery’ in cui la poesia viene recitata alla maniera bardica ovvero cantata con l’accompagnamento del salterio; ma molti altri artisti furono ispirati dal testo e composero ulteriori melodie. continua
Dream Angus
Dream Angus is a legendary character in Scottish folklore that brings beautiful dreams to sleeping children.
“From the moment Angus is born it is obvious that he is a gentle spirit and will be universally loved. Songbirds circle his head to serenade him to sleep as he rocks in his cradle, and the wildest hunting dog calms when in his presence.” (from qui)
Angus dei Sogni è un personaggio leggendario nel folklore scozzese che porta bei sogni ai bambini addormentati “Subito dalla sua nascita Angus è uno spirito gentile e sarà universalmente amato: gli uccelli canterini gli girano intorno alla testa per farlo addormentare, mentre si dondola nella culla, e il cane da caccia più selvaggio si calma quando è in sua presenza“.
Jackie Oates
Jean-Luc Lenoir in Old Celtic & Nordic Lullabies” 2016
Lynn Morrison
I
Can ye no hush your weepin’?
All the wee lambs are sleepin’
Birdies are nestlin’ nestlin’ together
Dream Angus is hirplin’ oer the heather Chorus Dreams to sell, fine dreams to sell Angus is here wi’ dreams to sell Hush my wee bairnie and sleep without fear Dream Angus has brought you a dream my dear.
II
List’ to the curlew cryin’
Faintly the echos dyin’
Even the birdies and the beasties are sleepin’
But my bonny bairn is weepin’ weepin’
III (1)
Soon the lavrock sings his song
Welcoming the coming dawn
Lambies coorie doon the gither
Wi’ the yowies in the heather
Traduzione italiano Cattia Salto
I
Perchè non smetti di piangere?
Tutti gli agnellini sono addormentati,
gli uccellini si stanno accoccolando insieme
Angus dei Sogni si aggira per la brughiera Coro Sogni da vendere, bei sogni da vendere Angus è qui con i sogni da vendere shhh mio piccolino, dormi senza paura Angus dei Sogni ti ha portato un sogno mio caro
II
Ascolta il chiurlo che grida
piano si smorza l’eco
anche gli uccellini e le bestie dormono
ma il mio piccolino piange, piange
III
Presto l’allodola leverà il suo canto
per salutare l’arrivo dell’alba
gli agnelli si rannicchiano assieme
con le pecorelle nell’erica
NOTE
1) or
Sweet the lavrock sings at morn,
Heraldin’ in a bright new dawn.
Wee lambs, they coorie doon taegether
Alang with their ewies in the heather.
The musical arrangements are however for everyone.
[Gli arrangiamenti sono però per tutti i gusti] Debra Fotheringham
The Corries
Annie Lennox
Nam bu leam fhin thu thaladhainn thu
The melody of Dream Angus is very similar to a Gaelic lullaby “Nam bu leam fhin thu thaladhainn thu“, which is believed to have been sung by a fairy to an abandoned human child in the forest. On the Isle of Skye (Hebrides) it is associated with MacLeods clan of Dunvegan, who took enchanted creatures as nurses for their children. Christina Stewart reports a couple of legends associated with this song: In an alternative story, the wife of the chief of the MacLeods gives birth to a baby, much to the joy of the family. However, the mother is a fairy woman and while the child is still a baby, she is forced to return to her own people. One night, there is a great feast going on in Dunvegan Castle and the nursemaid who is supposed to be caring for the child is so attracted by the colour and festivity that she leaves the baby sleeping and goes to watch. While she is away, the baby wakens and begins to cry. When she hears it, she comes back and finds a woman cradling the baby, singing this song to him. She has wrapped the child in an embroidered, yellow covering. As the child calms, the woman hands the child back to the nursemaid and leaves. The story goes that the woman was the baby’s mother, returned to see that her child was kept from harm and the yellow cover was the so-called Fairy Flag of Dunvegan, a banner which the clan should wave at times of dire need. Legend has it that this otherworldly banner has miraculous powers and when unfurled in battle, the clan MacLeod would invariably defeat their enemies. It can only be waved 3 times, though, after which it will fall into dust. The flag has been waved twice so far – in 1480 at Blàr Bàgh na Fala and ten years later at the Battle of Glendale. The flag itself certainly exists and is a popular attraction at Dunvegan Castle. There are many stories associated with it and it’s origins and this is not the only lullaby said to have been sung by the baby’s mother. (from here)
La melodia di Dream Angus è molto simile a una ninna nanna gaelica “Nam bu leam fhin thu thaladhainn thu”, che si ritiene sia stata cantata da una fata a un bambino umano abbandonato nella foresta. Sull’isola di Skye (Isole Ebridi) è associata al clan MacLeods di Dunvegan che prendeva delle creature fatate come balia per i figli.
Christina Stewart riporta un paio di leggende associate a questo canto “In una storia alternativa, la moglie del capo dei MacLeod da alla luce un bambino, tutto per la gioia della famiglia. Tuttavia, la madre è una fata e quando il bambino è ancora piccolo, è costretta a tornare dalla sua stessa gente. Una notte, c’è una grande festa in corso nel Castello di Dunvegan e la bambinaia che doveva prendersi cura del bambino è così distratta dalla festa che lascia il bambino addormentato e va a vedere. Mentre lei è via, il bambino si sveglia e comincia a piangere. Quando lo sente, torna e trova una donna che culla il bambino, cantando questa canzone per lui. Aveva avvolto il bambino in una coperta gialla ricamata. Mentre il bambino si calma, la donna restituisce il bambino alla balia e se ne va. La storia racconta che la donna era la madre del bambino, tornata a vedere che il suo bambino fosse al sicuro e la copertina gialla era la cosiddetta “Fairy Flag of Dunvegan”, uno stendardo che il clan avrebbe dovuto agitare nei momenti di estremo bisogno. La leggenda narra che questo vessillo ultraterreno abbia poteri miracolosi e quando dispiegato in battaglia, il clan MacLeod avrebbe invariabilmente sconfitto i loro nemici. Può essere sventolato solo 3 volte, dopo di che cadrà nella polvere. La bandiera è stata sventolata due volte finora – nel 1480 a Blàr Bàgh na Fala e dieci anni dopo nella Battaglia di Glendale. La bandiera di per sé certamente esiste ed è un’attrazione popolare al Castello di Dunvegan. Ci sono molte storie associate ad esso e alle sue origini e questa non è l’unica ninnananna che si dice sia stata cantata dalla madre del bambino.”
Christina Stewart in Bairn’s Kist 2011
Scottish gaelic
Thàladhainn, thàladhainn, thàladhainn thu
Nam bu leam fhìn thu, leanabh mo chìche
Nam bu leam fhìn thu, thàladhainn thu
Thàladhainn, thàladhainn, thàladhainn thu
English translation:
If you were mine, I would lull you
Lull, lull, lull you
If you were mine, child of my breast
If you were mine, I would lull you
Lull, lull, lull you
traduzione italiano Cattia Salto
Se tu fossi mio, ti cullerei
cullerei, cullerei
se tu fossi mio, bimbo del mio seno
se tu fossi mio, ti cullerei
cullerei, cullerei
Traditional medieval ballad which title means “Sjugur and the troll bride”. My knowledge of Scandinavian legends is rather poor but I admire the magnificent illustrations of John Bauer, here is a tribute that plunges us into those Nordic atmospheres.
[Tradizionale ballata medievale dal titolo “Sjugur e la sposa troll”. La mia conoscenza delle leggende scandinave è piuttosto scarsa ma ammiro le magnifiche illustrazioni di John Bauer ecco un tributo che ci tuffa in quelle nordiche atmosfere.]
The ballad is a typical “troll story” in which the kidnapped maid is rescued by the brave knight. Text and melody are collected by Lorentz Diderich Klüwer in «Norske Mindesmærker» (Norwegian Memorials) 1818.
[La ballata è una tipica “storia di troll” in cui la fanciulla rapita viene riportata in salvo dal prode cavaliere. Testo e melodia sono raccolti da Lorentz Diderich Klüwer in «Norske Mindesmærker» (1818)
Folque in Folque 1974 Norwegian Folk Rock Group formed in 1972 and disband in the mid 80’s [gruppo folk rock norvegese formatosi nel 1972 e sciolto a metà degli anni 80]
Jean-Luc Lenoir (Céline Archambeau) in “Old Celtic & Nordic Ballads”
Kirsten Bråten Bergfrom the concert “Til Radka” 2009 (tribute concert to Radka Toneff) arranged by Arild Andersen (double bass) [dal concerto Til Radka 2009, tributo a Radka Toneff, arrangiamento di Arild Andersen, contrabbasso]
from Grieg: Norway’s Melodies, Sjugurd og trollbura fra Hallingdal (Sjugurd and the Troll-Bride from Hallingda)
I
og kongen han sto på høgeloftsvoll,
han så seg ut så vi’e.
tett ute på den grøne voll
der så han sjugur ri’e. sjugur våga livet for jomfrua.
II
eg seia vel må at kongjen var vild,
for si dotter han mista till bergjet,
hvor jutul og troll held bryllaupspill,
men sjugur hadde nevan till vergje
III
å, høyr no min sjugur, min dotte er di,
for du er no så strek ein herre.
om du torde gange i bergjet inn
og hente din hjertens kjære
IV
og sjugur han let till bryllaups be’
så mangje han kunne utvelgja.
deretter så bad han så mangen en tuss,
så tjukt som sju kunne telja.
VI
du trudde vel brura var lekker ei tøs
med bryster og hår som Sofia.
nei nase ho hadde som nautefjøs,
og augo som tjønn uti lia.
VII
som brureskjenken var gangen forbi
og folket begynte å tvista.
han sjur dangla etter med klubba si,
og slo ikkje slag som missa.
VIII
og heim kom han sjugur med kongsdottera fin,
høva bettre for tøsa enn trolla.
og kongjen tok ordet till sjugur sin :
du har tjent ‘a, så ta og behold ‘a.
English translation *
I
And the king stood on [the] gallery
he looked around far and wide.
close out on the green meadow
there he saw Sjugur ride. Sjugur risked his life for the young maiden.
II
I do have to say that the king must have been lost
for his daughter he lost to the mountain,
where jutuls(1) and trolls hold wedding games
but Sjugur had his fists to defend himself.
III
“oh, listen now my Sjugur, my daughter is yours,
for you are, in fact, a bold gentleman.
if you dare into the mountain walk
and retrieve your beloved one.”
IV
and Sjugur [he] invited to his wedding (2)
as many as he could pick
thereafter he invited many a hulder (3)
as thick as seven could count(4)
V
you probably thought the bride was [a] delicious maid
with breasts and hair like Sofia.(5)
no, she had a nose like [a] byre (6)
and eyes like ponds in the hillside.
VI
as the bestowing of the bride was over
and [the] people began to bicker.
Sjur dangled with his club
and didn’t strike any punches that missed.
VII
and home came Sjugur with the fine princess
[it] suited the slut better than the trolls.
and the king said to his Sjugur:
you have earned her, so keep her.
Traduzione italiano Cattia Salto
I
E il re stava sugli spalti
per guardare in lungo e in largo
fin in basso sul grande prato
vide Sjugur cavalcare Sjugur ha rischiato la vita per una fanciulla II
Si deve dire che il re doveva essere impazzito
perchè smarrì la figlia sulla montagna
dove giganti e troll facevano i giochi nunziali
ma Sjugur si difendeva con le mani
III
“Ascolta mio Sjugur , mia figlia sarà tua,
perchè tu sei a tutti gli effetti un coraggioso cavaliere se oserai andare sulla montagna
e riportare la tua innamorata”
IV
e Sjugur invitò al suo matrimonio
tutti quelli che riuscì a prendere
poi invitò molte fate delle foreste
in grandi quantità
V
probabilmente hai pensato che la sposa fosse [una] deliziosa fanciulla
con seni e capelli come Sofia
no, aveva un naso come una stalla
e gli occhi come stagni sul fianco della collina.
VI
quando il banchetto terminò
la gente cominciò a litigare.
Sjur brandiva la sua mazza
e non sbagliava un colpo.
VII
e tornò a casa Sjugur con la bella principessa
meglio assortito alla fanciulla dei troll.
e il re disse a Sjugur:
“l’hai guadagnata, quindi tienila.”
NOTE
from https://lyricstranslate.com/it/sjugur-og-trollbrura-sjugur-and-troll-bride.html-0
1) A jutul is a giant, known for his stupidity. [un gigante rinomato per la sua stupidità]
2) with the troll bride [con la trolla]
3) hulder-folk=hidden folk analogous to the fairies of other regional lores, the Norwegian word hulder comes from the Old Norse word huldú, which means “dark,” “hidden,” “covered,” “latent” [popolo nascosto analogo alle fate delle altre tradizioni popolari, la parola norvegese hulder deriva dalla parola norrena huldú, che significa “oscura”, “nascosta”, “coperta”, “latente”]
4) “As thick as seven could count” is an archaic Norwegian expression [arcaica espressione norvegese]
5) Sofia is evidently the name of the beautiful princess [Sofia è evidentemente il nome della bella principessa] 6) A nautefjøs is a kind of barn used for housing livestock, in this particular case cattle. This is a compound word, where “naut” means moron (it’s also another word for cow), and “fjøs” means byre.
The Other World is widely described in Celtic stories as a wonderful land, Elsewhere is an island beyond the sea (or under the sea) located symbolically in the West. Although Elsewhere can only be achieved by death, some Celtic legends and poems tell of poets, semi-divine heroes or simple visitors who got there in life. (first part)
MIDIR & ETAIN
From Ireland the love story between the beautiful Etain (or Édaín) and the god Midir (or Midhir or Mired), son of Dagda. When the ancient gods (Túatha Dé Danann) retreated into the burial mounds, Midir lived in the Sidhe of Bri Leith (now Slieve Golry, near Ardagh, County of Longford.) Today a minor site from the archaeological point of view, but once a center of great mythological importance like the Sidhe of Brú na Bóinne (Newgrange), the story of Etain’s abduction takes place in these two sites.
Midir (or Mired) visiting his adopted son Oengus (Aengus Og), met the most beautiful woman in Ireland, Etain, and they lived together at the Brú na Bóinne for a year and a day; when he returned to his kingdom he did not want to be parted from Etain, and so he brought her with him.
Midir was already married to Fuamnach, but the practice of concubinage was normal with the Celts, even though the first wives were jealous of newcomers. So Fuamnach showed herself compliant with her husband and was cordial with Etain, but meditating on revenge.
Thanks to the magical arts she transformed Etain into a pool of water starting a surprising cycle of transformations: the heat in the throne room dried up the pool which turned into a worm and the worm became a big butterfly (or a scarlet fly).
But Midir did not console himself and held the butterfly on his shoulder as the only companion, making his first wife more furious.
So Fuamnach summoned a magical storm that dragged the fragile butterfly away from Midir and Etain wandered, perhaps for seven years, without ever being able to rest, until one day Etain was pushed into Ulaid, her homeland, and fell into the wine cup of Etar’s wife who drank back the butterfly, and turned to her husband, saying “I am with child.” Nine months later, she gave birth to a beautiful baby girl, Etain reborn.
As she grew, Etain became the most beautiful girl in Ireland, and when the king of Tara Eochaid Airem (legendary supreme king of Ireland in the second century son of Finn) , wanted to marry, his messengers brought Etain to him .
But the beauty of Etain was still fatal for Ailill, the King’s brother, who fell in love with her, suffering from the pain of not being able to have her, until he fell seriously ill. So Etain took care of the invalid and Ailill ended up confessing his love for her by telling her that in order to heal his illness he had to succeed in possessing her.
Etain consented, not wanting to betray her husband inside the house she gave a night appointment in Ailill on the nearby hill. Ailill did not wake up that night, but Etain met a man in the shape of Ailill who pretended to be too tired for a relationship. After a couple of nocturnal encounters with the mysterious man Etain thus spoke “I am here to meet a seriously ill man, who must heal, not for you“, thus the man revealed his true identity by revealing their previous love.
The myth is taken from the “Tochmarc Étaíne” (“The Wooing of Étaín/Éadaoin”), written in Ireland in the ninth century – transcribed at the end of the fourteenth century, in the “Yellow Book of Lecan”, which has come down to us.
Thus Midir declaims his kingdom by calling him Mág Mór (the Great Plain) to woo Etain
Irish gaelic
I
A Bé Find, in rega lim,
i tír n-ingnad hi fil rind?
Is barr sobairche folt and;
is dath snechtai corp co ind.
II
Is and nád bí muí ná taí;
gela dét and; dubai braí;
is lí súla lín ar slúag;
is dath sion and cech grúad.
III
Is corcur maige cach muin;
is lí súa ugae luin;
cid caín déicsiu Maige Fáil
annam íar n-gnáis Maige Máir.
IV
Cid mesc lib coirm Inse Fáil,
is mescu coirm Tíre Máir;
amra tíre tír as-biur;
ní tét oac and ré siun.
V
Srotha téithmilsi tar tír,
rogu de mid ocus ḟín,
doíni delgnaidi cen on,
combart cen peccad, cen chol.
VI
Ad-chiam cách for cach leth,
ocus níconn-acci nech:
teimel imorbais Ádaim
dodon-aircheil ar áraim.
VII
A ben, día rís mo thúaith tind,
is barr óir bias fort (chind);
muc úr, laith, lemnacht la lind
rot-bía lim and, a Bé Find.
English translation from here I
Fair Lady, will you come with me To a wonder-land of harmony
Hair shines with a primrose glow
Body smooth and white as snow. II There, is neither mine nor yours, Teeth bright white, dark the brows.
The eye’s delight our populace
Each cheek bears a foxglove blush III The heather’s bloom on every neck
Eyes shine blue as blackbrids’ eggs,
Though you love to gaze on Ireland
It palls after visiting the Great Land. IV Though sweet you deem your Irish beer
Our mirthful mead is sweeter far.
It is a wonder, truth be told,
Young do not die there before old. V The land flows with streams,both warm and sweet/ The best of wine, the choicest mead.
Marke the flawless folk therein,
conception without rape or sin. VI While we watch your people teem,
We walk among you, still unseen.
Dark the tragedy of Eden
That keeps our countless people hidden. VII Woman, join my noble folk
Your head shall bear a crown of gold
Pools of milk, mead, ale and wine
We shall drink there, my Bé Find.
DONNA DI LUCE
The lyric was musicated by Angelo Branduardi with the title “Donna di Luce” on a text translated by Luisa Zappa: Midir promises to Etain to lead her into his fairy world.
Angelo Branduardi in Altro e Altrove 2003.
I
Con me vieni, Donna di luce (1)
la dove nascono le stelle
sono foglie i tuoi capelli,
il tuo corpo è neve.
Bianchi i tuoi denti,
nere le ciglia,
gioia per gli occhi
le tue guance di rosa.
E’ desolata la piana di Fal (2)
per chi ha visto la Grande Pianura (3).
II
Con me vieni, Donna di luce
là dove nascono le stelle
la mia gente cammina fiera
ed il vino scorre a fiumi.
Avrai sul capo una corona
e carne e birra
e latte e miele.
Magica terra…
Là nessuno muore
prima d’essere ormai vecchio.
English translation Cattia Salto
I
Come with me, Fair lady
where stars are born
hair is like leaves there,
and the body as snow;
white are teeth there,
dark the brows;
a delight of the eye
every cheeks as rose.
The Land of Fal is desolate
after frequenting the Great Land.
II
Come with me, Fair lady
where stars are born
my folk walk proud
and rivers run with wine;
a crown of gold shall be upon thy head
and meat and ale
and milk and honey.
Magical land …
Young do not die there
before old
NOTE
1) bright woman
2) Mag Fáil [= Ériu]
3) Mág Mór the celtic Otherworld
The game of fidchell
Etain agreed to follow the god, but being already married to Eochaid she did not want to leave her husband without having obtained his permission. So Midir went to the castle of Eochaid to challenge him in the game of fidchell (a kind of chess game).
At the beginning the prize of the winner were horses and boats and swords and always Midir lost against the Irish nobleman. In the third game, however, the god cunningly exclaimed “What the winner will ask for will be his”, and this time Midir won and demanded that he be allowed to embrace and kiss the king’s wife, Etain.
The husband, in order not to lose his honor, consented to the kiss, but Midir took Etain in his arms and rose up off the ground. All those present saw two swans go away in flight.
Only with the kiss Etain became mindful of his past, he reminded Midir and their great love, her immortal life in the Sidh and her transformation.
The Other World is widely described in Celtic stories as a wonderful land, Elsewhere is an island beyond the sea (or under the sea) located symbolically in the West. Although Elsewhere can only be achieved by death, some Celtic legends and poems tell of poets, semi-divine heroes or simple visitors who got there in life. (first part)
LAND OF YOUTH: OISIN & NIAMH
The story comes from Ireland and Oisín, poet and warrior of Fians (see) also known by the name of Ossian, will go with Niamh from the Golden Hair, daughter of Manannan (the God of the Irish Sea) to Tír na nÓg (The Land of Youth).
The fairy had fallen in love with Oisin and his poems and convinced him to join her to live happily ever after in a land beyond the sea.
OISIN IN THE LAND OF YOUTH
Here are the words pronounced by Niamh to convince Oisin to mount on her white horse: “Wilt thou go with me, Oisín, to my father’s land?”
Oisin with his companions meets Niamh
(from here)
“Delightful is the land beyond all dreams,
Fairer than anything your eyes have ever seen.
There all the year the fruit is on the tree,
And all the year the bloom is on the flower.
“There with wild honey drip the forest trees;
The stores of wine and mead shall never fail.
Nor pain nor sickness knows the dweller there,
Death and decay come near him never more.
“The feast shall cloy not, nor the chase shall tire,
Nor music cease for ever through the hall;
The gold and jewels of the Land of Youth
Outshine all splendors ever dreamed by man.
“Thou shalt have horses of the fairy breed,
Thou shalt have hounds that can outrun the wind;
A hundred chiefs shall follow you in war,
A hundred maidens sing thee to your sleep.
“A crown of sovereignty your brow shall wear,
And by thy side a magic blade shall hang,
Thou shalt be lord of all the Land of Youth
And lord of Niamh of the Head of Gold.”
Oisin & Niamh by Jim FitzPatrick
NOSTALGIA FOR HIS FIANS
After three years Oisin had the desire to return in visiting Ireland, his father and all his companions, his nostalgia represented an off-key note in that island of perfection because Oisin had lost his serenity; Niamh did not oppose his desire, but advised him never to come down from the horse that would bring him back to earth: a rather obscure ban whose danger was not fully seized by Oisin. “This our steed,” she said, “will carry thee across the sea to the land where I found thee, and whithersoever thou wilt, and what folk are there thou shalt see, and what tale thou hast to tell can be told. But never for even a moment must thou alight from his back, for if thy foot once touch again the soil of earth, thou shalt never win to me and to the Land of Youth again. And sorely do I fear some evil chance. Was not the love of Niam of the Head of Gold enough to fill a mortal’s heart? But if thou must go, then go, and blessing and victory be thine.” (from here)
Back in his beloved Ireland the places he knew had vanished, his father had been dead for hundreds of years, the great fortresses of the Fians were in ruins.
“Oisin and St. Patrick”, P.J. Lynch
On the way back, Oisin fell from his saddle and suddenly became old: the three years spent on the Land of Youth corresponded to three hundred years on earth!
According to a version of the story, Oisin did not die but magically survived until the arrival in Ireland of St. Patrick, to whom he was able to narrate the deeds of the Fianna.
So in 1889 Yeats imagines their dialogue in “The Wandering of Oisin”.
Land of Youth
In 1992 Máire Brennan and Tim Jarvis transposed the legend in the song called “Land of Youth”: the Irish Gaelic chorus is Niamh’s fairy voice who has ridden the waves of the sea on her magic horse.
Maire Brennan in Marie, 1992
CHORUS (1) Is gra geal mo chroi thu Fan liom i gconai Is gra geal mo chroi thu Beith mise dilis Is gra geal mo chroi thu Tusa mo mhuirin Is gra geal mo chroi thu Fan ag mo thaobh sa
I
Beauty and grace with golden hair
Eyes like pearls
Came from the sea
Wherever you will go I will go
Wherever you will turn I’ll follow so
Take me to the Land of Youth
Chorus
Three hundred years (2)
II
Carried away on impulse
Followed my heart to the Land of Youth
(instrumental)
Three hundred years and time stood still
Campanions calling (3)
There’s a warning
III
Three hundred years
Fallen to earth (4) the thunder sound
Years overtake him
A grey old man
NOTE
1) chorus in irish gaelic, english translation from here You are the bright love of my heart Stay with me always You are the bright love of my heart Be true to me You are the bright love of my heart You are my sweetheart You are the bright love of my heart Stay by my side
2) the 3 years on Elfland correspond to 300 on Earth
3) summarizing the story in a few lines Maire transforms the nostalgia of Oisin into a concern for his compagnions, the Fianna , Oisin fears that they are in danger and wants to return to Earth to help them
4) Legend tells that Oisin, in helping a group of peasants to move a large rock, falls off fairy horse and he is reached by the time
Lady Isabel and the Elf Knight (Child ballad #4) defines a very specific theme of popular narrative through song, the Bluebeard of fairy tales. 
The head of Heer Halewijn, however, can still talk and order the girl to play his horn, so that his friends hear it and can come and help him. Faced with the girl’s refusal, the knight’s severed head insists: “Rub me with sage on my bloody neck and I will heal!” (translated from here)
6) the stanzas in which the head speaks are omitted
A similar story can be found in the scandinavian saga of Hrólfr Kraki and in the Celtic tale of Diarmuid and the daughter of the King of the Otherworld, while in The Wedding of Sir Gawain and Dame Ragnelle the narration depicts a typically courteous and arturian context. Later also Chaucer claims the story in his novel “The Wife of Bath’s Tale” (Canterbury’s Tale)
“There’s a spot at the eastern end of Loch Garve, ye ken,” [Rupert] said, rolling his eyes around the gathering to be sure everyone was listening, “that never freezes. It’s always black water there, even when the rest o’ the loch is frozen solid, for that’s the waterhorse’s chimney.”
