Τ’ Αϊ-Γιωργιού τη βραδινή

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On Saint George’s eve, as Saint George’s day was ending,
a princess was rigging a solid gold frigate
with sails of pure silk and silken cords for tackle,
a helm of gold, oars wrought in silver,
and a hand-picked crew, each a chosen man.
When the prince heard, he kitted out a frigate fleet
and hove to beside her out at sea.
– Princess, reef your sheets, haul down your sails,
[and for one kiss, one ship of mine is yours
the green-gold or blue-gold frigate, choose,
or the gold-red vessel whose deck I stride.
– Prince, I thought you wise, though your words are not,
asking to be kissed upon the ocean waves.
– I’d gladly leap overboard and risk the waves,
for just one kiss, and let the sin be on my head.
– I’m not some cowardly wretch who would exchange a kiss
for your wormy frigate and for my honour.
So let us race to shore, and to the victor the spoils.]

Translated by Michael Eleftheriou

Τ’ Αϊ-Γιωργιού τη βραδινή

Τ’ Αϊ-Γιωργιού τη βραδινή, τ’ Αϊ-Γιωργιού το βράδυ
βασιλοπού- βασιλοπούλα αρμάτωνε,
βασιλοπούλα αρμάτωνε ολόχρυση φεργάδα.

Βάζει πανιά μεταξωτά και ξάρτια μπιρσιμένια,
βάζει τιμόνι μάλαμα και τα κουπιά ασημένια,
βάζει και τα ναυτόπουλα και κείνα διαλεγμένα.
Του ρήγα γιος σαν τ’ άκουσε φεργάδες αρματώνει
και μέσα στ’ αρτζιπέλαγος πάει την κοντοζ’γώνει.
– Σουλτάνα μάινα τα πανιά, σουλτάνα ρίχτα κάτω,
[σουλτάνα δώσ’ μ’ ένα φιλί και πάρε μια φεργάδα,
θέλεις τη χρυσοπράσινη, θέλεις την κ’σογαλάζια1
θέλεις την κ’σοκινίκατη2 που είμ’ απατός μου3 μέσα.
– Φρόνιμον σ’ είχα ρήγα γιε κι άσκημα συντυχαίνεις4
και μέσα στ’ αρτζιπέλαγος σαν τι φιλί γυρεύεις;
– Ας έπεφτα στη θάλασσα κι ας μ’ έπαιρνε το κύμα
κι ας έπαιρνα ένα φιλί κι ας είχα εγώ το κρίμα.
– Εγώ δεν είμαι κιότισσα5 να δώσω το φιλί μου,
για μια παλιοφεργάδα σου να χάσω την τιμή μου.
Άιντε να βγούμε στη στεριά κι όποιος νικήσ’ ας πάρει.]

1κ'σογαλάζια: χρυσογαλάζια
2κ'σοκινίκατη: χρυσοκόκκινη
3απατός μου: εγώ ο ίδιος
4συντυχαίνεις: μιλάς
5κιότισσα: δειλή, άθλια (από το κιοτής)

Information

Collaborators

  • Singer: Women's Group from Nea Palatia (Oropos, Attiki)

Albums

Notes

Starting life on the coast of Asia Minor and the islands, with its images of luxuriously-appointed schooners and frigates, the song of the princess who wants to sail the seas and is pursued by a prince would seem to echo an episode from the period of Frankish rule. The imperious princess who so vigorously defends her honour is the nautical equivalent of all those mainland heroines who do the same when confronted by Turks and Albanians seeking to dishonour their klephtic blood. Miranda Terzopoulou (2008)

Recording information

Domna Samiou taped the song in Nea Palatia, Oropos, Attiki, in 1980.

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