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Sung by Sra. Matitia, Torremolinos, Spain, 1983
While her husband is at war, Rosa Blanca entertains
a lover. Unexpectedly, her husband returns. The wife
hides her lover in bed but she is discovered when he
sneezes. The husband kills them both. In a similar British
ballad, Our Gudman (Child #274), cuckoldry is viewed
with humor, and no one is killed. The story is told
in a series of questions and answers.
Rosa Blanca, Rosa Blanca
Rosa Blanca, my new love,
Your husband is at the wars,
At the wars of Leon.
May the Moors kill him there
And cut out his heart
With a left hand stab,
Ah! from the hands of a traitor.
Rosa Blanca went outside
And led him to her garden.
"What will you eat, my lover?
What can I prepare for you?”
"Fruit and wine of the estate,
Of the farm in Portugal."
Through a hidden door
Her husband arrived
“Welcome, my lord,
Welcome to your house.”
Welcome, my lord,
Welcome to your home.”
With tears and sighs,
"I am ill and tired.
Whose horse is that
That I see in the barn?"
It is yours, my lord, yours
That my father gave to you."
“Many thanks to your father
Whose hat is that
I see on my hat-rack?"
"It is yours, my lord, yours
That my brother gave to you.
"Many thanks to your brother
For giving me such a hat;
Whose cape is that
What I see on the clothes-rack?"
"It is yours, my lord, yours
That my mother gave to you."
"Many thanks to your mother
For giving me such a cape.
After these words were spoken
The man in the bed sneezed.
"Who is that? What is that
That just sneezed in my bed?"
"The neighbor's little cat
That I always play with."
Unsheathing his dagger,
He killed them both.
Armistead: Vol. II, p.48 (M1)
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