Sung by Benjamin Bitou. Tanger, 1983.

Blind Benjamin, who lived in Tanger's old people1s home, sang many women's songs, his one source of pleasure. His version of this ancient ballad has an unusual ending. erineldo, perhaps a page or valet, is invited by the princess to make love to her. They spend the night together, and are discovered by the king, her father. An indulgent man, rather than kill them, he places a sword between them as witness to their escapade. When the king offers his daughter in marriage, Gerineldo refuses because the princess is not a virgin!

"Gerineldo, Gerineldo
My handsome gentleman,
You could be mine tonight
And serve me for three hours."

"Take me, my lady, take me
What time shall I come to the castle?"
"At nine the king dines,
At ten he is already asleep.”

Having heard these works
Thrice he knocked at the castle.
“Who or what is it
That sighs at my door?”

"It is I, Gerineldo, my lady
I come to fulfill my promise."
She threw down a golden ladder
And he climbed up.

The two fall asleep
And in the middle of the night
The good king accepted it.

The king places between them
The sword as witness
Gerineldo in the gardens
Meets the king.

“What’s the matter, Gerineldo
Why are you so yellow?”
“The fragrance of a flower
Has confused my senses.”

“That’s not true, Gerineldo
That’s not true
You slept with the princess
Who forced you to come.”

"I have sworn
To the Virgen of the Star
That the woman who was my lover
Will never be my wife.”

“If I kill Gerineldo
My throne will be lost
If I kill the princess
I will live with a sign.”

Armistead: Vol. II, pg. 142 (Q 1)

Sung by Benjamin Bitou. Tanger, 1983.

Gerineldo, Gerineldo
mi caballero pulido;
quien te tuviera esta noche
tres horas a mi servicio.

"Tomísme, señora, tomísme,
¿A qué hora vendré al castillo?"
"A las nueve cena el rey
y a las diéz ya esta dormido."

Ellos en estas palabras
tres golpes diera al castillo.
"¿Quién es ese o cual es ese
que a mi puerta dió un suspiro?

"Gerineldo soy, señora,
que vengo a lo prometido."
Tiró la escalera del oro
y por ella se había subido

Que de besos y de abrazos
los dos se quedan dormidos
y eso de la medía noche
el buen rey que ha consentido

La espada por testigo
el rey la ha puesto
Gerineldo en los jardines
se encontrara con el rey

"¿Qué tienes tú Gerineldo
que te veo tan amarillo?”
"Fragancia de una flor
me ha trastornado el sentido."

"No es verdad, Gerineldo;
No es verdad,
que con la infanta has dormido
con que hoy te hace llamar."

"Juramento tengo hecho
a la Virgen de la Estrella,
de mujer que ha sido mi dama
de no casarme con ella.”

“Si mato a Gerineldo
mi trono será perdido;
si mato a la infanta
viviré con su suspiro.”