Sung by Flora Benamor, Tetuán, 1956.

The king and queen hear rumors their daughter has given birth to three illegitimate children fathered by her lover, Count Verjico. Warned that, if true, she risks losing her right to the throne of Castille, and her life as well, the princess refuses to acknowledge guilt. She gives birth to a fourth child, and as she hands it to the count for safekeeping, the father intercepts him. The next day, the lovers are married.

What did the queen think,
That her honorable daughter had
with that Count Verjico
three times given birth.

The one she carries now
Will be the fourth;
They told the queen,
But the queen didn't believe it.

They told the king,
And the king was very grieved.
He wrapped himself in a golden cloak,
And went to see if it were true or false.

"It is good to see you, my princess."
"You are welcome, my father."
"In your position as princess,
Why do you wander the olive grove?"

"Oh, daughter, if you are free of sin,
You will be queen of Castile;
Oh, daughter, if you are not,
You will be consumed by foul fire."

"I am as free of sin, my mother,
As I was born at your feet."
The color in her face
Came and went.

"What ails you, princess,
That you look so sallow?"
"Mother, I ate too much last night
And it gave me a stomach ache.

Forgive me, forgive me, my mother,
I want to lie down."
She took her pillow in hand,
She climbed to the upper parlor.

Between turret and turret,
A child was born to her;
She wrapped him in silk and wool
And leaned out of a window.

She saw Verjico coming,
The jewel she loved so well:
"Oh Verjico, oh Verjico,
A child is born to you."

"Take him! Take this child, she says
"Find someone to take care of him."
She wrapped him in scarlet cloth
And passed him through the window.

"Don't worry yourself, my soul;
Don't worry yourself, my life.
He who raised the other three,
Will also raise the fourth."

Just as they spoke these words,
The king passed by:
"Oh Verjico, oh Verjico,
What do you have in your lap?"

"I bring green almonds
To pregnant women."
"Give me a few, Verjico,
For my daughter, the princess."

"Pardon, pardon me, my lord,
but these are accounted for."
And as they talked,

"Oh Verjico, oh Verjico,
A great betrayal, you have a lover."
"She is your daughter, good king;
She is your daughter, the princess!

She is your daughter, good king;
She is your daughter, the princess!"
And next day in the morning
They celebrated a beautiful wedding.

Armistead: Vol. II, pg. 162 (R 3)

Sung by Flora Benamor, Tetuán, 1956.

Que pensaba la reina,
que honrada hija tenía
con ese conde Verjico
tres veces padriduría.

Con lo que el cuerpo tiene
de los cuatro nacería;
se lo dicen a la reina,
y la reina no lo creía.

Se lo dijeron al rey,
y el rey mucho lo sentía.
cobijóse manto de oro,
y fue a ver si era verdad o mentira.

“Y en buena hora está, la infanta."
"Bien vengaido, el padre mío."
“¿En su estado de infanta,
porqué andas por las olivas?"

"Ay, hija, si tu estás libre,
reina serás de Castilla;
ay, hija, si no lo fueres,
en mal fuego estes ardida."

"Tan libre estoy, a mi madre,
como a vuestros pies nacida."
Color de la su cara
se le iban y la venían.

"¿Que tienes tú, la infanta,
que te veo muy amarilla?"
“Madre, cené mucho anoche
y me dió dolor de barriga.

“Perdón, perdón, a mi madre,
que yo acostarme quería."
Tomó almohadita en mano,
subióse a la sala de arriba.

Entre almena y almena,
un niño la nacería;
envolviólo en seda y lana
y asomóse a una ventana.

Y vió venir a Verjico,
la prenda que bien amaba:
"Ay Verjico, ay Verjico,
un niño te nacería.

"Tomeis! Tomeis este niño, dice
“busque quién te lo criara."
Envolvióle en seda y grana
y tiróle por la ventana.

"No te da nada, mi alma;
no te da nada, mi vida.
que él que crió.de los tres,
él de los cuatro criaría."

Ellos en estas palabras,
y el rey por ahí pasaría:
"Ay Verjico, ay Verjico,
que llevas en la tu falda?"

"Llevo yo almendritas verdes
para las embarazadas."
"Dame unas cuantas, Verjico,
para mi hija, la infanta."

"Perdón, perdón, mi señor rey,
que las llevo yo contadas."
Y entre palabra y palabra,

"Ay Verjico, ay Verjico,
gran traición, tienes amada."
"Es vuestra hija, el buen rey;
es vuestra hija, la infanta!

Es vuestra hija, el buen rey;
es vuestra hija, la infanta!"
Y otro día en la mañana
las ricas bodas se armaran.