Sung by Alicia Benassayag, Tetuán, 1956

The king's daughter, a privileged noblewoman with her own castle and army, waits impatiently for her lover, a prisoner of war in a foreign land. When asked why she does not sing (a euphemisim for sexual intercourse) she replies that she will abstain until his return. However, she plans an aggressive campaign against the enemy -- an armed attack by land and sea with her at the helm, as well as persuasion via her womanly charms.

The king has a daughter,
A very privileged daughter;
Her father, to increase her position,
Built her a castle.

Through windows facing the sea,
The air flowed in;
Through one the sun entered,
Through others, the morning air.

Through the smallest one
A hawk enters and leaves,
With his wings outspread;
He does no one harm.

She is embroidering a nightshirt
For the queen’s son,
Embroidering it with gold,
Ornamenting it with silk.

And between one stitch and another,
An aljofar* and a pearl.
“Why don’t you sing, my treasure?
Why don’t you sing, my beauty?”

“Why don’t you sing, my treasure?
Why don’t you sing, my beauty?”
“I don’t sing, nor will I sing,
For my love is at the war.

“I will write a letter
With my own hand and might,
That they bring back my lover
Healthy, alive and unchained.

“And if they do net bring him back,
I will start a great war
With ships on the sea,
And armed people on land.

“If there are no sailing ships,
I will use my sumptuous braids;
If there are no oars,
I will use my beautiful arms.

“If there is no captain,
I will place myself at the helm
So that people will say:
‘Long live, long live that maiden;
To save her love,
She hurled herself into the storm.’”

*an imperfect pearl

Armistead: Vol. I, pg. 355 (J4)

Sung by Alicia Benassayag, Tetuán, 1956

Una hija tiene el rey,
una hija regalada;
su padre, por mas valor,
y un castillo la fraguara.

Por ventanas a la mar,
por donde el aire la entrara;
por una le entraba el sol,
por otras, el aire de la mañana.

Por la más chiquita de ellas
entra un gavilán y sale,
con sus alas abiertas;
y no le hace ningun male.

Bordando está un camisón
para el hijo de la reina,
bordándole está con oro,
labrándole está con seda.

Y entre puntada y puntada,
un aljofar y una perla.
“¿Porqué no cantas,mi bien.
porqué no cantas, mi bella?.

“¿Porqué no cantas, mi bien?
porqué no cantas, mi bella?”
“Ni canto, ni cantaré,
que mi amor está en la guerra.”

“Y en una carta escriberé
de mi puño y de mi letra,
que me traigan a mi amor
sano y vivo y sin cadenas.

“Y si no me le trajeren,
ye armaré una grande guerra
de navíos por el mar,
de gente armada por tierra.

“Si no hubiere velas pronto,
mis ricas trenzas pusiera;
si no hubiere remos pronto,
mis lindos brazos pusiera.

“Si no viene capitán,
yo me pendría a la bandera
para que diga la gente:
‘Viva, viva esa doncella;
que por salvar a su amor,
se echó ella a la tormenta.’”