Songs of Old Canada/Cécilia

 

CECILIA. Mon pèr' n'avait fille que moi Encor sur la mer il m'envoie. Sautez, mignonne Cécilia, Ah! ah, Cécilia. Encor sur la mer il m'envoie. Le marinier qui m'y menait— Le marinier qui m'y menait, Il devint amoureux de moi. Il devint amoureux de moi. —Ma mignonnette, embrassez-moi. Ma mignonnette, embrassez-moi. —Nenni, Monsieur, je n'oserais. Nenni, Monsieur, je n'oserais, Car si mon papa le savait. Car si mon papa le savait, Fille battue ce serait moi. Fille battue ce serait moi. —Voulez-vous bell' qui lui dirait? Voulez-vous bell' qui lui dirait? —Ce serait les oiseaux des bois. Ce serait les oiseaux des bois. —Les oiseaux des bois parlent-ils? Les oiseaux des bois parlent-ils? —Ils parl'nt français, latin aussi. Ils parl'nt français, latin aussi. —Hélas! que le monde est malin: Hélas! que le monde est malin D'apprendre aux oiseaux le latin! Sautez, mignonne Cécilia, Ah! ah, Cécilia.

CECILIA. Although my father's only child, He sent me o'er the ocean wild. Sautez mignonne Cecilia, Ah! ah, Cecilia! Over the seas and far away Borne by a sailor bold and gay. Borne by a sailor bold and gay, Who fell in love with me each day. He fell in love with me each day: "Ah, Sweet! one little kiss I pray." "One little kiss for all my care." "Alas! alas! I'd never dare." "For if I did," she whispered low, "My cruel father'd surely know." "And should he know your love for me, A sorely punished maid I'd be." "Now, foolish maid, we're far away, How could your father know, I pray?" "How could my father know, you say? He'd hear it from the wood doves grey." "But even though the doves might sing, He'd never know the tale they bring." "He would not understand, think you? They speak good French—and Latin too." "Now may his evil neck be wrung Who taught the doves the Latin tongue!" Sautez mignonne Cecilia, Ah! ah, Cecilia!