Den Lillas Testamente- (Sweden) 1816 Erik Geijer
[From "Svenska folkvisor" Erik Gustaf Geijer och Arvid August Afzelius, 1816. Den Lillas Testamente is literally translated as "The Child's Will." The translation below is from "Lord Ronald in Italy," by Carrington 1886.
R. Matteson 2018]
Den Lillas Testamente.
1. »Hvar har du varit så länge? —
Dotter, liten kind! —
»Jag har varit hos min amma.»
Kär styfmoder min! —
För aj aj! ondt hafver jag — jag.
2. »Hvad fick du der att äta?» —
»Ett par små randiga fiskar.»
3. »Hvad gjorde du af benen?» —
»Dem gaf jag lilla hunden.»
4. »Hvad önskar du din fader?» —
»Himmelen den glade.»
5. »Hvad önskar du din moder?» —
»Himmelen den gode.»
6. »Hvad önskar du din broder?» —
»Ett gångande skepp i floden.»
7. »Hvad önskar du din syster?» —
»Gullskrin och kistor.»
8. »Hvad önskar du din styfmor?»
»Helvetet det svåra.»
9. »Hvad önskar du din amma?» —
»Den önskar jag det samma.»
10. »Jag hafver icke tider,
Att tala mer vid er;
Ty himmelens små klockor
De ringa efter mig.»
För aj, aj! ondt hafver jag — jag.
* * * *
The Child's Will
1. “Where have you been so long[1]
My dearest child?”
“I have been to see my nurse, stepmother mine.”
Ouch, ouch, I have a terrible pain, ouch!
2. “What did you eat there
My dearest child?”
“Pepper roasted eel, stepmother mine
”Ouch, ouch, I have a terrible pain, ouch!”
3 “What did you do with the bones?”
”I gave them to the dog.”
4 ”What happened to the dog?”
“It blew up in fifteen pieces.”
5 ”What will you give your father?”
”Loads of good barley.”
6 ”What will you give your mother then?”
”Heaven´s delight.”
7 ”What will you give your brother?”
”Big ships out in the sea.”
8 "What will you give your sister then?”
”Gold case and chest.”
9 ”What will you give your stepmother?”
”All of Hell's burden.”
10 ”What will you give your nurse?”
”Hell's fire.
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1. The transcription above is not literal and the first stanza could more accurately be:
"Where have you been so long,
Daughter, little child?"
"Sure with my old nurse I've stayed,
My step-mother mine!
For oh! oh! sore pains have I— I!"