| Harriet Monroe, ed. (1860–1936). Poetry: A Magazine of Verse. 1912–22. | | | | The King of Spain’s Daughter and the Diver | | By Edward Sapir, trans. |
| | From “French-Canadian Folk-songs”
THE KING of Spain his daughter, | |
| Sail, O mariner—oh, sail! | |
| Will have a trade be taught her, | |
| Sail, O mariner! | |
| Will have a trade be taught her, | 5 |
| Sail, O mariner! | |
| |
| And she’s to beat the wash, | |
| Sail, O mariner—oh, sail! | |
| To beat and scald and splash, | |
| Sail, O mariner! | 10 |
| |
| She’s given a beater for smashing, | |
| Sail, O mariner—oh, sail! | |
| And a fine bench for the washing, | |
| Sail, O mariner! | |
| |
| At the first good rapping she— | 15 |
| Sail, O mariner—oh, sail! | |
| Her gold ring drops in the sea, | |
| Sail, O mariner! | |
| |
| She fell to earth in a heap, | |
| Sail, O mariner—oh, sail! | 20 |
| And set herself to weep, | |
| Sail, O mariner! | |
| |
| Is passing now right here, | |
| Sail, O mariner—oh, sail! | |
| Her gentle cavalier, | 25 |
| Sail, O mariner! | |
| |
| “And what would you give to me, | |
| Sail, O mariner—oh, sail! | |
| If I looked for it out in the sea?” | |
| Sail, O mariner! | 30 |
| |
| “A sweet little kiss,” said she, | |
| Sail, O mariner—oh, sail! | |
| “Or two, if you wish, or three.” | |
| Sail, O mariner! | |
| |
| Undresses him eagerly, | 35 |
| Sail, O mariner—oh, sail! | |
| And dives down into the sea, | |
| Sail, O mariner! | |
| |
| With his first dive and tumble, | |
| Sail, O mariner—oh, sail! | 40 |
| The sea is all in a jumble, | |
| Sail, O mariner! | |
| |
| With his second dive as he sank, | |
| Sail, O mariner—oh, sail! | |
| The ring went clink and clank, | 45 |
| Sail, O mariner! | |
| |
| With his third dive down, | |
| Sail, O mariner—oh, sail! | |
| He stays in the sea to drown, | |
| Sail, O mariner! | 50 |
| |
| Standing the window by | |
| Sail, O mariner—oh, sail! | |
| His mother does naught but cry, | |
| Sail, O mariner! | |
| |
| “Is there any maid so renowned, | 55 |
| Sail, O mariner—oh, sail! | |
| My son must needs be drowned? | |
| Sail, O mariner—oh, sail! | |
| My son must needs be drowned?” | |
| Sail, O mariner—oh, sail! | 60 | | | |
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