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From “New Mexico Folk-songs” (Translated and Original)
SAID Macario Romero to the Captain Villaplata: | |
| Please give me permission to go to see mi chata. | |
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| Said the Captain Villaplata: Macario, what is this? | |
| You will give your life away for a foolish woman’s kiss! | |
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| Said Macario Romero, in his stirrups rising free: | 5 |
| Why, they are all good friends of mine; what could they do to me? | |
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| Said the Captain Villaplata: Against my will you go; | |
| ’Twill be unhealthy for you, as you too soon will know. | |
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| Said Macario Romero, as he faced the other way: | |
| I go to see mi chata, no man can make me stay. | 10 |
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| Said Rosita to her papa: It’s Macario I see. | |
| Said Papa: How do you know it?—By his horse I know it’s he! | |
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| Said the papa of Rosita: Now what joke shall we play? | |
| Let us give a dance to fool him and take his gun away. | |
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| When Macario arrived there, they were dancing in the hall; | 15 |
| But Macario was careful and would not get drunk at all. | |
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| Said Rosita to Macario: Hurry up, let’s play a trick; | |
| Saddle up two horses pronto, and for heaven’s sake be quick! | |
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| Said the papa of Rosita: Macario, my friend, | |
| I beg you, do not take her now—you will come to no good end. | 20 |
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| Said Macario Romero: I would gladly wait awhile, | |
| But if I do not take her now, then all these men will smile! | |
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| Said the papa of Rosita: How badly you behave, | |
| To go off with an hombre who will fill an early grave! | |
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| Said Rosita to her papa: It is not his fault, but mine; | 25 |
| ’Tis I who have made love to him; we’ll go while there is time. | |
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| As they came out to the open stream, in one another lost, | |
| When they were least expecting it, the first shot crossed. | |
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| Said Macario Romero: Why do they not stand free? | |
| I am used to killing birds in flight, not a man I cannot see. | 30 |
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| Said Rosita to Macario: Shoot! and let them have their fill! | |
| I will watch your back, Macario—oh, shoot at them to kill! | |
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| Said Macario Romero: Rosita, soul divine, | |
| I wish to die within your arms, come put your breast on mine. | |
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| Said Rosita: O Macario, Macario, my dear! | 35 |
| Only to die within my arms, that I have brought you here!…. | |
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| Said the little child Rosita: Now you have done your worst! | |
| Now you may kill Rosita, and forever be accurst! | |
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| She grabbed Macario’s pistol, and as they came in sight: | |
| Now you will see, you cowards, how I shall make you fight! | 40 |
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