Rahel Altalef-Brenner (Izmir)
24-26. El amor en Venecia + La licencia de la novia + Lo que conviene a la casada
We present three versions of this song. The first and third ones are from Izmir and the second from the Island of Rhodes. Each version comprises several literary themes: “I have been told that my beloved is in Venice, dealing with an English ship (Armistead 1978: topic AA2). Mother, give me your permission because I want to go and serve my beloved.” The refrain: “With my beloved I want to go, mother, with the one I love. To be a [successful] married woman, it is better not to be a brunette, but rather a white and red one, beautiful as a star. Although I am a little bit dark, I am gracious, my hair is blond, and I can fool the young men. I can give wisdom to a mad one and I make the foolish one laugh.” The second version offers a textual variant in the second strophe: “It is suitable for a married woman not to be lazy, but rather, shining and graceful and good-looking. I want to be married to the one I love. Let him live and do not let me die.”