J L Speranza wrote:
>
> Forwarded.
>
> ==
>
> Sent by
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> to
> Anglo-Saxon England Discussion Forum <[log in to unmask]>
>
> *********************************************************************
>
> Sensational new discoveries have been made at an archaeological dig at the
> site of a Roman army camp near Hadrian's Wall. When the legions were
> evacuated, orders were sent out to destroy all valuable military
> records. However, in the far-flung camps, lazy army bureaucrats simply
> pitched all the files into the nearest bog. Now archaeologists are
> recovering all the records, preserved in the highly tannic bog water.
>
> Among the latest discoveries is what appears to be a Latin translation of a
> Pictish folk-song. No doubt the lonely legionaries on sentry duty on the
> wall heard the melodic strains drifting on the wind from the Pictish
> encampments to the north. Roman soldiers must have learned this
> traditional Pictish melody, which is the earliest folksong recorded in the
> British Isles.
>
> Of particular interest is the chorus of syllabic vocables, remarkably
> similar to the Gaelic walking song which is not found in written records
> until almost 1000 years later. In fact, a remarkable similar chorus of
> vocables: I\ aigh i\ aigh o\ can be found in a walking song from Skye, "Tha
> baile aig sean-Mhac a' Domhnuill", in the Frances Tolmie collection.
>
> Following is a transcription of the original manuscript:
>
> Senex Macdonaldus habebat fundum, EIEIO
> Et in ille fundum habebat porces, EIEIO
> Cum oink oink hic, oink oink hoc
> Oink hic, oink hoc, ubique oink oink
> Senex Macdonaldus habebat fundum, EIEIO
>
> Senex Macdonaldus habebat fundum, EIEIO
> Et in ille fundum habebat boves, EIEIO
> Cum moo moo hic, moo moo hoc
> Moo hic, moo hoc, ubique moo moo
> Senex Macdonaldus habebat fundum, EIEIO
>
> Senex Macdonaldus habebat fundum, EIEIO
> Et in ille fundum habebat oves, EIEIO
> Cum baa baa hic, baa baa hoc
> Baa hic, baa hoc, ubique baa baa
> Senex Macdonaldus habebat fundum, EIEIO
>
> Senex Macdonaldus habebat fundum, EIEIO
> Et in ille fundum habebat anates, EIEIO
> Cum quack quack hic, quack quack hoc
> Quack hic, quack hoc, ubique quack quack
> Senex Macdonaldus habebat fundum, EIEIO
>
> etc.
>
> ==
> J L Speranza, Esq
> Country Town
> St Michael's Hall Suite 5/8
> Calle 58, No 611 Calle Arenales 2021
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> http://www.netverk.com.ar/~jls/
> [log in to unmask]
Thomas D'Urfey's version was a bit different, and evidently
sung by MacDonald Hen [the old], himself in 'The Kingdom of the Birds'.
In the Fields in Frost and Snows,
Watching late and early;
There I keep my Father's Cows,
There I Milk 'em Yearly:
Booing here, Booing there,
Here a Boo, there a Boo, everywhere a Boo,
We defy all Care and Strife,
In a Charming Country-Life.
Then at home amongst the Fowls,
Watching late and early;
There I tend my Fathers Owls.
There I feed them Yearly:
Whooing here, Whooing there,
Here a whoo, there a whoo, everywhere a whoo,
We defy all Care and Strife,
In a Charming Country-Life.
And so through, Sheep - baa, Turkey - gobble, Hens - cackle,
Ducks - quack, and Swine - grunt, in 9 total verses.
Bruce Olson
--
Roots of Folk: Old British Isles popular and folk songs, tunes,
broadside ballads at my no-spam website - www.erols.com/olsonw
or just <A href="http://www.erols.com/olsonw"> Click </a>
Motto: Keep at it; muddling through always works.
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