Note 6 — SIXTEENTH PAPER.
Reading edition
The translator having a detestation of “slang idiom” in any language has declined the task of rendering this prison-song into English; not from any actual indecorum being in its clever though coarse composition, but from a doubt of any advantage to be obtained by familiarizing the reading public with the idiom of a Gaol, and which was doubtless invented for the concealment and furtherance of immoral or criminal purposes.
It has become a sort of fashion of the hour to descend from the utmost refinement of sentiment, or the most elevated speculation of philosophy, to grovel and almost revel in the phraseology hitherto confined to the obscure haunts of crime. In order to render justice to M. Victor Hugo’s versatile powers, his skilful imitation of a low ballad shall be given here, in the original, the translator only disliking to be the means of interrupting the refined illusion arising from the author’s elegant conception of the “Condemned.” The general meaning of the song is given afterwards in the text.
SONG OF THE YOUNG GIRL OF THE PRISON.
I.
C’est dans la rue du Mail, Lirlonfa malurette, Où j’ai été coltigé, Maluré, Par trois coquins du railles, lirlonfa malurette, Sur mes sique’ ont foncé, lirlonfa maluré.
II.
Ils m’ont mis la tartouve, lirlonfa malurette, Grand Meudon est aboulé, lirlonfa maluré; Dans mon trimin rencontre, lirlonfa malurette, Un peigre du quartier, lirlonfa maluré.
III.
Va-t’en dire à ma largue, lirlonfa malurette, Que je suis enfourraillé, lirlonfa maluré. Ma largue tout en colère, lirlonfa malurette, M’dit: Qu’ as-tu donc morfillé? lirlonfa maluré.
IV.
J’ai fait suer un chêne, lirlonfa malurette, Son auberg j’ai enganté, lirlonfa maluré. Son auberg et sa toquante, lirlonfa malurette, Et ses attach ’s de cés, lirlonfa maluré.
V.
Ma largu’ part pour Versailles, lirlonfa malurette, Aux pieds d’ sa Majesté, lirlonfa maluré. Elle lu fonce un babillard, lirlonfa malurette, Pour m’ fair’ defourrailler, lirlonfa maluré.
VI.
Ah! si j’en défourraille, lirlonfa malurette, Ma largue j’entiferai, lirlonfa maluré. J’li ferai porter fontange, lirlonfa malurette, Et souliers galuchés, lirlonfa maluré.
VII.
Mais grand dabe qui s’fâche lirlonfa malurette, Dit: par mon caloquet, lirlonfa maluré, J’li ferai danser une danse, lirlonfa malurette, Où il n’y a pas de plancher, lirlonfa maluré.