CANZONETTA
(See Octavo CQ2705)

Translated from the Polish of Marta Berowska by Wilbur Skeels.

1. When Ladislaus the Fourth, a king of kindness and mercy, Reigned in the castle there for Warsaw's honor and glory, The city was so lovely that he thought it wrong That nobody described it not told about it in song. Therefore the King sent for a royal musician, Adam Jarzebski who could write with precision, He said, "You must describe Warsaw without delay." Jarzebski thought about it and he hummed like this: Tam ta-ba-ram tam tam ta-ba-ram. 2. Sir Adam walked the city with a notebook in his hand, Went by the churches, palaces and houses so grand. And as he wrote his poems, this is what he said, "My words and songs must make the king happy when they are read!" Jarzebski's guide-book they called The Visitors' Welcoming, Bound it in finest leather, presented it to the King. And when the King had seen the book which they had sent, He rose from his throne and smiled, And then he clapped his hands, and he hummed like this: Tam ta-ba-ram tam tam ta-ba-ram.