Cantiga 279: A Song of Healing from the Thirteenth Century

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The Cantigas de Santa Maria are more than 400 songs of miracles and praise of the Virgin Mary from the court of Alfonso X, el Sabio. I've been fascinated with them for most of my life! Find an introduction here: http://unusualhistoricals.blogspot.com/2014/09/wonders-and-marvels-cantigas-de-santa.html

In Cantiga 279, the king himself is suffering from a painful infection and cries out to his Lady. She immediately takes away his fever and the gross bits!

I wanted to share this song of healing at this challenging time to inspire people to hope.

A translation of the lyrics (based on Kathleen Kulp-Hill's 2000 Songs of Holy Mary, with my own flourishes:

Holy Mary, have mercy, My Lady, and come to the aid of your troubadour, because things are going badly for him.

In such great illness and such pain as this admirer of your suffers now, Holy Mary, have mercy, and if it pleases you, he will be cured of what makes him shout "ay!"

Since God made you the best of all things, and made you our advocate, Holy Mary, have mercy, and be my helper in this struggle

against death, which makes me very afraid, and in this illness that has me in its grip and makes me as green as a sheet. [Fine cloth from France had a greenish tinge, so the saying was a bit different back then!]

What did she who bestows all good and heals all ills do? She took away his fever and the evil, stinking humor.

My singing is based on the round notation (nonmensural) at http://cantigasdesantamaria.com/csm/279

I am not a professional singer, just a non-Catholic Alfonso X enthusiast in coronavirus confinement hoping to add joy to the world. I hope this song contributes to your healing, whatever ails you.