The Deserter

El desertor

The Deserter

Mientras caminaba por la calle RatcliffeAs I was a-walking along ratcliffe highway
Un grupo de reclutamiento se acercó a mi camino.A recruiting party came a-beating my way.
Me reclutaron y me trataron hasta que ya no sabíaThey enlisted me and treated me 'til I did not know
Me obligaron a ir a los cuarteles de la reina.Unto the queen's barracks they forced me to go.

Cuando deserté por primera vez, pensé que era libreWhen first I deserted, I thought myself free
Hasta que mi cruel camarada delató en mi contra.Until my cruel comrade informed against me.
Rápidamente me siguieron y me trajeron de vuelta con rapidez,I was quickly followed after and brought back with speed,
Me esposaron, me custodiaron, me pusieron pesadas cadenas.I was handcuffed and guarded, heavy irons put on me.

Corte marcial, corte marcial, llevaron a cabo sobre míCourt martial, court martial, they held upon me
Y la sentencia recaída sobre mí, trescientos tres.And the sentence passed upon me, three hundred and three.
Que el señor tenga piedad de ellos por su cruel trato,May the lord have mercy on them for their sad cruelty,
Porque ahora el deber de la reina pesa sobre mí.For now the queen's duty lies heavy on me.

Cuando deserté nuevamente, pensé que era libreWhen next I deserted, I thought myself free
Hasta que mi cruel amante delató en mi contra.Until my cruel sweetheart informed against me.
Rápidamente me siguieron y me trajeron de vuelta con rapidezI was quickly followed after and brought back with speed
Me esposaron, me custodiaron, me pusieron pesadas cadenas.I was handcuffed and guarded, heavy irons put on me.

Corte marcial, corte marcial rápidamente se llevó a caboCourt martial, court martial then quickly was got
Y la sentencia recaída sobre mí, que debía ser fusilado.And the sentence passed upon me, that I was to be shot.
Que el señor tenga piedad de ellos por su cruel trato,May the lord have mercy on them for their sad cruelty,
Porque ahora el deber de la reina pesa sobre mí.For now the queen's duty lies heavy on me,

Entonces llegó el príncipe Alberto en su carruaje y seis,Then up rode prince albert in his carriage and six,
Diciendo, ''¿dónde está ese joven cuyo ataúd está listo?Saying, ''where is that young man whose coffin is fixed?
Libérenlo de sus cadenas y déjenlo ir,Set him free from his irons and let him go free,
Porque será un buen soldado para su reina y su país.''For he'll make a good soldier for his queen and country.''