The Leper King - Song in Classical Arabic, Old French and Latin

Описание: Here’s another original song I wrote, this time in 12th Century Old French, Mediaeval Latin, and Classical Arabic. Music, lyrics, and performance by The Skaldic Bard. The Arabic performance is by my colleague Yousuf in traditional Mawwal style.

This song is about the great King Baldwin IV of Jerusalem, also famously known as The Leper King, as he suffered from leprosy from childhood until his death at 24 years of age. Despite his crippling illness, he won a series of victories against the mighty Saladin, founder of the Ayyubid dynasty, future Sultan of Egypt and Syria, and conqueror of Jerusalem. The song deals with some of the context leading up to his most famous victory at the Battle of Montgisard in 1177, where, despite being greatly outnumbered, the Crusaders use their territorial knowledge and an element of surprise to overwhelm Saladin’s forces. Ultimately, this would be Baldwin’s last major victory against Saladin before the Leper King’s death in 1185, and Jerusalem would be surrendered to Saladin during the Siege of Jerusalem in 1187.

The majority of the song is written in Old French, as Baldwin was a French-speaking Frank. The pronunciation is based on Peter Rickard’s 12th century French pronunciation in his book “A History of the French Language”. Crucial changes by 12th century is the development of the diphthong [oi] from [ei], reduction of [ai] to [ɛ] and [e], and [l] to [u]. I’ve written the French lyrics in traditional rhyming couplet style on lines of 11 syllables each.

The Arabic here consists of passages taken from a letter of condolence written by Saladin to Baldwin on the death of his father, Amalric of Jerusalem, in 1174. Much of the letter wishes Baldwin well in his God-ordained rule, but history shows how insincere those wishes seem to have been. I find it rather poignant, as clearly there was profound mutual respect and fondness between Saladin and the Christian kings of Jerusalem.

I’ve been working on and off on this song for over 2 years, and I’m quite pleased with the result. I hope any Muslim listeners can listen to this with an appreciation of the shared, troubled history of Jerusalem in the Middle Ages. This song is purely for educational purposes, and I don’t endorse or condone violence of any kind.

I do not use AI in the production, writing, or performance of the music, nor do I use AI for my lyrics or translations of lyrics. I spend days and days at a time coming up with melodies and writing historically informed lyrics in consultation with mediaeval primary sources. Apologies in advance for any mistakes.

The artwork is THE LEPER KING by Tanis Teau, painted from a still of Baldwin depicted in the film Kingdom of Heaven. https://www.artstation.com/artwork/18...

Lyrics:
(Classical Arabic)
أما بعد
ʾAmmā baʿdu,

ليعلم الملك أنا له كما كنا لأبيه
li-yaʿlama al-maliku ʾannā lahu kamā kunnā li-ʾabīhi

مودة صافية وعقيدة وافية
mawaddatun ṣāfiyatun wa-ʿaqīdatun wāfiya

مع ما في الدين
مع ما في الدين) من المخالفات)
maʿa mā fī al-dīni, maʿa mā fī al-dīni min al-mukhālafāt

(Old French)
En enfance Baudoins reçut le trone,
en son chief d’or fu mise la corone.
Mais nostres juenes rois maudiz iere,
mesaus iere, mais ausi nostres sauvere.

Li rois enfes bien savoit la manace
que li forz Saladins d’Egypte face.
En tote Jherusalem son nons retentit,
mais Baudoins pas peor ne sentit.

Nos ont li Sarrazin ci avironé,
lor pres Damas tot li terroir sont doné.
La grant Constantinoble nos a guerpi,
or devons sol combatre les Sarrazins.

Saladins son chemin tint a la cité.
En cuer n’a cels guerriers aucune pité.
Les chevaliers templiers apela
li rois, car une grant bataille avra.

Baudoins l'arriereban a fait crier,
Tens est venuz por les chrestiens de luiter.
Ci et or bien doit on por celui morir,
qui por nos toz volt mort od corage sofrir.

Prod pere nostre guerroioent, que nos
vivons en la terre, ou marchoit Jhesus.
Bien donques cel terrain saint nos conoissons
et bien l’usera nostres rois bons.

(Classical Arabic)
فليسترسل الينا استرسال الواثق
استرسال الواثق) الذي لا يخجل)
fa-l-yastarsil ʾilaynā istirsāla al-wāthiq
(istirsāla al-wāthiq) alladhī lā yakhjalu

ويقضي الله له
wa-yaqḍī Allāhu lahu

بموافقة التوفيق
bi-muwāfaqat al-tawfīq

ويلهمه تصديق
ويلهمه تصديق) ظن الصديق)
wa-yulhimuhu taṣdīqa
(wa-yulhimuhu taṣdīqa) ẓanna al-ṣadīq

(Old French)
Sor la terre antique soz ses piez,
Baudoins a Montgisard est aproismiez.
Li home Saladin ne sont apresté.
Les ferrons od tote nostre poesté!

Come granz ondes vont li chevalier,
come l’oz celeste sivent lancier!
Dieus le veut, tel cri lieve li rois,
Nos morons por Otremer et le crois!

(Latin)
EXSVRGITE

AVE BALDVINE NOSTER REX LEPROSE
AVE PROPVGNATOR HIEROSOLYMAE
CORPORI QVOD DEVS PATER ADIMIT
CORDI TIBI LARGITER TRIBVIT

IN MONTE GISARDI TEMPLARIOS DVXIT
BELLATORESQVE FIDEI CATHOLICAE
SALADINVM METVENDVM VICERVNT
PRO BONO HIEROSOLIMITANO

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