the zincali-第50章
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confounded with them； the evidence of our eyesight precludes the
possibility of believing。 If such were the fact； why do the
Italian and Spanish Gypsies of the present day still present
themselves as a distinct race； differing from the other inhabitants
of the west of Europe in feature； colour； and constitution？ Why
are they； in whatever situation and under whatever circumstances；
to be distinguished； like Jews； from the other children of the
Creator？ But it is scarcely necessary to ask such a question； or
indeed to state that the Gypsies of Spain and Italy have kept
themselves as much apart as； or at least have as little mingled
their blood with the Spaniards and Italians as their brethren in
Hungaria and Transylvania with the inhabitants of those countries；
on which account they still strikingly resemble them in manners；
customs； and appearance。 The most extraordinary assertion of
Hervas is perhaps his second； namely； that the Gypsies have
invented particular words to supply the place of others which they
had lost。 The absurdity of this supposition nearly induces us to
believe that Hervas； who has written so much and so laboriously on
language； was totally ignorant of the philosophy of his subject。
There can be no doubt； as we have before admitted； that in the
robber jargon； whether spoken in Spain； Italy； or England； there
are many words at whose etymology it is very difficult to arrive；
yet such a fact is no excuse for the adoption of the opinion that
these words are of pure invention。 A knowledge of the Rommany
proves satisfactorily that many have been borrowed from that
language； whilst many others may be traced to foreign tongues；
especially the Latin and Italian。 Perhaps one of the strongest
grounds for concluding that the origin of language was divine is
the fact that no instance can be adduced of the invention； we will
not say of a language； but even of a single word that is in use in
society of any kind。 Although new dialects are continually being
formed； it is only by a system of modification； by which roots
almost coeval with time itself are continually being reproduced
under a fresh appearance； and under new circumstances。 The third
assertion of Hervas； as to the Gitanos speaking the allegorical
language of which he exhibits specimens； is entitled to about equal
credence as the two former。 The truth is； that the entire store of
erudition of the learned Jesuit； and he doubtless was learned to a
remarkable degree； was derived from books； either printed or
manuscript。 He compared the Gypsy words in the publication of
Grellmann with various vocabularies； which had long been in
existence； of the robber jargons of Spain and Italy； which jargons
by a strange fatuity had ever been considered as belonging to the
Gypsies。 Finding that the Gypsy words of Grellmann did not at all
correspond with the thieves' slang； he concluded that the Gypsies
of Spain and Italy had forgotten their own language； and to supply
its place had invented the jargons aforesaid； but he never gave
himself the trouble to try whether the Gypsies really understood
the contents of his slang vocabularies； had he done so； he would
have found that the slang was about as unintelligible to the
Gypsies as he would have found the specimens of Grellmann
unintelligible to the thieves had he quoted those specimens to
them。 The Gypsies of Spain； it will be sufficient to observe；
speak the language of which a vocabulary is given in the present
work； and those of Italy who are generally to be found existing in
a half…savage state in the various ruined castles； relics of the
feudal times； with which Italy abounds； a dialect very similar； and
about as much corrupted。 There are； however； to be continually
found in Italy roving bands of Rommany； not natives of the country；
who make excursions from Moldavia and Hungaria to France and Italy；
for the purpose of plunder； and who； if they escape the hand of
justice； return at the expiration of two or three years to their
native regions； with the booty they have amassed by the practice of
those thievish arts； perhaps at one period peculiar to their race；
but at present； for the most part； known and practised by thieves
in general。 These bands； however； speak the pure Gypsy language；
with all its grammatical peculiarities。 It is evident； however；
that amongst neither of these classes had Hervas pushed his
researches； which had he done； it is probable that his
investigations would have resulted in a work of a far different
character from the confused； unsatisfactory； and incorrect details
of which is formed his essay on the language of the Gypsies。
Having said thus much concerning the robber language in general； we
shall now proceed to offer some specimens of it； in order that our
readers may be better able to understand its principles。 We shall
commence with the Italian dialect； which there is reason for
supposing to be the prototype of the rest。 To show what it is； we
avail ourselves of some of the words adduced by Hervas； as
specimens of the language of the Gitanos of Italy。 'I place them；'
he observes； 'with the signification which the greater number
properly have in Italian。'
Robber jargon Proper signification of
of Italy。 the words。
Arm ｛ Ale Wings
｛ Barbacane Barbican
Belly Fagiana Pheasant
Devil Rabuino Perhaps RABBIN； which；
in Hebrew； is Master
Earth Calcosa Street； road
Eye Balco Balcony
Father Grimo Old； wrinkled
Fire Presto Quick
God Anticrotto Probably ANTICHRIST
Hair Prusa （73）
｛ Elmo Helmet
Head ｛ Borella （74）
｛ Chiurla （75）
Heart Salsa Sauce
Man Osmo From the Italian UOMO；
which is man
Moon Mocoloso di Wick of the firmament
Sant' Alto
Night Brunamaterna Mother…brown
Nose Gambaro Crab
Sun Ruffo di Sant' Red one of the firmament
Alto
Tongue ｛ Serpentina Serpent…like
｛ Danosa Hurtful
Water ｛ Lenza Fishing…net
｛ Vetta （76） Top； bud
The Germania of Spain may be said to divide itself into two
dialects； the ancient and modern。 Of the former there exists a
vocabulary； published first by Juan Hidalgo； in the year 1609； at
Barcelona； and reprinted in Madrid； 1773。 Before noticing this
work； it will perhaps be advisable to endeavour to ascertain the
true etymology of the word Germania； which signifies the slang
vocabulary； or robber language of Spain。 We have no intention to
embarrass our readers by offering various conjectures respecting
its origin； its sound； coupled with its signification； affording
sufficient evidence that it is but a corruption of Rommany； which
properly denotes the speech of the Roma or Gitanos。 The thieves
who from time to time associated with this wandering people； and
acquired more or less of their language； doubtless adopted this
term amongst others； and； after modifying it； applied it to the
peculiar phraseology which； in the course of time； became prevalent
amongst them。 The dictionary of Hidalgo is appended to six
ballads； or romances； by the same author； written in the Germanian
dialect； in which he describes the robber life at Seville at the
period in which he lived。 All of these romances possess their
peculiar merit； and will doubtless always be considered valuable；
and be read as faithful pictures of scenes and habits which now no
longer exist。 In the prologue； the author states that his
principal motive for publishing a work written in so strange a
language was his observing the damage which resulted from an
ignorance of the Germania； especially to the judges and ministers
of justice； whose charge it is to cleanse the public from the
pernicious gentry who use it。 By far the greatest part of the
vocabulary consists of Spanish words used allegorically； which are；
however； intermingled with many others； most of which may be traced
to the Latin and Italian； others to the Sanscrit or Gitano；
Russian； Arabic； Turkish； Greek； and German languages。 （77） The
circumstances of words belonging to some of the languages last
enumerated being found in the Gitano； which at first may strike the
reader as singular； and almost incredible； will afford but slight
surprise； when he takes into consideration the peculiar
circumstances of Spain during the sixteenth and seventeenth
centuries。 Spain was at that period the most powerful monarchy in
Europe； her foot reposed upon the Low Countries； whilst her
gigantic arms embraced a considerable portion of Italy。
Maintaining always a standing army in Flanders and in Italy； it
followed as a natural consequence； that her Miquelets and soldiers
became tolerably conversant with the languages of those countries；
and； in course of time； returning to their native land； not a few；
especially of the former class； a brave and intrepid； but always a
lawless and dissolute species of soldiery； either fell in or
returned to evil society； and introduced words which they had
learnt abroad into the robber phraseology； whilst returned galley…
slaves from Algiers； Tunis； and Tetuan； added to its motley variety
of words from the relics of the broken Arabic and Turkish； which
they had acquired during their captivity。 The greater part of the
Germania； however； remained strictly metaphorical； and we are aware
of no better means of conveying an idea of the principle on which
it is formed； than by quoting from the first romance of Hidalgo；
where particular mention is made of this jargon：…
'A la cama llama Blanda
Donde Sornan en poblado
A la Fresada Vellosa；
Que mucho vello ha criado。
Dice a la sabana Alba
Porque es alba en sumo grado；
A la camisa Carona；
Al jubon llama apretado：
Dice al Sayo Tapador
Porque le lleva tapado。
Llama a los zapatos Duros；
Que las piedras van pisando。
A la capa llama nuve；
Dice al Sombrero Texado。
Respeto llama a la Espada；
Que por ella es respetado；' etc。 etc。
HIDALGO； p。 22…3。
After these few remarks on the ancient Germania of Spain； we now
proceed to the modern； which differs considerably from the f
