Y avait dix filles dans un pré

Y avait dix filles dans un pré (also known as Dix filles dans un pré) is a traditional French song with lyrics dating from the 17th century.

The story of the song

This song tells the story of a king's son who cannot choose one of the ten girls presented to him to marry.

This old song, already popular in the 17th century, includes some famous characters: the Duchess of Montbazon and Anne de Bourbon-Condé, who became Duchess of Maine through her marriage to the bastard son of Louis XIV and Madame de Montespan.

Who are the ten girls to be married?

There are ten girls whose names are mentioned in the song:

Dine (or Nine), Chine, Claudine, Martine, Catherinette, Catherina, Suzon, the Duchess of Monbazon, Madeleine (or Célimène) and the Du Maine.

Two of the girls are historical characters who really existed.

The Duchess of Montbazon

This is Marie d'Avaugour, duchess of Montbazon (1610-1657). This lady of the Breton nobility was known for her political and gallant intrigues.

She was expelled from the Court by King Louis XIII.

The Duchess of Maine

The Dumaine is in fact Anne-Louise-Bénédicte de Bourbon, Duchess of Maine - or "duchesse du Maine" (1676-1753). She was the granddaughter of the Grand Condé and daughter of the Prince of Condé. In 1692 she married Louis-Auguste de Bourbon, Duke of Maine - or "duc du Maine" (1670-1736), the legitimate bastard son of Louis XIV and Madame de Montespan, at Versailles.

In her château at Sceaux, she held a veritable court, known as the "little court of Sceaux", giving costume parties and welcoming writers and artists, including some of the greatest French minds of her time.

Y avait dix filles dans un pré

Lyrics, music, free download... let's learn more about the popular song:

The lyrics in French

The original song of Y avait dix filles dans un pré has 6 verses.

Translation of the lyrics into English

Here is an approximative translation into English:

Verse 1

There were ten girls in a meadow
All ten to be married
There was Dine, there was Chine
There was Claudine and Martine
Ah ! Ah ! Catherinette and Catherina
There was the beautiful Suzon
The Duchess of Monbazon
There was Madeleine
Then there was the Du Maine

Verse 2

The king's son came to pass
He greeted them all
Hi Dine, Hi Chine,
Hi Claudine and Martine
Ah! Ah! Catherinette and Catherina
Greeted the beautiful Suzon
The Duchess of Montbazon
Hi Madeleine
Kiss to the Du Maine

Verse 3

To all of them he made a gift
To all of them he made a gift
Ring to Dine, ring to Chine
Ring to Claudine and Martine
Ah! Ah! Catherinette and Catherina
Ring to the beautiful Suzon
The Duchess of Montbazon
Ring to Madeleine
Diamond to the Du Maine

Verse 4

Then offered them a toast
Then offered them a toast
Apple to Dine, apple to Chine
Apple to Claudine and Martine
Ah! Ah! Catherinette and Catherina
Apple to the beautiful Suzon
The Duchess of Montbazon
Apple to Madeleine
Cake to the Du Maine

Verse 5

Then offered them to sleep
Then offered them to sleep
Straw to Dine, Straw to Chine
Straw for Claudine and Martine
Ah! Ah! Catherinette and Catherina
Straw for the beautiful Suzon
The Duchess of Montbazon
Straw to Madeleine
Large bed to the Du Maine

Verse 6

Then he sent them all away
Then he sent them all away
Goodbye Dine, goodbye Chine
Farewell Claudine and Martine
Ah! Ah! Catherinette and Catherina
Farewell to the beautiful Suzon
The Duchess of Montbazon
Farewell Madeleine
[But he] kept the Du Maine