The Debate of the Flowers

Unknown

1702

I wish to praise God
who is great in praises,
who created for man
all kinds of flowers,
and they all are singular
in their colors and scents
and of all the best ones
was the musk flower.
  Above all one must praise
  ḥay tsur olamim, the Living Rock of the Worlds.
The flowers met together
praising God one by one,
who created them so beautiful,
lovely without any blemish,
they recite blessings over them
like they say over the New Moon
and so says each one of them,
“There is none better than me.”
The rose jumped up and said:
“All stand aside,
it is for me to praise
the great and omnipotent God,
since from me they make syrup
and also rose-sugar,
and in waters I am praised:
faces they wash with me.”
The carnation responded:
“Greater still is my fame
because I am the rose of brides
and they bear me in their palms;
me they send as a gift
to all the beautiful ladies;
they love me like their souls,
all adorn themselves with me.” [ . . . ]
Responded the basil:
“Like me there is none other,
for I am green and slender.
my scent is vigorous,
on me there grow fringes
like glittering metallic threads;
like an unsalted meal
would the roses be without me.” [ . . . ]
The jasmine responded:
“I would not be a durable flower
except that my scent
is very lasting;
from me they make oil
so that the meat is kept fresh
and they put me into clothes
which take their scent from me.”
The orange blossom said:
“There is none so gifted as I,
my scent is very powerful
whether in the flower or in the leaf;
flower water is made from me,
and my delicious preserves
and every kind of thing
they cure and dose with me.”
The pleasant-smelling rue responded and said:
“Greater still is my fame
because I am the rose of the new mother,
and they put me in the bed
and every evil eye
I burn like the hot coal
and I protect the soul
of the one who bears me.”
There spoke up the myrtle
with a very nice turn of speech:
“I am the herb of mitzvot
and they carry me in the hand;
they decorate the sukkah with me
and say the Shehekhiyanu prayer;
with my brother the lulav palm branch
they make blessings over me.” [ . . . ]
The wallflower responded:
“I am also well created;
in aromas I am gloriously scented,
in painting I am well painted;
of me there are many colors,
yellow and red;
and I am very full with leafy foliage
and an abundance of flowers grow on me.”
Listen pray to what said
the spearmint:
“I am green and lonely
for I have no sister;
my scent is comforting
to the weary of mind
and is also very subtle,
I can praise myself.”
The tulip responded
with a calm speech:
“In me there are no scents
which is why I am quiet;
because of my fine colors
I don’t get angry or sulk,
I give thanks to the Mighty God
who created me thus.”
From there all the flowers jumped:
“Now we are without strength;
the anointed King will come to us
and the earth will have its power;
we will have many scents
more and more of them.
May it be very soon
that he will come to redeem us.”

Translated by
David
Herman
.

Credits

Judah Cali (attributed), “El debate de las flores (The Debate of the Flowers, Ladino),” in Ne’im zemirot (Sarajevo-Venecia: 1702), 153v, 199v. Republished in: Elena Romero, Coplas Sefardíes: Primera selección (Córdoba: Ediciones El Almendro, 1988), 147–155, 157–165.

Published in: The Posen Library of Jewish Culture and Civilization, vol. 5.

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