The VILLANCIO hails from Spain, and is a (largely forgotten) forerunner of the villanelle. As with the villanelle, whole lines are repeated. In fact, whole couplets are repeated. There are three stanzas, and last two lines of the first and second stanzas are both repeated at the end of the third.

The rhyming scheme of the villancio is quite demanding, with 6 of the 8 lines of the third stanza required to rhyme with one another. 7-syllable lines seem to be standard, except in the two refrains, which both use 6-syllable lines.

Even after intensive online research I am unable to validate the syllable-count per line standard.


Example 1 by Jan Haag:

#186 VILLANCICO



To voice the past I once sighed,
swayed to the silent music.
"Why?" I again, again cried.
In my heart I hear your voice
say this: "I lived and died.
Now I am love and live..."

Softly you voiced your regret,
softly I could have replied.
I have wondered why we met.
I hear you, who never lied:
"...and living can forget.
and loving can forgive."

I would that I could relive,
understand you and forgive,
I would that I could once give,
copiously like a sieve.
and say: "I lived and died.
Now I am love and live,
and living can forget
and loving can forgive."
----
----

Example 2 by Bob Newman:

Ordure of the British Empire

Most frequent of our complaints
Is ignorance in the young.
Oftentimes my lady faints
When plain folk misname their dung,
But speak of otters’ spraints
And we’ll know you are sound.

On such small orthodoxies
Aristocracy is based.
Don’t know what “poo of ox” is?
You’re so common; you’ve no taste!
Waggyings of foxes -
That’s where breeding is found.

Badger’s werdrobe on the ground;
Hare’s crotels scattered around;
Wild boar’s fiants – Ha! You frowned!
You’re not gentry, I’ll be bound!
But speak of otters’ spraints
And we’ll know you are sound.
Waggyings of foxes -
That’s where breeding is found.