Listen to this evil tale!
Friends, let us awaken!
Hear how from these valiant men
Their liberty is taken.

Let us our example find
When our courage 's wanted,
In the Fra Diavoli,
Brothers three, undaunted.

In these times were all for naught
Their bravery of spirit,
Now, when scamps and little rogues
Count more than men of merit.

In a dark and horrid cell,
Its window iron-grated,
In the castle of Saint Catherine,
They lie, with great chains weighted.

It was August thirtieth
The brothers their word plighted
With five other prisoners,
And all the eight united;

All the eight with all their wits
Plotted and planned together,
Till, at last, a little rope
To the window-bar they tether.

Then with irons they pried up
The big grate from its socket,
And Ninu Fra Diavolo
Went out like a rocket.

Barefooted then, the other seven
Down the rope went sliding,
And to the sands of the seashore
With long steps went striding.

Just a musket-shot away
A small boat they discover,
And big Ninu, plunging in,
Swims the distance over.

He drew the boat up to the land,
Three men lay there sleeping;
They had a rifle close at hand,
But no watch were keeping.

Then and there the eight embarked,
Alongshore they went steering,
So swiftly, that in two hours' time
Gallina they were nearing.

All the eight there disembarked,
And through the country scattered,
Seeking clothes, and shoes, and arms,
Naked, cold, and tattered.

Up and down the streets they went,
Such a tumult making,
That the people all about
In their beds were shaking.

From Palermo there marched out
A tremendous force, then:
Foot-soldiers, a regiment,
Police guards and horsemen.

Then Ninu Fra Diavolo
Fired a shot that tore through
All the crowd and struck by chance
A girl of Agghiasoru.

" He would set Toulouse a-fire,
He would have the Judge's head. "
An old hag at the window
Listened to all they said.

And she is gone to my lord Judge,
And told it all again.


" Oh, bring to me some paper,
White paper and a pen,
" I will write a letter to my house, "
The youngest scholar said.


His brother took the letter,
He broke the seal and read;

And as he read the letter,
The brother wept and sighed;
Then hurried to the stables
To mount his horse and ride.

To Toulouse he goes spurring,
The horse it ran and ran;
As he came near the city,
He met a good old man:

" O good man, in the city,
What is the news one hears? "
" The news is very evil,
Would move your eyes to tears.

" They have taken three young students,
They are hanging all the three. "
" Oh, tell me, tell me, my good man,
Am I in time? " cried he.

" Let loose a bit your bridle rein
That seems the horse to bind. "
The rider strikes his spurs again,
The horse flies like the wind.

But when he reaches Toulouse bridge,
All three are hanging dead.
He sets his hand upon his sword,
Strikes off the Judge's head:
" One was my youngest brother,
The two near kin! " he said.

" O fly, fly, all you women,
With little children, all!
We will set fire to Toulouse town,
And burn both great and small! "

It is the lads of Guerande,
Their jolly life is done;
Falaridain' falaridon,
Their jolly life is done,
Falaridain' don don!

They are a score, and maybe ten more,
In prison every one,
Falaridain' falaridon,
And in prison every one,
Falaridain' don don!

The youngest of the thirty,
He knew a song to sing;
Falaridain' falaridon,
He knew a song to sing,
Falaridain' don don!

All the ladies of the town,
To hear came hurrying;
Falaridain' falaridon,
To hear came hurrying,
Falaridain' don don!

The prison doors are opened,
The prisoners all go;
Falaridain' falaridon,
The prisoners all go,
Falaridain' don don!

Some are gone to Nantes,
The rest to Hennebont;
Falaridain' falaridon,
The rest to Hennebont,
Falaridain' don don!