or Marlbrough (Marlbro'), does not date from the battle of
Malplaquet (1709), but from the time of the Crusades, 600 years
before. According to a tradition discovered by M. de
Châteaubriand, the air came from the Arabs, and the tale is a
legend of Mambron, a crusader. It was brought into fashion
during the Revolution by Mme. Poitrine, who used to sing it to
her royal foster-child, the son of Louis XVI. M. Arago tells us
that when M. Monge, at Cairo, sang this air to an Egyptian
audience, they all knew it, and joined in it. Certainly the song
has nothing to do with the Duke of Marlborough, as it is all
about feudal castles and Eastern wars. We are told also that the
band of Captain Cook, in 1770, was playing the air one day on
the east coast of Australia, when the natives evidently
recognised it, and seemed enchanted. (Moniteur de l'Armée.)
Malbrouk s'en va-t-en guerre, Mironton, mironton, mirontaine;
Malbrouk s'en va-t-en guerre. Nul sait quand reviendra. Il
reviendra z'a pâques- Mironton, mironton, mirontain