Classic Poem

1

CANCION

(Lupercio De Argensola)

Alivia sus fatigas
El labrador cansado
Quando su yerta barba escarcha cubre,
Pensando en las espigas
Del Agosto abrasado,
Y en los lagares ricos del Octubre.

The tired workman
Takes his ease
When his stiff beard's all frosted over
Thinking of blazing
August's corn
And the brimming wine-cribs of October.

2

Stir your fields to increase
Most happy Tormes
For she will be soon here
Gathering flowers.

From fertile meadow
And unfruitful wood
The countryside round
Burgeon and bud
Lilies and wild pinks
In varied showers
For she will be soon here
Gathering flowers.

The dawn casts pearls
From her balconies,
Stirs the mild pastures
To burgeon and bud,
And the envious sun
His ruddy car empowers
For she will be soon here
Gathering flowers.

The gentle zephyr
Strokes his greenery
And in the fresh branches
Limpid nightingales
With their sweet singing
Greet day from those towers
For she will be soon here
Gathering flowers.

3

The dawn is upon us
And day begins to grow
Lest they come and find you here
Get up and go.

An end to endearing caresses
Though the master still be delaying
Ere sun to the earth comes heying
By whom all embraces are undone.
Without hardship there is no pleasure
And content without passion none.
Be assured to the wise fit occasion
Has not yet refused a full measure.
Get up and be gone.

If my love enkindle your bosom
With honest intent and true
That my soul may enjoy full pleasure
Give over now what in bed we do.
For who lames you lames me also
And my good name rests all with you.
Pray be gone for my dread
No longer consents to your staying.
Get up and go.

What though you are wrestling with sleep.
Good sense bids you end it
That the joys of a single encounter
May be pleasured many times o'er.
It is reasonable to remember
That that which today we abjure
Is a promise redoubled tomorrow.
Lest they come and find you here
Get up and go.

4

Tears that still lacked power
To lessen such cruelty
I will return them to the sea
Since from the sea they have come.

Of tears I've an overplus
With which love's sea has endowed me,
Till I must swim to be free
Since love, a sea, has o'erflowed me;
Tears that still mounting higher
To reach you still lacked the sum
I will return them to the sea
Since from the sea they have come.

In the face of harsh opposition
Tears bitterly wrung
Have sought this or that token
As much as torment could find tongue;
But since not all were availing
To lessen such cruelty,
I will return them to the sea
Since from the sea they have come.

5

Poplars of the meadow
Fountains of Madrid
That I am absent now
You murmur complaints of me.

All of you are saying
How sorry my chance is
The wind in the branches
The fountains playing
To all men conveying
I knew you once happy.
That I am absent now
You murmur complaints of me.

Justly may I wonder
Since at my leaving
The plants with sighs were heaving
And all tears the waters;
That you were such liars
I never thought could be.
That I am absent now
You murmur complaints of me

Being in your presence
Music you'd waken
Later I'm forsaken
When you discover my absence.
May God give me patience
Here in my misery,
That I am absent now
You murmur complaints of me.