| Una sañosa porfía |
A cruel, luckless |
I have reached a luckless harshness, |
| sin ventura va pujando |
misfortune is happening. |
A misfortune and vexation. |
| Ya nunca tuve alegría |
I never had joy, |
Never felt I joy or comfort; |
| ya mi mal se va ordenando. |
but now my ills are multiplying. |
Now increases my tribulation. |
|
|
|
| Ya fortuna disponía |
Fortune was disposed |
Fortune stole my rich dominion, |
| quitar mi próspero mando |
to take away my prosperous domain, |
Coldly chose my deprivation, |
| Qu'el bravo León d'Espaóa |
for the brave lion of Spain |
For the Spanish Lion struck me, |
| mal me viene amenazando |
came menacing me. |
Brought me peril and violation. |
|
|
|
| Su espantosa artillería |
His dreadful artillery |
His artillery was dreadful, |
| Los adarves derribando |
demolishing walls, |
Smashing walls to ruination; |
| mis villas y mis castillos |
he is taking my towns and my castles |
He is taking every city, |
| mis ciudades va ganando. |
and my cities. |
Every town and fortification. |
|
|
|
| La tierra y el mar gemían |
The land and sea moan, |
Hear the land and sea lamenting |
| que viene señoreando |
as he, dominating, comes, |
As he comes in domination, |
| sus pendones y estandartes |
raising his banners and standards |
With his banners and his standards |
| y banderas levantando. |
and flags. |
And his flags in proud elevation, |
|
|
|
| La muy gran caballería |
His very great cavalry, |
See his cavalry that glitters, |
| hela, viene relumbrando |
alas, glitters, |
Shining steel's illumination, |
| sus huestes y peonaje |
its army and laborers |
As its laborers and army |
| all aire viene turbando. |
disturbing the air. |
Fill the air with their agitation. |
|
|
|
| Correme la morería |
The Moorish quarter is vanishing; |
He destroys the Moorish Quarter, |
| los campos viene talando |
he is laying waste to my fields, |
Brings my fields annihilation, |
| mis compañas y caudillos |
he is defeating and slaying |
Sends my soldiers and commanders |
| viene venciendo y matando. |
my companies and commanders. |
To their deaths or harsh devastation. |
|
|
|
| Las mezquitas de Mahoma |
Mohammed's mosques are |
Now Muhammad's mosques are churches, |
| en iglesias consagrando, |
reconsecrated as churches; |
Fouled with full reconsecration; |
| las moras lleva cativas |
Moorish ladies, tearfully crying out, |
Moorish ladies cry in terror, |
| con alaridos llorando. |
are taken captive. |
Held as slaves in lewd subjugation. |
|
|
|
| Al cielo dan apellido |
The name is shouted to the heavens: |
And they shout it to the heavens: |
| Viva el gran Rey don Fernando |
"Long live King Ferdinand! |
"King Fernando, our salvation! |
| viva la muy gran leona |
Long live the very great lioness, |
To the Lioness a long life! |
| Alta Reina prosperando. |
High Majesty prosper." |
Raise the Queen in true exaltation!" |
|
|
|
| Una generosa Virgen |
A generous Virgin |
Generous and free, the Virgin |
| esfuerzo les viene dando |
has given them courage. |
Gave them brave determination, |
| un famoso caballero |
A famous cavalier |
And a knight of fame and honor |
| delante viene volando. |
comes flying before, |
Swiftly flies before the formation, |
|
|
|
| Con una cruz colorada |
with a red cross |
With a cross of deep vermillion, |
| y una espada relumbrando |
and a glittering sword, |
Sword that shines with inspiration, |
| d'un rico manto vestido |
dressed in a rich cloak, |
And a cloak of lavish fabric, |
| toda la gente guiando. |
leading all the people. |
Leading all the folk of the nation. |
|
|
|
| Juan del Encina |
Charles Jacobs. "The Spanish Frontier Ballad. Historical, Literary, and Musical Associations", in: The Music Quarterly 58 (1972), pp. 618?619. |
Carol Anne Perry Lagemann |