Thursday, January 22, 2015

SONETO XXXV

"Sonnet 34"
~Garcilaso del la Vega
Mario, el ingrato amor, como testigo
de mi fe pura y de mi gran firmeza,
usando en mí su vil naturaleza,
que es hacer más ofensa al más amigo;

teniendo miedo que si escribo o digo
su condición, abato su grandeza;
no bastando su fuerza a mi crüeza
ha esforzado la mano a mi enemigo.

Y ansí, en la parte que la diestra mano
gobierna. y en aquella que declara
los conceptos del alma, fui herido.

Mas yo haré que aquesta ofensa cara
le cueste al ofensor, ya que estoy sano,
libre, desesperado y ofendido.
Mario, ungrateful love commends
my purest faith and truest loyalty,
me viled by its naturality,
which seems the more offend the more the friend,

Fearing if that e'er I spoke or penned
your bent, I'd lessen its enormity;
not matching near thy strength my villainy
so strengthen would my hand thy condescend.

And thus, by hand more skilled, in certain sense,
am I now governed. And by what doth spell
my soul's conceits, my wound has been appended.

But will I make that costly dared offense
to cost offender dear, for yet am well,
independent, desp'rate and offended.
Image: Abstract Artwork of a Angry Man Holding His Head; Paul Brown