|
Castilian Redondilla
Coming back from the wars,
our Spanish soil free again,
the finest of earth's flowers
took a sudden leap and was
transplanted to the heavens;
and, cut off from its branch,
the fatal blow that was dealt
was hidden from everyone,
like a flame that isn't seen
until its burning is felt.
English translation by Paul Archer of Redondilla castellana by Miguel de Cervantes, the original poem appears below:
Redondilla castellana
Cuando dejaba la guerra
libre nuestro hispano suelo,
con un repentino vuelo
la mejor flor de la tierra
fue trasplantada en el cielo;
y, al cortarla de su rama,
el mortífero accidente
fue tan oculto a la gente
como el que no ve la llama
hasta que quemar se siente.
Note:
Redondillas have been common in Castilian poetry since the 16th century. The word is derived from the Spanish redondo, meaning “round.” A redondilla consists of four trochaic lines, usually of eight syllables each, with a rhyme scheme of abba. Cervantes uses a rhyme scheme of abbab cddcd in his redondilla.
For more translations of poems by Cervantes, go to Translations. |
