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The Digger

From the Portuguese of Guerra Junqueiro


The cock crows this December night . . .
The cock crows hoarsely this dark night . . .
—Misery! oh, misery!
Villager sleep not! Call the wight . . .
Black sorrow, hasten, call the wight! . . .
—Misery! oh, misery!
The digger is thy slave of right,
Out with his hoe, for he of right,
Black sorrow, is a slave to thee!


Howls the wind, the nests are shaking . . .
In dread night the nests are shaking . . .
—Misery! oh, misery!
Cold as ermine snow is flaking . . .
In the dusk the snow is flaking . . .
—Misery! oh, misery!
Maledict his way is making,
Hoe on shoulder he is making,
That digger, a dark phantom he!

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