Modern Poets and Poetry of Spain/The Timid Lover
THE TIMID LOVER.[1]
In the sharp pains the tyrant Love
Since first I saw thee made me feel,
To thee a thousand times above,
I come those pains to heal,
My village girl! but soon as nigh
To thee I find my way,
If e'er so bold to be I try,
I know not what to say.
My voices fail, and mournful sighs,
Malicious phrenzy watching o'er,
The place of them alone supplies;
While mocks my efforts more
The traitor god, when anxious by
My thoughts to speak I pray;
If e'er so bold to be I try,
I know not what to say.
Then feels his fire so strong my soul,
Meseems to die my only fate,
My tears in torrents freely roll,
And with deep groanings wait,
To move thy feeling heart's reply;
But vainly, all astray,
If e'er so bold to be I try,
I know not what to say.
I know not what, in trembling fear,
That seals my lips, as yet to learn
A foolish hope, thou mayst ev'n here
My hapless love discern.
I feel I must for ever fly
From thy side far away;
If e'er so bold to be I try,
I know not what to say.
Alas! if thou couldst, my adored!
But hear those sighs, and thoughts express'd,
What happiness 'twould me afford!
I should be, Phyllis, blest.
But woe is me! beneath thine eye,
To sink in mock'd dismay,
If e'er so bold to be I try,
I know not what to say.
- ↑ Works of Melendez, ibid, p. 263.
This poem having been particularly mentioned by Martinez de la Rosa as favourably characteristic of the style of the author, may be considered best to be selected as an exemplification of it. It is what is termed a Letrillia.
El Amante timido.
En la pena aguda
Que me hace sufrir
El Amor tirano
Desde que te vi
Mil veces su alivio
Te voy à pedir,
Y luego, aldeana,
Que llego ante ti,
Si quiero atreverme
No sè que decir.
Las voces me faltan
Y mi frenesí
Con miseros ayes
Las cuida suplir
Pero el dios que aleve
Se burla de mi
Cuanto ansio mas tierno
Mis labios abrir
Se quiero atreverme
No sè que decir.
Sus fuegos entonces
Empieza à sentir
Tan vivos el alma
Que pienso morir,
Mis làgrimas corren,
Mi agudo gemir
Tu pecho sensible
Conmueve, y al fin
Si quiero atreverme
No sè que decir.
No lo sè, temblando
Si por descubrir
Con loca esperanzaMi amor infeliz,
Tu lado por siempre
Tendrè ya que huir:
Sellàndome el miedo
La boca: y asì
Si quiero atreverme
No sè que decir.
Ay! si tu, adorada,
Pudieras oir
Mis hondos suspiros
Yo fuera feliz.
Yo, Filis, lo fuera
Mas, triste de mi!
Que tìmido al verte
Burlarme y reir,
Si quiero atreverme
No sè que decir.