Modern Poets and Poetry of Spain/The Timid Lover

by James Kennedy

 

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.

 

---

---

---

1. 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 esperanza

   Mi 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.