| ROMANCE | ROMANCE |
| Anon. (15-16c.) | trans. Brian Cole |
|
Los vientos eran contrarios, la luna estaba crecida, los peces daban gemidos por el mal tiempo que hacía, cuando el rey don Rodrigo junto a la Cava dormía, dentro de una rica tienda de oro bien guarnecida. Trescientas cuerdas de plata que la tienda sostenían, dentro había doncellas vestidas a maravilla; las cincuenta están tañendo con muy extraña armonía, las cincuenta están cantando con muy dulce melodía. Allí hablara una doncella que Fortuna se decía: 'Si duermes, rey don Rodrigo, despierta por cortesía, y verás tus malos hados, tu peor postrimería, y verás tus gentes muertas y tu batalla rompida, y tus villas y ciudades destruidas en un día: tus castillos, fortalezas, otro señor los regía. Si me pides quién lo ha hecho yo muy bien te lo diría: ese conde don Julián por amores de su hija, porque se la deshonraste y más de ella no tenía. Juramento viene echando que te ha de costar la vida.' Despertó muy congojado con aquella voz que oía; con cara triste y penosa de esta suerte respondía: 'Mercedes a ti, Fortuna, de esta tu mensajería.' Estando en esto allegó uno que nuevas traía: como el conde don Julián las tierras le destruía. Apriesa pide el caballo y al encuentro le salía; los contrarios eran tantos que esfuerzo no le valía; que capitanes y gentes huye el que mas podia. ............ ............ |
All the winds were contrary, the moon had grown to fullness, and the fish could only groan, the weather was so bad, when good King Rodrigo was sleeping with La Cava in a sumptuous tent, its walls well-dressed with gold. Three hundred silver cables held up the royal tent, and inside there were maidens all wondrously arrayed: fifty played the music with strangest harmonies, and fifty more were singing most melodiously. Then spoke one of the maidens - she was called Fortuna: "If you're asleep Your Majesty, I pray you, please wake up. You'll see your evil fate and even worse your dying, you'll see your people dead, your battle order broken, and all your towns and cities destroyed in a single day. Your castles and your strongholds another lord will rule. And if you ask who did this I'll tell you straight away: it was the Count Julián for the love of his dear daughter whose honour you had shamed, and he had none but her. He has just sworn an oath that will cost you your life." He woke up most distressed on hearing what she said; with sad and doleful face this is what he replied: "I thank you, Fortuna, for the message that you bring." At that moment came a messenger with news, to tell that Count Julián was laying waste his lands. He quickly called for his horse and rode out to meet the Count; his opponents were so many that his efforts were in vain; his captains and his soldiers took to their heels and ran. ............ ............ |
Transl. Copyright © Brian Cole, 2003