Henry Wadsworth Longfellow, ed. Poems of Places: An Anthology in 31 Volumes.
Spain, Portugal, Belgium, and Holland: Vols. XIV–XV. 1876–79.
To Luis de Ulloa
By Luis de Góngora (1561–1627)Translated by Edward Churton
H
With generous splendor, not vain glory, crowned,
Fairest of seats which Douro’s waters bound,
Stands Toro; and fair Toro’s boast art thou:
Why roam thy steps in other regions now,
Love’s pilgrim? Vain is flight from arrow’s wound,
Barbed with hard steel from mountain caves profound,
And tempered in the fountain’s icy flow.
As vainly stricken deer his hurt might hide,
Pierced by the envenomed shaft. A braver part
Be thine: at Beauty’s feet lay down thy pride.
Flight from fair nymph may suit the fearful hart:
The gentle spirit hastes, where Love will guide,
To kiss the hand that points the unerring dart.