Blighted Love

Luís de Camões (c. 1524–1580)

From the Portuguese by Lord Strangford

FLOWERS are fresh, and bushes green,

Cheerily the linnets sing;

Winds are soft, and skies serene;

Time, however, soon shall throw

Winter’s snow

O’er the buxom breast of Spring!

Hope, that buds in lover’s heart,

Lives not through the scorn of years;

Time makes love itself depart;

Time and scorn congeal the mind,—

Looks unkind

Freeze affection’s warmest tears.

Time shall make the bushes green;

Time dissolve the winter snow;

Winds be soft, and skies serene;

Linnets sing their wonted strain:

But again

Blighted love shall never blow!