In the famous vision of St. Francis of Assisi, at the time that he received his stigmata, the Seraph appeared to him with two wings raised above his head, with two wings stretched out for flight, and with two wings covering his whole body. See Mrs. Oliphant, Francis of Assisi, London, Macmillan & Co., 1871, pp. 253-255.]

El quiso mirarlo.

Un aliento de fuego abraso su cara, un mar de luz obscurecio sus ojos, un trueno gigante retumbo en sus oidos, y arrancado del corcel y lanzado al vacio como la piedra candente que arroja un volcan, se sintio bajar, y bajar sin caer nunca, ciego, abrasado y ensordecido, como cayo el angel rebelde cuando Dios derribo el pedestal de su orgullo con un soplo de sus labios.[1]

[Footnote 1: Compare—

Nine days they fell; confounded Chaos roared, And felt tenfold confusion in their fall Through his wild anarchy; so huge a rout Encumbered him with ruin. Hell at last, Yawning, received them whole, and on them closed— Hell, their fit habitation, fraught with fire Unquenchable, the house of woe and pain. Milton, Paradise Lost, book vi.]

* * * * *



I

La noche habia cerrado, y el viento gemia agitando las hojas de los arboles, por entre cuyas frondosas ramas se deslizabs un suave rayo de luna, cuando Teobaldo, incorporandose sobre el codo y restregandose los ojos como si despertara de un profundo sueno, tendio alrededor una mirada y se encontro en el mismo bosque donde hirio al jabali, donde cayo muerto su corcel; donde le dieron aquella fantastica cabalgadura que le habia arrastrado a unas regiones desconocidas y misteriosas.

Un silencio de muerte reinaba a su alrededor; un silencio que solo interrumpia el lejano bramido de los ciervos, el temeroso murmullo de las hojas, y el eco de una campana distante que de vez en cuando traia el viento en sus rafagas.

—Habre sonado, dijo el baron: y emprendio su camino al traves del bosque, y salio al fin a la llanura.



II

En lontananza, y sobre las rocas de Montagut, vio destacarse la negra silueta de su castillo, sobre el fondo azulado y transparente del cielo de la noche.—Mi castillo esta lejos y estoy cansado, murmuro; esperare el dia en un lugar cercano, y se dirigio al lugar.—Llamo a la puerta.—?Quien sois? le preguntaron.—El baron de Fortcastell, respondio, y se le rieron en sus barbas.—Llamo a otra.—?Quien sois y que quereis? tornaron a preguntarle.—Vuestro senor, insistio el caballero, sorprendido de que no le conociesen; Teobaldo de Montagut.[1]—iTeobaldo de Montagut! dijo colerica su interlocutora, que no era una vieja; iTeobaldo de Montagut el del cuento!... iBah!... Seguid vuestro camino, y no vengais a sacar de su sueno a las gentes honradas para decirles chanzonetas insulsas.

[Footnote 1: Teobaldo de Montagut. See p. 140, note 1.]



III

Teobaldo, lleno de asombro, abandono la aldea y se dirigio al castillo, a cuyas puertas llego cuando apenas clareaba el dia. El foso estaba cegado con los sillares de las derruidas almenas; el puente levadizo, inutil ya, se pudria colgado aun de sus fuertes tirantes de hierro, cubiertos de orin por la accion de los anos; en la torre del homenaje tania lentamente una campana; frente al arco principal de la fortaleza y sobre un pedestal de granito se elevaba una cruz; en los muros no se veia un solo soldado; y confuso, y sordo, parecia que de su seno se elevaba como un murmullo lejano, un himno religioso, grave, solemne y magnifico.

—iY este es mi castillo, no hay duda! decia Teobaldo, paseando su inquieta mirada de un punto a otro, sin acertar a comprender lo que le pasaba. iAquel es mi escudo, grabado aun sobre la clave del arco! iEse es el valle de Montagut! Estas tierras que domina, el senorio de Fortcastell....

En aquel instante las pesadas hojas de la puerta giraron sobre sus goznes y aparecio en su dintel un religioso.



IV

—?Quien sois y que haceis aqui? pregunto Teobaldo al monje.

—Yo soy, contesto este, un humilde servidor de Dios, religioso del monasterio de Montagut.

—Pero ... interrumpio el baron, Montagut ?no es un senorio?

—Lo fue, prosiguio el monje ... hace mucho tiempo. ... A su ultimo senor, segun cuentan, se le llevo el diablo; y como no tenia a nadie que le sucediese en el feudo, los condes soberanos[1] hicieron donacion de estas tierras a los religiosos de nuestra regla, que estan aqui desde hara cosa de ciento a ciento veinte anos. Y vos ?quien sois?

[Footnote 1: condes soberanos. See p. 121, note 1, and p. 123, l. 22.]

—Yo ... balbuceo el baron de Fortcastell, despues de un largo rato de silencio; yo soy ... un miserable pecador, que arrepentido de sus faltas, viene a confesarlas a vuestro abad, y 15 a pedirle que le admita en el seno de su religion.



LAS HOJAS SECAS

El sol se habia puesto: las nubes, que cruzaban hechas jirones sobre mi cabeza, iban a amontonarse unas sobre otras en el horizonte lejano. El viento frio de las tardes de otono arremolinaba las hojas secas a mis pies.

Yo estaba sentado al borde de un camino,[1] por donde siempre vuelven menos de los que van.

[Footnote 1: un camino. The road to the cemetery.]

No se en que pensaba, si en efecto pensaba entonces en alguna cosa. Mi alma temblaba a punto de lanzarse al espacio, como el pajaro tiembla y agita ligeramente las alas antes de levantar el vuelo.

Hay momentos en que, merced a una serie de abstracciones, el espiritu se sustrae a cuanto le rodea, y replegandose en si mismo analiza y comprende todos los misteriosos fenomenos de la vida interna del hombre.

Hay otros en que se desliga de la carne, pierde su personalidad y se confunde con los elementos de la naturaleza, se relaciona con su modo de ser, y traduce su incomprensible lenguaje.

Yo me hallaba en uno de estos ultimos momentos, cuando solo y en medio de la escueta llanura, oi hablar cerca de mi.

Eran dos hojas secas las que hablaban, y este, poco mas o menos, su extrano dialogo:

?De donde vienes, hermana?

—Vengo de rodar con el torbellino, envuelta en la nube del polvo y de las hojas secas nuestras companeras, a lo largo de la interminable llanura. ?Y tu?

—Yo he seguido algun tiempo la corriente del rio, hasta que el vendaval me arranco de entre el legamo y los juncos de la orilla.

—?Y adonde vas?

—No lo se[1]: ?lo sabe acaso el viento que me empuja?

[Footnote 1: ?Y adonde vas?—No lo se. Compare these well-known verses by the French poet Arnault:

De ta tige detachee, Pauvre feuille dessechee, Oh vas-tu?—Je n'en sais rien. L'orage a brise le chene Qui seul etait mon soutien; De son inconstante haleine Le zephyr ou l'aquilon Depuis ce jour me promene De la foret a la plaine, De la montagne au vallon. Je vais oh le vent me mene, Sans me plaindre ou m'effrayer; Je vais ou va toute chose, Oh va la fenille de rose Et la feuille de laurier.

]

—iAy! ?Quien diria que habiamos de acabar 'amarillas y secas arrastrandonos por la tierra, nosotras que vivimos vestidas de color y de luz meciendonos en el aire?

—Te acuerdas de los hermosos dias en que brotamos; de aquella apacible manana en que, roto el hinchado boton que nos servia de cuna, nos desplegamos al templado beso del sol como un abanico de esmeraldas?

—iOh! iQue dulce era sentirse balanceada por la brisa a aquella altura, bebiendo por todos los poros el aire y la luz!

—iOh! iQue hermoso era ver correr el agua del rio que lamia las retorcidas raices del anoso tronco que nos sustentaba, aquel agua limpia y trasparente que copiaba como un espejo el azul del cielo, de modo que creiamos vivir suspendidas entre dos abismos azules!

—iCon que placer nos asomabamos por cima de las verdes frondas para vernos retratadas en la temblorosa corriente!

—iComo cantabamos juntas imitando el rumor de la brisa y siguiendo el ritmo de las ondas!

—Los insectos brillantes revoloteaban desplegando sus alas de gasa a nuestro alrededor.

—Y las mariposas blancas y las libelulas azules, que giran por el aire en extranos circulos, se paraban un momento en nuestros dentellados bordes a contarse los secretes de ese misterioso amor que dura un instante y les consume la vida.[1]

[Footnote 1: y les consume la vida. This is strictly true of the honey-bee, but not to my knowledge of butterflies or dragon-flies.]

—Cada cual de nosotras era una nota en el concierto de los bosques.

—Cada cual de nosotras era un tono en la armonia de su color.

—En las noches de luna, cuando su plateada luz resbalaba sobre la cima de los montes, ?te acuerdas como charlabamos en voz baja entre las diafanas sombras?

—Y referiamos con un blando susurro las historias de los silfos que se columpian en los hilos de oro que cuelgan las aranas entre los arboles.

—Hasta que suspendiamos nuestra monotona charla para oir embebecidas las quejas del ruisenor, que habia escogido nuestro tronco por escabel.

—Y eran tan tristes y tan suaves sus lamentos que, aunque lenas de gozo al oirle,[1] nos amanecia llorando.

[Footnote 1: oirle. See p. 66, note 1.]

—iOh! iQue dulces eran aquellas lagrimas que nos prestaba el rocio de la noche y que resplandecian con todos los colores del iris a la primera luz de la aurora!

—Despues vino la alegre banda de jilgueros a llenar de vida y de ruidos el bosque con la alborozada y confusa algarabia de sus cantos.

—Y una enamorada pareja, colgo junto a nosotras su redondo nido de aristas y de plumas.

—Nosotras serviamos de abrigo a los pequenuelos contra las molestas gotas de la lluvia en las tempestades de verano.

—Nosotras les serviamos de dosel y los defendiamos de los importunes rayos del sol.

—Nuestra vida pasaba como un sueno de oro, del que no sospechabamos que se podria despertar.

—Una hermosa tarde en que todo parecia sonreir a nuestro alrededor, en que el sol poniente encendia el ocaso y arrebolaba las nubes, y de la tierra ligeramente humeda se levantaban efluvios de vida y perfumes de flores, dos amantes se detuvieron a la orilla del agua y al pie del tronco que nos sostenia.

—iNunca se borrara ese recuerdo de mi memoria! Ella era joven, casi una nina, hermosa y palida. El le decia con ternura:—?Por que lloras?—Perdona este involuntario sentimiento de egoismo, le respondio ella enjugandose una lagrima; lloro por mi. Lloro la vida que me huye: cuando el cielo se corona de rayos de luz, y la tierra se viste de verdura y de flores, y el viento trae perfumes y cantos de pajaros y armonias distantes, y se ama y se siente una amada ila vida es buena!—?Y por que no has de vivir? insistio el estrechandole las manos conmovido.—Porque es imposible. Cuando caigan secas—esas hojas que murmuran armoniosas sobre nuestras cabezas, yo morire tambien, y el viento llevara algun dia su polvo y el mio ?quien sabe adonde?

—Yo lo oi y tu lo oiste, y nos estremecimos y callamos. iDebiamos secarnos! iDebiamos morir y girar arrastradas por los remolinos del viento! Mudas y llenas de terror permaneciamos aun cuando llego la noche. iOh! iQue noche tan horrible!

—Por la primera vez falto a su cita el enamorado ruisenor que la encantaba con sus quejas.

—A poco volaron los pajaros, y con ellos sus pequenuelos ya vestidos de plumas; y quedo el nido solo, columpiandose lentamente y triste, como la cuna vacia de un nino muerto.

—Y huyeron las mariposas blancas y las libelulas azules, dejando su lugar a los insectos obscuros que venian a roer nuestras fibras y a depositar en nuestro seno sus asquerosas larvas.

—iOh! iY como nos estremeciamos encogidas al helado contacto de las escarchas de la noche!

—Perdimos el color y la frescura.

—Perdimos la suavidad y las formas, y lo que antes al tocarnos era como rumor de besos, como murmullo de palabras de enamorados, luego se convirtio en aspero ruido, seco, desagradable y triste.

—iY al fin volamos desprendidas!

—Hollada bajo el pie de indiferente pasajero, sin cesar arrastrada de un punto a otro entre el polvo y el fango, me he juzgado dichosa cuando podia reposar un instante en el profundo surco de un camino.

—Yo he dado vueltas sin cesar arrastrada por la turbia corriente, y en mi larga peregrinacion vi, solo, enlutado y sombrio, contemplando con una mirada distraida las aguas que pasaban y las hojas secas que marcaban su movimiento, a uno de los dos amantes cuyas palabras nos hicieron presentir la muerte.

—iElla tambien se desprendio de la vida y acaso dormira en una fosa reciente, sobre la que yo me detuve un momento!

—iAy! Ella duerme y reposa al fin; pero nosotras, cuando acabaremos este large viaje?...

—iNunca!...Ya el viento que nos dejo reposar un punto vuelve a soplar, y ya me siento estremecida para levantarme de la tierra y seguir con el. iAdios, hermana!

—iAdios!...

Silbo el aire que habia permanecido un momento callado, y las hojas se lavantaron en confuso remolino, perdiendose a 10 lejos entre las tineblas de la noche.

Y yo pense entonces algo que no puedo recordar, y que, aunque lo recordase, no encontraria palabras para decirlo.



RIMAS



I[1]

Yo se un himno gigante y extrano Que anuncia en la noche del alma una aurora, Y estas paginas son de ese himno Cadencias que el aire dilata en las sombras.

Yo quisiera escribirle,[2] del hombre Domando el rebelde, mezquino idioma, Con palabras que fuesen a un tiempo Suspiros y risas, colores y notas.

Pero en vano es luchar; que no hay cifra Capaz de encerrarlo, y apenas ioh hermosa! Si, teniendo en mis manos las tuyas, Pudiera, al oirlo, cantartelo a solas.

[Footnote 1: This poem is made up of alternate decasyllabic anapests and dodecasyllabic amphibrachs, thus:

/ / / / / / /

The even verses have the same assonance throughout.]

[Footnote 2: escribirle. Le refers to himno. See p. 66, note 1.]



IV[1]

No digais que agotado su tesoro, De asuntos falta,[2] enmudecio la lira: Podra no haber poetas; pero siempre Habra poesia.

Mientras las ondas de la luz al beso[3] Palpiten encendidas; Mientras el sol las desgarradas nubes De fuego y oro vista;

Mientras el aire en su regazo lleve Perfumes y armonias; Mientras haya en el mundo primavera, iHabra poesia!

Mientras la ciencia a descubrir no alcance Las fuentes de la vida, Y en el mar o en el cielo haya un abismo Que al calculo resista;[4] Mientras la humanidad siempre avanzando No sepa a do camina;[5] Mientras haya un misterio para el hombre, iHabra poesia!

Mientras sintamos que se alegra el alma, Sin que los labios rian; Mientras se llore sin que el llanto acuda A nublar la pupila;

Mientras el corazon y la cabeza[6] Batallando prosigan; Mientras haya esperanzas y recuerdos, iHabra poesia!

Mientras haya unos ojos que reflejen Los ojos que los miran; Mientras responda el labio suspirando Al labio que suspira; Mientras sentirse puedan en un beso Dos almas confundidas; Mientras exista una mujer hermosa, iHabra poesia!

[Footnote 1: This poem is composed of hendecasyllabic and heptasyllabic verses, with a pentasyllabic refrain. The hendecasyllabic verses are partly of the first and partly of the second class (see Introduction), while the heptasyllabic verses have the required accent on the sixth syllable, with at least one minor variable accent, and the pentasyllabic verses on the fourth, according to rule. The even verses have the same assonance throughout.]

[Footnote 2: De asuntos falta = 'through (or for) lack of subjects.' Prose order—falta de asuntos.]

[Footnote 3: de la luz al beso. Prose order—al beso de la luz.]

[Footnote 4: Mientras... resista. Man's inability to solve these sovereign problems is nowhere more poetically expressed than in Edward Fitzgerald's translation of Omar Khayyam's Rubaiyat. Compare—

(XXVII) Myself when young did eagerly frequent Doctor and Saint, and heard great argument About it and about: but evermore, Came out by the same door where in I went.

(XXXI) Up from Earth's Center through the Seventh Gate I rose, and on the Throne of Saturn sate, And many a Knot unravel'd by the Road; But not the Master-knot of Human Fate.

]

[Footnote 5: No sepa a do camina. This doubt seems to assail frequently the mind of Becquer, as it does that of the old Persian poet Omar Khayyam:

(XXIX) Into this Universe, and Why not knowing Nor Whence, like water willy-nilly flowing; And out of it, as Wind along the Waste I know not Whither, willy-nilly blowing.

(LXIV) Strange, is it not? that of the myriads who Before us pass'd the door of Darkness through, Not one returns to tell us of the Road, Which to discover we must travel too.

Rubaiyat—Edward Fitzgerald's translation.]

[Footnote 6: el corazon y la cabeza. Compare—

It is the heart, and not the brain, That to the highest doth attain.

Longfellow, The Building of the Ship.]



VII[1]

Del salon en el angulo obscuro, De su dueno tal vez olvidada, Silenciosa y cubierta de polvo Veiase el arpa.

iCuanta nota dormia en sus cuerdas, Como el pajaro duerme en las ramas, Esperando la mano de nieve Que sabe arrancarlas![2]

iAy! pense; icuantas veces el genio Asi duerme en el fondo del alma, Y una voz, como Lazaro,[3] espera Que le diga: "Levantate y anda!"

[Footnote 1: This poem is composed of decasyllabic anapests and of hexasyllabic amphibrachs, thus:

/ / / / /

The even verses have the same assonance throughout.]

[Footnote 2: For this idea, compare—

Je suis dans un salon comme une mandoline Oubliee en passant sur le bord d'un coussin. Elle renferme en elle une langue divine, Mais si son mattre dort, tout reste dans son sein.

Alfred de Musset, A quoi revent les jeunes filles, Act 1, SC. iv.]

[Footnote 3: Lazaro = 'Lazarus.' See Gospel by St. John, chapter II. Read Stephen Phillips' beautiful poem entitled "Lazarus," pp. 45-47 of his Poems, published by John Lane, London, 1901.]



IX[1]

Besa el aura que gime blandamente Las leves ondas que jugando riza; El sol besa a la nube en occidente Y de purpura y oro la matiza; La llama en derredor del tronco ardiente Por besar a otra llama se desliza, Y hasta el sauce, inclinandose a su peso, Al rio, que le besa, vuelve un beso.

[Footnote 1: This poem, of the form called Octava real, with the regular rhyme scheme a b a b a b c c, is composed of hendecasyllabic verses of the first class, save the 2d, which is of the second class.]



X[1]

Los invisibles atomos del aire En derredor palpitan y se inflaman; El cielo se deshace en rayos de oro; La tierra se estremece alborozada; Oigo flotando en olas de armonia Rumor de besos y batir de alas; Mis parpados se cierran... ?Que sucede? —!Es el amor que pasa![2]

[Footnote 1: This poem is an Octava composed, with the exception of the concluding heptasyllabic verse, of hendecasyllabic verses, all of which are of the first class, save the 6th, which is of the second class. Note the hiatus in the 6th verse. The even verses have the same assonance.]

[Footnote 2: Note Mrs. Ward's translation (Macmillan's Mag., Feb., 1883, p. 316).

The viewless atoms of the air Around me palpitate and burn, All heaven dissolves in gold, and earth Quivers with new-found joy. Floating on waves of harmony I hear A stir of kisses, and a sweep of wings; Mine eyelids close—"What pageant nears?" "'Tis Love that passes by!"

]



XIII[1]

Tu pupila es azul, y cuando ries, Su claridad suave me recuerda El tremulo fulgor de la manana Que en el mar se refleja.

Tu pupila es azul; y cuando lloras, Las trasparentes lagrimas en ella Se me figuran gotas de rocio Sobre una violeta.

Tu pupila es azul, y si en su fondo Como un punto de luz radia una idea,[2] Me parece en el cielo de la tarde iUna perdida estrella!

[Footnote 1: Each stanza of this poem is composed of three hendecasyllabic verses of the first class, followed by a heptasyllabic verse. The even verses of the poem have the same assonance throughout.]

[Footnote 2: radia una idea = 'there gleams some fancy.']



XIV[1]

Te vi un punto,[2] y, flotando ante mis ojos La imagen de tus ojos se quedo, Como la mancha obscura, orlada en fuego, Que flota y ciega, si se mira al sol.

Adonde quiera que la vista fijo, Torno a ver sus pupilas llamear, Mas no te encuentro a ti; que es tu mirada: Unos ojos, los tuyos, nada mas.

De mi alcoba en el angulo los miro Desasidos fantasticos lucir:[3] Cuando duermo los siento que se ciernen De par en par abiertos sobre mi.

Yo se que hay fuegos fatuos que en la noche Llevan al caminante a perecer: Yo me siento arrastrado por tus ojos, Pero adonde me arrastran, no lo se.

[Footnote 1: This poem is composed chiefly of hendecasyllabic verses of the first class. The even verses of each stanza are agudos and assonanced.]

[Footnote 2: un punto = 'but a moment.']

[Footnote 3: los miro desasidos fantasticos lucir = 'I watch them shine like orbs fantastic.' Mrs. Ward translates this stanza as follows:

In my room's furthest corner I behold Their strange fantastic blaze, And when I sleep I feel them watch Unmoved and open o'er my head.

See Macmillan's Magazine, February, 1883, P—317.]



XV[1]

Cendal flotante de leve bruma, Rizada cinta de blanca espuma, Rumor sonoro De arpa de oro, Beso del aura, onda de luz, Eso eres tu.

Tu, sombra aerea que, cuantas veces Voy a tocarte, te desvaneces Como la llama, como el sonido, Como la niebla, como el gemido Del lago azul.

En mar sin playas onda sonante, En el vacio cometa errante, Largo lamento Del ronco viento, Ansia perpetua de algo mejor, Eso soy yo.

iYo, que a tus ojos en mi agonia Los ojos vuelvo de noche y dia; Yo, que incansable corro y demente Tras una sombra, tras la hija ardiente De una vision!

[Footnote 1: This poem is composed of decasyllabic and of pentasyllable verses. The last two verses of the lst and 3d stanzas and the last verse of the 2d and 4th stanzas are agudos, the other verses being llanos. The rhyme scheme is a, a, b, b, c, c, d, d, e, e, c for each half of the poem. Notice the hiatus in the 4th and 5th verses.



XVI[1]

Si al mecer las azules campanillas De tu balcon, Crees que suspirando pasa el viento Murmurador, Sabe que, oculto entre las verdes hojas, Suspiro yo.

Si al resonar confuso a tus espaldas Vago rumor, Crees que por tu nombre te ha llamado Lejana voz, Sabe que, entre las sombras que te cercan, Te llamo yo.

Si se turba medroso en la alta noche Tu corazon, Al sentir en tus labios un aliento Abrasador, Sabe que, aunque invisible, al lado tuyo Respire yo.

[Footnote 1: This poem is composed of hendecasyllabic verses of both classes, with pentasyllable verses alternating. These latter are agudos and have the same assonance throughout.]



XXI[1]

?Que es poesia? dices mientras clavas En mi pupila tu pupila azul; ?Que es poesia? ?Y tu me lo preguntas? Poesia ... eres tu.[2]

[Footnote 1: We have here three hendecasyllabic verses of both classes, followed by a heptasyllabic. Notice the hiatus in the 1st, 3d, and 4th verses. The 2d and 4th are agudos and assonanced.]

[Footnote 2: This thought is developed in the first of Becquer's Cartas literarias a una mujer.]



XXIII[1]

Por una mirada, un mundo; Por una sonrisa, un cielo; Por un beso... iyo no se Que te diera por un beso!

[Footnote 1: Of these four octosyllabic verses the 2d and 4th are assonanced.]



XXVII[1]

Despierta, tiemblo al mirarte; Dormida me atrevo a verte; Por eso, alma de mi alma, Yo velo mientras tu duermes.

Despierta, ries; y al reir, tus labios Inquietos me parecen Relampagos de grana que serpean Sobre un cielo de nieve.

Dormida,[2] los extremos de tu boca Pliega sonrisa leve,[3] Suave como el rastro luminoso Que deja un sol que muere... —iDuerme!

Despierta, miras, y al mirar, tus ojos Humedos resplandecen Como la onda azul, en cuya cresta Chispeando el sol hiere.

Al traves de tus parpados, dormida, Tranquilo fulgor viertes, Cual derrama de luz templado rayo Lampara transparente[4] ... —iDuerme!

Despierta, hablas, y al hablar, vibrantes Tus palabras parecen Lluvia de perlas que en dorada copa Se derrama a torrentes?[5]

Dormida, en el murmullo de tu aliento Acompasado y tenue, Escucho yo un poema, que mi alma Enamorada entiende ... —iDuerme!

Sobre el corazon la mano Me he puesto, porque no suene Su latido, y de la noche Turbe la calma solemne.

De tu balcon las persianas Cerre ya, porque no entre El resplandor enojoso De la aurora, y te despierte ... —iDuerme!

[Footnote 1: The 1st, 8th, and 9th stanzas of this poem are in octosyllabic verses, and the rest in hendecasyllabic verses of both classes, with heptasyllabic verses alternating. A refrain of dissyllabic verse begins at the close of the 3d stanza and recurs after that regularly at the close of every other stanza. The even verses of each stanza have the same assonance throughout, as does the refrain. Notice the hiatus in the 3d verse of the 4th stanza and in the 1st verse of the 6th stanza.]

[Footnote 2: Dormida. All of the texts that have been consulted read Despierta, but the contrast throughout the poem between the two ideas seems to warrant the reading given here, and Mrs. Ward in her translation of the poem (see Macmillan's Mag., Feb., 1883, p. 317) so renders it:

Asleep, the corners of thy mouth A light smile upcurls, Sweet as the luminous trail Left by the dying sun— Sleep!

]

[Footnote 3: los ... leve. Prose order—(una) leve sonrisa pliega los extremos...]

[Footnote 4: Cual... transparente. Prose order—Cual (una) lampara transparente derrama (un) templado rayo de luz.]

[Footnote 5: Notice Mrs. Ward's translation of this stanza:

Awake thou speak'st, and as thou speak'st, thy words Vibrating seem A rain of pearls that in a golden cup Plashes in torrents.

See Macmillan's Magazine, February, 1883, p. 317.]



XXIX[1]

Sobre la falda tenia El libro abierto; En mi mejilla tocaban Sus rizos negros; No veiamos las letras Ninguno, creo; Mas guardabamos entrambos Hondo silencio. ?Cuanto duro? Ni aun entonces Pude saberlo; Solo se que no se oia Mas que el aliento, Que apresurado escapaba Del labio seco. Solo se que nos volvimos Los dos a un tiempo, Y nuestros ojos se hallaron, Y sono un beso.

* * *

Creacio de Dante era el libro, Era su Infierno.[2] Cuando a el bajamos los ojos, Yo dije tremulo: —?Comprendes ya que un poema Cabe en un verso?[3] Y ella respondio encendida: —iYa lo comprendo!

[Footnote 1: This poem is composed of alternating octosyllabic and pentasyllabic verses, the latter having the same assonance throughout. Notice that the 5th verse from the end is a verso esdrujulo.]

[Footnote 2: The most celebrated work of this world-famous poet (1265-1321) is the Divina Commedia which is divided into three parts,—Inferno, Purgatorio, Paradiso. In the first of these, in Canto v, occurs the episode of Paolo and Francesca da Rimini, which is imitated in this poem. See p. 124, note 1.]

[Footnote 3: Comprendes ... en un verso? The meaning of this phrase becomes clear when we compare it with the Italian original.

Quel giorno piu non vi leggemmo avante. That day we read in it no farther.

]



XXX[1]

Asomaba a sus ojos una lagrima Y a mi labio una frase de perdon; Hablo el orgullo y se enjugo su llanto, Y la frase en mis labios expiro.

Yo voy por un camino, ella por otro; Pero al pensar en nuestro mutuo amor, Yo digo aun: ?Por que calle aquel dia? Y ella dira: ?por que no llore yo?

[Footnote 1: This poem is composed of hendecasyllabic verses of both classes. The even verses are agudos and have the same assonance throughout. Note the esdrujulo ending the lst verse. The thought of the poem is very similar to that of Heine's Wann zwei van einander scheiden:

Often when two are parting, Each grasps a hand as friend; And then begins a weeping And a sighing without end.

We did not sigh when parting; No tears between us fell; The weeping and the sighing Came after our farewell.

Lyrical Intermezzo, No. 55, translated by Chas. G. Leland.]



XXXI[1]

Nuestra pasion fue un tragico sainete En cuya absurda fabula Lo comico y lo grave confundidos Risas y llanto arrancan.

iPero fue lo peor de aquella historia Que al fin de la jornada, A ella tocaron lagrimas y risas, Y a mi solo las lagrimas!

[Footnote 1: This poem is composed of hendecasyllabic verses of the first class alternating with regular heptasyllabic verses. Notice the esdrujulos terminating the 2d and 8th verses. The even verses have the same assonance throughout.]



XXXIII[1]

Es cuestion de palabras, y no obstante Ni tu ni yo jamas, Despues de lo pasado, convendremos En quien la culpa esta.

iLastima que el amor un diccionario No tenga donde hallar Cuando el orgullo es simplemente orgullo, Y cuando es dignidad!

[Footnote 1: This poem is composed of hendecasyllabic verses of both classes alternating with regular heptasyllabic verses, which latter are agudos and have the same assonance throughout.]



XXXVII[1]

iAntes que tu me morire: escondido En las entranas ya El hierro llevo con que abrio tu mano La ancha herida mortal!

Antes que tu me morire: y mi espiritu En su empeno tenaz, Sentandose a las puertas de la muerte, Alli te esperara.

Con las horas los dias, con los dias Los anos volaran, Y a aquella puerta llamaras al cabo... ?Quien deja de llamar?

Entonces, que tu culpa y tus despojos La tierra guardara Lavandote en las ondas de la muerte Como en otro Jordan;[2]

Alli, donde el murmullo de la vida Temblando a morir va, Como la ola que a la playa viene Silenciosa a expirar;

Alli, donde el sepulcro que se cierra Abre una eternidad... Todo cuanto los dos hemos callado iLo tenemos[3] que hablar!

[Footnote 1: This poem is composed of hendecasyllabic verses of both classes, alternating with regular heptasyllabic versos agudos, which latter have the same assonance throughout. Notice the esdrujulo terminating the 5th verse, and the hiatus in the 19th verse.]

[Footnote 2: Jordan. The principal river of Palestine. The idea of cleansing by "washing in Jordan" comes originally from the account of Elisha's cure of Naaman as related in II Kings v. 10; but that of spiritual purification, from the New Testament account of the use made of the waters of Jordan by John the Baptist.]

[Footnote 3: tenemos. The present tense is used here in the sense of the future.]



XXXVIII[1]

Los suspires son aire, y van al aire. Las lagrimas son agua, y van al mar. Dime, mujer: cuando el amor se olvida, ?Sabes tu a donde va?

[Footnote 1: The first two verses of this poem are hendecasyllabic of the first class, the 3d is a hendecasyllabic of the second class, and the closing verse is heptasyllabic. The even verses are agudos and assonanced.]



XXXIX[1]

?A que me lo decis? lo se: es mudable, Es altanera y vana y caprichosa; Antes que el sentimiento de su alma, Brotara el agua de la esteril roca.

Se que en su corazon, nido de sierpes, No hay una fibra que al amor responda; Que es una estatua inanimada... pero... iEs tan hermosa!

[Footnote 1: This poem is composed of hendecasyllabic verses of both classes, with a closing pentasyllabic verse. The even verses have the same assonance throughout.]



XL[1]

Su mano entre mis manos, Sus ojos en mis ojos, La amorosa cabeza Apoyada en mi hombro, iDios sabe cuantas veces Con paso perezoso, Hemos vagado juntos Bajo los altos olmos, Que de su casa prestan Misterio y sombra al portico! Y ayer... un ano apenas Pasado como un soplo, iCon que exquisita gracia, Con que admirable aplomo, Me dijo, al presentarnos Un amigo oficioso: "—Creo que en alguna parte He visto a usted.—" iAh! bobos, Que sois de los salones Comadres de buen tono, Y andais por alli a caza De galantes embrollos; iQue historia habeis perdido! iQue manjar tan sabroso Para ser devorado Sotto voce[2] en un corro, Detras del abanico De plumas y de oro!

* * *

iDiscreta y casta luna, Copudos y altos olmos, Paredes de su casa, Umbrales de su portico, Callad, y que el secreto No saiga de vosotros! Callad, que por mi parte Lo he olvidado todo: Y ella ... ella ... ino hay mascara Semejante a su rostro!

[Footnote 1: This poem is composed entirely of heptasyllabic verses. Notice the esdrujulos ending the 10th, 32d, and 37th verses. The even verses have the same assonance throughout.]

[Footnote 2: Sotto voce: An Italian expression meaning 'in an undertone'. Translate here 'mid whispers'.]



XLII[1]

Cuando me lo contaron senti el frio De una hoja de acero en las entranas, Me apoye contra el muro, y un instante La conciencia perdi de donde estaba. Cayo sobre mi espiritu la noche; En ira y en piedad se anego el alma... iY entonces comprendi por que se llora, Y entonces comprendi por que se mata![2] Paso la nube de dolor... con pena Logre balbucear breves, palabras... ?Quien me dio la noticia?... Un fiel amigo... iMe haci un gran favor!... Le di las gracias.

[Footnote 1: This poem is composed entirely of hendecasyllabic verses, of both classes. The even verses have the same assonance throughout.]

[Footnote 2: Compare Alfred de Mussel's description of a similar experience of his own, after his rupture with George Sand, which occurred in Venice in 1834 during the Italian journey.

Lamartine, c'est la, dans cette rue obscure, Assis sur une borne, au fond d'un carrefour, Les deux mains sur mon coeur, et serrant ma blessure, Et sentant y saigner un invincible amour; C'est la, dans cette nuit d'horreur et de detresse, Au milieu des transports d'un peuple furieux Qui semblait en passant crier a ma jeunesse: "Toi qui pleures ce soir, n'as-ta pas ri comme eux?" C'est la, devant ce mur, ou j'ai frappe ma tete, Ou j'ai pose deux fois le fer sur mon sein nu; C'est la, le croiras-tu? chaste et noble poete, Que de tes chants divins je me suis souvenu.

Lettre a Lamartine.]



XLIII[1]

Deje la luz a un lado, y en el borde De la revuelta cama me sente, Mudo, sombrio, la pupila inmovil Clavada en la pared.

?Que tiempo estuve asi-? No se: al dejarme La embriaguez horrible del dolor, Expiraba la luz, y en mis balcones Reia el sol.

Ni se tampoco en tan terribles horas En que pensaba o que paso por mi; Solo recuerdo que llore y maldije, Y que en aquella noche envejeci.[2]

[Footnote 1: This poem is composed of hendecasyllabic verses of both classes, with a heptasyllabic verse closing the first stanza, and a pentasyllable verse closing the second stanza. The even verses of each Stanza are agudos and assonanced.]

[Footnote 2: This poem may have been inspired by the following lines of Alfred de Musset, describing his experience in Venice. See p. 181, note 1.

Elle ne venait pas. Seul, la tete baissee, Je regardai longtemps les murs et le chemin,— Et je ne t'ai pas dit quelle ardeur insensee Cette inconstante femme allumait dans mon sein; Je n'aimais qu'elle au monde, et vivre un jour sans elle Me semblait un destin plus affreux que la mort. Je me souviens pourtant qu'en cette nuit cruelle Pour briser mon lien je fis un long effort. * * * * * * Le jour parut enfin. Las d'une vaine attente, Sur le bord du balcon je m'etais assoupi; Je rouvris la paupiere A l'aurore naissante, Et je laissai flotter mon regard ebloui.

La Nuit d'Octobre.]



XLIX[1]

Alguna vez la encuentro por el mundo Y pasa junto a mi: Y pasa sonriendose, y yo digo: ?Como puede reir?

Luego asomo a mi labio otra sonrisa, Mascara del dolor, Y entonces pienso:—iAcaso ella se rie Como me rio yo!

[Footnote 1: This poem is composed of hendecasyllabic verses of the first class, alternating with assonanced heptasyllabic versos agudos.]



LII[1]

Olas gigantes que os rompeis bramando En las playas desiertas y remotas, Envuelto entre la sabana de espumas, iLlevadme con vosotras!

Rafagas de huracan, que arrebatais Del alto bosque las marchitas hojas, Arrastrado en el ciego torbellino, iLlevadme con vosotras!

Nubes de tempestad, que[2] rompe el rayo Y en fuego ornais las desprendidas orlas, Arrebatado entre la niebla obscura, iLlevadme con vosotras!

Llevadme, por piedad, adonde el vertigo Con[3] la razon me arranque la memoria... iPor piedad!... iTengo miedo de quedarme Con mi dolor a solas!

[Footnote 1: This poem is composed of hendecasyllabic verses of both classes, with a heptasyllabic verse closing each stanza. Notice the esdrujuto terminating the 13th verse. All even verses have the same assonance.]

[Footnote 2: que rompe el rayo y ... ornais. Comparep. 10, note 1, and p. 29, note 3.]

[Footnote 3: Con = 'along with.']



LIII[1]

Volveran las obscuras golondrinas En tu balcon sus nidos a colgar, Y, otra vez, con el ala a sus cristales Jugando llamaran.

Pero aquellas que el vuelo refrenaban Tu hermosura y mi dicha a contemplar, Aquellas que aprendieron nuestros nombres... Esas... ino volveran!

Volveran las tupidas madreselvas De tu jardi-n las tapias a escalar, Y otra vez a la tarde, aun mas hermosas, Sus flores se abriran;

Pero aquellas, cuajadas de rocio, Cuyas gotas mirabamos temblar Y caer, como lagrimas del dia... Esas... ino volveran!

Volveran del amor en tus oidos Las palabras ardientes a sonar;[2] Tu corazon de su profundo sueno Tal vez despertara;

Pero mudo y absorto y de rodillas, Como se adora a Dios ante su altar, Como yo te he querido... desenganate, Asi no te querran![3]

[Footnote 1: This is the most beautiful and the best known of Becquer's poems, and has often been set to music. It is composed of hendecasyllabic verses, mostly of the first class, with a heptasyllabic verse closing each stanza. Notice the esdrujulo terminating the next to the last verse. The even verses are agudos and of the same assonance throughout, with the alternate ones rhyming.]

[Footnote 2: Volveran ... a sonar. Prose order—Las ardientes palabras del amor volveran a sonar en tus oidos.]

[Footnote 3: "With this passionate and melancholy poem, full in the Spanish of cadences which cling to the memory, the love-story proper seems to come to an end. The remaining poems are all so many cries of melancholy and despair, without, however, any special reference to the treacherous mistress of the earlier series." Mrs. Ward, A Spanish Romanticist, Macmillan's Magazine, February, 1883, p. 319.]



LXVI[1]

?De donde vengo?... El mas horrible y aspero De los senderos busca; Las huellas de unos pies ensangrentados Sobre la roca dura; Los despojos de un alma hecha jirones En las zarzas agudas; Te diran el camino Que conduce a mi cuna.[2]

?Adonde voy? El mas sombrio y triste De los paramos cruza; Valle de eternas nieves y de eternas Melancolicas brumas. En donde este una piedra solitaria Sin inscription alguna, Donde habite el olvido, Alli estara mi tumba?[3]

[Footnote 1: This poem is composed of hendecasyllabic verses, mostly of the first class, and of heptasyllabic verses. Notice the esdrujulo ending the 1st verse. The even verses have the same assonance throughout.]

[Footnote 2: "Read in the light of what we know of his long struggle, his frail physical health, his sensitive temper, his crushing double defeat at the hands of death, these somber verses have an individual, personal note, hardly present, perhaps, in the love-poems, with all their passionate beauty." Mrs. Ward, A Spanish Romanticist, Macmillan Magazine, February, 1883, p, 319.]

[Footnote 3: "He used to dream, he tells us, in his boyish visions, of a marble tomb by the Guadalquivir, of which his fellow-townsmen should probably say as they pointed it out to strangers, 'Here sleeps the poet!' In his later days, oppressed with drudgery and ill-health, as he looked towards the future he bitterly saw himself forgotten, and oblivion settling down on all his half-finished activities of heart and brain." (Mrs. Ward, ib, p. 320.) It was in such a mood that he wrote this the most painful of all his poems.]



LXVIII[1]

No se lo que he sonado En la noche pasada; Triste, muy triste debio ser el sueno, Pues despierto la angustia me duraba.

Note, al incorporarme, Humeda la almohada, Y por primera vez senti, al notarlo, De un amargo placer henchirse el alma.

Triste cosa es el sueno Que llanto nos arranca; Mas tengo en mi tristeza una alegria... iSe que aun me quedan lagrimas!

[Footnote 1: Each stanza of this poem is composed of two heptasyllabic verses followed (except in the case of the third stanza which ends in a heptasyllabic verse) by two hendecasyllabic verses. The even verses have the same assonance throughout. Notice the esdrujulo ending the poem.

The thought in the poem recalls that of Heine's Ich hab' im Traum geweinet. Becquer's verses are less musical, but the sentiment expressed by them is less artificial, and gives evidence of more real bitterness of heart.

I wept while I was dreaming That thou didst buried lie; I woke, and with my weeping My cheeks were not yet dry.

I wept while I was dreaming That thou hadst gone from me; I woke, and still kept weeping Full long and bitterly.

I wept while I was dreaming That thou didst love me well; I woke, and—woe is me, love— My tears are flowing still.

Lyrical Intermezzo, no. 59, translated by Chas. G. Leland.]



LXIX[1]



Al brillar un relampago[2] nacemos, Y aun dura su fulgor, cuando morimos: iTan corto es el vivir![3] La gloria y el amor tras que corremos, Sombras de un sueno son que perseguimos: iDespertar es morir!

[Footnote 1: Each stanza of this poem is composed of two hendecasyllabic verses of the first class, followed by a heptasyllabic verso agudo. The rhyme scheme of the poem is a, b, c, a, b, c.]

[Footnote 2: Al brillar un relampago = 'At a lightning's flash'; that is to say, at the first gleam from a flash of lightning.

[Footnote 3: Tan corto es el vivir. The brevity of human life is naturally enough a favorite theme with poets. Compare—

A Moment's Halt—a momentary taste Of BEING from the Well amid the Waste— And Lo!—the phantom Caravan has reached The NOTHING it set out from— Oh, make haste!

The Rubaiyat of Omay Khayyam, 48th quatrain, Edward Fitzgerald's translation.]



LXXIII[1]

Cerraron sus ojos Que aun tenia abiertos; Taparon su cara Con un blanco lienzo: Y unos sollozando, Otros en silencio, De la triste alcoba Todos se salieron.

La luz, que en un vaso, Ardia en el suelo, Al muro arrojaba La sombra del lecho; Y entre aquella sombra Veiase a intervales, Dibujarse rigida La forma del cuerpo.

Despertaba el dia, Y a su albor primero Con sus mil ruidos Despertaba el pueblo. Ante aquel contraste De vida y misterios, De luz y tinieblas, Medite un momento: "iDios mio, que solos se quedan los muertos!!"

De la casa en hombros Llevaronla al templo, Y en una capilla Dejaron el feretro. Alli rodearon Sus palidos restos De amarillas velas Y de panos negros.[2]

Al dar de las animas[3] El toque postrero, Acabo una vieja Sus ultimos rezos; Cruzo la ancha nave, Las puertas gimieron, Y el santo recinto Quedose desierto;

De un reloj se oia Compasado el pendulo, Y de algunos cirios El chisporroteo. Tan medroso y triste, Tan obscuro y yerto, Todo se encontraba... Que pense un momento: "iDios mio, que solos se quedan los muertos!!"

De la alta campana La lengua de hierro, Le dio, volteando, Su adios lastimero. El luto en las ropas, Amigos y deudos Cruzaron en fila, Formando el cortejo.

Del ultimo asilo, Obscure y estrecho, Abrio la piqueta El nicho a un extremo.[4] Alli la acostaron, Tapiaronle luego, Y con un saludo Despidiose el duelo.

La piqueta al hombro, El sepulturero Cantando entre dientes Se perdio a lo lejos. La noche se entraba, Reinaba el silencio; Perdido en las sombras, Medite un memento: "iDios mio, que solos se quedan los muertos?!"

En las largas noches Del helado invierno, Cuando las maderas Crujir hace el viento Y azota los vidrios El fuerte aguacero, De la pobre nina A solas me acuerdo.

Alli cae la lluvia Con un son eterno; Alli la combate El soplo del cierzo. Del humedo muro Tendida en el hueco, Acaso de frio Se hielan sus huesos!...

* * *

?Vuelve el polvo al polvo? ?Vuela el alma al cielo? ?Todo es vil materia, Podredumbre y cieno? iNo se;[5] pero hay algo Que explicar no puedo Que al par nos infunde Repugnancia y duelo, Al dejar tan tristes, Tan solos los muertos!

[Footnote 1: This poem is composed of hexasyllabic verses. Notice the esdrujulos terminating lines 14, 15, 30, 35, and 44. The even verses have the same assonance throughout.]

[Footnote 2: De la casa ... panes negros. "The following are the chief points in the funeral rite as prescribed in the Roman Ritual. The corpse is borne in procession with lights to the church. The parish priest assists in surplice and black stole; the clerks carry the holy water and cross; the coffin is first sprinkled with holy water and the psalm De Profundis recited; then the corpse is carried to the church while the Miserere is said.... Candles are lighted round the coffin, and the office and Mass of the dead, followed by absolution, accompanied by aspersion and incensation over the corpse, are said. Then another procession, and the corpse is carried to the tomb." Addis and Arnold, Catholic Dict., p. 361.

[Footnote 3: las animas. The ringing of bells to remind the faithful to pray for the souls of the dead.]

[Footnote 4: El nicho a un extremo. To understand this passage one must bear in mind that in Spanish graveyards corpses are generally interred in niches superimposed one above the other in high walls, like the pigeon-holes of a cabinet, and that these niches are sealed with stone tablets bearing the names etc. of the deceased.]

[Footnote 5: No se. See p. 166, note 1.]



LXXV[1]



?Sera verdad que cuando toca el sueno Con sus dedos de rosa nuestros ojos De la carcel que habita huye el espiritu En vuelo presuroso?[2]

?Sera verdad que, huesped de las nieblas, De la brisa nocturna al tenue soplo,[3] Alado sube a la region vacia[4] A encontrarse con otros?

?Y alli, desnudo de la humana forma, Alli, los lazos terrenales rotos, Breves horas habita de la idea El mundo silencioso?

?Y rie y llora y aborrece y ama, Y guarda un rastro del dolor y el gozo, Semejante al que deja cuando cruza El cielo un meteoro?

iYo no se si ese mundo de visiones Vive fuera, o va dentro de nosotros;[5] Pero se que conozco a muchas gentes A quienes no conozco![6]

[Footnote 1: Each Stanza of this poem is composed of three hendecasyllabic verses followed by a heptasyllabic. Notice the esdrujulo ending the 3d verse and the hiatus in the 5th verse. The even verses are of the same assonance throughout.

[Footnote 2: cuando toca ... presaroso. Cicero says, in De Divinatione, I. 30. 63: Jacet enim corpus dormientis ui mortui; viget autem et vivil animus, The body of the sleeper lies as though dead; but his mind lives and flourishes.

[Footnote 3: Delabrisa ... soplo. Prose order—Al tenue soplo de la brisa nocturna.]

[Footnote 4: sube a la region vacia = 'rises into space.']

[Footnote 5: Vive fuera, o va dentro de nosotros = 'is an independent fact, or the product of our imagination.']

[Footnote 6: conozco ... no conozco = 'I am acquainted with many people (because I have met them in thought or in dreams) whom I do not know (have never met in the flesh, nor heard of).' Having met other souls while wandering in dreams (line 8) or in some way equally difficult of rational explanation, I have a circle of acquaintances that transcends the list of those of whom I have knowledge in any recognized way. The thought is thus identical with that of Kipling's story "The Brushwood Boy."]



VOCABULARY

a, to, at, on, by, with, from, in, within, according to; sign of the object after transitive verbs before a personal object, and often before any animate object; — impulsos de, moved by, overcome by; — lo largo de, along; — mas de, besides; — mas y mejor, the best they could; the most possible; vying with one another; a — la media hora, within half an hour; — medias, half; — medio abrir, half open; al parecer, seemingly; — poco, in a little while; — poco de, shortly after; —los pocos minutos, within a few minutes; estar al ponerse, to be about to set; — proposito, suited, suitable, desirable; by the way; apropos; — lo que, as far as; from what; as; ?— que? why? wherefore? al reves, backwards; — no saber, had I not known; — no ser, unless it be; — no ser por, were it not for; — solas, alone; — tientas, groping; stealthily; — traves de, across, through; — vida, alive; al vuelo, flying; on the wing.

abad, m., abbot.

abadesa, f., abbess.

abajo, under, below; de arriba —, from top to bottom, from end to end.

abalanzarse, to rush upon.

abandonar, to abandon, desert, leave, let go, give up.

abandono, m., abandonment, abandon.

abanico, m., fan.

abarcar, to embrace, take in.

abatido, -a, adj. pp. of abatir, blown down, dimmed, dim.

abatir, to lower, take off, strike down; — el vuelo, to alight.

abeja, f., bee.

abierto, -a, adj. pp. of abrir, opened, open.

abigarrado, -a, adj. pp. of abigarrar, flecked, variegated, motley.

abismo, m., abyss, deep, depth.

abofetear, to buffet, slap, strike.

abogado, m., intercessor.

aborrecer, to abhor, hate.

abortar, to eject, abort, give untimely birth to.

abrasador, burning, ardent.

abrasar, to burn.

abrazar, to embrace.

abrazo, m., embrace.

abrevar, to water.

abrigo, m., shelter, protection.

abril, m., April.

abrillantar, to light up, make sparkle, cause to shine.

abrir, to open, open up; — paso, to clear the way, make room;

a medio —, half open; subst., opening; en un — y cerrar de ojos, in the twinkling of an eye; in an instant; refl., to open (up), be disclosed; to burst, swell.

absoulucion, f., absolution.

absolutamente, absolutely.

absorto, -a, adj. pp. (irr.) of absorber, absorbed, amazed; engrossed, spellbound.

abstraccion, f., abstraction, separation.

absurdo, -a, absurd; subst. m., absurdity, nonsense.

abuela, f., grandmother.

abuelo, m., grandfather.

abultar, to enlarge, increase.

abundancia, f., abundance.

abundante, abundant, luxuriant profuse.

aburrido, adj. pp. of aburrir, tired, impatient.

aburrirse, to be bored, be perplexed grow impatient.

abusar, to impose (de, upon).

aca, here; de — ... de aculla, here ... there; de — para alla, from point to point; hither and thither por —, in this direction.

acabar, to finish, end, close, succeed in; — de, to have just; lo que acababa de suceder, what had just happened; lo que acabamos de escuchar, what we have just listened to; iAcabaramos de una vez! well and good! quien (en) mal anda, (en) mal acaba, a bad beginning makes a bad ending.

acaecer, to happen, befall.

acalorado, -a, adj. pp. of acalorar, heated, hot.

acariciar, to caress, fondle, delight.

acaso, m., chance; por —, perchance; adv., perhaps, perchance.

accidentado, -a, broken, rugged.

accidente, m., accident, property, peculiarity, roughness, irregularity.

accion, f., act, action.

acecho, m., ambush.

aceite, m., oil.

acento, m., tone, accent, voice, word, expression; decia aun su —, his accents kept repeating.

acerca: — de, about.

acercar, to approach, bring near; refl., to approach.

acero, m., steel; sword.

acertado, -a, adj. pp. of acertar, ascertained, accurate.

acertar, to succeed, be able; -con, to hit upon, find, be certain of.

acicate, m., spur, rowel.

aclimacion, f., acclamation.

aclamar, to acclaim.

acoger, to receive; refl., to resort, take refuge.

acometedor, m., undertaker, one who undertakes.

acometer, to attack, seize.

acomodar, to accommodate, lodge, quarter, furnish with lodging.

acompanamiento, m., accompaniment.

acompaiiante, m., companion.

acompanar, to accompany.

acompasado, -a, adj. pp. of acompasar measured, regular.

aconsejar, to counsel, advise.

acontecer, to happen.

acordarse, to recollect, remember; — de, to remember.

acorde, m., accord, harmony.

acortarse, to slacken, abate, diminish.

acosar, to molest, harass.

acostar, to lay, place; refl., to lie down, go to bed.

acostumbrar, to accustom; to be accustomed.

actitud, f., attitude, posture; colocarse en — de defensa, to fall on guard.

acto, m., act, occasion, incident; — continuo, straightway, immediately, immediately afterward.

actor, m., actor.

actual, present.

acuatico, -a, aquatic.

acudir, to go, come, repair to, run up, hasten, gather, flock, rush.

acuerdo, m., agreement; ponerse de —, to come to an agreement; to agree.

aculla, there; ... de aca ... de —, ... here ... there.

acurrucarse, to conceal oneself; to crouch down.

acusar, to accuse; — de, to accuse as (or of) being.

adarme, m., half a drachm (or dram); minute quantity; mite; dos —s de imaginacion, the least bit of imagination.

adelantar, to advance, proceed; refl., to advance, proceed, approach, go, hasten.

adelante, forward, further; desde alli en —, from that time on; hacia —; forward; mas —, further on, later; i—! forward!

ademan, m., attitude, gesture, manner, action, motion.

adentro, within.

aderezar, to get ready, prepare, clean.

adios, m., farewell; i—! good-by!

adivinar, to divine, guess, observe, note.

administrar, to administer.

admirable, admirable.

admiracion, f., admiration, wonder.

admirar, to admire, esteem; refl., to be seized with admiration; to marvel.

admitir, to admit, receive.

adolescencia, f., adolescence.

adonde (and adonde), int. (and rel.) adv. and conj., whither, where; — quiera, wheresoever, wheresoe'er.

adoracion, f., worship, adoration, devotion; pl., same meanings.

adorador, m., adorer.

adormido, -a, adj. pp. of adormir, drowsy, heavy with sleep.

adornar, to adorn.

adosado, -a, adj. pp. of adosar, placed (resting, standing, or leaning) against.

adulador, fawning.

advertencia, f., advice, information.

advertir, to notice, advise, inform, warn; pues es de —, and you must remember (know or bear in mind).

aereo, -a, aerial, of (or pertaining to) the air.

afable, courteous, gracious.

afan, m., eagerness, eager desire.

afectado, -a, adj. pp. of afectar, feigned, affected.

afectar, to affect.

afilado, -a, adj. pp. of afilar, sharpened, sharp.

afilar, to grind, whet, sharpen.

afirmar, to affirm, assert.

afligido, -a, adj. pp. of afligir, afflicted, wretched, miserable.

afligir, to afflict, make wretched (or miserable).

afortunadamente, fortunately.

agarrarse, to grasp, clasp, seize, hold tightly.

agasaparse, to conceal oneself.

agil, agile, fleet.

agilidad, f., agility, celerity.

agitacion, f., excitement, agitation.

agitar, to agitate, move, shake; refl., to move restlessly, be agitated; to wave, flutter.

agolparse, to crowd, rush.

agonia, f., agony, act of expiring.

agotar, to exhaust.

agradable, agreeable, pleasant.

agrupar, to group, collect; refl. to come together; to assemble, collect.

agua, f., water; — bendita, holy water.

aguacero, m., shower, torrent of rain.

aguardar, to expect, await, wait for; hacerse —, to delay in appearing.

agudo, -a, sharp, acute, biting, piercing.

aguijonear, to thrust, impel, drive (or spur) on.

aguja, f., needle, spire.

agujero, m., hole.

iah! ah! oh!

ahi, here, there; por —, hereabouts.

ahogar, to suffocate, smother, drown; to be repressed (or confined).

ahora, now; desde —, from now on.

ahorcar, to hang.

aire, m, air, look, appearance, manner, tune, melody.

airoso, -a, airy, graceful; mas airosa, with better grace; adv., gracefully.

aislado, -a, adj. pp. of aislar, isolated.

ajimez, m., ajimez, pointed (or arched) double window divided in the middle by a column.

ajorca, f. bracelet.

al = a + el; — salir, as I was going out.

ala, f., wing, pinion.

alabastro, m., alabaster.

alado, -a, winged, soaring.

alali, m., alali, a hunting cry.

alameda, f., grove of poplar-trees.

alamo, m. poplar, white poplar.

alargar, to extend, raise.

alarido, m., outcry, shout, howl, yell.

alarma, m. or f., alarm; poner en —, to alarm.

alazan, m., sorrel horse.

alba, f.: dawn.

albedrio, m., free will; con libre —, of (her) own free will.

albergarse, to take up lodgings.

albino, m., albino.

albor, m., (poet.) dawn.

alborotar, to disturb; refl., to be disturbed, be turbulent.

alboroto, m., disturbance, noise.

alborozado, -a, adj. pp. of alborozar, exhilarated, rejoicing, gleeful, joyous.

alborozo, m., joy, rejoicing, rapture.

alcaide, m., jailer, warden, governor (of a castle).

alcance, m., reach, range.

alcanzar, to succeed, be able; to overtake, reach, attain, come to; to comprehend; a la (gente) que sele alcanza, those (persons) who are good judges of.

alcazar, m., castle.

aldaba, f., bar, cross-bar, knocker.

aldea, f., village, hamlet.

aldeano, m., peasant, villager.

alegar, to allege, adduce.

alegrarse, to rejoice, exult, be glad.

alegre, pleasant, joyful, bright, joyous, merry.

alegremente, joyfully, merrily.

alegria, f., joy, gladness.

alejar, to remove, take away; refl., to go away, disappear.

alerce, m., larch, genus of coniferous trees.

alfombra, f., carpet, rug.

Alfonso, m., Alphonso.

alga, f., seaweed, alga.

algarabia, f., jargon, babble, clatter, hubbub.

algazara, f., rejoicing, shout(s), shouting.

algo, something, anything, some what; — es —, something is better than nothing; that is something.

algodon, m., cotton.

alguacil, m., constable, alguazil.

algun. See alguno.

alguno, -a, some, any; — que otro, here and there one; a very few; some.

aliaga, f., furze, a thorny evergreen shrub with beautiful yellow flowers.

aliento, m., breath.

aligerar, to lighten, ease.

alimana, f., (obs.) animal.

aliviar, to alleviate, mitigate, relieve.

alma, f., soul, spirit.

almena, f., turret.

almohada, f., pillow.

alojamiento, m., lodging, quarters.

alojarse, to lodge, find lodgings (or quarters).

alondra, f., lark.

Alonso, m., Alonzo, Alphonso.

alqueria, f., farmhouse.

alrededor, around; — de, about, round; a su —, around him; subst. m. pl., environs, neighborhood.

altanero, -a, haughty, proud.

altar, m., altar; — mayor, high altar, chief altar.

alterarse, to be disturbed.

alternado, -a, adj. pp. of alternar, alternating, intermittent, recurrent.

alteza, f., highness.

altisimo, -a, abs. super. of alto, very high, lofty.

altivo, -a, haughty.

alto, -a, tall, high, deep, lofty; important, late, loud; en la alta noche, in the dead of night; late at night; subst. m., height, summit, top.

alto, m., halt; mandar hacer —, to give orders to halt; i—! halt!

altura, f., height, summit.

alucinacion, f., hallucination.

alumbrar, to give light to; to enable to see; to light up.

alzar, to raise, lift up; refl., to rise, heave.

alla, there; mas —, farther; beyond; on past; — al filo de la media noche, just about midnight; — por ..., back there in...; port —, in that direction, thither, there; de aca para —, from point to point; hither and thither.

allegados, m. pl., friends, allies.

allegar, to collect, get together.

alli, there; desde en adelante, from that time on; ya —, (when they had) arrived there.

amado, -a, adj. pp. of amar, beloved, loved.

amaestrar, to break in; to train, teach

amalgama, f., amalgamation, mixture

amanecer, to dawn; all —, at dawn; at break of day; hasta el —, till break of day; until dawn; nos amanecia llorando, doawn found us weeping.

amante, subst. m. or f., lover, beloved, loved one.

amar, to love.

amargo, -a, bitter, painful.

amarillo, -a, yallow

ambicion, f., ambition.

ambito, m. confines, inclosure, body, compass.

ambos, -as, both.

amenaza, f., threat, menace.

amenazador, menacing, threatening.

amenazar, to threaten.

amigablemente, amicably, pleasantly.

amigo, m., friend.

amigote, m. great friend, intimate friend.

amistad, f., friendship.

amonestacion, f., advice, admonition, warning.

amontonar, to pile up, heap up, crowd together.

amor, m., love; sweetheart; — propio, self-love, conceit, vanity.

amoroso, -a, amorous, loving, dear.

amortiguar, to temper, soften.

amparar, to protect, aid, assist, help.

amparo, m., succor, protection, refuge.

amplio, -a, full.

analizar, to analyze.

anciano, -a, old, aged, ancient; subst. m. or f., old man, old woman; m. pl., old people, elders.

ancho, -a, large, broad.

anchuroso, -a, spacious.

andar, to go, walk, act, be; a mas —, at full speed; como se las entrase a mas — el dia, as the day went on; as the day passed (for them); — penando, to suffer torment; — por, to go about, be current in; — mas de sobra, to be more in excess; a los talones, to follow closely; de algun tiempo a esta parte anda, (who) for some time now has been; quien (en) mal anda, (en) mal acaba, a bad beginning makes a bad ending.

andas, f. pl., bier (with shafts), stretcher, litter.

andurriales, m. pl., by-roads, retired spots, out-of-the-way places.

anegarse, to be inundated (or submerged).

anfiteatro, m., amphitheater.

anfitrion, m., amphitr-yon, host.

angel, m., angel.

angosto, -a, narrow, close.

angulo, m., angle, corner.

anguloso, -a, angular.

angustia, f., anguish.

angustioso, -a, full of anguish, heartrending, desperate, terrible, agonizing.

anilla, f., ring.

anillo, m., ring, coil.

anima,f., soul; en Dios y en mi —, in very truth; God knows (that it is true).

animacion, f., animation.

animado, -a, adj. pp. of animar, animated, enlivened, heated, moved, encouraged, heightened.

animadversion, f., censure, reproof, hostility.

animal, m., animal.

animar, to animate, encourage, urge on.

animo, m., mind, thought, intention, spirit; recobrar el —, to recover one's senses; to come to oneself.

anoche, last night.

ansia, f., anxiety, agony; eager desire, love, longing.

ansiedad, f., anxiety; con —, anxiously.

ansioso, -a, anxious, eager, desirous.

ante, before, in the presence of.

antemano: de —, beforehand, previously.

antepasados, m. pl., ancestors.

antepecho, m., breastwork, balcony, balustrade.

anterior, former; la noche —, the night before.

anteriormente, previously, before.

antes, formerly, before, first, rather, once; — de, before; — de tiempo, prematurely; before it was ripe; — que, before; rather than, sooner than; far from; las — losas sepulcrales, the once sepulchral slabs.

antiguo, -a, old, ancient, former.

antojarse, to have a fancy (or desire) (used only in the 3rd person sing., with me, te, le, etc.); antojabaseme, it seemed to me; I fancied.

antojo, m., whim, fancy, caprice.

anublar, to cloud, darken.

anudarse, to become choked; to die away.

anunciar, to announce, foretell.

anuncio, m., announcement.

anadidura, f.; addition; por —, besides, in addition.

anadir, to add.

ano, m., year; el — que viene, next year; alla por los —s de mil trescientos y pico, back there in the year thirteen hundred and something.

anoso, -a, old, ancient.

apacible, placid, quiet, pleasant, peaceful, serene.

apaciguarse, to be (or become) calm; to be appeased.

apagar, to put out, extinguish, quench; refl., to go out, die out, be extinguished; to become calm (or silent).

apalear, to beat, cudgel.

aparecer, to appear.

aparicion, f., appearance, apparition.

apariencia, f., appearance.

apartar, to take away, remove, put aside, separate; — la vista, to look away; refl., to depart, swerve.

aparte de, aside from.

apasionado, -a, adj. pp. of apasionar, passionate.

apearse, to alight, dismount.

apedrear, to stone.

apelar, to appeal.

apellidar, to call.

apenas, hardly, barely; — si, hardly, barely; — si pudiera, I could scarcely.

apercibir, to prepare, get ready; to warn.

apilar, to pile (or heap) up.

apinado, -a, adj. pp. of apinar, pyramidal, heaped up, crowded, closely pressed, dense; —os grupos, dense crowds, closely packed groups; -as matas, tangled (or dense) shrubbery (or under-brush); -as olas, tossing waves.

apinar, to heap up, press (or crowd) together; to mass; refl., to a crowd.

aplastar, to flatten, crush, weigh down, smash, destroy.

aplauso, m., applause; pl., applause.

aplicar, to apply.

aplomo, m., assurance, self-possession.

apoderarse, to take possession (de, of).

aposentador, m., quartermaster; sargento —, quartermaster-sergeant.

apostarse, to post oneself, take up a position.

apoyado, -a, adj. pp. of apoyar, supported, leaning.

apoyarse, to rest, be supported, support oneself, bear upon, lean (en, on, upon).

apreciar, to value, appreciate.

aprecio, m., esteem, regard.

aprehender, to take; to capture.

aprender, to learn; — de memoria, to memorize, learn by heart.

aprension, f., apprehension, imagination, groundless fear (de, on the part of).

aprestarse, to make preparations.

apresurar, to hasten, quicken; refl., to hasten, make haste.

apresurado, adj. pp. of apresurar, quickened, hasty, rapid, in haste, convulsive; adv., convulsively.

apretado, -a, adj. pp. of apretar, crowded, dense, difficult.

aprisionar, to confine, imprison.

aprobar, to approve, show one's pleasure.

aproposito de, about, with regard to.

aprovechar, to take advantage of, profit by, avail oneself of, seize..

aproximacion, f., approach, proximity.

aproximarse, to approach, draw near; ir aproximando, to approach.

apurar, to exhaust, clean up, drain; to try, test.

apuro, m., difficulty, straits.

aquel, —la, —lo, that.

aquel, —la, —lo, the one, that one, the former.

aqui, here; pasar de —, to go (any) further (or farther); por —, here, hereabouts, hither; he —, here is (or are); behold.

ara, f., altar.

arabe. Arabic, Moorish.

aragones, Aragonese, of (or pertaining to) Aragon.

arana, f., spider.

arbol, m., tree.

arbusto, m., shrub, bush.

arca, f., chest, coffer.

arcada, f., arcade, arch.

arcangel, m., archangel.

arco, m., arch, archway, entrance

arch, niche, recess; —iris, rainbow.

arder, to burn, blaze, glow.

ardid, m., cunning, trick.

ardiente, ardent, fiery, burning, glowing.

ardor, m., ardor, fire, heat.

ardoroso, -a, burning, glowing.

arena, f., sand.

arista, f., straw; fiber (of plants).

arma, f., arm, weapon; el haz de —s, panoply; hacer sus (primeras) —s, to learn fencing.

armada, f., fleet, armada.

armadura, f., annor

armar, to arm.

armario, m., wardrobe, cabinet; no tener su alma en su —, not to have one's soul in the right place; to have one's soul in an abnormal condition.

armonia, f., harmony.

armonico, -a, harmonious, without discord; melodious, with sweet sounds.

armonioso, -a, harmonious, regular, beautiful.

aroma, m., aroma, odor, perfume.

arpa, f., harp, lyre.

arpon, m., harpoon, javelin, shaft.

arqueologo, m., archaeologist.

arquero, m., archer, bowman.

arrancar, to pull off, snatch away, pull out, tear, wrest, draw, obtain, deprive of; to produce; to awaken suddenly.

arrancharse, to camp; to mess.

arranque, m., passion, burst of passion.

arrastrar, to trail, drag along the ground, draw on, attract, bring up, take, carry, drag, touch, draw away; refl., to drag oneself; to creep, crawl, drag along the ground, trail; to be convinced, be induced.

arrebatar, to carry off, snatch away.

arrebato, m., transport.

arrebolar, to redden.

arrebujarse, to wrap oneself up.

arreglar, to regulate.

arremolinar, to whirl; to heap (or pile) up.

arrepentido, -a, adj. pp. of arrepentirse, repented, repentant.

arrepentirse, to repent.

arriba, above, over, up; de — abajo, from top to bottom; from end to end.

arriesgarse, to venture, risk oneself (por, through, in).

arrodillado, -a, adj. pp. of arrodillarse, kneeling, on one's knees.

arrodillarse, to kneel.

arrogante, handsome, commanding.

arrojar, to throw, cast, fling, hurl forth; to shed, pour, emit, utter; refl., to cast oneself; to fall.

arrostrar, to brave, face, encounter.

arroyo, m., rivulet, small stream.

arruinar, to ruin.

arte, m. or f., art, artifice, trick.

articular, to speak, utter.

artista, m., artist.

artistico, -a, artistic.

arzobispo, m., archbishop.

asalto, m., assault, storm.

asaz, (poet.) quite, enough.

ascenso, m., ascent.

asco, m., nausea, loathing.

ascua, f., coal, glowing coal.

asegurar, to assert, assure, secure.

asemejar, to resemble; refl., to resemble.

asenderear, to persecute.

asentarse, to be seated; to sit down; to be situated.

asentimiento, m., assent.

asesinar, to assassinate.

asesinato, m., assassination, murder.

asi, thus, so.

asiduidad, f., assiduity, assiduous attention, zeal.

asiento, m., seat, chair.

asilo, m., asylum, sanctuary, shelter, refuge.

asir, to seize, grasp, lay hold of.

asistente, m., chief justice (of Seville); servant, orderly.

asistir, to be present; to assist; to witness.

asomado, -a, adj. pp. of asomar, appearing, looking out.

asomar, to appear, be visible, loom up, look up, put out, show; en hablando del ruin de Roma, catale aqui que asoma, speak of the devil and he will appear.

asombrado, -a, adj. pp. of asombrar, wondering, astonished, frightened, terrified, anxious.

asombro, m., astonishment, surprise.

asombroso, -a, astonishing, marvelous.

aspecto, m., sight, appearance, aspect.

aspero, -a, rough, harsh, unkempt, rugged.

aspid, m., aspic, asp.

aspirar, to breathe in.

asqueroso, -a, loathsome, noisome.

asta, f., shaft, staff, trunk, body.

astilla, f., chip, splinter.

astro, m., star.

astuto, -a, cunning, crafty, sly.

asunto, m., circumstance, matter.

affair, event, incident, subject.

asustar, to frighten.

atabal, m., drum, kettledrum.

atajar, to stop.

atar, to bind, tie; — bien corto, to tie very short; to hold in strict subjection; — de pies y manos, to bind hand and foot.

ateismo, m., atheism, unbelief.

atencion, f., attention.

atender, to pay attention to; to expect.

atento, -a, attentive, heedful.

aterrador, terrifying, frightful.

aterrar, to frighten, terrify.

atillo, m., bundle.

atmosfera, f., atmosphere.

atolondrado, -a, adj. pp. of atolondrar, perplexed, confused; giddy, wild, heedless.

atomo, m., atom, particle.

atonito, -a, astonished, amazed.

atractivo, m., charm, attraction.

atraer, to draw, attract, bring down.

atras; back, backwards; — de, behind.

atravesar, to cross, traverse.

atreverse, to dare, venture, have the courage.

atrevido, -a, adj. pp. of atreverse, daring, bold, rash, audacious.

atrevimiento, m., boldness, rashness.

atribulado, -a, adj. pp. of atribular, afflicted, vexed, suffering.

atrio, m., portico, church porch.

atronador, deafening, thundering, thunderous.

atropellarse, to hurry, rush.

aturdido, -a, adj. pp. of aturdir, perturbed, confused, bewildered, stupefied, astonished, agitated.

aturdir, to disturb, confuse, bewilder.

auditorio, m., audience.

aullar, to howl.

aun (or aun), even, still, yet; no ... ni —, not even; — cuando, although; — que, although.

aunque, although.

aura, f., gentle breeze, zephyr.

aurora, f. dawn.

ausencia, f., absence.

ausente, absent.

auto, m., judicial decree or sentence; warrant, edict; — de fe, public punishment by the Inquisition, often a public burning; (hence) a great fire, a bonfire, a fire.

autor, m., author.

autoridad, f., authority.

autorizar, to authorize

avanzado, -a, adj. pp. of avanzar, advanced, late.

avanzar, to advance, progress.

avaro, -a, miserly, avaricious

ave, f., bird.

avenida, f., approach, avenue.

aventura, f., adventure, event, incident.

aventurarse, to venture.

aventurero, m., adventurer, knight errant.

averiguar, to inquire, find out, investigate.

avidez, f., avidity; con —, eagerly.

avisado, -a, adj. pp. of avisar, advised, informed.

aviso, m., warning.

iay! alas! ayes, subst. m. pl., lamentations.

ayer yesterday.

ayuda, f., aid, help, means.

ayudar, to aid, help.

ayuntamiento, m., municipal government, town (or city) hall.

azar, m., hazard; al —, at hazard; at random.

azaroso, -a, hazardous, adventurous, venturesome.

azotar, to whip, lash, beat against, strike, cut.

azucena, f., lily, white lily.

azul, blue; — turqui, dark blue; subst. m., blue, indigo.

azulado, -a, adj. pp. of azular, azured, bluish, indigo, blue.

azuzar, to set on, let loose, urge on.

B

bagaje, m., baggage; pl., baggage (of an army).

ibah! bah!, nonsense!

bajar, to descend, lower, sink down, let fall, cast down, come down.

bajel, m., ship.

bajo, -a, low; adv., underneath, under, beneath.

balanceado. -a, adj. pp. of balancear, balanced, swayed, swaying.

balancearse, to sway, totter, reel.

balbucear, to stammer.

balcon, m., balcony, casement window, balcony casement window.

balde: en —, in vain, vainly.

balsa, f., pool, lake.

Baltasara, f., (Span.) Raltasara.

ballesta, f.;, crossbow.

ballestero, m., archer, crossbowman.

banda, f., band, gang, flock.

bandada,f,, flock, crowd, band, swarm.

bandido, m., bandit.

bando, m., flock, flight.

bandolera, f., bandoleer, hunting-belt (slung across the shoulder).

banquillo, m., stool, bench.

banar, to bathe, wash.

baquico, -a, bacchanal, bacchanalian.

barajarse, to writhe.

barandal, m., balustrade, railing.

barba, f., beard; pl., beard; y se le rieron en sus —s; and they laughed in his face.

baron, m., baron, lord.

barra, f., bar.

barranco, m., gorge, precipice.

barrio, m., ward, quarter.

base, f., base, basis.

basta, enough, halt, stop.

bastante, sufficient, enough, sufficiently, rather, considerable; lo —, sufficiently, enough.

bastar, to be sufficient; baste, let that suffice; enough.

batallar, to disagree, battle, be at odds.

batir, to beat, strike, clap; — el cobre de firme, to be most diligent; — las palmas, to clap the hands; subst., beating; refl. to fight a duel.

beata, f., pious woman; lay sister.

bebedor, m., tippler, toper.

beber, to drink.

belleza, f., beauty.

bellisimo, -a, abs. supper. of bello, very (or most) beautiful.

bello, -a, beautiful, handsome.

bendecir, to consecrate, bless.

bendicion, f., benediction, blessing; que era una — del cielo, in a surprising way.

bendito, -a, adj. pp. (irr.) of bendecir, blessed, holy, consecrated.

benevolo, -a, benevolent, gracious.

besar, to kiss; to touch; llegar y — el santo, to succeed in a brief space of time; to find good fortune quickly.

beso; m., kiss.

biblioteca, f., library.

bien, m., good deed (or act), good, benefit; un — de caridad, a good turn, a benevolent favor; pl., property; adv., well, very; si —, although, even if; mas —, rather; pues —, well, well then, well now; o —, or, or else; — ... o, whether ... or; either, or; porque ... o por ser, whether because ... or because it was; — que ... — que, whether ... or; either because ... or because.

bigote, m., mustache.

birrete, m., cap, barret.

bisojo, -a, cross-eyed.

bizarro, -a, gallant, brave, highspirited, generous.

blanco, -a, white.

blancura, f., whiteness, whiteness of complexion.

blancusco, -a, whitish, gray.

blandamente, softly.

blandir, to brandish.

blando, -a, soft.

blanquear, to whiten, shine white; to bleach.

blasfemar, to blaspheme, curse.

blasfemia, f., blasphemy.

blason, m., blazon.

bobo, m., dunce, fool.

boca, f., mouth; de —, on (his) face; de manos a —, all of a sudden; unexpectedly; punto en —, silence, hush.

boca-calle, f., entrance (end or opening) to a street.

bocado, m., morsel, bite.

boceto, m., sketch, outline.

bocina, f., trumpet, horn, bugle.

bofetada, f., buffet, blow.

bofeton, m., slap, blow.

bondad, f., kindness, goodness.

bondadoso, -a, benevolent, kind.

bonito, -a, pretty, charming, good, fine.

borceguf, m., buskin.

bordar, to border, embroider.

borde, m., edge, border, brink, bank.

bordon, m., staff.

borracho, -a, drunk, intoxicated.

borrar, to efface, erase; refl., to be effaced (or blotted out).

borrascoso, -a, stormy, angry.

bosque, m., grove, forest, wood.

bosquecillo, m., coppice.

bosquejar, to sketch, paint.

bote, m., bound; boat; canister; box, toilet box, estar de — en —, to be cram full; to be completely filled.

botella, f., bottle.

Botero. See caldera.

botin, m., booty.

boton, m., button, bud.

boveda, f., arch, vault.

bramar, to roar.

bramido, m., bellow, bellowing, belling; calling; clamor, noise, blast.

ibravo! bravo!

brazo, m., arm.

brecha, f., breach.

brena, f., bramble, brambles, thicket.

breve, short, brief; en-s palabras, in a few words.

brevisimo, -a, abs. sapper, of breve, very (or most) brief.

brial, m., skirt, rich silken skirt.

brida, f., bridle.

brigada, f., brigade; general de —, brigadier-general.

brillante, brilliant, bright, radiant, clear.

brillar, to shine, gleam.

brillo, m., gleam, glitter, light, brilliancy, brightness.

brinco, m., leap, bound; dar un —, to leap, bound, jump.

brindar, to offer; to toast, drink a toast.

brindis, m., toast.

brisa, f., breeze.

brocade, m., brocade.

broma, f., rubbish; jest, joke; echar a —, to take (or consider) as a joke (or jest).

bromear, to jest, joke, banter.

bronce, m., bronze.

broquel, m., shield, buckler.

brotar, to bud; to gush, issue, flow, burst forth, gush out.

bruja, f., witch.

brujeria, f., witchcraft.

bruma, f., mist, fog.

brunido, -a, adj. pp. of brunir, burnished, polished.

bruto, m., brute, beast; clownish (or ignorant) fellow.

buen. See bueuo.

bueno, -a, good, kind, well, fine; una buena, a good one; a warm reception; Noche Buena, Christmas eve; mass of Christmas eve; —s evaugelios, some holy sayings; some of the holy Scriptures; de buen tono, fashionable; subst. m., good man, Christian.

buffet, m., (French) buffet, refreshment table.

bufido, m)., snort.

bufon, m., buffoon.

buho, m., owl.

bulto, m., bust, figure, form.

bulla, f., noise.

bullicio, m., bustle, noise, excitement.

bullicioso, -a, lively, restless, noisy, boisterous.

burla, f., joke, jest, jesting, scoffing, trick; hacer —, to play a joke (or trick).

burlado, -a, adj. pp. of burlar, cheated, deceived, mocked, made sport of, destroyed.

burlarse, to jest, mock, laugh at, make sport of.

burlon, jesting, joking, scoffing, mocking.

busca, f., search; echar en —, to go (or set off) in search; vamos en su —, let us look for her, let us go to her.

buscar, to seek, look for.

busilis, m., mystery.

C

cabal, just, exact, quite.

cabalgadura, f., beast (of burden), steed, mount.

cabalgar, to ride; to parade on horseback.

cabalgata, f., cavalcade.

caballeria, f., horse, mount, saddlehorse, chivalry; pl., chivalrous deeds.

caballero, m., knight, gentleman, lord, sir.

cabecear, to nod; to shake (or toss) the head.

cabecera, f., head, head-piece, top (of the cross).

cabellera, f., hair.

cabello, m., hair; pl., hair.

caber, to be contained; to find room; to be; no cabia duda, there was no doubt.

cabeza, f., head, head of hair.

cabezo, m., summit, peak.

cabo, m., end; al —, finally; llevar a —, to carry out; to execute; to terminate successfully.

caceria, f., hunting expedition, hunting party.

cada, each, every; — uno, each one; — vez, each time; ever, continually.

cadaver, m., corpse, cadaver.

cadena, f., chain.

cadencia, f., measure, beat, strain, cadence, cadenza.

caer, to fall; to strike (against something in falling); — a pedazos, to fall to pieces.

caida, f., fall.

calabozo, m., dungeon, cell.

calado, -a, of openwork; of fretwork; pp. of calar, (of the hat) pulled down, pressed down (over the eyes).

calamidad, f., calamity.

calar, to pull down, press down.

Calavera, f., skull; el Cristo de la —, Christ of the skull, the crucifix with a skull (carved) at the feet of Christ.

calcareo, -a, calcareous.

calcinar, to burn, reduce to ashes.

calculo, m., estimate, calculation, expectation, computation.

caldera, f., caldron, kettle; en las —s de Pero Botero, (coll.) in the devil's boiler; in hell.

calentar, to warm.

calibre, m., caliber, sort, kind.

calidad, f., quality.

caliente, hot, fiery.

calificarse, to qualify, be designated (or described).

caliginoso, -a, dim, dark, obscure, murky, dense.

caliz, m., calyx.

calma, f., calm, composure, calmness, tranquillity, silence; con —, calmly, with composure.

calmar, to calm, appease.

caluroso, -a, heated, hot.

calzado, -a, adj. pp. of calzar, shod, with hair growing low; frente calzada, low forehead.

calzas, f. pl., breeches, trousers.

callado, -a, adj. pp. of callar, silent.

callar, to be silent; icalle! hush! silence!

calle, f., street.

icalle! See callar. callejon, m., lane, alley, narrow street.

cama, f., bed; caer en —, to fall sick.

camara, f., chamber, bedroom.

camarada, m., comrade, companion.

cambiante, m., iridescence; iridescent gleam, glint.

cambiar, to change, exchange.

cambron, m., bramble.

caminante, m., traveler.

caminar, to go, walk, walk along.

camino, m., way, road, journey, march, course; — atras, back; down (or up) the road.

campana, f., bell, church bell.

campanada, f., stroke.

campanario, m., belfry, bell-tower; — de espadana, single-walled bell-tower; belfry (of a single wall with openings for the bells).

campanero, m., bellman.

campanilla, f., small bell, hand-bell, bell; morning-glory.

campana, f., campaign.

campina, f., field, plain.

campo, m., field, camp.

cancion, f., song.

candelabro, m., candlestick, chandelier.

candelilla, f., small candle.

candente, incandescent, red-hot.

candido, white, snowy.

cangilon, m., bucket (or cup of an endless chain used in drawing water). See noria.

cano, -a, hoary, gray.

canonigo, m., canon, prebendary.

cansado, -a, adj. pp. of cansar, tired, wearied, weary.

cansarse, to bore oneself, be bored, be tired.

cantar, to sing, hum, buzz; — entre dientes, to hum (a song).

cantar, m., song.

cantaro, m., pitcher, water-pitcher.

cantazo, m., stone, blow with a stone.

cantera, f., quarry.

cantidad, f., quantity, sum.

cantiga, f., song, metrical romance.

canto, m., song, hymn, chant, canticle, canto.

cantueso, m., lavender, French lavender, spike.

canada, f., glen, dale, glade.

cano, m., stream, jet.

canuto, m., fluting; gorguera de —s, fluted raff.

capa, f., cloak, mantle.

capaz, capable, able.

capellan, m., chaplain.

caperuza, f., pointed cap, pointed hood, hood.

capilla, f., chapel; maestro de —, choir-master, one who composes and directs church music; — mayor, main chapel (containing the pulpit and high altar, and in most Spanish churches opposite the coro and separated from the transept by a railing).

capitan, m., captain.

capitel, m., capital.

capitulo, m., chapter, council, court.

capote, m., cloak, coat, greatcoat.

capotillo, m., mantelet, short cloak.

capoton, m., large cloak, greatcoat.

capricho, m., caprice, whim, fancy; a —, aimlessly.

caprichosamente, capriciously, fancifully.

caprichoso, -a, capricious.

capuchino, m., Capuchin monk

cara, f., face, countenance, expression, head.

caracolear, to caracole; caracoleando en sus corceles, on their prancing steeds.

caracter, m., character, disposition.

caracterizar, to characterize, describe.

carbon, m., charcoal; coal.

carcajada, f., laugh, burst of laughter.

carcel, f., prison, jail.

carcomer, to corrode.

cardeno, -a, violet, livid.

cargo, m., charge, office; hacer — de, to examine, inspect.

caricia, f., caress.

caridad, f., charity; un bien de -, a good turn, a benevolent favor.

cariiio, m., love, affection, tenderness.

Carlos, m., Charles.

carne, f., meat, flesh; pl., flesh; de-y hueso, of flesh and blood.

caro, -a, dear; adv., dearly.

carraca, f., rattle, an instrument used instead of bells the last three days of Holy Week.

carrasca, f., pin-oak, swamp-oak.

carrascal, m., plantation of pin-oaks; clump of pin-oaks.

carrera, f., race, course, speed.

carro, m., car, chariot.

carta, f., letter, card; tomar—en el asunto, to take a hand in the matter; cartas leyes, summons.

casa, f., house; —de Consejos (or —Consistorial), town hall, city hall.

casaca, f., coat.

Casca, f., (Span.) Casca.

cascada, f., cascade.

casco, m., helmet; hoof; outside (of anything);—s de las bote-llas vacias, empty bottles.

caserfo, m., houses, row of houses; village, small town.

caseron, m., edifice, dwelling, large house.

casi, almost, very nearly.

casita, f., small house, cottage.

caso, m., case, event, circumstance, effect, fact, matter, affair; es el —, the fact is; hacer—de, to pay attention to; to care about; to consider important.

castellano, -a, Castilian, of (or pertaining to) Castile.

castigar, to punish, chastise.

castigo, m., chastisement, punishment.

castillo, m., castle.

casto, -a, chaste, pure.

casualidad, f., chance.

casualmente, casually, by chance.

casulla, f., chasuble.

cata. See catar.

catar, to see, consider, notice; catale aqui que asoma, why! (or lo!) here it (or he) comes. See ruin.

catastrofe, f., catastrophe.

catedral, f., cathedral.

catorce, fourteen.

cauce, m., drain, bed, stream, rivulet.

causa, f., cause.

causar, to cause.

caverna, f., cave, cavern.

cavidad, f., cavity, hollow.

cavilacion, f., pondering, worrying, preoccupation.

caza, f., chase, hunt; andar a — de, to go in pursuit of; to go hunting (or seeking); salir de —, to go hunting.

cazador, m., hunter, huntsman; —es furtivos, poachers.

cazar, to hunt.

ceder, to yield, submit.

cegar, to blind, make blind; to fill up, obstruct.

ceja, f., eyebrow.

cejar, to relax.

celda, f., cell.

celebrado, -a, adj. pp. of celebrar, celebrated, famous.

celebrante, m., officiating priest.

celebrar, to celebrate; refl., to be celebrated.

celeste, celestial, heavenly.

celo, m., zeal, ardor, devotion; pl., jealousy.

celoso, -a, jealous; tener —, to make jealous.

cena, f., supper.

cenagoso, -a, muddy, miry.

cencerrada, f., charivari.

cendal, m., crape, gauze.

cenizas, f. pl., ashes.

cenobita, m., cenobite.

centella, f., lightning, lightning flash (or bolt), thunderbolt.

centesimo, -a, hundredth.

centinela, m., sentry, sentinel.

cerca, near, near at hand; — de, near; tan de —, so closely; muy de —, very closely, very well.

cercano, -a, near, close, next, neighboring.

cercar, to surround.

cerciorarse, to assure oneself; to ascertain.

cerco, m., circle.

cerebro, m., brain.

ceremonia, f., ceremony, service.

cernerse, to soar; to flit; to hover.

cerrar, to close, shut; la noche habia cerrado, night had come (or fallen); night had closed in (around him); subst., shutting; en un abrir y — de ojos, in the twinkling of an eye; in an instant; refl., to close, shut.

cerrojo, m., bolt.

cesar, to cease, stop, end; ir cesando, to cease, die out; sin —, incessantly, continually.

cesped, m., grass, sod, grass-plot, turf; pl., grasses.

cicerone, m., guide, cicerone.

ciego, -a, blind, blinded.

cielo, m., sky, heaven.

cien. See ciento.

ciencia, f., science, art, knowledge.

cieno, m., mire, filth.

ciento, hundred.

ciertamente, certainly, indeed.

cierto, -a, certain.

ciervo, m., deer, stag.

cierzo, m., north wind.

cifra, f., cipher; written character; writing.

cima, f., summit, top; por — de, over; above the tops of.

cimera, f., crest.

cimiento, m., foundation.

cincelado, -a, adj. pp. of cincelar, carved, engraved, embossed.

cinco, five.

cinta, f., ribbon, band, girdle; estar en —, to be pregnant; to have conceived.

cintarazo, m., knock, thump, blow, slap (with something flat).

circular, to circulate, flow.

circulo, m., circle.

circunspeccion, f., circumspection, dignity.

circunstanciado, -a, circumstantial, minute, detailed.

circunstantes, m. pl.; bystanders, listeners, hearers, persons present.

cirio, m., (large) wax candle (by taper).

cisne, m., swan.

cita, f., appointment, rendezvous, tryst.

citar, to make an appointment (with), to give a rendezvous (to).

ciudad, f., city.

clamor, m., clamor, noise.

clamoreo, m., clamor, noise.

clarear, to grow light; to dawn.

claridad, f., light, shine.

clarin, m., trumpet.

clarisimo, -a, illustrious.

claro, -a, clear; adv., clearly.

clase, f., class, kind.

claustro, m., cloister, piazza, gallery.

clavado, -a, adj. pp. of clavar, fixed, brim. fastened, rooted, nailed.

clavar, to fix, fasten, nail; refl., to be fixed; to fix itself; to stick, strike.

clave, f., keystone.

clavo, m., nail; point.

clero, m., clergy.

cobarde, coward, cowardly.

cobertizo, m., small projecting roof; shed.

cocodrilo, m., crocodile.

codazo, m, thrust with the elbow.

codiciado, -a, adj. pp. of codiciar, coveted.

codicioso, -a, greedy, covetous.

codo, m., elbow.

coger, to catch, take up, pick up, pluck, collect, seize; cogerse, to be caught; to be trampled (or crushed).

coincidencia, f., coincidence.

cojin, m., cushion.

cola, f., tail.

colacion, f., lunch.

colegio, m., college, school.

colegir, to gather, collect, deduce, infer

colera, f., anger, fury, passion, rage, wrath

colerico, -a, angry, choleric, irascible, passionate.

coleto, m., doublet body; inside (or body) of a man; echarse (algo) al —, to swallow (at a gulp).

colgado, -a, adj. pp. of colgar, suspended, hung, hanging.

colgar, to hang, suspend; to hang from, be suspended.

colina, f., hill.

colmar, to heap up, fill to the brim.

colmo, m., climax.

colocar, to place, set up; —se en actitud de defensa, to fall on guard.

color, m., color, coloring, hue, complexion, shadings; de —(es), colored, stained; — de plomo, leaden, lead-colored; — de rosa, rose-colored.

colorado, -a, adj. pp. of colorar, colored, dyed, ruddy, florid, red; sorrel.

colorearse, to redden, become red.

colorin, m., showy (or vivid) color.

colosal, colossal, enormous.

columbrar, to discern, espy.

columna, f., column, body of soldiers; — volante, flying column.

columnilla, f., little column; — salomonica, little twisted column.

columpiarse, to swing.

comadre, f., a gossip.

comarca, f., district, border, country.

comarcano, -a, neighboring, of (or pertaining to) the neighborhood.

combate, m., combat, duel.

combatiente, m., combatant.

combatir, to fight, beat, strike, attack.

combinacion, f., combination.

comedimiento, m., courtesy, civility, politeness.

comentar, to comment upon, discuss.

comentario, m., commentary, remark.

comenzar, to begin; reft., to begin, commence.

comer, to eat; que se ha de — la tierra, which the earth shall (one day) swallow up.

cometa, m., comet.

comico, -a, comical.

comitiva, f,. procession, cortege, retinue, company, suite, escort.

como, as, like, as if, as it were, as though, so to speak, apparently, if, if only, provided that, as soon as; — de, at (or of) about; about; a distancia de, something like a distance of; at about the distance of; distant about; asi —, as well as; as also; asi ... —, both ... and; — no sea, unless it be; except; — para, as if to; — que, as; — as if; inasmuch as; it was as if; he was as it were; — quiera que, although; notwithstanding the fact that; tanto —, as much as; tal —, just as; tan —, as.. as; tan pronto ... — ..., now ... now ...; i— ha'de ser! that's the way of the world! what can you expect? what is to be expected? — pudo, as best he could; — las gasta, how he acts.

?como? how? why?

compacto, -a, compact, dense.

companera, f., companion, mate.

companero, m., companion, comrade, associate.

comparable, comparable.

comparacion, f., comparison.

comparar, to compare.

comparecer, to appear.

compas, m., measure, time, accompaniment, rhythm, beat.

compasado, -a, adj. pp. of compasar, measured, regular.

compasion, f., compassion, pity.

compeudioso, -a, laconic.

complacerse, to take pleasure (en, in).

completamente, completely.

completar, to complete.

completo; -a, complete; por —, completely.

componer, to compose, repair, keep in repair; refl., to be composed; to consist.

comprar, to buy.

comprender, to understand, comprehend; hacerse —, to make oneself understood.

comprimir, to restrain, compress, suppress.

comprometerse, to compromise oneself, risk one's reputation, lay oneself open to criticism.

comunicar, to communicate; refl., to communicate.

comunidad, f., community, order; en —, by ourselves; with only the members of the order present.



con, with, along with, by, among; para —, amongst; — que, therefore, wherefore, so then; — vida, alive.

concebir, to conceive.

concejo, m., council.

concepto, m., conceit, thought, fancy.

concertar, to hold (secret) council; to plan, concert.

conciencia, f., conscience, consciousness.

concierto, m., concert, arrangement, method.

conciliabulo, m., conventicle, secret council.

concluido, -a, adj. pp. of concluir, concluded; after.

concluir, to conclude, end, finish, complete, infer.

concurrente, m., person present; bystander, spectator; pl., assembly, congregation, audience.

concha, f., shell.

condado, m., earldom, county.

conde, m., earl, count.

condenacion, f.; condemnation, damnation.

condenar, to condemn, damn.

condesa, f., countess.

condicion, f., condition, circumstance.

conducir, to lead, conduct, convey, bear, bring in.

conducta, f., conduct, leadership, guidance.

confesar, to confess, acknowledge.

confesion, f., confession.

confesor, m., confessor, a priest authorized to hear confession of sins and to grant absolution.

confirmar, to confirm.

conforme, agreeable to; according to.

conformidad, f., agreement; state, condition.

confundir, to confuse, confound, mingle, unite; refl., to lose form (or substance); to blend, be confused (confounded or mingled); to mingle, intermingle, vanish, be lost, be lost to sight (en, in).

confusamente, confusedly.

confusion, f., confusion, complication.

confuso, -a, adj. pp. (irr.) of confundir, confused, perplexed, indistinct.

congregar, to assemble.

conjunto, m., ensemble, collection, combination.

conjurar, to conjure, beseech.

conjuro, m., incantation, enchantment.

conmigo, with me.

conmocion, f., commotion.

conmover, to move, affect.

conmovido, -a, adj. pp. of conmover, affected, moved, in (or with) emotion.

conocer, to know, recognize, realize, be acquainted with.

conquistar, to conquer.

consagracion, f., consecration.

consagrar, to consecrate.

conseguir, to succeed, obtain.

conseja, f., fable, story.

consejo, m., council, advice; Casa de —s, town hall, city hall.

consentir, to agree (or consent) to.

conservar, to keep, guard.

consigo, with himself, with herself, with itself, with oneself, with themselves.

consiguiente, m., consequence; por —, consequently, therefore, hence.

consistencia, f., consistency, coherence.

consistir, to consist, lie; no se en que consista, I do not know why.

consistorial. See casa.

constante, constant.

Constanza, f., Constance.

constelacion, f., constellation.

consternado, -a, adj. pp. of consternar, dismayed, in consternation.

construccion, f., fortification.

consuelo, m., comfort, consolation.

consultar, to consult, ask, advise, consult about, ask advice about.

consumir, to consume, eat, cost.

consuncion, f., consumption.

contacto, m., contact, touch.

contar, to count, recount, relate, tell; — con, to count (or rely) upon.

contemplacion, f., contemplation.

contemplar, to contemplate.

contener, to contain, hold, repress, restrain.

contenido, m., contents.

contentamiento, m., satisfaction, pleasure.

contestation, f., reply.

contestar, to reply.

continuamente, continually.

continuar, to continue.

continuo, -a, continual; de —, continually; acto —, straightway, immediately, immediately afterward.

contorno, m., form, waist, trunk, torso; circuit, radius; veinte jornados al —, within a radius of twenty days' journey.

contorsion, f., contortion; hacer una —, to bend one's body; to writhe.

contra, against, contrary to; en — mia, against myself; against my interests.

contraer, to contract.

contraido, -a, adj. pp. of contraer, contracted, rigid.

contraposicion, f., contrast.

contrario, m., contrary, reverse, opposite, opponent, adversary; al —, on the contrary; por el —, on the contrary.

contraste, m., contrast.

contribuir, to contribute, serve.

convecino, m, neighbor.

convencer, to convince.

conveniencia, f., advantage, utility, expediency.

convenir, to agree, come to an agreement, acknowledge.

convento, m., convent, cloister, monastery.

conversacion, f., conversation.

convertir, to change, convert, metamorphose.