Henry Wadsworth Longfellow, ed. Poems of Places: An Anthology in 31 Volumes.
Spain, Portugal, Belgium, and Holland: Vols. XIV–XV. 1876–79. | | | | Spain: Madrid | | The Growth of Madrid | | Luis de Góngora (1561–1627) |
| | Translated by Edward Churton
THE NILE endures no shores; Madrid no walls: | |
| Mark, stranger, how the flood is on its way, | |
| The flood of houses; scarcely will it stay, | |
| Where Manzanares into Tagus falls. | |
| It is a sight that back to memory calls | 5 |
| The glory of Egyptian Memphis; nay, | |
| More great the wonder; to a later day | |
| Shall stand these firm and rock-built palace-halls; | |
| Imperial seat of monarchs throned on high, | |
| Birthplace of princes, Beauty’s beaming sphere, | 10 |
| And scene of proudest Fortune’s pageantry; | |
| Whose state shall Envy’s venomed fangs outwear, | |
| Howe’er she chafe in secret. Homeward hie | |
| In peace, and bid thy land the tidings hear. | | | | |
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