Henry Wadsworth Longfellow, ed. Poems of Places: An Anthology in 31 Volumes.
Spain, Portugal, Belgium, and Holland: Vols. XIV–XV. 1876–79. | | | | Spain: Valladolid | | Valladolid | | Spanish Ballad |
| | Translated by J. G. Lockhart
MY heart was happy when I turned from Burgos to Valladolid; | |
| My heart that day was light and gay, it bounded like a kid. | |
| I met a palmer on the way, my horse he bade me rein,— | |
| “I left Valladolid to-day, I bring thee news of pain! | |
| The lady-love whom thou dost seek in gladness and in cheer, | 5 |
| Closed is her eye, and cold her cheek, I saw her on her bier. | |
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| “The priests went singing of the mass,—my voice their song did aid; | |
| A hundred knights with them did pass to the burial of the maid; | |
| And damsels fair went weeping there, and many a one did say, | |
| ‘Poor Cavalier! he is not here,—’t is well he ’s far away.’” | 10 |
| I fell when thus I heard him speak, upon the dust I lay; | |
| I thought my heart would surely break, I wept for half a day. | |
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| When evening came I rose again, the palmer held my steed, | |
| And swiftly rode I o’er the plain to dark Valladolid. | |
| I came unto the sepulchre where they my love had laid, | 15 |
| I bowed me down beside the bier, and there my moan I made: | |
| “O, take me, take me to thy bed, I fain would sleep with thee! | |
| My love is dead, my hope is fled,—there is no joy for me!” | |
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| I heard a sweet voice from the tomb, I heard her voice so clear: | |
| “Rise up, rise up, my knightly love, thy weeping well I hear; | 20 |
| Rise up and leave this darksome place,—it is no place for thee; | |
| God yet will send thee helpful grace, in love and chivalry. | |
| Though in the grave my bed I have, for thee my heart is sore; | |
| ’T will ease my heart if thou depart,—thy peace may God restore!” | | | | |
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