From the Spanish. From the Cancioneros. I. Eyes so tristful, eyes so tristful

The main repository of these poems is Ochoa’s Tesoro de los Romanceros y Cancioneros Españoles, Paris, 1838. See also Antológia Española. Mr. Longfellow published his translations in the volume entitled Aftermath, 1873. His acquaintance with these Spanish popular songs was an early one, for there is an entry in his journal, when at Dresden, February 1, 1829: “At the Public Library in the morning till one o’clock. Found a very curious old Spanish book, treating of the troubadour poetry of Spain, entitled the Cancionero General.”

(Ojos Tristes, Ojos Tristes)
By Diego de Saldaña

EYES so tristful, eyes no tristful,

Heart so full of care and cumber,

I was lapped in rest and slumber,

Ye have made me wakeful, wistful!

In this life of labor endless

Who shall comfort my distresses?

Querulous my soul and friendless

In its sorrow shuns caresses.

Ye have made me, ye have made me

Querulous of you, that care not,

Eyes so tristful, yet I dare not

Say to what ye have betrayed me.

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