II. Unacknowledged and Uncollected Translations. Clear Honor of the Liquid Element

By Luis de Góngora y Argote

CLEAR honor of the liquid element,

Sweet rivulet of shining silver sheen!

Whose waters steal along the meadows green,

With gentle step, and murmur of content!

When she, for whom I bear each fierce extreme,

Beholds herself in thee,—then Love doth trace

The snow and crimson of that lovely face

In the soft gentle movement of thy stream.

Then smoothly flow as now; and set not free

The crystal curb and undulating rein

Which now thy current’s headlong speed restrain;

Lest broken and confused the image rest

Of such rare charms on the deep-heaving breast

Of him who holds and sways the trident of the sea.