Henry Wadsworth Longfellow, ed. Poems of Places: An Anthology in 31 Volumes.
Spain, Portugal, Belgium, and Holland: Vols. XIV–XV. 1876–79.
The Tagus
By Francisco Rodriguez Lobo (1580–1622)Translated by John Adamson
H
Our past and present states do now appear,—
Muddy the stream, which I have seen so clear,
And sad the breast, which you contented knew.
Thy banks o’erflowed, through unresisting plains,
Thy waters stray by fitful tempests driven,—
Lost is to me the object which had given
A life of pleasures or a life of pains.
As thus our sorrows such resemblance bear,
May we of joy an equal cup partake!
But ah, what favoring power to me can make
Our fates alike,—for spring with soothing air
Shall to its former state thy stream restore;
Whilst bid, if I again may be as heretofore.