Juan de Tarsis (1582–1622)

Translated by Felicia Hemans
Tu, que la dulce Vida en tiernas anos.

THOU, who hast fled from life’s enchanted bowers,

In youth’s gay spring, in beauty’s glowing morn,

Leaving thy bright array, thy path of flowers,

For the rude convent-garb and couch of thorn;

Thou that, escaping from a world of cares,

Hast found thy haven in devotion’s fane,

As to the port the fearful bark repairs

To shun the midnight perils of the main—

Now the glad hymn, the strain of rapture pour,

While on thy soul the beams of glory rise!

For if the pilot hail the welcome shore

With shouts of triumph swelling to the skies,

Oh! how shouldst thou the exulting pæan raise,

Now heaven’s bright harbour opens on thy gaze!