The Husband Soldier
translation by Thomas Feeny
 
 
 

 
Angela “Wizzle” Wilczynski - Twangle Nyet

 

Las senas del esposo Estaba Catalinita sentada bajo un laurel, con los pies en la frescura viendo las aguas correr. En eso pasó un soldado y lo hizo detener. —Detengase mi soldado que una pregunta le hare. —Que mandais, gentil senora? Que me manda su merced? Para Espana es mi partida. Que encargo le llevare? —Digame, mi soldadito, de la guerra viene usted? No lo ha visto a mi marido en la guerra alguna vez? --Si lo he visto no me acuerdo, deme usted las senas de el. --Mi marido es alto y rubio y buen mozo igual que usted. Tiene un hablar muy ligero y un ademan muy cortes. En el puno de su espada tiene senas de marques. --Por sus senales, senora, su marido muerto es; en la mesa de los dados lo ha matdo un genoves. Por cargo me ha dejado que me case con usted, que le cuide sus hijitos conforme los cuidaba el. —iNo me lo permita Dios! Eso si que no lo hare! Siete anos lo he esperado y siete lo esperare. Si a los catorce no vuelve, de monja yo me entrare. A mis tres hijos varones los mandare para el rey, que le sirvan de vasallos y que mueran por la fe; a mis tres hijas mujeres conmigo las llevare. —Calla, calla, Catalina! Callate infeliz mujer! Hablando con tu marido sin poderlo conocer.

The Husband Soldier                       --Anonymous Catalina was seated beneath a laurel tree. Her eye lost to the stream's flow, she bathed her feet in the wet coolness. Just then a soldier came by, and she begged him to stop. --Wait please, oh my soldier, for I have a question to ask. --What would you like, my lady? What would you wish of me? I am leaving for Spain. What favor can I do? --Tell me, fine soldier, have you come from the war? And have you, by chance, seen my husband, there on the battlefield? --If I have seen him, I cannot recall. Tell me first what he looks like. --My husband is tall and fair-haired and as handsome as you. He has a clever style of speaking, a most courteous way. And on the hilt of his sword is the mark of nobility. --From the description you give, my lady, I must tell you your husband lies dead, slain at the dice table by a soldier from Genoa. He made me swear I would marry you and raise up his children in the way he would do. --May God forbid! No, never will such a thing come to pass. Seven years have I waited, and I shall wait seven more. If he has not returned by then, I am off to the convent. My three sons I will put in service to the king, that they serve as loyal vassals and die for their faith. My three daughters will join me in the cloisters' embrace. --Say no more, my Catalina. Not another word, my poor wife. You who stand here talking to your husband though you recognize me not   Translation by Thomas Feeny

 

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About the Poem: "Las senas del esposo" ("The Husband Soldier") is an anonymous Argentine ballad. Although we have little precise information on the origins of this popular work, it dates from the sixteenth or early seventeenth century.

About the Author: Thomas Feeny teaches Spanish literature at North Carolina State University, where he has been since 1970. His translations have appeared in such magazines as George Washington Review, Blue Unicorn, and Asheville Poetry Reiew.

 

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