Maite Urraca Caviedes – Sonnet 1

Maite Urraca Caviedes – Executive Director Finance & Operations Department. IE University.

Reading:

Sonnet 1. (Soneto 1.) by Garcilaso De la Vega (1491/1503 – 1536).

When I stop to consider my state,
and see the steps along which I have been brought,
I find considering the road where I got lost,
I could well have come to greater misfortune.

But when I forget about the road,
I don’t know how I’ve come to so much misfortune;
I know that I am dying and I regret all the more
seeing my suffering end along with me.

I shall die, for I surrendered myself naively
to the one who can ruin me and destroy me
if she wished, and she can so wish;

for if my love can kill me,
her love which doesn’t favour me since it can kill me,
isn’t that what it will do?

—

Cuando me paro a contemplar mi estado,
y a ver los pasos por do me ha traído,
hallo según por do anduve perdido,
que a mayor mal pudiera haber llegado;

mas cuando del camino estó olvidado
a tanto mal no sé por do he venido;
sé que me acabo, y más he yo sentido
ver acabar conmigo mi cuidado.

Yo acabaré, que me entregué sin arte
a quien sabrá perderme y acabarme
si ella quisiera, y aun sabrá querello;

que pues mi voluntad puede matarme,
la suya, que no es tanto de mi parte,
pudiendo, ¿qué hará sino hacello?