Henry Wadsworth Longfellow, ed. Poems of Places: An Anthology in 31 Volumes.
Spain, Portugal, Belgium, and Holland: Vols. XIV–XV. 1876–79.

Spain: Valladolid

The Poet’s Troubles at Valladolid

By Luis de Góngora (1561–1627)

Translated by Edward Churton

I GO, devoured by bugs and mules: for one,

Thanks to a dire old bedstead; for the other,

Thanks to a friend, who, kind as any brother,

Left them with me; and twenty days are gone.

Farewell, old frame, whereon I lay to groan;

Old fragment of some ship from broker’s yard,

Whose crew, like true red rovers, never spared

Their prize, till they had made my blood their own.

Come, mules; your master is not lapt in proof

Against compassion, nor in cruel scorn

Would wish me done to death with heel and hoof.

Farewell, poor court, close hid in town forlorn;

Bull-ring in rural meadow. My low roof

Will find us, man and beast, cheap bread and corn.