| Samuel Waddington, comp. The Sonnets of Europe. 1888. | | | | Had I a Thousand Souls | | From the Romancero |
| | Translated by Sir John Bowring
de Miguel de Madrigal
HAD I a thousand souls with which to love thee, | |
| I’d throw them all, delighted, at thy feet; | |
| Had I uncounted gold wherewith to move thee, | |
| ’Twould seem unworthy all, and incomplete: | |
| I fain would be an Argus but to view thee, | 5 |
| And a Briareus round thy charms to cling; | |
| Another Orpheus to play music to thee, | |
| A Homer thy perfections all to sing. | |
| I would be May, to clothe thee with its splendour, | |
| And Love itself adoring to caress thee; | 10 |
| I’d call on fame, to speak my passion tender, | |
| I’d fain be the world’s king, to serve and bless thee, | |
| A sun to be thy light and thy defender, | |
| And heaven itself forever to possess thee. | | | | |
|
|
