[Tim Murphy]

I Look For Life In Death
by Miguel Cervantes

I look for life in death,
Health, in infirmity,
In prison, liberty,
In suffocation, breath.
And faith in treachery.

But destiny (which I
have never prospered by)
has issued its decree.
“Ask me what cannot be.
What can, I will deny.”

Original:

Busco en la muerte la vida,
salud en la enfermedad,
en la prisión libertad,
en lo cerrado salida
y en el traidor lealtad.

Pero mi suerte, de quien
jamás espero algún bien,
con el cielo ha estatuido,
que, pues lo imposible pido,
lo posible aún no me den.

[Bruce McBirney]

Roger, my Spanish is rusty (and never was very good to begin with), but your translation is lovely and (as close as I can tell) seems very much in the spirit of the original. Congratulations!

[Richard Wilbur]

Alan Sullivan here typing for RPW:

I think that Roger Slater's translation of the little poem of Cervantes is extremely elegant, so far as I can see. Though I am not an expert in Spanish, it appears very accurate. The fourth line I suppose might literally be translated "in what is closed, openness," but "in suffocation, breath" is really very close to that in meaning, and it effortlessly rhymes with the first line. The only lines of which I'm unsure are the last two, which sound awfully good as they are; but looking with my ignorant eye at the last two lines of the original, I suspect they might be translated as: "since you ask what cannot be, what can be, I deny."

RPW

[Roger Slater]

Mr. Wilbur, I am exceedingly grateful for your comments. Knowing that you'd be looking at my little translation had me nervous all week, but finding you had some nice things to say about it will make me proud for the rest of my life.

Your exquisite translation of Guillen's "Unos Caballos" had a lot to do with energizing my translation efforts lately, and seeing the wonderful production of your "Tartuffe" in New York had a similar effect. (You were very well served by the actors, by the way).

This morning I read that Milosz was once asked, "What do you think poetry is?" And he responded, "Look, the only thing I can tell you is that poetry has helped me to live." This rang true for me, so let me distill all the praise I'm tempted to heap upon you to just one statement: Your poetry has helped me to live. Thank you so much.

Tim and Alan, it was characteristically generous of you to share your time with the Wilburs and to give Erato the honor of so distinguished a Lariat. I hope you enjoy the rest of your vacation!

PS--
I've posted a "final" version of this translation on the Translation board.

[This message has been edited by Roger Slater (edited February 19, 2003).]