Vencido del trabajo presuroso,
contrastar a las ondas no pudiendo,
y más del bien que allí perdía muriendo
que de su propia vida congojoso,

como pudo esforzó su voz cansada
y a las ondas habló desta manera,
mas nunca fué la voz dellas oída:

"Ondas, pues no se escusa que yo muera,
dejadme allá llegar, y a la tornada
vuestro furor ejecutá en mi vida."

Worn out by all his effort's sudden strain,
to overcome the waves so ill-prepared,
and rather of the joy, in death, he'd lose
than of his own life feeling deep despair,

he raised as best he could his weary voice
and to the waves spoke out as follows here,
though never did they hear his cry of strife:

"Waves, since now I know that I must die,
just let me get there, and when I return
your rage may take its toll upon my life."

                     (©Alix Ingber, 1995)