Lope de Vega

A una dama que limpia los dientes

Gente llama la caja belicosa
cuando se dora y limpia la jineta,
y cuando la ballesta o la saeta,
señal es de la caza codiciosa:

cuando desnuda de la vaina ociosa
la espada el cortesano, honor le aprieta;
cuando se limpia el tiro o la escopeta,
señal es de la guerra sanguinosa;

y cuando el arco de marfil bruñido
de sus dientes Lucinda los despojos,
con la saeta de su lengua asido,

señal es que a matar y a dar enojos;
si no es arco del cielo que ha salido
a serenar la lluvia de mis ojos.



To a lady cleaning her teeth

People wait to hear the battle's drum
when there's a dagger polished up and cleaned,
and when there's a clean crossbow or its dart
it shows that there's a hunter at his chore:

when naked from its now deserted sheath
the knight's sword comes, then honor spurs him on;
when one cleans gun or rifle with great care,
it shows that there will be a bloody war;

and when from the bright, burnished ivory bow
of her teeth all the plunder fair Lucille,
with the swift arrow of her tongue, has prised,

it shows something is meant to kill and vex;
or maybe it's a rainbow that's emerged,
to calm the showers falling from my eyes. 

                     (©Alix Ingber, 1995)



 E-mail your comments and questions to:

Alix Ingber
Professor of Spanish
Sweet Briar College

ingber@sbc.edu



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