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Home  »  The Sonnets of Europe  »  Francisco de Figueroa (c. 1530–1588)

Samuel Waddington, comp. The Sonnets of Europe. 1888.

On the Death of Garcilaso de la Vega, Slain in Battle

Francisco de Figueroa (c. 1530–1588)

Translated by Hon. William Herbert

O BEAUTEOUS scion from the stateliest tree,

That e’er in fertile mead or forest grew!

With freshest bloom adorned and vigour new,

Gracious in form, and first in dignity!

The same fell tempest, which by heaven’s decree

Around thy parent stock resistless blew,

And far from Tejo fair its trunk o’erthrew,

In foreign clime hath stripped the leaves from thee.

And the same pitying hand hath from the spot

Of cheerless ruin raised you to rejoice,

Where fruit immortal decks the withered stem!

I will not, like the vulgar, mourn your lot;

But, with pure incense and exulting voice,

Praise your high worth, and consecrate your fame.