the zincali-第45章
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had planted it in his memory from beginning to end； but in so
doing； his brain； like that of the hero of Cervantes； had become
dry and heated； so that he was unfitted for any serious or useful
occupation。 After the death of his parents he wandered about the
streets in great distress； until at last he fell into the hands of
certain toreros； or bull…fighters； who kept him about them； in
order that he might repeat to them the songs of the AFICION。 They
subsequently carried him to Madrid； where； however； they soon
deserted him after he had experienced much brutality from their
hands。 He returned to Seville； and soon became the inmate of a
madhouse； where he continued several years。 Having partially
recovered from his malady； he was liberated； and wandered about as
before。 During the cholera at Seville； when nearly twenty thousand
human beings perished； he was appointed conductor of one of the
death…carts； which went through the streets for the purpose of
picking up the dead bodies。 His perfect inoffensiveness eventually
procured him friends； and he obtained the situation of vendor of
lottery tickets。 He frequently visited us； and would then recite
long passages from the work of Lobo。 He was wont to say that he
was the only one in Seville； at the present day； acquainted with
the language of the Aficion； for though there were many pretenders；
their knowledge was confined to a few words。
From the recitation of this individual； we wrote down the
Brijindope； or Deluge； and the poem on the plague which broke out
in Seville in the year 1800。 These and some songs of less
consequence； constitute the poetical part of the compilation in
question； the rest； which is in prose； consisting chiefly of
translations from the Spanish； of proverbs and religious pieces。
BRIJINDOPE。 … THE DELUGE （65）
A POEM： IN TWO PARTS
PART THE FIRST
I with fear and terror quake；
Whilst the pen to write I take；
I will utter many a pray'r
To the heaven's Regent fair；
That she deign to succour me；
And I'll humbly bend my knee；
For but poorly do I know
With my subject on to go；
Therefore is my wisest plan
Not to trust in strength of man。
I my heavy sins bewail；
Whilst I view the wo and wail
Handed down so solemnly
In the book of times gone by。
Onward； onward； now I'll move
In the name of Christ above；
And his Mother true and dear；
She who loves the wretch to cheer。
All I know； and all I've heard
I will state … how God appear'd
And to Noah thus did cry：
Weary with the world am I；
Let an ark by thee be built；
For the world is lost in guilt；
And when thou hast built it well；
Loud proclaim what now I tell：
Straight repent ye； for your Lord
In his hand doth hold a sword。
And good Noah thus did call：
Straight repent ye one and all；
For the world with grief I see
Lost in vileness utterly。
God's own mandate I but do；
He hath sent me unto you。
Laugh'd the world to bitter scorn；
I his cruel sufferings mourn；
Brawny youths with furious air
Drag the Patriarch by the hair；
Lewdness governs every one：
Leaves her convent now the nun；
And the monk abroad I see
Practising iniquity。
Now I'll tell how God； intent
To avenge； a vapour sent；
With full many a dreadful sign …
Mighty； mighty fear is mine：
As I hear the thunders roll；
Seems to die my very soul；
As I see the world o'erspread
All with darkness thick and dread；
I the pen can scarcely ply
For the tears which dim my eye；
And o'ercome with grievous wo；
Fear the task I must forego
I have purposed to perform。 …
Hark； I hear upon the storm
Thousand； thousand devils fly；
Who with awful howlings cry：
Now's the time and now's the hour；
We have licence； we have power
To obtain a glorious prey。 …
I with horror turn away；
Tumbles house and tumbles wall；
Thousands lose their lives and all；
Voiding curses； screams and groans；
For the beams； the bricks and stones
Bruise and bury all below …
Nor is that the worst； I trow；
For the clouds begin to pour
Floods of water more and more；
Down upon the world with might；
Never pausing day or night。
Now in terrible distress
All to God their cries address；
And his Mother dear adore； …
But the time of grace is o'er；
For the Almighty in the sky
Holds his hand upraised on high。
Now's the time of madden'd rout；
Hideous cry； despairing shout；
Whither； whither shall they fly？
For the danger threat'ningly
Draweth near on every side；
And the earth； that's opening wide；
Swallows thousands in its womb；
Who would 'scape the dreadful doom。
Of dear hope exists no gleam；
Still the water down doth stream；
Ne'er so little a creeping thing
But from out its hold doth spring：
See the mouse； and see its mate
Scour along； nor stop； nor wait；
See the serpent and the snake
For the nearest highlands make；
The tarantula I view；
Emmet small and cricket too；
All unknowing where to fly；
In the stifling waters die。
See the goat and bleating sheep；
See the bull with bellowings deep。
And the rat with squealings shrill；
They have mounted on the hill：
See the stag； and see the doe；
How together fond they go；
Lion； tiger…beast； and pard；
To escape are striving hard：
Followed by her little ones；
See the hare how swift she runs：
Asses； he and she； a pair。
Mute and mule with bray and blare；
And the rabbit and the fox；
Hurry over stones and rocks；
With the grunting hog and horse；
Till at last they stop their course …
On the summit of the hill
All assembled stand they still；
In the second part I'll tell
Unto them what there befell。
PART THE SECOND
When I last did bid farewell；
I proposed the world to tell；
Higher as the Deluge flow'd；
How the frog and how the toad；
With the lizard and the eft；
All their holes and coverts left；
And assembled on the height；
Soon I ween appeared in sight
All that's wings beneath the sky；
Bat and swallow； wasp and fly；
Gnat and sparrow； and behind
Comes the crow of carrion kind；
Dove and pigeon are descried；
And the raven fiery…eyed；
With the beetle and the crane
Flying on the hurricane：
See they find no resting…place；
For the world's terrestrial space
Is with water cover'd o'er；
Soon they sink to rise no more：
'To our father let us flee！'
Straight the ark…ship openeth he；
And to everything that lives
Kindly he admission gives。
Of all kinds a single pair；
And the members safely there
Of his house he doth embark；
Then at once he shuts the ark；
Everything therein has pass'd；
There he keeps them safe and fast。
O'er the mountain's topmost peak
Now the raging waters break。
Till full twenty days are o'er；
'Midst the elemental roar；
Up and down the ark forlorn；
Like some evil thing is borne：
O what grief it is to see
Swimming on the enormous sea
Human corses pale and white；
More； alas！ than I can write：
O what grief； what grief profound；
But to think the world is drown'd：
True a scanty few are left；
All are not of life bereft；
So that； when the Lord ordain；
They may procreate again；
In a world entirely new；
Better people and more true；
To their Maker who shall bow；
And I humbly beg you now；
Ye in modern times who wend；
That your lives ye do amend；
For no wat'ry punishment；
But a heavier shall be sent；
For the blessed saints pretend
That the latter world shall end
To tremendous fire a prey；
And to ashes sink away。
To the Ark I now go back；
Which pursues its dreary track；
Lost and 'wilder'd till the Lord
In his mercy rest accord。
Early of a morning tide
They unclosed a window wide；
Heaven's beacon to descry；
And a gentle dove let fly；
Of the world to seek some trace；
And in two short hours' space
It returns with eyes that glow；
In its beak an olive bough。
With a loud and mighty sound；
They exclaim： 'The world we've found。'
To a mountain nigh they drew；
And when there themselves they view；
Bound they swiftly on the shore；
And their fervent thanks outpour；
Lowly kneeling to their God；
Then their way a couple trod；
Man and woman； hand in hand；
Bent to populate the land；
To the Moorish region fair …
And another two repair
To the country of the Gaul；
In this manner wend they all；
And the seeds of nations lay。
I beseech ye'll credence pay；
For our father； high and sage；
Wrote the tale in sacred page；
As a record to the world；
Record sad of vengeance hurl'd。
I； a low and humble wight；
Beg permission now to write
Unto all that in our land
Tongue Egyptian understand。
May our Virgin Mother mild
Grant to me； her erring child；
Plenteous grace in every way；
And success。 Amen I say。
THE PESTILENCE
I'm resolved now to tell
In the speech of Gypsy…land
All the horror that befell
In this city huge and grand。
In the eighteenth hundred year
In the midst of summertide；
God； with man dissatisfied；
His right hand on high did rear；
With a rigour most severe；
Whence we well might understand
He would strict account demand
Of our lives and actions here。
The dread event to render clear
Now the pen I take in hand。
At the dread event aghast；
Straight the world reform'd its course；
Yet is sin in greater force；
Now the punishment is past；
For the thought of God is cast
All and utterly aside；
As if death itself had died。
Therefore to the present race
These memorial lines I trace
In old Egypt's tongue of pride。
As the streets you wander'd through
How you quail'd with fear and dread；
Heaps of dying and of dead
At the leeches' door to view。
To the tavern O how few
To regale on wine repair；
All a sickly aspect wear。
Say what heart such sights could brook …
Wail and woe where'er you look …
Wail and woe and ghastly care。
Plying fast their rosaries；
See the people pace the street；
And for pardon God entreat
Long and loud with streaming eyes。
And the carts of various size；
Piled with corses； high in air；
To the plain their burden bear。
O what grief it is to me
Not a friar or priest to see
In this city huge and fair。
ON THE LANGUAGE OF THE GITANOS
'I am not
