THE TREASURY
by: Alfonso X (1221-1284)
- HE strange intelligence then reached
my ears
- That in the land of Egypt lived a man,
- Who, wise of wit, subjected to his scan
- The dark occurrences of uncome years;
- He judged the stars, and by the moving spheres
- And aspects of the heavens unveiled the dim
- Face of futurity, which then to him
- Appeared, as clear to us the past appears.
- A yearning towards this sage inspired my pen
- And tongue, that instant, with humility
- Descending from my height of majesty;
- Such mastery has a strong desire o'er men;
- My earnest prayers I wrote -- I sent -- with ten
- My noblest envoys, loaded each apart
- With gold and silver, which with all my heart
- I offered him, but the request was vain.
- With much politeness the wise man replied,
- "You, sire, are a great king, and I should be
- Most glad to serve you, but in such a fee
- Of gold and silver gems I take no sort of pride;
- Deign, then, yourself to use them; I abide
- Content in more abundant wealth; and may
- Your treasures profit you in every way
- That I can wish, your servant." I complied;
- But sent the stateliest of my argosies,
- Which reached, and from the Alexandrian port
- Brought safe this cunning master to my court,
- Who greeted me with all kind courtesies;
- I knowing well his great abilities,
- And learning in the movement of the spheres,
- Have highly honored him these many years,
- For honor is the birthright of the wise.
This English translation by J.H.
Wiffen of "The Treasury" is reprinted from Hispanic
Anthology: Poems Translated from the Spanish by English and North
American Poets. Ed. Thomas Walsh. New York: G.P. Putnam's
Sons, 1920. |
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POEMS BY ALFONSO X |
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