But no! he flies the alternative,

And throws again the bolts he threw :-
He does not what he ought to do.

And ne'er a more obedient slave

Follow'd his banners; never one
Had higher claim, or ought to have-
What service wrought, what duties done,
What toils on shore, and risks on wave!
He does whate'er he will, 'tis true,
But never what he ought to do!

Tesoro de varias Poesias. Madrid, 1580, p. 307.

RODRIGUEZ DEL PADRON.

PRAYER.

66 Fuego del divino Rayo."

FIRE of heaven's eternal ray,
Gentle and unscorching flame,
Strength in moments of dismay,
Grief's redress and sorrow's balm,
Light thy servant on his way.

Teach him all earth's passing folly,

All its dazzling art

To distrust;

And let thoughts profound and holy

Penetrate his heart,

Low in dust.

Lead him to the realms sublime,

Where thy footsteps tread;

Teach him, Virgin! so to dread
Judgment's soul-tormenting clime,
That he may harvest for the better time.

Cancionero de Valencia, 1511, p. 17.

ALONZO DE PROAZA.

THE THINGS OF HEAVEN ARE SURE.

"Lo del cielo es lo seguro."

THE things of heaven are safe and sure; The things of earth, though bright they be, Will fade and perish speedily.

The things of heaven, of heavenly birth,
Unchanged, eternal, shall remain,
While the most steadfast things of earth
Are all unstable, trembling, vain,-
The sport of mutability.

The things of earth, though fair they be,
Will fade and perish speedily.

The things we see above are bright,
Pure, spiritual, and beautiful;
While all below is dark as night,—
Unintellectual,—selfish,—dull.

I know not what the senses see

To wean us from eternity,

To scenes that fade so speedily.

The spirit has its natural seat

In the celestial heights above; Earth is its prison,-its retreat,

Where, lost in mists, 'tis wont to rove; Feeble, and dim, and tremblingly,

Man wanders on, as vex'd to be

Midst things of earth that fade and flee.

The things of earth are like a river,-
A summer river,-swiftly dry;
The things above endure for ever,
Their ocean is-immensity.

There streams of joy which ne'er shall be

Exhausted, roll eternally,

And thither let our spirits flee.

Cancionero de Valencia, 1511, p. 17.

GASPAR GIL POLO.

LOVE AND HATE.

"Despues que mal me quisistes."

SINCE you

have said you loved me not,

I hate myself; and love can do

No more than drive from heart and thought Whoever is unloved by you.

If you

could veil your radiant brow, Or I could look, and fail to love, I should not live while dying now,

Or, living, not thy anger move: But now let fear and woe be brought,

And grief and care their wounds renew ; He should be pierced in heart and thought, Who, lady! is unloved by you.

Buried in your forgetfulness,

And mouldering under death's dark pall,

And hated by myself, nor less

Hated by thee, the world, and all,——