Poetry International Poetry International
Poem

Luís Vaz de Camões

CRUEL SENHORA

Cruel Senhora, I’ve always been wary. I knew
I needed to watch you closely in case
your doubts would surge to disaffection and erase
our love. Then I’d be ruined, since I love only you.
And now, everything I’d hope to have is lost:
you’re pursuing another lover. So I detach
myself, believing your retribution will match
the sacrificial depths my love has cost:
I’ve given my soul, my senses, and my life to you;
I’ve given you everything I have within me,
and you promised love, but now, there’s only disdain.
Lost and hopeless, I don’t know what to do,
yet I know the day will come when this memory
will crush you down with terrifying pain.

CRUEL SENHORA

    
     Sempre, cruel Senhora, receei,
medindo vossa grã desconfiança,
que desse em desamor vossa tardança,
e que me perdesse eu, pois vos amei.
     Perca-se, enfim, já tudo o que esperei,
pois noutro amor já tendes esperança.
Tão patente será vossa mudança,
quanto eu encobri sempre o que vos dei.
     Dei-vos a alma, a vida e o sentido;
de tudo o que em mim há vos fiz senhora.
Prometeis e negais o mesmo Amor.
     Agora tal estou que, de perdido,
não sei por onde vou, mas algũ’hora
vos dará tal lembrança grande dor.
Close

CRUEL SENHORA

Cruel Senhora, I’ve always been wary. I knew
I needed to watch you closely in case
your doubts would surge to disaffection and erase
our love. Then I’d be ruined, since I love only you.
And now, everything I’d hope to have is lost:
you’re pursuing another lover. So I detach
myself, believing your retribution will match
the sacrificial depths my love has cost:
I’ve given my soul, my senses, and my life to you;
I’ve given you everything I have within me,
and you promised love, but now, there’s only disdain.
Lost and hopeless, I don’t know what to do,
yet I know the day will come when this memory
will crush you down with terrifying pain.

CRUEL SENHORA

Cruel Senhora, I’ve always been wary. I knew
I needed to watch you closely in case
your doubts would surge to disaffection and erase
our love. Then I’d be ruined, since I love only you.
And now, everything I’d hope to have is lost:
you’re pursuing another lover. So I detach
myself, believing your retribution will match
the sacrificial depths my love has cost:
I’ve given my soul, my senses, and my life to you;
I’ve given you everything I have within me,
and you promised love, but now, there’s only disdain.
Lost and hopeless, I don’t know what to do,
yet I know the day will come when this memory
will crush you down with terrifying pain.
Sponsors
Gemeente Rotterdam
Nederlands Letterenfonds
Stichting Van Beuningen Peterich-fonds
Ludo Pieters Gastschrijver Fonds
Lira fonds
Partners
LantarenVenster – Verhalenhuis Belvédère