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I Look for Life in Death

I look for life in death,
for health in sickness,
for freedom in prison,
a way out from the impasse,
and loyalty in the Judas.
But my destiny, from which I would
never expect anything good,
has decreed with the Gods
that, since I ask for the impossible,
they won't even give me the possible.

English translation by Paul Archer of Busco en la muerte la vida by Miguel de Cervantes, the original poem appears below:

Busco en la muerte la vida

Busco en la muerte la vida,
salud en la enfermedad,
en la prisión libertad,
en lo cerrado salida
y en el traidor lealtad.
Pero mi suerte, de quien
jamás espero algún bien,
con el cielo ha estatuido,
que, pues lo imposible pido,
lo posible aún no me den.

For more translations of poems by Cervantes, go to Translations.

 

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