How to Learn Spanish 



water-colours. I made sonnets to her eyebrows in the 

 most Castalian Castillian I was master of, and sat on the 

 counter reading them in my most impressive manner. I 

 made her a silver heart, engraved with a bolted and pad- 

 locked folding-door, and a weeping Cupid waiting on the 

 door-step ; which, being worn round her neck, was to 

 cause her heart to open to me in the course of nine days ; 

 but I never got any forwarder, except in the language. 

 Here is one of the lays : — 



A ti dichosa amar parece broma, 



Apinado tu corazon de amores. 



El que se aguarda un rate entre las Acres 

 Luego per harto perdera el aroma. 



Amada de tantos tu dulce flor, 



Por tan amada pierdes el amor. 



Medroso, como con alas cansadas 



Por media mar un ave a barco viene, 

 Mi desterrado corazon que tiene 



Ninguna percha de sus aletadas, 

 Llegaba descansar sobre tu pecho — 

 Ay, de que frio encuentra el rico lecho ! 



Translated thus (after the manner of the Ancients) : — 



To thee, the portals of whose heart serene 

 A hundred lovers throng, love seems a jest. 



One that in sweetest flowers long couch'd hath been 

 Shall find their fragrant perfume lose its zest. 



Thou by so many prized, most rarest flower, 



From being so much loved, know'st not love's power. 



As in mid-ocean comes with weary wings 



Some timid bird upon a sail to light, 

 Mine exiled heart with weary flutterings, 



Without a resting-place to ease its flight, 

 Hath come at last to perch upon thy breast — 

 Alas, how cold a spot to seek for rest ! 



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