i Donde te escondes, Violeta bella ? 



i For que asi esquivas mirar la luz ? 

 Tu que no puedes vivir sin ella. 



i Buscas de sombras dense capuz ? 



Sal, florecilla, lanza al ambiente 



Tu grata esencia, tu dulce olor ; 

 Deja que el lirio te bese ardiente, 



Te brinde puro su casto amor. 



Torres Caicedo. 



Beautiful Violet, where art thou hiding? 



"Why dost thou shun to look out on the light ? 

 Thou, who thy life to the sun art confiding, 



Seek'st thou by day the concealment of night ? 



Flow'ret, come out and distil on the sunbeam 

 Thy delicate fragrance, thy perfume so sweet, 



And suffer the lily to kiss thee in one gleam 

 Of love pure and chaste, proffered coy at thy feet. 



99 



