Henry Wadsworth Longfellow, ed. Poems of Places: An Anthology in 31 Volumes.
Spain, Portugal, Belgium, and Holland: Vols. XIV–XV. 1876–79.

Portugal: Mondego, the River

Mondego

By Luís de Camões (c. 1524–1580)

Translated by Lord Strangford

MONDEGO, thou whose waters, cold and clear,

Gird those green banks where fancy fain would stay

Fondly to muse on that departed day

When hope was kind and friendship seemed sincere,

Ere I had purchased knowledge with a tear;

Mondego, though I bend my pilgrim way

To other shores where other fountains stray

And other rivers roll their proud career;

Still, nor shall time, nor grief, nor stars severe,

Nor widening distance e’er prevail in aught

To make thee less to this sad bosom dear:

And memory oft by old affection taught

Shall lightly speed upon the plumes of thought

To bathe among thy waters cold and clear.