Henry Wadsworth Longfellow, ed. Poems of Places: An Anthology in 31 Volumes.
Spain, Portugal, Belgium, and Holland: Vols. XIV–XV. 1876–79.
The Port of Refuge
By Luis de Góngora (1561–1627)T
Came flying o’er the sea,
As though the Wind their father were,
And these his children three:
The pirates’ hunted prey,
A Genoese swift brigantine
Before them fled away.
That flying vessel bore,
Sent in our Viceroy’s convoy forth
To Naples’ sunny shore.
From Leon’s town and tower,
And with him maiden daughters twain,
A bud, and opening flower;
The garden where they grew;—
When, parting wide the gallant fleet,
The thwarting tempest blew;
From Afric’s capes afar,
Morat, the renegado, prowled,
Foul hawk of pirate war;
The rifler fierce and fell,
Who fain in Spanish egret’s blood
Would dye his beak and bell.
But, ere the chase had closed,
The storm with slackening gale withdrew,
And Mercy interposed.
They sailed, to port and tower,
Pride of a Marquess yesterday,
Now graced with Ducal power.
And spied far off from shore
The crescent on the Moorish mast,
The cross the Christians bore.
Dark vapors filled the skies;
The baffled Corsair warned retired,
The port received his prize.
Forespent with eager joy,
The tempest-shattered brigantine
Breathed free from past annoy.
With garlands wreathed his brow,
And glad at heart in words like these
To Heaven poured forth his vow:
Safe home from wayward sea,
Which Time must whelm, ere souls distressed
Shall cease to fly to thee;
The terror and disdain;
Firm shield, and sword of royal force
Right judgment to maintain;
Their titled lord to greet;
Low as the waves that bathe thy walls,
May Envy kiss his feet!
He from our King hath won;
For well hath merit held the place
In favor first begun!
Then, while in Mantuan lays
The praise of good Achates lives,
Live faithful Lerma’s praise!”