Cantiga De Escarnio: Poem by Alfonso X El Sabio

Cantiga De Escarnio:

Rating: 3.0


O que foi passar a serra
e non quis servir a terra,
é ora, entrant' a guerra,
que faroneja?
Pois el agora tan muito erra,
maldito seja!

O que levou os dinheiros
e non troux' os cavaleiros,
é por non ir nos primeiros
que faroneja?
Pois que ven cõnos prestumeiros,
maldito seja!

O que filhou gran soldada
e nunca fez cavalgada,
é por non ir a Graada
que faroneja?
Se é rie' omen ou á mesnada,
maldito seja!

O que meteu na taleiga
pouc' aver e muita meiga,
é por non entrar na Veiga
que faroneja?
Pois chus mol[e] é que manteiga,
maldito seja!


English

He who passed over the mountains
And did not want to serve on the plain--
Is he the one, when war was returned,
Who's now bragging?
Since he vacillates so much now,
Let him be damned!

He who doled out his money
Without attracting any good knights--
Is it because he wasn't first in the fight
That he's bragging now?
Since he came at us with his rear,
Let him be damned!

He who raised a great soldiery
But never quite a good cavalry,
Since he didn't go to Granada, is he
The one who's bragging?
Whether he's rich or has a strong band,
Let him be damned!

He who loaded up his bags
With a little gold and a lot of guff,
And never quite entered the town of Vega,
Is he bragging now?
Since he's more like fat than butter,
Let him be damned!

COMMENTS OF THE POEM
Carol 23 December 2018

Alfonso X is funny. His style of rhyming shows his vulnerable side and it makes him seem current and alive today I wish I could have met him.

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