History of Spanish and Portuguese Literature (Vol 1 of 2)

Note 355 — SECOND SECTION. History of Spanish Poetry and Eloquence, from the Age of Cervantes and Lope de Vega to the Middle of the Seventeenth Century.

Thomasina Ross translation

One of the Numantian women, for example, addresses the following speech to the senators:—

Basta que la hambre insana Os acabe con dolor, Sin esperar el rigor De la aspereza Romana. Decildes que os engendraron Libres, y libres nacistes, Y que vuestras madres tristes Tambien libres os criaron. Decildes que pues la suerte Nuestra va tan de caida, Que como os dieron la vida, Ansi mismo os den la muerte. O muros desta ciudad, Si podeis hablad, decid, Y mil veces repetid: Numantinos, libertad!

Return to SECOND SECTION. History of Spanish Poetry and Eloquence, from the Age of Cervantes and Lope de Vega to the Middle of the Seventeenth Century.