Rima VI

by Gustavo Adolfo Bécquer
translated by Howard A. Landman


Como la brisa que la sangre orea
sobre el oscuro campo de batalla,
cargada de perfumes y armonías
en el silencio de la noche vaga;

símbolo del dolor y la ternura,
del bardo inglés en el horrible drama,
la dulce Ofelia, la razón perdida
cogiendo flores y cantando pasa.

Like a fresh breeze that dispels
a dark battlefield's bloody smells,
laden with harmonies and incense
in the vague night's silence;

symbol of tenderness and pain,
through the English bard's horrible play,
moves sweet Ophelia, reason devoured
singing songs and picking flowers.



Translations by others:


Like the breeze that dries the blood
Upon the darkening battle-field,
Laden with perfumes and sweet sounds,
In the vague silence of the night; -

Symbol of tenderness and grief,
The English bard in awful verse
The sweet Ophelia paints, who, mad,
Passes with flowers and with song.

Translated by Owen Innsly
Copyright ©1882 by A. Williams & Company

As wanders o'er a darkened field of blood,
Refreshing to the sense, a gentle breeze
In night and silence, with a grateful flood
Of perfumes fraught and pleasing harmonies,

So we may see the sweet Ophelia pass
Within the British poet's awful play,
Symbolical of grief and tenderness,
With songs and strewing flowers on her way.

Translated by Jules Renard
Copyright ©1908 by Richard G. Badger



Like to the breeze that touches blood
Upon the somber field of fray
And through the silences of night
Both harmonies and fragrance sows;

Symbol of pain and tenderness -
In the English bard's direful play
Sweet Ophelia, bereft of reason,
Singing and strewing blossoms goes.

Translated by Young Allison
Copyright ©1924 by Young Allison


Translation notes:

line 8: "cogiendo flores"
Cogiendo normally means taking, grabbing, picking up, gathering; thus I believe the use of "strewing" in other translations is inaccurate.

Next (Rima VII) Previous (Rima V) Becquer's Rimas Howard's poetry page Howard's home page

Copyright ©2001-2004 Howard A. Landman / howard@polyamory.org
Created 2001 November 14
Last updated 2004 May 20