Rima XIV

Te vi un punto, y, flotando ante mis ojos, la imagen de tus ojos se quedó, como la mancha obscura, orlada en el fuego, que flota y ciega si se mira al sol. Adondequiera que la vista fijo, torno a ver tus pupilas llamear; mas no te encuentro a ti; que es tu mirada: unos ojos, los tuyos, nada más. De mi alcoba en el ángulo los miro desasidos fantásticos lucir; cuando duermo los siento que se ciernen de par en par abiertos sobre mí. Yo sé que hay fuegos faustos que en la noche llevan al caminante a perecer: yo me siento arrastrado por mis ojos pero a donde me arrastran, no lo sé.			I saw you for an instant, and, floating before my eyes, the image of your eyes remained, like the dark spot, bordered in fire, that floats and blinds if I look at the sun. Wherever I fix my gaze it turns to see your pupils blaze; but I do not find you; only your glance: just eyes, yours, nothing more. From the corner of my bedroom I watch them let loose a fantastic light; when I sleep I feel they are hanging wide open over me. I know there are faerie fires at night that lead a traveler to his death: I feel pulled by your eyes but to where they pull me, I know not.
Translations by others:
I saw you for an instant as if by breezes blown; The image of your eyes remained imprisoned in my own. Like dusky blots encircled with fire, that dazzle one And seems to blind our vision while gazing at the sun. Relentlessly pursuing wherever I may gaze, I see their pupils follow me with a devouring blaze; It is not you, who troubles me, the rest I could ignore; It is your look, which haunts me, your eyes and nothing more. In the corner of my alcove with wild disordered stare I see them glowing, fixed on me in a fantastic glare. And when I sleep, I feel them hover above and glow, Awaiting the occasion to lay their victim low. I've heard of exhalations illuminating gloom, Which lead the trusting wanderer unto a wretched doom; I feel myself drawn onward as by an undertow, But where you eyes will lead me: alas, I do not know. Translated by Jules Renard Copyright ©1908 by Richard G. Badger			I saw thee once: and there before mine eyes The image of thine eyes doth ever run; Like to the dusky spot, berimmed with fire, That blinding floats when one beholds the sun. No matter whither I turn my gaze, Always to I behold thy pupils' flare; But never do I see thee - 'tis but thy glance; Just eyes, thine eyes - nothing more is there. Fitful and fantastical, their gleaming There in my chamber's corner is descried; Even while I am sleeping do I feel them Hovering o'er me, eyes open wide. I know that there are will-o'-the-wisps that lead The nighting traveler to his death to go; I feel myself drawn onward by thine eyes, But whither they draw me - that I do not know. Translated by Young Allison Copyright ©1924 by Young Allison