"Itaca"/"Ithaca", de/by Konstantínos Pétrou Kaváfis
Si vas a emprender el viaje hacia Itaca, ........................................ When you set out on your journey to Ithaca,
pide que tu camino sea largo, ....................................................... pray that the road is long,
rico en experiencias, en conocimiento. .......................................... full of adventure, full of knowledge.
A Lestrigones y a Cíclopes, ........................................................... The Lestrygonians and the Cyclops,
al airado Poseidón nunca temas, .................................................. the angry Poseidon -- do not fear them:
no hallarás tales seres en tu ruta ................................................ You will never find such as these on your path,
si alto es tu pensamiento y limpia ................................................. if your thoughts remain lofty, if a fine
la emoción de tu espíritu y tu cuerpo. ........................................... emotion touches your spirit and your body.
A Lestrigones ni a Cíclopes, .......................................................... The Lestrygonians and the Cyclops,
ni a fiero Poseidón hallarás nunca, ............................................... the fierce Poseidon you will never encounter,
si no los llevas dentro de tu alma, ................................................ if you do not carry them within your soul,
si no es tú alma quien ante ti los pone. ......................................... if your soul does not set them up before you.
Pide que tu camino sea largo. ....................................................... Pray that the road is long.
Que numerosas sean las mañanas de verano ............................. That the summer mornings are many, when,
en que con placer, felizmente ...................................................... with such pleasure, with such joy
arribes a bahías nunca vistas; ...................................................... you will enter ports seen for the first time;
detente en los emporios de Fenicia ............................................... stop at Phoenician markets,
y adquiere hermosas mercancías, ................................................. and purchase fine merchandise,
madreperla y coral, y ámbar y ébano, ........................................... mother-of-pearl and coral, amber and ebony,
perfumes deliciosos y diversos, .................................................... and sensual perfumes of all kinds,
cuanto puedas invierte en voluptuosos y delicados perfumes; ..... as many sensual perfumes as you can;
visita muchas ciudades de Egipto .................................................. visit many Egyptian cities,
y con avidez aprende de sus sabios. ............................................. to learn and learn from scholars.
Ten siempre a Itaca en la memoria. ............................................... Always keep Ithaca in your mind.
Llegar allí es tu meta. ................................................................... To arrive there is your ultimate goal.
Mas no apresures el viaje. ........................................................... But do not hurry the voyage at all.
Mejor que se extienda largos años; .............................................. It is better to let it last for many years;
y en tu vejez arribes a la isla ....................................................... and to anchor at the island when you are old,
con cuanto hayas ganado en el camino, ....................................... rich with all you have gained on the way,
sin esperar que Itaca te enriquezca. ............................................ not expecting that Ithaca will offer you riches.
Itaca te regaló un hermoso viaje. .................................... Ithaca has given you the beautiful voyage.
Sin ella el camino no hubieras emprendido. ..................... Without her you would have never set out on the road.
Mas ninguna otra cosa puede darte. .............................. She has nothing more to give you.
Aunque pobre la encuentres, no te engañará Itaca. ........ And if you find her poor, Ithaca has not deceived you.
Rico en saber y en vida, como has vuelto, ........................ Wise as you have become, with so much experience,
comprendes ya qué significan las Itacas. .......................... you must already have understood what Ithacas mean
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