The thought in the poem recalls that of Heine's _Ich hab' im Traum
geweinet_. Becquer's verses are less musical, but the sentiment
expressed by them is less artificial, and gives evidence of more
real bitterness of heart.

I wept while I was dreaming
That thou didst buried lie;
I woke, and with my weeping
My cheeks were not yet dry.

I wept while I was dreaming
That thou hadst gone from me;
I woke, and still kept weeping
Full long and bitterly.

I wept while I was dreaming
That thou didst love me well;
I woke, and--woe is me, love--
My tears are flowing still.

_Lyrical Intermezzo, no. 59, translated by Chas. G. Leland._]

LXIX[1]

Al brillar un relampago[2] nacemos,
Y aun dura su fulgor, cuando morimos:
iTan corto es el vivir![3]
La gloria y el amor tras que corremos,
Sombras de un sueno son que perseguimos:
iDespertar es morir!

[Footnote 1: Each stanza of this poem is composed of two
hendecasyllabic verses of the first class, followed by a
heptasyllabic _verso agudo_. The rhyme scheme of the poem is a, b,
c, a, b, c.]

[Footnote 2: Al brillar un relampago = 'At a lightning's flash';
that is to say, at the first gleam from a flash of lightning.

[Footnote 3: Tan corto es el vivir. The brevity of human life is
naturally enough a favorite theme with poets. Compare--

A Moment's Halt--a momentary taste
Of BEING from the Well amid the Waste--
And Lo!--the phantom Caravan has reached
The NOTHING it set out from--
Oh, make haste!

_The Rubaiyat of Omay Khayyam, 48th quatrain, Edward Fitzgerald's
translation._]

LXXIII[1]

Cerraron sus ojos
Que aun tenia abiertos;
Taparon su cara
Con un blanco lienzo:
Y unos sollozando,
Otros en silencio,
De la triste alcoba
Todos se salieron.

La luz, que en un vaso,
Ardia en el suelo,
Al muro arrojaba
La sombra del lecho;
Y entre aquella sombra
Veiase a intervales,
Dibujarse rigida
La forma del cuerpo.

Despertaba el dia,
Y a su albor primero
Con sus mil ruidos
Despertaba el pueblo.
Ante aquel contraste
De vida y misterios,
De luz y tinieblas,
Medite un momento:
"_iDios mio, que solos
se quedan los muertos!!_"

De la casa en hombros
Llevaronla al templo,
Y e