Camilo Pessanha: "Ao meu coração um peso de ferro"

It should come as no surprise, given my recent silence, that I do not come here bearing the promised translation of "Macau e a Gruta de Camões" for you to pore over. This is due to two things, really: being focused on finishing the first draft of my novel, and my frustration with Pessanha's essay, which is to say frustration with my inability to render it into English in a satisfactory manner. I've got a working version of the whole thing done, but there are a few lines that I fear getting completely wrong; the overall feel of the thing is hard to replicate, too.

So, for the time being, here is one of Pessanha's poems. A couple places online as well as in print (e.g., In A Country Lost) refer to it as "Canção da partida" ("Parting song" or "Song of departure"), while my reprint of the Edições Lusitania edition and the 2003 Assírio & Alvim edition of Clepsidra both identify the poem solely by its first line. Nothing in the editorial notes in the Assírio & Alvim Clepsydra (yes, this version uses the original spelling, at least in the title) gives me any clue as to how or why "Canção da partida" came into use, but I have not yet read said notes in their entirety. Long story short, I went with the original publication's lack of a title.

I haven't translated any of Pessanha's work in a while, so it felt good to take a break from writing prose to do this. I hope you enjoy it, caro leitor, and I'll try to write again soon.


D.A.S.


-----

"Ao meu coração um peso de ferro"


Ao meu coração um peso de ferro
Eu hei-de prender na volta do mar.
Ao meu coração um peso de ferro...
                        Lançá-lo ao mar.

Quem vai embarcar, que vai degredado,
As penas do amor não queira levar...
Marujos, erguei o cofre pesado,
                        Lançai-o ao mar.

E hei-de mercar um fecho de prata.
O meu coração é o cofre selado.
A sete chaves: tem dentro uma carta...
— A última, de antes do teu noivado.

A sete chaves, — a carta encantada!
E um lenço bordado... Esse hei-de o levar,
Que é para o molhar na água salgada
No dia em que enfim deixar de chorar.


***

"In my heart an iron weight"


In my heart an iron weight
I shall fasten to the sea.
In my heart an iron weight...
           Cast it into the sea.

He who embarks, who will be banished,
Does not wish to take along the pains of love...
Sailors, lift the heavy chest,
           Cast it into the sea.

And I shall buy a silver lock.
My heart is the sealed chest.
Under lock and key: there is a letter within...
—The last, from before your wedding day.

Under lock and key, — the enchanted letter!
And an embroidered handkerchief... that I must take,
To be soaked in salt water
On the day I finally cease to weep.