The serpent closes its ear

The serpent closes its ear, translation Rita Faria

 

The serpent closes its ear

to the voice of the enchanter;

I didn’t, and now in fear,

I wish I would lose my senses.

Those who know of the sea

from the Mermaids’ cry flee;

I could not guard my defences:

I went to hear your word, 

My life and soul I spurned.

 

Cerra a serpente os ouvidos, Sá de Miranda

 

Cerra a serpente os ouvidos

à voz do encantador; 

eu nam, e agora, com dor,

quero perder meus sentidos.

Os que mais sabem do mar 

fogem d’ouvir as Sereas;

eu não me soube guardar:

fui-vos ouvir nomear,

fiz minh’alma e vida alheas.

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Rita Faria is a professor at the Catholic University of Portugal. She doesn’t know how to do anything else apart from reading and writing and wants to do nothing else apart from reading and writing. Besides this, she enjoys horror films, vampires, ghosts and zombies in general and thinks the Portuguese language is the most fun in the whole world.