Al buen Pedro

To Good Pedro

Al buen Pedro

They say, good Pedro, that you gossip about meDicen, buen pedro, que de mí murmuras
Because my hair's a mess behind my earsPorque tras mis orejas el cabello
In curly waves it lifts its flow.En crespas ondas su caudal levanta.
Tell them, you scoundrel, that while you feast,¡diles, bribón, que mientras tú en festines,
In golden broths and fragrant fruits,En rubios caldos y en fragantes pomas,
Among the young ladies of the sly north,Entre mancebas del astuto norte,
You drink the bloody sweat of your slaves,De tus esclavos el sudor sangriento
Twisted into careless gold,Torcido en oro descuidado bebes,
Thoughtful, feverish, pale, serious,Pensativo, febril, pálido, grave,
I break my bread at a lonely tableMi pan rebano en solitaria mesa
Pleading, oh sad one! to the deaf airPidiendo ¡oh triste! al aire sordo modo
To free the servant from his misfortuneDe libertar de su infortunio al siervo
And from your disgrace, you!Y de tu infamia a ti!
And in these moments,Y en estos lances,
It often happens, Pedro, that in the tight purseSuéleme, pedro, en la apretada bolsa
The coin that the barber demandsFaltar la monedilla que reclama,
Is missing, with his damp hands.Con sus húmedas manos el barbero.