| Henry Wadsworth Longfellow (1807–1882). Complete Poetical Works. 1893. | | | | Appendix | II. Unacknowledged and Uncollected Translations.
The Disembodied Spirit |
| | By Hernando de Herrera
PURE Spirit! that within a form of clay | |
| Once veiled the brightness of thy native sky; | |
| In dreamless slumber sealed thy burning eye, | |
| Nor heavenward sought to wing thy flight away! | |
| He that chastised thee did at length unclose | 5 |
| Thy prison doors, and give thee sweet release;— | |
| Unloosed the mortal coil, eternal peace | |
| Received thee to its stillness and repose. | |
| Look down once more from thy celestial dwelling, | |
| Help me to rise and be immortal there,— | 10 |
| An earthly vapor melting into air;— | |
| For my whole soul, with secret ardor swelling, | |
| From earth’s dark mansion struggles to be free, | |
| And longs to soar away and be at rest with thee. | | | | |
|
|
