El pensador llegó a la barca negra:y le vieron hundirseen las brumas del lago del Misterio,los ojos de los Cisnes.
Su manto de poetareconocieron los ilustres lises,y el laurel y la espina entremezcladossobre la frente triste.
A lo lejos alzábanse los murosde la ciudad teológica en que vivela sempiterna Paz.
La negra barcallegó a la ansiada costa y el sublimeespíritu gozó la suma gracia:y vió la cruz erguirse,y halló al pie de la sacra Vencedorael helado cadáver de la Esfinge.
English Translation On the Death of a
Only the Swans that day Saw the high maker of our thoughts
And on the Lake Mysterious fade
In the black ship that crosses to the dark.
The poet's robe was his,
Embroidered with illustrious fleurs-de-lys;
And laurel leaf and
His sad prefigured forehead did adorn.
Afar God's City rose,
Where everlasting Peace her throne has
Above the poppy-meadows of repose;
And as the coat of his desire he neared,
He proved divine delight, knew grace untold,
Beheld the Cross uplifted and,
That sacred Conqueror,
The fallen Sphinx, a corpse already cold.
