Algo de lo pastorcito, when its walls I chanced to see: 'Twas from yonder high Sierra's cloud-encircled summit; where a Vagabunda negra perra, which I loved, had gone astray, Sus esplandientes tejas, blancas como mis ovejas, I could see and count the rejas, tho' 'twas twenty leagues away." Struck by what the priest related, for a while I meditated How to find if what he stated were the very truth, or no. Then I said, "You live so near it, that methinks 'tis somewhat queer it Is not better known down here." "It, Senor," said he, "is not so! Por, sus gallos y gallinas, envueltos en basquinas Viven en profundas minas, lest they should be heard to crow." Slily to DOLORES winking, straight I left the Padre drinking, And departed quickly, thinking, "I will make a journey there." Soon I paid the Mesoñero; sought me out an Arrièro, Asked the road, and hired a pair o' steady mules and paid the fare. Dificil y peregrino se mostraba el camino; Nunca Mulatèro vino on that lonely road before; Por las selvas mas obscuras, y profundas espesuras, Where the jaguar would be sure, as we appeared, to give a roar, Por los montes y fuentes, y arroyas sin puentes, Where the alligator spent his leisure hours, on we bore; Till the Mulatèro dying, I was forced to leave him, lying On the mountain after trying circulation to restore. Then for want of preparation for my novel situation I was threatened with starvation; ate the very clothes I wore; Comi yo de las albardas por el tanto Sol asadas; Cenè de las almohadas sodden in the streams I past; Till one day, desaliñado, flaco, manco, fatigado, I attained (A! desdichado!) Iximaya's walls at last.