The Visions of Dom Francisco de Quevedo VillegasQuevedo, Francisco de
General
The Visions of Dom Francisco de Quevedo Villegas
Quevedo, Francisco de
Satire; Spanish literature -- Translations into English
The old man had his words yet between his teeth, when there passed just
by us a lady of pleasure, of so excellent a shape and garb, that it was
impossible to see her without a passion for her, and no less impossible
to look upon anything else, so long as she was to be seen. They that had
seen her once were to see her no more, for she turned her face still to
new-comers. Her motion was graceful and free. One while she’d stare ye
full in the eyes, under colour of opening her hood, to set it in better
order. By and by she’d steal a look at ye with one eye, and a side face,
from the corner of her visor, like a witch that’s afraid to be known when
she comes from a caterwaul. And then out comes the delicate hand, and
discovers the more delicious neck, and breasts, to adjust the handkercher
or the scarf, or to remove some other grievance that made her ladyship
uneasy. Her hair was most artificially disposed into careless rings; and
the best red and white in nature was in her cheeks, if that of her lips
and teeth did not exceed it. In a word, all she looked upon was her own;
and this was the vision for my money, from all the rest. As she was
marching off, I could not choose but take up a resolution to follow her.
But my old man laid a block in the way, and stopped me at the very
starting; which was an affront to a man that was both in love and in
haste, that might very well stir his choler. “My officious friend,” said
I, “he that does not love a woman sucked a sow. And questionless, he
must be either blind or barbarous that’s proof against the charms of so
divine a beauty. Nor would any but a sot let slip the blessed
opportunity of so fair an encounter. A handsome woman? why, what was she
made for, but to be loved? And he that has her, has all that’s lovely or
desirable in nature. For my own part, I would renounce the world for the
fellow of her, and never desire anything either beyond her, or beside
her. What lightning does she carry in her eyes! What charms, and chains
in her looks, and motions, for the very souls of her beholders! Was ever
anything so clear as her forehead? or so black as her eyebrows? One
would swear that her complexion had taken a tincture of vermilion and
milk: and that nature had brought her into the world with pearl and
rubies in her mouth. To speak all in little, she’s the masterpiece of
the creation, worthy of infinite praise, and equal to our largest desires
and imaginations.”
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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