“Poderoso Caballero es Don Dinero”
“Poderoso Caballero es Don Dinero” from Antología poética / Francisco de Quevedo; edición de Roque Esteban Scarpa - By Francisco De Quevedo y Villegas (1580-1645) , edited by Esteban Scarpa, translated by Griffin Brown.
Mighty knight
It's Mr. Money .
Mother, I humble myself to gold:
He is my lover and my beloved,
because he was so in love,
constantly yellow;
So, doubloon or single,
he does everything I want,
mighty knight;
It's Mr. Money.
He was born in the Indies, honored,
where the world accompanies him,
coming to die in Spain
and then buried in Genoa;
and, well, he who brings him to the side
It is beautiful, even if it is fierce,
mighty knight
It's Mr. Money .
He is handsome and like gold;
He has broken color;
he is a person of great value,
as Christian as Moor;
because it gives and takes away decorum
and breaks any law,
mighty knight
It's Mr. Money .
They are their main parents,
and is of noble descent,
because in the veins of the East
all bloods are real;
and, well, it is he who makes equals
to the duke and the rancher,
mighty knight
It's Mr. Money .
But who does not marvel?
see in his limitless glory,
which is the least his house,
Lady Blanca of Castile?
But, then it gives the low chair
and makes a coward a warrior,
mighty knight
It's Mr. Money .
His noble coats of arms-
They are always so important
that without their royal shields,
there are no family crests;
and, well, to the same oaks
greed is given to its miner,
mighty knight
It's Mr. Money .
For importing into deals
and for giving such good advice
in the homes of the old
cats protect you from other cats;
and, well, he breaks modesty
and softens the most severe judge,
mighty knight
It's Mr. Money .
And such is his majesty,
although his duels are many,
that having made quarters,
does not lose his authority;
but, well, it gives quality
to the nobleman and the beggar,
mighty knight
It's Mr. Money .
I never saw ungrateful women
to your liking and purpose,
that on the faces of a coin
they make these faces cheap;
and so he makes the bravado
from a leather bag,
mighty knight
It's Mr. Money .
He is valuable in any land
-Look how clever he is!-
their shields in peace,
Those same shields in war;
and, well, he buries the poor man
and makes the stranger his own,
mighty knight
It's Mr. Money .
Poem Courtesy of https://www.cervantesvirtual.com/obra/antologia-poetica--39/
