Translation of “Soneto” by Victoria Nahley
Feliciano worships me and I detest him;
Lisardo detests me and I adore him;
for him who does not long for me, I’m weeping,
and he who weeps for me, I don’t crave.
To him who’s tarnish me most, my soul I offer;
to him who’d sacrifice for me, I tarnish;
I scorn him who’d enrich my reputation,
and he who’d scorn it, I enrich.
If I complain that one of them reprimands me,
the other reprimands me for some offense;
and I suffer either way,
because both torture my feelings:
the latter with asking for what I don’t have;
and the former by not having what I ask.