Texto original: Sem Tob de Carrión. Proverbios morales, eds. Paloma Díaz-Mas y Carlos Mota, Cátedra, 1998.
English translation: The Moral Proverbs of Santob de Carrión: Jewish Wisdom in Christian Spain. T.A. Perry. Princeton UP, 1987. Reproduced with permission of Princeton University Press in the format Copy via Copyright Clearance Center. S09
Los dos textos no siguen el mismo manuscrito por lo que hay pasajes en el texto original que no aparecen en la traducción. Estos se incluyen entre los vv. 25-29, 85-89, 109-13, 253-57).
Dedication to King Pedro1Peter the Cruel of Castile, 1334-69 (1-28)
1 Señor rey, noble, alto, oí este sermón
que viene dezir Santo, judío de Carrión,
Lord King, noble and high, hear this discourse, which Santob, the Jew from Carrión, comes forward to speak:
2 (5) comunalmente trobado, de glosas moralmente
de filosofía sacado, segunt aquí va siguiente.
[It is spoken] for the benefit of all, rhymed in the vulgar manner, and culled from glosses taken from moral philosophy, as [you will see from] the following.
3 (9) Quando el rrey don Alfonso finó, fincó la gente
como quando el pulso fallesçe al doliente.
When King Alfonso died,2Alfonso XI, I311-50 the people were left like a sick man when his pulse fails.
4 (13) Que luego non cuidavan que tan grant mejoría
a ellos fincaba, nin omne lo entendía.
For at the moment they did not reflect that such a cure remained, nor could anyone [even] imagine that it was possible.
5 (17) Quando la rosa seca e en su tiempo sale,
el agua d’ella finca rosada, que más vale;
When the dry rose leaves the world in its appointed time, its rose water remains, of greater worth.
6 (21) así vós fincastes d’el para muncho turar
e fazer lo que él cobdiçiava librar:
In the same way, you have survived him, in order to live a long life and do the things he wished to acquit:
7 (25) como la debda mía, que a vós muy poco monta,
con la qual yo podría bevir sin toda onta.
As, for example, the sum promised me, which is of slight worth to you but with which [if acquitted] I could live without any shame [of hardship].
8 Señor, a merçé vosa gradeçer non me trebo,
que por muyto que […] rosa non diría o que debo.
9 Merçé sin fin, con rrimas Ja moro esto […]
10 Segunt cuál raíç tien, el árbol así creçe;
cuál es el omre o quién, en sus obras pareçe;
11 cual ventura obiere, tal señor servirá,
que, qual señor sirviere, tal gualardón abrá,
12 porque toda la villa que faze algo de nada,
vean la maravilla de Dios cuánto es granda.
13 El cuerdo non consiente tomar de sus bondades
plazer cuando en miente le vienen sus maldades,
14 que, cuando es del punto a la rueda, justiçia
non monta del más justo ante de su maliçia.
15 El loco es su soçobra que anda muy pagado,
[…] buena obra se fizo no […]
16 cuántas malas ha fecho […] obiese seso,
andaría con derecho, triste, malapreso.
Prologue I: On Repentance (29-120)
1. MAN AND GOD (29-88)
17 (29) Yo estando con cueita por miedo de pecados
muchos que fiz, sin cuenta, menudos e granados,
Being in the anguish of fear over my sins–for I have committed many, without number, small and large-
18 (33) teníame por muerto, mas vínom al talante
un conorte muy çierto, que·m fizo bienandante:
I considered myself as dead. But a very reassuring comfort came to mind, which made me happy:
19 (37) omre torpe, sin seso, sería a Dios baldón
la tu maldat en peso poner con su perdón.
“Foolish, senseless man, it would be an insult to God for you to weigh your own malice on the scale of His forgiveness.
20 (41) Él te fizo nasçer, bibes en merçed suya:
¿cómo podrá vençer a su obra la tuya?
He has given you life, you live [only] through His mercy. How could your deeds surpass His?
21 (45) Pecar es la tu maña; la suya, perdonar
e alongar la saña, los yerros olvidar.
Your habit is to sin, and His, to pardon and to delay His anger, to forget misdeeds.
22 (49) Bien como es más alto el çielo que la tierra,
el su perdón es tanto mayor que la tu yerra.
Just as the heavens are higher than the earth,3Isa. 55:9 His pardon is that much larger than your sin;
23 (53) Segunt el poder suyo, tant es la obra suya;
segunt el poder tuyo, tal es la obra tuya.
According to His power, so great are His works; according to your power, so great are your works.
24 (57) Obrar de omne, que nada es todo el su fecho
e su vida penada es a muy poco trecho,
The works of man–for all his activity is as nothing and his painful life is of very brief span–
25 (61) ¿como serié tan granda como la del Criador,
que todo el mundo manda e faz en derredor
How could they be so great as those of the Creator, Who governs the whole world and causes to turn
26 (65) andar aquella rueda, del çielo e las estrellas,
que jamás nunca queda e sabe cuenta d’ellas?
That wheel,4The outermost or ninth sphere, which encircles the universe and gives it motion. the sun and the stars, which never ceases to turn, and He [alone] knows their number?5Ps. 147:4; Isa. 40: 2.6
27 (69) Cuanto el tu estado es ante la su gloria,
monta el tu pecado a su misericordia.
Just as your [human] estate measures up to His glory, to that same degree does your sin compare to His mercy.
28 (73) Sería cosa estraña, muy fuera de natura,
la tu yerra tamaña ser como su mesura.
It would be a strange and most unnatural thing for your misdeeds to be as great as His clemency.
29 (77) De aquesto non temas, que seer non podría,
e non tornes jamás en la tu rebeldía;
But this do not fear, for it could never be; and may you never return to your rebelliousness.
30 (81) mas te arrepentir e fazer oraçión
e merced le pedir con magnifestaçión
But repent and pray and ask forgiveness, with a detailed confession
31 (85) de todo lo pasado, e partir d’ello mano.
Con tanto, perdonado serás bien de liviano.
Of all your past [sins], and depart from them immediately: after this you will be easily forgiven.”
32 En sueño una fermosa besava una vegada,
estando muy medrosa de los de su posada;
33 fallé boca sabrosa, saliva muy temprada.
No vi tan dulçe cosa, más agra a la dexada.
2. MAN AND THE WORLD (89-II2)
34 (89) Non sabe la persona
torpe que se baldona
por las priesas del mundo
que nos da a menudo;
The fool does not understand, who complains of the sufferings that the world often inflicts upon us [all],
35 (93) Non sab que la manera
del mundo ésta era:
tener sienpre viciosos
a los onbres astrosos,
He does not understand that such are the ways of the world: for vile men to be held in esteem,
36 (97) e ser d’él guerreados
los omnes onrados.
Alça los ojos, cata:
verás en la mar alta,
And for honorable men to be warred against by it. Lift your eyes and consider; you will see that upon the high seas,
37 (101) e sobre las sus cuestas
andan cosas muertas,
e yacen çafondadas
en él piedras presçiadas;
And upon their banks float [only] dead things, but in the depths precious stones lie buried.
38 (105) e el peso así
avaxa otrosí
la más llena balança
e la más vazia alça.
Likewise, the scale similarIy lowers the fuller plate and raises up the emptier one.
39 (109) En el çielo estrellas,
sabe cuenta d’ellas
non escuresçen una
sinon el sol e la luna.
And among the stars of the sky–and He [alone) knows their number–none suffers eclipse except the sun and the moon.
40 Un astroso cuidava, y, por mostrar que era
sotil, yo le enbiava escripto de tisera.
41 El nesçio non sabia que lo fiz por infinta,
por que yo no quería perder en él la tinta;
42 ca, por no le deñar, fize vazia la llena
y no·l quise donar la carta sana, buena:
43 como el que tomava meollos d’avellanas
para sí y donava al otro caxcas vanas,
44 yo del papel saqué la razón que dezía;
con ella me finqué, díle carta vazía.
45 (113) Las mis cañas teñílas, non por las aborresçer
nin por desdezirlas, nin mançebo paresçer:
I have dyed my gray hair not out of dislike or to give the lie or appear boyish,
46 (117) mas con miedo sobejo que hombres que buscarían
en mí seso de viejo e non lo fallarían.
But out of a very great fear of my fellow humans, who would seek in me the wisdom of an elder and not find it.
Prologue II: The Author and the Jew (121-212)
47 (121) Pues trabajo me mengua donde puede aver
pro, diré de mi lengua algo de mi saber.
Since I lack an occupation from which to derive benefit, I will share, through speech, some of my learning.
48 (125) Si non es lo que quiero, quiera yo lo que es;
si pesar he primero, plazer avré después.
If it is not what I wish, may I wish what it is; if at first I get pain, I will later get pleasure.
49 (129) Mas, pues aquella rueda del çielo una ora
jamas non está queda, peora e mejora,
Since that wheel of heaven is never still for a single hour,6Sec. 1, v. 65 getting worse or better,
50 (133) aun aqueste laso renovará el esprito;
este pandero manso, aún el su retinto
This weary soul will also renew its spirits, this meek drum will again sound
51 (137) sonará; verná día avrá su libra tal
presçio como solía valer el su quintal.
Its beat; the day will come [when] his pound will again be worth a hundred.
52 (141)–Yo prové lo pesado, provaré lo liviano;
quiçá mudaré fado cuando mudare la mano,
I have experienced the heavy, [now] I will experience the light;7“Heavy” and “light” render pesado and liviano; these metaphorical allusions are unclear in changing my opinion perhaps I can change my luck.
53 (145)–resçelé, si fablase, que enojo faría;
pero si me callase, por torpe fincaría.
I feared that, if I spoke, I would cause annoyance; but if I remained silent, [I feared that] I would be considered a fool.
54 (149)–que el que non se muda, non falla lo que plaz;
dizen que ave muda, agüero nunca faz.
For he who does not change his place does not find what he likes; they say that a mute bird cannot serve to predict the future.
55 (153)–Por que pisan poquiella sazón tierra, perlando,
omes que pisa ella para sienpre callando;
Since humans, with all their powers of speech, walk upon the earth for but a brief time, that earth which, silent, will walk upon them forever [in the gravel],
56 (157)–Entendí que en callar avrié grant mejoría;
aborresçí fablar e fuéme peoría;
I concluded that silence would be the better course: I [therefore] avoided speaking, and things [only] got worse.
57 (161)–que non só para menos que otros de mi ley,
que ovieron muy buenos donadíos del rey.
Yet I am not worse than others of my religion who have received good gifts from the King.
58 (165)–Mas vergüença afuera me tiró y a pro;
si no, tanto no fuera sin honra y sin pro.
But a sense of modesty held me back and changed my mind; otherwise, I would not be so destitute of honor and profit.
59 (169)–Si mi razón es buena, non sea despresçiada
porque la diz presona rafez, que mucha espada
Even if my discourse is not great, it should not be despised because spoken by a modest person: for many a sword
60 (173)–de fin azero sano sab de rota vaína
salir, e del gusano se faz la seda fina,
Of good and fine steel comes from a torn sheath. and it is from the worm that fine silk is made.
61 (177)–e astroso garrote faze muy çiertos trechos,
e algunt roto pellote encubre blancos pechos,
And a miserable catapult can be most accurate, and a torn skin can [still manage to] cover up white breasts;
62 (181)–e muy sotil trotero aduze buenas nuevas,
e muy vil vocero presenta çiertas pruevas.
And a conniving messenger can bring good news, and a lowly lawyer can introduce truthful arguments.
63 (185)–Por nasçer en espino non val la rosa, çierto,
menos, nin el buen vino por salir del sarmiento.
for being born on the thornbush, the rose is certainly not worth less, nor is good wine if taken from the lesser branches of the vine.
64 (189)–Non val el açor menos por nasçer de mal nido,
nin los enxemplos buenos por los dezir judío.
Nor is the hawk worth less, if born in a poor nest; nor are good proverbs [of less value] if spoken by a Jew.
65 (193)–No·m desdeñen por corto, que mucho judío largo
non entrarié a coto fazer lo que yo fago.
Let them not disdain me as short of learning, for many an important Jew would not venture to within a hand’s breadth of doing what I am doing.
66 (197)–Bien sé que nunca tanto cuatro trechos de lança
alcançarían cuanto la saeta alcança,
I am well aware [though others aren’t] that [even] four throws of a spear cannot reach as far as an arrow reaches;
67 (201)–e razón muy granada se diz en pocos versos,
e çinta muy delgada sufre costados gruesos.
And an important discourse can be said in few verses, and a narrow belt can encompass heavy ribs.
68 (205)–e mucho omne entendido, por seer vergonçoso,
es por torpe tenido e llamado astroso,
Many an intelligent man, through being modest, is considered foolish and called miserable.
69 (209)–e, si viese sazón, mejor e más apuesta
diría su razón qu’el que lo denuesta.
But if he saw the opportunity, he would speak his piece better and more appropriately than he who denigrates him.
1. THE WORLD: ITS WAYS AND ITS THINGS (213-380)
70 (213)–Quiero dezir del mundo e de las sus maneras
e commo de él dubdo, palabras muy çerteras,
l wish to speak, concerning the world and its ways and my doubts about it, very truthful words.
71 (217)–que non sé tomar tiento nin fazer pleitesía;
de acuerdos más de çiento me torno cada día.
For I am unable to find a mean or reach any decision; I retreat from more than a hundred resolutions every day.
A. The Ways of the World and the Relativity of Judgment (221-92)
72 (221)–Lo que uno denuesta, veo a otro loallo;
lo que éste apuesta, veo a otro afeallo;
What one man denigrates l see another praise; what this one considers beautiful another finds ugly.
73 (225)–la vara que menguada la diz el comprador,
esta mesma, sobrada la diz el vendedor;
The measuring rod that the buyer calls short, this same rod is called long by the seller.
74 (229)–el que lança la lança seméjal vagarosa,
pero al que alcança seméjal presurosa;
The one who throws the spear considers it slow, but the man that it reaches finds it speedy enough.
75 (233)–farían dos amigos çinta de un anillo
en que dos enemigos non metrién un dedillo;
Two friends would bind themselves in the same ring in which two enemies would not put [even] a finger.
76 (237)–con lo que Lope gana, Rodrigo empobresçe;
con lo que Sancho sana, Domingo adolesçe.
What brings gain to Lope brings poverty to Domingo; what heals Sancho brings sickness to Pedro.
77 (241)–Quien a fazer senblante de su vezino tiene
ojo, sin catar ante lo que a él conviene,
He who looks to emulate his neighbor without considering first what is appropriate for himself,
78 (245)–en muy grant yerro puede caher muy de rafez,
que una cosa pide la sal, otra la pez.
That man can very easily fall into very grave error, for salt requires one thing and pitch another.
79 (249)–Por lo que este faze cosa, otro la dexa;
con lo que a mí plaze mucho, otro se quexa.
Two people can do opposite things for the same reason; of what pleases me greatly another complains.
80 (253)–El sol la sal atiesta e la pez emblandesçe,
la mexilla faz prieta, el lienço emblanquesçe,
The sun hardens salt but softens pitch; it darkens the complexion but bleaches linens.
81 (257)–e él es eso mismo así en su altura,
cuando faz frío como cuando faz calura.
[But] in its height [above the earth] it is the same, as much when the weather is cold as when it is warm.
82 (261)–Con frío fázel fiesta e le sal al encuentro,
al que da en la tiesta es la puerta en ruestro.
In cold weather the sun brings honor to a man and goes out to greet him; but whoever it strikes on the head gets a door slammed in his face.
83 (265)–Cuand viento se levanta –ya apelo, ya aviengo–,
la candela amata, ençiende el grant fuego;
When the wind comes up, first I agree then disagree: it puts out the candle but also kindles a great fire.
84 (269)–dó luego por sentençia, que es bien del cresçer
e tomar grant acuçia por ir bollesçer,
I immediately render the judgment that it is good to grow in strength and show great diligence in order to become active;
85 (273)–que por la su flaqueza la candela murió,
e por su fortaleza el grant fuego vivió;
For it is because of its weakness that the flame of the candle died, and because of its strength that the great fire lived.
86 (277)–mas apelo a poco rato d’este juïzio,
que vi escapar el flaco e peresçer el rezio,
But within a short time I appeal this decision, for I see the weak escape and the strong perish.
87 (281)–que ese mesmo viento que estas dos fazía
fizo çoçobra d’esto en este mesmo día:
For the same wind that acted upon those two [i.e., the candle and the great fire] in the same day destroyed this other one:
88 (285)–él mesmo menuzó el árbol muy granado
e non se espeluzó d’él la yerba del prado.
The same [wind] shattered a very great tree, but the grass of the meadow was not terrified at its passing.
89 (289)–Quien sus casas se·l queman, grant pesar ha del viento,
cuando sus eras toman con él gran pagamiento.
He who is being burned up in his house receives great pain from the wind; [but] when he winnows his grain he is very delighted with it.
Conclusions: The Author’s Doubts (293-316)
90 (293)–Por end, non sé jamás tener me a una estaca,
nin sé cuál me val mas, si prieta o si blanca.
Wherefore, I am never able to attach my opinion to a single stake; nor do I know which [shade] will avail me more, dark or light.
91 (297)–Cuan cuido que derecho en toda cosa presta,
fallo a poco trecho que non es cosa çierta:
When I assume that straight justice is correct in every instance, I find in short time that this too is not certain.
92 (301)–si a uno a pro ha, a otro caro cuesta;
si el peso lo loa, el arco lo denuesta,
lf one man benefits, another it costs dearly; if the scale praises it, the bow denigrates it.
93 (305)–qu’el derecho del arco es seer tuerto fecho,
e su plazer del marco aver peso derecho.
For it is the “straight” justice of the bow to be made “crooked,” whereas it pleases the mark to have just weights.
94 (309)–Por end, non puedo cosa loar nin denostalle
nin dezirle fermosa, sol nin fea llamarle.
Wherefore, I can neither praise nor denounce a thing [entirely], nor call it only beautiful or ugly.
95 (313)–Segunt es el lugar e la cosa qual es,
se faz priesa vagar e faz llaman envés.
According to the circumstances and the nature of a thing, fast can be called slow and heads can be called tails.
B. The World’s Mutability (317-52)
96 (317)–Yo nunca he querella del mundo, de que muchos
lo han, e que por ella se tienen por maltrechos:
I never complain about the world: as many do. For they consider themselves dishonored by it, [claiming that]
97 (321)–que faz bien a menudo al torpe; e al sabio,
mal, e al entendudo –de aquesto non me agrabio–;
It often does good to the fool as well as the sage (but the man of understanding does view this seriously
98 (325)–e bestia como omre salva; como grande, chico;
faz al acuçioso pobre e al que se duerme, rico.
May He save both beast and man, great or small!). The world makes the diligent man poor and the sleeping man rich.
99 (329)–Aquesto Dios usa porque vno de çiento
no cuide que faz cosa por su entendimiento.
God does this so that not even one in a hundred can claim that he does anything by his own understanding.
100 (333)–Unos vi por locura alcançar grant probecho
e otros por cordura perder todo su fecho:
I have seen some achieve great benefit through foolishness, while others, through prudence, lose their entire undertaking.
101 (337)–non es buena cordura que a su dueño baldona
nin es mala locura la que lo apersona.
That foolishness is not good which brings dishonor to its holder, nor is that foolishness bad which inspires respect.
102 (341)–Yo vi muchos tornar sanos de la contienda,
otros ocasionar dentro de la su tienda;
I have seen many return unscathed from battle and others lie in danger within their own field tents.
103 (345)–e muere el dotor que la física reza,
e guareçe el pastor con la su gran torpeza.
And the doctor who recites his medical knowledge dies [nevertheless], while the shepherd is cured with all his great ignorance.
104 (349)–Non cumple gran saber a los que Dios non temen,
nin tien pro el aver del que pobres non comen.
Great knowledge is of no avail to those who do not fear God; nor is there benefit from wealth from which the poor do not eat.
Conclusion; The True Good and the Necessity of Change (353-80)
105 (353)–Cuando yo meto mientes, muy alegre sería
con lo que otros tristes veo de cada día.
When I consider the matter, I would be very happy with what I daily see causes sadness in others.
106 (357)–Pues si çertero bien es aquel que cobdiçio,
¿por qué el que lo tien non toma con él viçio?
For if the true good is whatever I desire, then why doesn’t the man who already possesses it enjoy it?
107 (361)–Mas esta es señal que non ha bien certero
en mundo, nin ha mal que sea verdadero.
This suggests that there is no true good in this world, nor is there any real evil.
108 (365)–Bien çertero, serviçio de Dios es ciertamente;
mas por catar al viçio, olvídanlo la gente.
The service of God truly is a true good, but people forget this in their pursuit of pleasure.
109 (369)–E otro bien a par d’este: el serviçio del rey,
que mantiene la gente a derecho a ley.
And another good similar to this: service to the King, for he sustains the people through justice and law.
110 (373)–Suma de la razón: es muy gran torpedat
lebar toda sazón por una egualdat,
The sum of the matter: it is great foolishness to consider all things as equal.
111 (377)-mas, tornarse a menudo, como el mundo se torna:
bezes seer escudo e as vezes açcona.
Rather, let a man change often just as the world changes: at times [let him be] a shield and at times a spear.