04-005
1877.03.19 and 1877.03.20. Manila, [Philippines].
From: Ricardo Aguado
TO: Jose Rizal
[Misc.]
Dedicated to Rizal by classmate Ricardo, 19 March 1877.
To my Dearest Friend, Jose Rizal, on His Saint’s Day, 19 March.
That merciful heart divine
Now lovingly inspires
My psaltery unrefined
With voices my mind doth seek
To sing its ardent love.
_______
Your pleasing image alone,
In my soft heart always engraved,
Now removes from me the fraud
The loved star from sailor forlorn
As in an agitated sea.
_______
For you’re, sweet friend of mine,
The only joy of my soul,
And always to be with you
Is my incessant desire
In this sad, unfortunate land.
_______
But since my luck denies
Me such happiness this day,
My Muse with tenderness
Its affection doth send to you
At this pleasant hour of joy.
_______
And cheerfully is content
Kind heaven to implore
To banish gloomy thoughts
Away from your lusty soul
And in it let dwell peace and joy.
_______
That, as the ardent rays
Of the sun eclipse feeble stars
With mortal grief,
As with belles-lettres you leave
Behind ‘neath your footprints the rest.
_______
That such enthusiasm your years
Frustration, wickedness, sad fears
Without perturbing your peace,
Like a brook among flowers gay
With thing of beauty pass by.
_______
And if one day finally
The Just calls you to His
Happy home of ineffable joy,
Your beautiful soul
May enjoy celestial bliss.
RICARDO AGUADO
Rizal,
Yesterday I could not give it to you because it was not yet finished, and then I went out and had no more time.
Don’t show these verses to anybody, not even to one you trust most.
(20 March 1877)