The Light of Philosophy by Angelina Vidal

VII

What can we do with the grand fighters,
That fling the fragrant flowers into History,
And water the fruits of the hereafter with their blood?
What fountains of splendor are we going to unleash
At the clairvoyant Denton, at Lincoln, at Blanqui,
     The martyr who grins
Amidst the mist of the night of torment?
What have we to offer the costumes of Thinking?

I never supported Thiers, nor the stool pigeon of Russia!
I detested humanity, and vindictive cunning…
The blood of the Community, the tears of Jessa,
They formed in silence the resplendent head
     Of unstoppable revolt!

The monster that commands, in the middle of a convoy
The cruel maneuvers that create the orphanage,
Is more feral than a tiger, and degrades Humanity,
     And must have in mind
The infamy of Javheh, and the serpent’s hate.

How could I have flattered the ignorant monarch?
How could I possibly extol a being of a brutal front?
Pombal kissed the fatherland, and shattered its breast;
It made war on Superstition, and postponed the yearning
     Of the faithful to come!
Carried its name to glory, and after caused its fall.

 

——

Que se ha de então fazer aos grandes luctadores,
Que lançam sobre a Historia as olorosas flores,
E regam com seu sangue os fructos do porvir?
Que fontes de esplendor iremos nós abrir
Ao vidente Danton, a Lincoln, a Blanqui,
     O martyr que sorri
Por entre a cerração da noute do tormento?
Que havemos de offertar aos soes do Pensamento?

Nunca apoiei Thiers, nem o chacal da Russia!
Detesto a immanidade, e a vingativa astucia…
O sangue da Communa, as lagrimas de Jessa,
Formaram no silencio a fulgida cabeça
     Da indomavel revolta!

O monstro que commanda, em meio de uma escolta
As manobras crueis que geram a orphandade,
É mais feroz que um tigre, e avilta a Humanidade,
     E deve ter na mente
A infamia de Javheh, e os odios da serpente.

Como hei de eu incensar a monarchista treva?
Como hei de então louvar um ser de fronte seva?
Pombal beijou a patria, e espedaçou-lhe o seio;
Fez guerra ao Preconceito, e prostergou o anceio
     Dos crentes do porvir!
Levou seu nome á Gloria, e fel-o após cahir.

 

——

Angelina Vidal (1847-1917) was a Portuguese writer and editor who fought for women’s rights. This poem is an excerpt from O Marquez de Pombal Á Luz da Philosophia.