Childe Roland A La Torre Oscura Llegó

I My first thought was, he lied in every word, That hoary cripple, with the malicious eye Askance to watch the working of his lie On mine, and mouth scarce able to afford Suppression of the glee, that pursed and scored Its edge, at one more victim gained thereby. II What else should he be set for, with his staff? What, save to waylay with his lies, ensnare All travelers who might find him postedthere, And ask the road? I guessed what skull-like laugh Would break, what crutch 'gin write my epitaph For pastime in the dusty thoroughfare, III If at his counsel I should turn aside Into that ominous tract which, all agree, Hides the Dark Tower. Yet acquiesingly I did turn as he pointed: neither pride Nor hope rekindling at the end described, So much as gladness that some end might be. IV For,what with my whole world-wide wandering, What with my search drawn out through years, my hope Dwindled into a ghost not fit to cope With that obstreperous joy success would bring,I hardly tried now to rebuke the spring My heart made, finding failure in its scope. V As when a sick man very near to death Seems dead indeed, and feels begin and end The tears and takes the farewell of each friend, Andhears one bid the other go, draw breath Freelier outside, ("since all is o'er," he saith, "And the blow fallen no grieving can amend";) VI While some discuss if near the other graves Be room enough for this, and when a day Suits best for carrying the corpse away, With care about the banners, scarves and staves: And still the man hears all, and only craves He may not shame such tender love andstay. VII Thus, I had so long suffered in this quest, Heard failure prophesied so oft, been writ So many times among "The Band"- to wit, The knights who to the Dark Tower's search addressed Their steps- that just to fail as they, seemed best, And all the doubt was now- should I be fit? VIII So, quiet as despair, I turned from him, That hateful cripple, out of his highway Into the path he pointed. Allthe day Had been a dreary one at best, and dim Was settling to its close, yet shot one grim Red leer to see the plain catch its estray. IX For mark! no sooner was I fairly found Pledged to the plain, after a pace or two, Than, pausing to throw backward a last view O'er the safe road, 'twas gone; gray plain all round: Nothing but plain to the horizon's bound. I might go on; naught else remained todo. X So, on I went. I think I never saw Such starved ignoble nature; nothing throve:

I Mi primer pensamiento fue que mentía en cada palabra, Aquel viejo lisiado, con mirada maliciosa Observando con recelo el efecto de su mentira En la mía, y la boca apenas capaz de disimular El júbilo, que fruncía y perfilaba Su comisura, por así haber atrapado otra víctima. II ¿Para qué si no estaría éldispuesto con su cayado? ¿Para qué, salvo para acechar con sus mentiras, para enredar A todo viajero que lo hallase allí apostado Y preguntase el camino? Conjeturé qué risa cadavérica Estallaría, qué muleta escribiría mi epitafio Como pasatiempo en la polvorienta calzada, III Si por su consejo yo virase Hacia aquella ominosa región en la que, como todos saben, Se esconde la Torre Oscura. Aun así,aceptándolo, Me desvié hacia donde él señalaba: no por orgullo Ni por esperanza reavivados en el final señalado, Sino por la alegría de que existiese algún final. IV Porque, a pesar de mi vagabundeo por todo el mundo, A pesar de mi búsqueda que se alargaba a través de los años, mi esperanza Menguaba en un fantasma no preparado para poder Con ese turbulento regocijo que brindaría el éxito, Apenas podíaintentar reprimir ahora el salto Que dio mi corazón, al hallar un fallo en su aptitud. V Al igual que un hombre enfermo que se aproxima a su muerte Parece efectivamente muerto, y comienzan las sensaciones y terminan Las lágrimas y recibe la despedida de cada amigo, Y oye a uno proponer a otro marchar, para respirar Mas libremente en el exterior, (“puesto que todo terminó,” dijo él, “Y ningún...