Mañanica era

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Mañanica era
Spanish source: Anon.

Mañanica era, mañana
de San Juan se decía al fin,
cuando aquella diosa Venus
dentro de un fresco jardín
tomando estaba la fresca
a la sombra de un jazmín,
cabellos en su cabeza,
parecía un serafín.
Sus mejillas y sus labios
como color de rubí
y el objeto de su cara
figuraba un querubín;
allí de flores floridas
hacía un rico cojín,
de rosas una guirnalda
para el que venía a morir,
¡ah!, lealmente por amores
sin a nadie descubrir.

It Was Early in the Morning
English translation © Lorena Paz Nieto

It was early in the morning, the morning of
San Juan* at last,
When that goddess Venus,
In a cool garden
Was taking in the fresh air
In the shade of a jasmine,
With hair upon her head,
As though she were a seraph.
Her cheeks and her lips
Like the colour of rubies,
And the aspect of her face
Resembled a cherub;
There, from blooming flowers
She fashioned a fine cushion,
Of roses a garland
For him who came to die -
Ah! - faithfully for love,
Without revealing it to anyone.

*San Juan (St John’s Day) is celebrated every year on 23rd June in Spain to mark the summer solstice and commemorate St John the Baptist.

Mañanica era
Spanish source: Anon.

It Was Early in the Morning
English source: Lorena Paz Nieto

Mañanica era, mañana
It was early in the morning, the morning of
de San Juan se decía al fin,
San Juan* at last,
cuando aquella diosa Venus
When that goddess Venus,
dentro de un fresco jardín
In a cool garden
tomando estaba la fresca
Was taking in the fresh air
a la sombra de un jazmín,
In the shade of a jasmine,
cabellos en su cabeza,
With hair upon her head,
parecía un serafín.
As though she were a seraph.
Sus mejillas y sus labios
Her cheeks and her lips
como color de rubí
Like the colour of rubies,
y el objeto de su cara
And the aspect of her face
figuraba un querubín;
Resembled a cherub;
allí de flores floridas
There, from blooming flowers
hacía un rico cojín,
She fashioned a fine cushion,
de rosas una guirnalda
Of roses a garland
para el que venía a morir,
For him who came to die -
¡ah!, lealmente por amores
Ah! - faithfully for love,
sin a nadie descubrir.
Without revealing it to anyone.