Una madre 3

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Una madre ~ A mother escrito por Fernán Caballero

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Ortografía original ~ Publicado en Nueva York, 1901 ~ [1]

Capítulo Segundo ‎La señora de C., viuda de un general de marina, tenía tres hijos; todos tres seguían la gloriosa carrera de su padre, y partían en esta armada para arrostrar la furia de los elementos, de los combates, y la brillante estrella de un Nelson. Sus tiernos ojos de madre, se fijaban en aquellos buques y los elevaba después al cielo, implorando la intercesión del Juez supremo. ‎No escuchaba ni veía, aunque estaba á su lado, á la anciana María, ama de aquellas criaturas, y perteneciente á la familia, si no por los vínculos de la sangre, por los del corazón. ‎— Señora — decía la anciana, sumiéndose las lágrimas con un valor y una abnegación de que sólo es capaz el más profundo cariño — ¿es por ventura la primera vez que les ha visto usted salir á la mar y les ha vuelto á ver buenos y salvos? ¿Ha perdido usted la confianza en Dios? ¿Quiere usted morir de pena antes de que vuelvan? ¡Vamos, valor! ‎Y María procuraba sonreirse; pero esta sonrisa era un último esfuerzo; alejábase con el corazón destrozado, y se acercaba á otro balcón para fijar sus ojos sobre aquellos barcos. ‎— ¡Ah, hijos míos! — murmuraba entre sollozos; — ¡nosotras que os hemos preservado con tanto esmero del menor viento; nosotras, que os lavábamos con agua templada por miedo de que os resfriase la fría; nosotras que vigilamos vuestro sueño como el de un enfermo; que no os dejábamos ir solos ni á la escuela! ¡Para qué tantos cuidados, si ahora tenemos que veros ir á arrostrar esas muertes! ¡Ay! ¿por qué esas vidas, que arriesgan los hombres como dinero al juego, han de tener raíz en el corazón de una mujer? ‎Luego María secaba sus ojos, y se acercaba á su señora para procurar consolarla.

Chapter Second ‎Madame de C., widow of a naval general, had three sons; all three followed the glorious career of their father, and went with this fleet to encounter the fury of the elements, of fighting, and the brilliant star of a Nelson. She fixed her tender maternal eyes on those ships, and then raised them towards Heaven, imploring the intercession of the Supreme Judge. ‎She was not listening to, nor did she see, although at her side, old Marie, nurse of these boys, who belonged to the family, if not by the tie of blood, yet by that of affection. ‎"Madame," said the old woman, smothering her tears with a bravery and a self-denial of which only the profoundest affection is capable — "is this perchance the first time that you have seen them go to sea and return again safe and sound ? Have you lost confidence in God? Do you wish to die of suffering before they return? Come, take courage!" ‎Maria tried to smile; but this smile was a last effort; she withdrew with a broken heart and approached another balcony so as to gaze at those ships. ‎"Ah, my children," she murmured between her sobs; "we who have protected you with so much solicitude from the slightest wind; we who have bathed you in tempered water for fear you should take cold; we who have watched over your sleep, like that of the sick; we who would not let you go alone to school! What has been the use of all this solicitude, if we must now see you departing to encounter death! Ah! why must that life, which men risk like money in gambling, be rooted in the heart of a woman?" ‎Maria then dried her eyes, and approached her mistress to try and console her.

Notas ~ Notes

Armada, navy.

Sir Horatio Nelson, ‎ was born on the 29th of September 1758, at Burnham Thorpe, Norfolk, of which place his father, Edmund Nelson, was rector. At the age of 13, he entered the royal navy, commencing his career in the Raisonnable commanded by his uncle Buckling. On account of this uncle becoming comptroller of the navy, his promotion was very rapid, and he attained the rank of Post-captain, before he was quite 21. He commenced to distinguish himself, by a series of noble deeds in the war with France. In 1793, in the siege of Calvir, Corsica, he lost one eye. He was the cause of the success of the English Navy over the Spanish in Cape St. Vincent, a few years later. He lost his right arm in an unfortunate expedition against Teneriffe. In 1798, being in command of the fleet, he obtained the great victory of the Nile. Honors after this were shown him from all parts: from England, with the title of Baron Nelson, and from the King ot Naples with that of Duke of Bronté. His next magnificent exploit was the battle of Copenhagen in 1801, but a crowning glory awaited him at Trafalgar, against the combined navies of France and Spain. Ere night, the power of both France and Spain upon the seas was annihilated, and Napoleon's threatened invasión of England had become an abortive dream.

No escuchaba, ‎ she was not listening.

Ama, ‎ nurse.

Sumiéndose, ‎ suppressing.

Procuraba sonreirse, ‎ tried to smile.

Sollozos, ‎ sobs.

Esmero, ‎ care.

Que vigilamos vuestro sueño, ‎ who watched your sleep.

Arrostrar esas muertes, ‎ to encounter death.

Ay! Ah! Alas! ‎ An exclamation of pain or grief.

Secaba, ‎ dried.