Portuguese Sea

Oh salty main, this salt of yours,

How much of it is Portugal’s tears!

By crossing you, how many mothers would wail,

How many children prayed to no avail!

How many brides would unmarried remain

For you to become ours, oh salty main!

Was it worth the trouble? Everything is worth the trouble

If the soul is not too small.

He who wants to go beyond Bojador

Has to get beyond the torture.

Danger and the abyss God gave the ocean.

But mirrored in it is heaven.

translated by Martin Earl for