More than Muses

What I Cannot Recover

A translation into English of O que recobrar não posso, a by Filipa de Almada. Translation by Valerie Hegstrom.

Translation

What to me cannot be restored,

World in inconstant order clad,

makes it so I do not want your

good, nor do I desire your bad.

 

It pleases me more thus to live

in limbo between these favors

than that your sad loves’ disfavors

should hold me as a captive.

 

It grieves me that I supposed your

evil to be other than bad;

It pleases me that now for sure

I know and trust you more than I had.