Jose Selgas y Carrasco

Jose Selgas y Carrasco Poems

Jose Selgas y Carrasco Biography

José Selgas y Carrasco (b. at Lorca, Murcia, Spain, 1824; d. at Madrid, 5 February 1882) was a Spanish poet and novelist. He received his early training at the Seminary of San Fulgencio; his family being in straitened circumstances, he was obliged to cut short his studies in order to contribute to its support. Going to Madrid, he there occupied minor Government positions, and engaged in journalism. As a staunch Conservative, he assailed the Liberals in the articles which he wrote for the periodical El Padre Cobos and other newspapers. He acted as secretary for Martinez Campos when the latter was Prime Minister. The Spanish Academy made him one of its members. Works Selgas belongs among the minor writers. His repute depends upon his lyrics and his short tales rather than upon his more ambitious novels. The best of his verse, which is generally marked by a gentle melancholy, will be found in the two collections, "La Primavera" and "El Estio", both put forth in 1850. After his death there appeared the volume of poems entitled "Flores y Espinas". Of his longer novels there may be mentioned the "Dos Rivales" and "Una Madre", both rather tedious compositions. In his short tales he is most successful when he indulges in the sentimental; he is less attractive when he gives utterance to his pessimistic feeling. At times his sentimentalism and pessimism become even morbid. A number of his journalistic articles have been brought together in several of the volumes of his collected works, as "Hojas sueltas", "Estudios sociales", etc. They illustrate his ultra-Conservativism in politics.)

The Best Poem Of Jose Selgas y Carrasco

La Modestia

Por las flores proclamado
Rey de una hermosa pradera,
Un clavel afortunado
Dio principio a su reinado
Al nacer la primavera.
Con majestad soberana
Llevaba y con noble brio
El regio manto de grana,
Y sobre la frente ufana
La corona de rocio.
Su comitiva de honor
Mandaba, por ser costumbre,
El cefiro volador,
Y habia en su servidumbre
Hierbas y malvas de olor.
Su voluntad poderosa,
Porque tambien era uso,
Quiso una flor para esposa,
Y regiamente dispuso
Elegir la mas hermosa.
Como era costumbre y ley,
Y porque causa delicia
En la numerosa grey,
Pronto corrio la noticia
Por los estados del rey.
Y en revuelta actividad
Cada flor abre el arcano
De su fecunda beldad,
Por prender la voluntad
Del hermoso soberano.
Y hasta las menos apuestas
Engalanarse se vian
Con harta envidia, dispuestas
A ver las solemnes fiestas
Que celebrarse debian.
Lujosa la Corte brilla:
El rey, admirado, duda,
Cuando ocultarse sencilla
Vio una tierna florecilla
Entre la hierba menuda.

Y por si el regio esplendor
De su corona le inquieta,
Preguntale con amor:
--'?Como te llamas?'--'Violeta,'
Dijo temblando la flor.

--'?Y te ocultas cuidadosa
Y no luces tus colores,
Violeta dulce y medrosa,
Hoy que entre todas las flores
Va el rey a elegir esposa?'

Siempre temblando la flor,
Aunque llena de placer,
Suspiro y dijo: 'Senor,
Yo no puedo merecer
Tan distinguido favor.'

El rey, suspenso, la mira
Y se inclina dulcemente;
Tanta modestia le admira;
Su blanda esencia respira,
Y dice alzando la frente:

'Me depara mi ventura
Esposa noble y apuesta;
Sepa, si alguno murmura,
Que la mejor hermosura
Es la hermosura modesta.'

Dijo, y el aura afanosa
Publico en forma de ley,
Con voz dulce y melodiosa,
Que la violeta es la esposa
Elegida por el rey.

Hubo magnificas fiestas,
Ambos esposos se dieron
Pruebas de amor manifiestas,
Y en aquel reinado fueron
Todas las flores modestas.

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