Florante’s Lament Poem by Francisco Balagtas

Florante’s Lament

Rating: 3.2


Vengeful Heaven, where is your wrath?
now my land is overcome, prostrate,
and in beloved Albania’s infinite skies,
lately the flag of evil flies.

“Within and without my country of grief,
betrayal reigns, is enshrined, esteemed;
degraded everywhere, the heart’s goodness
is consigned to the lowly pauper’s grave.

“All manner of good and deed are cast
into the sea of mockery and perturbation,
each good man is treated without respect,
without burial rite entombed.

“But, oh, the cheat, the traitor, the black
of heart, are enthroned in praise,
and for each scoundrel incense is burned,
and offered up in fragrant smoke.

“Betrayal, dishonesty hold high
their heads, and the righteous is timid, bowed,
dismayed, reason itself is on its knees,
fatigued, and to weep is all that’s left for it.

“And each mouth that opens
to speak the truth and right
is quickly stopped and cut
by the arrogant blade of death.

“O traitorous ambition for honor and riches!
O hunger for airy and fleeting praise!
You are the reason for all this sinfulness,
this misfortune that has befallen me.

“By the crown of King Linceaeus
and the riches of my father, the duke,
Count Adolfo was so bold to pour evil
upon Albania’s sovereign land.

“All these, O merciful Heaven
you witness, why suffer them persist?
O Source of sense and righteousness,
why permit them drown in ruthlessness?

“Lift your right and righteous hand,
swing the shining blade of your rage,
upon all evil in Albania’s kingdom pour
the full vengeance of your justice.

“Why, O Heaven, do you turn
a deaf ear to my suit and honest plea?
Why from this poor and luckless being
avert your face and shut your ears?

“And who could ever fathom,
O Great God, your sacred mystery?
The good will not happen on earth
if it is not Your Will.

“Alas, where now turn
for handhold, bring my heart’s lament,
If Heaven refuses to listen
to my plaintive cry, my faint complaint?'

COMMENTS OF THE POEM
Sean Carney 28 January 2013

one long freaking poem but i read longer than that

5 6 Reply
Romeo Della Valle 01 August 2014

You don't judge a poem by its length but by its meaning and how well crafted is besides how it can effectively touches the readers! No doubt, this is an excellent and thought provoking write that clearly shows the sensitivity and spiritual meaning of its content! Mr. Fancisco Balagtas, you are a very talented and very sentimental poet that should keep enriching the Poetry World with more of your touching works! 10+++ Peace and Love from New York

5 4 Reply
Kim Barney 19 January 2016

Mr. Fancisco Balagtas, you are a very talented and very sentimental poet that should keep enriching the Poetry World with more of your touching works! Not likely, since he died in 1862.

0 0
Rajnish Manga 19 January 2016

The words employed to paint the plight of Albanian people, lend the voice to millions and millions of people around the world who are passing through a similar situation. Thanks. and in beloved Albania’s infinite skies, lately the flag of evil flies.

3 1 Reply
Edward Kofi Louis 19 January 2016

Wrath and war! But, we need peace on earth. Nice work.

3 0 Reply
Rose Marie Juan-austin 21 February 2021

Powerful and deeply poignant. A well crafted poem.

0 0 Reply
Dr Antony Theodore 07 August 2020

Within and without my country of grief, betrayal reigns, is enshrined, esteemed; degraded everywhere, the heart’s goodness is consigned to the lowly pauper’s grave. cheating, traitor, against goodness. tony

1 0 Reply
Boyka 12 March 2019

How can i summarised this poem

0 0 Reply
Manonton Dalan 19 January 2016

i know this is translation but who did it? ? ?

1 1 Reply
Susan Williams 19 January 2016

A lament that cries out for vengeance, very heart-felt lament. Apparently he had a very difficult life as a poet and perhaps he added his deep pain about that into this lament. When he was dying, he begged his children not to follow in his footsteps as a writer. He told them they would be better off if they cut their hands off than be writers.

20 1 Reply
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