The Masteripece

Florante at Laura and the History of the Filipino Book

Patricia May B. Jurilla

From: Book History
Volume 8, 2005
pp. 131-197 | 10.1353/bh.2005.0008

In lieu of an abstract, here is a brief excerpt of the content:

Book History 8 (2005) 131-197

Patricia May B. Jurilla

The metrical romance Florante at Laura by Francisco Baltazar (1788–1862) is a unique case in the history of Philippine literature and publishing. It holds the distinction of being the only poem published in the country that has not gone out of print since its first publication, that has been translated into various local and foreign languages, and that continues to be read to this day. Baltazar, popularly known as Balagtas, has been hailed as the greatest of Tagalog poets and his Florante at Laura acclaimed as a masterpiece. But beyond literary merit, what has ensured the survival of both poet and poem through the years is the great historical, social, and cultural value they have been granted.

Read more>> 

Penned and Pinned # 5

To those who still want to read some more poetry by Balagtas and don't want the hassle of searching, here's yet another piece of literature just for you.

Sa Babasa Nito

Salamat sa iyo, ó nánasang írog,
cong halagahán mo itóng aquing pagod,
ang tulâ ma,i, bucál nang bait na capós,
paquiquinaban~gan nang ibig tumaróc.

Cong sa bigláng tin~gi,i, bubót at masacláp
palibhasa,i, hilao at mura ang balát
ngunit cung namnamín ang sa lamáng lasáp
masasarapán din ang babasang pantás.

Di co hinihin~ging pacamahalín mo,
tauana,t, dustaín ang abáng tulâ co
gauin ang ibigui,t, alpa,i, na sa iyó
ay houag mo lamang baguhin ang verso.

Cong sa pagbasa mo,i, may tulang malabo
bago mo hatulang catcatin at licô
pasuriin muna ang luasa,t, hulô
at maquiquilalang malinao at uastô.

Ang may tandang letra alin mang talata
dimo mauatasa,t, malalim na uicà
ang mata,i, itin~gin sa dacong ibabâ
boong cahuluga,i, mapag uunauà.

Hangán dito acó ó nánasang pantás,
sa cay Sigesmundo,i, houag ding mátulad
sa gayóng catamis uicang masasaráp
ay sa cababago nang tula,i, umalat.
(Sa cursiva o bastardilla) 

- Francisco Balagtas

Penned and Pinned # 4

Did you enjoy the first three poems posted in this little series? If you have, then here's the next one to satisfy any poetry cravings you might have gotten from reading the previous entries.

Comienzo De La Narracion

1.

Érase un sombrío, melancólico bosque,
maraña sin intersticios de espinoso bejuco;
donde con harta fatiga pugnaban los rayos de Febo
por visitar su interior de sobejana espesura.

2.

Gigantescos árboles daban allí
tan sólo apesaramientos, congojas y tristura;
canto todavía de las aves ponía espanto
al ánimo más sereno y regocijado.

3.

Cuantas yedras sarmentosas se enredaban
en las ramas, iban armadas de púas;
y las frutas, afelpadas, picaban
al que se acercaba y las tocaba.

4.

Las flores de los enhiestos árboles,
paramentos salientes de las hojas,
eran negras y armonizaban
con el olor que producía vértigos.

5.

En su mayoría cipreses y bajunas higueras,
cuya sombra abochornaba,
sin frutos y de anchas hojas
que oscurecían el interior del bosque.

6.

Todavía, los animales que aquí pululaban
eran en su mayoría serpientes y basiliscos en abundancia,
hienas y tigres carnívoros, que así devoraban
al hombre como a los de su especie que vencían.

7.

Este bosque hallábase a la vera de la puerta
del Averno,[4] reino del huraño Plutón,
y sus dominios regaba
el río Cocito de venenosas aguas.

8.

Hacia el centro de este mustio bosque
se levantaba una higuera de desteñidas hojas;
aquí estaba atado el infortunadísimo
a quien su mal sino persiguió.

9.

Su continente era de mancebo,
a pesar de tener manos, pies y cuello sujetos,
si no era Narciso, era verdadero Adonis,
su rostro fulguraba en medio de los tormentos.

10.

Tersa la piel y cual yema de huevo,
tenía las pestañas y cejas hechas puro arco,
el color del cabello era de recién purificado oro
y las prendas del cuerpo en justa armonía.

11.

Hubiera allí oréadas,
bosque-palacio de feroces arpías,
tendrían misericordia y amor
al trasunto de la hermosura y del infortunio.

....... 

Francisco Baltazar

Penned and Pinned # 3

Here's La Loba Blanca with the third post in the Penned and Pinned series. This time I'll be posting up the poem Al Lector.


Al Lector

1.

Gracias a tí, lector querido,
si a mis desvelos das valer;
que la poesía, aunque brote de mi caudal escaso,
la aprovechará quien sondearla quiera.

2.

Si a las primeras de cambio parece acedo y acre,
por la agrura e inmadurez de la corteza,
pruebe la vainilla pulposa del fruto
y catará sabor agradable el docto lector.

3.

No pretendo estima en demasía,
haga chacota y ludibrio de mis pobres versos;
haz lo que quieras, que el arpa está en tus manos,
pero no cambies únicamente el verso.

4.

Si a tu lectura hallas verso impropio,
antes de darlo al raspadillo, o por erróneo,
examínalo bien de arriba a abajo,
y lo verás limpio y correcto.

5.

Si viene, anotado, cualquier pie de verso,
si no lo entiende porque es un erudito decir,
fije la vista hacia abajo,
y comprenderá todo su sentido.

6.

Hago punto aquí, ¡oh lector discreto!
Así no me pase lo de Segismundo,
que un tan dulce y sabroso lenguaje
trocó en salobre, a fuerza de cambiar el verso.

Francisco Baltazar

Penned and Pinned # 2

Because just one work isn't enough, here's another one by Balagtas. This one is Florante's Lament, which is one part of the Florante at Laura poem.

Florante’s Lament

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?' 

Francisco Balagtas

Penned and Pinned # 1

Not satisfied with a list? Here are some samples of his actual works, starting with the beautiful poem Cay Celia.

Cay Celia

Cong pag saulang cong basahin sa isip
ang nan~gacaraang arao n~g pag-ibig,
may mahahaguilap cayang natititic
liban na cay Celiang namugad sa dibdib?

Yaong Celiang laguing pinan~gan~ganiban
baca macalimot sa pag-iibigan;
ang iquinalubog niyaring capalaran
sa lubhang malalim na caralitaan.

Macaligtaang co cayang di basahin
nagdaáng panahón n~g suyuan namin?
caniyang pagsintáng guinugol sa aquin
at pinuhunan cong pagod at hilahil?

Lumipas ang arao na lubhang matamis
at ualáng nátira condi ang pag-ibig,
tapat na pag suyong lalagui sa dibdib
hanggang sa libin~gan bangcay co,i, maidlip.

N~gayong namamanglao sa pan~gon~golila
ang guinagaua cong pag-alio sa dusa
nag daang panaho,i, inaala-ala,
sa iyong laraua,i, ninitang guinhaua.

Sa larauang guhit n~g sa sintang pincel
cusang ilinimbag sa puso,t, panimdim,
nag-íisang sanláng naiuan sa aquin
at di mananacao magpahangang libing.

Ang caloloua co,i, cusang dumadalao
sa lansan~ga,t, náyong iyóng niyapacan
sa ilog Beata,t, Hilom na mababao
yaring aquing puso,i, laguing lumiligao.

Di mámacailang mupo ang panimdin
sa puno n~g mangang náraanan natin,
sa nagbiting bun~gang ibig mong pitasín
ang ulilang sinta,i, aquing ináaliu.

Ang catauhang co,i, cusang nagtatalic
sa buntong-hinin~ga nang icao,i, may saquit,
himutoc co niyao,i, inaaring Lan~git
Paraiso namán ang may tulong silíd.

Liniligauan co ang iyong larauan
sa Macating ilog, na quinalagui-an
binabacás co rin sa masayáng doon~gan,
yapac n~g paá mo sa batóng tuntun~gan.

Nag babalíc mandi,t, parang hinahanp
dito ang panahóng masayáng lumipas
na cong maliligo,i, sa tubig áagap,
nang hindi abutin n~g tabsing sa dagat.

Parang naririn~gig ang laguî mong uica
'tatlong arao na di nag tatanao tama'
at sinasagot co ng sabing may touâ
sa isa catauo,i, marami ang handa.

Ano pan~ga,t, ualang dî nasisiyasat,
ang pagiisipco sa touang cumupas
sa cagugunitâ, luha,i, lalagaslás
sabay ang taghoy cong '¡ó, nasauing palad!'

Nasaan si Celiang ligaya ng dibdib?
ang suyuan nami,i, baquít dí lumauig?
nahan ang panahóng isá niyang titig
ang siyang búhay co, caloloua,t, Lan~git?

Baquit bagá niyaóng cami mag hiualay
ay dîpa naquitil yaring abáng búhay?
con gunitain ca,i, aquing camatayan,
sa puso co Celia,i, dica mapaparam.

Itong dî matiis na pagdaralitâ
nang dahil sa iyo, ó nalayóng touâ,
ang siyang umacay na aco,i, tumulâ
auitin ang búhay nang isang na abâ.

Celia,i, talastás co,t, malabis na umid,
mangmáng ang Musa co,t, malumbay ang tinig
di quinabahag-yâ cong hindí malait
palaring dinguin mo ng tainga,t, isíp.

Ito,i, unang bucal nang bait cong cutad
na inihahandóg sa mahal mong yapac
tangapin mo nauâ cahit ualang lasáp
nagbúhat sa puso nang lingcód na tapát.

Cong casadlacán man ng pula,t, pag ayop
tubo co,i, daquila sa puhunang pagod,
cong binabasa mo,i, isá mang himutóc
ay alalahanin yaríng nag hahandóg.

Masasayáng Ninfas sa laua nang Bay,
Sirenas, ang tinig ay cauili-uili
cayó n~gayo,i, siyang pinipintacasi
n~g lubháng mapanglao na Musa cong imbi.

Ahon sa dalata,t, pangpang na nag liguid
tunuhan nang lira yaring abáng auit
na nag sasalitáng búhay ma,i, mapatid,
tapát na pag sinta,i, han~gad na lumauig.

Icao na bulaclac niyaring dili-dili,
Celiang saguisag mo,i, ang M. A. R.
sa Virgeng mag-Iná,i, ipamintacasi
ang tapát mong lingcód na si F. B.

 - Francisco Balagtas