El 25 de gener [English translation]

According to the shepherd from the last village,

behind the orchards they would see some pine trees;

passing those trees, they’d see a field of olive trees

and, further on, three roads.

They followed the path and there opened a clearing,

and they ordered the men to take a rest.

In the field of olive trees the three kings bid farewell

and they shake hands.

Melchior raises his head and sees a mountain

that he should cross before it gets dark;

he wipes off sweat with the collar of his cloak

stained with mud.

He doesn’t even want to think that he’s worn-out

and you cannot even imagine how angry he gets when,

drinking water from the river, he only sees a face

of an old man.

With a blow of his horn the king gives the order,

thinking about those who, not long ago,

were kissing his shield and, on their knees,

were laying down the weapons.

Seated on a camel, the black king shouts out

that some good soldier should do him a favour,

move his ass and make a quick count

of rations of bread.

Let someone cross the forest and find a boat!

Let someone, before falling asleep with his arm outstretched,

notice how his fingers, little by little, cut through

the water of the sea!

Let someone go to the palace and select a woman,

pick some roses and give her a bouquet!

Balthazar feels desire run through his veins

as if it were blood.

Caspar feels, as if nailed to his shoulders,

the eyes of some page-boys who are waiting

for a moment of attention, maybe a hand raised,

a royal command.

One of the men sings in the middle of the circle,

in the sweetest voice you’ve ever heard,

an old song that the king hums

with his lips closed.

The eldest page-boy turns round and comments,

giving a quick, furtive glance at the sky:

"It’s hard to believe how well we lived

when we followed a star".