In the end, pneumonia claimed Don Guido, and the bells toll endlessly for him: ding-dong!
Don Guido is dead, a gentleman who in his youth was a merrymaker, a gallant, and something of a bullfighter; in his old age, a great prayer.
They say this gentleman from Seville kept a seraglio; that he was skilled in handling horses and a master at chilling manzanilla sherry.
When his wealth diminished, his monomania was to think that he ought to think about settling down.
And he settled down in a Spanish fashion, which was to marry a maiden of great fortune; and to repaint his coat of arms, to speak of the traditions of his house, to place a limit on scandals and affairs of the heart, to silence his follies.
A great pagan, he became a brother of a holy confraternity; on Holy Thursday, he would go out, carrying a candle in his hand—that thunderclap!—dressed as a Nazarene. Today, the bell tells us that they will take good Don Guido, very serious, to the cemetery tomorrow.
Good Don Guido, you are gone, and forever… Someone will say: What did you leave behind? I ask: What did you take to the world where you are today?
Your love for frogging and silks and gold, and for the blood of bulls and the smoke of altars?
Good Don Guido and baggage, bon voyage!… The here and the there, sir, is seen on your withered face, infinity: zero, zero.
Oh, the gaunt, yellow cheeks, and the waxen eyelids, and the fine skull on the pillow of the bed! Oh, the end of an aristocracy! The gray, limp beard upon the chest; clad in coarse sackcloth, his stiff hands in a cross, so formal! the Andalusian gentleman.
The poem, “Llanto de las Virtudes y Coplas por la Muerte de Don Guido,” penned by Antonio Machado, is a poignant elegy contemplating the life and death of a man named Don Guido. The verses navigate through Don Guido’s evolution from a lively, affluent figure to a more somber, religiously inclined old man, capturing the essence of a changing era and the inevitable decay of earthly grandeur.
Don Guido’s Youthful Indulgence
Machado paints a vivid picture of Don Guido’s younger years, emphasizing his flamboyant lifestyle and his penchant for pleasure. Phrases like “muy jaranero, muy galán y algo torero” (a merrymaker, a gallant, and something of a bullfighter) evoke an image of a man who reveled in life’s indulgences.
The mention of a “serrallo” (seraglio) and his mastery of horses and manzanilla sherry further illustrate his status as a wealthy and worldly gentleman. This initial portrait sets the stage for the transformation that Don Guido undergoes later in life, driven by dwindling finances and a desire for stability.
The Shift to Piety and Tradition
As Don Guido’s wealth declined, he sought solace in tradition and religion, marrying a wealthy maiden and joining a holy confraternity. This transition is marked by his participation in Holy Thursday processions, where he carried a candle dressed as a Nazarene. This act, described as “aquel trueno!” (that thunderclap!), suggests a dramatic and perhaps even theatrical display of newfound piety. Machado uses this image to highlight the contrast between Don Guido’s past indulgences and his present devotion, raising questions about the sincerity and depth of his transformation.
Questioning Legacy and Mortality
The poem culminates in a series of rhetorical questions that probe the meaning of Don Guido’s life and legacy. Machado asks, “What did you leave behind? What did you take to the world where you are today?” These questions invite reflection on the nature of earthly possessions and the ultimate insignificance of material wealth in the face of death. The imagery of Don Guido’s “withered face” and “gaunt, yellow cheeks” underscores the physical decay that awaits all mortals, regardless of their social status or past achievements.
The Andalusian Gentleman’s End
The final verses depict Don Guido’s lifeless body clad in coarse sackcloth, his hands crossed in a gesture of formal piety. This stark image serves as a powerful reminder of the ultimate equalizer—death. The description of the “Andalusian gentleman” as “so formal!” adds a touch of irony, suggesting that even in death, Don Guido maintains a semblance of his former aristocratic bearing.
Machado’s Reflection on Aristocracy
Through Don Guido, Machado reflects on the decline of the aristocracy and the transient nature of earthly grandeur. The poem’s elegiac tone and philosophical questions invite readers to contemplate the meaning of life, death, and the legacies we leave behind. The poem’s somber tone is enhanced by the melancholic imagery and the constant reminder of death’s inevitability.
In conclusion, “Llanto de las Virtudes y Coplas por la Muerte de Don Guido” is a profound meditation on mortality, transformation, and the search for meaning in a changing world. Through his vivid imagery and poignant questions, Antonio Machado captures the essence of a life lived and the inevitable journey toward death, inviting readers to contemplate their own legacies and the values they hold dear.
