Setting a Jewel

El misterio nocturno era divino. Eudora estaba como nunca bella, y tenía en los ojos la centella, la luz de un gozo conquistado al vino. De alto balcón apostrofóme a tino; y rostro al cielo departí con ella tierno y audaz, como con una estrella... ¡Oh qué timbre de voz trémulo y fino! ¡Y aquel fruto vedado e indiscreto se puso el manto, se quitó el decoro, y fue conmigo a responder a un reto! ¡Aventura feliz! - La rememoro con inútil afán; y en un soneto monto un suspiro como perla de oro.

The evening was mysterious, divine; Eudora, yet more lovely than before: and in her eyes there was a spark of fire, a fierce exultant joy, achieved by wine. From the high tier, the name she called was mine! Thanking my stars, I left the place with her, gentle and bold, as one who leads a star. Oh, but her voice was tremulous and fine. And that forbidden fruit unprincipled wrapped herself in her mantle, and, forgetting decorum, coaxed me to the field of honour! A fine adventure, lovingly recalled. Rather than dream, I write a sonnet on her, to catch my sigh, a pearl in a golden setting.