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Borges, Jorge Luis: Legend (Leyenda in English)

Portre of Borges, Jorge Luis

Leyenda (Spanish)

Abel y Caín se encontraron después de la muerte de Abel. Caminaban por el desierto y se reconocieron desde lejos, porque los dos eran muy altos. Los hermanos se sentaron en la tierra, hicieron un fuego y comieron. Guardaban silencio, a la manera de la gente cansada cuando declina el día. En el cielo asomaba alguna estrella, que aún no había recibido su nombre. A la luz de las llamas, Caín advirtió en la frente de Abel la marca de la piedra y dejó caer el pan que estaba por llevarse a la boca y pidió que le fuera perdonado su crimen.

Abel contestó:

--¿Tú me has matado o yo to he matado? Ya no recuerdo, aquí estamos juntos como antes.

--Ahora sé que en verdad me has perdonado --dijo Caín--; porque olvidar es perdonar. Yo trataré también de olvidar.

Abel dijo despacio:

--Así es.  Mientras dura el remordimiento dura la culpa.



Uploaded byP. T.
Source of the quotationhttp://people.uncw.edu

Legend (English)

Abel and Cain met each other after Abel's death. They walked through the desert and recognized each other from afar, because they were both very tall. The brothers sat on the earth, made a fire, and ate. They remained silent, in the maner of those who are tired at the end of the day. A star appeared in the sky, one whose name nobody can remember. By the light of the flame, Cain noticed the mark of a stone indented in Abel's forehead and the bread he had raised to his lips fell before he could eat it and he asked whether his crime had been forgiven.

Abel answered:

"Did you kill me or did I kill you? I already cannot remember, and here we are, together like before."

"Now, you must have forgiven me," Cain said, "because to forget is to forgive. I will, too, try to forget."

Abel replied softly:

"That's right. While the remorse lasts, so does the guilt."



Uploaded byP. T.
Source of the quotationhttp://tiny-truths.blogspot.hu

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