Good evening. Pedro Argüello,
an escapee… I don’t know how,
being almost defeated,
I’ve not been slaughtered yet;
with breathless speed,
my yellow horse brought me here,
I’m a soldier for my leader,
and with a good Entre Ríos spirit,
for friends I offer my hand,
for others… the knife.
If there are people of another party,
followers of Artigas or from Buenos Aires,
who wish to take this land
where I was born,
I have come precisely
for them to take what they want:
they’ll have fields to show off
where the meeting begins,
and if they have heart,
they won’t leave without fun.
If I’ve come into the ring, I think,
it’s not to be frightened,
I’ve brought for those who want
a freshly sharpened blade.
A flashing light
guides my hurried step
and though I’m fleeing and cut off
and don’t know the field,
whoever wants to act big
should step aside.
Don’t think you’re provoked
by someone reckless by birth,
where I feel the most danger
I talk the least.
Nobody knows who’s up next
if a “fifth” is picked,
I’m a painter and when I paint,
I paint a brave flower:
Whoever steps on my shadow
will have to check their belt!
Surely, they are not from Entre Ríos
who thinks I abuse,
God or Devil made me
like a wall for my people.
Empty ranches and fields
have stirred my pain,
wherever I find an invader,
there begins my vengeance:
if there’s one I’ll manage,
but if there’s more… better.
That’s how I am and why I’m here,
even surrounded and imprisoned
I vanished like smoke before the adversary
like a branch in the “game.”
I ask them to trust
in my law as a tracker,
I swear in the worst case
with lance in hand and God helping,
the one who doesn’t emerge triumphant
can die with honor.
My hair won’t go gray
without seeing those foes
when the leader drives them
like oxen with goads.
I’m eager again
for another Cepeda, any;
so they feel it, I’d wish
as they scatter,
the shame of Balcarce
fleeing in the dust.
Know that the time has come
to gather for this encounter
now the enemy is inside
and must be chased out with a rope:
For that, our arm is called
by the land that cradles us.
There is only one Entre Ríos
and although it’s not a nation
while there’s no loyal union
it is the homeland, or it’s nothing.
Firm the Southern Entre Riano
has already tightened the reins
and put saddles
on his porcelain overo.
A mano a mano malambo
he’ll offer Mascarilla,
later, there won’t be a blade
where an unwelcome one stays,
to celebrate I invite you
with that triumph, on the other shore.
His patience has run out
the one who with troops on horseback
arrived at Plaza de Mayo
victorious, but conscious.
His generous prudence
respected people and barracks
and as an example to his faithful
noble, honorable, and just
he thought of the country first
before grievances and laurels.
Not even the bread we then ate
was on victory’s account;
we paid with blood… and glory,
the cost we caused them.
The freedom we gave them
served so that the next day
falsely proclaiming
their scribes’ mess
they patted us like brothers
to deceive us again.
This is the sad experience
we draw from Pilar,
that’s why we are in service
of the man who resists them.
To dress herself, Buenos Aires
strips the rest,
its talkative government
offers nothing and demands everything
and to the poor who don’t notice
it sticks the sword from behind.
And it’s just futile humiliation
to take your hat off,
an iron hand will be
the one to lower its conceit.
Pliers that when they squeeze
won’t let go even with prayer,
a war that penetrates to the bone
so it finally knows
that it has resolutely
made the prisoner a judge tired of abuse.
If the pie that the leader bakes
turns out well for us
after cleaning the house
we will sweep the foreign.
I say this with sorrow
but in a large family
strength is needed to keep it united
by someone guiding the bell,
and distributing face-to-face
duty, work, and food.
My few lights don’t know
if we’ll leave this behind
of wandering with the shovel over the shoulder
sowing the soil with crosses.
We’re somewhat ostriches
us gauchos, in understanding,
but I have begun to believe
that if we suffer so much
it’s because