Ithaca by C.P.Cavafy (with Sean Connery)

C.P.Cavafy's poem 'Ithaca', recited by Sir Sean Connery and with music specially composed by Vangelis.
ITHACA [1910, 1911]

As you set out for Ithaca hope that your journey is a long one, full of adventure, full of discovery. Laistrygonians and Cyclops, angry Poseidon-don't be afraid of them: you'll never find things like that on your way as long as you keep your thoughts raised high, as long as a rare sensasion touches your spirit and your body. Laistrygonians and Cyclops, wild Poseidon-you won't encounter them unless you bring them along inside your soul, unless your soul sets them up in front of you. Hope that your journey is a long one. May there be many summer mornings when, with what pleasure, what joy, you come into harbors you're seeing for the first time; may you stop at Phoenician trading stations to buy fine things, mother of pearl and coral, amber and ebony, sensual perfume of every kind- as many sensual perfumes as you can; and may you visit many Egyptian cities to learn and learn again from those who know. Keep Ithaka always in your mind. Arriving there is what you're destined for. But don't hurry the journey at all. Better if it lasts for years, so that you're old by the time you reach the island, wealthy with all you've gained on the way, not expecting Ithaca to make you rich. Ithaca gave you the marvelous journey. Without her you would have not set out. She has nothing left to give you now. And if you find her poor, Ithaca won't have fooled you. Wise as you will have become, so full of experience, you'll have understood by then what these Ithacas mean.

Cuando emprendas tu viaje a Itaca Pide que el camino sea largo,  lleno de aventuras, lleno de experiencias.  No temas a los lestrigones ni a los cíclopes  ni al colérico Poseidón,  seres tales jamás hallarás en tu camino,  si tu pensar es elevado, si selecta  es la emoción que toca tu espíritu y tu cuerpo.  Ni a los lestrigones ni a los cíclopes  ni al salvaje Poseidón encontrarás,  si no los llevas dentro de tu alma,  si no los yergue tu alma ante ti. Pide que el camino sea largo.  Que muchas sean las mañanas de verano  en que llegues -¡con qué placer y alegría!-  a puertos nunca vistos antes.  Detente en los emporios de Fenicia  y hazte con hermosas mercancías,  nácar y coral, ámbar y ébano  y toda suerte de perfumes sensuales,  cuantos más abundantes perfumes sensuales puedas.  Ve a muchas ciudades egipcias  a aprender, a aprender de sus sabios. Ten siempre a Itaca en tu mente.  Llegar allí es tu destino.  Mas no apresures nunca el viaje.  Mejor que dure muchos años  y atracar, viejo ya, en la isla,  enriquecido de cuanto ganaste en el camino  sin aguantar a que Itaca te enriquezca. Itaca te brindó tan hermoso viaje.  Sin ella no habrías emprendido el camino.  Pero no tiene ya nada que darte. Aunque la halles pobre, Itaca no te ha engañado.  Así, sabio como te has vuelto, con tanta experiencia,  entenderás ya qué significan las Itacas.