A little help...

Question

Hi

I need help in correctly translating into English these few lines from a 16th century "ensalada" by Matheo Flecha:

Todos los buenos soldados que asentaren a esta guerra, no quieran nada en la tierra, si quieren ir descansados.

Thank you very much!

Answer 1

Interesting that the phrase is written in the future subjunctive.

All the great soldiers that may enter this war may not want for anything, provided that they can be rested.

Answer 2

I'll take a stab at it...

"All the good soldiers that set out to this war, don't want anything in the land, they want to go rested."

Thank you. What is the "si" stands for in this case? - shererid, Oct 15, 2012

"si" in this case would be "if" because there is no accent on it, however, if it was "sí" (which means "yes") it would completely change the meaning. I'm not sure if it would make much sense at that point though. =) - DJ_Huero, Oct 15, 2012

Answer 3

I think, and it is a hesitat guess;

The good soldiers who went out to fight this war, who agreed to do it, were not promised/ did not want, anything in this world but to rest afterwards.

There will be pie in the sky when you die to put it more bluntly.