Bernat Etxepare
He was born in Eiheralarre, a village close to Donibane Garazi (Saint Jean de Pied de Port), capital of the part of Navarre that today forms part of France. This priest was the author of the first book printed in the Basque language in 1545. We know little about his life, but we do know he spent some time in prison, probably accused of political involvement at a time when the kingdoms of France and Castile were jostling to take over the old Kingdom of Navarre. In his book, he gathered autobiographical, religious, amatory and patriotic poems, some of which praise the Basque language.
CONTRAPAS
Bernat Etxepare , 1545
Basque,
go forth into the world!
Blessed be the land of Garazi;
For it has given Basque
the rank it deserves.
Basque,
go forth into the street!
Other people thought
it could not be written;
now they have seen
that they were wrong.
Basque,
go forth into the world!
Among tongues you were
held in low esteem;
but now you shall be
the noblest of them all.
Basque,
come forth into the whole world!
All the others
are at their zenith.
Now Basque shall rise
above all others!
Basque!
All hold the Basques in esteem
despite not knowing Basque.
Now all will find out
what Basque itself is like.
Basque!
If in the past you have been
unprinted,
from now on you shall be borne
throughout the world.
Basque!
No language shall be found
—be it French or any other—
to be comparable
to Basque.
Basque,
go forth and dance!
Translation: Toni Strubell
Original version: KONTRAPAS
© Bernat Etxepare
© Translation: Toni Strubell