—José Martí (Cubano)
Chapter Footnotes:
[1] Rivadavia, el de la..., that is, el [hombre] de la.
[2] arado en la mar, applied to any fruitless task or enterprise.
[3] el indio de espuela, the oppressed, downtrodden Indian.
[4] marcado de la fusta, bearing the marks of the whip. VARIANT: Marcado por.
[5] para que se vea más alto a su señor, so that his master may be seen the greater (even greater).
[6] No vivimos, no. Note repetition for the sake of emphasis.
[7] que de pura ignorancia, which from pure ignorance (of the circumstances or causes).
[8] echan en cara, cast in their teeth; for which they are blamed.