Os Lusiadas, Canto IX

Within the City long remainèd pent nor found a purchaser our Factor-twain: The wily Infidels by foil and feint made every trader cease from trade and gain: For all they purposèd, and hoped, and meant, was there the stout Discov’erers to detain of India, till arrive th’ expected Fleet of Mecan vessels and the foe defeat.

There, where the City crowns the Red Sea bight founded by Egypt’s royal Ptolemy, and from his sister-spouse Arsin’oe hight, to Suez changèd in our modern day; the harbour lieth at a distance light from far-famed Meca, raised to high degree by the false superstition and profane, the Holy Water of the Moorish men.

Gidà the hythe is ’titled, where the trade of all the Red Sea shore-lands flourisht most, whereby was great and grateful gain convey’d unto the Sóldan, who possest the coast: Hence to the Malabars, by contract made with th’ Infidel, tall ships, a potent host, each year fares sailing over Indic seas stocking their teeming holds with spiceries.

Upon these ships firm hopes the Moors had set, e’en as their puissance was so much the higher, that these who sought their gains so grateful great, they might consume with crepitating fire: For the good succour all confiding wait, and from th’ Explorers naught they now require, save to retard their sailing in such sort, that the famed Meca-fleet should make the port.

But He who rules the Heav’ens and human race, who for whatever willèd hath His will, the fittest causes from afar doth trace which shall His provident effects fulfil; pitiful accidents of ruth and grace dealt to Monsaydé, who, with guarded skill, devoted self Da Gama to advise, and gain his rightful guerdon,—Paradise.

He, whom the Moorish rout might not suspect, being like them a Moor, but firmly thought a villain member of the villain sect, unveiled the frauds with foulest treason fraught: The ships by distance from the shore protect, in stealth with pious heart full oft he sought, mourning the causeless evils that ordain malignant hate and vengeance Sarracen.

He warns the wary Gama that th’ Armade due from Arabian Meca year by year, is that whereon his fellows’ hope is laid, to be the deadly arm of certain snare: “They sail with armed hosts amain,” he said, “and Vulcan’s horrid thunderbolts they bear; So may ye read’ily fall an easy prey as you be poorly furnisht for the fray!”

And eke the Gama, now considering the time had come for him to quit the Port, and that no gladder tidings from the King he could expect who doth the Moors support; the Factors left ashore straight summoning, he bade them haste aboard: And, lest report of such a flitting might their flight impede, he bids them privily their steps to speed.

But in the shortest space had Rumour flown on res’onant wing, nor here as wont did lie, that both the Factors were in prison thrown, when found attempting from the town to fly. Without delay the true report was known to the shrewd Captain, who incont’inently reprisals dealt on certain who had sought the Fleet to traffick with the gems they brought.

Now those detained are merchants grave and old, richards of Calecut in good repute; and in their absence all their brethren hold the ships withhold them and full true the bruit. But in the Fleet our Mar’iners brave and bold the capstans man, and each in several suit is told to task; these haul the cables in, those with hard breasts to shove the bars begin.

Others to yard-arms hanging on let go the sail that bellies with a bell’owing sound; yet the King heareth louder sounds which show that fast the Squadron fareth homeward-bound: The wives and children, dight to die of woe for their lost loved ones, crowd in tears around the Samorim, and piteously complain from these their fathers, mates from those are tane.

Forthwith the Lusian Factors he restoreth with stuffs in fullest tale and all-tax free, despite the rancorous Moor who all abhorreth, so might the prison’d lieges renderèd be: Pardon for his deceit the King imploreth. The Captain greeteth, far more glad to see Factors than phrases hear; sets loose some Blacks and, making sail, adown the coast he tacks.

Down coast he tacketh, for he comprehendeth that with the Géntoo King ’twere labour vain to knit those peaceful bonds, which he intendeth should strengthen commerce and her object gain: But seeing how the glorious Realm that trendeth Aurora-ward, must aye well-known remain, with these glad news he seeks dear Fatherland, sure tokens taking of what things he fand.

He taketh eke some Malabars aboard parforce, the fellows by the Samorim sent when were the Factor-pris’oners restor’d: Of purchased stores he taketh hot piment: Nor is of Banda the dried flow’er ignor’d, nutmeg and swarthy clove, which excellent makes new Malucan Isle, with cinnamon the wealth, the boast, the beauty of Ceylon.

All this was gathered by the deft design of true Monsaydé, borne aboard the Fleet: who thus of Angel-influences digne is register’d in CHRIST His roll-call writ: Blest African! whom clemency divine in prison-gloom with Gospel-light hath lit, who thus couldst find, from country forced to roam, the way to mortal man’s true heav’enly home!

Then turning from that coast of torrid heat the vent’urous Prores their southing courses bend, where Nature pleased to place her farthest mete, the Good Hope Cape, where Austrine shorelands end; bearing the joyful news, and hopes to greet their Lisbon homes from Morning-land they wend, again resigned to snares of terror spread by seas uncertain, glad, withal in dread:

The joy one’s own dear Land once more to view, sweet home and kith and kin to sight again, with whom old voyage-feats we face anew, and tell of climates strange and stranger men; to taste the honey’d draught of praises due by long mischances, toil, and ill and pain, each hath of pleasure such a perfect store, the shallow vessel of man’s heart brims o’er.

Natheless the Cyprian goddess, who ordainèd had been her Lusitanian sons to guard; and by the Sire Eterne had been constrainèd, through rolling years to lend them watch and ward; the Glory gallant toils and travails gainèd the weals that nobly suffered ills reward, for them ordaining was, who did intend all their sea-sorrows in sea-joys should end.

In thought revolving for a season brief how they had faced the might’iest Sea that flows; and thinking how the God sore gall and grief worked, who in Amphionean Thebæ rose; she had already planned right glad relief a prize outweighing all their passing woes, to find them rare delight and gentle rest deep in the liquid chrystal’s tranquil breast:

Something, in fine, of that repose so sweet, refocillating bodies weary-wan, for these her wanderers, and pay interest meet of toil, that short’eneth life of short-lived Man. Then to secure the ear it seemèd fit of her Son-god, whose might of Gram’arye can degrade the high Divine to low terrene, and raise our human clay to Heav’en serene.

And, duly pond’ering, all her thoughts incline there to bespread upon their wat’ery way, ’mid waves of Ocean-stream, some Isle divine with bloom enamel’d and with green’ery gay; for she hath many, where her realms confine with the First Mother girt by ’bosoming bay, besides those Gardens of the Midland Seas, within the portals oped by Hercules.

There ’tis her will, the watery Damosels await the coming of her hero-train, the Nymphs who worth’ily bear the name of belles, for eyne a pleasure and for hearts a pain; with choirs and dances, and by potent spells bring secret hoards of Love their love to gain, that all should labour with the best of will the Youths they love with lover-joys to thrill.

Erst so she schemèd for the son she bare to her Anchises, that he welcome found in the fair country, where by subtle snare a single ox-hide spanned the spacious ground: She seeks his aidance whom she may not spare, fierce Cupid, in whose force her force is bound; that e’en as in her olden enterprize he aided, aid he now to pluck the prize.

Yoked to her chariot are the Birds whose song doth exequies of Death in Life’s own tide, and they whose figure took in syne gone long, Peristera who pluckt the daisies pied. Behind the hasting Goddess troop the throng, all through the lift with billing kisses glide: Where’er on windy wings the Goddess flies with gracious movement she serenes the skies.

Now o’er th’ Idalian mounts her car impendeth, where for her coming waits her Archer-son, who mustering potent host with it intendeth to fare on famous expedition, and rebel worlds debel till he amendeth those direful errors long by mortals done, who love goods given by the Gods above for man to use and not for man to love.

He saw Actæon, hunter so austere, so blindly bent on snatching brutal prize, that to pursue some ugly beast and fere, far from the human form divine he flies: The Boy for vengeance sweet as ’tis severe charms with chaste Dian’s shape his hungry eyes; then let the for’ester take him careful heed lest his loved Hounds upon their Hunter feed.

He sees the wide world o’er how evry Lord, for public welfare naught doth reck nor feel; he sees that none the boon of love afford, save where Philautia counsels selfish weal: He sees how men who sit at royal board for words of wisdom aye prefer to deal in sale of flatt’eries vile, which ne’er permit the tares be weeded from the fair young wheat.

He sees that men, to poverty who owe duty of Holy Love and Charity, live only pow’er to gain and wealth to show, pretending Justice and Integrity: Of ugly Tyr’anny breeding asp’erous woe they coin a right with vain severity: Laws they devise in favour of the King; Laws which the lieges favour down they fling,

He sees, in fine, none love as all should love, save that which dealeth only ill delight: Nor for a longer time doth it behove to waive a punishment as dire as right. He bids his summoned Ministers to move armaments, fitted for that mortal fight he lists engage with yon misgovern’d crowd, that hath till now allegiance disavow’d.

Of these small wingèd Impes a band is set to varied labours in their several crafts; these on the grindstone piercing piles to whet, and those to shave and thin the caney shafts: Soothes ev’ery labour love-sweet canzonet, wedding strange chances to the song that wafts sonorous melodies and roundels gay; suave is the song, angelical the lay.

Th’ immortal Furnaces wherein they forgèd for their swift arrows points that penetrate, with fiery Hearts by way of fu’el are gorgèd, and Vitals vital still that palpitate: The temp’ering waves wherein the tips were mergèd, are lovers’ Tears in love unfortunate: The live bright light and never-failing fire is ever burning ne’er outburnt Desire.

Some hied their dext’erous hands to exercise on the rude Vulgus’ hard unfeeling hearts: Re-echo’d through the welkin frequent sighs of victims smitten by the shaft that smarts: Fair be the Nymphs who deal the remedies dear to the hurts they deal, and such their arts, the sorely hurt not only they revive, but boon of life to life unborn they give.

Beauteous the many, while the few are plain, consonant with the qual’ity of the wound; for to heal venom spread through ev’ery vein the bitter’est Theriacks oft the best are found. Many are doomèd aye to wear the chain by subtle bond of weirdest witch’ery bound: thus haps it mostly, when the darts acerb are armed and tinctured with the poyson-herb.

And from such wilful shots discharged sans aim, wherewith those awkward Impes aye joy to play, arise a thousand loves that mar and maim the victims wounded in such wretched way: E’en of the Heroes boasting highest fame a thousand impious loves the sight dismay; Such was May Byblis, such the Cinyræan: This Youth Assyrian born, and that Judæan.

Ye too, my Lordlings! oft have seen the hour when love of Shepherd-lass your souls hath smit; and ye, my Ladies! oft the couthless boor hath meshed your Ladyships in Vulcan-net. These waiting nocturns to the tryst fain scour, those scale the casements and o’er pantiles flit: Yet hold I mainly that such loves indign are more the Mother’s than the Son’s design.

Now the light char’iot on the green depose the pure white Cygnets, slowly softly wending; and Dionæa, who conjoinèd shows roses in waste of snows, is seen descending. Her Bowyer-son who dareth Heav’en oppose, to greet her hasteth with douce smile unbending; while of the little Cupid lads a band crowdeth to kiss the Queen of Beauty’s hand.

She, to save precious time from vanities, whispers the Boy embosom’d in her arms confident thus:—“Dear Son whose hand supplies the firmest footing of my chiefest charms; Son! on whose pow’ers my power aye relies; thou, holding cheap Typhœus’ dread alarms, her force by thine t’ enforce, an urgent case bringeth thy mother to bespeak thy grace.”

“The Lusitanick toils well hast thou ken’d, whom I for ages watch with tenderest guise. Since sware the Parcæ unto me, their friend, they shall adore my name, my favour prize; and, as their feats of armèd prowess shend all feats of rival Rome, I lief devise some mode of aidance in what things I may, far as our force o’er man extendeth sway.

“And, seen how hateful Bacchus hath beguile’d, with mortal plots, their course on Indic plain, and how by wavy Ocean’s injuries foil’d rather than tirèd they were lost or slain: I will that in this sea to them so wild, ’mid ever restless waves their rest be tane: Here shall they gather guerdon sweet and glorious of toils that make the names of men memorious.

“Wherefore I pray thee, Son! forthwith go fire the Nereus-maidens on their deep-sea ground; burn they with Lusian love, bring warm desire to these Explorers of a world new found, all in an Islet joined in glorious choir, an Isle unknown in Ocean-depths profound embowel’d, I will haste on high to raise where lovely Flora with her Zephyr plays:

“There with a thousand sherbets, odorous wine, delicious viands, perfumed breath of roses, in sing’ular scenes of palace chrystalline, fair couches, fairer what on couch reposes; with thousand joys unvulgar shall, in fine, each Nymph await the Brave her fancy chooses and all love-smitten, longing to bestow what Hope can figure, or what eyes can show.

“’Tis my good will that in the Neptune-reign, my place of birth, a fair brave race be born, which a shrewd proof shall be to worlds malign, and to the rebels who thine empire scorn; that nought shall save, ne mure adamantine ne triste Hypocrisy, these men forsworn: Ne’er shall these earth-things hope their selves to save when burn immortal Love-fires ’neath the wave.”

Thus willeth Venus and her wilful Boy obeys, and flies to see her will be done; he bids them bring his bow of ivory, with golden-headed arrows many a one: The Cyprian with glad gest of wanton joy within her chariot receives her son; and slacks the bridles for the Birds whose song the Phaëtonian death wailed loud and long.

But Cupid warneth that still wants their scheme a famous Go-between of high degree who, though a thousand times she baulked his aim, a thousand times firm friend prefer’d to be. Gigantia was the Goddess, daring dame, vain-glorious, boastful, false and true was she who sees with hundred eyne, flies every where and that she sees a thousand tongues declare.

They wend to seek and send her on in state, to blow her trumpet of the clearest strain; and so the wandering Braves to celebrate, as never mortals could such praises gain: Now Fame, with murm’uring sounds that penetrate, flies through the deepest grottos of the Main: and scatt’ereth Truth believèd true to be; for Fame’s own gossip is Credulity.

These goodly lauds, and rumours excellent the hearts of God and Goddess, whilom firèd by Bacchus and to harm the Heroes bent, changed and with something likest love inspirèd. The fem’inine bosom, ever diligent in shifting will, of settled will soon tirèd, now crieth cru’elty, shame and over zeal for such high valour evil will to feel.