The Lusiads: Canto V

“Such words that agèd Sire of honoured mien still was exclaiming, as we spread the wing to catch the sea-breath gentle and serene, and from the well-known Port went sorrowing: After the manner of far-faring men, when loosed the sail we garred the welkin ring crying ‘Boon Voyage!’ whereupon the breeze made every trunk glide off with ’customed ease.

“ ’Twas in the season when th’ Eternal Light entered the Beast that workt Nemaea’s woe; and rolled our Earth, consumed by Time’s long flight, in her sixth epoch, feeble, cold and slow: Now, in the wonted way, had met her sight the suns that fourteen hundred courses show, with seven and ninety more, wherein she ran, as o’er the seas th’ Armada’s course began.

“Slow, ever slower, banisht from our eyne, vanisht our native hills astern remaining: Remained dear Tagus, and the breezy line of Cintran peaks, long, long, our gaze detaining: Remainèd eke in that dear country mine our hearts with pangs of mem’ory ever paining: Till, when all veilèd sank in darkling air, naught but the welkin and the wave was there.

“Thus fared we opening those wastes of tide, no generation openèd before; sighting new islands and new airs we hied, which gen’erous Henry had the heart t’ explore: Past Mauritanian hills and homes we plied, the realm Antaeus ruled in times of yore, leaving to larboard; on our dexter hand lay nothing surer than suspected land.

“Hard by the great Madeiran Isle we past, whose wealth of woodland won her chryssome name; where first our people did their fortunes cast, for name more famous than for classick fame: But not the least, although ’twas found the last, the smiles of Venus shall this Island claim: Nay, an ’twere hers, scant cause it had to fear a Cnidos or Cyprus, Paphos or Cythéra.

“We left Massylia’s seaboard, sterile waste, where Azenéguan herds their cattle feed; a folk that never soft sweet waters taste, nor doth the meadow-math suffice their need; a land no luscious fruit’ery ever graced, where birds spoil iron in their maws of greed, a soil where nought save horrid Want abounds, parting the Berber’s from the Blackmoor’s grounds.

“We past the limit where, his southing done, Sol guides his chariot t’oward his northern goal; where lie the Races whence Clyméné’s son the clear bright colour of the daylight stole; Here laving strangest peoples loves to run black Sanagá in tropick summer cool; where th’ Arsenarium Cape its name hath lost, yclept Cape Verd by us that keep the coast.

“Now past Canaria’s archipelago— ‘Fortunate Isles’ of olden mariners these— the waves that play around the Maids we plow of agèd Hesper, hight Hesperides: Lands ever new, whose wonders greater grow upon the sight, uprose our eyne to please: Then with a prosp’rous wind we took the port, to take provision of the wonted sort.

“Now at his Island was the harbour tane, that warrior Sanct ‘Iago’s name did take; a Saint who often holp the sons of Spain brave slaught’ering of the Moorish man to make. Hence while a favouring Boreas fanned the Main, once more we sped to cut the vasty lake of briny Ocean, while beneath the wave settled the shore that sweet refreshment gave.

“Compast our courses thence the greater part of Africk, eastward left her continent: The province Joloff which, disposed athwart, departs in tribes the Negro ’habitant; mighty Mandinga-land by whose good art the rich and lucid ore for us is sent, which curvèd Gámbia’s wealth of waters drinketh ere in Atlantis’ breadth his current sinketh:

“We past the Dorcades, those isles assign’d of the Weird Sisters erst the home to be, who born of several vision reft and blind, made single eye-ball serve for all the three: Thou, only thou, whose crispy locks entwin’d frore Neptune fired’st in his realm, the sea, than ev’ery foulest monster fouler still the burning sand with viper-brood didst fill.

“In fine with pointed Prow t’oward Austral shore across the vastest Guinea Gulf we stray’d, leaving the rugged Range where Lyons roar and Cape of Palmas called from palmy shade: The Rio Grande, where the thund’erous Bore roars on our noted coasts, we left and made that goodly Island named from him who tried to thrust his finger in the God-man’s side.

“There the broad shores of Congo kingdom show, whilom by us convert to faith of Christ, where long Zaïré’s deep clear waters flow, River by men of old unseen, unwist: And now in fine the wide-spread seas I plow, far from Callisto’s well-known Pole, and list to pass the torrid heats beneath the Line, which doth the centre of our Sphere define.

“And now our vision had afront descried, there in the new half-heav’en a meteor new, unseen by other men, who or denied, or held it doubtful, an ’twere false or true: We saw the Firm’ament’s darker, duller side, aye scant of stellar light where stars be few, and the fixt Pole where man may not agree if other land begin, or end the sea.

“Thus passing forward we the regions gain, where twice Apollo’s yearly passage lies, twin winters making, and of summers twain, while he from Pole to Pole alternate flies: Through calms and storms, caprices of the Main, of angry Aeolus sea-sent tyrannies, we saw the Bears, despite of Juno, lave their tardy bodies in the boreal wave.

“To tell the many dangers of the deep, sea-changes landsman never apprehendeth, sudden Tornados, storms the seas that sweep, Levens, whose fire the depths of air accendeth; black nights when Heav’en in rain-flood seems to weep, and Thunders bellowing till the welkin rendeth, were but lost labour, and would do me wrong, e’en were I dower’d with an iron tongue.

“Portents I witness’d, which rude mariners by long experience wont their lore to try, vouch for veracious, while each one avers things must be truthful when they meet his eye: These the sound judgment of the Sage prefers;— or taught by Science or pure Wits to ’spy the hidden secrets which in Nature brood— to judge misfacts, or facts misunderstood.

“I saw, and clearly saw, the living Light, which sailor-people hold their Patron-saint, in times of trouble and the winds’ rude fight, and sable orcan when man’s heart is faint. Nor less to one and all ’twas exquisite marvel, surpassing power of wonderment, to see the sea-based clouds, with bulky shaft, upheaving Ocean’s depth with sucking draught.

“Certès I saw it (nor can I presume my sight deceivèd me) as high it grew, an airy vapourlet, a subtle fume which, caught by windy currents, whirling flew: Thence tow’ering tall to circumpolar gloom a Tube appeared so thin, so faint of hue, that man’s unaidèd sight could hardly see it: Yet of some cloudy substance seemed to be it.

“Little by little growing high in air, with bigger girth than biggest mast it loomèd; here slim its middle, broad its bosom, where great gulps of water were in floods enwombèd: The wave of ev’ery Wave it seemed to share; while gathered vapours o’er its summit gloomèd; increasing ever more, and overchargèd as the huge water-load its bulk enlargèd.

“E’en as a ruddy Leech sometimes is seen fixt on the lips of beeve (that careless stood to drink on frigid fountain’s hem of green), slaking her fire of thirst with alien blood: Sucking, she rounds her form with hunger lean; and swills and swells till full of gory food: Thus the grand column greater volume gaineth itself, and heavier weight of cloud sustaineth.

“But, when ’twas wholly filled, and fully fed, withdrawn the footing planted on the Main, athwart the welkin pouring floods it fled, with water bathing ’jacent watery plain; and all the waves it suckt in waves it shed; wherein no salty savour mote remain. Now let our Sages deft in Script expose what mighty secrets these which Nature shows.

“Had the Philosophers, who fared of eld so far the Wonders of the World to find, the Miracles which I beheld, beheld; the canvas spreading to such divers wind; what many weighty volumes had they fill’d! what pow’er to Stars and Signs had they assign’d! what growth to knowledge! what rare qualities! and all the purest Truth that scorneth lies.

“Five times the Planet, which maintains her place in the first sky, her swifter course had made, now showing half and then her full of face, while over Ocean our Armada sped: When poised on topmost yard, in giddy space, ‘Land!’ shouts a lynx-eyed sailor, ‘land ahead!’ Hurry the crews on deck in huge delight and over Orient sky-rim strain their sight.

“In misty manner ’gan their shapes to show the highland-range attracting all our eyes; the pond’erous anchors stood we prompt to throw, and furl the canvas which now useless lies: And that with surer knowledge mote we know the parts so distant which before us rise, with Astrolábos, novel instrument, which safe and subtle judgment did invent:

“We landed, lost no time, on long and wide Bight, and the seamen scattered ’bout the shore, to see what curious things be there descried, where none descried or ever trod before: But with my Pilots I retired aside on farther sands, our landfall to explore; and lief the solar altitude would span, and map the painted world in chart and plan.

“Here had our wand’ering course outrun, we found, of Semi-capran Fish the final goal, standing atween him and the gelid round, Earth’s austral portion, the more secret Pole. Sudden I see my crew a man surround, complexion’d sooty as the charrèd coal, tane as he hied him far from home to take combs of rich honey from the hilly brake.

“He comes with troubled gest and gait, as though he ne’er had found him in such fell extreme; nor he our speech, nor we his jargon know, a salvage worse than brutal Polypheme: Of the fine fleecy store to him I show the Colchos-treasure, gentle ore supreme, the virgin silver, spices rich and rare, yet seemed the Sylvan nought for these to care.

“Then bade I baser things be brought to his view, bunches of glassy beads transparent bright, of little tinkling falcon-bells a few, a cap of cramoisie that glads the sight. By signs and signals then I saw and knew, in such cheap trash he takes a child’s delight: I bid them loose him with his treasures all, when off he hurries for the nearest kraal.

“His friends and neighbours on the following day, all mother-nude, with night-entinctur’d skin, adown their asp’erous hillocks fand their way, làrgesse and gifts their mate had won, to win: In crowds they gather’d and so tame were they, the show of softness bred much daring in Fernam Velloso’s brain to see the land, and thread the bushes with the barbarous band.

“Now doth Velloso on his arm rely and, being arr’ogant, weens to wend secure; but when already overtime goes by wherein no sign of good I can procure; standing with face upturned in hope to ’spy the bold Adv’enturer, lo! adown the dure hillocks appears he, making for the shore, with more of hurry than he showed before.

“Coelho’s galley lightly rowed for land to take him off, but ere the shore she made a burly Blackmoor cast a bully hand on him, for fear their prisoner evade: Others and others coming, soon the band grappleth Velloso, who finds none to aid; I haste, our gallant oarsmen strenuous working, when shows a Negro flock in ambush lurking.

“Now from the clashing cloud a rattling rain of shafts and stones began on us to pour, nor did they hurtle through the lift in vain, for thence my leg this hurt of arrow bore. But we, like men with causes to complain, send such thick-woven answer strong and sore that from their exploit gainèd some, perhaps, a blush of honours crimson as their caps.

“And, saved Velloso from such imm’inent fate, fast to the Squadron both the boats retirèd, seeing the rude intent and ugly hate of brutes by bestial rage and malice firèd; from whom no better tidings could we ’wait anent that India-land, the dear-desirèd, save it lay far, far, far, the fellows said:— Once more the canvas to the breeze I spread.

“Then to Velloso quoth a mate in jest (while all with meaning smile the jibe attend), ‘Holá, Velloso! sure that hilly crest is hard to climb as easy to descend.’ ‘Yea, true!’ the daring volunteer confest; ‘but when so many curs afar I ken’d packing, I hurried, for I ’gan to doubt me ill-luck might catch you were ye there without me.’

“He then recounted how, when duly made that wooded Mount, the blacks of whom I speak, his further travel o’er the land forbade threat’ening unless he turn death-wrong to wreak: Then, straight returning, ambuscade they laid, that we when landing a lost mate to seek, might straight be banisht to the Reign obscure, that at more leisure they the loot secure.

“But now five other suns had come and gone, since from our landfall went we forth to plow seas to the seaman still unseen, unknown, while from astern the breezes favouring blow; when, as a night closed in, all careless strown the Crew kept watch upon the cutting Prow, deep’ening the welkin’s darkling hues, a cloud sails high o’erhead, and seems the sky to shroud.

“It came so chargèd with such tem’erous stride in every falt’ering heart blank fear it bred: Roars from afar and raves the sombre tide as though vain thunder’ing on some rocky head: ‘Almighty Pow’r, o’er worlds sublime!’ I cried, ‘what threat from Heaven, or what secret dread, shall now this climate and this sea deform, what greater horror than the natural storm?’

“These words I ended not, when saw we rise a Shape in air, enormous, sore the view o’it; a Form disformèd of a giant size; frownèd its face; the long beard squalid grew o’it; its mien dire menacing; its cavern’d eyes glared ghastly ’mid the mouldy muddy hue o’it; stainèd a clayey load its crispy hair and coal-black lips its yellow tusks lay bare.

“So vast its eerie members, well I can assure thee, all the double deemed to sight of Rhodes’ Colossus, whose inord’inate span one of the world’s Seven Wonders once was hight. But when its gross and horrent tones began to sound as surged from Ocean’s deepest night: ah! crept the flesh, and stood the hair of me and all, that gruesome Thing to hear and see.

“ ‘O rasher, bolder Race:’—’twas thus it spoke— ‘than all whose daring deeds have tempted Fate; thou, whom no labours tame nor war’s fell stroke, nor rest wilt grant on human toils to ’wait: Since these forbidden bounds by thee are broke who durst my Virgin Seas to violate, which long I guardèd, where I ne’er allow plowing to foreign or to native prow:

“ ‘Since the dark secrets com’st thou here to ’spy of Nature and her humid element, which from Man’s highest lore deep hidden lie, on noble or immortal mission sent; from me the Terrors which ye dare defy hear now, the sequence of thy rash intent, o’er ev’ery largest Sea, o’er ev’ery Land which still thy cruel conquest shall command.

“ ‘This know, what ships shall sail my waters o’er and brave, as brav’est thou me, to work my worst; to them assurèd foe shall prove my shore, where blow the storm-winds, and the tempests burst: Hear! the first Squadron that shall dare explore and through my restless waves shall cleave the first, such improvisèd chastisement shall see, more than all dangers shall the damage be.

“ ‘An Hope deceive not, here I hope to deal consummate vengeance on th’ Explorer’s head; nor he the latest shall my fury feel by pertinacious confidence ybred; nay, ye shall ev’ery year see many a keel (if me my judgment here hath not misled) such wrecks endure, shall see such fate befall, that Death shall seem the lightest ill of all.

“ ‘And to the first illustrious Leader whom Fame’s favour raiseth till he touch the skies, I will give novel and eternal tomb, by the dark sentence of a God all-wise: Here of hard Turkish fleet that dree’d his doom, he shall depose the prideful prosp’erous prize; here shall at length my wrath and wrack surpass a Quíloa in ruins and a rent Mombasah.

“ ‘Shall come Another, eke of honour’d fame, a Knight of loving heart and liberal hand, and he shall bring his dainty darling Dame, Love’s choicest treasure bound by Hymen’s band: Ah, sore the sorrow, dark the day when came the pair to this my hard and hateful land, condemn’d from cruel wreck their lives to save and, suffer’ed toils untold, to find a grave.

“ ‘Shall see slow starving die their children dear, sweet pledges bred of love, in fond love born; shall see the Caffres, greedy race and fere, strip the fair Ladye of her raiment torn: Shall see those limbs, as crystal light and clear, by suns, and frosts, and winds, and weather worn, when cease to tread, o’er long drawn miles, the heat of sandy waste those delicatest feet.

“And, more, shall see their eyne, whom Fate shall spare from ills so dreadful, from so dire a blow, the two sad lovers left in mis’ery, where implac’able thorns and terrible thickets glow: There, when the stones wax soft at their despair, shown by their ceaseless woe, sigh, groan, tear, throe, in a last strained embrace their souls exhale from out the fairest, fondest, saddest jail.”

“The fearful Monster would more ills unfold, our doom disclosing, when aloud cried I:— ‘Who art thou, whose immense stupendous mould, pardie, is mighty miracle to mine eye?’ His lips and dingy orbs he wreathed and roll’d, and with a sudden frightful wailing cry, in slow and bitter accents he replied as though the question probed and galled his pride:

“ ‘I am that hidden mighty Head of Land, the Cape of Tempests fitly named by you, which Ptol’emy, Mela, Strabo never fand, nor Pliny dreamt of, nor old Sages knew: Here in South Ocean end I Africk strand, where my unviewèd Point ye come to view, which to the far Antarctick Pole extendeth; such he your daring rashness dire offendeth.

“ ‘Encelados, and Terra’s Titan brood, Aegaeon and the Centiman, the line of me, who Adamástor hight, withstood the hand that hurleth Vulcan’s bolt divine: Hill upon hill to pile was not my mood; to conquer Ocean-waves was my design; I went to seek, as Captain of the Main, the fleet of Neptune which I sought in vain.

“ ‘For Peleus’ high-born spouse my burning love lurèd me rashly to such rude emprize; the belles of heaven ne’er my breast could move mine Ocean-Empress filled my yearning eyes: One day I saw her with the Nereids rove, all bare and beauteous, ’neath the summer skies: and in such manner she bewitcht my will no other feeling can my bosom fill.

“ ‘But as my Ladye’s grace I could not gain for being homely, huge of form and face, I sware by forceful rape my want t’ obtain and so to Doris I disclosed my case: In dread she told her child my loving pain when modest Thetis, with her merry grace, replied:—‘What Nymph can boast, whate’er her charms, the strength to wrestle in a Giant’s arms?

“ ‘Algates, that Ocean may once more be free from this sad Warfare, I some mode will find, to gar mine honour with his suit agree;’ thus was the message to mine ear consign’d. I, who no treach’erous snare in aught could see (for lovers’ blindness is exceeding blind) felt with a buoyant hope my bosom bound, and hopes of passion by possession crown’d.

“ ‘Love madden’d, moonstruck, now I fled the war, and kindly Doris named the trysting-night; at length my lovely love I saw appear, my winsome Thetis, in her robeless white: Like one possest I hurried from afar opeing mine arms to clasp the life and sprite of this my body, and hot kisses rain upon her cheeks, her locks, her glorious eyne.

“ ‘Ah! how it irks to tell my sad disgrace! thinking my lover in these arms to hold, mine arms a rugged Mountain did embrace, yclad with bramble bush, a horrid wold: Before this rock, upstanding face to face, which for that Angel front I did enfold, no more was I a Man, no! lorn and lone a rock, a stone, I stood before a stone.

“ ‘Oh Nymph! the loveliest born that bare the Main, alb’eit my presence ne’er by thee was sought, how could my poor delusion cause thee pain? Why not be mountain, cloud, rock, vision, nought? Raging I wandered forth well-nigh insane for yearning grief with foul dishonour fraught, to seek another world, where none could see my trickling tears, and scoff at them and me.

“ ‘Meanwhile my brethren, who the conquest lost, crusht in extremest conquer’d mis’ery pinèd; whom, for more surety, that vain-glorious host of upstart Gods ’neath various Mounts consignèd: And, as Immortals scoff at mortal boast, I, to my sorrows in no wise resignèd, felt Fate, mine awful foe, begin to shape a dreadful vengeance for my daring rape.

“ ‘My flesh slow hardens into solid earth, to rocks and horrid crags enstone my bones; these limbs thou seest and this mighty girth, extend where desert Ocean raves and moans: In fine, the giant-stature of my birth to this far Headland sprent with rocks and stones the Gods debased; and doubling all my woes, round me white, winsome, watery Thetis flows.’

“Thus parlied he; and with appalling cry, from out our sight the gruesome Monster died; the black cloud melted, and arose on high sonorous thunders rollèd by the tide. To th’ Angel-choirs with hands upraisèd, I— invisible Controls so long our guide— prayed God in pity would those Ills withhold, by Adamástor for our Race foretold.

“Now Pyroeis and Phlegon ’gan appear with th’ other pair that hale the radiant wain, when the tall heights of Table Mount we spere, which from the mighty Giant form hath tane: Standing along now easting shores we steer, and cleave the waters of the Lévant main, the coast-line hugging with a northing Prow, and sight a second landfall o’er the bow.

“The native owners of this other land, the burnisht livery of Aethiops wore, yet was their bearing more humane and bland, than those who so mistreated us before. With dance and joyous feasts, a merry band approacht us tripping on the sandy shore, bringing their Women and fat herds that grace the pastures, gentle kine of high-bred race.

“The bronzèd Women, scorcht by burning clime, astraddle rode the slow-paced gentle Steer, beasts which their owners hold of beeves the prime, better than any of the herds they rear: Pastoral canticles, or prose, or rhyme, concerted in their mother-tongue we hear; and to the rustick reed sweet tunes they teach, as Tit’yrus chaunted ’neath his spreading beech.

“These, who seemed glad to see the guest abide amid them, greeted us with friendly mood, and many a fatted fowl and sheep supplied, their goods exchanging for the things deemed good: But though my comrades tried, they vainly tried, for not a word in fine was understood that of our search a signal might convey:— Anchor I weighèd, and I sailed away.

“Now here in mighty gyre our flight had flown round Blackmoor Africk shore; and now regainèd our Prores the torrid heat of Middle Zone, while Pole Antarctick far in rear remainèd: We left astern an Islet first made known by the first Squadron whose long toils attainèd the Cape of Tempests; and, that Islet found, ended her voyage at its bourne and bound.

“Thence drave we, cutting for a length of days— where storms and sadd’ening calms alternate range— undreamèd Oceans and unpathèd ways, our sole conductor Hope in toils so strange: Long time we struggled with the sea’s wild maze, till, as its general Law is changeless Change, we met a current with such speed that sped, against the flow ’twas hard to forge ahead.

“Of this prevailing flood the puissant force, which to the southward our Armada hove, such set opposèd to our northing course, the winds to waft us onwards vainly strove: Till Notus fashed to find us fare the worse, (it seems) in struggle with the drift that drove, enforced his blasts, and with such choler blew maugre the mighty current on we drew.

“Reducèd Sol that famed and sacred Day, wherein three Kings in Orient region crown’d, a King came seeking who belittled lay, a King in whom three Kings in One are bound: That morn to other hythe we made our way finding the peoples that before we found, by a broad River, and we gave it name from the high hol’iday when to port we came.

“Sweet food we barter’d from their scanty store, sweet water from their stream; but natheless here gained we no tidings of that Indian shore, from men to us that almost dumblings were. See now, O King! what distant regions o’er of Earth we wandered, peoples rude and fere, nor news nor signal had our labours earnèd of the fair East for which our spirits yearnèd.

“Imagine, prithee, what a piteous state must have been ours when all save life was gone, by hunger broken and the storm’s wild hate, and curst by novel climes and seas unknown: Our hearts despaired of Hope deferred so late, till dull Despair had marked us for her own; toiling beneath those strange unnat’ural skies— our northern nature’s fellest enemies.

“And now decayed and damaged waxt our food, sore damaging the wasted frame of man, without one comfort, sans one gleam of good, not e’en Hope’s flatt’ering tale nor Fancy vain: Dost think that Sailor of the sturdiest mood, or any Soldier save the Lusitan, perchance, had loyalty so long preservèd both for his King and for the Chief he servèd?

“Dost think, the wretches had not mutinied against the Head who with their mood had striven, parforce becoming Pyrats, turned aside from duty, by despair, want, hunger driven? In very sooth these men were sorely tried, since from their hearts ne moil ne toil hath driven Portingall-excellence, abounding still in leal valour and obedient will.

“Leaving in fine that Port of fair sweet flood, and, dight once more to cut the salty spray; off from the coast-line for a spell we stood, till deep blue water ’neath our kelsons lay; for frigid Notus, in his fainty mood, was fain to drive us leewards to the Bay made in that quarter by the crookèd shore, whence rich Sofála sendeth golden ore.

“This Sea-bight passing far, the nimble helm, by men to saintly Nicholas assignèd, where roaring Ocean raves on Terra’s realm, this and that vessel’s prore eftsoons inclinèd: And now from hearts which hopes and fears o’erwhelm, hearts in such faith t’ a fragile plank resignèd, as hope grew hopeless, esperance despair, good sudden tidings banisht cark and care.

“And thus it happed, as near the shore we went where beach and valley lay in clearest view, a stream whose course in ocean there was spent, showèd of sails that came and went a few. Good sooth, to greatest joyaunce all gave vent, when first we sighted mariners who knew mariner-practice; for we here were bound to find some tidings which, indeed, we found.

“All Aethiopians are, yet ’twould appear, they held communion with men better bred: Some words of Arab parlance here we hear imported sounds their mother-speech amid: A flimsy wrapper of tree-wool they wear a-twisted tight about each kinky head; while other pieces dipt in azure tinct, are round their middles and their shame precinct.

“In Arab language, which they little know, but which Fernam Martins well comprehendeth, ships great as ours, they say, scud to and fro piercing the waters with the beak that rendeth: But there where Phoebus leaps in air, they go whither the broad’ening coast to south extendeth, then from south sunwards; and a Land is there of folk like us and like the daylight fair.

“Here was each bosom with rare gladness cheerèd by the good people, and their news much more: From all the signals in this stream appearèd, ‘Stream of Good Signals’ christened we the shore: A marble column on this coast we rearèd whereof, to mark such spots, a few we bore; its name that lovely Angel-youth supplied who did Thobias to Gabáël guide.

“Of shells and oysters, and the weedy load, the noisome offspring of the Main profound, we cleansed our kelsons which the long sea-road brought to careening cloggèd and immund: Our blameless Aethiops, who not far abode, with pleasing jocund proffers flockt around supplying maintenance we mainly sought, pure of all leasing, free from feigning thought.

“Yet from our esp’erance great, our hopes immense bred by this seaboard, was not pure and true the joy we joyed; nay, cruel recompense dealt us Rhamnúsia, sorrows strange and new. Thus smiling Heav’en mixt favours doth dispense; in such condition dark and dure man drew the breath of Life; and, while all Ills endure, Good changeth often, Good is never sure.

“And ’twas that sickness of a sore disgust, the worst I ever witness’d, came and stole the lives of many; and far alien dust buried for aye their bones in saddest dole. Who but eye-witness e’er my words could trust? of such disform and dreadful manner swole the mouth and gums, that grew proud flesh in foyson till gangrene seemèd all the blood to poyson:

“Gangrene that carried foul and fulsome taint, spreading infection through the neighb’ouring air: No cunning Leach aboard our navy went, much less a subtle Chirurgeon was there; but some whose knowledge of the craft was faint strove as they could the poisoned part to pare, as though ’twere dead; and here they did aright;— all were Death’s victims who had caught the blight.

“At last in tangled brake and unknown ground, our true companions lost for aye, we leave, who ’mid such weary ways, such dreary round, such dread adventures aidance ever gave. How easy for man’s bones a grave is found! Earth’s any wrinkle, Ocean’s any wave. whereso the long home be, abroad, at home, for ev’ery Hero’s corse may lend a tomb.

“When from that Haven we resumed our way while brighter hopes with darker hearts combine’d, we opèd Ocean where the down coast lay, expecting surer signal e’er to find: At last we rode in rude Mozámbic Bay, of whose vile leasing, and whose villain kind thou must have knowledge; and the foul deceit wherewith Mombásah would her guests defeat.

“Until safe anchored in thy harbour, rife with all the gracious guest-rites that bestow health on the living, on the dying life, God in His pity pleased the way to show: Here rest, here sweet repose from grief, toil, strife, new Peace appeasing ev’ry want and woe thou gavest us: Now, if hast heard me well told is the tale thou badest me to tell.

“Judge then, O King! an over Earth e’er went men who would ’tempt such paths of risk and dread? Dost deem Aeneas, or e’en eloquent Ulysses, fared so far this Earth to tread? Did any dare to see the Sea’s extent howe’er the Muse their Gestes hath sung or said, as I by force of will and skill have seen and still shall see; or e’en the eighth, I ween?

“This, who so deeply drank of Fount Aonian, o’er whom contend in conquest peregrine Rhodes, Ios, Smyrna, with the Colophonian Athens and Argos and the Salamine: And that, the lustre of the land Ausonian, whose voice altis’onous and whose lyre divine his native Mincius hearing, sinks to sleep, while Tyber’s waves with pride and pleasure leap:

“Sing, laud and write they both in wild extremes of these their Demigods, and prowess vaunt on fabled Magians, Circes, Polyphemes, and Sirens lulling with the sleepy chaunt: Send them to plow with oar and sail the streams of Cicons; on th’ oblivious lands descant where slumb’erous Lotus-eaters dazed and died; e’en be their Pilot whelmed in Ocean-tide:

“Storms let them loosen from the Bags of Wind, create Calypsos captivate by love; make Harpies’ touch contam’inate all they find, and in sad Hades make their Heroes rove; however much, o’er much, they have refine’d such fabled tales, which Poet’s fancy prove, the simple naked truth my story telleth all their grandiloquence of writ excelleth.”

Fast on our Captain’s facund lips depends as drunk with wonder, all that soul-wrapt crowd; until at length his travel-story ends; his tale that told of noble deeds and proud. The high-conceiv’ed intent the King commends of Kings to not’able feats of warfare vow’d: Their Lieges’ old and val’orous strain extols, their loyal spirits and their noble souls.

Th’ admiring audience to recount are fain each case, as each one best could understand: None from the hardy Folk could turn their eyne who by such long-drawn ways the waves had span’d. Now, as the Delian youth turns round the rein Lampetia’s brother held with feeble hand, and in the Thetian arms way-weary falls; the King hies sea-borne to his royal halls.

How pleasant sound the praise and well-won glory of man’s own exploits as man hears them chime! for noble travail, actions digne of story, that dim or equal those of passèd Time. Envy of famous feats untransitory hath ’gendered thousand thousand deeds sublime: The Brave who loves to tread in Valour’s ways pants for the pleasure of his fellows’ praise.

Achilles’ glorious feats could not so ’flame, nor Alexander’s soul to fight inspirèd, as he who sang in numbered verse his name; such praise, such honour most his soul desirèd. Nought but the trophies of Miltiades’ fame could rouse Themistocles with envy firèd; who owned his highest joy, his best delight, came from the voices which his feats recite.

Vasco da Gama striveth hard to prove that these old travels in world-song resounding merit not glory nor men’s hearts may move like his sore travails Heav’en and Earth astounding. Yes! but that Hero, whose esteem and love crownèd with praise, prize, honours, gifts abounding the Lyre of Mantua, taught her Bard to chaunt Aeneas’ name, and Rome’s high glories vaunt.

Scipios and Caesars giveth Lusia-land, gives Alexanders and Augusti gives; but she withal may not the gifts command whose want rears rough and ready working-lives: Octavius, prest by Fortune’s heaviest hand, with compt and learned verse her wrong survives. Nor, certès, Fulvia shall this truth deny, Gláphyra’s wit entrapt her Anthony.

Goes Caesar subjugating gen’eral France, yet worked his arms to Science no offence; this hand the Pen compelling, that the Lance he vied with Cicero’s gift of eloquence: What most doth Scipio’s name and fame enhance is of the Com’edy deep experience: What Homer wrote that Alexander read, we know, whose roll ne’er left his couch’s head.

In fine, the nations own no Lord of Men that lackt a cultured learnèd fantasy, of Grecian, Latian, or barbarian strain; only the Lusian lacking it we see. Not without shame I say so, but ’twere vain to hope for high triumphant Poesy till men our Rhymes, our Songs shall lay to heart; for minds Art-ign’orant aye look down on Art.

For this, and not for Nature’s fault, be sure Virgil nor Homer rise to strike the lyre; nor shall rise ever, an this mode endure, pious Aeneas or Achilles dire. But—worst of all—it maketh man so dour, austere, rough, frigid to poetic fire; so rude, so heedless to be known or know, few heed the want and many will it so.

Let grateful Gama to my Muse give grace, for the great patriot-love that gars her sound the Lyre for all her Sons, and aye retrace the name and fame of ways and wars renown’d: Nor he, nor they who call themselves his race e’er in Calliope a friend so found, or from the Tagus-maidens boon could claim, to leave their golden webs and hymn his name.

Because fraternal love and friendly will that deals to every Lusian Brave his meed of laud, this thought, these resolutions fill my gentle Tagides; and this their creed. Yet ne’er let human bosom cease to thrill with Hope to dare and do some mighty deed, since or by these or, haply, other ways, he ne’er shall forfeit prizes, value, praise.