The Lusiads

The feats of Arms, and famed heroick Host,
from occidental Lusitanian strand,
who o’er the waters ne’er by seaman crost,
farèd beyond the Taprobáne-land,1
forceful in perils and in battle-post,
with more than promised force of mortal hand;
and in the regions of a distant race
rear’d a new throne so haught in Pride of Place:

And, eke, the Kings of mem’ory grand and glorious,
who hied them Holy Faith and Reign to spread,
converting, conquering, and in lands notorious,
Africk and Asia, devastation made;
nor less the Lieges who by deeds memorious
brake from the doom that binds the vulgar dead;
my song would sound o’er Earth’s extremest part
were mine the genius, mine the Poet’s art.

Cease the sage Grecian, and the Man of Troy
to vaunt long Voyage made in bygone day:
Cease Alexander, Trajan cease to ’joy
the fame of vict’ories that have pass’d away:
The noble Lusian’s stouter breast sing I,
whom Mars and Neptune dared not disobey:
Cease all that antique Muse hath sung, for now
a better Brav’ry rears its bolder brow.

And you, my Tagian Nymphs,2 who have create
in me new purpose with new genius firing;
if ’twas my joy whilere to celebrate
your founts and stream my humble song inspiring;3
Oh! lend me here a noble strain elate,
a style grandiloquent that flows untiring;
so shall Apollo for your waves ordain ye
in name and fame ne’er envy Hippokréné.

Grant me sonorous accents, fire-abounding,
now serves ne peasant’s pipe, ne rustick reed;
but blast of trumpet, long and loud resounding,
that ’flameth heart and hue to fiery deed:
Grant me high strains to suit their Gestes astounding,
your Sons, who aided Mars in martial need;
that o’er the world be sung the glorious song,
if theme so lofty may to verse belong.

And Thou! O goodly omen’d trust, all-dear4
to Lusitania’s olden liberty,
whereon assurèd esperance we rear
enforced to see our frail Christianity:
Thou, O new terror to the Moorish spear,
the fated marvel of our century,
to govern worlds of men by God so given,
that the world’s best be given to God and Heaven:

Thou young, then tender, ever-flourishing bough,
true scion of tree by Christ belovèd more,
than aught that Occident did ever know,
“Caesarian” or “Most Christian” styled before:
Look on thy ’scutcheon, and behold it show
the present Vict’ory long past ages bore;
Arms which He gave and made thine own to be
by Him assumèd on the fatal tree:5

Thou, mighty Sovran! o’er whose lofty reign
the rising Sun rains earliest smile of light;
sees it from middle firmamental plain;
and sights it sinking on the breast of Night:
Thou, whom we hope to hail the blight, the bane
of the dishonour’d Ishmaëlitish knight;
and Orient Turk, and Gentoo-misbeliever
that drinks the liquor of the Sacred River:6

Incline awhile, I pray, that majesty
which in thy tender years I see thus ample,
E’en now prefiguring full maturity
that shall be shrin’d in Fame’s eternal temple:
Those royal eyne that beam benignity
bend on low earth: Behold a new ensample
of hero hearts with patriot pride inflamèd,
in number’d verses manifold proclaimèd.

Thou shalt see Love of Land that ne’er shall own
lust of vile lucre; soaring towards th’ Eternal:
For ’tis no light ambition to be known
th’ acclaimèd herald of my nest paternal.
Hear; thou shalt see the great names greater grown
of Vavasors who hail thee Lord Supernal:
So shalt thou judge which were the higher station,
King of the world or Lord of such a nation.

Hark; for with vauntings vain thou shalt not view
fantastical, fictitious, lying deed
of lieges lauded, as strange Muses do,
seeking their fond and foolish pride to feed:
Thine acts so forceful are, told simply true,
all fabled, dreamy feats they far exceed;
exceeding Rodomont, and Ruggiero vain,
and Roland7 haply born of Poet’s brain.

For these I give thee a Nuno, fierce in fight,
who for his King and Country freely bled;
an Egas and a Fuas;8 fain I might
for them my lay with harp Homeric wed!
For the twelve peerless Peers again I cite
the Twelve of England by Magriço led:
Nay, more, I give thee Gama’s noble name,
who for himself claims all Aeneas’ fame.

And if in change for royal Charles of France,
or rivalling Caesar’s mem’ories thou wouldst trow,
the first Afonso see, whose conque’ring lance
lays highest boast of stranger glories low:
See him who left his realm th’ inheritance
fair Safety, born of wars that crusht the foe:
That other John, a knight no fear deter’d,
the fourth and fifth Afonso, and the third.

Nor shall they silent in my song remain,
they who in regions there where Dawns arise,
by Acts of Arms such glories toil’d to gain,
where thine unvanquisht flag for ever flies,
Pacheco, brave of braves; th’ Almeidas twain,
whom Tagus mourns with ever-weeping eyes;
dread Albuquerque, Castro stark and brave,
with more, the victors of the very grave.

But, singing these, of thee I may not sing,
O King sublime! such theme I fain must fear.
Take of thy reign the reins, so shall my King
create a poesy new to mortal ear:
E’en now the mighty burden hear I ring
(and speed its terrors over all the sphere!)
of sing’ular prowess, War’s own prodigies,
in Africk regions and on Orient seas.

Casteth on thee the Moor eyne cold with fright,
in whom his coming doom he views designèd:
The barb’rous Gentoo, sole to see thy sight
yields to thy yoke the neck e’en now inclinèd;
Tethys, of azure seas the sovran right,
her realm, in dowry hath to thee resignèd;
and, by thy noble tender beauty won,
would bribe and buy thee to become her son.

In thee from high Olympick halls behold
themselves, thy grandsires’ sprites; far-famèd pair;9
this clad in Peacetide’s angel-robe of gold,
that crimson-hued with paint of battle-glare:
By thee they hope to see their tale twice told,
their lofty memo’ries live again; and there,
when Time thy years shall end, for thee they ’sign
a seat where soareth Fame’s eternal shrine.

But, sithence ancient Time slow minutes by
ere ruled the Peoples who desire such boon;
bend on my novel rashness favouring eye,
that these my verses may become thine own:
So shalt thou see thine Argonauts o’erfly
yon salty argent, when they see it shown
thou seest their labours on the raging sea:
Learn even now invok’d of man to be.10

They walked the water’s vasty breadth of blue,
parting the restless billows on their way;
fair favouring breezes breathèd soft and true,
the bellying canvas bulging in their play:
The seas were sprent with foam of creamy hue,
flashing where’er the Prows wide open lay
the sacred spaces of that ocean-plain
where Proteus’ cattle cleave his own domain:

When they who hold Olympick luminous height,
the Gods and Governors of our human race,
convened in glorious conclave, all unite
the coming course of Eastern things to trace:
Treading the glassy dome of lovely light,
along the Milky Way conjoint they pace,
gather’d together at the Thunderer’s hest,
and by old Atlas’ gentle grandson prest.

They leave the reg’iment of the Firm’aments seven,
to them committed by his high command,
his pow’r sublime whose thoughtful will hath given
Order to skies, and angry seas, and land:
Then instant gather in th’ assize of Heaven
those who are throned on far Arcturus’ strand,
and those that Auster rule, and Orient tides,
where springs Aurora and clear Phoebus hides.

Reposèd there the Sire sublime and digne,
vibrates whose hand the fierce Vulcanian ray,
on seat of starry splendour crystalline,
grand in his lofty gest of sovran sway:
Respirèd from his brow such air divine,
that to divine could change dull human clay;
bearing the crown and sceptre rutilant,
of clearer stone than clearest diamant.

On sparkling seats, with marquetry inlaid
of gold and pearl-work, sat in lower state
the minor Godheads, marshall’d and array’d,
e’en as demanded reason, rank, and rate:
Highest the seniors of most honour’d grade;
lower adown the lower Deities sate:
When thus high Jove the deathless throng addrest
with awful accents, dealing gravest hest:⁠—

“Immortal Peoples of the starlit Pole,
whose seats adorn this constellated sphere;
if the stout Race of valour-breathing soul
from Lusus springing still to thought be dear,
Your high Intelligences lief unroll
the writ of mighty Fate: her will is clear,
this Deed to cold Oblivion’s shade shall doom
the fame of Persia, ’Assyria, Greece, and Rome.

“To them ’twas erst, and well you wot it, given,
albeit a Pow’r so single, simple, small,
to see the doughty Moor from ’trenchments driven
where gentle Tagus feeds and floods the vale:
Then with the dreadful Spaniard have they striven,
by boon of Heav’n serene ne’er known to fail;
and urged their fortune’s ever-glorious claim
to victor-trophies hung in fane of Fame.

“Godheads! I leave that antique fame unsaid,
reft from the race of Romulus their foes;
when, by their warrior Viriátus led,
so high in Roman wars their names arose:
Eke leave I mem’ries which to meritèd
Honour obligèd when for chief they chose
that perfect Captain, erst a peregrine foe,
who feign’d a Daemon in his milk-white Doe.11

“Now well you see how steel’d their souls to steer
a fragile barque through dubious wat’ery way,
by paths unused, and holding nought in fear
Notus and Afer’s force, wax bolder they:
How whilom ev’ry region left arear,
where suns or shorten or draw long the day,
on wings of stubborn will these men be borne
to sight the cradles of the nascent Morn.

“Promised them Fate’s eternal covenant,
whose high commandments none shall dare despise,
for years full many they shall rule th’ extent
of seas that see the ruddy suns arise.
On wavy wastes hard winter have they spent;
o’erworked they come by travailing emprize;
’twere meet we show them, thus it seemeth me,
the fair new region which they fain would see.

“And as their valour, so you trow, defied
on aspe’rous voyage cruel harm and sore,
so many changing skies their manhood tried,
such climes where storm-winds blow and billows roar;
my sov’ereign mandate ’tis, be theirs to ride
in friendly haven, on the Blackmoor shore;
whence shall the weary Fleet, with ev’ery need
garnisht, once more her long-drawn voyage speed.”

Thus hearing Jupiter’s decree pronouncèd,
each God responsive spoke, in order due,
contrasting judgment one and all announcèd
giving and taking various divers view.
But Father Bacchus then and there renouncèd,
homage to Jove’s command, who right well knew
his deeds on Orient-lond would leave no trace,
were furth’erance granted to the Lusian race.

The Fatal Sisters he had heard declare,
how from Hispanian bounds a hero-band
should span the pathless deep, and nought should spare
wherever Doris batheth Indian strand:
Should with new victo’ries eve’ry deed out-dare
done or by his or other stranger hand:
Profound he sorrows lest he lose the glory,
the name still cel’ebrate in the Nyssan story.

He sees, while Indus he of yore hath tamèd,
Fortune or favou’ring chance had aye denied
to hear him India’s conqueror acclaimèd
by bardic men who drain Parnassus’ tide:
And now he dreadeth lest a name so famèd
be doomed for ever in the mire to hide
of Lethe-fountain, if on Inde debark
these vagueing Portingalls so strong and stark.

But him opposèd Venus, lovely fair,
whose heart her Lusian sons had won the more,
since in them seen the qualities high and rare,
the gifts that deckt her Romans dear of yore:
The heart of valour, and the potent star,
whose splendour dazzled Tingitánan shore;
and e’en the music of their speech appears
soft bastard Latin to her loving ears.

These causes movèd Cytheréa’s sprite;
and more when learnt she that the Fates intendèd
the Queen of Beauty should be glorious hight
where’er their warrior sway her sons extendèd.
Thus He, who fearèd future stain and blight,
and She, whose heart to honours high pretended
urge the debate in obstinate strife remaining;
with fav’ouring friends each rival right maintaining:

As the fierce South, or Boreas in the shade
of sylvan upland where the tree-boles cluster,
the branches shatt’ering crash through glooming glade
with horrid hurry and infuriate fluster:
Roars all the mountain, Echo moans in dread;
torn is the leaf’ery, hill-heads boil and bluster:
Such gusty tumults rise amid the Gods
within Olympus’ consecrate abodes.

But Mars, for ever wont t’espouse the part
of his dear Goddess, whatsoe’er the case;
or for old love that flicker’d in his heart,
or for the merits of her fighting race;
forth from the Gods upsprang with sudden start:
Stern melancholy markt his gest and face;
the pond’erous pavoise from his gorget hung
behind his shoulders full of wrath he flung!

His beavoir’d helmet of the diamant stone
opeing a little, of his strength right sure,
his sense to speak he strode and stood alone
Jupiter facing, armèd, dour and dure:
Then with hard pen’etrant blow he bore adown
his steely spear-heel on the pavement pure;
quakèd the welkin; and Apollo’s ray
waxt somewhat wan as though by cold dismay.

And thus:⁠—“Omnipo’tent Sire! whose awful reign
perforce obeyeth all thy pow’er hath made;
if these, who seek a new half-world to gain,
whose deeds of brav’ery hast with love survey’d,
thou wouldst not guerdon with a shame and stain,
that erst were favoured through the years that fade
listen no longer thou, sole Judge direct,
to glozing reasons all we Gods suspect:

“For, did not Reason in this matter show
herself the victim of unmeasure’d fear,
better beseems it Bacchus love bestow
on Lusus’ children, once his comrade dear:
But, let this vain and splen’etick purpose go,
since bred of evil stomach; for ’tis clear
that alien envy ne’er shall turn to woes
what weal men merit, and the Gods dispose.

“And thou, O Sire of surest constancy!
from the determine’d purpose of thy mind
turn thee not backwards; weakness ’twere in thee
now to desist thee from the thing design’d.
Send forth thine agile herald, Mercury,
fleeter than trimmèd shaft, or winnowing wind,
and show some happy hythe where Rest shall joy
all weary breasts with news of India nigh.”

As thus he said, the Sire of sov’ereign might
assented, nodding grave his awful head
to Mars’ opinion, ever fain of fight,
and o’er the Council show’ers of nectar shed.
The Galaxy, the pathway glowing bright,
the Deities all disparting rose to tread;
royal obeisance making, and the road
each took returning to his own abode.

While thus it happens in th’ aethereal reign⁠—
Omnipotent Olympick height serene⁠—
the warrior People cut the curvèd main
Austral and Oriental course between;
where fronts the face of Aethiopick plain
far-famed Saint Lawrence Isle;12 Sol’s brightest sheen
upon the water-deities rainèd fire,
who, changed to fishes, ’scaped Typhoeus’ ire.

The wafting winds so winsome urged their way,
As though the smiling heav’ens dear friends defended;
serene the welkin, and the lucid day
dawn’ed sans a cloud nor aught of risk portended:
Astern the leek-green point of Prasum13 lay
an olden name where Aethiop coast extended;
when Ocean op’ening broad a vista show’d
of islets fondled by the circling flood.

Vasco da Gama, valiant Capitayne,
for derring-do the noblest volunteer,
of not’able courage and of noble strain,
whom smile of constant Fortune loved to cheer;
seeth no reason why he should remain
where shows the shore-line desert, dark and drear:
Once more determined he to tempt the sea;
but as he willèd Fortune nill’ed it be.

For look! appeareth a flotilla yonder,
mosquito-craft that cleave the rolling tide;
and with their flowing sails the surges sunder,
from the small island next the cont’inent side:
The crews rejoicing, in their hope and wonder
could gaze on naught save what their hearts had joy’d.
“Who may be these?” each ask’ed him in amaze;
“What law be theirs, what ruler, what their ways?”

The boats appearèd in a manner new
long-built and narrow-beamed, for swiftness plan’d;
mats were the wings wherewith they lightly flew
from certain palm-fronds wove by cunning hand:
The people wore that veritable hue,
Phaëton’s boon to many a burning land,
when work’ed his rashness on the world such ills:
So Padus knows and Lampethusa feels.

They come costumèd all in cotton gear,
of hues contrasting, stripèd, chequed, and white;
one zone-girt cloth around the waist they wear,
other they throw on back in airy plight:
Above the waist-band each brown form is bare;
dag-targe and matchet14 are their arms of fight:
Scull-cap on head; and, as they wend their way,
shriek shrilly shawms, and harsh-voiced trumpets bray.

Waving their raiment and their hands they signèd
the Lusitanian folk to wait awhile:
but our light Prores their course had now inclinèd
to strike where shelter’d by the nearest isle:
Soldiers and sailors in one toil conjoinèd
as though were here the period of their toil:
They take in sail, and strike the lofty spar,
and Ocean, anchor-smit, froths high in air.

Nor had they anchor’d, when the stranger race
the shrouds upswarming ready footing gainèd;
joyous they cluster glad of gest and face;
our Captain gracious greeting gives unfeignèd.
He bids incontinent the board to grace
with vinous liquor first Lyaeus drainèd;
they crown the crystal cups, the proffer’d wine
Phaëton’s scorchèd folk nowise decline.

Afeasting cheery all the guests enquirèd
in Arab language, Whence had come their hosts?
Who were they? Where their land? What they desirèd?
What seas their keels had cut and conn’d what coasts?
The valiant Lusians answered with requirèd
discretion, and eschewing foolish boasts⁠—
“We are the Occidental Portughuese;
And, seeking Orient lands, we sail the seas.

“We now have coasted, running Ocean o’er,
Callisto’s Arctick and th’ Antarctick lands;
our course hath circled Africk’s winding shore;
strange skies exploring and yet stranger strands:
Ours is a potent King, loved evermore,
and we so prize his praise and his commands,
with mien right joyful, not the sea and sky,
but even Ach’eron Lake we dare defy.

“And wend we seeking by his royal will
where farthest Indus wat’ereth Eastern plain:
For him through wild wide waves we hoist the sail,
where ugly seals and orcs deform the Main.
But Reason tells us that ye may not fail
to answer, an of Truth your souls be fain,
Who are ye? What this land wherein ye wone?
And sign of India is to you beknown?”

“We live,” an island-man thus answ’ering said,
“aliens in land and law and eke in blood;
where native races are by nature bred,
a lawless, loutish, and unreasoning brood.
We hold his certain Law, that Holy Seed,
springing from Abram’s loins, who hath subdued
the nations subject to his sign’ory true;
by sire a Gentile and by mother Jew.15

“This little island, where we now abide,
of all this seaboard is the one sure place
for ev’ery merchantman that stems the tide,
from Quiloa16 or Sofálah or Mombas:
Here, as ’tis necessary, long we’ve tried
to house and home us, like its proper race:
In fine to find you with the facts you seek,
man calls our little island ‘Mozambíque.’

“And, as far-faring now ye come to view
Indic Hydaspes and his burning board,
hence ye shall bear a Pilot, sure and true,
whose skill the safest guidance shall afford:
’Twere also well, ere you your toils renew,
vittaile to ship, and let our island-lord,
who governeth this land, his guests behold,
and stock with needed store each empty hold.”

His speech thus spake the Moor, and took his leave,
he and his meiny where the bátels lay:
formal farewells to chief and crews he gave,
exchanging congees with due courtesy.
Now weary Phoebus in the western wave
had stalled the crystal chariot of the Day,
and gave his bright-brow’d sister charge t’ illume
the vast of Earth while lasted nightly gloom.

Aboard the wayworn Fleet blithe sped the night
in careless joyaunce recking nought of fear;
for the far land which long had ’scaped their sight
at length gave tidings, and at last lay near.
Now to take notice ’gins each curious wight
of the strange people’s manners, ways, and gear,
and much they marvell’ed how the sect misguided
o’er Earth’s broad surface far and wide abided.

Rained Luna’s radiance shedding rutilant showers
o’er Neptune’s wavelets tipt with silver sheen:
And like the May-mead fleckt with daisy flowers
sprent with its sparkling stars the sky was seen:
The blust’ring storm-winds slept in distant bowers,
Antres obscure in regions peregrine;
yet on th’ Armada’s decks a weapon’d guard
kept, as so long they wont, good watch and ward.

But when Aurora with her marquetry
’gan strew the glorious honours of her head
o’er the clear Heav’ens, and oped the ruddy way
to bright Hyperion rising from his bed;
lief is the Fleet to dress in brave array
of flags, and goodly awnings gay to spread,
that all may greet with holiday and hail
that island-lord who came with flowing sail.

He came right merrily o’er the Main, and sought
to view our nimble Lusitanian fleet;
bringing his country-cates, for ’twas his thought
in the fierce foreigner perchance to meet
the race inhuman, which hath ever fought
to change its Caspian caves for happier seat
in Asian cont’inent; and, by Will Divine,
of rule imperial robbèd Constantine.17

With glad reception our Commander meets
the Moorish chieftain and his whole convòy;
whom with a gift of richest gear he greets
whereof a store was shipped for such employ:
He gives him rich conserves, he gives, rare treats,
the liquors hot which fill man’s heart with joy.
Good be the gifts the Moor contented thinks,
but more the sweetmeats prizes, most the drinks.

The sailor-people sprung from Lusus’ blood
in wond’ering clusters to the ratlines clung;
noting the stranger’s novel mode and mood
with his so barb’arous and perplexèd tongue.18
Sometime the wily Moor confusèd stood
eyeing the garb, the hue, the fleet, the throng;
and asked, with questions manifold assailing,
if they from Turkey-land, perchance, were hailing.

He further tells them how he longs to see
what books their credence, law and faith contain;
if these conforming with his own agree
or were, as well he ween’d, of Christian grain:
Nay more, that hidden naught from him may be,
he prayed the Captain would be pleased t’ ordain
that be displayèd every puissant arm
wherewith the for’eigners work their foemen harm.

To this the doughty Chieftain deals reply,
through one that óbscure jargon knowing well:⁠—
“Illustrious Signior! I fain will try
all of ourselves, our arms, our creed to tell.
Nor of the country, kith or kin am I
of irksome races that in Turkey dwell;
my home is warlike Europe and I wend
Seeking the far-famed lands of farthest Inde.

“I hold the law of One by worlds obey’d,
by visible things and things invisible;
He who the hemispheres from naught hath made,
with sentient things and things insensible:
Who with vitup’erate foul reproach bewray’d
was doomed to suffer death insufferable;
And who, in fine, by Heav’n to Earth was given,
that man through Him might rise from Earth to Heaven.

“Of this God-man most highest, infinite,
The books thou wouldst behold I have not brought;
we stand excused of bringing what men write
on paper, when in sprite ’tis writ and wrought.
But an with weapons wouldst refresh thy sight,
As thou hast askèd, I deny thee nought;
A friend to friends I show them; and I vow
ne’er wouldst be shown their temper as my foe.”

This said, he bids his armourers diligent
bring arms and armour for the Moorman viewer:
Come sheeny harness, corselets lucident,
the fine-wove mail-coat and plate-armour sure;
shields decorate with ’scutcheons different,
bullets and spingards, th’ ice-brook’s temper pure;
bows, quivers furnisht with the grinded pile,
the sharp-edged partisan, the good brown bill:

Brought are the fiery bombs, while they prepare
sulph’urous stink-pots and grenades of fire:
But them of Vulcan biddeth he to spare
their dread artill’ery belching flames in ire;
naught did that gentle gen’erous spirit care
with fear the few and fearful folk t’ inspire,
and right his reas’oning: ’Twere a boast too cheap
to play the Lyon on the seely Sheep.

But from whate’er th’ observant Moorman heard,
and from whate’er his prying glance could see,
a settled deadly hate his spirit stir’d,
and evil crave of treach’erous cowardrie:
No sign of change he showed in gest or word;
but with a gay and gallant feigning he
vowèd in looks and words to treat them fair,
till deeds his daring purpose could declare.

The Captain prayed him Pilots to purvey,
his Squadron far as Indian shore to guide;
so should with wealthy hire and worthy pay
the labourer’s toil and moil be gratified.
Promised the Moorman sorely led astray
by ven’omous heart and with such poyson’d pride,
that Death in place of Pilot, at that hour,
his hand had given an it had the power.

So hot that hatred, sharp that enmity,
wherewith his spirit ’gainst his guests was fraught,
that knew them followers of that verity
by the Seed of David to our fathers taught.
Oh darkling secret of Eternity,
whereof man’s judgment may encompass naught!
Why should they never lack perfidious foe,
who such fair symbols of Thy friendship show?

At length, surrounded by his crafty crew,
the treachour Moorman from our ships took leave,
on all bestowing bel-accoyle untrue,
with fair, glad phrase designèd to deceive.
Soon o’er the narrow way his barquelets flew;
and, landing safely from Neptunian wave,
the Moorman, whom his suite obsequious greet,
regains his homestead and his wonted seat.

From Aether’s radiant seat Thebes’ mighty son,
The God two-mother’d, sprung from father-thigh,
seeing the Lusian host had straight begun
the Moorman’s hate and horror to defy,
fixt ev’ery project some foul feat upon,
by which the stranger host might surely die:
And while the plot his spirit importunèd,
thus in soliloquy the God communèd:⁠—

“Fate hath determinèd in olden time,
that conquests, fit the self of Fame t’ outface,
these Portingalls shall claim in ev’ery clime
where India rears her war-ennobled race:
Shall only I, the son of sire sublime,
I, whom such gen’erous gifts and guerdons grace,
suffer that favouring Fate success assure
to men whose labours shall my name obscure?

“Erst willed the Gods,19 who willed away the right
to Philip’s son, that o’er this Orient part
he hold such power, and display such might
which bound the world ’neath yoke of angry Mart:
But shall I tamely suffer Fate’s despight,
who lends these weaklings pow’er of arm and art,
Macedon’s hero, Roman brave and I
before the Lusian name be doomed to fly?

“This must not, shall not be! ere he arrive
this froward Captain at his fancied goal,
such cunning machinations I’ll contrive
never shall Orient parts his sight console:
And now to Earth! where I will keep alive
the fire of fury in the Moorish soul;
for him shall Fortune with success indue,
who on Occasion keepeth fixèd view.”

He spoke infuriate, nay, well-nigh insane,
and straight he ’lighted on the Negro shore;
where, mortal gest and human vesture tane,
he made for Prasum Headland famed of yore:
Better to weave his web of wily bane,
he changed his nat’ural shape until it wore
a Moorman’s likeness, known in Mozambíque,
a crafty greybeard, favoured of the Shaykh.

And, entering him to rede at hour and time
most fitting deemèd for designèd wile,
a tale of pyracy he told and crime,
wrought by the strangers harbour’d in his isle:
How all the res’ident nations maritime
bruited reports of battle, death, and spoil,
at ev’ery haven, where the for’eigner past
who with false pacts of peace his anchors cast.

“And, know thou further” (quoth the Moor) “ ’tis said,
anent these Christian knaves sanguinolent,
that, so to speak, they garred the waves run red
scathing with fire and steel where’er they went:
Far-framèd plottings, certès, have been laid
against ourselves, for ’tis their whole intent
our homes to rifle, to destroy our lives,
enchain our children and enslave our wives.

“I also learnèd how determined be
forthwith for wat’ering to’ward the land to steer,
this Captain, with a doughty company;
for evil purpose ever ’getteth fear.
Go, too, and take thy men-at-arms with thee,
waiting him silent in well-ambusht rear;
so shall his People, landing unawares
fall ready victims to thy ruse and snares.

“And, even should they by this not’able feat
fail to be scatter’d, shatter’d, wholly slain,
I have imaginèd a rare conceit
of marv’ellous cunning which thy heart shall gain:
A pilot bid be brought of wily wit
nor less astute to lay the skilful train,
who shall the stranger lead where bane and bale,
loss, death, destruction wait on every sail.”

These words of wisdom hardly had he stay’d,
when the Moor-chieftain, old in fraud and wise,
fell on his bosom and full glad obey’d,
such counsel finding favour in his eyes:
Then instant faring forth he ready made
for the base warfare bellicose supplies;
so might the Lusians see, when gained the shore,
the wisht-for waters turned to crimson gore.

And, eke, he seeketh, such deceit to speed,
a Muslim Loadsman who the prows shall guide,
shrewd, subtle villain, prompt to wicked deed,
whereon for dangerous feat he most relied:
Him he commands the Lusitan to lead,
and with him hug such coasts and stem such tide,
that e’en escaping present dangers all
he further wend, and whence none rise shall fall.

Already lit Apollo’s morning ray
the Nabathaean mounts with rosy light,
when dight was Gama and his stout array
by sea for wat’ering on the land t’ alight:
Their boats the soldiers armed for fight and fray
as though they scented tricks of Muslim spite:
Here was suspicion easy, for the wise
bear a presaging heart that never lies.

Further, the messenger who went ashore
to claim the promise of the needful guide,
heard tone of battle when replied the Moor,
though none had deemèd he had thus replied.
Wherefore, and recking ’right how sore their stowre
who in perfidious enemy confide,
he fared forearm’d, forewarn’d, and risking nought,
in his three launches⁠—all the boats he brought.

But now the Moormen, stalking o’er the strand
to guard the wat’ery stores the strangers need;
this, targe on arm and assegai in hand,
that, with his bended bow, and venom’d reed,
wait till the warlike People leap to land:
Far stronger forces are in ambush hid;
and, that the venture may the lighter seem
a few decoys patrol about the stream.

Along the snow-white sandy marge advance
the bellic Moors who beck their coming foes;
they shake the shield and poise the per’ilous lance,
daring the warrior Portughuese to close.
The gen’erous People with impatient glance
the bandogs eye who dare their fangs expose:
They spring ashore so deftly no man durst
say who the soldier that touch’ed land the first.

As in the gory ring some gallant gay,
on his fair ladye-love with firm-fixt eyes,
seeketh the furious bull and bars the way,
bounds, runs, and whistles; becks and shouts and cries:
The cruel monster sans a thought’s delay,
low’ering its hornèd front, in fury flies
with eyne fast closed; and, roaring horrid sound,
throws, gores, and leaves him lifeless on the ground:

Lo! from the launches sudden flash the lights
of fierce artill’ery with infuriate blare;
the leaden bullet kills, the thunder frights,
and hissing echoes cleave the shrinking air:
Now break the Moormen’s hearts and haughty sprites,
whose blood cold curdleth with a ghastly fear:
The skulking coward flies his life to save,
and dies to Death exposed the daring brave.

Withal the Portingalls are not content;
fierce Vict’ory urging on, they smite and slay:
The wall-less, undefended settlement
they shell and burn and make an easy prey.
The Moors their raid and razzia sore repent,
who lookt for vict’ory won in cheaper way:
Now they blaspheme the battle, cursing wild
th’ old meddling fool, and her that bare such child.

Still, in his flight, the Moorman draweth bow,
but forceless, frighted, flurried by alarms,
showers of ashlar, sticks, and stones they throw;
their madding fury ’ministereth arms:
Now from their islet-homesteads flocking row
toward the mainland, trembling terr’ified swarms:
They pass apace and cut the narrow Sound,
The thin sea-arm, which runs their islet round.20

These ply the deeply-laden almadie,21
those cut the waves and dil’igent swim the Main;
some choke ’neath bending surge of surfy sea,
some drink the brine, out-puffing it again.
The crank canoes, wherein the vermin flee,
are torn by smaller bombards’ fiery rain.
Thuswise, in fine, the Portingalls chastise
their vile, malicious, treach’erous enemies.

Now to the squadron, when the day was won,
rich with their warlike spoils the Braves retire,
and ship at leisure water all their own,
none meet offence where none t’ offend desire.
The Moors heart-broken vainly make their moan,
old hatreds ’flaming with renewèd fire;
and, hopeless to revenge such foul defeat,
nourish the fairest hopes of fresh deceit.

To proffer truce repentant gives command
the Moor who ruleth that iniqu’ous shore;
nor do the Lusitanians understand
that in fair guise of Peace he proffers War:
For the false Pilot sent to show the land
who ev’ry evil will embosom’d bore,
only to guide them deathwards had been sent;⁠—
such was the signal of what peace was meant.

The Capitayne who now once more incline’d
on wonted way and ’custom’d course to hie,
fair weather fav’ouring with propitious wind,
and wend where India’s long-wisht regions lie;
received the Helmsman for his ill design’d
(who greeted was with joyous courtesy;)
and, giv’en his answer to the messenger,
in the free gale shakes out his sailing gear.

Dismist by such device the gallant Fleet
divideth Amphitritè’s wavy way;
the Maids of Nereus troop its course to greet,
faithful companions, debonnair and gay:
The Captain, noways doubting the deceit
planned by the Moorman to secure his prey,
questions him largely, learning all he knows
of gen’eral Inde and what each seaboard shows.

But the false Moorman, skilled in all the snares
which baleful Bacchus taught for such emprize,
new loss by death or prison-life prepares,
ere India’s seaboard glad their straining eyes:
The hythes of India dil’igent he declares,
to frequent queries off’ring fit replies:
For, holding faithful all their pilot said
the gallant People were of nought afraid.

And eke he telleth, with that false intent,
whereby fell Sinon baulked the Phrygian race
of a near-lying isle, that aye had lent
to Christian dwellers safest dwelling-place.
Our Chief, of tidings fain, gave due attent
of ear so gladly to these words of grace,
that with the richest gifts he bade the Guide
lead him to regions where such men abide.

E’en so that losel Moorman had designèd,
as the confiding Christian begged and bade;
knowing his islet was of old assignèd
to the malignant sons of Mafamed:
Here he foresees deceit with death combinèd,
for-that in pow’r and force the place outweigh’d
weaker Mozámbic; and that islet’s name
is Quiloa bruited by the blast of Fame.

Thither th’ exulting Squadron lief would steer:
but the fair god Cythéra loves to greet,
seeing its certain courses changed to near
the coasts where Doom of Death awaits defeat,
nills that the people, loved with love so dear,
such dreadful fates on shore so distant meet;
and, raising adverse gales, she drives them wide
from the foul goal where guides that felon guide.

Now when the caitiff Moor could not but know
that in this matter useless was his guile,
seeking to deal another dev’ilish blow,
and still persistent in his purpose vile,
he urgeth, since the winds’ and currents’ flow
had borne them on parforce full many a mile,
they near another island, and its race
Christian and Moor hold common dwelling-place.

Here too with every word the liar lied,
as by his reg’iment he in fine was bound;
for none who Christ adore could there abide,
only the hounds who worship false Mahound.
The Captain trustful to his Moorish guide,
veering the sails was making for the Sound:
But, as his guardian Goddess leave denieth,
he shuns the river-bar, and outside lieth.

So near that Islet lay along the land,
nought save a narrow channel stood atween;
and rose a City thronèd on the strand,
which from the margent of the seas was seen;
fair-built with lordly buildings tall and grand,
as from its offing showèd all its sheen:
Here ruled a monarch for long years high famèd;
Islet and City are Mombasah namèd.22

And when the Captain made that happy shore,
with strangest joyaunce, in the hope to view
baptizèd peoples, and to greet once more
dear Christian men, as sware his guide untrue;
lo! boats come bearing, the blue waters o’er
their King’s good greeting who the stranger knew:
For long had Bacchus of th’ event advisèd,
in other Moorman’s shape and form disguisèd.

Friendly the message which the foemen brought,
beneath whose surface covered venom lay;
for deadly hostile was their ev’ry thought
and soon the hidden fraud uncover’d they.
Oh dreadful dangers with destruction fraught!
Oh line of life-tide, never certain way!
where’er his dearest hope poor mortal hoardeth,
such scant security life e’er affordeth!

By sea such tempests, such sore injury,
with Death so often showing near and sure!
By land such warfare, such foul treachery,
so much of curst necessities t’ endure!
Ah! where shall weary man take sanctuary,
where live his little span of life secure?
and ’scape of Heav’n serene th’ indignant storms
that launch their thunders at us earthen worms?

’Twas now the period when the Planet bright,
whose race distinguisheth the hours of day,
did at his longed-for, tardy goal alight,
veiling from human eyne his heav’enly ray;
and of his Ocean-home, deep hid from sight,
the God of Night-tide oped the portal-way;
when the false crafty folk came flocking round
the ships, whose anchors scarce had bit the ground.

’Mid them a villain, who had undertane
the task of deadly damage, spake aloud:⁠—
“O val’orous Captain, who hast cut the reign
of Neptune, and his salty plain hast plow’d,
the King who governeth this island, fain
to greet thy coming, is so pleased and proud,
he wisheth nothing save to be thy host,
to see thee, and supply what need ye most.

“And, as he burneth, with extreme desire,
so famed a pers’onage to behold and greet,
he prays suspicion may no fear inspire;
but cross the bar-line, thou and all thy Fleet;
And, sith by voyage long men greatly tire,
thy gallant crew by travel-toil is beat,
he bids thee welcome to refit on land
as, cèrtes, Nature must such rest command.

“And if thou wendest seeking merchandise
got in the golden womb of the Levant,
Cinnamon, cloves, and biting spiceries,
health-dealing drug, or rare and excellent plant;
or, if thou lust for sparkling stones of price,
the Ruby fine, the rigid Diamant,
hence shall thou bear such full, abundant store,
that e’en thy Fancy shall affect no more.”

Unto the Herald straight our Chief replieth,
grateful acknowledging the Royal hest;
and saith, that seeing Sol now seawards hieth
he may not enter as becomes a guest:
But, when returning light shall show where lieth
the way sans danger, with a fearless breast,
the Royal orders he will list fulfil,
a Lord so gracious hath claim higher still.

He questions further, an the land contain
christenèd Peoples, as the Pilot sware:
The cunning Herald who ne’er speaks in vain
voucheth that Christian men dwell mostly there.
Thus doth he banish from our Captain’s brain
the cautious fantasies of doubt and fear:
Wherefore the Gama straightways ’gan to place
Faith in that faithless unbeliever-race.23

And, as condemnèd felons he had brought,
convìct of mortal crime and shameful deed,
who might in sim’ilar cases danger-fraught
be ventured where the common weal had need;
a twain of wily, well-tried wits he sought,
bade them the Moorman’s craft and trick’eries heed,
go spy the City’s power, and seek to see
whether desirèd Christians there may be.

Fair gifts he gave them for the Royal hand,
to quit the goodly will the greeting show’d,
by him held sure and firm and clear and bland,
whereas ’twas cleanly of a cont’rary mode.
Now all the rout perfidious and nefand,
quitting the Squadron o’er the waters row’d:
With gladsome, joyous gestures, all deceit,
The pair of shipmates on the shore they greet.

And when in presence of the King convey’d,
the gifts they gave, and message did present,
far less they witness’d, as ’bout town they stray’d,
than what they wanted on their work intent;
the shrewd sagacious Moors pretences made
to veil from sight what they to see were sent;
for where reigns Malice there we ever find
the fear of Malice in a neighbour’s mind.

But He,24 for ever fair, for ever young
in form and feature, born of mothers twain
by wondrous birth-rite; and whose wilful tongue
would work the Navigators’ ban and bane⁠—
dwelt in a house the City-folk among,
of form and vestment human; who did feign
to be a Christian priest, and here had raisèd
a sumptuous altar where he prayed and praisèd.

There had he limnèd, figuring aright
the Holy Ghost’s high heavenly portraiture;
hover’d a Dove, in snowy plume bedight,
o’er the sole Phoenix, Mary, Virgin pure:
The Saintly Company was shown to sight,
the Dozen, in that sore discomfiture,
as when, taught only by the Tongues that burnt
with lambent fire, man’s varied tongues they learnt.

Thither conducted either Comrade went,
where hateful Bacchus stood in lies array’d;
and rose their spirits, while their knees were bent
before the God who sways the worlds He made.
The perfumed incense by Panchaia sent,
fuming its richest scent, o’ th’ altar laid
Thyóne’s Son; and now they view, forsooth,
the god of Lies adore the God of Truth.

Here was receiv’ed, for kindly rest at night,
with ev’ery mode of good and trusty greeting,
the twain of Christians, who misween’d the rite,
th’ unholy show of holy counterfeiting.
But soon as Sol returning rained his light
on sombre Earth, and in one instant fleeting
forth from the ruddy-dyed horizon came
the Spouse Tithonian with her front aflame:

Return the Moormen bearing from the land
the Royal licence, with the Christian pair,
that disembarkèd by our Chief’s command,
for whom the King feign’ed honest friendship fair:
The Portingall, assured no plot was plan’d,
and seeing scanty fear of scathe or snare
when Christian peoples in the place abode,
to stem the salty river straightway stood.

Advisèd him the scouts dispatcht ashore
that holy clerk and altars met their sight;
and how receivèd them the friendly Moor
while Night’s cloud-shadowèd mantle cloaked the light;
Nay, that both Lord and Liege no feeling bore,
save what in kindness took a dear delight,
for, certès, nothing told of doubt or fear,
where proofs of friendship showèd sure and clear.

Whereon the noble Gama hied to greet
gladly the Moors that up the bulwarks plied;
for lightly trusteth sprite without deceit;
and gallant souls in goodly show confide.
The crafty people on the Flagship meet,
mooring their light canoes along her side:
Merrily trooped they all, because they wot
the wisht-for prizes have become their lot.

The cautious warmen gather on the land
arms and ’munitions; that whene’er th’ Armade
ride at her anchors near the riv’erine strand
the work of boarding may be readier made:
With deepest treachery the traitors plan’d
for those of Lusus such an ambuscade,
that reckless of the coming doom they pay
the blood-debt dating from Mozámbic Bay.

Weighed are the biting anchors, rising slow,
while ’customed capstan-songs and shouts resound;
only the foresails to the gale they throw
as for the buoyèd bar the Ships are bound:
But Erycína fair, from ev’ry foe
aye glad to guard and guide her Race renown’d,
seen the black ambush big with deadly bane,
flies from the welkin shaft-swift to the Main.

She musters Nereus’ maidens fair and blonde,
with all the meiny of the sea-blue race;
the Water-princes her commandment own’d,
for the salt Ocean was her natal place:
Then, told the reason why she sought the lond,
with her whole bevy forth she set apace,
to stay the Squadron ere it reach the bourne
whence ne’er a Traveller may to life return.

On, on they hurry, scatt’ring high the spray,
and lash with silvern trains the spumy White:
Doto’s soft bosom breasts the briny way
with hotter pressure than her wonted plight.
Springs Nisé, while Neríne seeks the fray
clearing the crystal wavelets nimble light:
The bending billows open wide a path,
fearing to rouse the hurrying Nereids’ wrath.

Borne on a Triton’s shoulders rides in state
with fiery gesture, Dionaea fair;
nor feels the bearer that delicious weight,
superb his cargo of such charms to bear:
Now draw they nearer where stiff winds dilate
the bellicose Armada’s sailing gear:
They part, and sudden with their troops surround
the lighter vessels in the vayward bound.

Girt by her nymphs the Goddess lays her breast
against the Flagship’s prow, and others close
the harbour-entrance; such their sudden gest
the breeze through bellied canvas vainly blows:
With tender bosom to tough timber prest
she drives the sturdy ship that sternward goes:
Her circling Nereids raise and urge afar
the threatened victim from the hostile bar.

E’en as to nesty homes the prov’ident Ants,
their heavy portion’d burdens haling slow,
drill their small legions, hostile combatants,
’gainst hostile Winter’s war of frost and snow:
There are their travails given to their wants,
there puny bodies mighty spirits show:
Not otherwise the Nymphs from fatal end
labour the Portughuezes to defend.

Their force prevails; astern the Flagship falleth,
’spite all aboard her raising fearful shout;
boiling with rage the Crew each yardarm hauleth
to port and starboard putting helm about:
Apoop the cunning Master vainly bawleth,
seeing that right toforn upon his route,
uprears a sea-girt rock its awful head,
and present shipwreck fills his soul with dread.

But as loud call and clamour ’gan uprise
from the rude sailor toiling hard and keen;
the Moors are frighted by th’ unusèd cries,
as though they sighted Battle’s horrid scene.
None know the reason of such hot surprise;
none know in sim’ilar press whereon to lean;
they hold their treach’erous felon tricks are known,
and present tortures must their crime atone.

Lo! with a panick fear themselves they flung
in the swift-sailing barklets which they brought:
These high uplifted on the billows hung,
those deep in water diving safety sought:
Sudden from starboard and from port they sprung,
by dread of visionary sights distraught;
for all would rather tempt the cruel tide,
for none in mercies of their foes confide.

Of such a fashion in the sylvan Mere
the Frogs, a brood of Lycian blood whilòme,
when fall of coming foot perchance they hear,
while all incautious left their wat’ery home,
wake marish-echoes hopping here and there
to ’scape the perils threat’ening death and doom;
and, all ensconcèd in the well-known deep
nought but their small black heads ’bove water peep:

So fly the Moors; the Loadsman who alone
the Ships in deadly imm’inent risk had led,
deeming his hateful plans to all beknown,
plunged in the bitter depths and swimming fled.
But as her course had missed the steadfast stone,
where every hope of darling life were dead,
eftsoons our Amm’irall doth her anchor throw,
and, near her, furling sail, the rest come to.

Observant Gama, seen this sudden sight
of Moorish strangeness, and surprised to view
his Pilot flying with accusing flight,
divines the plottings of that bestial crew:
And when ne hindrance showèd, ne the might
of tides that onwards bore, or winds that blew,
yet that his Flagship forged ahead no more,
the Marvel hailing thus he ’gan implore:⁠—

“Oh Chance, strange, passing strange, that gave no sign!
Oh wondrous Godsend shown so clear, so plain!
Oh fellest treason baffled inopine!
Oh hostile Paynims, false, perfidious strain!
Who of such desp’erate devilish design
by mortal wisdom could escape the bane,
unless there throned in Heav’en the Sovran Guard
to weak humanity strong aid award?

“Right well hath provèd Providence on high,
the scanty safety by these Ports purvey’d:
Right well appearance showeth every eye,
how all our confidence hath been betray’d:
But since Man’s wit and wisdom vainly try
to sound these feints and foils so deeply laid,
O Thou, Almighty Guard! to guard him deign
who sans Thine aid himself would guard in vain!

“And if Thy holy ruth so condescend
to save this People peregrine and poor,
who on Thy grace and goodness sole depend,
to force salvation from the false fell Moor;
vouchsafe, O Lord, our weary course shall end
at some fair Harbour, shelter’d and secure;
or show the distant shores we pine to see,
since all this sailing is for serving Thee.”

The piteous prayer smote the loving ears
of Dionaea fair; her heart was painèd;
she left her Nymphs, all bathed in yearning tears,
who by her sudden flight perplext remainèd:
Now she had thrid the lum’inous planet-spheres,
now the third Heaven’s gateway she had gainèd;
on, onward still to the sixth sphere, the throne
where high All-Father sits and reigns alone.

And, as her way affronting, forth she hied,
her ev’ry gesture such a grace expirèd,
Stars, Skies and Aether’s circumambient tide,
and all that saw her with love-fire were firèd.
Those eyne wherein Dan Cupid aye doth nide,
such vital spirits in all life inspirèd;
the frigid Poles with torrid ardours burnèd,
and spheres of Arctic frost to flame were turnèd.25

And with more love to move her Sovereign
Sire, who aye lov’d her with a constant will,
herself she shows as to the Trojan swain
she showed of old on Ida’s bosky hill.
If her the Hunter who the form of man
lost, seeing Dian in the glassy rill,
had seen, he ne’er had died by rav’ening hound,
erst slain by a sorer and a surer wound.

Wander’d the crispy threads of wavy gold
adown a bosom shaming virgin snow:
Her milk-hued breasts with ev’ry movement roll’d
where Love lay sporting but did nowhere show:
Flames with far-flashing fire the Zone’s white fold
wherewith the Boy gar’d ev’ry heart to glow:
while round those columns’ polisht curves were climbing
Desires, like ivy parent-trunk entwining.

A filmy Cendal26 winds around her waist,
which del’icate sense conceals by modest veiling;
and yet not all conceal’d, nor all confest,
the veil, red-blushing lilies oft revealing:
With warmer fondness still to ’flame his breast
she woos his sight with secret charms assailing:
Now all Olympus shakes with jealous jars,
rage burneth Vulcan, Love inflameth Mars.

The while her angel-semblance showeth blended
with smiles a sadness in the sweetest way;
like some fair Ladye by rude swain offended
incautious rough while playing am’orous play;
who laughs and laughing pouts with wrath pretended
passing withouten pause from grave to gay;
thus she, the Goddess who no rival heedeth,
softer than sad before her Father pleadeth.

“Aye had I deemèd, mighty Father mine,
in whatsoe’er my loving breast preferrèd,
to find thee kind and affable and benign,
e’en though of hostile heart the hate were stirrèd:
But as I see thine ire to me incline,
ire undeserv’ed⁠—to thee I ne’er have errèd⁠—
let Bacchus triumph with his wicked will;
while in his weal I sit and wail mine ill.

“This Folk, these Sons of me, for whom I pour
the tear that trickleth bootless ’fore thy sight,
whose woe, since wish’d them well, I work the more
when my good wishes but thy wrath excite:
For them I weep, for them thine aid implore,
and thus, in fine, with adverse fate I fight:
But now, because my love ill-fortune bears,
I will to will them ill and weal be theirs.

“Yet thus to perish by that wild-beast race,
for I have been”27 * * * Whereon, all lovely flows
the burning tear-drop beading down her face,
as pearled with rory dew fresh shines the Rose:
Silent awhile, as though her plea for grace
the portals of her teeth list not disclose
she had pursued; but ere a word she said
the potent Thund’erer further plaint forbade:

And, moved to pity by such gentle powers,
pow’ers made to move the heart of Tyger dure,
with beaming smile, as when the sky that lowers
waxeth serene, and clears the lift obscure;
he dries his Daughter’s welling tears, and showers
warm kisses on her cheeks and neck snow-pure;
in mode that had the place been lere and lone
a pair of Cupids had Olympus known.

And, face approaching to the face he prizèd,
whereat the sobbing tears the faster flow;
e’en as some yeanling by the nurse chastisèd
weepeth caresst with louder feint of woe:
To soothe her troubled bosom he devisèd
the future fortunes of her sons to show,
unripping thus from Fate’s impregnate womb
He opes the mysteries of the things to come:⁠—

“Thou fairest Daughter mine! throw far thy fear
lest to thy Lusians happen harm indign;
nor deem my spirit holdeth aught so dear,
as the sad waters of these sov’reign eyne:
Thou shalt behold, my Daughter, hear me swear,
the Greek and Roman dimm’d of all his shine,
by Gestes illustrious this thy Hero-race
Shall dare and do in Eastern dwelling-place.

“If glib Ulysses e’er to flee was fated
a life-long slav’ery on Ogygia-shore;
and if Antenor’s fortune penetrated
Illyric bays, Timavus’ fount t’ explore;
e’en if thy pious Aeneas navigated
where seas round Scylla and Charybdis roar;
thy nobler scions higher grade shall win,
shall add new worlds to worlds of older men.

“Valvartes and cities and the tow’ering wall
built by their valour, Daughter, thou shalt see:
Shalt see the Turk, deem’ed bravest brave of all,
from their dread prowess forcèd aye to flee:
Shalt see of Inde the freeborn monarchs fall
and own their mightier King’s supremacy:
And when, in fine, they wield the full command
shall dawn a Higher Law28 for every land.

“Him shalt thou see, who now in hurrièd flight
fares distant Indus through such fears to find,
make vasty Neptune tremble with affright,
and crisp his wavy waste sans breath of wind.
Oh Chance ne’er seen! Oh wonder-teeming Sight!
this Quake of Water with plat calm combin’d!
Oh valiant race, with loftiest thought inbred,
whom Earth’s four El’ements must regard with dread!29

“This Land, that water hath to them denied,
shalt see affording surest Hythe, where spent
by their long voyaging, shall rest and ride
Argosies bound from utmost Occident.
In fine, this seaboard all, that futile tried
death-snare to weave, shall pay obedient
toll, tithe, and tribute, knowing vain it were
to beard the Lusian Lyon in his lair.

“Shalt see King Erythras’ far-famèd Main
permute his nat’ural red to Fear’s pale dye:
eke shalt thou see the haughty Hormuz-reign
twice taken, prostrate in their presence lie:
There shalt thou see the furious Moorman slain
pierced by his own deflected archery;30
till all ken clearly who thy Sons oppose
by their own deed become their deadliest foes.

“Shalt see of Diu31 th’ inexpugnable wall,
two sieges braving, while thy sons defend;
there shall their val’orous worth be shown to all
with feats of arms that every feat transcend:
Envy shalt see in Mars majestical
of Lusian fierceness none shall dare offend:
There shall they sight the Moor with voice supreme
before high Heaven false Mahound blaspheme.

“Thou shalt see Góa from the Muslim tane,
and in near future raised to queenly place,
Ladye of Orient land sublimely vain
of triumphs wrested by thy conqu’ering Race.
There, with superb, high, haughtiest disdain
the Gentoo louting low to idols base,
they bit and bridle, mastering every land
that ’gainst thy Lusians raiseth head or hand.

“Thou shalt behold the Fortalice hold out
of Cananor with scanty garnison:
Calecut thou shalt see endure sad rout,
that erst so populous and puissant town;
shalt in Cochin32 see one approv’d so stout,
who such an arr’ogance of the sword hath shown,
no harp of mortal sang a similar story,
digne of e’erlasting name, eternal glory.

“Ne’er with such Mars-taught art and furious flame,
was Leucas seen in civil wars to glow,
when to his Actium-fight Augustus came
and laid th’ injurious Roman captain low;
whom, deft Aurora’s reign and race to tame,
far-famèd Nyle and Bactrus’ Scythic foe,
despoilèd, ’spite victorious spoils and rare,
that fair Egyptian not so chaste as fair;33

“As thou shalt see when Ocean boileth o’er
with fires enkindled by thy Lusians’ bate,
who captive make the Idol-man and Moor,
and triumph high o’er many a subject state:
Till, won rich Aurea-Chersonésus’-shore
far as far China they shall navigate,
and each remotest isle of Orient tide
and every Ocean in their rule shall bide.

“ ’Tis thus, O Daughter mine! thy children’s lot
higher than human vigour to display,
nowhere shall Brav’ery burn and blaze so hot
from Ganges’ bank to Gaditanian bay;
nor from the Boreal billows to the gut
where first an injured Lusian brake the way;34
e’en though their progress o’er the world t’ oppose
the Dead of Ages from their tombs arose.”

This said, he sendeth Maia’s son divine
to visit lowly earth, and there to seek
some harbour’s peaceful shelter, with design
that all the Fleet shall ride sans risk of wreck:
And, lest in false Mombasah-land indign
more of delay the valiant Captain make,
’tis Jove’s command that be in vision shone
a restful region free from restless fone.

Now th’ airy space the Cyllenéan span’d,
descending earth with feath’ery feet to tread;
his hand was armèd with the fatal Wand,
which sheds on weary eyne sweet drowsihed;
wherewith he called the sad-eyed shadowy band
from Hades, and obedient breezes sped:
The wingèd basnet on his head he bore;
and thus he sought the Melindanian shore.

Fame is his mate who mote aloud proclaim
the Lusitanian’s weight and rarest worth;
for mortal breast is won by noble name,
that makes the bearer loved of all on earth.
Thus winning stranger-hearts the Herald came,
and to the mighty bruit gave timely birth:
Anon Desire Melindé burns to see
what mode of men the val’orous People be.

Thence to Mombasah takes the God his course,
where the strange vessels rode in fear afar,
to bid the seamen leave, while none the worse,
those lands suspected and that treacherous bar:
For scant availeth human fraud or force
against Infernals waging treach’erous war:
Scant ’vaileth heart and art and judgment staid
when human wisdom lacketh heavenly aid.

Already Night had past her middle way,
and all the starry host with th’ alien light
rained on the breadth of Earth their radiance gay;
and now was Sleep tired man’s supreme delight.
Th’ illustrious Captain weary, wayworn, lay,
with careful watching through the cares of night,
a short repose for anxious eyne he snatchèd:
The men on duty at their quarters watchèd.

When in a vision Maia’s son was seen
and heard to say: “Fly, Lusitanian! fly
that wicked Monarch’s snares, that only mean
to draw you forwards where ye surely die:
Fly, for breathes fair the breeze and smiles serene
Aether, while stormless sleep the seas and sky;
in other part another King more benign
sure shelter offereth unto thee and thine!

“Here nought thou findest but the barb’rous rite
the guest-rite dear to cruel Diomed,
ill-host that made each miserable wight
the wonted forage of his stabled steed:
Those altars which Busiris, infame sprite,
taught with the stranger’s wailing life to bleed,
here certès wait thee an thou longer dwell:
Fly, then, this folk perfidious, fierce, and fell!

“Steer straight, along this outstretch’d seaboard run,
another land more leal shalt thou find;
there near the Belt where th’ ever-blazing sun
to Day and Night hath equal space assign’d:35
There to thy Squadron honour gladly done,
a King, with many a friendly service kind,
the surest shelter shall for thee provide,
and for your India skilful trusty guide.”

Mercury thus; and rousèd from his dreams
the Captain rising in a stark dismay,
while pierced the palpable Obscure bright streams
of sudden light and splendid holy ray:
Then, seen forthwith that him it best beseems
in land so vile to make the shortest stay,
he bade his Master, urged by spirit new,
to spread the canvas in what breeze there blew.

“Hoist sail!” he said, “hoist high in lib’ral air,
for God commands, and Heav’n affects its friends;
from yon clear seats was sent a messengèr
only to speed our steps and shape our ends.”
Meanwhile the sailors to set sail prepare;
all work and either watch its anchor tends;
the weighty irons with willing shouts are weighèd,
and sin’ewy strength, the seaman’s pride, displayèd.

Now at what time their anchors high uprose,
lurking in Night’s murk shadow rose the Moor,
stealthy to cut the cables of his foes,
that all might perish on the rocky shore:
But watched with lynx-like glances, clear and close,
the Portingalls prepared for ev’ry stowre:
Finding his victims wakeful th’ enemy fled
by wings of terror, not by paddle, sped.

But now the narrow sharp-cut Prores renew,
cleaving the humid argent plain, their road;
blandly the north and eastern Trade-wind blew
with gentle movement, as in joyous mood:
Past perils in their talk review’d the Crew,
for with a fond delay Thought loves to brood
on dang’rous chances, when to death-in-life
Life comes so near she scarcely ’scapes the strife.

One circle ended Phoebus all aglow,
and on a second entered, when appearèd
in the far offing, sailing sure and slow,
two hulls by gently-breathing Zephyrs steerèd:
And, as they must be manned by Moorish foe
our Squadron veering soon her prizes nearèd:
This one that fearèd fearful ills to brave
ran straight ashore her crew thereon to save.

No sim’lar cunning from such chances led
her consort, captive of the Lusian hand,
which, ne by rig’rous Mavors’ rage had bled,
nor felt what furies Vulcan doth command.
But weakly, master’d by a craven dread,
the feeble forces which the barquelet man’d
resistance offer’d none; which haply shown,
from such resisting greater ills had known.

And as the Gama felt him much incline’d
to seek a Guide for India-land long sought,
he thought a Helmsman ’mid the Moors to find,
yet naught to him succeeded as he thought;
none mote give tidings of the lay of Inde,
under what tract of heav’n it might be brought:
But all declare a harbour lies hard by
Melinde, ready Pilots to supply.

Her King’s benevolence the Moormen praise,
conditions lib’ral, breast no guile that knew;
magnificent, grandiose and gentle ways
with parts that won respect and honour true.
All this to heart for fact our Captain lays,
since to his vision came such view to show
the dream-sent Cyllenéan; thus he sped
whither the vision and the Moorman led.

’Twas the glad season when the God of Day
into Europa’s rav’isher ’gan return;
when warmèd either point his genial ray
and Flora scatter’d Amalthéa’s horn:
The hasty Sun, that girds the heavenly way,
brought round the mem’ry of that blessèd morn,
when He, who ruleth all by Will Divine,
upon Creation stampt His seal and sign:36

At such a time the Squadron neared the part,
where first Melindé’s goodly shore was seen,
in awnings drest and prankt with gallant art,
to show that none the Holy Day misween:
Flutter the flags, the streaming Estandart
gleams from afar with gorgeous purple sheen;
tom-toms and timbrels mingle martial jar:
Thus past they forwards with the pomp of war.

Men crowd and jostle on Melindé’s strand
hasting to sight the stranger’s glad Armade;
a folk more truthful far, humane, and bland
than any met on shores their course had made.
Now rides the Lusian Fleet anent the land:
Her pond’rous anchors now the depths invade:
Forthwith a captured Moor they send to greet
the King and mani’fest whence had come the Fleet.

The King who well that noble lineage knew,
which to the Portingalls such worth imparts,
prizeth their harb’ring at his Hythe, as due
the praise to Braves so prompt in martial arts:
And, with the spirit ever pure and true
that ’nobleth gen’rous souls and gallant hearts,
he prays by proxy all forthwith may deign
to land and use, as best they choose, his reign.

Frank offers these, and made in Honour bright,
simple the words, undoubted, unprepar’d,
wherewith the Monarch greets each noble Knight,
who o’er such seas and lands so far hath fared.
And eke he sendeth muttons fleecy white
with many a cramm’d domesticate poulard,
and tropick fruitage which the markets fill:
Yet his good gifts are giv’n with better will.

A glad and eager ear our Captain lent
to him who spake his Sovran’s speech benign;
straightway of royal gifts return he sent
stow’d in his Squadron for such fair design:
Purple Escarlat,37 cloth of crimson tint,
the branchy Coral, highly prized and fine,
which in deep Water soft and tender grown,
in Air doth harden to a precious stone.

Eke sends he one well known for courtly wit,
who with the King may pact of peace conclude;
and prayeth pardon that he could not quit
his ships at once, and leave the Fleet aflood.
His trusty Truchman38 on the land alit,
and, as before the Monarch’s face he stood,
spake thus in style which only Pallas taught
when praise and prayer firm persuasion wrought:⁠—

“O King sublime! to whom Olympus pure
of His high justice gave the gift and boon
to curb and conquer peoples dour and dure,
to win their love, nor less their fear to own;
as safe asylum, haven most secure,
to ev’ry Oriental nation known,
thee have we come to seek, in thee to find
the surest med’icine of the Wanderer’s mind.

“No Pyrates we, who fare on ports to prey,
and purse-proud cities that in war be weak;
thieves, who with fire and steel the peoples slay,
their robber-greed on neighbour-goods to wreak:
From haughty Europe to the realms of Day
we sail, and Earth’s remotest verge we seek
of Inde, the great, the rich, for thus ordaineth
the mighty Monarch who our country reigneth.

“What brood so harsh as this was ever bred?
what barb’arous custom and what usage ban’d
that can not only men from ports forbid
but grudge the shelter of their desert sand?
What of ill Will hold they our hearts have hid,
that of a folk so few in fear they stand?
That traps for us they spread and ready snares
and work their worst whereby we die unwares?

“But Thou, wherein full surely we confide
to find, O King benign! an honest man,
and hope such certain aid to see supplied,
as gave Alcino’us the lost Ithacan,
to this thy Haven sure we stem the tide
with the Divine Interpreter in van:
For as He sendeth us to thee ’tis clear
thy heart must e’en be rare, humane, sincere.

“And deem not thou, O King! that dreads to land
our famous Captain thee to serve and see,
for aught he sees of base or underhand,
or aught suspects of false and feign’ed in thee:
But know he acteth by the high command⁠—
a law of all obeyed implicitly⁠—
his King’s own hest, forbidding him t’explore,
and from his Squadron land at port or shore.

“And, since of subjects King may thus require,
for of the Head should members heed the sway,
thou, kingly officed, never shalt desire
the liege his lord’s command to disobey;
but the high ben’efits, and those gifts still higher
by thee bestow’d, he prom’iseth to repay
with all that done by him or his can be
long as the rolling rivers seek the Sea.”

Thus he; when all conjoint their voices raisèd
while each to each his separate thoughts convey’d,
by the high stomach of the Race amazèd,
who through such seas and skies their way had made.
Th’ illustrious King for loyalty bepraisèd
the Portingalls, the while his spirit weigh’d
how high his value, strong his orders are,
whose Royal word is heard in land so far.

And, with a smiling mien and pleasèd face,
he hailed the Herald, proff’ering high esteem:⁠—
“All black suspicions from your bosoms chase,
nor let your souls with frigid terror teem;
such be your gallant worth, your works of grace,
the World your deeds shall aye most glorious deem;
and whoso holdeth right to do you wrong
ne truth ne noble thoughts to him belong.

“That all you warmen may not instant land
observing ’customèd pre-eminence,
though sorely grievèd by your King’s command,
yet much we prize so much obedience:
Yet, as your orders our desire withstand;
nor we consent to see such excellence
of heart, such loyalty of soul, belied,
that our good wishes sole be gratified.

“But, as to-morrow’s Sun on earth shall shine,
all our Flotilla shall make holiday;
to seek your sturdy Fleet is our design
we have so longed to see full many a day:
And if your sea-tost vessels bear the sign
of angry tempests, and their tedious way,
here they shall find in friendly form and guise
pilots, munitions, vittaile and supplies.”

He spake; and ’neath the sea-rim sank to rest
Latona’s son, when home the Herald hied,
with the fair message to the Fleet addrest,
in a light canoe that fast outran the tide.
Now joy and gladness fillèd ev’ery breast,
all had the perfect cure at length descried⁠—
Discov’ery of the Land, long wisht-for sight;
and thus they festival’d with glee the night.

Aboard is foyson of those artful rays,
whose splendours mock the trem’ulous hairy star:
Now every bombardier his boast displays,
till Ocean’s thunder answers earth and air.
The Cyclops’ art is shown in various ways,
in fire-stuffed shells, and burning bombs of war:
Others with voices which invade the skies,
make brazen notes from blaring trumps arise.

Echoes a loud reply the ready shore,
with buzzing fireworks forming giddy gyre;
whirl burning wheels that far in Aether soar;
sulphurous dust deep-hid explodes in fire:
Heav’en-high resounds the multitudinous roar;
the soft blue waters don Flame’s red attire;
nor blazeth land the less: ’Tis thus friends greet
their friends as foemen who in battle meet.

Again the restless Spheres revolving sped,
to olden drudg’ry dooming man anew:
Again did Memnon’s Mother radiance shed,
and from the sluggard’s eyne soft sleep withdrew:
The latest shadows slowly melting fled,
on earthly flow’rets weeping frigid dew;
when the Melindan King took boat that he
might view the Squad that swam the Blackmoor sea.

Boiling about him, swarming round the Bay,
dense crowds glad gather’d and enjoy’d the sight:
Caftans of finest purple glisten gay;
glance splendid robes with silken tissue dight:
In lieu of warrior lance, and harsegaye39
and bow whose burnisht cusps mock Luna’s light;
aloft the revellers bear the palmy bough,
the fittest crown that decks the conqueror’s brow.

A spacious stately barge, o’ercanopied
with dainty silks, of divers teinture stainèd
beareth Melinde’s King, accompanied
by lords and captains of the land he reignèd.
Rich clad he cometh with what pomp and pride,
his country customs and his taste ordainèd;
a precious Turbant winds around his head
of cotton wrought with gold and silken thread.

Caftan of costly texture Damascene⁠—
the Tyrian colour honour’d there of eld;⁠—
Torque round his collar, shining golden sheen,
whose wealth of work its wealth of ore excel’d:
Glitters and gleams with radiance diamantine
Dag-targe of costly price by girdle held:
And show, in fine, upon his sandal-shoon
velvets with seed-pearl and gold-spangle strewn.

With silken sunshade, high and round of guise
fast to its handle bound, a gilded spear,
a Minister the solar ray defies
lest hurt of baleful beam the high King bear:
High in the poop his strange glad music hies,
of asp’erous noise, most horr’ible to the ear,
of archèd trumpets writhed in curious round,
roaring a rough, rude, unconcerted sound.

Nor with less garnishment our Lusitanian
swift-sailing galleys from the Squadron bore,
to meet and greet the noble Melindanian,
begirt by goodly company galore.
The Gamma cometh dight in dress Hispanian;
but of French work the doublet was he wore,
Satin which Adrian Venice works and stains
crimson, a colour which such prize obtains.

Buttons of gold his loopèd sleeves confine,
where solar glancings dazzle gazing eyes:
Hosen of soldier fashion purfled shine
with the rich metal Fortune oft denies:
Points of the same the slashes deftly join,
gored in his doublet, with right del’icate ties:
Gold-hilted sword in mode of Italy:
Plume in his bonnet worn a little wry.

I’ the suite and escort of the Captain show’d
of the dye murex⁠—Tyre’s surpassing tint⁠—
the various shades that joy’d men’s eyne, and mode
of dress devis’d with fashion different:
Such was th’ enamel, and as bright it glow’d
with cunning colours in quaint mixture blent,
as though her rutilant bow had rear’d in air
the Maid of Thaumas, fairest of the fair.

Sonorous trumpets manly breasts incite
gladding the heart with martial music gay:
Churnèd the Moorish keels blue waters white
and awnings sprent with dews of pearly spray:
The horrid-sounding bombards thunder fright
while smoky hangings veil the splendid day;
roar the hot volleys hurtling sounds so loud,
fain close with hands their ears the Moorish crowd.

And now the King our Captain’s galley sought,
who strainèd in his arms the welcome guest:
He with the courtesy which Reason taught,
his host (who was of Royal rank) addrest.
Noted th’ admiring Moor, with marvel fraught,
his visitor’s ev’ery mode, and look, and gest,
as one regarding with a huge esteem
Folk who so far in quest of India came.

And to him proffers in his phrase high-flown
whatever goods his realm and haven boast;
the while commanding him to hold his own
what store might haply serve his turn the most:
Eke he assures him Fame had made well-known
the Lusian name ere Lusians reached his coast:
for long ’twas rumour’d that in realms afar
it had with peoples of his law waged war.

How Africk cont’inent’s farthest shores resound,
he told him, with great deeds the warmen did;
whose long campaigns the Conquerors had crown’d
lords of the lands where dwelt the Hesperid.40
With long harangue he taught the crowd around
the least deserts the Lusians meritèd,
and yet the most that Fame was fain to teach;
when thus Da Gama to the King made speech:⁠—

“O thou! who sole hast seen with pit’iful eye,
benignant King! our Lusitanian race,
which in such mis’ery dire hath dared defy
Fate, and the furies of mad seas to face;
may yon Divine eternity on high,
that ruleth man, revolving skyey space,
since gifts so goodly givest thou, I pray
the Heav’ens repay thee what we never may.

“Of all Apollo bronzèd hath thou sole,
peaceful didst greet us from th’ abysmal sea:
In thee from Aeolus’ winds that moan and howl,
we find good, truthful, glad security.
Long as its Stars leads forth the vasty Pole,
long as the Sun shall light the days to be,
where’er I haply live, with fame and glory
shall live thy praises in my People’s story.”

He spake, and straight the barges ’gin to row
whither the Moorman would review the Fleet;
rounding the vessels, one by one, they go
that ev’ery not’able thing his glance may meet:
But Vulcan skywards voll’eying horr’ible lowe
with dire artill’ery hastes the guest to greet,
while trumpets loud canorous accents blend;
with shawms the Moorish hosts their answer send.

When due attention to the sights had lent
the gen’erous Muslim, fill’ed with thrilling wonder,
and hearing, eke, th’ unwonted instrument
that told its dreadful might in fiery thunder;
he bade the light Batèl wherein he went
at anchor quiet ride the Flagship under,
that with the doughty Gama he might hold
converse of matters erst by Rumour told.

The Moor in varied di’alogue took delight,
and now he prayed the vis’itor would expound
each war renowned and famous feat of fight
fought with the races that adore Mahound:
Now of the peoples he would gain a sight
that hold our ultimate Hispanian ground:
Then of the nations who with us confine;
then of the mighty voyage o’er the brine.

“But first, O valiant Captain! first relate,”
quoth he, “with all the diligence thou can,
what lands and climes compose your natal state,
and where your home, recount with regular plan;
nor less your ancient lineage long and great
and how your Kingdom’s lofty rule began,
with all your early deeds of derring-do;
e’en now, though know’ng them not, their worth we know.

“And, prithee, further say how o’er the Main
long on this voyage through fierce seas you stray’d,
seeing the barb’arous ways of alien strain,
which our rude Africk-land to you display’d:
Begin! for now the team with golden rein
draws near, and drags the new Sun’s car, inlaid
with marquetry, from cold Aurora’s skies:
Sleep wind and water, smooth the wavelet lies.

“And as th’ Occasion such a fitness showeth,
so is our wish your wondrous tale to hear;
who dwells among us but by rumour knoweth
the Lusitanian’s labour singular?
Deem not so far from us removèd gloweth
resplendent Sol, that need thy judgment fear
to find Melinde nurse so rude a breed,
which can ne prize ne praise a noble deed.

“Vainly the haughty olden Giants vied
by war to win Olympus clear and pure:
Pirith and Theseus mad with ign’orance tried
of Pluto’s realm to burst the dread Obscure;
If in the world such works hath workèd pride,
not less ’tis labour excellent and dure,
bold as it was to brave both Heav’en and Hell,
for man o’er raging Nereus to prevail.

“With fire consumèd Dian’s sacred fane⁠—
that master-piece of subtle Ctesiphon⁠—
Heróstratus, who by such deed would gain
of worldwide Fame the high immortal boon;
If greed of foolish praise and glory vain
to actions so perverse may urge men on,
more reason ’tis to crown with endless fame
Deeds that deserve, like Gods, a deathless name.”

Now, my Calliope! to teach incline
what speech great Gama for the King did frame:
Inspire immortal song, grant voice divine
unto this mortal who so loves thy name.
Thus may the God whose gift was Medicine,
to whom thou barest Orpheus, lovely Dame!
never for Daphne, Clytia, Leucothöe
due love deny thee or inconstant grow he.

Satisfy, Nymph! desires that in me teem,
to sing the merits of thy Lusians brave;
so worlds shall see and say that Tagus-stream
rolls Aganippe’s liquor. Leave, I crave,
leave flow’ry Pindus-head; e’en now I deem
Apollo bathes me in that sovran wave;
else must I hold it, that thy gentle sprite,
fears thy dear Orpheus fade through me from sight.

All stood with open ears in long array
to hear what mighty Gama mote unfold;
when, past in thoughtful mood a brief delay,
began he thus with brow high-raised and bold:⁠—
“Thou biddest me, O King! to say my say
anent our grand genealogy of old:
Thou bidd’st me not relate an alien story;
thou bidd’st me laud my brother Lusians’ glory.

“That one praise others’ exploits and renown
is honour’d custom which we all desire;
yet fear I ’tis unfit to praise mine own;
lest praise, like this suspect, no trust inspire;
nor may I hope to make all matters known
for Time however long were short: yet, sire!
as thou commandest all is owed to thee;
maugre my will I speak and brief will be.

“Nay, more, what most obligeth me, in fine,
is that no leasing in my tale may dwell;
for of such Feats whatever boast be mine,
when most is told, remaineth much to tell:
But that due order wait on the design,
e’en as desirest thou to learn full well,
the wide-spread Cont’inent first I’ll briefly trace,
then the fierce bloody wars that waged my Race.

“Atwixt the Zone, where Cancer holds command⁠—
the lucent Sun’s septentrional mete⁠—
and that whose frigid horrors freeze the land
as burns the middle Belt with fervid heat,
lies haughty Europe: On her goodly strand,
facing Arcturus and the Ponent, beat
the briny billows of Atlantis plain,
while free t’wards Auster flows the Midland-main.

“That part where lovely Dawn is born and bred,
neighboureth Asia: But the curvèd river,41
from far and frore Rhipaean ranges shed,
to feed Maeotis-lake with waves that shiver,
departs them, and the Sea-strait fierce and dread,
that owned the vict’ory of the Greek deceiver,
where now the seaman sees along the shore
triumphant Troja’s mem’ories and⁠—no more.

“There farther still the Boreal Pole below,
Hyperboréan mountain-walls appear,
and the wild hills where Aeolus loves to blow,
while of his winds the names they proudly bear:
Here such cold comfort doth Apollo show,
so weak his light and warmth to shine and cheer,
that snows eternal gleam upon the mountains,
freezeth the sea, and ever freeze the fountains.

“Here of the Scythic hordes vast numbers be,
in olden day a mighty warrior band,
who fought for honours of antiquity
with the then owners of the Nylus-land:
But how remote their claims from verity,
(for human judgments oft misunderstand),
let him who seeks what higher lore reveal’d
ask the red clay that clothes Damascus-field.42

“Now in these wild and wayward parts be told
Cold Lapland’s name, uncultivate Norwày,
Escandinavia’s isle, whose scions bold
boast triumphs Italy shall ne’er gainsay.
Here, while ne frost, ne wintry rigours hold
in hand the waters, seafolk ply the way,
over the arm of rough Sarmatic Main
the Swede, the Brusian,43 and the shiv’ering Dane.

“Between the sea and Tanaïs-stream we count
strange races, Ruthens,44 Moscows, and Livonians⁠—
Sarmátae all of old⁠—and on the Mount
Hercynian,45 Marcomanni, now Polonians.
Holding the empire Almayne paramount
dwell Saxons, and Bohemians, and Pannonians;
and other tribes, wherethrough their currents frore
Rhine, Danube, Amasis,46 and Albis pour.

“ ’Twixt distant Ister and the famous Strait,
where hapless Helle left her name and life,
the Thracians wone, a folk of brave estate,
Mars’ well-loved country, chosen home of strife:
There Rhódope and Haemus rue the weight
of cursèd Othman’s rule with horror rife;
Byzance they hold beneath their yoke indign
great injury working to great Constantine!

“Hard by their side the Macedonians rest,
whose soil is water’ed by cold Axius’ wave:47
Eke ye, of ev’ery choicest realm the best,
Lands of the free, the wise, the good, the brave,
that here did breed and bear the facund breast,
and to the world its wit and wisdom gave,
wherewith thou, noble Greece! hast reach’ed the stars,
no less by arts exalt than arms and wars.

“The Dalmats follow; and upon the Bay
where rose Antenor’s walls48 in while of yore,
superb Venetia builds on wat’ery way,
Adria’s Queen that erst was lowly poor.
Hence seawards runs a land-arm made to sway
forceful the sons of many a stranger shore;
an arm of might, whose Race hath conquer’d time
nor less by spirit than by sword sublime.

“Girdeth her shores the kingdom Neptunine,
while Nature’s bulwarks fence her landward side;
her middle width departeth Apennine,
by Mars, her saint and patron, glorified:
But when the Porter rose to rank divine,
she lost her prowess, and her bellic pride:
Humbled she lies with antique puissance spent:
So Man’s humil’ity may his God content!

“Gallia can there be seen, whose name hath flown
where Caesar’s triumphs to the world are told;
by Séquana49 ’tis watered and the Rhone,
by Rhine’s deep current and Garumna50 cold:
Here rise the ranges from Pyréne known,
the Nymph ensepulchre’d in days of old,
whence, legends say, the conflagrated woods
rolled golden streams, and flowèd silvern floods.

“Lo! here her presence showeth noble Spain,
of Europe’s body corporal the head;
o’er whose home-rule, and glorious foreign reign,
the fatal Wheel so many a whirl hath made:
Yet ne’er her Past or force or fraud shall stain,
nor restless Fortune shall her name degrade;
no bonds her bellic offspring bind so tight
but it shall burst them with its force of sprite.

“There, facing Tingitania’s shore, she seemeth
to block and bar the Med’iterranean wave,
where the known Strait its name ennobled deemeth
by the last labour of the Theban Brave.
Big with the burden of her tribes she teemeth,
circled by whelming waves that rage and rave;
all noble races of such valiant breast,
that each may justly boast itself the best.

“Hers the Tarragonese who, famed in war,
made aye-perturbed Parthenopé obey;
the twain Asturias, and the haught Navarre
twin Christian bulwarks on the Muslim way:
Hers the Gallego canny, and the rare
Castilian, whom his star raised high to sway
Spain as her saviour, and his seign’iory feel
Baetis, Leon, Granáda, and Castile.

“See the head-crowning coronet is she,
of general Europe, Lusitania’s reign,
where endeth land and where beginneth sea,
and Phoebus sinks to rest upon the main.
Willed her the Heavens with all-just decree
by wars to mar th’ ignoble Mauritan,
to cast him from herself: nor there consent
he rule in peace the Fiery Continent.

“This is my happy land, my home, my pride;
where, if the Heav’ens but grant the pray’er I pray
for glad return and every risk defied,
there may my life-light fail and fade away.
This was the Lusitania, name applied
by Lusus or by Lysa, sons, they say,
of ancient Bacchus, or his boon compeers,
eke the first dwellers of her eldest years.

“Here sprang the Shepherd,51 in whose name we see
forecast of virile might, of virtuous meed;
whose fame no force shall ever hold in fee,
since fame of mighty Rome ne’er did the deed.
This, by light Heaven’s volatile decree,
that ancient Scyther, who devours his seed,
made puissant pow’er in many a part to claim,
assuming regal rank; and thus it came:⁠—

“A King there was in Spain, Afonso hight,
who waged such warfare with the Saracen,
that by his ’sanguined arms, and arts, and might,
he spoiled the lands and lives of many men.
When from Hercùlean Calpè winged her flight
his fame to Caucasus Mount and Caspian glen,
many a Knight, who noblesse coveteth,
comes off’ering service to such King and Death.

“And with intrinsic love inflamèd more
for the True Faith, than honours popular,
they troopèd gath’ering from each distant shore,
leaving their dear-loved homes and lands afar.
When with high feats of force against the Moor
they proved of sing’ular worth in Holy War,
willèd Afonso that their mighty deeds
commens’urate gifts command and equal meeds.

“ ’Mid them Henrique, second son, men say,
of a Hungarian King, well-known and tried,
by sort won Portugal which, in his day,
ne prizèd was ne had fit cause for pride:
His strong affection stronger to display
the Spanish King decreed a princely bride,
his only child, Theresa, to the count;
and with her made him Seigneur Paramount.

“This doughty Vassal from that servile horde,
Hagar the handmaid’s seed, great vict’ories won;
reft the broad lands adjacent with his sword
and did whatever Brav’ery bade be done:
Him, for his exploits exc’ellent to reward,
God gave in shortest space a gallant son,
whose arm to ’noble and enfame was fain
the warlike name of Lusitania’s reign.

“Once more at home this conqu’ering Henry stood
who sacred Hierosol’yma had relievèd,
his eyes had fed on Jordan’s holy flood,
which the Dear Body of Lord God had lavèd;
when Godfrey52 left no foe to be subdued,
and all Judaea conquered was and savèd,
many that in his wars had done devoir
to their own lordships took the way once more.

“But when this stout and gallant Hun attainèd
Life’s fatal period, age and travail-spent,
he gave, by Death’s necessity constrainèd,
his sprite to Him who had that spirit lent:
A son of tender years alone remainèd,
to whom the Sire bequeath’d his ’bodiment;
with bravest braves the youth was formed to cope,
for from such sire such son the world may hope.

“Yet old Report, I know not what its weight,
(for on such antique tale no man relies),53
saith that the Mother, tane in tow the state,
a second nuptial bed did not despise:
Her orphan son to disinher’ited fate
she doomed, declaring hers the dignities,
not his, with seigniory o’er all the land,
her spousal dowry by her sire’s command.

“Now Prince Afonso (who such style had tane
in pious mem’ory of his Grandsire’s name)
seeing no part and portion in his reign
all pilled and plunder’d by the Spouse and Dame,
by dour and doughty Mars inflamed amain,
privily plots his heritage to claim:
He weighs the causes in his own conceit
till firm Resolve its fit effect shall greet.

“Of Guimara’ens the field already flow’d
with floods of civil warfare’s bloody tide,
where she, who little of the Mother show’d,
to her own bowels love and land denied.
Fronting the child in fight the parent stood;
nor saw her depth of sin that soul of pride
against her God, against maternal love:
Her sensual passion rose all pow’er above.

“O magical Medea! O Progne dire!
if your own babes in vengeance dared ye kill
for alien crimes, and injuries of the sire,
look ye, Teresa’s deed was darker still.
Foul greed of gain, incontinent desire,
were the main causes of such bitter ill:
Scylla her agèd sire for one did slay,
for both Teresa did her son betray.

“Right soon that noble Prince clear vict’ory won
from his harsh Mother and her Fere indign;
in briefest time the land obeyed the son,
though first to fight him did the folk incline.
But reft of reason and by rage undone
he bound the Mother in the biting chain:
Eftsoons avenged her griefs the hand of God:
Such veneration is to parents owe’d.

“Lo! the superb Castilian ’gins prepare
his pow’er to ’venge Teresa’s injuries,
against the Lusian land in men so rare,
whereon ne toil ne trouble heavy lies.
Their breasts the cruel battle grandly dare,
aid the good cause angelic Potencies;
unrecking might unequal still they strive,
nay, more, their dreadful foe to flight they drive.54

“Passeth no tedious time, before the great
Prince a dure Siege in Guimaraens dree’d
by passing pow’er, for to ’mend his state,
came the fell en’emy, full of grief and greed:
But when committed life to direful Fate,
Egas, the faithful guardian, he was free’d,
who had in any other way been lost,
all unpreparèd ’gainst such ’whelming host.

“But when the loyal Vassal well hath known
how weak his Monarch’s arm to front such fight,
sans order wending to the Spanish fone,
his Sovran’s homage he doth pledge and plight.
Straight from the horrid siege th’ invader flown
trusteth the word and honour of the Knight,
Egas Moniz: But now the noble breast
of the brave Youth disdaineth strange behest.

“Already came the plighted time and tide,
when the Castilian Don stood dight to see,
before his pow’er the Prince bend low his pride,
yielding the promisèd obediency.
Egás who views his knightly word belied,
while still Castile believes him true to be,
sweet life resolveth to the winds to throw,
nor live with foulest taint of faithless vow.

“He with his children and his wife departeth
to keep his promise with a faith immense;
unshod and strippèd,55 while their plight imparteth
far more of pity than of vengeance:
‘If, mighty Monarch! still thy spirit smarteth
to wreak revenge on my rash confidence,’
quoth he, ‘behold! I come with life to save
my pledge, my knightly Honour’s word I gave.’

“ ‘I bring, thou seest here, lives innocent,
of wife, of sinless children dight to die;
if breasts of gen’erous mould and excellent
accept such weaklings’ woeful destiny.
Thou se’est these hands, this tongue inconsequent,
hereon alone the fierce exper’iment try
of torments, death, and doom that pass in full
Sinis or e’en Perillus’ brazen bull.’

“As shrifted wight the hangman stands before,
in life still draining bitter draught of death,
lays throat on block, and of all hope forlore,
expects the blighting blow with bated breath:
So, in the Prince’s presence angry sore,
Egás stood firm to keep his plighted faith:
When the King, marv’elling at such wondrous truth,
feels anger melt and merge in Royal ruth.

“Oh the great Portingall-fidelity
of Vassal self-devote to doom so dread!
What did the Persian more for loyalty
whose gallant hand his face and nostrils shred?
When great Darius mourned so grievously
that he a thousand times deep-sighing said,
far he prefer’d his Zóp’yrus sound again,
than lord of twenty Babylons to reign.

“But Prince Afonso now prepared his band
of happy Lusians proud to front the foes,
those haughty Moors that held the glorious land
yon side where clear delicious Tagus flows:
Now on Ourique56 field was pitched and plan’d
the Royal ’Campment fierce and bellicose,
facing the hostile host of Sarrasin
though there so many, here so few there bin.

“Confident, yet would he in nought confide,
save in his God that holds of Heav’en the throne;
so few baptizèd stood their King beside,
there were an hundred Moors for every one:
Judge any sober judgment, and decide
’twas deed of rashness or by brav’ery done
to fall on forces whose exceeding might
a cent’ury showèd to a single Knight.

“Order five Moorish Kings the hostile host
of whom Ismár,57 so called, command doth claim;
all of long Warfare large experience boast,
wherein may mortals win immortal fame:
And gallant dames the Knights they love the most
’company, like that brave and beauteous Dame,
who to beleaguer’d Troy such aidance gave
with woman-troops that drained Thermòdon’s wave.

“The coolth serene, and early morning’s pride,
now paled the sparkling stars about the Pole,
when Mary’s Son appearing crucified
in vision, strengthened King Afonso’s soul.
But he, adoring such appearance, cried
fired with a frenzied faith beyond control:
‘To th’ Infidel, O Lord! to th’ Infidel:58
Not, Lord, to me who know Thy pow’er so well.’

“Such gracious marvel in such manner sent
’flamèd the Lusians’ spirits fierce and high,
towards their nat’ural King, that excellent
Prince, unto whom love-boon none could deny:
Aligned to front the foeman prepotent,
they shouted res’onant slogan to the sky,
and fierce the ’larum rose, ‘Real, real,
for high Afonso, King of Portugal!’

“As to the fight by calls defied and cries,
some fierce Molossan on the wooded height,
attacks the rampant Bull, who most relies
on strength of tem’erous horn to force the fight:
Now nips the ear, then at the side he flies
barking, with more of nimbleness than might,
till ripped at last the gullet of his foe
he lays the mighty bulk of monster low:

“So the new King, inflamed with zeal devout
for God nor less for faithful Lieges’ sake,
assails by cunning skill the barb’arous rout
with Braves the fronting phalanx eath to break:
Whereat the bandogs ‘Allah! Allah!’ shout,
and fly to arms; our raging warriors shake
the lance and bow; resound the trumpet tones;
the music thunders; Echo moans and groans.

“E’en as the prairie-fire enkindled on
sun-parchèd steppe (as winn’oweth upper air
sibilant Boreas), by the blasts swift blown
o’er bush and arid brake rains flame and flare:
The shepherd lads and lasses, idly strown
in rest and gentle slumber, waked by blare
of crackling conflagration blazing higher,
hamlet-wards force their flocks to fly the fire:

“Th’ astonied Moorman in such startled guise,
snatcheth his weapon hast’ily and sans heed;
yet he awaits the fight, nor ever flies,
nay, spurs his battle-ginnet to its speed.
Meet him as rash and swift his enemies
whose piercing lances gar his bosom bleed:
These fall half-slain, while others flee that can
convoking aidance of their Alcoran.

“There may be viewèd ’counters madly rash,
onsets no Serra’s sturdy strength could stand,
while charging here and there the chargers dash⁠—
the gifts of Neptune smiting gravid Land:⁠—
Buffets they deal, and blows that bash and smash,
burneth and blazeth Warfare’s blasting brand,
but he of Lusus coat, mail, plate of steel,
hacks, hews, breaks, batters, rives and rends piecemeal.

“Men’s heads like bullets dance the bloody plain,
ownerless arms and legs insens’ible lie,
and quiv’ering entrails tell of mortal pain,
and faces fade and life’s fair colours fly.
Lost is that impious host, whose heapèd slain
roll o’er the green’ery rills of crimson dye;
whereby the grasses lose their white and green
and nought but glow of crimson gore is seen.

“But now the Lusian victor held the field
his trophies gath’ering, and his gorgeous prey:
The crusht Hispanian Moor was forced to yield
while on the plain three days the great King lay.59
And now he chargeth on his virgin shield,
what still assures this well-won Vict’ory.
five noble inescutcheons azure-hued,
signing the Moorish Five his sword subdued.

“He paints with bezants five each ’scutcheon,
the thirty silvers wherewith God was sold,
and various tinctures make His mem’ory known,
whose grace and favour did his cause uphold.
Painted on every cinque a cinque is shown;
and, that the thirty may be fully told,
counteth for two the one that central lies
of the five azures painted crossy-wise.

“Some time has passèd, since this gain had past
of goodly battail, when the high King hies
to take Leiría, lately tane and last
conquest that boast our conquer’d enemies.
Herewith Arronches castled strong and fast
is jointly gainèd with the noble prize
Scalabicastro,60 whose fair fields amene
thou, crystal Tagus! bathest all serene.

“Unto this conquered roll of towns his might
eke addeth Mafra won in shortest space,
and in the Mountains which the Moon hath hight
he clasps frore Cintra to his hard embrace;
Cintra, whose Naiads love to hide their light
by hidden founts and fly the honey’d lace,
which Love hath woven ’mid the hills where flow
the waters flaming with a living lowe.

“And thou, O noble Lisbon! thou encrown’d
Princess elect of Cities capital,
rear’d by the facund Rover-King renown’d,
whose wiles laid low Dardania’s burning wall:
Thou, whose commands oblige the Sea’s Profound,
wast taught to bear the Lusitanian’s thrall,
aided by potent navies at what time
they came crusading from the Boreal clime.61

“Beyond Germanic Albis and the Rhene,
and from Britannia’s misty margin sent,
to waste and slay the people Sarracene,
many had sailed on holy thoughts intent.
Now gained the Tagus-mouth, our stream amene
to great Afonso’s royal camp they went,
whose lofty fame did thence the Heav’ens invade
and siege to Ulysséa’s walls they laid.

“Five sequent times her front had Luna veilèd,
five times her lovely face in full had shown,
when oped her gate the City, which availèd
no Force ’gainst ’sieging forces round her thrown.
Right bloody was th’ assault and fierce th’ assailèd,
e’en as their stubborn purpose bound them down;
asp’erous the Victor, ready all to dare,
the Vanquisht, victims of a dire despair.

“Thus won she yielded and, in fine, she lay
prostrate that City which, in days of old,
the mighty meiny never would obey
of frigid Scythia’s hordes immanely bold:
Who could so far extend their savage sway,
till Ebro saw ’t, and Tagus trembling roll’d;
and some o’er Baetis-land, in short, so swept
that was the region Vandalía ’clept.

“What might of city could perchance endure
prowess which proud Lisbóa might not bear?
Who mote resist the powers dure and dour
of men, whose Fame from earth invadeth air?
Now yield obedience all Estremadure,
Obidos, Torres Vedras, Alemquer,
where softly plash the music-murmuring waves,
’mid rocks and reefs whose feet the torrent laves.

“Eke ye, Transtagan lands! ye justly vain
of flavous Ceres’ bien and bonny boon,
yielded to might above the might of men
the walls and castles by his valour won:
Thou, too, Moor-yeoman! hopest hope insane,
those riant regions long as lord to own;
for Elvas, Moura, Serpa, well-known sites,
with Alcacer-do-Sal must yield their rights.

“The noble City and sure seat behold,
held by Sertorius, rebel famed whilòme;
where now the nitid silv’ery waters cold,
brought from afar to bless the land and home,
o’erflow the royal arches hundredfold,
whose noble sequence streaks the dark-blue dome;
not less succumb’d she to her bold pursuer,
to Giraldó, entitled ‘Knight Sans Peur.’62

“Fast towards Beja city, vengeful prest,
to slake his wrath for spoilt Trancoso’s wrong,63
Afonso, who despiseth gentle rest
and would brief human life by Fame prolong.
Feebly resisteth him and his behest
the City, falling to his arms ere long,
and nought of life within her walls but feel
the raging victor’s edge of merciless steel.

“With these Palmella yielded to the war,
piscous Cezimbra, eke, her finny spoils;
then, aided onwards by his fortunate star,
the King a pow’erful force of foemen foils:
Felt it the City, saw ’t her Lord afar,
who to support and aid her spares no toils,
along the hill-skirt marching all unware
of rash encounter lackt he heed and care.

“The King of Bad’ajoz was a Muslim bold,
with horse four thousand, fierce and furious Knights,
and countless Peons, armed and dight with gold,
whose polisht surface glanceth lustrous light.
But as a savage Bull on lonely wold,
whom jealous rage in hot May-month incites,
sighting a stranger, mad with love and wrath
the brute blind lover chargeth down the path:

“So doth Afonso, sudden seen the foes
that urge their forward march securely brave,
strike, slay, and scatter, raining doughty blows;
flies the Moor King, who recks but self to save:
Naught save a panick fear his spirit knows;
his foll’owers eke to follow only crave;
while ours, who struck a stroke so sore, so fell,
were sixty horsemen told in fullest tale.

“Victory swift pursuing, rest disdaineth
the great untiring King; he must’ereth all
the lieges of his land, whom nought restraineth
from ever seeking stranger realms to ’thrall.
He wends to ’leaguer Bad’ajoz, where he gaineth
his soul’s desire, and battleth at her fall
with force so fierce, and art and heart so true
his deeds made others fain to dare and do.

“But the high Godhead, who when man offends,
so long deservèd penalties delays,
waiting at times to see him make amends,
or for deep myst’ery hid from man’s dull gaze;
if He our valiant King till now defends
from dangers, facèd fast as foes can raise;
lends aid no longer, when for vengeance cries
the Mother’s curses who in prison lies;

“For in the City which he compast round,
encompast by the Leoneze was he,
because his conquests trespasst on their ground,
which of Leon and not of Port’ugale be.
Here was his stubborn will right costly found,
as happeth oft in human history,
an iron maims his legs, as rage-inflamèd
to fight he flies and falls a captive maimèd.

“O famous Pompey! feel thy Wraith no pain
to see the fate of noble feats like thine;
nor mourn if all-just Nemesis ordain
thy bays be torn by sire-in-law indign;
though Phasis frore and parcht Syéné-plain
whose perpendic’ular shadows ne’er decline,
Bootes’ ice-bergs, and Equator-fires,
confess the terrors which thy name inspires;

“Though rich Arabia, and the brood ferocious
Heniochs, with Colchis-region known of yore
for Golden Fleece; and though the Cappadoces
and Júdeans who One only God adore;
though soft Sophénes,64 and the race atrocious,
Cilician, with Armenia whence outpour
the twain of mighty streams, whose farthest fount
hides in a higher and a holier Mount;65

“And though, in fine, from far Atlantic tide
E’en to the Taurus, Scythia’s tow’ering wall,
all saw thee conquer; fearless still abide
if none save Emath-field beheld thee fall:
Thou shalt behold Afonso’s ovant pride,
lie subjugate, that subjugated all.
Such fate Celestial Counsel long foresaw
thine from a sire, his from a son-in-law.

“Returned the King sublime, in fine, with sprite
by the just doom of Judge divine chastisèd,
and when of Santarem in pride of might
the Saracen a bootless siege devisèd;
and when of Vincent, martyr benedight,
the precious Corse by Christian people prizèd,
from Sacrum Promontorium66 was conveyed
and reverent-wise in Ulysséa laid:

“Faster to push the projects still in hand,
the toil-spent Father sent his stout young son,
bidding him pass to Alemtejo’s land,
with warlike gear and soldiers many a one.
Sancho, a sov’ereign wielder of the brand,
straight forward passing, gore-red gars to run
the stream67 whose waters feed Seville and flood,
dyed by the brutish Moormen’s barb’rous blood.

“With hunger whetted by this new success,
now resteth not the Youth till sight his eyes
another slaughter, sore as this, oppress
the barb’rous host that circling Beja lies:
Not long the Prince whom fortune loves to bless,
waits the fair end where leads his dear emprize.
But now the routed Moors to vengeance cleave,
their only hope such losses to retrieve.

“They crowd the mighty Mount whereof Meduse
robbèd his body who the skies upbore:
They flock in thousands from Cape Ampeluse
and from Tangier, Antaeus’ seat of yore.
Abyla’s68 dweller offereth scant excuse;
who with his weapon hasteth him the more,
when heard the Moorish clarions shrilly-tonèd,
and all the reign high Juba whilom ownèd.

“The Mir-almuminin,69 who led the throng,
from the Dark Cont’inent past to Portugal:
Thirteen Moor kings he led, high, haught, and strong,
to his Imperial sceptre subject all:
Thus wreaking forceful every tyrant Wrong,
wherever easy Wrong mote sate his gall,
Sancho in Santarem he flies t’ invest,
yet his was hardly of success the best.

“Gives asp’erous battle, fighting fury-fraught
the hateful Moor a thousand feints designing;
ne horrid catapult avails him aught,
ne forceful batt’ering-ram, ne hidden mining:
Afonso’s son, conserving force and thought,
and firm resolve with warlike skill combining,
foreseeth all with prudent heart and art,
and stern resistance brings to every part.

“But now the Vet’ran⁠—doomed by years to ease
and gentle rest, from life of toil and teen,
be’ing in the city,70 down whose pastured leas
Mondego’s wavelets kiss the hem of green;⁠—
when learnt how close his son beleaguer’d is
in Santarem by Moormen blind with spleen,
close from the City flies the fone to meet,
age-idlesse spurning with fast eager feet.

“He heads his army, tried in war and known,
his son to succour; and his well-led host
shows wonted Port’ingall-fury all their own,
till in brief time the Moor is broke and lost.
The Battle-plain⁠—whose blood-stained front is strown
with steely coats, and caps of varied cost,
horse, charger, harness, rich and worthy prize⁠—
heaped with their owners’ mangled corpses lies.

“Forth fares the remnant of the Paynimry
from Lusitania, hurled in headlong flight:
But Mir-almuminin may never flee,
for ere he flee his life hath fled the light.
To Him whose arm vouchsafed such Victory
in praise and stintless prayer our hosts unite:
Chances so passing strange make clear to ken
God’s arm smites sorer than all arms of men.

“Such crown of conquest still bedeckt the brow
of old Afonso, Lord of lofty fame;
when he, in fine, who ever foiled his foe,
was foiled by ancient Time’s unyielding claim:
Past the death-sickness o’er his pallid brow
its frigid hand, and wrung his feeble frame;
and thus the debt on mortal shoulders laid
his years to gloomy Libitína paid.

“His loss the lofty Promontories mourn,
and from the wavy rivers floods of grief
with lakelets overspread the fieldèd corn,
and trickling tears are sorrow’s sole relief:
But ring so loud o’er Earth’s extremest bourne
the fame and exploits of our great lost chief,
that evermore shall Echo for his reign
‘Afonso! Afonso!’ cry, and cry in vain.

“Sancho, his lusty son, the worthy heir
of his great Father’s valour, force and might,
as did his early doings clear declare,
when Baetis71 fled ensanguin’d from the fight,
and from Andalusía forced to fare
the barb’arous King and peoples Ishmaelite;
and more, when they who vainly Beja girt
of his shrewd blows themselves had borne the hurt:

“After he had been raised to Royal hest,
and held for years a few his father’s land,
he wends the city Sylves to invest,
plowèd whose plain the barb’arous peasant’s hand:
With allies val’orous was his daring blest
the sturdy Germans, whose Armada man’d
by furnisht host was flying o’er the wave,
the lost Judaea to regain and save.

“To join in holy enterprise they went
Red Frederick, who did first to move begin
his mighty armament and succour sent
to ward the town where Christ had died for men;
When Guy, whose Croisers were by thirst bespent,
yielded his sword to gallant Saladin
there, where the Muslim host was well supplied
with wat’ery store to those of Guy denied.72

“But that majestical Armade that came
by dint of storm-wind o’er the Lisbon bar,
would aid our Sancho the foul foe to tame,
all being bounden for the Holy War:
As to his Father, happed to him the same;
and Lisbon fell to fortunes similar;
aided by Germans, Sylves town he takes
and the fierce dweller slays or subject makes.

“And if so many trophies from Mahound
his valour snatchèd, eke denies his pride
the Leoneze in peace to till their ground,
whom Mart with martial usage loved to guide:
Till on the bended neck his yoke he bound
of haughty Túi and all its country-side;
where many a city felt the dreaded blow
which with thine arms thou, Sancho! broughtest low.

“But ’mid his many palms this Prince waylaid
the stroke of tem’erous Death; his heir prefer’d
was that esteemèd son whom all obey’d,
second Afonso, of our Kings the third.
He reigning, Alcacér-do-Sal was made
ours, snatcht for ever from the Moorish herd;
that erst was taken by the Moor beset,
and now parforce he pays of Death the Debt.

“Afonso dying, straight to him succeedeth
a second Sancho, easy-going soul,
who in his weakling idlesse so exceedeth,
the rulèd rule their ruler and their tool:
He lost the Reign, for which another pleadeth,
by private preference deprived of rule;
since, govern’d only by his minions’ will
he made him partner in their works of ill.

“Yet ne’er was Sancho, no, such profl’igate pest
as was that Nero wedded with a boy,
who in foul incest showing horrid zest
his mother Agrippina dared enjoy;
Ne’er with strange cruel arts did he molest
the liege, nor gar’d the torch his town destroy;
he was no waster, no Heliogabálus,73
no woman-king like soft Sardanapálus.

“Ne’er was his tyr’annised people so chastisèd
as wretched Sicill by her tyrant bane;
ne like the despot Phálaris, he devisèd
novel inventions for inhuman pain:
But his high-hearted realm, which ever prizèd
lords of the highest hopes and sovran strain,
would ne’er whole-soulèd such a King obey,
who showed not fittest for the kingly sway.

“Hence came the gov’ernance of the reign to right
the County Bolognese; and he arose
at length to kingship, when from life took flight
his brother Sancho sunk in soft repose.
This, whom the ‘Brave Afonso’ subjects hight,
when fenced his kingdom from internal foes,
strives to dilate it; what his Sire possest
is worlds too narrow for so big a breast.

“Of both Algarves, given to his hand
in gift of bridal dowry, greater part
his arm recovers, and outdrives the band
of Moors ill-treated now by hostile Mart.
He freed and made the Mistress of her Land
our Lusitania, such his bellic art;
till final ruin whelmed the mighty hordes
where’er Earth ownèd Lusus’ subjects lords.

“See, next that Diniz comes in whom is seen
the ‘brave Afonso’s’ offspring true and digne;
whereby the mighty boast obscurèd been,
the vaunt of lib’eral Alexander’s line:
Beneath his sceptre blooms the land serene
(already compast golden Peace divine)
with constitution, customs, laws and rights,
a tranquil country’s best and brightest lights.

“The first was he who made Coimbra own
Pallas-Minerva’s gen’erous exercise;
he called the Muses’ choir from Helicon
to tread the lea that by Mondego lies:
Whate’er of good whilere hath Athens done,
here proud Apollo keepeth ev’ery prize:
Here gives he garlands wove with golden ray,
with perfumed Nard and ever-verdant Bay.

“Brave towns and cities reared his hand anew,
stout fortalice, and strongly-castled mure,
while his well-nigh reformèd kingdom grew
with stalwart towers and lofty walls secure:
But when dure Atropos cut short the clew,
and shore the thin-spun thread of life mature,
arose, to filial duty nidering
the fourth Afonso, yet a brave good King.

“This proud Castile’s bravades with equal pride
despised, of soul and breast serenely grand;
for aye the Lusitanian’s sprite defied
fear of the strongest, though the smaller band:
But when the Mauritanian races hied
to win and wear Hesperia’s winsome land,
and marchèd boldly to debel Castile
superb Afonso went to work her weal.

“Ne’er did Semiramis such myriads see
who o’er the wide Hydaspick prairie trod;
nor Attila⁠—who daunteth Italy
with dreadful boast, self-titled ‘Scourge of God,’⁠—
hurried such Gothick hosts to victory,
as the wild Saracens’ stupendous crowd,
with all th’ excessive might Granáda yields
that flockt to battle on Tartessus’ fields.

“When saw Castilia’s monarch, high and haught,
such force inexpugnable fain of strife,
dreading lest all Hispania come to naught,
once lost ere this,74 far more than loss of life;
aid of our Lusian chivalry he sought
and sent the summons by his dearest wife,
his spouse who sends her, and the joy and pride
of the fond Father to whose realm she hied.

“Enter’d Maria, fairest of the fair,
her Father’s palace-halls of tow’ering height;
lovely her gest though joy was crusht by care
that brimmed her beauteous eyes with tears that blight:
and waved her glorious wealth of golden hair
o’er neck and shoulders iv’ory-smooth and white:
Before her gladly-greeting Sire she stood,
and told her mission in this melting mood:⁠—

“ ‘Whatever various races Earth hath borne,75
the fierce strange peoples of all Africk-land
leadeth Marocco’s mighty Monarch, sworn
our noble Spain to conquer and command:
Power like this ne’er met beneath the Morn
since bitter Ocean learnt to bathe the strand:
They bring such fierceness and a rage so dread
the Living shake and quake the buried Dead.

“ ‘He to whose arms thou gavest me to wife,
his land defending when such foes invade,
offers himself, o’erfeeble for the strife,
to the hard mercies of the Moorish blade;
if, Sire! thou deign not aid that all-dear life,
me shalt thou see from out the kingdom fade,
widowèd, wretched, doomed to lot obscure,
sans realm, sans husband, e’en sans life secure.

“ ‘Wherefore, O King! of whom for purest fear,
Mulucha’s76 currents in their course congeal;
cast from thee dull delay, rise, swift appear
a second Saviour to our sad Castile:
If this thy count’enance, beaming love so dear,
set on a Father’s fond proud heart its seal,
haste, Father! succour, an thou hasten not,
haply he faileth who thy succour sought.’

“Not otherwise fear-filled Maria spake
her Sire, than Venus when, in saddest strain,
she pled to great All-Father for the sake
of her Aeneas tossing on the Main;
and in Jove’s breast could such compassion ’wake,
his dreadful thunders from his hand fall vain:
The clement Godhead all to her concedeth
and mourneth only that no more she needeth.

“But now the squadded warriors muster dense
on Eborensian plains with fierce array;
glint in the sun-glare harness, sword, spear, lance,
and richly furnisht destriers prance and neigh:
The banner’d trumpets with a blast advance,
rousing men’s bosoms from the gentle sway
of holy Peace to dire refulgent arms,
and down the dales reverb’erate War’s alarms.77

“Majestic marcheth, girt by all his powers,
th’ insignia of his Royal state among,
valiant Afonso, and his tall form towers
by neck and shoulders taller than the throng;
his gest alone embraves the heart that cowers,
in his stout presence wax the weaklings strong:
Thus to Castilia’s realm he leads his band,
with his fair daughter, Ladye of the Land.

“In fine when met the Kings, Afonsos twain,78
upon Tarifa’s field, they stand to front
that swarming host of stone-blind heathen men,
for whom are small the meadows and the mount.
No sprite there liveth of so tough a grain,
but feels its faith and trust of small account,
did it not clearly see and fully know,
Christ by His servants’ arms shall smite the foe.

“The seed of Hagar laughing, as it were,
to view the Christian pow’er so weak, so mean;
begins the lands, as though their own, to share
ere won, among the conqu’ering Hagarene;
such forgèd title and false style they bear
claiming the famous name of Saracene:
Thus with false reck’oning would they strip and spoil
calling it theirs, that noble alien soil.

“E’en so the barb’arous Giant huge and gaunt,
with cause to royal Saul so dread appearing
when seen the swordless Shepherd stand afront,
armed but with pebbles and with heart unfearing;
launchèd his sneer of pride and arr’ogant taunt
at the weak youngling’s humble raiment jeering,
who, whirled the sling, soon read the lesson well,
how much shall Faith all human force excel:

“Thus do the Moormen, traitor-souls, despise
our Christian forces, nor can understand
how Heav’en’s high fortress wonted aid affies,
which e’en horrific Hell may not withstand:
On this and on his skill Castile relies,
falls on Marocco’s King, strikes hand to hand:
The Portingall, who holds all danger light,
makes the Granádan kingdom fear his might.

“Behold! the brandisht blade and lance at rest,
rang loud on coat and crest, a wild onsèt!
They cried, as each his several law confest,
these ‘Sanct’ Thiago!’ and those ‘Muhammad!’
The cries of wounded men the skies opprest,
whose flowing blood in ugly puddles met,
where other half-slain wretches drowning lay,
who dragged their shatter’d limbs from out the fray.

“With such prevailing force the Lusian fought
the Gránadil, that in the shortest space
an utter ruin of his host was wrought;
ne fence, ne steely plate our strokes could face:
With such triumphant Vict’ory cheaply bought
unsatisfied, the Strong Arm79 flies apace,
and timely aids Castilia’s toiling pow’er,
still mixt in doubtful conflict with the Moor.

“Now brightly burning Sol had housed his wain
in Thetis’ bower, and his slanting ray
sank westward, bearing Hesper in his train,
to close that rare and most memorious day:
When of the Moors those valiant Sovrans twain
the dense and dreadful squadrons swept away,
with such fell slaughter as ne’er told of Man
the page of Story since the world began.

“Ne’er could strong Marius e’en the quarter show,
of lives here victim’d by victorious Fate;
when to the river, red with gory glow,
he sent his thirsty Braves their drouth to sate:
Ne yet the Carthaginian, asp’erous foe
to Roman pow’er and cradled in her hate,
when slain so many Knights of noble Rome,
of their gold rings he sent three bushels home.

“And if sole thou so many souls to flit
couldst force, and seek Cocytus’ reign of night,
when thou the Holy City didst acquit
of the base Júdean, firm in olden rite;
’twas that Jehovah’s vengeance thus saw fit,
O noble Titus! not thine arm of might;
for thus inspirèd men had prophesied,
and thus by Jesu’s lips ’twas certified.

“Accomplishèd his act of arms victorious,
home to his Lusian realm Afonso sped,
to gain from Peacetide triumphs great and glorious,
as those he gained in wars and battles dread;80
when the sad chance, on History’s page memorious,
which can unsepulchre the sheeted dead,
befell that ill-starr’d miserable Dame
who, foully slain, a thronèd Queen became.

“Thou, only thou, pure Love, whose cruel might
obligeth human hearts to weal and woe,
thou, only thou, didst wreak such foul despight,
as though she were some foul perfidious foe.
Thy burning thirst, fierce Love, they say aright,
may not be quencht by saddest tears that flow;
nay, more, thy sprite of harsh tyrannick mood
would see thine altars bathed with human blood.

“He placed thee, fair Ignèz! in soft retreat,
culling the first-fruits of thy sweet young years,
in that delicious Dream, that dear Deceit,
whose long endurance Fortune hates and fears:
Hard by Mondego’s yearned-for meads thy seat,
where linger, flowing still, those lovely tears,
until each hill-born tree and shrub confest
the name of Him deep writ within thy breast.81

“There, in thy Prince awoke responsive-wise
dear thoughts of thee which soul-deep ever lay;
which brought thy beauteous form before his eyes,
whene’er those eyne of thine were far away:
Night fled in falsest, sweetest fantasies,
in fleeting, flying reveries sped the Day;
and all, in fine, he saw or cared to see
were memories of his love, his joys, his thee.

“Of many a dainty dame and damosel
the coveted nuptial couches he rejecteth;
for nought can e’er, pure Love! thy care dispel,
when one enchanting shape thy heart subjecteth.
These whims of passion to despair compel
the Sire, whose old man’s wisdom aye respecteth,
his subjects murmuring at his son’s delay
to bless the nation with a bridal day.

“To wrench Ignèz from life he doth design,
better his captured son from her to wrench;
deeming that only blood of death indign
the living lowe of such true Love can quench.
What Fury willed it that the steel so fine,
which from the mighty weight would never flinch
of the dread Moorman, should be drawn in hate
to work that hapless delicate Ladye’s fate?

“The horr’ible Hangmen hurried her before
the King, now moved to spare her innocence;
but still her cruel murther urged the more,
the People swayed by fierce and false pretence.
She with her pleadings pitiful and sore,
that told her sorrows and her care immense
for her Prince-spouse and babes, whom more to leave
than her own death the mother’s heart did grieve:

“And heav’enwards to the clear and chryst’alline skies,
raising her eyne with piteous tears bestainèd;
her eyne, because her hands with cruel ties
one of the wicked Ministers82 constrainèd:
And gazing on her babes in wistful guise,
whose pretty forms she loved with love unfeignèd,
whose orphan’d lot the Mother filled with dread,
unto their cruel grandsire thus she said⁠—

“ ‘If the brute-creatures, which from natal day
on cruel ways by Nature’s will were bent;
or feral birds whose only thought is prey,
upon aerial rapine all intent;
if men such salvage be’ings have seen display
to little children loving sentiment,
e’en as to Ninus’ mother did befall,
and to the twain who rear’d the Roman wall:

“ ‘O thou, who bear’st of man the gest and breast,
(an it be manlike thus to draw the sword
on a weak girl, because her love imprest
his heart, who took her heart and love in ward);
respect for these her babes preserve, at least!
since it may not her òbscure death retard:
Moved be thy pitying soul for them and me,
although my faultless fault unmoved thou see!

“ ‘And if thou know’est to deal in direful fight
the doom of brand and blade to Moorish host,
know also thou to deal of life the light
to one who ne’er deserved her life be lost:
But an thou wouldst mine inn’ocence thus requite,
place me for aye on sad exilèd coast,
in Scythian sleet, on seething Libyan shore,
with life-long tears to linger evermore.

“ ‘Place me where beasts with fiercest rage abound⁠—
Lyons and Tygers⁠—there, ah! let me find
if in their hearts of flint be pity found,
denied to me by heart of humankind.
There with intrinsic love and will so fond
for him whose love is death, there will I tend
these tender pledges whom thou see’st; and so
shall the sad mother cool her burning woe.’

“Inclin’ed to pardon her the King benign,
moved by this sad lament to melting mood;
but the rude People and Fate’s dure design
(that willed it thus) refused the pardon sued:
They draw their swords of steely temper fine,
they who proclaim as just such deed of blood:
Against a ladye, caitiff, felon wights!
how showed ye here, brute beasts or noble knights?

“Thus on Polyxena, that beauteous maid,
last solace of her mother’s age and care,
when doom’d to die by fierce Achilles’ shade,
the cruel Pyrrhus hasted brand to bare:
But she (a patient lamb by death waylaid),
with the calm glances which serene the air,
casts on her mother, mad with grief, her eyes
and silent waits that awesome sacrifice.

“Thus dealt with fair Ignèz the murth’erous crew,
in th’ alabastrine neck that did sustain
the charms whereby could Love the love subdue
of him, who crown’d her after death his Queen;
bathing their blades; the flow’ers of snowy hue,
which often water’ed by her eyne had been,
are blood-dyed; and they burn with blinding hate,
reckless of tortures stor’d for them by Fate.

“Well mightest shorn of rays, O Sun! appear
to fiends like these on day so dark and dire;
as when Thyestes ate the meats that were
his seed, whom Atreus slew to spite their sire.
And you, O hollow Valleys! doomed to hear
her latest cry from stiffening lips expire⁠—
her Pedro’s name⁠—did catch that mournful sound,
whose echoes bore it far and far around!

“E’en as a Daisy sheen, that hath been shorn
in time untimely, floret fresh and fair,
and by untender hand of maiden torn
to deck the chaplet for her wreathèd hair;
gone is its odour and its colours mourn;
so pale and faded lay that Ladye there;
dried are the roses of her check, and fled
the white live colour, with her dear life dead.

“Mondego’s daughter-Nymphs the death obscure
wept many a year, with wails of woe exceeding;
and for long mem’ry changed to fountain pure,
the floods of grief their eyes were ever feeding:
The name they gave it, which doth still endure,
revived Ignèz, whose murthered love lies bleeding,
see yon fresh fountain flowing ’mid the flowers,
tears are its waters, and its name “Amores!”83

“Time ran not long, ere Pedro saw the day
of vengeance dawn for wounds that ever bled;
who, when he took in hand the kingly sway,
eke took the murth’erers who his rage had fled:
Them a most cruel Pedro did betray;
for both, if human life the foemen dread,
made concert savage and dure pact, unjust as
Lepidus made with Anth’ony and Augustus.

“This in his judgments rig’orous and severe,
plunder, advoutries, murtherers supprest:
To stay with cruel grasp Crime’s dark career,
bred sole assurèd solace in his breast:
A Justiciary, not by love but fear,
he guarded Cities from haught tyrant-pest;
their doom more robbers dree’d by his decrees
than Theseus slew, or vagueing Hercules.

“Pedro, the harshly just, begets the bland,
(see what exceptions lurk in Nature’s laws!)
remiss, and all-regardless prince, Fernand,
who ran his realm in danger’s open jaws:
For soon against the weak, defenceless land
came the Castilian, who came nigh to cause
the very ruin of the Lusian reign;
for feeble Kings enfeeble strongest strain.

“Or ’twas the wages Sin deserves of Heaven,
that filchèd Léonor from marriage bed,
by false, misunderstood opinions driven
another’s wife, a leman-bride to wed;
Or ’twas because his easy bosom given
to vice and vileness, and by both misled,
waxèd effeminate weak; which may be true,84
for low-placed loves the highest hearts subdue.

“Of such offences ever paid the pain
many, whom God allowed or willèd He;
those who fared forth to force the fair Helèn;
Appius and Tarquin, eke, such end did see:
Say, why should David of the saintly strain
so blame himself? What felled th’ illustrious tree
of Benjamin? Full well the truth design a
Pharaoh for Sara, Sichem for a Dinah.

“But if so weakeneth forceful human breast
illicit Love, which spurns the golden mean,
well in Alcmené’s son we find the test
as Omphalé disguis’ed to hero-quean.
Anthony’s fame a shade of shame confest,
to Cleopatra bound by love too keen;
nor less thou, Punick victor! wast betray’d
by low allegiance to some Puglian maid.

“Yet say who, peradventure, shall secure
his soul from Cupid armed with artful snare
’mid the live roses, human snow so pure,
the gold and alabaster crystal-clare?
who ’scapeth Beauty’s wiles and per’egrine lure,
the true Medusa-face so awful fair,
which man’s imprison’d, witch-bound heart can turn
no, not to stone, but flames that fiercely burn?

“Who se’eth a firm-fixt glance, a gesture bland,
soft promises of angel-excellence,
the soul transforming aye by charmed command;
say, who from pow’er like this can find defence?
Pardie, he scantly blameth King Fernand
who pays, as he did, Love’s experience:
But human Judgment would, if fancy-free,
adjudge his laches even worse to be.

“After the horrors of the stormy Night,
with gloom, and lightning-gleams, and hiss of wind,
breaks lovely Morning’s pure and blessèd light,
with hope of haven and sure rest to find:
Sol banisheth the dark obscure from sight,
laying the terror of man’s timid mind:
Thus to the doughty kingdom it befell,
when King Fernando bade this world farewell.

“For, if so many with such hopes were firèd
for one whose potent arm their harms could pay
on those, that wrought their wrongs with soul untirèd,
nerved by Fernando’s heedless, feeble way;
in shortest time it happed as they desirèd,
when ever-glorious John arose to sway,
the only heir that did from Pedro spring,
and (though a bastard) every inch a King.

“That such accession came from Heaven divine
proved ’special marvels, God His truth proclaiming,
when Ev’ora city saw the choicest sign,
a babe of age unspeech’d the ruler naming;
and, but to show the Heav’en’s supreme design,
she raised her cradled limbs and voice, exclaiming⁠—
‘Portugal! Port’ugal!’ high uplifting hand,
‘for the new king, Dom John, who rules the land.’

“Changèd in sprite were all within the Reign,
old hatreds firing hearts with novel flame;
absolute cruelties none cared restrain
popular Fury dealt to whence it came:
Soon are the friends and kith and kinsmen slain
of the adult’erous County and the Dame,
with whom incont’inent love and lust unblest,
the wappen’d widow showèd manifest.

“But he, dishonour’d and with cause, at last
by cold white weapon falls before her eyes,
and with him many to destruction past;
for flame so kindled all consuming flies:
This, like Astyanax, is headlong cast
from the tall steeple (’spite his dignities);
whom orders, altar, honours, nought avail;
those through the highways torn and stript they trail.

“Now long Oblivion veils the deeds accurst
of mortal fierceness, such as Rome beheld,
done by fierce Marius, or the bloody thirst
of Sylla, when parforce his foe expel’d.
Thus Léonor, who mortal vengeance nurst
for her dead County gars, with fury swell’d,
Castilia’s force on Lusitania fall,
calling her daughter heir of Portugal.

“Beatrice was the daughter, interwed
with the Castilian, who for kingship greedeth,
putative offspring of Fernando’s bed,
if evil Fame so much to her concedeth.
Hearing the voice, Castile high raiseth head,
and saith this daughter to her sire succeedeth;
for warfare must’ereth she her warrior bands
from various regions and from various lands.

“They flock from all the Province, by one Brigo85
(if such man ever was) yclept of yore;
and lands by Ferd’inand won, and Cid Rodrigo
from the tyrannick gov’ernance of the Moor.
Little in fear of warlike feat doth he go
who with hard plowshare cleaving lordeth o’er
the champaign Leonèze, and boasts to be
the blight and bane of Moorish chivalry.

“In Valour’s ancient fame the Vandal host,
confident still and stubborn, ’gan appear
from all Andalusía’s head and boast,
laved by thy crystal wave, Guadalquivir!
the noble Island86 eke, whilere the post
of Tyrian strangers, to the war drew near,
bringing insignia by renown well known,
Hercules’ Pillars on their pennons shown.

“Eke come they trooping from Toledo’s reign,
City of noble, ancient or’igin, span’d
by Tagus circling with his sweet glad vein,
that bursts and pours from Conca’s87 mountain-land.
You also, you, all craven fear disdain
sordid Gallegos! hard and canny band,
for stern resistance fast to arms ye flew,
warding their doughty blows whose weight ye knew.

“Eke War’s black Furies hurried to the fight
the fierce Biscayan folk, who clean despise
all polisht reasons, and ne wrong ne slight
of stranger races bear in patient guise.
Asturias-land and that Guipusc’oan hight,
proud of the mine which iron ore supplies,
with it their haughty sworders armed and made
ready their rightful lords i’ the war to aid.

“John in whose bosom Peril only grows
the strength Jew Sampson borrow’d of his hair,
though all he hath be few to fight his foes,
yet bids his few for battle-gage prepare:
And, not that counsel fails when danger shows,
with his chief lords he counsels on th’ affair,
but drift of inner thoughts he seeks and finds;
for ’mid the many there be many minds.

“Nor lack their reas’onings who would disconcert
opinions firmly fixt in pop’ular will,
whose weal of ancient valour is convèrt
to an unusèd and disloyal ill:
Men in whose hearts Fear, gelid and inert,
reigneth, which faith and truth were wont to fill:
Deny they King and Country; and, if tried,
they had (as Peter did) their God denied.

“But ne’er did such denial-sin appear
in noble Nuno Alv’ares, nay, instead⁠—
although his brothers show’d default so clear⁠—
he fiercely chid the fickle hearts misled;
and to the lieges steeped in doubt and fear,
with phrase more forceful than fine-drawn he said,
too fere for facund, as he bared his glave,
threating Earth, seas, and sphere with ban and brave:⁠—

“ ‘What! ’mid the noble sons of Portugale
that nills to strike for freedom beats a heart?
What! in this province which the nations all
crowned War’s princess in ev’ery earthly part
breathes, who his aid denies, such nid’ering thrall?
renaying faith and love, and force and art
of Portingall; and, be whate’er the cause,
would see his country keep the stranger’s laws?

“ ‘What! flows not still within your veins the blood
of the brave soldiers who ’neath banners borne
by great Henriques88 fierce with hero-mood,
this valiant race in war did ever scorn?
When tane so many banners, and withstood
so many foemen, who such losses mourn,
that seven noble Yarls were forced to yield
their swords besides the spoils that strewed the field?

“ ‘Say you, by whom were alway trodden down
these, now who seem to tread adown on you;
for Diniz and his son of high renown,
save by your sires’ and grandsires’ derring-do?
Then if by sin or sore neglect o’erthrown
so could your olden force Fernand undo,
to you fresh forces this new King shall bring;
an it be sooth that Subjects change with King.

“ ‘Such King ye have, that an ye courage have
equal his kingly heart ye raised to reign,
all en’emies shall ye rout so be ye brave,
much more the routed, eath to rout again:
But an such noble thought no more may save
your souls from pen’etrant Fear to bosom tane,
the craven hands of seely terrors tie,
this stranger’s yoke I, only I, defy.

“ ‘I with my vassals only, and my brand
(this said, his dreadful blade he bared midway)
against the high and hostile force will stand,
that threats a kingdom strange to stranger sway:
By virtue of my Liege, my mourning Land,
of Loyalty denied by you this day
I’ll conquer all, not only these my foes,
but whatsoever durst my King oppose.’

“E’en as the Youths who ’scaping Cannae-field⁠—
its only remnants⁠—to Canusium fled
despairing, and well-nigh disposed to yield,
and hail the Carthaginian vict’ory-led,
the young Cornelius to their faith appeal’d,
and took his comrades’ oath upon his blade
the Roman arms t’ uphold as long as life
hold, or hath pow’er to ’scape the mortal strife:

“Forceth the Folk enforcèd in such wise
Nuno, and when his final words they hear,
th’ ice-cold and sullen humour sudden flies,
that curdled spirits with a coward fear:
To mount the beast Neptunian all arise,
charging and tossing high the lance and spear;
they run and shout with open-mouthèd glee⁠—
‘Long live the famous King who sets us free!’

“O’ the pop’ular classes not a few approve
the War their natal land and home sustains:
These fare to furbish armours, and remove
injurious rust, of Peace the biting stains;
they quilt their morions, plates for breast they prove;
each arms himself e’en as his fancy fain ’s;
while those on coats with thousand colours bright,
the signs and symbols of their loves indite.

“With all this lustrous Company enrol’d
from fresh Abrantès sallies John the Brave,
Abrantès, fed by many a fountain cold
of Tagus rolling sweet abundant wave.
The vanguard-knights commands that warrior bold
by Nature fittest made command to have
of th’ Oriental hordes withouten count,
wherewith Sir Xerxes crost the Hellespont:

“I say Don Nuno, who appearèd here
the proudest scourger of that prideful Spain,
as was in olden days the Hun so fere,
curse of the Frankish, of Italian men.
Followed another far-famed cavalier
who led the dexter phalanx Lusitane,
apt to dispose them, prompt to lead his fellows,
Mem Rodrigues they call de Vasconcéllos.

“While of the Knights in corresponding flank
Antám Vasqués d’Almáda hath command,
to Avranches’ Earldom rose anon his rank,
who holds the Lusian host’s sinistral hand.
Nor far the banner from men’s notice shrank
in rear, where Cinques by Castles89 bordered stand
with John the King, who shows a front so dread
E’en Mars must learn to hide his ’minished head.

“Linèd the rempart90 groups of trembling fair,
whom hopes and fears alternate heat and freeze,
mothers and sisters, wives and brides in pray’er,
with fasts and pilgrim-vows the Heav’ens to please.
And now the Squadrons wont the war to dare,
affront the serrièd hosts of enemies,
who meet this onset with a mighty shout;
while all are whelmed in dreadful direful doubt.

“Messenger-trumpets to the cries reply,
and sibilant fife, and drum, and atambor;
while Ancients wave their flags, and banners fly
with many-colour’d legends ’broidered o’er.
’Twas fruity August when the days be dry,
and Ceres heaps the peasant’s threshing-floor,
August, when Sol Astraea’s mansion reigneth;91
and the sweet must of grapes Lyaeus straineth.

“Sudden Castilia’s trump the signal gave
horribly fearful, sounding tem’erous dread:
Heard it the Hill Artábrus;92 and his wave
Guadiana rollèd backwards as he fled:
O’er Douro and Transtagan lands it drave;
Tagus sore agitated seaward sped;
while mothers trembling at the terr’ible storm
embraced with tighter arm each tiny form.

“How many faces there wan waxt and white,
whose fainting hearts the friendly life-blood cheerèd!
For in dire danger Fear hath more of might⁠—
the fear of danger⁠—than the danger fearèd:
If not, it seemeth so; when rage of fight
man’s sprite to quell or kill the foe hath stirrèd,
it makes him all unheed how high the cost
were loss of limb, or dear life rashly lost.

“Battle’s uncertain work begins; and move
right wings on either part to take the plain;
these fighting to defend the land they love,
those eggèd on by hope that land to gain:
Soon great Pereira, who would foremost prove
the knightly valour of his noble strain;
charges and shocks, and strews the field till sown
with those who covet what is not their own.

“Now in the dust-blurred air with strident sound
bolts, arrows, darts and man’ifold missiles fly;
beneath the destrier’s horny hoof the ground
quaketh in terror, and the dales reply;
shiver the lances; thundereth around
the frequent crash of fellèd armoury;
foes on the little force redoubling fall
of Nuno fierce, who makes great numbers small.

“See! there his brethren meet him in the fray:
(Fierce chance and cruel case!) But dreads he nought;
right little were it brother-foe to slay,
who against King and Country trait’orous fought:
Amid these ren’egades not a few that day
war in the foremost squadrons fury-fraught
against their brethren and their kin (sad Fate!)
as in great Julius’ warfare with the Great.93

“O thou, Sertorius! O great Coriolane!
Catiline! all ye hosts of bygone age,
who ’gainst your Fatherland with hearts profane
ragèd with rav’ening parricidal rage;
if where Sumánus holds his dismal reign
most dreadful torments must your sin assuage,
tell him, that e’en our Portugal sometimes
suckled some traitors guilty of your crimes.

“Here doth the foremost of our lines give way,
so many foemen have its force opprest:
There standeth Nuno, brave as Ly’on at bay,
where Africk Ceita rears her hilly crest;
who sees the ’circling troop of cavalry,
over the Tetu’an plain to chase addrest;
and raging as they couch the deadly spear
seems somewhat stirred, but hides all craven fear:

“With sidelong glance he sights them, but his spleen
ferine forbids the King of Beasts to show
a craven back; nay, rather on the screen
of plumping lances leaps he as they grow.
So stands our Knight, who stains and soils the green
with alien gore-streams: On that field lie low
some of his own; howe’er with valour dowerèd
hearts lose their virtue by such odds o’erpowerèd.

“John felt the danger and the dure affront
of Nuno; straight like Captain wise and ware,
he rushed afield, viewed all, and in the brunt
with words and works taught men fresh deeds to dare.
As nursing Ly’oness, fere and fierce of front,
who, left for chase her whelps secure in lair,
findeth while for’aging for their wonted food
Massylian94 hind hath dared to rob her brood:

“Runs, frantick raging, while her roar and moan
make the Seven-Brother Mountains95 shake and rave.
So John with other chosen troop hath flown
foeward his dexter wing t’ enforce and save:
‘Oh strong Companions! Souls of high renown!
Cavaliers braver than what men hold brave,
strike for your country! now all earthly chance,
all hope of Liberty is on your lance!’

“ ‘Behold me here, your Comrade and your King,
who ’mid the spear and harness, bolt and bow,
foremost I charge and first myself I fling;
smite, ye true Portughuese, deal yet one blow!’
Thus spake that great-soul’d Warrior, brandishing
four times his lance before the final throw;
and, thrusting forceful, by that single thrust
lanceth such wounds that many bite the dust.

“For, see, his soldiers brent with ardour new,
honoured repentance, honourable fire,
who shall display most courage staid and true,
and dare the dangers dealt by Mars his ire
contend: The steel that catcheth flamey hue,
aims first at plate, then at the breast aims higher;
thus, wounds they give and wounds they take again;
and, dealing Death, in Death they feel no pain.

“Many are sent to sight the Stygian wave,
into whose bodies entered iron Death:
Here dieth Sanct’ Iágo’s Master brave,
who fought with fiercest sprite till latest breath;
another Master dire of Calatrave,
horrid in cruel havock, perisheth:
Eke the Pereiras foully renegate
die God denying and denouncing Fate.