The Lusiad, or, Portugals Historicall Poem Written In the Portingall Language By Luis de Camoens; And Now newly put into English by Richard Fanshaw |
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| 1. | First Canto. |
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 | The Lusiad, or, Portugals Historicall Poem |  |
First Canto.
1
Armes , and the Men above the vulgar File,Who from the Western Lusitanian shore
Past ev'n beyond the Trapobanian-Isle,
Through Seas which never Ship had sayld before;
Who (brave in action, patient in long Toyle,
Beyond what strength of humane nature bore.)
'Mongst Nations, under other Stars, acquir'd
A modern Scepter which to Heaven aspir'd.
2
Likewise those Kings of glorious memory,Who sow'd and propagated where they past
The Faith with the new Empire (making dry
The Breasts of Asia, and laying waste
Black Affrick's vitious Glebe; And Those who by
Their deeds at home left not their names defac't,
My Song shall spread where ever there are Men,
If Wit and Art will so much guide my Pen.
2
3
Cease man of Troy, and cease thou Sage of Greece,To boast the Navigations great ye made;
Let the high Fame of Alexander cease,
And Traian's Banners in the East display'd:
For to a Man recorded in this Peece
Neptune his Trident yielded, Mars his Blade.
Cease All, whose Actions ancient Bards exprest:
A brighter Valour rises in the West.
4
And you (my Tagus's Nymphs) since ye did raiseMy Wit t'a more then ordinary flame;
If I in low, yet tuneful Verse, the praise
Of your sweet River always did proclame:
Inspire me now with high and thund'ring lays;
Give me them cleer and flowing like his stream:
That to your Waters Phebus may ordaine
They do not envy those of Hyppocrene.
5
Give me a mighty Fury, Nor rude ReedsOr rustick Bag-Pipes sound, But such as War's
Lowd Instrument (the noble Trumpet) breeds,
Which fires the Breast, and stirs the blood to jars.
Give me a Poem equal to the deeds
Of your brave Servitors (Rivals of Mars)
That I may sing them through the Universe,
If, whom That held not, can be held in Verse.
6
And you, a present Pawn to PortugaleOf the old Lusitanian-Libertie;
Nor the less certain Hope t'extend the Pale
One day, of narrow Christianitie:
New Terrour of the moorish Arsenale:
The foretold Wonder of our Centurie:
Giv'n to the World by God, the World to win,
To give to God much of the World agin.
7
You, fair and tender Blossom of that TreeBelov'd by Him, who dy'd on One for Man,
More then whatever Western Maiestie
Is styl'd Most Christian, or Cæsarean.
Behold it in your Shield! where you may see
Oriques Battaile, which Alphonso wan,
In which Christ gave for Arms, for you t'emboss,
The same which He himself bore on the Cross.
3
8
You (pow'rful King), whose Empire vast the SunVisits the first as soon as he is born,
And eyes it when his Race is half-way run,
And leaves it loath when his tyr'd Steeds adjourn.
You, who we look should clap a yoak upon
The bruitish Ishmaelite, become your scorn;
On th' Eastern Turk, and Gentil who still lies
Sucking the stream which water'd Paradise.
9
That Majestie which in this Brow appears(This tender one) suspend for a small time,
Already such, as in your perfect years
When Fame's immortal Temple you shall climbe
Those milder eys, with which you banish Feares,
Bend to the ground: on which, by num'rous Ryme,
You'l see in me a Passion overgrown,
To make the Portugal-Atchievemenes known.
10
You'l see a strange love to my Native-soyle,Not mov'd with Vile but high immortal Meed:
For, to be compted is a Meed not vile
The Trumpet of the Nest where I was bred.
By That, their names drawn great, and laid in oyl
You'l see, of whom you are the Sov'raign Head:
And judge, which is the greater Honour Then
To be King of the World, or of such Men.
11
Hear me, I say, for not for Actions vaine,Fantastick, Fabulous, shall you behold
Yours prais'd, though forraigne Muses (to obtaine
Name to themselves) have ev'n feign'd names extold.
Your Subjects true Acts are so great, they staine
And credit all the Lyes of others told.
Stain Rhodomont, that puffe Rogero too,
And Mad Orlando, grant their deeds were true.
12
For These, I give you a fierce NunnioWho King and Country propt, almost alone.
An Egas, a Don Fuas, whose worths to show
I wish my Voice could reach great Homer's tone.
For the twelve Peers, I other twelve bestow
That past to England, and Magrizzo one.
Th'illustrious Gania in the Reare I name,
Who rob'd the wandring Trojan of his Fame.
4
13
Then (if to Match with Charls The Great of France,Or one you seek to rival Cæsar's name)
The first Alphonso see, who with his Lance
Eclipses whatsoe're outlandish Fame!
And Him, who by successful Valiance
Rescu'd and snatcht his Realm from civil Flame!
The second John, unconquer'd by the sword!
The Fourth and Fift Alphonso, and the Third!
14
Nor shall my Verses in Oblivion leaveThose Chiefs, who, in the Kingdoms of the Morn,
Their name in Armes unto the starres did heave,
By whom your ever-conqu'ring Flag was born:
Matchless Pacheco: Two Almeyda's brave,
Whom weeping Tagus will for ever mourn:
Terrible Alburquerque: Castro bold:
And more, whom death had not the pow'r to hold.
15
And whilst I These do sing, and dare not you,Great King (for I aspire not to that height)
Take you your Kingdomes reynes your Hand into,
And furnish matter for a loftier flight,
Whilst your new worth may meet a Vein as new.
Your num'rous Fleets, and Armies pond'rous weight,
Let the World groan with, and their terrour seize
The Affrick-Land's, and Oriental-Seas.
16
On you with fixed eys looks the cold Moore,In whom he reads his ruine prophecy'de:
The barb'rous Gentile (viewing you) is sure
You'l yoak his neck, and bows it to be ty'de.
The silver Thetys offers you in dow're
All her blew Realm, and doth the same provide.
Took with your Face (where love is mixt with Awe)
She seeks to buy you for her Son-in-Law.
17
In you, out of their Blissful Bow'rs AboveYour Grandsires souls (both famous in their way,
The one in golden peace, which Angels love,
T'other in bloody War) themselves survay.
In you they hope their glories shall improve,
Their Vertues be recoynd with less Allay:
And wide they sit, to keep for you a roome
In Heav'n's eternal Temple 'gainst you come.
5
18
But now, because your time creeps slowly anTo rule your People, who much wish it so;
Play with the new Attempt of a bold man,
That up with you this Infant-muse may grow;
And you shall spye ploughing the Ocean
Your Argonauts, that they may also know
You see them tost upon the angry Brine:
And use your self to be invok'd betime.
19
They now went sayling in the Ocean vast,Parting the snarling Waves with crooked Bills:
The whispring Zephyre breath'd a gentle Blast,
Which stealingly she spreading Canvas fills:
With a white foam the Seas were overcast,
The dancing Vessels cutting with their Keels
The Waters of the Consecrated Deep,
Where Protheus's Flocks their Rendezvouses keep.
20
When in the Heav'n Of Heav'ns the Deities,That have of humane things the Government,
Convene in glorious Councel, to advise
On future matters of the Orient.
Treading in Clusters the Diaphane skyes
Thorough the Milky way their course they bent,
Assembled at the Thunderer's command
By Him That bears the Caduceian Wand.
21
They leave the patronage of the Seav'n spheresWhich by the Highest Pow'r to them was giv'n:
The Highest Pow'r, who with an eye-brow steers
The Earth, the raging Ocean, and the Heav'n.
There, in a moment, every one appears;
Those, where Bootes's waine is slowly driv'n,
Those, who inhabit South, and where the Sun
Is born, and where his golden Race is don.
22
With an austere and high Majestick graceUpon a Christal Throne, with stars imbost,
Sublime The Father sate (worthy that place)
By whom the Bolts, dire Vulcan forg'd, are tost.
An Oderiferous Ayre blew from his face,
Able to breathe new life in a pale Ghost:
A Scepter in his Hand, and his Head crown'd
With one stone, brighter then a Diamownd.
6
23
On glitt'ring chairs (imbroyd'red richly o'reWith infinite of Pearles and finest Gould)
The other Deities were placed low'r,
As Reason and the Herald Order would:
The Seniours first, to honor them the more,
And after them those who were not so ould:
When thus the most high JOVE the silence brake,
With such a voice as made Olympus shake.
24
Eternal dwellers of the Tow'r divine,And Impirean-Hall with starred Vault;
If the much Vertue of the valiant Line,
Of Lutus be not worn out of your Thought;
You needs must know what the great Fates design
To crown the former Wonders Those have wrought,
That they shall darken with their evening-Glory
Th' Assyrian, Persian, Greek, and Roman story.
25
Your selves were witnesses, with what a poorAnd naked Army it was giv'n to Them
To take from the well-fix't, and num'rous Moor
All that sweet Tagus waters with his stream.
Then 'gainst the stout Castilian-Warriour
Heav'n still beheld them with a fav'ring beam:
And still in fine with glory and Renown
The hanging Trophies did their Churches crown.
26
I speak not (Gods) of that more ancient nameWhich with the Queen of Nations they did get
When (led by Viriatus) so great fame
They wan, whilst They and hostile Rome were met.
I pass their other Clash with that proud Dame
(Which 'tis impossible you should forget)
When a Bandito did their Truncheon bear,
Who feign'd himself inspir'd by a tame Deare:
27
See now, how trusting to uncertain WavesIn a fraile Barke, through ways untrod before
(Fearless of horrid Boreas, and the Braves
Of the fierce Southern wind) they throw at more!
How (having yoak't before that Sea which laves
Affrick's North-side, and yoakt her Southern-shore)
They bend their purpose and their forces turn
To win the Cradle of the budding Morn.
7
28
To Them is promis'd by eternal Fate(Whose high decrees no Power can ere revoke)
To be perpetual Porters of that Gate
Through which the Sun first guides his silver spoke.
They've spent at Sea the bitter Winter's date;
The men are harast, and with Travaile broke.
'Tis now high time (as it appears to me)
To shew them that new Land where they would be.
29
And therefore, since they have (as you have seen)So many dangers in this Voyage past;
Tost through so many Seas and Clymates been;
Of so sharp adverse Winds felt many a Blast;
I purpose now they shall as friends be in
The Affrick-Land refresh't with some Repast;
And, having victual'd there their wearied Fleet,
Proceed in their long course as it is meet.
30
Thus JOVE: when in their course of ParliamentThe Gods reply'd in order as they Sate,
And to and fro by way of Argument
Upon the matter calmly did debate.
Then Father Bacchus stiffly did dissent
From what great JOVE propos'd; As knowing, that
His Fame ith' East must suffer an eclipse
Should there arive the Lusitanian-ships.
31
He of the Fates had understood, from SpainHow that a warlike People was to come
Thorough the middle of the Ocean,
Which all the Indian-Coast should overcome,
And which, with modern Victories, should stain
All old ones, whether forraign, or their own.
It griev'd him sore, those Actions should be drown'd
Which still in Nysa made his name resound.
32
He looks on India as his old Acquest,From whom nor Time, nor deeds by others don,
Had robd the stile of Conq'rour Of The East,
By All That taste the streams of Helicon.
But now he fears that Glorie's neer it's West,
In the black Water of Oblivion
To set, should their desired Port obtain
The valiant Portingalls That Plough the Main.
8
33
Fair Venus holds up the contrary TheamAffected to the Lusitanian-Nation,
For the much likeness she observ'd in Them
To her old Rome, for which she had such passion,
In their great hearts, in the propitious beam
Of their to-Affrick-fatal constellation,
And in the charming musick of their Tongue,
Which she thinks Latine with small dross among.
34
These things did Cytherea move: But moreBecause from Fate of truth she heard it sed
That at those Lands her Altars should adore
Where this Victorious People should be spred.
So one, to keep what was his own before,
T'other, to gain new honors to her head,
Contest and stickle for their sev'ral ends,
And Both are backt and favour'd by their Frends.
35
As when the fierce South-wind, and fiercer North,Have got into the thickest of a Wood,
Breaking the Boughs to force a passage forth
Through matted shades, impetuous and wood;
The Air that yells, and all the mountain roar'th,
The Leaves are scattred, and the strong Rocks mov'd:
Such was the tumult which amongst the Gods
Was raised then in the Supream Aboads.
36
But Mars, who, with more cordialness did takeThen any of the rest, the Goddes's part;
Whether it were for old Affection-sake,
Or for this valiant People's own desart
(His look confest him vext before he spake)
Amongst the Gods upon his feet did start.
His heavy Target, at his shoulder hung,
(Displeas'd, and dreadful) he behind him flung.
37
Lifting a little up his Helmet-sight(Twas Adamant) with confidence enough
To give his Vote himself he placed right
Before the Throne of JOVE, arm'd, valiant, tough:
And (giving with the butt end of his Pyke
A great thump on the floor of purest stuffe)
The Heav'ns did tremble, and Apollo's light
It went, and came, like colour in a fright.
9
38
And thus he said; O Sire, whose will (whate're)All which thou hast created must obay:
If These, who seek another Hemisphere,
Thou wouldst not have to perish in the way,
Whose deeds and Valour once thou heldst so deare,
And did'st of old ordain what they assay:
Then hear no more (since thou'rt a Judge upright)
Reasons, from one who sees by a false light.
39
For if sound Reason did not plainly showIt self here vanquisht by excess of Feare,
'Twere prop'rer Bacchus should his pains bestow
For Lusus's Race, who was his Minion deare.
But let this spleen of his at present goe;
“Tis an ill stomach rising at good cheare:
“And envy never found the way in fine
“To do Man right, or what the God's designe.
40
And Thou (the Father of great Constancy)From the determination thou hast tooke
Recoyle not. “It is imbecility
“When once a Thing's begun, then back to looke.
But since in speed the winged Mercury
Outstrips the Winds, a Shaft, the swiftest Brooke.
Let Him now shew them to some Countrey, where
They may refresh, and news of India heare.
41
The pow'rful Father having said the same,Gave with a nod the Soveraign Assent
To that which Mars said here with greater flame,
And over All his holy Nectar sprent.
Streight through the milky way, by which they came,
The Gods to their respective Stations went,
Making a low obeysance to the Throne
As they past by in Order one by one.
42
Whilst this in the High-Court is passing nowAnd beautiful Of Heav'n Omnipotent;
The warlike People the salt Ocean plough
Leaving the South, and face the Orient,
'Twixt Madagascar's Isle, where all things flow,
And Ethiopia's barren Continent.
'Twas in that month, when Sol the Fishes fryes
To which fear'd Brontes turn'd two Deities.
10
43
So pleasantly they went before a WindAs those That now had got the Heav'n to frend.
Serene the Ayre was, and the Weather kind:
No Clowd, nor ought that danger might portend.
The Promontory Prassus left behind,
Which antient Ethiopia doth defend,
Neptune disclos'd new Isles which he did play
About, and with his billows danc't the Hay.
44
Vasco De Gama (a most valiant Guide,Born and pick't out for that great Enterprise,
Of a high Soul, and strongly fortify'de,
Who Fortune to him by his Boldness tyes)
Stands off, to leave this Land upon one side,
Thinking, that uninhabited it lies;
And on his course determines to proceed:
But otherwise the matter did succeed.
45
For streight, out of that Isle which seem'd most neerUnto the Continent, Behold a number
Of little Boats in companie appeer,
Which (clapping all wings on) the long Sea sunder!
The men are rapt with joy, and, with the meer
Excess of it, can onely look, and wonder.
What Nation's this (within themselves they say)?
What Rites? what Laws? what King do they obay?
46
Their coming, thus: in Boats with finns; nor flat,But apt t'o're-set (as being pincht and long)
And then they'd swim like Rats. The Sayles, of Mat
Made of Palm-leaves, wove curiously and strong.
The Mens Complexion, the self-same with that
Hee gave the Earth's burnt parts (from Heaven flung,)
Who was more brave, then wise; That this is True
The Po doth know, and Lampetusa rue.
47
The Cloaths, they came in, were a Cotton-PladWith divers Colours strip'd, and white the ground;
Which some cast queintly under one arm, had;
Others, about their Middles streightly bound;
All else from the waste up remain'd unclad:
Their weapons, Skeyns, and crooked Faulchions: Round
Terbants upon their heads; and, as they row'd,
Resounded Timbrels in an antick Mode.
11
48
Waving their hands and kerchers, These made signeTo those of Lusitania to stay:
But the swift Prows already did incline
To come to Anchor in the Island's Bay.
Land-men, and Sea-men in this work All joyne,
As all their labours should have end that day.
They haule the Roapes; strike, strike, the crew resounds:
The salt Sea (stricken with the Anchor) bounds.
49
They were not Anchor'd, when the uncouth FolkeAlready by the Cordage did ascend.
Their jovial countenances wellcome spoke,
To whom the Lordly Chiefe did (courteous) bend.
Bids streight the Boards be spread, the Bottles smoke,
With that rich juice which is the Poet's frend.
Ours pow'r it into Bowles, and All They fill
The burnt by Phaethon spare not to swill.
50
They ask (and still the cheerie Bowle goes round)In the Arabick-language, Whence The Fleet?
Who, and of whence, the men; and Whither Bound,
And through what Seas It came where now they see't?
Hereto the valiant Lusitanians found
Such answers as were proper, and discreet:
We are the Portugheses of the West,
We go to seek the Countreys of the East.
51
All the great Ocean have we sail'd, and crost,To the Antartick from the Artick Strand
Gone all the Round of Affrick's spacious Coast;
We have felt many a Clyme, seen many a Land.
We serve a potent King, who hath ingrost
His Peoples loves so, that, at his command,
With cheerful faces, not vast Seas alone,
But we would pass the Lake of Acheron.
52
And 'tis by that comand we travel nowTo seek the Eastern Land which Indies laves:
By that this distant Ocean-Sea we plough,
Where none but Monsters sayl'd the horrid Waves.
But now 'tis reason, We should likewise know
(If Truth have found a Harbour in your Caves)
Who you are? what this Land in which you dwell?
Or, if of India you can Tydings tell?
12
53
We are (one of the Isle replying said)Strangers unto this People, Law, and Place;
The Natives being such, as Heav'n hath made
Without the light of Reason, or of Grace.
We have a Law of Truth, which was convay'd
To Us from that New-light of Abram's Race,
Who houlds the World now in subjection due,
By Father, Gentile; and, by Mother, Jew.
54
This little Isle (a barren healthless Nook)Of all these Parts is the most noted Scale
For such as at Quiloa's Traffick look,
Or to Mombassa, and Sofala, sayle.
Which makes Us here some inconvenience brook,
To gather, for a mortal life, and frayle:
And (to inform you in one word of All)
This little Isle Men Mozambique call.
55
And now (since you come seeking through long toyleIndian-Hydaspes, and the Spicy Strand)
You shall have such a Pilot from this Isle,
As through the waves the way doth understand.
'Twere also good, you here repos'd a while,
And took in fresh provisions from the Land;
And that our Governour did come Aboard,
To see what else may need for Him t'afford.
56
This the Barbarian, and retreated thenInto his Boates with all his companie,
Departing from the Captaine, and his Men,
With demonstrations of due Courtesie.
Mean time Apollo in the Sea did pen
The golden day, and down to sleep doth lye
Leaving his Sister so much Torch to burn
As may suffice the World till he return.
57
With unexpected joy their hearts on floate,Blithely they pass the Night in the tyr'd Fleet;
To think that in a Country so remote
The news so long desired they should meet.
Within themselves they ruminate, and noate
The mens odd fashion, and admire to see't,
Or how a People of their damned way
Could take such root, and bear so vast a sway.
13
58
The silver Moon's reverberated RayTrembled upon the Chrystal Element;
Like Flow'rs in a great Meade, at middle May,
The stars were in the azure Firmament.
The furious Winds all husht and sleeping lay
In drowzy Hyperborean Caves dark-pent
Yet those of the Armada do not sleep,
But in their turns accustom'd watches keep.
59
And when Aurora left her Spicy Bed,Shaking her deawy locks the Earth upon;
And drawing, with a lilly-hand, the red
Transparent Curtains of the waking Sun,
To work go All; over the Decks to spred
The shadowing Sailes, and all their Streamers d'on,
To entertain with feasting and with joy
(Advancing in his Barge) the Isle's Vice-Roy.
60
Merrily sayling he advanc't, to seeThe Lusitanian-Frigates in the Road,
With fresh provisions from the Land: For Hee
Still hopes, they are of that inhumane Brood,
Which, from their mountains neer the Caspian Sea,
The fruitful Lands of ASIA overflow'd;
And, by permission of the Pow'r Divine,
Usurpt the Empire of Great Constantine.
61
The Captaine, with a meen benevolent,Receives the Moore, and all his company.
Things of great price he doth to Him present,
For such Occasions carryed purposely:
Gives him Preserves, and gives him of that queint
Unusual liquor which gives jollity.
The Moore receives it all in courteous part,
But what he Eats and Drinks most glads his heart.
62
The nimble Lusitanian MarinersUpon the shrowds in admiration hung,
To see a mode so different from theirs,
And barb'rous gibbrish of that broken Tongue.
No less confus'd the subtle Moore appears,
Eying their colour, habit, and ships strong.
Then, asking all things; This, amongst the rest,
If happily they came from Turkie, prest.
14
63
Moreover, to behold desireth HeeThe Books of their Religion, Law, and Faith:
To see, if with his own the same agree
Or that of Christ (as he suspects) he saith.
And (that he All may note, and All may see)
He prays the Captain, shew him what he hath
Of Armes, which by his Nation used are
When with their Enemies they go to War.
64
To whom the valiant Captaine made replyBy one well versed in that Bastard-Tongue:
Illustrious Lord, I shall to thee descry
My Self, my Faith, and th' Armes I bring along.
Neither of Turkish-blood nor breed, am I;
Nor of a Countrey that delights in wrong.
In fair and warlike EUROPE was I born,
I seek the famous Kingdoms of the Morn.
65
We worship Him, who is by every Nature,(Invisible, and visible) obay'd,
Him, who the Hemispheres, and every Creature,
(Insensible, and sensible) hath made:
Who gave Us his, and took on Him our feature:
Whom to a shameful death his own betray'd:
And who from Heav'n to Earth came down in fine,
That Man, by Him from Earth to Heav'n might climbe.
66
Of this God-Man sublime, and infinit,The Books which thou desir'st I have not brought,
For that in Books we need not bring that Writ,
Which (written in our Hearts) we have by rote.
For th' Arms, whereof thou hast desir'd to git
A sight, with all my heart I do allow't,
To see them as a Friend; For well I know,
Thou ne're wilt wish to see them as a Foe.
67
This having said, the ready-OfficersHe doth command to shew the Magazeen.
Out come the Backs, and Breasts, glitt'ring and terse;
Fine Mayles, safe Coats, with quilted plates between;
Bucklers, where various Imagerie appeares;
Ball, Lead, and Iron; Muskets of Steel sheen;
Strong Bows, and Quivers with barbd Arrows wedg'd;
Sharp Partesans; and Halberts double edg'd.
15
68
The morter-pieces come; and with them came(Confounding where they light) Granadoes dire;
Yet would he not permit the sons of Flame
Unto the dreadful Cannon to give fire.
For valiant spirits (which are still the same
With generous) to boast their utmost Ire,
To few, and timid soules, cannot indure
“To be a Lyon among Sheep, 'tis poor.
69
But now the Moore from what he heard and view'd,(All which he did observe attentively)
Conceiv'd within his Breast a certain feud,
A root of Envy, and Malignity;
Yet no such thing his outward gestures shewd:
But, with a smiling hollow Courtesie,
He with himself resolves to treat them faire,
Till he his purpose may by deeds declare.
70
Pilots the Captain at his hands doth pray,His Ships as far as India to guide:
Assuring him they shall with ample pay
For all their pains therein be satisfy'de.
The Moore consents; but still the poyson lay
Close, where it was, invenoming his side:
For, had he pow'r of blasting with his breath,
Instead of Pilots, he would give him death.
71
So great the hate was, and so great the spight,Which to the strangers suddainly he took;
Knowing they follow that unerring light,
The Son Of David holds out in his Book.
“O the deep secrets of that Infinite
“Into the which no mortal eye can look!
“That They, whom Thou to be thy friends hast chose
“Should never be without perfidious Foes.
72
The trech'rous Moore, when he his fill had seen,Departeth from the Frigates with his Crew
(As false in heart, as flatt'ring in his meen)
And feign'd Regards on all the Sea-men threw.
Through the short Traverse of the humid Green
The Boats had quickly cut, when, wellcom'd to
The shore, and met by an obsequious Train,
To his known House they wait him back again.
16
73
The famous Theban from th'æthereal Hall(He, in his Thigh, whom JOVE his Father bore)
Seeing this meeting with the Portingall
Is an abomination to the More;
Hath in his Brain a Stratagem, which shall
(He hopes) destroy him quite upon that score.
Now whilst this plot is forging in his head,
Unto himself these angry words he sed;
74
Is it already then by Fate ordain'd,That so great Victories, and so renown'd,
Shall by the men of Portugal be gain'd
On warlike People, and on Indian Ground?
And I (son of the HIGHEST, unprofan'd
With carnal mixture, and in whom are found
Such rare Indowments) must I suffer Fate
To a meer man my honors to translate?
75
Unto the son of Philip it is trueSuch pow're the Gods did in those parts afford,
'Twas one with Him, to See, and to subdue,
And Mars himself did homage to his Sword.
But can it be indur'd, that to so Few
Fate such stupendious puissance should accord,
That that of Macedon, of Rome, and Mine,
The Lusitanian Glory should out-shine?
76
It must not, nor it shall not. For beforeThis Swabber shall arrive the wished Land,
I'l spin him such a Webb on yonder shore,
That he shall never see the Eastern-strand.
I'l down to Earth, and spur th'inraged More:
“The Iron cooles that suffer'd is to stand.
“And who so means a business sure to make,
“He by the foretop must occasion take.
77
Thus saying (vext, and little less then mad)Upon the Affrick-shore he did descend,
Where, in a humane shape and visage clad,
To neighb'ring Prassus he his course doth bend.
The shape he took on him (thereby his bad
And false designe the better to commend)
Was of a Moore in Mozambique known,
Old, wise, and with the Governour all one.
17
78
And (entring to his Patron when he spy'deThe fittest season to infuse his guile)
He tells him; These, who in the Harbour ride,
Are men That live by robberie and spoyle:
That Fame, from Nations rang'd on the Sea-side,
With hue and crye pursu'd them to their Isle,
Of whom these Vagabonds a Bootie made
When they had anchor'd with pretence of Trade.
79
Moreover I would have thee know (quoth Hee)These bloody Christians (as I understand)
With Flames and Pyracies have fill'd the Sea,
As well as with their Robberies the Land;
And that they have it in designe, how Wee
May be reduc't too to their proud command:
How they may rob us of our goods, and lives,
And take for Slaves our children, and our Wives.
80
And this I know, to morrow by day-breakeTo come on shore for water they intend,
Arm'd, with their Captaine: Can Men plainer speake?
“They mischief mean, to feare it, who pretend.
Thou, arm'd with thine, the same advantage take;
Them in close ambush quietly attend:
Who, thinking to catch thee at unawares,
Will come with ease to fall into thy snares.
81
And, should it so fall out, that by this featThey should not wholly be destroy'd, and slain;
Another Plot (the which will give thee great
Content, I'm sure) I have within this Brain.
Send them a Pilot, skill'd so in deceit,
And how to lay an undiscerned Train,
That he may lead them blinded, where they may
Be kill'd, wreckt, sever'd, or quite lose their way.
82
This said by Him, who plaid so well the MooreWhom years and Fraud made wise to obviate Harmes;
Thanking him much for his advice mature,
About his Neck the Zeque throws his armes.
And from that instant bids his Bands be sure
To be all ready for the Morn's Allarmes.
That so, when land the Lusitanian shou'd,
He may convert their water into blood.
18
83
Farther (t'effect that other false device)A Moorish Pilot he did ready git,
Subtle, dissembling, and in mischief wise,
To whom so great a Trust he might commit.
Him, through such Seas, where such and such Coast lyes,
He bids to guide the Lusitanian Fleet,
That, should the danger in one place be past,
It may be sure to perish at the last.
84
Now visited th' Apollinean Ray.The Nabathêan mountains with a smile,
When Gama with his men themselves aray
To go and fetch fresh-water from the Isle.
Plac't with good order in the Boates are They,
As he had known of the intended guile;
And in a sort he did so: “For the Wise
“Have a divining soul that never lyes.
85
Moreover for the Pilot he had sentTo land before, in need whereof he stood;
To which the sound of Warlike Instrument
Was all the answer he had understood.
For this, As likewise, to be confident
Of a false Nation being never good,
He went as well provided as he could
With no more people then three Boats could hold.
86
But the keen Moors (pickeering on the StrandTo keep them from the Fountain's thirsted draught,
With Buckler on one Arm, and dart in hand,
Another with bent Bow, and poyson'd Shaft)
Stay for the valiant Portingalls to land,
In secret Ambush others hid with craft:
And send (to make them think the business sure)
A small Forlorn, as Faulkners throw their Lure.
87
On the white Beaches the black Warriours prance,Waving and vap'ring all the Levell o're;
And with heav'd Target, and with threat'ned Lance,
Dare the bold Portingalls to come on shore.
The noble people have not patience
To see the doggs grin at them any more.
But spring in Covey, with such equal hast
One could not say which landed first, or last.
19
88
So a brisk Lover in the bloody Place(His beauteous Mistress by in a Balcon)
Seeks out the Bull, and (planted face to face)
Curvets, runs, whistles, waves, and toles him on;
But the stern Bruite, ev'n in a moment's space
(His horned Brow low'd to the Earth) doth run
Bellowing about like mad; and (his eys shut)
Dismounts, strikes, kills, and tramples underfoot.
89
Loe, from the ships the Flames out of the hardAnd furious Cannon roll'd, to Heaven rise!
The Bullets murther, whom the Sound but scar'd:
The hissing Aire, struck, bandies back the noise.
The Moors hearts melt in them, they are so fear'd;
And the same passion chills their blood to Ice.
Now He, That lay in hidden ambush, flyes:
And He, That ventur'd the Incounter, dyes.
90
The Lusitanian People rest not here:But, following their success, destroy and slay.
The Wall-less-Town, and timber-Houses there,
They waste with fire, and flat with Cannon lay.
His sally now the Moor repents full deer,
For which he thought a cheaper price to pay.
Now he blasphemes the War, curses ill luck,
Th'old devil, and the dam that gave him suck.
91
The flying Moors their Javelins backward threwFaintly, through feare, and haste of their Retreat.
The Flint, the Stake, the Stone in folio flew.
“Anger makes all things weapons, when 'tis heat.
Now, to the Victor leaving the Isle too,
Unto the Continent they frighted get.
The Sea's small Arm, that doth their Isle imbrace,
They cut and traverse in a little space.
92
Some leap with their best goods into the Boats;Some with their natural Oars swim to the shore;
This sinks into the crooked waves, then floats;
That puffs the Sea out, he new drank before.
The showred Bullets from the Cannon-Throats
The bruitish peoples brittle Vessels tore.
Thus did the Portingalls in fine chastise
The falshood of malicious Enemies.
20
93
To the Armada Victors they returnWith the rich spoils and booty of the War.
Water they may have now to serve their turn
At their own time without controle, or bar.
The Moors (fresh smarting with their losses) burn
With greater malice then before by far:
And, seeing so much unrevenged shame,
Set their whole Rest upon the After-game.
94
The Governour of that infamous LandTo sue for Peace (as if repenting) sent.
Nor do the Lusitanians understand
That, under shew of peace, worse war is meant:
For the desired Pilot (underhand
Instructed in his trecherous intent)
In token of the Peace which he did crave
He sends to be their Pilot to the Grave.
95
The Captaine (who already understood'Twas time to go his discontinued way,
And that the weather and the wind are good
To carry him for wished India)
Receives the Pilot with a cheerful mood:
And th' Envoyé, who did his answer stay,
Dispatcht in haste (his minde is in the skye)
To the large Wind lets all the Canvas flye.
96
Departed in this wise, the azure WatersOf Amphitrite cuts the warlike Fleet,
Attended by a Troop of Nereus's daughters
(sweet Friends, and no less constant, then th'are sweet)
The Captain (thought-less of those devilish matters
Which in his Brain the subtle Moor doth knit)
Touching all India, and the Coasts they past,
Informs himself by Him from first to last.
97
But the Moor well instructed in deceit(To whom his lesson spightful Bacchus gave)
Prepares for Him, e're he to India get,
New Ills, either of Thraldome, or a Grave.
Giving accompt of Indian Harbours yet,
He shews him All that ever he did crave;
That (judging Truth what he in that confest)
The valiant People may not doubt the rest
21
98
And then he tells him (with the same intentWith which false Synon witcht the men of Troy)
There is an Isle, not far from where they went,
Which ancient Christians from all times injoy.
The Captain (who to all he told him lent
Attentive Eare) at this so sprang with joy,
That he conjur'd him with a golden spell
To guide him speedy where those Christians dwell.
99
This very thing the trech'rous Moor design'dWhich the deluded Christian doth intreat,
Those, who possest this Isle, being the blind
Disciples of the filthy Mahomet.
Here death, and certain Ruine, he shall finde
(As he believes) for a far more strong and great,
Then Mozambique, is this Isle; by name
Quiloa: frequent in the mouth of Fame.
100
To It the joyful Fleet he did incline.But Shee, whose Altars in Cythera steam,
(Seeing him go astray from his right line,
To meet a death of which he doth not dream)
Permits not those in so remote a Clyme
To perish, whom she doth so much esteem:
And puts them, with contrary winds, besides
The Place to which the trayt'rous Pilot guides.
101
Then the base Moor, when he did plainly findeHe could not work the Villany be meant;
Spawning another mischief in his minde,
And always constant to his black intent:
Tells him, that, since the waves are so unkinde
To put them by the Port to which they bent,
There lyes another Island hard before,
Where mixed live the Christian, and the More.
102
Likewise in this the shameless Villain ly'de(As his Instructions were in fine to do)
For not a Christian-Soul did there reside
But All of Mahomet's detested Crew.
The Captain (who in all believ'd his Guide)
Made a short task to bring his ships thereto:
But (his protecting Angel saying, nay)
Past not the Bar, and anchors in the Bay.
22
103
This Isle lay to the Continent so neerThat a small Chanel onely ran between:
In front thereof a City did appeer
Upon the Margent of the Ocean green:
Fair and Majestical the Buildings were,
At a far distance plainly to be seen:
Rul'd by an aged King. Mombassa, all
The Isle; the Town too they Mombassa call.
104
And neer the same the Captain being comeIs much rejoyc't: There looking to behold
People, That had receiv'd their Christendome,
As the false Pilot promis'd him he should.
When loe, Boats coming from the King, with some
Provisions to the ships! For He was tould
Of such a Fleet by Bacchus long before
Taking the figure of another More.
105
Such the Provisions were, as Friends send Friends,But there is poyson hidden in the Baite.
Of Enemies their thoughts are and their ends,
As will be too much manifested straight.
“O the perpetual danger which attends
“The lot of Mortals! O uncertain State!
“That, where our trust seems to be anchor'd sure,
“We are not safe, although we are secure.
106
“By Sea; how many Storms, how many Harms,“Death in how many sev'ral fashions drest!
“By Land; how many Frauds, how many Allarms,
“Under how many wants sunk, and opprest!
“Where may a fraile man hide him? in what Arms
“May a short life injoy a little Rest?
“Where Sea, and Land, where Guile, the Sword, and Dearth,
“Will not all arm 'gainst the least worm o'th Earth?
End of the first Canto.
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