The Lusiad, or, Portugals Historicall Poem :: :: University of Virginia Library

The Lusiad, or, Portugals Historicall Poem

Written In the Portingall Language By Luis de Camoens; And Now newly put into English by Richard Fanshaw

Fanshawe, Richard (1608-1666)

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[Spaine gaue me noble Birth: Coimbra, Arts]

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[dedication]

Out of the Satyr of Petronius Arbiter, pag 48.

TORQUATO TASSO. in his 6 Part. fol. 47.

THE LVSIAD OF Lewis Camoens.

Fifth Canto.

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Fifth Canto.

1

The rev'rend Father stood inculcating
These Sentences; when Wee to a serene
And gentle Gale expand our Canvas wing:
When from the loved Port our selves we reane:
And sayles unfurling make the Welkin ring
(After the manner of Sea-faring Men)
With Boon Voyage. Immediatly the Wind
Does on the Trunks his Office and his kind.

2

The ever burning Lamp, that rules the day,
In the Nemean Bruite began to rage;
And the great world (which doth with time decay)
Limpt in his Sixt infirm, and crooked Age:
Thereof (accompting in the Church 'is way)
Of Sol's incessant Race the Thousand stage
Four hundred, Ninetie Seav'nth, was running whan,
In all their trim the Shipps to saile began.

3

Now by degrees out of our sight did glide
Parts of our Countrey, which abode behind.
Abode deer Tagus: and we then did hide
Fresh Syntra (About this our eyes did wind)
In the lov'd Kingdom likewise did abide
Our Hearts, whose strings could not be thence untwind,
And, when as all the Land did now with draw,
The sea and Firmament was all wee saw.

4

Thus went we opening those seas, which (save
Our own) no Nation open'd ere before:
See those new Isles, and clymates near; which brave
Prince Henry shewd unto the world before
The Mauritanian Hills, and Strand, which gave,
Anteus birth, who there was King of yore,
Upon the left hand left (for there is none
Upon the right, though now suspected, known)

5

We the great Island of Madera pass,
Which from it's Wood's abundance took the name;
The first, which planted by our Nation was,
Of which the worth is more then the great fame:
Nor (though the last place in the world it has)
Doth any, Venus loves, excel the same:
Who (rather) were it Hers, would lay aside
For This, Cythera, Cyprus, Paphos, Gnide.

6

We leave adust Massilias barren Coast,
Where Azenegues's lean Heards take their repast:
A People, That want water to their Roast;
Nor Herbs it self in any plenty tast:
A Land in fine, to bear no Fruit dispos'd:
Where Birds in their hot stomachs Iron waste:
Suff'ring of all things great Necessitie:
Which Ethiopia parts from Barbarie.

7

We pass the Bound that hedges out the Sun
When to the frozen North he bends his way:
Where People dwell, whom Clymene's rash Son
Deny'de the sweet Complexion of the day.
Here Nations strange are water'd one by one
With the fresh Currents of black Senega.
Here Arsinarius Aloof is seen,
That lost his name: confirm'd by Us Cape Green.

8

Canarian Isles (the same men call'd of old
The Fortunate) declined: After These
Among the Daughter-Islands we did fall
Of aged Hesper, term'd Hesperides.
Locks, in the which the Fleets of Portugal
To wonders new before had turn'd the Keys.
There did we touch with favourable wind,
Some fresh provisions for our Ships to find.

9

It's Name the Isle on which we Anchor cast
Did from the warlike St. Iago take.
The Saint That holp the Spaniard in times past
Such cruel havock of the Moors to make.
Thence, when the North renew'd his kinder blast,
We cut again the circumfused Lake
Of the salt Ocean; And that Store-House: leave,
From which Refreshment sweet we did receive.

10

Winding withal about your Affrick shore,
Where to the East (like a half-moon) it bends;
About Jalofo's Province (which doth store
The world with Blacks, whom, forc't Aboard, it sends.)
The large Mandinga that affords the Ore
The which doth make Friends Foes, and of Foes Frends;
(Which suck't Gaemea's crooked water laves
That disimbogues in the Atlantick Waves)

11

We pass the Gorgades, peopled by faire
Sisters, in ancient time residing there:
Who (rob'd of seeing) did amongst them share
One onely Eye, which they by turns did weare.
Thou onely, Thou (the Net of whose curl'd Haire
Caught Neptune, like a Fish, in his own Were)
Turn'd of them all at last the ugliest Lout,
With Vipers sow'dst the burning sands about.

12

Ploughing in fine before a Northern Wind
In that vast Gulph the Navy went embayd;
Leona's craggie mountains left behind,
The Cape Of PALms (so call'd from Palmie shade)
And that great River, where the Sea (confin'd)
Against the shores, which we had planted, bray'd:
With th'Isle that boasts his name, who would not trust
Till in the side of God his Hand he thrust.

13

There lyes of Congo the wide-spreading Ream,
By Vs (before) converted to Christ's Law;
Through which long Zayre glides with crystal stream:
A River, this, the Ancients never saw.
In fine through this vast Ocean from the Team
Of known Bootes I apace withdraw:
Having already past upon the Maine
The Burning Line that parts the World in twain.

14

There we before us saw by it's own light
In this new Epicicle a Star new:
Of which the other Nations ne're had sight,
And (long in darkness) no such matter knew.
The world's Antartick Henge (less gilt, less bright,
For want of Stars, then th'Artick) we did view:
Beneath the which, a question yet depends,
Whether more Land begins, and the Sea ends.

15

Past in this sort those equinoxiall clymes
By which his steeds twice yearely drives the sun;
Making two Summers, VVinters, Autumns, Primes,
Whilst he from one to to'ther Pole doth run:
Now tost, now calm'd (A sufferer in all Times:
By want, and plenty, equally undone.)
I saw both Beares (the little and the Great)
Despight of Iuno in the Ocean set.

16

To tell thee all the dangers of the Deep
(Which humane Judgment cannot comprehend)
Suddain and fearfull storms, the Ayre that sweep;
Lightnings, that with the Ayre the Fire doe blend;
Black Hurracans; thick Nights; Thunders, that keep
The VVorld alarm'd, and threaten the last End:
Would be too tedious: indeed vain and mad,
Though a brasse Tongue, and Iron lungs I had.

17

I saw those things, which the rude Mariner
(Who hath no Mistresse, but Experience)
Doth for unquestionable Truths aver,
Guided belike by his externall sence:
But Academicks (who can never err,
Who by pure Wit and Learning's quintessence;
Into all Natures secrets dive and pry)
Count either Lyes, or coznings of the Eye.

18

I saw (as plain as the sun's midday light)
That fire the Sea-man saints (shining out faire
In time of Tempest, of feirce winds despight,
Of over-clowded Heaven's. and black despayre:)
Nor did wee all lesse wonder (and well might,
For twas a sight to bristle up the Hayre)
To see a sea-born Clowd with a long Cane
Suck in the sea, and spout it out againe.

19

I saw with these two eyes) nor can presume
That these deceiv'd mee) from the Ocean breathed
A little Vapour, or aeriall Fume,
With the curld wind (as by a Turner) wreathed.
I saw it reach to Heaven from the salt spume,
In such thin Pipe, as those where springs are sheathed;
That by the Eye it hardly could be deemed:
Of the same substance which the Clowds it seemed.

100

20

By little this and little did augment,
And swell'd beyond the Bulk of a thick Mast.
Streightning and widening (like a Throat) it went,
To gulp into it self the water fast.
It wav'd upon the wavy Element.
The top thereof (impregnated at last
Into a Clowd) expanded more, and more,
With the great load of Water which it bore.

21

As a black Horse-leech (mark it in some Pool!)
Got to the Lip of an unwary Beast,
Which (drinking) suck't it from the water cool,
Upon another's blood it self to feast;
It swells and swells, and feeds beyond all Rule,
And stuffs the paunch; a rude, unsober, Guest:
So svvell'd the Pillar (vvith a hideous Crop)
It self, and the black Clovvd vvhich it did prop.

22

But, vvhen that novv 'tis full, the Pedestal
Dravvs to itself, vvhich in the Sea vvas set;
And (flutt'ring through the Ayre) in shovv'rs doth fall:
The couchant Water vvith new vvater vvet.
It pays the vvaves the borrow'd Waves, but all
The Salt thereout did first extract and get.
Novv tell me, Scholars, by your Books; vvhat skill,
Dame Nature us'd these waters to distil?

23

If old Philosophers (vvho travayld through
So many Lands, her secrets out to spye)
Had viewd the Miracles vvhich I did vievv,
Had sayled vvith so many winds as I;
What writings had they left behind! vvhat nevv,
Both Starres, and Signs, bequeath'd to Us! What high
And strong Influxes! What hid Qualities!
And all pure Truths, vvithout allay of Lyes!

24

But vvhen that Planet (vvhich her Court doth keep
In the first sphere) five times vvith speedy Race
Had, since our Fleet vvas vvand'ring on the Deep,
Shevv'd sometimes half, and sometimes all her Face:
A quick-eyd Lynx cryes, from the Scuttle steep,
Land! Land! vvith that, upon the decks apace
Leaps the transported Crew: their Eyes, intent
On the Horizon of the Orient.

101

25

At first the dusky Mountains (of the Land
Wee made) like congregated Clowds did look:
Seen plain, the heavie Anchors out of hand
Wee ready make: Approach'd, our sailes we strook,
And (that we might more cleerly understand
The parts remote in which we were I took
The Astrolabe, a modern Instrument:
Which with sharpe Judgment Sages did invent:

26

We disembarke in the most open space:
From whence, themselves the rasher Land-men spread
(Greedy of Novelties!) through the wyld Place:
Which never Stranger's Foot before did tread.
But O (not passing the Land's sandie Face)
To find out where we are, with Sea-men bred
Stay taking the Sun's heigth by th'Ocean curld;
And with my Compasse trace the painted World.

27

We found, we had already wholly past
Of the halfe-Goate, halfe Fish, the noted Gole:
Between the same, and that cold Countrey plac't
(If such there be beneath the Southern Pole.
When, loe! (lockt in with my Companions fast)
I see a Native come, black as the Cole:
Whom they had took perforce, as in the Wood
Getting out Honey from the Combe he stood.

28

He comes with horrour in his looks: as Hee
Who of a snare, like this, could never dreame.
Hee understood not Us, neither Him VVee:
More savage then the brutish Polypheme.
Of Colcos's glistring Fleece I let him see
The mettle which of mettles is supreme:
Pure Silver; sparckling stones (continuing suite;)
But in all these was unconcern'd the Bruite.

29

I bid them shew him lower prized Things
Beades of transformed crystall; a fine noyse
Of little Bells, thridded on tawdry strings,
A red Cap, Colour which Contents, and joys.
Streight saw I by his looks and beckonings,
That he was wondrous taken with these Toys.
Therewith I bid them they should set him free:
So to the Village nigh away went Hee.

102

30

But the next morn (whilst yet the skyes were dim)
All naked, and in colour like the shades,
To seek such Knacks as had been given to Him,
Loe, by the Craggs descending his Camerades!
Where now their carriage to us is so trim,
So tractable, and plyant; as perswades
Velose with them to venture through the Cover,
The Fashions of the Countrey to discover.

31

Veloso says, his pledge shall be his Blade,
And walks secure in his own Arrogance,
But, having now away a good while stayd
And, I out-prolling with my countenance
To see what signs for our Advent'rer made,
Behold him comming with a vengeance
Down from the Mountain-top towards the shipps!
And faster homeward, then he went, he skips.

32

The long-boate of Coellio made hast
To take him in: but, ere arrive that could,
An Ethiopian bold his weapon past
Full at his bosome, least escape he should.
Another, and Another too: Thus chac't
Velose and those farr off That help him would,
I run, when (just as I an Oare lift up)
A Troop of Negroe's hides the mountain-top.

33

A Clowd of Arrows, and sharpe stones they rain,
And hayle upon us without any stint:
Nor were These uttered to the Ayre in vain,
For in this leg I there receiv'd a dint.
But wee (as prickt with smart, and with disdayne)
Made them a ready answeare, so in print,
That (I believe in earnest) with our Rapps
Wee made their Heads as crimson as their capps.

34

And now (Veloso, off, with safety brought)
Forthwith repayre we to the Fleet agin,
Seeing the ougly Malice, the base Thought,
This false and brutish people hid within:
From whom of India (so desired) nought
Of Information could we pick, or win,
But that it is remote, So once more I
Vnto the Wind let all the Canvas fly.

103

35

Then to Veloso said a Jybing lad
(The rest all laughing in their sleeves) Ho! Frend
Velose: the Hill (it seems) was not so bad
And hard to be come down, as 'twas t'ascend.
True (quoth th' Advent'rer bold) Howe're, I had
Not made such haste, but that the Doggs did bend
Against the Fleet: And I began to doubt me
It might go ill, that you were here without me.

36

He tells us then, he past no sooner was
The Mountain's top, but that the people black
Forbid him any farther on to pass
And threat to kill him if he turn not back;
And (turn'd) they lay them down upon the grass
In Ambuscade, whereby they Us might pack
To the dark Realm, when we in haste should sally
To rescue Him, before we well could rally.

37

The Sun five times the Earth had compassed
Since We (from thence departed) Seas did plough
Where never Canvas wing before was spred,
A prosp'rous Gale making the top-yards bow:
When on a night (without suspect, or dred,
Chatting together in the cutting Prow)
Over our Heads appear'd a sable Clowd,
Which in thick darkness did the Welkin shrowd.

38

So big it lookt, such stern Grimaces made,
As fill'd our Hearts with horror, and appall,
Black was the Sea, and at long distance brayd
As if it roar'd through Rocks, down Rocks did fall.
O Pow'r inhabiting the Heav'ns, I said!
What divine threat is? What mystical
Imparting of thy will in so new form,
For this is a Thing greater then a Storm?

39

I had not ended, when a humane Feature
Appear'd to us ith'Ayre, Robustious, ralli'd
Of Heterogeneal parts, of boundless Stature,
A Clowd in's Face, a Beard prolix and squallid:
Cave-Eyes, a gesture that betray'd ill nature,
And a worse mood, a clay complexion pallid:
His crispt Hayre fill'd with earth, and hard as Wyre,
A mouth cole-black, of Teeth two yellow Tyre.

104

40

Of such portentous Bulk was this Colosse,
That I may tell thee (and not tell amiss)
Of that of Rhodes it might supply the loss
(One of the World's Seav'n Wonders) out of this
A Voyce speaks to us: so profound, and grosse,
It seems ev'n torn out of the vast Abyss.
The Hayre with horror stands on end, of mee
And all of us, at what we hear, and see.

41

And this it spake. O you, the boldest Folke
That ever in the world great things assayd;
Whom such dire Wars, and infinite, the smoke
And Toyle of Glory have not weary made;
Since these forbidden bounds by you are broke,
And my large Seas your daring keeles invade,
Which I so long injoy'd, and kept alone,
Unplough'd by forreign Vessel, or our owne.

42

Since the hid secrets you are come to spye
Of Nature and the humid Element;
Never reveal'd to any Mortal's Eye
Noble, or Heroes, that before you went:
Hear from my mouth, for your presumption high
What losses are in store, what Plagues are meant,
All the wide Ocean over, and the Land,
Which with hard War shall bow to your command.

43

This know; As many Ships as shall persever
Boldly to make the Voyage you make now,
Shall finde this Poynt their enemie for ever
With winds and tempests that no bound shall know:
And the first Fleet Of War that shall indeaver
Through these inextricable Waves to go,
So fearful an example will I make,
That men shall say I did more then I spake.

44

Here I expect (unless my hopes have ly'de)
On my discov'rer full Revenge to have;
Nor shall He (onely) all the Ills abide,
Your pertinacious confidences crave:
But to your Vessels yearly shall betide
(Unless provoked, I in vain do rave)
Shipwracks, and losses of each kinde and Race;
Amongst which, death shall have the lowest place.

105

45

And of the first that comes this way (in whom
With heighth of Fortune, heighth of Fame shall meet)
I'll be a new, and everlasting Tomb,
Through God's unfathom'd judgement. At these Feet
He shall drop all his Glories, and inhume
The glitt'ring Trophies a Turkish Fleet.
With me conspire his Ruine, and his Fall,
Destroyd Quiloa, and Mombassa's Wall.

46

Another shall come after, of good fame,
A Knight, a Lover, and a lib'ral Hand;
And with him bring a fair and gentle dame,
Knit his by Love, and Hymen's sacred Bond.
In an ill hour, and to your loss and shame,
Ye come within the Purlews of my land;
Which (kindly cruel) from the sea shall free you,
Drown'd in a sea of miseries to see you.

47

Sterv'd shall they see to death their Children deare;
Be Got, and rear'd, in so great love. The black
Rude Cafres (out of Avarice) shall teare
The Cloathes from the Angellick Lady's back.
Her dainty limbs of Alablaster cleare
To Heate, to Cold, to Storm, to Eyes's worse Rack
Shall be laid naked; after she hath trod
(Long time) with her soft Feet the burning Clod.

48

Besides all this; Their Eyes (whose happier lot
Will be to scape from so much miserie)
This Yoake of Lovers, out into the hot
And unrelenting Thickets turn'd shall see.
Ev'n there (when Teares they shall have squeez'd and got
From Rocks and Desarts, vvhere no waters be)
Embracing (kind) their souls they shall exhale
Out of the faire, but miserable, Iayle.

49

The ugly Monster vvent to rake into
More, of our Fate; vvhen, starting on my feet,
I ask him, Who art Thou? (for to say true
Thy hideous Bulk amazes me to see't)
Her (vvreathing his black mouth) about him threvv
His savvcer-Eyes: And (as his soul vvould fleet)
Fetching a dismal groan, replide (as sory,
Or vext, or Both, at the Interrogatory.)

106

50

I am that great and secret Head of Land,
Which you the Cape of Tempests well did call;
From Strabo, Ptolomee, Pomponius, And
Grave Pliny hid, and from the Antients all.
I the but-end, that knits wide Affrick's strand;
My Promontory is her Moun'd and Wall,
To the Antartick Pole: which (neverthelesse)
You, only, have the boldness to transgresse.

51

Of the rough sons oth'Earth, was I: and Twin,
Brother to Him, that had an hundred Hands,
I was call'd Adamastor, and was in
The Warr 'gainst Him, That hurls hot Vulcan's Brands.
Yet Hills on Hills I heapt not: but (to win
That Empire, which the Second Jove commands)
Was Generall at Sea; on which did sayle
The Fleet of Neptune, which I was to quayle.

52

The love I bare to Peleus's spouse divine
Imbarqu'd mee in so wild an Enterprize.
The fayrest Goddesse that the Heav'ns inshrine
I, for the Princesse of the Waves despise.
Vpon a day when out the Sun did shine,
With Nereus's daughters (on the Beach) these eyes
Beheld her naked: streight I felt a dart
Which Time, nor scorns, can pull out of my Heart.

53

I knew't impossible to gain her Love
By reason of my great deformitie
What force can doe I purpose then to prove:
And, Doris call'd, let Her my purpose see.
The Goddess (out of feare) did Thetys move
On my behalfe: but with a chaste smile shee
(As vertuous full, as she is fayre) replide,
What Nymph can such a heavy love abide?

54

How ever Wee (to save the sea a part
In so dire War) will take it into thought
How with our honour we may cure his smart.
My Messenger to mee thus answer brought.
I, That suspect no stratagem, no Art,
(How easily are purblind Lovers caught)
Feel my selfe wondrous light with this Return:
And fann'd with Hopes, with fresh desire doe hurn.

107

55

Thus fool'd, thus cheated from the warr begun,
On a time (Doris pointing where to meet)
I spy the glitt'ring forme, ith'evening dun,
Of snowy Thetys with the silver feet.
With open Armes (farr off) like mad I run
To clip therein my Ioy, my Life, my Sweet:
And (clipt) begin those orient Eyes to kis,
That Face, that Hayre, that Neck, that All that is.

56

O, how I choake in utt'ring my disgrace!
Thinking I Her embrac'd whom I did seek,
A Mountain hard I found I did embrace
O'regrown with Trees and Bushes nothing sleek.
Thus (grapling with a Mountain face to face,
Which I stood pressing for her Angel's cheek)
I was no Man: No but a stupid Block
And grew unto a Rock another Rock.

57

O Nymph (the fayrest of the Ocean's Brood)!
Since with my Features thou could'st not be caught,
What had it cost to spare me that false good,
Were it a Hill, a Clowd, a Dreame, or Thought?
Away fling I (with Anger almost wood,
Nor lesse with shame of the Affront distraught)
To seek another World: That I might live,
Where none might laugh, to see me weep, and grieve.

58

By this my Brethren on their Backs were cast,
Reduc'd unto the depth of misery:
And the vain Gods (all hopes to put them past)
On Those, That Mountayns pyl'd, pyl'd Mountains high.
Nor I, that mourn'd farr off my deep distast,
“(HEAU'N, Hands in vain resist, in vain Feet fly.
For my design'd Rebellion, and Rape,
The vengeance of pursuing Fate could scape.

59

My solid flesh converteth to tough Clay:
My Bones to Rocks are metamorphosed:
These leggs, these thighs (behold how large are they!)
O're the long sea extended were and spred.
In fine into this Cape out of the way
My monstrous Trunk, and high-erected Head,
The Gods did turn: where (for my greater payn)
Thetys doth Tantalize me with the Mayn.

108

60

Here ends. And (gushing out into a Well
Of Tears) forthwith he vanish from our sight.
The black Clowd melting, with a hideous yell
The Ocean sounded a long way forthright.
I (in their presence, who by miracle
Had thus far brought us, ev'n the Angells bright)
Besought the LORD to shield his Heritage
From all that Adamastor did presage.

61

Now Phlegon and Pyrous pulling come
(With other Two) the Charet of the Day:
When that high Land (to which this Gyant grum
Was turn'd) doth to our Eyes it self display.
Doubling the point, we take another Rumb;
And (coasting) plough the Oriental Sea.
Nor had we plough'd it long, when underneath
A little) in a Second Port we breath.

62

The People That this Countrey did possess
(Though they were likewise Ethiopians All)
Did more of humane in their meens express,
Then Those, into whose hands we late did fall.
Upon the sandy Beach, with cheerfulness
They meet us, and with Dances Festival.
With them, their Wives: and their mild Flocks of Sheep
Which fat and faire, and frisking they did keep.

63

Their Wives upon straw-Pillions (black as Jet)
Slow-paced Oxen (like Europa) ride:
Beasts, upon which a higher price they set
Then all the Cattle of the Field beside.
Sweet madrigalls (in Ryme, or Prose compleat,
In their own Tongue) to rustick-Reed apply'de,
They sing in Parts, as gentle Shepherds use,
That imitate of Tytirus the Muse.

64

These (and no less was written in their Faces)
Love and Humanity to Us afford:
Bringing us Hens, and Muttons, in the places
Of Merchandizes which we had Aboard.
But, for (in fine) our men could spye no traces
(By any Sign they made, or any word
From their dark Tongue) of what we wisht to know:
Our Anchors weigh'd, to Sea again we go.

109

65

Now had we giv'n the tother demi wheel
About black Affrick, And (the burning Hoope,
That girts the World, inquiring with my Keel)
To the Antartick Pole I turn'd my Poope.
By that small Isle (such emulous Thoughts we feel)
Discover'd by a former Fleet, we Soope;
Which sought the Cape Of Tempests, and (that found)
Pitcht here a Cross; our then Discov'ries's Bound.

66

Thence, many nights, and many sadder days,
Betwixt rough Storms, and languid Calmes, we grope
Through the great ocean, and explore, new ways:
No Lanthorn to pursue, but our high Hope.
One time above the rest (as danger Plays
At Sea the Protheus) with strange Waves we cope.
So strong a Current in those parts we meet,
As ev'n obstructs the passage of our Fleet.

67

More violent without comparison
(As our reculing Vessels plain did shew)
The Sea was, That did there against us run,
Then the fresh Gale, that in our favour blew.
Notus (disdaining much to be out-done
By That; and, as he thought, on purpose too
To affront Him) puffs, blusters, reinforces
His angry Blasts: and so we pass The Courses.

68

The Sun, reduc'd the solemnized Feast,
On which, a King laid in a Cratch to find,
Three Kings did come conducted from the East,
In which One King, three Kings at once are joyn'd.
That day took we another Port (possest
By People, like to Those we left behind)
In a great River: Giving it the Name
Of that great-day when thereinto we came.

69

Here fresh Provisions of the Folks we take:
Fresh-water from the River. But in summ,
No guess concerning India could we make,
By People, unto Us as good as dumb.
See (King) how many Countreys we did rake
Without a door found out from that rude scumm,
Without descrying the least Track, or Scent,
Of the so much desired Orient!

110

70

Imagine, Sir, in what distress of mind,
How lost we went, how much perplext with Cares,
Broken with Storms, and All with Hunger pin'd,
Through Seas unknown, through disagreeing Ayres,
(So far from hope, the wished Land to find,
As, ev'n with hoping, plung'd into despaires)
Through Climates rul'd by other heav'nly Signes;
And where no Star, of our acquaintance, shines.

71

The food we have too, spoyl'd; and what we crave
As nutriment, ev'n turn'd into our Bane:
No Entregens, no news, to make us wave
Our Griefs; or feed us with a hope, though vaine.
Think'st Thou, if this choyce band of soldiers brave
Were other then of Lusitanian straine,
They had obedient held to this degree
Unto their King, and his Authoritie?

72

Think'st Thou, they had not risen long ago
Against their Gen'rall (cross to their desire)
Turning Free-booters, forced to be so
By black despair, by Hunger, and by Ire?
If ever Men were try'de, These are: since no
Fatigue, no suff'rings, were of force, to tyre
Their great and Lusitanian excellence
Of loyalty, and firm Obedience.

73

Leaving, in fine, the sweet fresh-water Flood,
And the salt Waves returning to divide;
Off from the Land a prety space we stood,
Our whole Fleet bent into the Ocean wide:
Lest the cold Southern wind (increasing) shou'd
Impound us in the Bay and furious Tyde
Made in that Quarter by the crooking shore,
Which to Sofala sends the golden Ore.

74

This part (and the swift Rudder streight up resign'd
To good St. Nich'las, as in case deplor'd)
Towards that Part we steered, where the Wind-
Possessed Waves against the Beaches roar'd:
When the 'twixt hope and fear suspended mind,
And which confided in a painted Board,
(Faln from small hope to absolute dispaire)
Lookt up by an Adventure rare.

111

75

'Twas thus. When to the Coast so nigh we drew
As to see plain the Countrey round about:
A River broacht into the Sea we view,
Where Barks with Sails went passing in and out.
To meet with Men, That Navigation knew
Surpriz'd us with great joy, thou canst not doubt:
For amongst Them, of things from Vs so hid,
We hop't to hear some News: and so we did.

76

These too are Ethiops: yet it should appeare
They had in better company been bred.
Arabick words we pickt out here and there,
By which was reacht the scope of what they sed.
A kind of Terbant each of them did weare,
Of Cotton fine, pres't close unto his head:
Another Cotton-cloth (and this was blew)
About those-parts that should be kept from view.

77

In the Arabick-Tongue (which They speak ill,
But Fernand Martyn understandeth though)
They say; in Ships as great as these we fill,
That Sea of theirs is travers't to and fro;
Even from the rising of the Sun, untill
The Land makes Southward a Full Point, and so
Back, from the South, to East: conveying, thus,
Folks, of the colour of the Day, like Vs.

78

If with the sight of These so joy'd we were,
The news they give us makes us much more glad.
This (for the signes by us collected there)
We call The River Of Good Signs. We add
The Land-mark of A Cross, the which we reare,
Whereof some number in our Ships we had
For such Intents: This bar the fair Guides's name
Who, with Tobiah unto Gabael came.

79

Of Slyme, scales, shell-fish, and such filthy stuff,
(The noysome Generation of the Deep)
The Ships (that come therevvith sordid, and rough,
Through so long Seas) there do vve cleanse, and svveep.
From our kind Hosts vve, had supply'de, enough
Of the Provisions usual (as sheep,
And other things) vvith smooth, and jocund meen,
And as cleer hearts: vvhich through their eys vvere seen.

112

80

But the high pregnant Hopes, we there embraced
Bred not a joy unmixt with some Allay.
To balance it, in t'other scale was placed
A new disaster by Rhamnusia.
“Thus gracious Heav'ns their Boons have interlaced:
“These are the interfearings, This the way,
“Of humane Things. Black sorrow holds the Dye:
“Light joy fades in the twinkling of an Eye.

81

And this it was. The loathsom'st, the most fell
Disease, that ever these sad eyes beheld,
Reft many a life, and left the Bones to dwell
For everlasting in a forreign Field.
Who will believe (unseen) what I shall tell?
In such dire manner would the gumms be swell'd
In our mens Mouths; that the black flesh thereby
At once did grow, at once did putrifie.

82

With such a horrid stench it putrifide,
That it the neighb'ring Ayre infected round.
We had no circumspect Physitian try'de:
No Lady-handed Surgeon was there found.
But by a Carver might have been supply'de
The last. 'Twas handling of a dead man's wound.
The rawest Novice, with his Instrument
Might cut, and never hurt the Patient.

83

In fine, in this wild Land, adieu we bad
To our brave Friends (never to see them more)
Who in such Ways, in such Adventures sad,
With Us an equal burthen ever bore.
“How easily a burying place is had!
“The least wave of the Sea, any strange shore,
“Serve, as to put our Fellows's Reliques in,
“So of the bravest Men that e're have bin.

84

Thus, from this fatal Haven we disjoine
With more of joy then what we brought, and less:
And (coasting upward) seek some farther signe
Of India, to make out our present guess.
At Mozambique we arriv'd in fine;
Of whose false dealing, and hard heartedness,
Thou must have heard: as also of the Vile
And barb'rous dealing of Mcmbassa's Isle.

113

85

Then to the Sanctuary of thy Port
(Whose soft and Royall Treatment may suffice
To heale the sick, to cheer the Alamort,)
We were conducted by propitious Skyes.
Heer sweet Repose, Heer soveraign support,
Heer Quiet to our Breasts, Rest to our Eyes,
Thou doest impart. Thus (if thou hast attended)
Thou hast thy wish; my Narrative is ended.

86

Judge now (O King) if ever Mortalls went
Upon so long, upon so desp'rate ways.
Think'st Thou Eneas, and the eloquent
Vlysses travayl'd so much World, as These?
Durst either (of the watry Element,
For all the Verses written in their prayse)
See so much through his Prowese, through his Art,
As I have seen, and shall, or the eighth part?

87

Thou, who didst drink so deep of Helicone,
For whom sev'n Cities did contend in fine,
Amongst themselves, Rhodes, Smyrna, Colophone,
Wise Athens, Chyos, Argos, Salamine,
And Thou, whom Italy is prowd to owne,
Whose Voyce, first low, then high (always divine,
And sweet) thy native Mincius (hearing) fell
Asleep, but Tiber did with glory swell:

88

Sing, and advance with praises to the skye
Your Demi-Gods, stretching your twanging lungs
With Witches; Circes; Gyants of One Eye;
Sirens, to rock and charm them with their songs:
More, give them (both with Sayls, and Oars) to fly
Ciconians; and that Land, where there mates Tongues
With Loto toucht, makes them forget they're slaves;
Give them, to drop their pilot in the waves:

89

Project them winds (carried in baggs) to take
Out, when they list, Am'rous Calypsoes bold;
Harpies, their meat to force them to forsake;
Hand them to the Elysian shadowes cold:
As fine, and as re-fin'd, as ye doe make
Your ales (so sweetly dreampt, and so well told)
The pure and naked Truth, I tell, will git.
The hand, of all the Fabricks of your Wit.

114

90

Upon the Captain's honyed lips depends
Each gaping Hearer with fresh Appetite;
When his long Story he concludes and ends,
Fraught with high deeds, with Horror, and delight.
The vast Thoughts of our Kings, the King commends:
And their Warrs, known where're the Sun gives light.
The Nation's ancient Valour he extols:
The loyalty, and Brav'ry, of their Souls.

91

The People tell (with admiration strook)
To one another, what they noted most.
Not one of them can off those People look,
That came so far, That such dire Seas have crost.
But now the Youth of Delos, who re-took
The reins, which Lampetusa's Brother lost,
Turns them, to sleep with Thetys in the Deep:
The King leaves that, in his own House to sleep.

92

“How sweet is Prayse, and justly purchas't Glory
“By one's own Actions, when to Heav'n they soare!
“Each nobler Soul will strain, to have his story
“Match, if not darken, All That went before.
“Envy of other's Fame, not transitory,
“Screws up illustrious Actions more, and more.
“Such, as contend in honorable deeds,
“The Spur of high Applause incites their speeds.

93

Those glorious Things Achylles did in War
With Alexander sank not half so deep,
As the Great Trumpet That proclam'd them, far
And neer; He envies this, This makes him weep.
The Marathonian Trophies Larums are,
Which suffer'd not Themistocles to sleep:
He said, no Musick pleas'd his ear so well,
As a good Voyce, that did his prayses tell.

94

Vasco De Gama takes great payns, to show
Those Navigations which the World up-cryes
Deserve not in such gorgeous Robes to go,
As his, which doth astonish Earth, and Skyes.
True: But that Worthy (who did foster so
With Favours, Gifts Rewards, and Dignities
The Mantuan Muse) made that Eneas sing,
And set the Roman Glory on her wing.

115

95

Scipios, and Cæsars; Portugal doth yeild;
Yeilds Alexanedrs, and Augustusses:
But with those lib'ral Arts it doth not guil'd
Them though, which would file off their roughnesses.
Octavius made compt Verses in the Feild,
Fiillng up so the blanks of Business,
Forsaken Fulvia will not let me lye
Through Cleopatra's charms on Anthony.

96

Brave Cesar marches conquering all France;
Nor was his Learning silenc't by his drumme:
But (in this hand a Pen, in that a Lance)
To th' eloquence of Tully he did come.
Scipio (whose Wit in other's Socks did dance)
Wrote plays, ev'n wirh that Hand, which had sav'd Rome.
Our Homer doted Alexander so,
That th'Iliad was his constant Bedfellow.

97

All, That have ere been famous for Command,
Were learned too; or lov'd the Learned All:
In Latium, Greece, or the most barb'rous Land,
But only in unhappy Portugall.
I speak it to our shame; the cause no grand
Poets adorn our Countrey, is the small
Incouragement to such: For how can He
Esteem, That understands not Poetrie?

98

For This, and not for want of Ingenie,
Virgil and Homer, are not born with Us:
Nor will Eneas, and Achylles, bee,
(This feirce, Hee pious) if the World hould thus,
But (which is worst of all) for ought I see,
Fortune hath shapt our Lords, so boysterous,
So rude, so carelesse to be known, or know,
That they like well enough it should be so.

99

Thankt let the Muses be, by our De Game,
To my deer Countrey that my zeale was such,
As to commend her noble Toyles to Fame,
And her great deeds with a bould hand to touch:
For Hee, That's like him (only in his name)
Deserves not of Caliope so much,
Or Tagus's Nymphs; That They their golden Loom
Should leave, to carve his Ancestors a Tomb.

116

100

Love to my Brethren, and to do things just,
Giving all ortingal-Exploits their dues,
To serve the Ladies, to procure their gusts,
Are th'onely spurr, and int'rest of the Muse.
Therefore, for fear of black Oblivion's Rust,
Heroick Actions let no man refuse:
For by my hand, or some more lofty strain,
Vertue will lead him into Honour's Fane.

End of the fifth Canto.