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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 | The Lusiad, or, Portugals Historicall Poem |  |
Seventh Canto.
1
VVellcom, O wellcom (Friends) to that good LandWhich by so many hath been coveted,
'Twixt Indus, and the silver Ganges's strand,
In the Terrestriall Heav'n that hides his head.
Valiant and Happy men, put forth a Hand
To crop the Lawrells which from others fled:
For (loe!) ye see; before your faces, loe!
The Territory where all Riches flow.
2
To you I speake, ye sons of Lusus old;Who, of the world compose so small a stake.
What talk I of the world? of that small fold
Belov'd by him, who the round world did make.
You, whom from conquering of Nations rold
In Vice not only dangers did not take;
But neither Avarice, or want of love
To Holy Church, whose Head is crown'd Above.
3
You (Portingalls) as stout, as ye are Few;Who never care how small your numbers be:
You, who are Usurers of losses: you,
Who frayle life chaffer for eternitie
Thus Providence was pleas'd That him (who drew
The shortest lott) we of more use should see
T'extend the Fayth, then all the Christian Kings:
“So much thou (CHRIST) exaltest little Things!
137
4
The haughtie Germans, a great Flock (behold!In a large pasture, into Fastions broke;
Who (not to be restrayn'd within one Fold,
Nor yet content to justify with stroke
Of Argument what sev'rally they hold)
Some for, and some against the Roman Yoke,
Their fatall pistols in that Quarrell span,
Which should be all discharg'd at Ottaman.
5
See England's Monarch, styling himself yitFor deeds long past King of the Holy Tovvne,
The filthy Ismaelite possessing it
(What a reproaching Title to a Crovvne!)
How in his frozen Confines he doth sit,
Feeding on empty smoake of old Renown;
Or gets him new, on Christian Foes alone,
Not, by recov'ring what was once his own!
6
Meane time an Unbeleiver is for HimHead of Ierusalem on earth, whilst love
Of Earth, hath made him an unusefull lim
Of the Ierusalem which is Above.
Of the French then, what shall we say, or deem,
Who (call'd Most Christian) doth his style disprove.
Who doth not only n her Ayd not come:
But ev'n invites the scourge of Christendome?
7
To Christian's Lands findst thou thy Title good(Having so fayre a Kingdom of thine own)
Not, to Cynifius, and Nyle's sev'nfold Flood,
Old Enemies to true Religion?
There shouldst thou vent the heate of thy French blood,
'Gainst the Rejectors of the Corner-stone.
Levvis, and Charles, left thee their Name and seat:
Not that which styl'd one Saint; the other Great
8
In the last place, what shall we judge of Them,Who by base sloath, and Ryot (rather Rot)
Shorten their days, drown'd in their own wealth's stream,
Their ancient Valour, buried, and forgot?
From Lux, Oppression springing; from this stem,
Dissensions in a people giv'n to plot:
I speake to Thee (O Italie) brought loe
With thousand Vices. and thine own worst Foe.
138
9
Ah, foolish Christians! are you, happilie,Those Teeth which Cadmus did to Earth commit,
Self-Bane (for Children of one wombe ye bee,
And All one heav'nly Father did begit)?
The Holy Sepulcher do ye not see
Possest by dogs? how Those, themselves can knit,
To wrest from you your old Inheritance,
And on your shames their name in Arms advance?
10
Ye see it is a principle of state,A rooted custome, in the Hagarene,
Armies on Armies to accumulate
Against the people That on CHRIST doe leane.
But, amongst you, doth sow rank seeds of Hate,
And Tares of strife, the Enemie unclean.
How can ye sleep secure, how can ye close
Your Eyes, having both them, and you, your Foes?
11
If love of powre, and empire uncomptroll'd.Set you a work to conquer others Lands;
Both Hermus and Pactolus's streams behold,
Rouling into the Ocean golden sands!
Assyria spins, and Lydia, thrids of gold;
Affrick's rich Mynes imploy her Negroes hands.
Against The Turke let Bootie league you all:
If not, to see The Holy City Thrall,
12
That Hellish project of the Iron Age,Those Thunderbolts of Warr (the Cannon-Ball)
At Turkish Galleys let them spit their Rage,
And batter proud Constantinople's Wall.
Thence, to their Holes in Caspian Cliffes, ingage
The frighted monsters back again to craw'l,
And Scythian Wains, that in your Europe build,
With barb'rous spawn her civill Countreys fild.
13
The Thracian, Georgian, Greek, Armenian,Cry out upon you, that ye let them pay
(Sad Tribute!) to the brutish Alcoran
Their Christian-children, to be bred that way:
To scourge the arrogant Mahumetan
Your hands unite, your heads together lay.
Unwise, ungodly, Glory; cease pursuing:
By being valiant to your own undoing.
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14
But whilst (mad People) you refuse to see,Whilst thirst of your own blood diverts you All;
Christian-Indeavours shall not wanting be
In this same little House of Portugall.
Strong places upon AFFRICK's Coast has she;
In ASIA a Style Monarchicall;
Dominions in AMERICA she has;
And, were there more Worlds, Thither she would pass.
15
And turn we to behold in the mean while,To our Sea-faring Worthies what befell;
After that gentle Venus, with a File
Of Beauties, the inamour'd Storm did quell:
After they came in sight of that vast soyle,
Sought with a purpose so unchangeable,
The Christian Faith into the same to bring;
To introduce new Laws, and a new King.
16
No sooner come at that new Land, a sortOf little Fisher-barks they light among,
Directing them the way into the Port
Of Calicut, whereto the same belong.
Thither they bend their Prows (being the Court
Of Malabar) A City fair, and strong:
In which a King his Residence did hold,
Who, round about, a spacious Land comptrold.
17
On this side Ganges and the Ynd beyandA large and famous Province is markt forth;
On the South bounded by the Ocean-Strand,
By the Emodian Mountain on the North,
Sundry both Laws and Kings obeyth this Land,
Sundry pretended Deities ador'th:
Some, beastly Mahomet; some, Idols dead;
Some, Living Creatures in that Region bred;
18
In that long Mountain, which all ASIA laces(Running athwart so vast a Continent,
And borrowing sev'ral names of sev'ral places
Through which it runs) Two Fountains have their vent;
Whence Ynd, and Ganges (starting for two Races
At the same Post, and at the same length spent)
Dye in the Indian Sea: Now This, and I hey,
Make the true India a Pen-Insula.
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19
'Twixt these expiring Rivers's Mouthez wideFrom the broad Countrey a long point extends,
In fashion not unlike a Piramide,
Which (fronting Ceylan's Isle) in th'Ocean ends.
And where (first thrust out of the Mountain-side)
The great Gangetick Arm a Richness lends,
Tradition says; the Folk, That there did dwell,
Of dainty flow'rs were nourisht with the smell.
20
But the Inhabitants That now are found(In names and manners diff'ring from the old)
Are Deliis, the Patans, who most abound
In People, and in Countreys which they hold;
The Decanies, the Oriaas; That found
Their hopes of beeing sav'd, in what th'are told
Of sounding Ganges. Then, Bengala's Land;
With which can none in Competition stand.
21
Cambaya's Warlike Kingdom (this of yoreHeld great King Porus, as the fame doth goe):
The Kingdom of Narsinga; pow'rful more
In Gold, and Jewels, then against a Foe.
Here (from the Indian Ocean's Billows hoare)
Discerned is of Mountains a long Rowe;
Serving for Nat'ral Walls to Malabar,
Inroads of those of Canara to bar.
22
Gate the Countrey's Natives call this Ridge:From foot whereof skirts out a narrow Down,
Which (backt by that) is by a natural Seige
Of angry Seas affronted. Here the Town
Of Calicut (undoubted Sov'raign Liege
Of all her Neighbours) reares her lofty Crown:
Seat of the Empire, Fair, and Rich; and Him
That's Lord thereof, they stile the Samorim.
23
The Fleet arriving close to that rich strand,A Portingall is sent in a long-Boate
To let the Pagan Monarch understand
Their coming from a Region so remote.
He (through the River entering the Land,
Which enters there the Sea by a wide Throate)
With his strange Colour, Physnomy, Attire,
Makes all the flocking Multitude admire.
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24
Amongst the Rout, which Him did swarm to see,Comes one, trayn'd up in the Arabian's Lore,
Having been born in Land of Barbarie,
There, where Anteus was obey'd of yore.
Whether, the Lusitanian People, He
Knew meerly as a neighbour to that shore;
Or (bitten with their Steel) was sent so far
On Fortune's errand by the chance of War:
25
The Messenger with jocund Face survay'd,He, in plain Spanish gave him thus the Haile;
How, to this World, in name of Heav'n (Cam'rade)
So distant from thy native Portugale!
Op'ning a passage through rough Seas (he said)
Which never mortal Wight before did sayle,
We come to seek of Indus the great streame,
Whereby to propagate the Gospel's beam.
26
Astonisht at so great a Voyage stoodThe Moor his name Monsayde) briefly told
Their sad disasters on the azure Flood,
And hair-breadth Scapes, by this same Lusian bold.
But since, his main Affair (he understood)
Unto the King alone he would unfold;
He tells Him, He at present is not there:
Being retir'd into the Countrey neer.
27
So that (until the News at Court have binOf their prodigions passage through the Mayn)
Please him, to make his homely Nest, his Inne;
With Victuals of the Land hee'l entertain
Him There: and, being well refresht therein,
Himself will bring him to the Fleet again.
For that, the World hath not a thing more sweet;
Then in a distant Land when Neighbours meet.
28
The Portingall with Bosome not ingrateAccepts the Offer, kind Monsayde made.
As if their friendship were of ancient date,
With Him, he eat, and drank, as he was pray'd.
Towards the Ships (that done) return they straight:
Which the Moor knew, when he the Build survay'd.
They climbe the Am'ral: where both Man and Boy,
Receive Monsayde with a gen'ral joy.
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29
The Captain (rapt) Him in his Arms did squeeze,Hearing the Musick of the Spanish Tongue;
And (seated by him) Shreives him by degrees
Touching the Land, and things thereto that long.
But, as in Thracian Rhodope the Trees,
And Bruits, to hear his golden Lute did throng
Who did his lost Euridice deplore:
So throng'd the common-men to hear the More.
30
He thus begins. O men! whom Nature plac'tNeer to the Nest where I my birth did take;
What Chance, or stronger Destiny, so vast
So hard a Voyage, made you undertake?
For some hid cause from Tagus are ye past,
And unknown, Minius, through that horrid Lake
On which no Barke before did ever floate,
To Kingdoms so conceal'd, and so remote.
31
God, God hath brought you: He hath (sure) some grandAnd special buis'ness here for you to do.
For this alone, he leads you by strong Hand
Through Foes, Seas, Stormes, and with a heav'nly Clew.
India is this, with sev'ral Nations man'd:
Great Nature's bounty All beholding to
For glist'ring Gold, for sparkling Stones of price,
For oderiferous Gums, for burning Spice.
32
The Province ye are anchor'd now upon,Is called Malabar. In the old way
It worships Idols: The Religion
That bears in all these parts the greatest sway,
Held 'tis, by sev'ral Kings: yet onely one
Rul'd it of old, as their Traditions say.
The last King, was Sarama Perimal,
Who in one Monarchy possest it All.
33
But, certain strangers coming to this ReamFrom Mecha in the Gulph of Arabie,
Who brought the Law of Mahomet with Them
(In which my Parents educated me)
It so befell with their great skill, and stream
Of Eloquence, These to that hot degree
This Perimal unto their Faith did win,
That he propos'd to dye a Saint therein.
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34
Ships he provides and therein (curious)For Off rings lades his richest Merchandize;
To turn Monastick, and Religious,
There, where our Legislative Prophet lies.
Having no Heir, left of the Royal House;
Before he parted, he did cantonize
His Realm. Those servants, he lov'd best, he brings
From want, to wealth; from Subjects, to be Kings.
35
To one, Cochin; t'another, Cananour;Chale, t'a Third; t'a Fourth, the Pepper-Isle;
To This, Coulan; To That, gives Cranganour;
The rest, to them who most deserv'd his smile.
One young man onely (who had mighty pow'r
On his Affections) was forgot the while.
For whom was left poor Calicut alone,
A City since; Rich, great, by Traffick growne.
36
This gives he Him: and (to eke out the same)A shining Title Paramount the Rest.
That done, his Voyage takes; his life to frame
So, as to raign hereafter with the Blest.
And hence remain'd of Samorim the name
(By which imperial pow'r, and heigth's exprest)
To that young man and to his Heirs: from whom
This (who the Empire now injoys) is come.
37
The Natives's manners (poor, as well as rich)Are made up all of Lyes, and vanitie.
Naked they go: onely a Cloth they stitch
About those Parts which must concealed be.
Two Ranks they have, of People; Nobles, which
Are Nayres stil'd: and Those of base degree
Call'd Poleas. To Both the Law prescribes
They shall not marry out of their own Tribes.
38
And Those That have been bred up to one Trade,Out of another may not take a Wife;
Nor may their Children any thing be made,
But what their Parents have been all their life.
To touch a Nayre with their Bodye's shade,
A scandal is to his Prerogatife.
If themselves chance to touch them as they meet,
With thousand Rytes himself he washes sweet:
144
39
Just so the Jewish People did of yoreThe touch of a Samaritan Eschew.
But, when ye come into the Countrey, more,
And things of greater strangeness ye shall view.
The Nayres onely go to war: Before
Their King, they onely stand a Rampire trew
Against his Foes. A Sword they alway weild
With their right-hand, and with the left a Sheild.
40
Their Prelates are call'd Bramens (an old name,And (amongst them) of great Preheminence):
Of his fam'd Sect, who Wisdom did disclame,
And took a stile of a more modest sence.
They kill no living thing, and highly blame
All flesh to eat with wondrous abstinence:
But other flesh their Law doth not forbid,
Yet They as prone thereto, as if it did.
41
Their Wives are common: but are so to noneSave those, who of their Husbands's Kindred are.
(O blessed lot, blest Generation,
On whom fierce jealousie doth wage no war!)
These are the Customes, but not these alone,
Which are receiv'd by Those of Malabar.
The Land abounds in Trade of all things; Isle,
Or firm-Land yields from China unto Nyle.
42
Thus did the Moor recount. But Gossip FameCrying the Newes about the City went
Of a strange people come, with a strange name:
To be inform'd the truth when the King sent.
Now, through the gaping streets, invirond came:
With either Sex, and Ages different,
The noble Men dispatched by the King
The Gen'rall of the Fleet to Him to bring.
43
And Hee (thus licenc't by the SamorimTo disembarque) departs without delay,
The noblest of his Lusians hon'ring Him
As his bright Trayn (himself more bright then They)
The sweet variety of colours trim
Dazles the ravisht people all the way,
The compast Oare strikes, leisurely the water
Of the Sea first; of the fresh River after.
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44
Upon the Key a potent Officere,Whom in their Tongue the Catual they call,
Begirt with Nayres, stood to welcome There
The brave De Game with Pompe unusuall:
Whom in his Arms himselfe to land did beare,
Then points him to a Cowch Pontificall:
On which (their custome of most antient date)
Upon mens shoulders he is born in state.
45
Thus Hee of Lusus, Hee of Malabar,Move to the place where them expects the King.
The other Portingalls, and Naryes are
Their Infantry advancing in a Ring.
The multitudes (like Baggage in a War)
Confused, pester one and t'other Wing.
They would aske questions, but have not the pow'r:
Their mouths were stopt for that in Babel's Tow'r
46
Ride talking Gama, and the Catual,Of things which the Occasion ministred:
Monsayde the Interpreter of All,
As understanding what by each is sed.
Thus marching, and ariving where the tall
And sumptuous Fabrick did erect it's head
Of a rich Temple in the Citie's Center,
At the large two leav'd door abrest they enter.
47
There stand the Figures of their DeitiesCarv'd in cold stone, in dull and stupid wood:
In various shapes presented to the Eyes,
In various postures as the Feind thought good.
Some, in yet more abominable wise,
(Chimera-like) with shapes repugnant stood.
The Christians (us'd t'adore God-Man) deride
To see Men Beasts, and Monsters deifide.
48
One's humane Head a paire of Horns disgraces(Jupiter Hamon stood in Lybia so):
Another had one Body, and two Faces,
(Thus the old Romans did old Janus show):
A Third, with hundred Hands, fifty embraces
(Like Briareus) pretends at once to throw:
A Fourth Hee grinns with a dogs Face (the plain.
Ador'd Anubis in Memphitick Fane).
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49
Here, by the barb'rous people of that SectTheir Superstitious Worship being payd;
Their course, without digression Both direct
To where the King of these vain Gentiles stayd.
The Trayn augments; through Those, who the aspect
Of the strange Captain to behold, assay'd.
Women, and Boys, from all the Houses gaze:
These tyle the Roofs; Their Eyes, the Windows glaze.
50
Now they approach with slow and solemn paceThe beautiful and oderiferous Bow'rs,
Which barr'd the prospect of the Royal Place;
In structure sumptuous, though not high in Tow'rs.
For They their nobler Buildings interlace
With fanning Groves, and aromatick Flow'rs.
Thus liv'd enjoying that rude People's King
In City, Countrey; and in Winter, Spring.
51
On the fair Frontispieces, Ours descryThe subtlety of a Dædalian Hand,
Fig'ring the most remote Antiquity
In lasting Sculpture of the Indian-Land.
So lively are presented to the Eye
Those Ancient Times; That They, who understand
From learned Writers what the Actions were,
May read the Substance in the Shadow There.
52
Appears a copious Army, which doth treadThe Oriental Land, Hydaspes laves.
By a sleek ruddy Warriour was it led,
Fighting with leavy Javelins curl'd in waves.
Nysa stood by her Founder: by Her, slid
The River's self, washing her winy Caves.
So right the God, that Theban-Semble
(Had she been present) would have cry'de; 'Tis Hee.
53
Farther, a vast Assyrian multitude,That drank whole Rivers e're they quencht their thurst.
A Woman Captain, with rare Form indude;
And of a Valour, great, as was her Lust.
By her side (never cold) her Palfrey chew'd
The foaming Bit, and (fiery) paw'd the dust,
(Her Ninus's Rival) with whom yet 'twas done
More innocently, then she lov'd her Son.
147
53
Yet farther; trembled in the fancied windThe glorious Ensignes, Greece triumphant bore
(The worlds Third Monarchy) spreading from Ynd
One con'qur'ing wing to the Gangetick shore.
A young man led them, of a boundless mind,
From head to foot with Lawrells cover'd ore:
Who would not bee (so high his Thoughts did rove)
The son of Philip, but the son of IOVE.
54
The Lusians feasting with these Acts their eyes,The Catual unto the Captaine sayd,
The time draws neer, when other Victoryes,
Shall blot these out, which thou hast now survayd,
Heer shall be graven, modern Histories
Of a strange people, that shall us invade.
Such our deep Sages find to be our doom,
Poring into the things which are to come.
55
By the black Art they doe moreover tell;That, to prevent so great approaching Ill
By humane wisdome, tis impossibel:
‘For vaine, is earthly wit, against Heav'n's will–
But, say withall; Those strangers shall excell
So much in Martiall and in civill skill;
That through the World it will in after story,
Be sed: The Conqu'rers are the Conquerds glory.
56
Discoursing thus they enter the gilt Hall,Where leanes that Emperor magnificent
On the rich Cowch (which take it worke, and all)
Could not be matcht beneath the Firmament.
His Face and posture (that Majesticall;
And this secure) his Fortune represent:
His Robes are cloth of gold: A diadem
Upon his head, with many a flaming gem.
57
An old man (at his elbow) with grave meenUpon the knee did ever and anon
Of a hot plant present him a leaf green;
Which, as of custome, he would chaw upon.
Then did a Bramen of no mean esteem,
Approach De Gama with slow motion;
To presant Him unto the Monarch great:
Who there before him, nods him to a seate.
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59
De Gama seated neer to the rich Bed(His Eyes keeping off) with quick and hungry,
The Samorim upon the Habit fed
Of his new Guests, their uncouth hew, and Guyse
With an emphatick Voyce from a deep head
(Which much his embassie did authorize
Both with the King, and all the People there)
The Captain thus accosts the Royall eare.
60
A potent King (who governs yonder, whereHev'n's ever-rolling wheeles the day adjourn
Benighting earth with earth; that Hemisphere
Which the sun leaves mourning till his Return)
Hearing from Fame (which makes an Ecchoe there)
How this Imperiall Crovvn by Thee is worn.
(The sum'd up Majestie of Indian Land)
Would enter with thee into Friendship's Band.
61
And (through long windings) to thy Court send me,To let the know; that whatsoever stores
Goe on the Land, or goe upon the sea,
From Tagus there, to Nyle's inriched shores:
All that by Zeland Merchants laden be:
By tributary Ethiopian-Mores:
From seething River, or from frozen Barr:
Heapt up and centerd in his Kingdom, are.
62
Then if thou wilt, with leagues and mutuall TyesOf Peace and Freindship (stable and divine)
Allow commerce of superfluities,
Which bounteous Nature gave his Realms and Thine,
(For Trade brings Opulence and Rarieties,
For which the Poor doe sweat, the Rich doe Pine)
Of two great fruits, which will from thence redound,
His shall the glory; thine, the Gain be sound.
63
And (if it so fall out, that this fast knotOf Amitie be knit between you two)
He will assist thee in all adverse lot
Of Warr, which in thy Kingdom may insue,
With Soldiers, Arms and Shipps; and coldly, not,
But as a Brother in that case would doe,
It rests, that thou resolve me in the close,
What he may trust to touching this propose.
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64
This was the Errand of the Captain bold,To whom the Pagan Monarch answer'd thus:
Ambassadours from such farr parts, we hold
No little honour to our Crown, and Us,
Yet shall not in this case our will unfold)
Till with our Councell we the thing discuss:
What this King is, informing our self well,
The people and the Land whereof you tell.
65
In the mean time repose you from the QuoyleOf labour past, and nauseating Seas:
Whom we will back dispatch, within a while,
With such an answear as shall not displease.
Now Night (Task mistresse of all earthly Toyle)
Gives humane labours wonted stint; to ease
Exhausted lims with sweet Vicissitude:
Eyes, with the leaden Hand of sleep subdude
66
In the most noble lodgings of the Court,The Primere Minister of Indian Land
(With the Applause of people of each sort)
Did feast De Gama, and his valiant Band:
The Catuall (that he may make report
To his dread Leige, who gave him in command
To find it out; which way the strangers came,
What Laws, what Faith, what Countrey, and what name)
67
Soon as he spyes the fired Axel-treeOf the fayre Delian youth the day renew,
Sends for Monsayde; upon Thorns, to bee
At large informed of this Nation new.
Prompt and inquisitive, he asks if Hee
Can give him full Intelligence and trew,
What these strange people are (for he did heare,
That to his Country they are neighbours neer.)
68
A punctuall accompt, of every thingHe knew of them, he charg'd him to afford;
As that which was a service to the King,
Whereby to judge of the propos'd accord.
Monsayde answers: That which I can bring
Of light thereto, is spoken in a Word.
Thus much I know; they are of yond fame Spayn,
Where Phebus, and my Nest, bathe in the Mayn.
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69
By them a certain Prophet is ador'd,Born of a pure and incorrupted Mayd,
Conceiving by the Spirit of the Lord,
The Lord of life, by whom the world is swayd.
Of them, that which my Parents did Record,
Was that of bloody Warr the noble Trade
To it's full pitch by their strong Arm is wound:
Which to our cost their predecessors found.
70
Them (arm'd with vertue above humane strayne)They threw out of their delectable Seates
By golden Tagus, and fresh Guadiane,
Through glorious and memorable Feats:
Nor so content (ploughing the stormy Mayn
Toth' Affrick side) ev'n in our owne Retreates
Let us not live secure: but pull us out
From our Strong walls, and there our Armies rout.
71
Nor have they shown lesse strength of Hand and Brayn,In whatsoever other warrs did chance
With many warlick Nations of their Spayne,
And some that fell down by the way of France.
So that, in fine, no story doth remayne,
That ever they were quelld by forreign Lance;
Nor for those Hannibals (I will be bound)
As yet, was ever a Marcellus found.
72
But if this Information (as I makeAccompt it does) appear to Thee too short,
Of them, let them inform thee. Thou mayst take
(So doe they hate a lye) their own report.
Goe view their Fleet, their Arms, and how they rake
With founded Brass, which tames the strongest Fort:
And it will please thee, of the Portingall
To see the ciuill Arts, and Martiall.
73
To see the things the Moor exalted so,Now the Idolater is of a flame,
Calls for his Barge in hast, for he will goe
To view the ships in which De Gama came.
Together from the cover'd shore they rowe:
Cov'ring the sea, the Naynes doe the same.
They climbe the strong and goodly Ammirall:
By her long side aboard doth hand them Paul.
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74
Her waste-cloaths Scarlet, and her Banners areOf the rich Fleece which by a worm is bred:
In them are painted glorious deeds, in War
Atchiev'd by valiant Hands of Worthies dead.
Here a pitcht-Field and there a single jar;
Fierce one, and t'other: Pictures full of dread!
From which, since them the Pagan first did spye,
He never could recal his greedy Eye.
75
To know, the Things he sees, he doth beseech.But first, De Gama prays him sit, and prove
A little of those delicacies, which
Those of the Sect of Epicurus love.
The foaming Goblets with the Liquor rich,
Devis'd by Noah, swell, their banks above.
The Pagan sits; but cannot Eat (he saith)
Truth is, it crost a præcept of his Faith.
76
The Trumpet (which in Peace doth representWar, to the Fancy) rends the Ayre. In Thunder
The fired Diabolick-Instrument
Speaks audibly to it's infernal Founder.
The Pagan observs All: but (most intent
On the Defunct) seems to confine his wonder.
To those brave Deeds, which in a little Spheare
Are by Mute Poetry described there.
77
He starts upon his Feet; with Him (betwixtWhom, he was plac't both the De Games: and, from
Vascos ride side Coellio. The Moor fixt
His Eyes, upon the warlike Transcript dumb
Of an old man, who in his Face had mixt
Something divine, nor, till the World's one Tomb,
Shall ever dye. Clad in the Greekish mode.
A Bough in his right hand, what he was show'd.
78
His right hand held a Bough—But O blind manI! That (unwise, and rude) without your clew
(Nymphs of Mondego, and the Tagan Stran)
A course so long, so intricate, pursue.
I lanch into a boundless Ocean,
With Wind so contrary; that, unless you
Extend your favours, I have cause to think
My brittle Barke will in a moment sink.
152
79
Behold how long, whilst I strain all my pow'rsYour Tagus singing, and your Portugale;
Fortune (new Toyles presenting, and new Sow'rs)
Through the World draggs me at her Charets-Tayle):
Sometimes committed to Seas's rolling Tow'rs,
Sometimes to bloody dangers Marteale!
Thus I (like desperate Canacee of old)
My Pen in this, my Sword in that hand hold.
80
Now by declin'd and scorned povertyDegraded, at Another's Board to eate.
Now (in possession of a Fortune high)
Thrown back again, farther then ever yet.
Now scapt, with my life onely, which hung by
A single Thrid (ev'n that a load too great):
That 'tis no less a wonder, I am here,
Then Juda's King's new lease of fifteen yeere.
81
Nay more (my Nymphs) I thus being made an IsleAnd Rock of want (surunded by my Woes)
The same, whom I swam singing all that while,
Gave me, for all my Verses, but course Prose.
Instead of hoped Rest for long Exile,
Of Bays to thatch my head (which bald now grows):
Unworthy scandals they therein did hayle,
Which laid me in a miserable Jayle.
82
See, Nymphs, what learned Lords your Tagus breeds!What Patrons of good Arts we live among!
Are these the favors, and are these the meeds,
For Him That makes them glorious with his Song?
What Precedents are these, what likely seeds
To raise in future curious Wits and strong,
To register the Acts of all those men,
That merit Fame from an immortal Pen?
83
Then in this Flood of Ills let it sufficeThat your sole grace and favour I obtain;
And chiefly here, where such Varieties
Of honorable deeds I must explain.
Give it me onely you: For (by your Eyes)
On any, that deserves it not, one grain
I will not spend: not flatter Dukes, nor KINGS,
Pain of ungrateful to your sacred springs.
153
84
Nor think, O Nymphs, I'l waste your pretious FameOn Him, who to his King and Countrey's weal
Prefers his private interest (The same
Will from the Throne, yea from the Altar, steale).
No, no Ambitious man shall hide his shame
Under my leaves, who mounts, that he may deale
More largely to his Lusts, and exercise
His Office, not, but his impieties.
85
No man, That stalks with popularity,Thereby to catch the Prey he hath design'd:
Who, with the erring Vulgar to comply,
Changeth as oft as Protheus, or the Wind.
Nor (Muses) fear, that ever sing will I
Whom, with grave Face, grave case, grave pace, I find
(To please the King in the new Place he's in)
Fleece the poor People to the very skin.
86
Nor Him, who finds it just (and so it is)The King's Laws should be kept in ev'ry thing:
But does not find it just (and that's amis)
To pay the sweat of those that serve the King.
Nor Him, who says his Book, and thinks with This
(Though unexperienc't) he hath wit to bring
All to his Rules: and, with a niggard Hand,
Rates services, he doth not understand.
87
Those (and those Worthies onely) will I sing,Who their dear lives have ventur'd and laid down,
First for their GOD, and after for their King;
To be repaid with use in due renown.
Help me Apollo, and the Muses's Ring,
With doubled Rage their Lawrell d heads to crown:
Whilst (almost tyr'd) I here take breath a while,
So with fresh Spirits to renew my Toyle.
End of the seventh Canto.
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