The Lusiad Part 14

BOOK V.

THE ARGUMENT.

Departure of the expedition under the command of VASCO DE GAMA (A.D.

1497). Mountains of Portugal, Cintra, Morocco. Madeira; the burning sh.o.r.es of the Desert of Zanhagan; pa.s.sage of the Tropic; cold waters of the dark river Senegal. San Jago; pa.s.s the rocky coasts of Sierra Leone, the island of St. Thomas, the kingdom of Congo, watered by the great river Zaire. They cross the line and behold the magnificent constellation of the Southern Cross, not visible in the northern hemisphere. After a voyage of five months, with continued storms, they arrive in the lat.i.tude of the Cape. Apparition of Adamastor, the giant of the Cape of Storms. His prophecy. The King of Melinda confirms, by the tradition of his people, the weird story of the Cape-giant told him by GAMA. Narrative of the voyage continued; arrival of the expedition at the Port of Good Promise; pa.s.s by the ports of Mozambique and Mombas, and arrive at Melinda.

While on the beach the h.o.a.ry father stood, And spoke the murmurs of the mult.i.tude, We spread the canvas to the rising gales, The gentle winds distend the snowy sails.

As from our dear-lov'd native sh.o.r.e we fly Our votive shouts, redoubled, rend the sky; "Success, success!" far echoes o'er the tide, While our broad hulks the foamy waves divide.

From Leo[335] now, the lordly star of day, Intensely blazing, shot his fiercest ray; When, slowly gliding from our wishful eyes, The Lusian mountains mingled with the skies; Tago's lov'd stream, and Cintra's[336] mountains cold Dim fading now, we now no more behold; And, still with yearning hearts our eyes explore, Till one dim speck of land appears no more.

Our native soil now far behind, we ply The lonely dreary waste of seas, and boundless sky Through the wild deep our vent'rous navy bore, Where but our Henry plough'd the wave before;[337]

The verdant islands, first by him descried, We pa.s.s'd; and, now in prospect op'ning wide, Far to the left, increasing on the view, Rose Mauritania's[338] hills of paly blue: Far to the right the restless ocean roar'd, Whose bounding surges never keel explor'd: If bounding sh.o.r.e (as reason deems) divide The vast Atlantic from the Indian tide.[339]

Nam'd from her woods,[340] with fragrant bowers adorn'd, From fair Madeira's purple coast we turn'd:[340]

Cyprus and Paphos' vales the smiling loves Might leave with joy for fair Madeira's groves; A sh.o.r.e so flow'ry, and so sweet an air, Venus might build her dearest temple there.

Onward we pa.s.s Ma.s.silia's barren strand, A waste of wither'd gra.s.s and burning sand; Where his thin herds the meagre native leads, Where not a riv'let laves the doleful meads; Nor herds, nor fruitage deck the woodland maze; O'er the wild waste the stupid ostrich strays, In devious search to pick her scanty meal, Whose fierce digestion gnaws the temper'd steel.

From the green verge, where Tigitania ends, To Ethiopia's line the dreary wild extends.

Now, past the limit, which his course divides,[341]

When to the north the sun's bright chariot rides, We leave the winding bays and swarthy sh.o.r.es, Where Senegal's black wave impetuous roars; A flood, whose course a thousand tribes surveys, The tribes who blacken'd in the fiery blaze When Phaeton, devious from the solar height, Gave Afric's sons the sable hue of night.

And now, from far the Libyan cape is seen, Now by my mandate named the Cape of Green;[342]

Where, midst the billows of the ocean, smiles A flow'ry sister-train, the happy isles,[343]

Our onward prows the murm'ring surges lave; And now, our vessels plough the gentle wave, Where the blue islands, named of Hesper old, Their fruitful bosoms to the deep unfold.

Here, changeful Nature shows her various face, And frolics o'er the slopes with wildest grace: Here, our bold fleet their pond'rous anchors threw, The sickly cherish, and our stores renew.

From him, the warlike guardian pow'r of Spain, Whose spear's dread lightning o'er th' embattled plain Has oft o'erwhelm'd the Moors in dire dismay, And fix'd the fortune of the doubtful day; From him we name our station of repair, And Jago's name that isle shall ever bear.

The northern winds now curl'd the black'ning main, Our sails unfurl'd, we plough the tide again: Round Afric's coast our winding course we steer, Where, bending to the east, the sh.o.r.es appear.

Here Jalofo[344] its wide extent displays, And vast Mandinga shows its num'rous bays; Whose mountains' sides, though parch'd and barren, hold, In copious store, the seeds of beamy gold.[345]

The Gambia here his serpent-journey takes, And, thro' the lawns, a thousand windings makes; A thousand swarthy tribes his current laves Ere mix his waters with th' Atlantic waves.

The Gorgades we pa.s.s'd, that hated sh.o.r.e,[346]

Fam'd for its terrors by the bards of yore; Where but one eye by Phorcus' daughters shar'd, The 'lorn beholders into marble star'd; Three dreadful sisters! down whose temples roll'd Their hair of snakes in many a hissing fold, And, scatt'ring horror o'er the dreary strand, With swarms of vipers sow'd the burning sand.

Still to the south our pointed keels we guide, And, thro' the austral gulf, still onward ride: Her palmy forests mingling with the skies, Leona's[347] rugg'd steep behind us flies; The Cape of Palms[348] that jutting land we name, Already conscious of our nation's[349] fame.

Where the vex'd waves against our bulwarks roar, And Lusian towers o'erlook the bending sh.o.r.e: Our sails wide swelling to the constant blast, Now, by the isle from Thomas nam'd we pa.s.s'd; And Congo's s.p.a.cious realm before us rose, Where copious Layra's limpid billow flows; A flood by ancient hero never seen, Where many a temple o'er the banks of green,[350]

Rear'd by the Lusian heroes, through the night Of pagan darkness, pours the mental light.

O'er the wild waves, as southward thus we stray, Our port unknown, unknown the wat'ry way, Each night we see, impress'd with solemn awe, Our guiding stars, and native skies withdraw, In the wide void we lose their cheering beams, Lower and lower still the pole-star gleams.

Till past the limit, where the car of day Roll'd o'er our heads, and pour'd the downward ray: We now disprove the faith of ancient lore; Bootes shining car appears no more.

For here we saw Calisto's[351] star retire Beneath the waves, unaw'd by Juno's ire.

Here, while the sun his polar journeys takes, His visit doubled, double season makes; Stern winter twice deforms the changeful year, And twice the spring's gay flowers their honours rear.

Now, pressing onward, past the burning zone, Beneath another heaven and stars unknown, Unknown to heroes and to sages old, With southward prows our pathless course we hold: Here, gloomy night a.s.sumes a darker reign, And fewer stars emblaze the heavenly plain; Fewer than those that gild the northern pole, And o'er our seas their glitt'ring chariots roll: While nightly thus, the lonely seas we brave, Another pole-star[352] rises o'er the wave: Full to the south a shining cross[353] appears, Our heaving b.r.e.a.s.t.s the blissful omen cheers: Seven radiant stars compose the hallow'd sign That rose still higher o'er the wavy brine.

Beneath this southern axle of the world Never, with daring search, was flag unfurl'd; Nor pilot knows if bounding sh.o.r.es are plac'd, Or, if one dreary sea o'erflow the lonely waste.

While thus our keels still onward boldly stray'd, Now toss'd by tempests, now by calms delay'd, To tell the terrors of the deep untried, What toils we suffer'd, and what storms defied; What rattling deluges the black clouds pour'd, What dreary weeks of solid darkness lower'd; What mountain-surges mountain-surges lash'd, What sudden hurricanes the canvas dash'd; What bursting lightnings, with incessant flare, Kindled, in one wide flame, the burning air; What roaring thunders bellow'd o'er our head, And seem'd to shake the reeling ocean's bed: To tell each horror on the deep reveal'd, Would ask an iron throat with tenfold vigour steel'd:[354]

Those dreadful wonders of the deep I saw, Which fill the sailor's breast with sacred awe; And which the sages, of their learning vain, Esteem the phantoms of the dreamful brain: That living fire, by seamen held divine,[355]

Of Heaven's own care in storms the holy sign, Which, midst the horrors of the tempest plays, And, on the blast's dark wings will gaily blaze; These eyes distinct have seen that living fire Glide through the storm, and round my sails aspire.

And oft, while wonder thrill'd my breast, mine eyes To heaven have seen the wat'ry columns rise.

Slender, at first, the subtle fume appears, And writhing round and round its volume rears: Thick as a mast the vapour swells its size, A curling whirlwind lifts it to the skies; The tube now straightens, now in width extends, And, in a hov'ring cloud, its summit ends: Still, gulp on gulp in sucks the rising tide, And now the cloud, with c.u.mbrous weight supplied, Full-gorg'd, and black'ning, spreads, and moves, more slow, And waving trembles to the waves below.

Thus, when to shun the summer's sultry beam The thirsty heifer seeks the cooling stream, The eager horse-leech fixing on her lips, Her blood with ardent throat insatiate sips, Till the gorg'd glutton, swell'd beyond her size, Drops from her wounded hold, and bursting, dies.

So, bursts the cloud, o'erloaded with its freight, And the dash'd ocean staggers with the weight.

But say, ye sages, who can weigh the cause, And trace the secret springs of nature's laws, Say, why the wave, of bitter brine erewhile, Should to the bosom of the deep recoil Robb'd of its salt, and, from the cloud distil, Sweet as the waters of the limpid[356] rill?

Ye sons of boastful wisdom, famed of yore, Whose feet unwearied wander'd many a sh.o.r.e, From nature's wonders to withdraw the veil, Had you with me unfurl'd the daring sail, Had view'd the wondrous scenes mine eyes survey'd, What seeming miracles the deep display'd, What secret virtues various nature show'd, Oh! heaven! with what a fire your page had glow'd!

And now, since wand'ring o'er the foamy spray, Our brave Armada held her vent'rous way, Five times the changeful empress of the night Had fill'd her shining horns with silver light, When sudden, from the maintop's airy round, "Land! land!" is echoed. At the joyful sound, Swift to the crowded decks the bounding crew On wings of hope and flutt'ring transport flew, And each strain'd eye with aching sight explores The wide horizon of the eastern sh.o.r.es: As thin blue clouds the mountain summits rise, And now, the lawns salute our joyful eyes; Loud through the fleet the echoing shouts prevail, We drop the anchor, and restrain the sail; And now, descending in a s.p.a.cious bay, Wide o'er the coast the vent'rous soldiers stray, To spy the wonders of the savage sh.o.r.e, Where stranger's foot had never trod before.

I and my pilots, on the yellow sand, Explore beneath what sky the sh.o.r.es expand.

That sage device, whose wondrous use proclaims Th' immortal honour of its authors'[357] names, The sun's height measured, and my compa.s.s scann'd, The painted globe of ocean and of land.

Here we perceiv'd our vent'rous keels had past Unharm'd the southern tropic's howling blast; And now, approach'd dread Neptune's secret reign, Where the stern power, as o'er the austral main He rides, wide scatters from the polar star Hail, ice, and snow, and all the wintry war.

While thus attentive on the beach we stood, My soldiers, hast'ning from the upland wood, Right to the sh.o.r.e a trembling negro brought, Whom, on the forest-height, by force they caught, As, distant wander'd from the cell of home, He suck'd the honey from the porous comb.

Horror glar'd in his look, and fear extreme, In mien more wild than brutal Polypheme: No word of rich Arabia's tongue[358] he knew, No sign could answer, nor our gems would view: From garments strip'd with shining gold he turn'd, The starry diamond and the silver spurn'd.

Straight at my nod are worthless trinkets brought; Round beads of crystal, as a bracelet wrought, A cap of red, and, dangling on a string, Some little bells of bra.s.s before him ring: A wide-mouth'd laugh confess'd his barb'rous joy, And, both his hands he raised to grasp the toy.

Pleas'd with these gifts, we set the savage free, Homeward he springs away, and bounds with glee.

Soon as the gleamy streaks of purple morn The lofty forest's topmost boughs adorn, Down the steep mountain's side, yet h.o.a.r with dew, A naked crowd, and black as night their hue, Come tripping to the sh.o.r.e: Their wishful eyes Declare what tawdry trifles most they prize: These to their hopes were given, and, void of fear (Mild seem'd their manners, and their looks sincere), A bold rash youth, ambitious of the fame Of brave adventurer, Veloso his name, Through pathless brakes their homeward steps attends, And, on his single arm, for help depends.

Long was his stay: my earnest eyes explore, When, rushing down the mountain to the sh.o.r.e I mark'd him; terror urged his rapid strides, And soon Coello's skiff the wave divides.

Yet, ere his friends advanc'd, the treach'rous foe Trod on his latest steps, and aim'd the blow.

Moved by the danger of a youth so brave, Myself now s.n.a.t.c.h'd an oar, and sprung to save: When sudden, black'ning down the mountain's height, Another crowd pursu'd his panting flight; And, soon an arrowy, and a flinty shower Thick o'er our heads the fierce barbarians pour.

Nor pour'd in vain; a feather'd arrow stood Fix'd[359] in my leg, and drank the gushing blood.

Vengeance, as sudden, ev'ry wound repays, Full on their fronts our flashing lightnings blaze; Their shrieks of horror instant pierce the sky, And, wing'd with fear, at fullest speed they fly.

Long tracks of gore their scatter'd flight betray'd, And now, Veloso to the fleet convey'd, His sportful mates his brave exploits demand, And what the curious wonders of the land: "Hard was the hill to climb, my valiant friend, But oh! how smooth and easy to descend!

Well hast thou prov'd thy swiftness for the chase, And shown thy matchless merit in the race!"

With look unmov'd the gallant youth replied, "For you, my friends, my fleetest speed was tried; 'Twas you the fierce barbarians meant to slay; For you I fear'd the fortune of the day; Your danger great without mine aid I knew, And, swift as lightning, to your rescue flew."[360]

He now the treason of the foe relates, How, soon as past the mountain's upland straits, They chang'd the colour of their friendly show, And force forbade his steps to tread below: How, down the coverts of the steepy brake Their lurking stand a treach'rous ambush take; On us, when speeding to defend his flight, To rush, and plunge us in the shades of night; Nor, while in friendship, would their lips unfold Where India's ocean laved the orient sh.o.r.es of gold.

Now, prosp'rous gales the bending canvas swell'd; From these rude sh.o.r.es our fearless course we held: Beneath the glist'ning wave the G.o.d of day Had now five times withdrawn the parting ray, When o'er the prow a sudden darkness spread, And, slowly floating o'er the mast's tall head A black cloud hover'd: nor appear'd from far The moon's pale glimpse, nor faintly twinkling star; So deep a gloom the low'ring vapour cast, Transfix'd with awe the bravest stood aghast.

Meanwhile, a hollow bursting roar resounds, As when hoa.r.s.e surges lash their rocky mounds; Nor had the black'ning wave, nor frowning heav'n The wonted signs of gath'ring tempest giv'n.

Amaz'd we stood. "O thou, our fortune's guide, Avert this omen, mighty G.o.d!" I cried; "Or, through forbidden climes adventurous stray'd, Have we the secrets of the deep survey'd, Which these wide solitudes of seas and sky Were doom'd to hide from man's unhallow'd eye?

Whate'er this prodigy, it threatens more } Than midnight tempests, and the mingled roar, } When sea and sky combine to rock the marble sh.o.r.e." }

I spoke, when rising through the darken'd air, Appall'd, we saw a hideous phantom glare; High and enormous o'er the flood he tower'd, And 'thwart our way with sullen aspect lower'd: An earthy paleness o'er his cheeks was spread, Erect uprose his hairs of wither'd red; Writhing to speak, his sable lips disclose, Sharp and disjoin'd, his gnashing teeth's blue rows; His haggard beard flow'd quiv'ring on the wind, Revenge and horror in his mien combin'd; His clouded front, by with'ring lightnings scar'd, The inward anguish of his soul declar'd.

His red eyes, glowing from their dusky caves, Shot livid fires: far echoing o'er the waves His voice resounded, as the cavern'd sh.o.r.e With hollow groan repeats the tempest's roar.

Cold gliding horrors thrill'd each hero's breast, Our bristling hair and tott'ring knees confess'd Wild dread, the while with visage ghastly wan, His black lips trembling, thus the fiend began:--[361]

"O you, the boldest of the nations, fir'd By daring pride, by l.u.s.t of fame inspir'd, Who, scornful of the bow'rs of sweet repose, Through these my waves advance your fearless prows, Regardless of the length'ning wat'ry way, And all the storms that own my sov'reign sway, Who, mid surrounding rocks and shelves explore Where never hero brav'd my rage before; Ye sons of Lusus, who with eyes profane Have view'd the secrets of my awful reign, Have pa.s.s'd the bounds which jealous Nature drew To veil her secret shrine from mortal view; Hear from my lips what direful woes attend, And, bursting soon, shall o'er your race descend.

"With every bounding keel that dares my rage, Eternal war my rocks and storms shall wage, The next proud fleet[362] that through my drear domain, With daring search shall hoist the streaming vane, That gallant navy, by my whirlwinds toss'd, And raging seas, shall perish on my coast: Then he, who first my secret reign descried, A naked corpse, wide floating o'er the tide, Shall drive---- Unless my heart's full raptures fail, O Lusus! oft shalt thou thy children wail; Each year thy shipwreck'd sons shalt thou deplore, Each year thy sheeted masts shall strew my sh.o.r.e.

"With trophies plum'd behold a hero come,[363]

Ye dreary wilds, prepare his yawning tomb.

Though smiling fortune bless'd his youthful morn, Though glory's rays his laurell'd brows adorn, Full oft though he beheld with sparkling eye The Turkish moons[364] in wild confusion fly, While he, proud victor, thunder'd in the rear, All, all his mighty fame shall vanish here.

Quiloa's sons, and thine, Mombaz, shall see Their conqueror bend his laurell'd head to me; While, proudly mingling with the tempest's sound, Their shouts of joy from every cliff rebound.

"The howling blast, ye slumb'ring storms prepare, A youthful lover, and his beauteous fair, Triumphant sail from India's ravag'd land; His evil angel leads him to my strand.

Through the torn hulk the dashing waves shall roar, The shatter'd wrecks shall blacken all my sh.o.r.e.

Themselves escaped, despoil'd by savage hands, Shall, naked, wander o'er the burning sands, Spar'd by the waves far deeper woes to bear, Woes, e'en by me, acknowledg'd with a tear.

Their infant race, the promis'd heirs of joy, Shall now, no more, a hundred hands employ; By cruel want, beneath the parents' eye, In these wide wastes their infant race shall die; Through dreary wilds, where never pilgrim trod, Where caverns yawn, and rocky fragments nod, The hapless lover and his bride shall stray, By night unshelter'd, and forlorn by day.

In vain the lover o'er the trackless plain Shall dart his eyes, and cheer his spouse in vain.

Her tender limbs, and breast of mountain snow, Where, ne'er before, intruding blast might blow, Parch'd by the sun, and shrivell'd by the cold Of dewy night, shall he, fond man, behold.

Thus, wand'ring wide, a thousand ills o'erpast, In fond embraces they shall sink at last; While pitying tears their dying eyes o'erflow, And the last sigh shall wail each other's woe.[365]

"Some few, the sad companions of their fate, Shall yet survive, protected by my hate, On Tagus' banks the dismal tale to tell, How, blasted by my frown, your heroes fell."