The Lusiad Part 16

Nor less their warriors' loyal faith admir'd.

Nor less his menial train, in wonder lost, Repeat the gallant deeds that please them most, Each to his mate; while, fix'd in fond amaze, The Lusian features every eye surveys; While, present to the view, by fancy brought, Arise the wonders by the Lusians wrought, And each bold feature to their wond'ring sight Displays the raptur'd ardour of the fight.

Apollo now withdrew the cheerful day, And left the western sky to twilight grey; Beneath the wave he sought fair Thetis' bed, And, to the sh.o.r.e Melinda's sov'reign sped.

What boundless joys are thine, O just Renown, Thou hope of Virtue, and her n.o.blest crown!

By thee the seeds of conscious worth are fir'd, Hero by hero, fame by fame inspir'd: Without thine aid how soon the hero dies!

By thee upborne, his name ascends the skies.

This Ammon[396] knew, and own'd his Homer's lyre The n.o.blest glory of Pelides' ire.[397]

This knew Augustus, and from Mantua's shade To courtly ease the Roman bard convey'd;[398]

And soon exulting flow'd the song divine, The n.o.blest glory of the Roman line.

Dear was the Muse to Julius; ever dear To Scipio, though the pond'rous, conquering spear Roughen'd his hand, th' immortal pen he knew, And, to the tented field the gentle Muses drew.

Each glorious chief of Greek or Latian line, Or barb'rous race, adorn'd the Aonian shrine; Each glorious name, e'er to the Muse endear'd.

Or woo'd the Muses, or, the Muse rever'd.

Alas, on Tago's hapless sh.o.r.es alone The Muse is slighted, and her charms unknown; For this, no Virgil here attunes the lyre, No Homer here awakes the hero's fire.

On Tago's sh.o.r.es are Scipios, Caesars born, And Alexanders Lisbon's clime adorn; But, Heaven has stamp'd them in a rougher mould, Nor gave the polish to their genuine gold.

Careless and rude, or to be known or know, In vain, to them, the sweetest numbers flow: Unheard, in vain their native poet sings, And cold neglect weighs down the Muse's wings, Ev'n he whose veins the blood of GAMA warms,[399]

Walks by, unconscious of the Muse's charms: For him no Muse shall leave her golden loom, No palm shall blossom, and no wreath shall bloom: Yet, shall my labours and my cares be paid By fame immortal, and by GAMA'S shade: Him shall the song on ev'ry sh.o.r.e proclaim, The first of heroes, first of naval fame.

Rude, and ungrateful, though my country be, This proud example shall be taught by me-- "Where'er the hero's worth demands the skies, To crown that worth some gen'rous bard shall rise!"

END OF THE FIFTH BOOK.

BOOK VI.

THE ARGUMENT.

Gama's long recital being concluded, the poet resumes the thread of his story in his own person. The Portuguese admiral enters into an alliance with the King of Melinda, a.s.sures him that the vessels of his nation will always in future anchor on his sh.o.r.es. Gama receives from the monarch a faithful pilot to conduct him to India. Bacchus now has recourse to Neptune, at whose palace the divinities of the sea a.s.semble.

The G.o.ds of the sea consent to let loose the winds and waves against the daring navigators. During the night the sailors on the watch relate to each other amusing stories. Veloso urges them to relate some proud feats of war. The history of the contest of the twelve knights of England with the twelve of Portugal is then told. A violent tempest a.s.sails the fleet. Vivid picture of a storm at sea. Gama addresses his prayer to G.o.d; and Venus, with her nymphs so captivates the storm-G.o.ds that a calm ensues. The boy at the mast-head raises a joyful cry of Land! re-echoed by the whole crew. The pilot informs the Portuguese that they are now approaching the kingdom of Calicut. The poet's reflections.

With heart sincere the royal pagan joy'd, And hospitable rites each hour employ'd, For much the king the Lusian band admir'd, And, much their friendship and their aid desir'd; Each hour the gay festivity prolongs, Melindian dances, and Arabian songs; Each hour in mirthful transport steals away, By night the banquet, and the chase by day; And now, the bosom of the deep invites, And all the pride of Neptune's festive rites; Their silken banners waving o'er the tide, A jovial band, the painted galleys ride; The net and angle various hands employ, And Moorish timbrels sound the notes of joy.

Such was the pomp, when Egypt's beauteous[400] queen Bade all the pride of naval show convene, In pleasure's downy bosom, to beguile Her love-sick warrior:[401] o'er the breast of Nile, Dazzling with gold, the purple ensigns flow'd, And to the lute the gilded barges row'd; While from the wave, of many a shining hue, The anglers' lines the panting fishes drew.

Now, from the West the sounding breezes blow, And far the h.o.a.ry flood was yet to plough: The fountain and the field bestow'd their store, And friendly pilots from the friendly sh.o.r.e, Train'd in the Indian deep, were now aboard, When GAMA, parting from Melinda's lord, The holy vows of lasting peace renew'd, For, still the king for lasting friendship sued; That Lusus' heroes in his port supplied, And tasted rest, he own'd his dearest pride, And vow'd, that ever while the seas they roam, The Lusian fleets should find a bounteous home, And, ever from the gen'rous sh.o.r.e receive Whate'er his port, whate'er his land could give.[402]

Nor less his joy the grateful chief declar'd; And now, to seize the valued hours prepar'd.

Full to the wind the swelling sails he gave, And, his red prows divide the foamy wave: Full to the rising sun the pilot steers, And, far from sh.o.r.e through middle ocean bears.

The vaulted sky now widens o'er their heads, Where first the infant morn his radiance sheds.

And now, with transport sparkling in his eyes, Keen to behold the Indian mountains rise, High on the decks each Lusian hero smiles, And, proudly in his thoughts reviews his toils.

When the stern demon, burning with disdain, Beheld the fleet triumphant plough the main: The powers of heav'n, and heav'n's dread lord he knew, Resolv'd in Lisbon glorious to renew The Roman honours--raging with despair From high Olympus' brow he cleaves the air, On earth new hopes of vengeance to devise, And sue that aid denied him in the skies; Blaspheming Heav'n, he pierc'd the dread abode Of ocean's lord, and sought the ocean's G.o.d.

Deep, where the bases of the hills extend, And earth's huge ribs of rock enormous bend, Where, roaring through the caverns, roll the waves Responsive as the aerial tempest raves, The ocean's monarch, by the Nereid train, And wat'ry G.o.ds encircled, holds his reign.

Wide o'er the deep, which line could ne'er explore, Shining with h.o.a.ry sand of silver ore, Extends the level, where the palace rears Its crystal towers, and emulates the spheres; So, starry bright, the lofty turrets blaze, And, vie in l.u.s.tre with the diamond's rays.

Adorn'd with pillars, and with roofs of gold, The golden gates their ma.s.sy leaves unfold: Inwrought with pearl the lordly pillars shine, The sculptur'd walls confess a hand divine.

Here, various colours in confusion lost, Old Chaos' face and troubled image boast.

Here, rising from the ma.s.s, distinct and clear, Apart, the four fair elements appear.

High o'er the rest ascends the blaze of fire, Nor, fed by matter did the rays aspire, But, glow'd aetherial, as the living flame, Which, stol'n from heav'n, inspir'd the vital frame.

Next, all-embracing air was spread around, Thin as the light, incapable of wound; The subtle power the burning south pervades, And penetrates the depth of polar shades.

Here, mother Earth, with mountains crown'd, is seen, Her trees in blossom, and her lawns in green; The lowing beeves adorn the clover vales, The fleecy dams bespread the sloping dales; Here, land from land the silver streams divide; The sportive fishes through the crystal tide, Bedropt with gold their shining sides display: And here, old Ocean rolls his billows gray: Beneath the moon's pale orb his current flows, And, round the earth, his giant arms he throws.

Another scene display'd the dread alarms Of war in heav'n, and mighty Jove in arms; Here, t.i.tan's race their swelling nerves distend Like knotted oaks, and from their bases rend And tower the mountains to the thund'ring sky, While round their heads the forky lightnings fly; Beneath huge Etna vanquish'd Typhon lies,[403]

And vomits smoke and fire against the darken'd skies.

Here, seems the pictur'd wall possess'd of life: Two G.o.ds contending[404] in the n.o.ble strife, The choicest boon to humankind to give, Their toils to lighten, or their wants relieve: While Pallas here appears to wave her hand,[405]

The peaceful olive's silver boughs expand: Here, while the ocean's G.o.d indignant frown'd, And rais'd his trident from the wounded ground, As yet entangled in the earth, appears The warrior horse; his ample chest he rears, His wide red nostrils smoke, his eye-b.a.l.l.s glare, And his fore-hoofs, high pawing, smite the air.

Though wide, and various, o'er the sculptur'd stone[406]

The feats of G.o.ds, and G.o.dlike heroes shone; On speed the vengeful demon views no more: Forward he rushes through the golden door, Where ocean's king, enclos'd with nymphs divine, In regal state receives the king of wine:[407]

"O Neptune!" instant as he came, he cries, "Here let my presence wake no cold surprise.

A friend I come, your friendship to implore Against the Fates unjust, and Fortune's power; Beneath whose shafts the great Celestials bow, Yet ere I more, if more you wish to know, The wat'ry G.o.ds in awful senate call, For all should hear the wrong that touches all."

Neptune alarm'd, with instant speed commands From ev'ry sh.o.r.e to call the wat'ry bands: Triton, who boasts his high Neptunian race, Sprung from the G.o.d by Salace's[408] embrace, Attendant on his sire the trumpet sounds, Or, through the yielding waves, his herald, bounds: Huge is his bulk, deform'd, and dark his hue; His bushy beard, and hairs that never knew The smoothing comb, of seaweed rank and long, } Around his breast and shoulders dangling hung, } And, on the matted locks black mussels clung; } A sh.e.l.l of purple on his head he bore,[409]

Around his loins no tangling garb he wore, But all was cover'd with the slimy brood, The snaily offspring of the unctuous flood; And now, obedient to his dreadful sire, High o'er the wave his brawny arms aspire; To his black mouth his crooked sh.e.l.l applied, The blast rebellows o'er the ocean wide: Wide o'er their sh.o.r.es, where'er their waters flow, The wat'ry powers the awful summons know; And instant, darting to the palace hall, Attend the founder of the Dardan wall;[410]

Old Father Ocean, with his num'rous race Of daughters and of sons, was first in place.

Nereus and Doris, from whose nuptials sprung The lovely Nereid train, for ever young, Who people ev'ry sea on ev'ry strand, Appear'd, attended with their filial band; And changeful Proteus, whose prophetic mind[411]

The secret cause of Bacchus' rage divin'd, Attending, left the flocks, his scaly charge, To graze the bitter, weedy foam at large.

In charms of power the raging waves to tame, The lovely spouse of ocean's sov'reign came.[412]

From Heaven and Vesta sprung the birth divine, Her snowy limbs bright through the vestments shine.

Here, with the dolphin, who persuasive led Her modest steps to Neptune's spousal bed, Fair Amphitrite mov'd, more sweet, more gay Than vernal fragrance, and the flowers of May; Together with her sister-spouse she came, The same their wedded lord, their love the same; The same the brightness of their sparkling eyes, Bright as the sun, and azure as the skies.

She, who, the rage of Athamas to shun,[414]

Plung'd in the billows with her infant son; A G.o.ddess now, a G.o.d the smiling boy, Together sped; and Glaucus lost to joy,[415]

Curs'd in his love by vengeful Circe's hate, Attending, wept his Scylla's hapless fate.

And now, a.s.sembled in the hall divine, The ocean G.o.ds in solemn council join; The G.o.ddesses on pearl embroid'ry sat, The G.o.ds, on sparkling crystal chairs of state, And, proudly honour'd, on the regal throne, Beside the ocean's lord, Thyoneus[416] shone.

High from the roof the living amber glows,[417]

High from the roof the stream of glory flows, And, richer fragrance far around exhales Than that which breathes on fair Arabia's gales.

Attention now, in list'ning silence waits: The power, whose bosom rag'd against the Fates, Rising, casts round his vengeful eyes, while rage Spread o'er his brows the wrinkled seams of age.

"O thou," he cries, "whose birthright sov'reign sway, From pole to pole, the raging waves obey; Of human race 'tis thine to fix the bounds, And fence the nations with thy wat'ry mounds: And thou, dread power, O Father Ocean, hear, Thou, whose wide arms embrace the world's wide sphere, 'Tis thine the haughtiest victor to restrain, And bind each nation in its own domain: And you, ye G.o.ds, to whom the seas are giv'n, Your just part.i.tion with the G.o.ds of heav'n; You who, of old unpunish'd never bore The daring trespa.s.s of a foreign oar; You who beheld, when Earth's dread offspring strove[418]

To scale the vaulted sky, the seat of Jove: Indignant Jove deep to the nether world The rebel band in blazing thunders hurl'd.

Alas! the great monition lost on you, Supine you slumber, while a roving crew, With impious search, explore the wat'ry way, And, unresisted, through your empire stray: To seize the sacred treasures of the main, Their fearless prows your ancient laws disdain: Where, far from mortal sight his h.o.a.ry head Old Ocean hides, their daring sails they spread, And their glad shouts are echo'd where the roar Of mounting billows only howl'd before.

In wonder, silent, ready Boreas[419] sees Your pa.s.sive languor, and neglectful ease; Ready, with force auxiliar, to restrain The bold intruders on your awful reign; Prepar'd to burst his tempests, as of old, When his black whirlwinds o'er the ocean roll'd, And rent the Mynian[420] sails, whose impious pride First brav'd their fury, and your power defied.

Nor deem that, fraudful, I my hope deny; My darken'd glory sped me from the sky.

How high my honours on the Indian sh.o.r.e!

How soon these honours must avail no more!

Unless these rovers, who with doubled shame To stain my conquests, bear my va.s.sal's[421] name, Unless they perish on the billowy way.

Then rouse, ye G.o.ds, and vindicate your sway.

The powers of heaven, in vengeful anguish, see The tyrant of the skies, and Fate's decree; The dread decree, that to the Lusian train Consigns, betrays your empire of the main: Say, shall your wrong alarm the high abodes?

Are men exalted to the rank of G.o.ds?

O'er you exalted, while in careless ease You yield the wrested trident of the seas, Usurp'd your monarchy, your honours stain'd, Your birthright ravish'd, and your waves profan'd!

Alike the daring wrong to me, to you, And, shall my lips in vain your vengeance sue!

This, this to sue from high Olympus bore----"

More he attempts, but rage permits no more.

Fierce, bursting wrath the wat'ry G.o.ds inspires, And, their red eye-b.a.l.l.s burn with livid fires: Heaving and panting struggles evr'y breast, With the fierce billows of hot ire oppress'd.

Twice from his seat divining Proteus rose, And twice he shook, enrag'd, his sedgy brows: In vain; the mandate was already giv'n, From Neptune sent, to loose the winds of heav'n: In vain; though prophecy his lips inspir'd, The ocean's queen his silent lips requir'd.

Nor less the storm of headlong rage denies, Or counsel to debate, or thought to rise.

And now, the G.o.d of Tempests swift unbinds From their dark caves the various rushing winds: High o'er the storm the power impetuous rides, His howling voice the roaring tempest guides; Right to the dauntless fleet their rage he pours, And, first their headlong outrage tears the sh.o.r.es: A deeper night involves the darken'd air, And livid flashes through the mountains glare: Uprooted oaks, with all their leafy pride, Roll thund'ring down the groaning mountain's side; And men and herds in clam'rous uproar run, The rocking towers and crashing woods to shun.

While, thus, the council of the wat'ry state Enrag'd, decreed the Lusian heroes' fate, The weary fleet before the gentle gale With joyful hope display'd the steady sail; Thro' the smooth deep they plough'd the length'ning way; Beneath the wave the purple car of day To sable night the eastern sky resign'd, And, o'er the decks cold breath'd the midnight wind.

All but the watch in warm pavilions slept, The second watch the wonted vigils kept: Supine their limbs, the mast supports the head, And the broad yard-sail o'er their shoulders spread A grateful cover from the chilly gale, And sleep's soft dews their heavy eyes a.s.sail.

Languid against the languid power they strive, And, sweet discourse preserves their thoughts alive.