they bit and bridle, mastering every land
that ’gainst thy Lusians raiseth head or hand.
52
“Thou shalt behold the Fortalice hold out
of Cananor with scanty garnison:
Calecut thou shalt see endure sad rout,
that erst so populous and puissant town;
shalt in Cochin32 see one approv’d so stout,
who such an arr’ogance of the sword hath shown,
no harp of mortal sang a similar story,
digne of e’erlasting name, eternal glory.
53
“Ne’er with such Mars-taught art and furious flame,
was Leucas seen in civil wars to glow,
when to his Actium-fight Augustus came
and laid th’ injurious Roman captain low;
whom, deft Aurora’s reign and race to tame,
far-famèd Nyle and Bactrus’ Scythic foe,
despoilèd, ’spite victorious spoils and rare,
that fair Egyptian not so chaste as fair;33
54
“As thou shalt see when Ocean boileth o’er
with fires enkindled by thy Lusians’ bate,
who captive make the Idol-man and Moor,
and triumph high o’er many a subject state:
Till, won rich Aurea-Chersonésus’-shore
far as far China they shall navigate,
and each remotest isle of Orient tide
and every Ocean in their rule shall bide.
55
“ ’Tis thus, O Daughter mine! thy children’s lot
higher than human vigour to display,
nowhere shall Brav’ery burn and blaze so hot
from Ganges’ bank to Gaditanian bay;
nor from the Boreal billows to the gut
where first an injured Lusian brake the way;34
e’en though their progress o’er the world t’ oppose
the Dead of Ages from their tombs arose.”
56
This said, he sendeth Maia’s son divine
to visit lowly earth, and there to seek
some harbour’s peaceful shelter, with design
that all the Fleet shall ride sans risk of wreck:
And, lest in false Mombasah-land indign
more of delay the valiant Captain make,
’tis Jove’s command that be in vision shone
a restful region free from restless fone.
57
Now th’ airy space the Cyllenéan span’d,
descending earth with feath’ery feet to tread;
his hand was armèd with the fatal Wand,
which sheds on weary eyne sweet drowsihed;
wherewith he called the sad-eyed shadowy band
from Hades, and obedient breezes sped:
The wingèd basnet on his head he bore;
and thus he sought the Melindanian shore.
58
Fame is his mate who mote aloud proclaim
the Lusitanian’s weight and rarest worth;
for mortal breast is won by noble name,
that makes the bearer loved of all on earth.
Thus winning stranger-hearts the Herald came,
and to the mighty bruit gave timely birth:
Anon Desire Melindé burns to see
what mode of men the val’orous People be.
59
Thence to Mombasah takes the God his course,
where the strange vessels rode in fear afar,
to bid the seamen leave, while none the worse,
those lands suspected and that treacherous bar:
For scant availeth human fraud or force
against Infernals waging treach’erous war:
Scant ’vaileth heart and art and judgment staid
when human wisdom lacketh heavenly aid.
60
Already Night had past her middle way,
and all the starry host with th’ alien light
rained on the breadth of Earth their radiance gay;
and now was Sleep tired man’s supreme delight.
Th’ illustrious Captain weary, wayworn, lay,
with careful watching through the cares of night,
a short repose for anxious eyne he snatchèd:
The men on duty at their quarters watchèd.
61
When in a vision Maia’s son was seen
and heard to say: “Fly, Lusitanian! fly
that wicked Monarch’s snares, that only mean
to draw you forwards where ye surely die:
Fly, for breathes fair the breeze and smiles serene
Aether, while stormless sleep the seas and sky;
in other part another King more benign
sure shelter offereth unto thee and thine!
62
“Here nought thou findest but the barb’rous rite
the guest-rite dear to cruel Diomed,
ill-host that made each miserable wight
the wonted forage of his stabled steed:
Those altars which Busiris, infame sprite,
taught with the stranger’s wailing life to bleed,
here certès wait thee an thou longer dwell:
Fly, then, this folk perfidious, fierce, and fell!
63
“Steer straight, along this outstretch’d seaboard run,
another land more leal shalt thou find;
there near the Belt where th’ ever-blazing sun
to Day and Night hath equal space assign’d:35
There to thy Squadron honour gladly done,
a King, with many a friendly service kind,
the surest shelter shall for thee provide,
and for your India skilful trusty guide.”
64
Mercury thus; and rousèd from his dreams
the Captain rising in a stark dismay,
while pierced the palpable Obscure bright streams
of sudden light and splendid holy ray:
Then, seen forthwith that him it best beseems
in land so vile to make the shortest stay,
he bade his Master, urged by spirit new,
to spread the canvas in what breeze there blew.
65
“Hoist sail!” he said, “hoist high in lib’ral air,
for God commands, and Heav’n affects its friends;
from yon clear seats was sent a messengèr
only to speed our steps and shape our ends.”
Meanwhile the sailors to set sail prepare;
all work and either watch its anchor tends;
the weighty irons with willing shouts are weighèd,
and sin’ewy strength, the seaman’s pride, displayèd.
66
Now at what time their anchors high uprose,
lurking in Night’s murk shadow rose the Moor,
stealthy to cut the cables of his foes,
that all might perish on the rocky shore:
But watched with lynx-like glances, clear and close,
the Portingalls prepared for ev’ry stowre:
Finding his victims wakeful th’ enemy fled
by wings of terror, not by paddle, sped.
67
But now the narrow sharp-cut Prores renew,
cleaving the humid argent plain, their road;
blandly the north and eastern Trade-wind blew
with gentle movement, as in joyous mood:
Past perils in their talk review’d the Crew,
for with a fond delay Thought loves to brood
on dang’rous chances, when to death-in-life
Life comes so near she scarcely ’scapes the strife.
68
One circle ended Phoebus all aglow,
and on a second entered, when appearèd
in the far offing, sailing sure and slow,
two hulls by gently-breathing Zephyrs steerèd:
And, as they must be manned by Moorish foe
our Squadron veering soon her prizes nearèd:
This one that fearèd fearful ills to brave
ran straight ashore her crew thereon
