66
“Reserved, meseemeth, Heav’en’s clear-sighting will
for Man’oel, worthy of such goodly meed,
this arduous task, and stirred him onward still
to stirring action and illustrious deed:
Man’oel, who rose the throne of John to fill,
and to his high resolves did eke succeed,
forthwith when taken of his realm the charge,
took up the conquest of the Ocean large:
67
“The same, as one obliged by a noble Thought,
the debt of Honour left as ’heritance
by predecessors, (who in life aye fought
their own dear land’s best interests to advance)
ne’er for a moment failèd of his fraught—
Obligement;—at what hour Day’s radiance
pales, and the nitid Stars on high that rise,
with falling courses woo man’s sleep-worn eyes;
68
“Already being on bed of gold recline’d
where Fancy worketh with prophetick strain;
revolving matters in his restless mind,
the bounden duties of his race and reign;
Sleep, soft restorer, comes his eyne to bind,
while thought and mem’ory both unbound remain;
for, as his weary lids sweet slumber sealeth,
Morpheus in varied forms himself revealeth.
69
“Here seems the King so high to soar away,
that touched his head the nearest primal Sphere,103
where worlds of vision ’neath his glances lay,
nations of vasty numbers, strange and fere:
and there right near the birthplace of the Day,
unto his outstretched eyne began appear,
from distant, olden, cloud-compelling mountains
flowing, a twain of high, deep, limpid fountains.
70
“Birds of the feral kind, and kine, and flocks,
’bode in the shadows of the shaggy wood:
A thousand herbs and trees with gnarled stocks,
barring the paths of passing mortals stood.
Adverse had ever been those mountain-rocks
to human intercourse, and clearly show’d,
never since Adam sinned against our days,
brake foot of man this breadth of bosky maze.
71
“From out the Fountains seemed he to behold
for him inclining, with long hasty stride,
two Men, who showèd old and very old,
of aspect rustick yet with lordly pride:
Adown their twistèd pointed locks slow roll’d
gouts which their bodies bathed on ev’ery side;
the skin of earthy texture, dark and dull;
the beard hirsute, unshorn, but long and full.
72
“These hoary Fathers round their foreheads bore
tree-boughs, with unknown shrub and herb entwine’d;
and one a worn and wearied aspect wore,
as though from regions lying far behind:
And thus his waters which did slower pour
seemèd adown the further side to wind:
E’en thus Alpheus from Arcádia fled
to Syracuse and Arethusa’s bed.
73
“This, who with graver gait and gesture came,
thus from a distance to the Monarch crieth:
‘O thou! whose sceptre and whose crown shall claim,
of Earth a mighty part that guarded lieth;
we twain, who fly through mouths of men by Fame,
we, whose untamèd neck man’s yoke defieth,
warn thee, O King! ’tis time to send commands,
and raise large tribute from our natal lands.
74
“ ‘Illustrious Gange am I, whose farthest fount
in realms celestial, heav’enly heights, I trace:
And yon stands Indus, King, who on the mount
which thou regardest, hath of birth his place.
Thou shalt hard warfare wage on our account;
but, still insisting ev’ery fear to face,
with ne’er seen conquests, and sans soil or stain,
the tribes thou viewest thou shalt curb and rein.’
75
“No more that holy noble River said;
both in a moment fade and disappear:
Awaketh Manoel in novel dread,
and big o’erchargèd thoughts ybred of fear.
Meanwhile his glitt’ering mantle Phoebus spread
upon the sombre somn’olent hemisphere;
Dawn comes and o’er the gloomy welkin showers
blushings of modest rose, and fiery flowers.
76
“The King in counsel calls his lords to meet,
and of the vision’d figures news imparts;
the holy Elder’s words he doth repeat,
which with a mighty marvel heaves their hearts.
All straight resolve t’ equip a sturdy fleet,
that men, well skilled in navigator-arts,
should cut the stubborn Main and forth should fare
in search of novel climes and novel air.
77
“I, who right little deemed, forsooth, to find
myself attaining hopes my Sprite desirèd;
yet mighty matters of such cunning kind
my heart presaging promised and inspirèd;
e’en now ken not, or how or why design’d,
or for what happy chance in me admirèd,
that famous Monarch chose me, gave to me
of this grave, gracious enterprise the key.
78
“And with fair offer coucht in courteous phrase—
lordly command obliging more than laws—
he said: ‘In exploits dure and daring ways
who woo most perils win the most applause:
Riskt life enfameth man with highest praise
or lost in Honour’s, not in honours’, cause;
And, when to blighting Fear it never bends,
short it may be, yet more its length extends.
79
“ ‘Thee from a chosen host have chosen I
the dangers claimed by thee to undergo:
’Tis heavy travail, hard, heroick, high;
which love of me shall lighten, well I trow.’
I could not suffer more:—‘Great King!’ I cry,
‘to face the steel-clad host, sword, lance, fire, snow,
for thee were thing so slight, my sole annoy
is to see trivial life so vain a toy.
80
“ ‘Imagine ev’ery wildest aventure,
such as Eurystheus for Alcídes plan’d:
Cleone’s Lyon, Harpies foul and dour,
and Boar of Erymanth and Hydra ban’d;
in fine to seek those empty shades obscure
where Styx surrounds of Dis the dire Dead-land;
the greatest danger and the deadliest brunt,
for thee, O King! this soul, this flesh would front.’
81
“His thanks and costly gifts on me bestows
the King, whose reason lauds my ready will;
for Valour fed on praises lives and grows,
Praise is the noble Spirit’s spur and spell.
At once to share my fortunes doth propose,
whom friendship and fraternal love compel,
nor less resolved to win him name and fame, a
dear trusty brother namèd Paul da Gama.
82
“Eke Nicholas Coelho volunteers,
trainèd to toilsome tasks and sufferings long;
both are in valour and in counsel peers,
in arms experienced, and in battle strong.
Now choicest hands in Youthtide’s gen’erous years,
lusting for Bravery’s meed around me throng;
doughty, high-mettled, as doth best become
advent’urous manhood that would tempt such doom.
83
“All these by Man’oel’s hand remun’erate were,
that Love
