sonorous thunders rollèd by the tide.
To th’ Angel-choirs with hands upraisèd, I—
invisible Controls so long our guide—
prayed God in pity would those Ills withhold,
by Adamástor for our Race foretold.
61
“Now Pyroeis and Phlegon ’gan appear
with th’ other pair that hale the radiant wain,
when the tall heights of Table Mount we spere,
which from the mighty Giant form hath tane:
Standing along now easting shores we steer,
and cleave the waters of the Lévant main,
the coast-line hugging with a northing Prow,
and sight a second landfall o’er the bow.125
62
“The native owners of this other land,
the burnisht livery of Aethiops wore,
yet was their bearing more humane and bland,
than those who so mistreated us before.
With dance and joyous feasts, a merry band
approacht us tripping on the sandy shore,
bringing their Women and fat herds that grace
the pastures, gentle kine of high-bred race.
63
“The bronzèd Women, scorcht by burning clime,
astraddle rode the slow-paced gentle Steer,
beasts which their owners hold of beeves the prime,
better than any of the herds they rear:
Pastoral canticles, or prose, or rhyme,
concerted in their mother-tongue we hear;
and to the rustick reed sweet tunes they teach,
as Tit’yrus chaunted ’neath his spreading beech.
64
“These, who seemed glad to see the guest abide
amid them, greeted us with friendly mood,
and many a fatted fowl and sheep supplied,
their goods exchanging for the things deemed good:
But though my comrades tried, they vainly tried,
for not a word in fine was understood
that of our search a signal might convey:—
Anchor I weighèd, and I sailed away.
65
“Now here in mighty gyre our flight had flown
round Blackmoor Africk shore; and now regainèd
our Prores the torrid heat of Middle Zone,
while Pole Antarctick far in rear remainèd:
We left astern an Islet126 first made known
by the first Squadron whose long toils attainèd
the Cape of Tempests; and, that Islet found,
ended her voyage at its bourne and bound.
66
“Thence drave we, cutting for a length of days—
where storms and sadd’ening calms alternate range—
undreamèd Oceans and unpathèd ways,
our sole conductor Hope in toils so strange:
Long time we struggled with the sea’s wild maze,
till, as its general Law is changeless Change,
we met a current127 with such speed that sped,
against the flow ’twas hard to forge ahead.
67
“Of this prevailing flood the puissant force,
which to the southward our Armada hove,
such set opposèd to our northing course,
the winds to waft us onwards vainly strove:
Till Notus fashed to find us fare the worse,
(it seems) in struggle with the drift that drove,
enforced his blasts, and with such choler blew
maugre the mighty current on we drew.
68
“Reducèd Sol that famed and sacred Day,
wherein three Kings in Orient region crown’d,
a King came seeking who belittled lay,
a King in whom three Kings in One are bound:
That morn to other hythe we made our way
finding the peoples that before we found,
by a broad River, and we gave it name
from the high hol’iday when to port we came.128
69
“Sweet food we barter’d from their scanty store,
sweet water from their stream; but natheless here
gained we no tidings of that Indian shore,
from men to us that almost dumblings were.
See now, O King! what distant regions o’er
of Earth we wandered, peoples rude and fere,
nor news nor signal had our labours earnèd
of the fair East for which our spirits yearnèd.
70
“Imagine, prithee, what a piteous state
must have been ours when all save life was gone,
by hunger broken and the storm’s wild hate,
and curst by novel climes and seas unknown:
Our hearts despaired of Hope deferred so late,
till dull Despair had marked us for her own;
toiling beneath those strange unnat’ural skies—
our northern nature’s fellest enemies.
71
“And now decayed and damaged waxt our food,
sore damaging the wasted frame of man,
without one comfort, sans one gleam of good,
not e’en Hope’s flatt’ering tale nor Fancy vain:
Dost think that Sailor of the sturdiest mood,
or any Soldier save the Lusitan,
perchance, had loyalty so long preservèd
both for his King and for the Chief he servèd?
72
“Dost think, the wretches had not mutinied
against the Head who with their mood had striven,
parforce becoming Pyrats, turned aside
from duty, by despair, want, hunger driven?
In very sooth these men were sorely tried,
since from their hearts ne moil ne toil hath driven
Portingall-excellence, abounding still
in leal valour and obedient will.
73
“Leaving in fine that Port of fair sweet flood,
and, dight once more to cut the salty spray;
off from the coast-line for a spell we stood,
till deep blue water ’neath our kelsons lay;
for frigid Notus, in his fainty mood,
was fain to drive us leewards to the Bay
made in that quarter by the crookèd shore,
whence rich Sofála sendeth golden ore.
74
“This Sea-bight passing far, the nimble helm,
by men to saintly Nicholas assignèd,
where roaring Ocean raves on Terra’s realm,
this and that vessel’s prore eftsoons inclinèd:
And now from hearts which hopes and fears o’erwhelm,
hearts in such faith t’ a fragile plank resignèd,
as hope grew hopeless, esperance despair,
good sudden tidings banisht cark and care.
75
“And thus it happed, as near the shore we went
where beach and valley lay in clearest view,
a stream whose course in ocean there was spent,129
showèd of sails that came and went a few.
Good sooth, to greatest joyaunce all gave vent,
when first we sighted mariners who knew
mariner-practice; for we here were bound
to find some tidings which, indeed, we found.
76
“All Aethiopians are, yet ’twould appear,
they held communion with men better bred:
Some words of Arab parlance here we hear
imported sounds their mother-speech amid:
A flimsy wrapper of tree-wool they wear
a-twisted tight about each kinky head;
while other pieces dipt in azure tinct,
are round their middles and their shame precinct.
77
“In Arab language, which they little know,
but
