ships great as ours, they say, scud to and fro
piercing the waters with the beak that rendeth:
But there where Phoebus leaps in air, they go
whither the broad’ening coast to south extendeth,
then from south sunwards;130 and a Land is there
of folk like us and like the daylight fair.
78
“Here was each bosom with rare gladness cheerèd
by the good people, and their news much more:
From all the signals in this stream appearèd,
‘Stream of Good Signals’ christened we the shore:
A marble column on this coast we rearèd
whereof, to mark such spots, a few we bore;
its name that lovely Angel-youth supplied131
who did Thobias to Gabáël guide.
79
“Of shells and oysters, and the weedy load,
the noisome offspring of the Main profound,
we cleansed our kelsons which the long sea-road
brought to careening cloggèd and immund:
Our blameless Aethiops, who not far abode,
with pleasing jocund proffers flockt around
supplying maintenance we mainly sought,
pure of all leasing, free from feigning thought.
80
“Yet from our esp’erance great, our hopes immense
bred by this seaboard, was not pure and true
the joy we joyed; nay, cruel recompense
dealt us Rhamnúsia, sorrows strange and new.
Thus smiling Heav’en mixt favours doth dispense;
in such condition dark and dure man drew
the breath of Life; and, while all Ills endure,
Good changeth often, Good is never sure.
81
“And ’twas that sickness of a sore disgust,132
the worst I ever witness’d, came and stole
the lives of many; and far alien dust
buried for aye their bones in saddest dole.
Who but eye-witness e’er my words could trust?
of such disform and dreadful manner swole
the mouth and gums, that grew proud flesh in foyson
till gangrene seemèd all the blood to poyson:
82
“Gangrene that carried foul and fulsome taint,
spreading infection through the neighb’ouring air:
No cunning Leach aboard our navy went,
much less a subtle Chirurgeon was there;
but some whose knowledge of the craft was faint
strove as they could the poisoned part to pare,
as though ’twere dead; and here they did aright;—
all were Death’s victims who had caught the blight.
83
“At last in tangled brake and unknown ground,
our true companions lost for aye, we leave,
who ’mid such weary ways, such dreary round,
such dread adventures aidance ever gave.
How easy for man’s bones a grave is found!
Earth’s any wrinkle, Ocean’s any wave.
whereso the long home be, abroad, at home,
for ev’ery Hero’s corse may lend a tomb.
84
“When from that Haven we resumed our way
while brighter hopes with darker hearts combine’d,
we opèd Ocean where the down coast lay,
expecting surer signal e’er to find:
At last we rode in rude Mozámbic Bay,
of whose vile leasing, and whose villain kind
thou must have knowledge; and the foul deceit
wherewith Mombásah would her guests defeat.
85
“Until safe anchored in thy harbour, rife
with all the gracious guest-rites that bestow
health on the living, on the dying life,
God in His pity pleased the way to show:
Here rest, here sweet repose from grief, toil, strife,
new Peace appeasing ev’ry want and woe
thou gavest us: Now, if hast heard me well
told is the tale thou badest me to tell.
86
“Judge then, O King! an over Earth e’er went
men who would ’tempt such paths of risk and dread?
Dost deem Aeneas, or e’en eloquent
Ulysses, fared so far this Earth to tread?
Did any dare to see the Sea’s extent
howe’er the Muse their Gestes hath sung or said,
as I by force of will and skill have seen
and still shall see; or e’en the eighth, I ween?
87
“This, who so deeply drank of Fount Aonian,
o’er whom contend in conquest peregrine
Rhodes, Ios, Smyrna, with the Colophonian
Athens and Argos and the Salamine:
And that, the lustre of the land Ausonian,
whose voice altis’onous and whose lyre divine
his native Mincius hearing, sinks to sleep,
while Tyber’s waves with pride and pleasure leap:
88
“Sing, laud and write they both in wild extremes
of these their Demigods, and prowess vaunt
on fabled Magians, Circes, Polyphemes,
and Sirens lulling with the sleepy chaunt:
Send them to plow with oar and sail the streams
of Cicons; on th’ oblivious lands descant
where slumb’erous Lotus-eaters dazed and died;
e’en be their Pilot whelmed in Ocean-tide:
89
“Storms let them loosen from the Bags of Wind,
create Calypsos captivate by love;
make Harpies’ touch contam’inate all they find,
and in sad Hades make their Heroes rove;
however much, o’er much, they have refine’d
such fabled tales, which Poet’s fancy prove,
the simple naked truth my story telleth
all their grandiloquence of writ excelleth.”
90
Fast on our Captain’s facund lips depends
as drunk with wonder, all that soul-wrapt crowd;
until at length his travel-story ends;
his tale that told of noble deeds and proud.
The high-conceiv’ed intent the King commends
of Kings to not’able feats of warfare vow’d:
Their Lieges’ old and val’orous strain extols,
their loyal spirits and their noble souls.
91
Th’ admiring audience to recount are fain
each case, as each one best could understand:
None from the hardy Folk could turn their eyne
who by such long-drawn ways the waves had span’d.
Now, as the Delian youth turns round the rein
Lampetia’s brother held with feeble hand,
and in the Thetian arms way-weary falls;
the King hies sea-borne to his royal halls.
92
How pleasant sound the praise and well-won glory
of man’s own exploits as man hears them chime!
for noble travail, actions digne of story,
that dim or equal those of passèd Time.
Envy of famous feats untransitory
hath ’gendered thousand thousand deeds sublime:
The Brave who loves to tread in Valour’s ways
pants for the pleasure of his fellows’ praise.
93
Achilles’ glorious feats could not so ’flame,
nor Alexander’s soul to fight inspirèd,
as he who sang in numbered verse his name;
such praise, such honour most his soul desirèd.
Nought but the trophies of Miltiades’ fame
could rouse Themistocles with envy firèd;
who owned his highest joy, his best delight,
came from the voices
