94
Vasco da Gama striveth hard to prove
that these old travels in world-song resounding
merit not glory nor men’s hearts may move
like his sore travails Heav’en and Earth astounding.
Yes! but that Hero, whose esteem and love
crownèd with praise, prize, honours, gifts abounding
the Lyre of Mantua, taught her Bard to chaunt
Aeneas’ name, and Rome’s high glories vaunt.
95
Scipios and Caesars giveth Lusia-land,
gives Alexanders and Augusti gives;
but she withal may not the gifts command
whose want rears rough and ready working-lives:
Octavius, prest by Fortune’s heaviest hand,
with compt and learned verse her wrong survives.
Nor, certès, Fulvia shall this truth deny,
Gláphyra’s133 wit entrapt her Anthony.
96
Goes Caesar subjugating gen’eral France,
yet worked his arms to Science no offence;
this hand the Pen compelling, that the Lance
he vied with Cicero’s gift of eloquence:
What most doth Scipio’s name and fame enhance
is of the Com’edy deep experience:
What Homer wrote that Alexander read,
we know, whose roll ne’er left his couch’s head.
97
In fine, the nations own no Lord of Men
that lackt a cultured learnèd fantasy,
of Grecian, Latian, or barbarian strain;
only the Lusian lacking it we see.
Not without shame I say so, but ’twere vain
to hope for high triumphant Poesy
till men our Rhymes, our Songs shall lay to heart;
for minds Art-ign’orant aye look down on Art.
98
For this, and not for Nature’s fault, be sure
Virgil nor Homer rise to strike the lyre;
nor shall rise ever, an this mode endure,
pious Aeneas or Achilles dire.
But—worst of all—it maketh man so dour,
austere, rough, frigid to poetic fire;
so rude, so heedless to be known or know,
few heed the want and many will it so.
99
Let grateful Gama to my Muse give grace,
for the great patriot-love that gars her sound
the Lyre for all her Sons, and aye retrace
the name and fame of ways and wars renown’d:
Nor he, nor they who call themselves his race
e’er in Calliope a friend so found,
or from the Tagus-maidens boon could claim,
to leave their golden webs and hymn his name.
100
Because fraternal love and friendly will
that deals to every Lusian Brave his meed
of laud, this thought, these resolutions fill
my gentle Tagides; and this their creed.
Yet ne’er let human bosom cease to thrill
with Hope to dare and do some mighty deed,
since or by these or, haply, other ways,
he ne’er shall forfeit prizes, value, praise.
Canto VI
Vasco Da Gama departeth from Melinde; and, while he voyageth prosperously, Bacchus descendeth to the sea: Description of Neptune’s Palace: The same (Bacchus) convoketh the Sea-gods and persuadeth them to destroy the Navigators: Meanwhile Velloso entertaineth his mates with the tale of the “Twelve of England”: An horrible storm ariseth: It is calmed by Venus and her Nymphs: At length they arrive in calm weather at Calecut, the last and longed-for bourne of this navigation.
Illustrious Gama from Melindé saileth, (1–5)
With native Pilots and fresh nutriment;
Descends Lyaeus seaward; Neptune haileth (6–37)
The Gods who rule the humid element:
Velloso, giving praise and honour, telleth (38–69)
Of th’ “English Twelve” the Tale of Tournament:
Succoureth Venus her long suff’ering Fleet (70–91)
And thus the wisht-for strand of Inde they greet. (92–end)
1
Scant could devise how best to entertain
the pagan King our Voyagers renown’d,
firm friendship of the Christian King to gain
and folk so puissant proved, so faithful found:
Grieveth him greatly, that his rule and reign
be placed so distant from Europa’s bound
by lot, nor let him neighbour that abode
where opened Hercules the broad sea-road.
2
With games and dances, gentle, honest play
e’en as accorded with Melindan style,
and fishing frolicks, like the Lageian gay134
delighted Anthony with gladde’ning guile,
rejoiced that famous Sovran every day,
the Lusitanian host to feast and fill
with banquets rich, rare meats and unknown dishes
of fruit and flesh, of birds, and beasts, and fishes.
3
But when the Captain saw him still detainèd
far more than seemèd meet, while the fresh breeze
to sail inviteth; and he had obtainèd
the Negro Pilots and the new supplies;
no longer list he tarry; for remainèd
long paths to plow through salt and silvern seas;
To the good Pagan bids he warm adieu,
who prays their friendship may be long and true.
4
He prayeth, eke, that Hythe shall ever be
the place where all the Fleets may rest and bait;
for nothing better now desireth he,
than for such Barons to quit reign and state:
Eke, that ere light of Life his body flee
he will on opportunity await
his days to peril and his crown to waive,
for King so kingly and for Braves so brave.
5
Response in sim’ilar speech to such discourse
the Captain gave, and loosing canvas sailèd,
straight for Auroran regions shaping course,
where his long seeking still so scant availèd.
No more his Guide and Pilot had recourse
to fraud and falsehood, nay, he never failèd
in his sure seamanship; so sped they o’er
securer seas than those they sail’d before.
6
They fought the restless floods that front the Morn
now ent’ering Indic Ocean, and descried
Sol’s chambers, where the burning God is born;
and ev’ery wish was well-nigh satisfied.
But now that ill Thyoneus’ soul of scorn,
mourning the mighty meeds of power and pride
that Lusian valour wendeth dight to win,
burns and blasphemes with madding rage insane.
7
He saw the potent hosts of Heav’en prepare
in Lisbon town a novel Rome t’ instal:
Nor aught can alter; such high fortunes are
ruled by the dreadful Pow’er that ruleth all.
In fine he flies Olympus in despair,
to find on earth new mode remedial:
He thrids the humid Reign and seeks his court
who gained the Gov’ernance of the Seas by sort.
8
Deep in the lowest depths of the profound
and lofty Caves, where surges slumb’ering lie;
there, whence the billows sally furibund
when to fierce winds the fiercer waves reply
bides Neptune, and abide their Lord around
Ner’eids, and many a sea-born Deity,
where fit
