by mother Thetis rockt, a Pyrat dour
who makes his wealth by making others poor.
75
“If then, Oh King! this honest truth of mine
thou take for what it is, one-fold, sincere,
aid us, to our despatch thy heart incline
and gust of glad return to mar forbear.
But an my tale appear some feigned design,
heed thou my pleadings proved so fair and clear,
as seen by Judgment-lights that never fail,
for Truth is strong and Truth shall aye prevail.”
76
Th’ attentive Monarch felt assured content
when thus Da Gama provèd his discourse:
Conceives in him reliance confident,
and the firm trust that lent his language force:
He weighs of every word the full intent
pond’ering the pleading from such trusty source;
and ’gins to hold as men by self deceivèd
those caitiff Cat’uals who had bribes receivèd.
77
Jointly his lucre-lust claims firm effect,
which Lusian contract shall he hopes ensure;
Hope bids him listen, and far more affect
the Captain’s honour than the crafty Moor:
In fine he biddeth Gama hie direct
aboard, and thence from hurt and harm secure
the fittest stuffs for traffick shoreward send
against his spicey stores to truck or vend.
78
The stuffs to send, in fine, he gives command,
which in Gangetick realms the rarest be
if aught of value brought he from the land,
where ends the shore and where begins the sea.
Now from the Royal presence venerand
the Captain seeks the port to make his plea
before the Cat’ual honored with his charge,
for loan of boat as his were all at large.
79
For boat whereby to board his ship he pleadeth:
Yet the bad Regent plotting novel snare
wherein to ’trap the stranger, nought concedeth,
but stay and hindrance straightway doth prepare;
Then, faring from the quay, his Guest he leadeth
far from the royal Palaces; and there,
where kens the Monarch nought of such intent,
would work the mischief which his malice meant.
80
When reached the distant site, he ’gan to say
fitting conveyance should be soon supplied,
or to the dawning of the crastine day
the passage to defer he best decide.
But now perceivèd from prolonged delay
the Gama how the Géntoo was allied
with the deep-plotting Moors’ revengeful brood,
a truth he had not hereto understood.
81
This Cat’ual also gifts and bribes had tane,
tempted like others by the Muslim folk;
eke was he chief who held the guiding rein
of all the cities ’neath the Samo’rim’s yoke:
From him alone the Moormen looked to gain
their base and wicked wills by hook or crook:
He, who in concert vile with them conspires,
despaireth not to glut their ill desires.
82
To him the Gama with much instance prays
for passage shipward, but without avail;
for thus had order given, as he says,
the proud successor of the Perimal.
“What cause of hindrance here, why these delays
to land the stuffs and goods of Portugal?
Subjects perforce obey what Kings command
who dares their dreadful orders countermand?”
83
That bribed Cat’ual lent no heed as due
to the high words; nay more he rackt his thought
to find some subtle fantasy and new,
some deep and devilish scheme, some monstr’ous plot;
or how his brutal steel he might imbrue
in that detested blood he ever sought;
or how the vessels he might blast and burn
that none and nought therein may home return.
84
That none to Fatherland return intendeth,
and nothing less, the Muslims’ fiendish plan;
so ne’er shall ken how far and wide extendeth
Th’ Eöan land our sovran Lusitan.
In fine goes not the Gama whom forfendeth
of those barbarian hordes the ruling man;
lacking whose permit none might leave the beach
as all the boats were borne beyond his reach.
85
To the Chief’s reasons and rough words replieth
that Idol-worshipper, he must command
to bring near shore the Fleet that distant lieth
so mote it easier be to board and land:
“Of foe or thief the tactick it implieth
when in far offing thus the vessels stand,”
quoth he, “for ne’er shall true and trusty friend
from those he loveth danger apprehend.”
86
Shrewd Gama seeth in each wily word
the Cat’ual’s drift, who fain would bring the Fleet
nearer, where dire assault of flame and sword
were ready made for wreaking mortal hate.
His thoughts he scatters better aid t’ afford:
He seeks in Fancy’s realm some cure discreet
some counterplot ’gainst evil plans preparèd;
in fine he fearèd all, for all he carèd.
87
As beam reflected by the burnisht bright
mirror of steel, or glass-plate crystal-clear,
which sometime struck by ray of solar light
in other part re-strikes the dazzling glare;
and waved by wanton hand of curious Spright
about the house to sparkle here and there,
o’er walls and roofs the shimm’ering species plays,
nor rest its trem’ulous, fitful, quiv’ering rays.
88
So did his vaguing judgment fluctuate
when captive Gama’s mem’ory brought to mind
Coelho, lest he peradventure wait
ashore with boats as by command design’d:
With message priv’ily sent he warned his mate
fast for the Fleet his homeward way to find,
lest he fall lightly in the bitter lace
he feared, the fierce fell work of Moorish race.
89
Such should be he who would, by grace of Mart,
follow th’ illustrious and their fame outvie:
His nimble thought must fly to every part,
see through, and ’scape the danger ere ’tis nigh.
His soldier-instinct rare, and subtle art
must read, mark, learn his baffled enemy;
note all in fine; nor shall that Captain’s lot
be praise of mine, who pleads I thought it not!
90
Insists the Malabar his guest remain
pris’oner, till orders bring th’ Armada near;
he constant, firèd with hot high disdain,
hears eve’ry menace with unfrighten’d ear;
rather shall he the weight on self sustain
which vilest malice born of hate and fear
machinates, than to shade of risk expose
his Liege’s navy riding safe from foes.
91
That livelong night in durance vile he lies,
and of next day a part, when he ordains
once more to see the King: But leave denies
the Guard that not a few of men contains.
To
