30
“There shall the pow’er of man’ifold enemies—
for only stronger force strong force can tire—
and Winds defaulting and fierce injuries
of Ocean, ’gainst a single life conspire:
Here let all olden men from death arise
to see his Valour, catch his noble fire:
A second Scaeva200 see who, hackt and torn,
laughs at surrender, quarter holds in scorn.
31
“With the fierce torture of a mangled thigh,
torn off by bullet which at random past,
his stalwart arms he ceaseth not to ply,
that fiery Spirit flaming to the last:
Until another ball clean cuts the tie
so frail that linkèd Soul and Body fast;—
the Soul which loosèd from her prison fleets
whither the prize eterne such Conq’ueror greets.
32
“Go, Soul! to Peace from Warfare turbulent
wherein thou meritedst sweet Peace serene!
for those torn tortured limbs, that life so rent
who gave thee life prepareth vengeance keen:
I hear e’en now the furious storm ferment,
threating the terrible eternal teen,
of Chamber, Basilisco, Saker-fire,
to Mameluke cruel and Cambayan dire.
33
“See with stupendous heart the war to wage,
driven by rage and grief the Father flies,
paternal fondness urging battle-gage,
fire in his heart and water in his eyes:
Promise the sire’s distress, the soldier’s rage,
a bloody deluge o’er the knees shall rise
on ev’ry hostile deck: This Nyle shall fear,
Indus shall sight it, and the Gange shall hear.
34
“As when some lusty Bull would train and teach
his limbs for cruel fight, with horns he playeth
on trunk of builder-oak, or mast-like beech,
and wounding empty air his might essayeth:
Thus ere his keels Cambaya’s Gulf can reach
Francisco, fierce with vengeful ardour preyeth
on Dabul,201 op’ulent harbour, whets his brand
and ’bates the tumid bragging of the land:
35
“And soon shall scatter, sailing up the Bight,
of Diu202 enfamed for siege and battle dread,
Calecut’s strong Armada weak of fight,
that trusts to paddles steely mail instead:
She of Melique Yáz, who boasts her might
of balls by thee, O Vulcan! scatterèd,
shall see her Carvels to the frore deep sent
where hidden sleeps the humid element.
36
“While she of Mir Hosem203 which, linkèd fast
with grapples waits th’ Avenger side by side,
shall sight the lopt-off arms and legs float past,
sans owner-bodies, o’er the shifting tide:
Like flamey bolt on Earth by thunder cast
in blinding mist of blood the Braves shall ride:
There naught shall strike the shrinking ear and eye
save fire and steel-flash, shout and slogan-cry.
37
“But, ah! that homeward from such wars victorious,
bound for the Tagus of his Fatherland,
he nigh should forfeit meeds so great and glorious,
by sad black chance I see in Fortune’s hand!
The Cape of Storms that guards his name memorious
shall guard his bones, nor blush shall stain its strand,
that noble spirit from the world to tear,
Egyptian strength ne’er tore nor Indian snare.
38
“There salvage Caffres shall have pow’er to do
what ne’er could do the pow’er of dext’erous foe;
and the rude fire-charred club and staff subdue
whom ne’er subduèd ball nor artful bow.
Forsooth His judgments hide from human view!
Vain fools who vainly judge what none may know,
call a misfortune, term a fate malign,
what is but Providence pure, all-wise, divine.
39
“But, oh! what lustrous Light illumes mine eyes,”204
resumed the Nymph, as rose again her tone,
“there where Melinde’s blood-dyed Ocean lies
from Lamo, Oja, Brava-town, o’erthrown
by hand of Cunha, such a deed ne’er dies,
o’er farthest seas his name shall aye be known
that lave those Austral Islands, and the shore
Saint Lawrence205 hight and ring the wide world o’er.
40
“This Light is glance and glare of lucent arm
wherewith your Albuquerque’s hand shall tame
the Hormuz Parsi’s heart which be his harm,
refusing gentle rule as yoke of shame.
There shall he see of shafts the strident swarm,
in air revolving with recurvèd aim
upon his archer, for our God shall aid,
who holy faith of Mother Church would spread.”
Then waxt the woeful wail a sorer strain,
“Oh, God, what vision in the further days!
That fair young Prince of Gaul’s imperial vein,
so knightly valiant, fain of fame and praise:
I see him fighting, stricken, fallen, slain,
piercèd in front by Caffre assegais:—
Blush, Albion! blush, when Britons dare to flee
and leave such Prince such óbscure doom to dree!”
41
“There the Salt Mountains206 never shall defend
corruption from remains of men that met
War’s doom, and o’er the seas and shores extend
of Gerum Isle,207 Maskat and Calayat:
Till by pure force of arms they learn to bend
the subject neck, and pay the scot of Fate:
Compulsion sore this wicked Reign shall vex
and tithe of pearl that Barem’s oyster decks.
42
“What wreaths of glorious Palms I see them weave
wherewith by Victory’s hand his head is crown’d;
when he sans shade of fear or shame shall reave
illustrious Goa’s Island world-renown’d.
See, forced by Need’s hard law his prize to leave,
he seeks new favouring chance; and, soon as found,
the taken he retakes; such Arm and Art
shall conquer Fortune and the self of Mart.
43
“Lo! he returns and bursts what dares oppose,
thro’ bullet, lance-plump, steel, fire, strongest hold;
breaks with his brand the squadded host of foes,
the serried Moor, the Géntoo manifold.
His inclyt sold’iery more of fury shows
than rampant Bulls, or Lyons hunger-bold,
that Day208 for ever celebrate and digne
of Egypt’s Martyr-maid, Saint Catherine.
44
“Nor shalt thou ’scape the fate to fall his prize,
albeit so wealthy, and so strong thy site
there on Aurora’s bosom, whence thy rise,
thou Home of Opulence, Malacca hight!
The poysoned arrows which thine art supplies
the Kríses209 thirsting, as I see, for fight,
th’ enamoured Malay-men, the Javan braves,
all of the Lusian shall become the slaves.”
45
She had more stanzas sung in Siren-strain,
lauding her Albuquerque’s high renown,
when she recalled the pass’ionate deed, the stain
on his white
