these Portingalls shall claim in ev’ery clime
where India rears her war-ennobled race:
Shall only I, the son of sire sublime,
I, whom such gen’erous gifts and guerdons grace,
suffer that favouring Fate success assure
to men whose labours shall my name obscure?
75
“Erst willed the Gods,19 who willed away the right
to Philip’s son, that o’er this Orient part
he hold such power, and display such might
which bound the world ’neath yoke of angry Mart:
But shall I tamely suffer Fate’s despight,
who lends these weaklings pow’er of arm and art,
Macedon’s hero, Roman brave and I
before the Lusian name be doomed to fly?
76
“This must not, shall not be! ere he arrive
this froward Captain at his fancied goal,
such cunning machinations I’ll contrive
never shall Orient parts his sight console:
And now to Earth! where I will keep alive
the fire of fury in the Moorish soul;
for him shall Fortune with success indue,
who on Occasion keepeth fixèd view.”
77
He spoke infuriate, nay, well-nigh insane,
and straight he ’lighted on the Negro shore;
where, mortal gest and human vesture tane,
he made for Prasum Headland famed of yore:
Better to weave his web of wily bane,
he changed his nat’ural shape until it wore
a Moorman’s likeness, known in Mozambíque,
a crafty greybeard, favoured of the Shaykh.
78
And, entering him to rede at hour and time
most fitting deemèd for designèd wile,
a tale of pyracy he told and crime,
wrought by the strangers harbour’d in his isle:
How all the res’ident nations maritime
bruited reports of battle, death, and spoil,
at ev’ery haven, where the for’eigner past
who with false pacts of peace his anchors cast.
79
“And, know thou further” (quoth the Moor) “ ’tis said,
anent these Christian knaves sanguinolent,
that, so to speak, they garred the waves run red
scathing with fire and steel where’er they went:
Far-framèd plottings, certès, have been laid
against ourselves, for ’tis their whole intent
our homes to rifle, to destroy our lives,
enchain our children and enslave our wives.
80
“I also learnèd how determined be
forthwith for wat’ering to’ward the land to steer,
this Captain, with a doughty company;
for evil purpose ever ’getteth fear.
Go, too, and take thy men-at-arms with thee,
waiting him silent in well-ambusht rear;
so shall his People, landing unawares
fall ready victims to thy ruse and snares.
81
“And, even should they by this not’able feat
fail to be scatter’d, shatter’d, wholly slain,
I have imaginèd a rare conceit
of marv’ellous cunning which thy heart shall gain:
A pilot bid be brought of wily wit
nor less astute to lay the skilful train,
who shall the stranger lead where bane and bale,
loss, death, destruction wait on every sail.”
82
These words of wisdom hardly had he stay’d,
when the Moor-chieftain, old in fraud and wise,
fell on his bosom and full glad obey’d,
such counsel finding favour in his eyes:
Then instant faring forth he ready made
for the base warfare bellicose supplies;
so might the Lusians see, when gained the shore,
the wisht-for waters turned to crimson gore.
83
And, eke, he seeketh, such deceit to speed,
a Muslim Loadsman who the prows shall guide,
shrewd, subtle villain, prompt to wicked deed,
whereon for dangerous feat he most relied:
Him he commands the Lusitan to lead,
and with him hug such coasts and stem such tide,
that e’en escaping present dangers all
he further wend, and whence none rise shall fall.
84
Already lit Apollo’s morning ray
the Nabathaean mounts with rosy light,
when dight was Gama and his stout array
by sea for wat’ering on the land t’ alight:
Their boats the soldiers armed for fight and fray
as though they scented tricks of Muslim spite:
Here was suspicion easy, for the wise
bear a presaging heart that never lies.
85
Further, the messenger who went ashore
to claim the promise of the needful guide,
heard tone of battle when replied the Moor,
though none had deemèd he had thus replied.
Wherefore, and recking ’right how sore their stowre
who in perfidious enemy confide,
he fared forearm’d, forewarn’d, and risking nought,
in his three launches—all the boats he brought.
86
But now the Moormen, stalking o’er the strand
to guard the wat’ery stores the strangers need;
this, targe on arm and assegai in hand,
that, with his bended bow, and venom’d reed,
wait till the warlike People leap to land:
Far stronger forces are in ambush hid;
and, that the venture may the lighter seem
a few decoys patrol about the stream.
87
Along the snow-white sandy marge advance
the bellic Moors who beck their coming foes;
they shake the shield and poise the per’ilous lance,
daring the warrior Portughuese to close.
The gen’erous People with impatient glance
the bandogs eye who dare their fangs expose:
They spring ashore so deftly no man durst
say who the soldier that touch’ed land the first.
88
As in the gory ring some gallant gay,
on his fair ladye-love with firm-fixt eyes,
seeketh the furious bull and bars the way,
bounds, runs, and whistles; becks and shouts and cries:
The cruel monster sans a thought’s delay,
low’ering its hornèd front, in fury flies
with eyne fast closed; and, roaring horrid sound,
throws, gores, and leaves him lifeless on the ground:
89
Lo! from the launches sudden flash the lights
of fierce artill’ery with infuriate blare;
the leaden bullet kills, the thunder frights,
and hissing echoes cleave the shrinking air:
Now break the Moormen’s hearts and haughty sprites,
whose blood cold curdleth with a ghastly fear:
The skulking coward flies his life to save,
and dies to Death exposed the daring brave.
90
Withal the Portingalls are not content;
fierce Vict’ory urging on, they smite and slay:
The wall-less, undefended settlement
they shell and burn and make an easy prey.
The Moors their raid and razzia sore repent,
who lookt for vict’ory won in cheaper way:
Now they blaspheme the battle, cursing wild
th’ old meddling fool, and her that bare such child.
91
Still, in his flight, the Moorman draweth bow,
but forceless, frighted, flurried by alarms,
showers of ashlar, sticks, and stones they throw;
their madding fury
