She learns our future lot by Jove’s good aid: (44–55)
appeareth Mercury to Lusus’ fleet, (56–71)
It makes Melindé, where a potent Chief (72–End)
within his harbour lendeth glad relief.
1
’Twas now the period when the Planet bright,
whose race distinguisheth the hours of day,
did at his longed-for, tardy goal alight,
veiling from human eyne his heav’enly ray;
and of his Ocean-home, deep hid from sight,
the God of Night-tide oped the portal-way;
when the false crafty folk came flocking round
the ships, whose anchors scarce had bit the ground.
2
’Mid them a villain, who had undertane
the task of deadly damage, spake aloud:—
“O val’orous Captain, who hast cut the reign
of Neptune, and his salty plain hast plow’d,
the King who governeth this island, fain
to greet thy coming, is so pleased and proud,
he wisheth nothing save to be thy host,
to see thee, and supply what need ye most.
3
“And, as he burneth, with extreme desire,
so famed a pers’onage to behold and greet,
he prays suspicion may no fear inspire;
but cross the bar-line, thou and all thy Fleet;
And, sith by voyage long men greatly tire,
thy gallant crew by travel-toil is beat,
he bids thee welcome to refit on land
as, cèrtes, Nature must such rest command.
4
“And if thou wendest seeking merchandise
got in the golden womb of the Levant,
Cinnamon, cloves, and biting spiceries,
health-dealing drug, or rare and excellent plant;
or, if thou lust for sparkling stones of price,
the Ruby fine, the rigid Diamant,
hence shall thou bear such full, abundant store,
that e’en thy Fancy shall affect no more.”
5
Unto the Herald straight our Chief replieth,
grateful acknowledging the Royal hest;
and saith, that seeing Sol now seawards hieth
he may not enter as becomes a guest:
But, when returning light shall show where lieth
the way sans danger, with a fearless breast,
the Royal orders he will list fulfil,
a Lord so gracious hath claim higher still.
6
He questions further, an the land contain
christenèd Peoples, as the Pilot sware:
The cunning Herald who ne’er speaks in vain
voucheth that Christian men dwell mostly there.
Thus doth he banish from our Captain’s brain
the cautious fantasies of doubt and fear:
Wherefore the Gama straightways ’gan to place
Faith in that faithless unbeliever-race.23
7
And, as condemnèd felons he had brought,
convìct of mortal crime and shameful deed,
who might in sim’ilar cases danger-fraught
be ventured where the common weal had need;
a twain of wily, well-tried wits he sought,
bade them the Moorman’s craft and trick’eries heed,
go spy the City’s power, and seek to see
whether desirèd Christians there may be.
8
Fair gifts he gave them for the Royal hand,
to quit the goodly will the greeting show’d,
by him held sure and firm and clear and bland,
whereas ’twas cleanly of a cont’rary mode.
Now all the rout perfidious and nefand,
quitting the Squadron o’er the waters row’d:
With gladsome, joyous gestures, all deceit,
The pair of shipmates on the shore they greet.
9
And when in presence of the King convey’d,
the gifts they gave, and message did present,
far less they witness’d, as ’bout town they stray’d,
than what they wanted on their work intent;
the shrewd sagacious Moors pretences made
to veil from sight what they to see were sent;
for where reigns Malice there we ever find
the fear of Malice in a neighbour’s mind.
10
But He,24 for ever fair, for ever young
in form and feature, born of mothers twain
by wondrous birth-rite; and whose wilful tongue
would work the Navigators’ ban and bane—
dwelt in a house the City-folk among,
of form and vestment human; who did feign
to be a Christian priest, and here had raisèd
a sumptuous altar where he prayed and praisèd.
11
There had he limnèd, figuring aright
the Holy Ghost’s high heavenly portraiture;
hover’d a Dove, in snowy plume bedight,
o’er the sole Phoenix, Mary, Virgin pure:
The Saintly Company was shown to sight,
the Dozen, in that sore discomfiture,
as when, taught only by the Tongues that burnt
with lambent fire, man’s varied tongues they learnt.
12
Thither conducted either Comrade went,
where hateful Bacchus stood in lies array’d;
and rose their spirits, while their knees were bent
before the God who sways the worlds He made.
The perfumed incense by Panchaia sent,
fuming its richest scent, o’ th’ altar laid
Thyóne’s Son; and now they view, forsooth,
the god of Lies adore the God of Truth.
13
Here was receiv’ed, for kindly rest at night,
with ev’ery mode of good and trusty greeting,
the twain of Christians, who misween’d the rite,
th’ unholy show of holy counterfeiting.
But soon as Sol returning rained his light
on sombre Earth, and in one instant fleeting
forth from the ruddy-dyed horizon came
the Spouse Tithonian with her front aflame:
14
Return the Moormen bearing from the land
the Royal licence, with the Christian pair,
that disembarkèd by our Chief’s command,
for whom the King feign’ed honest friendship fair:
The Portingall, assured no plot was plan’d,
and seeing scanty fear of scathe or snare
when Christian peoples in the place abode,
to stem the salty river straightway stood.
15
Advisèd him the scouts dispatcht ashore
that holy clerk and altars met their sight;
and how receivèd them the friendly Moor
while Night’s cloud-shadowèd mantle cloaked the light;
Nay, that both Lord and Liege no feeling bore,
save what in kindness took a dear delight,
for, certès, nothing told of doubt or fear,
where proofs of friendship showèd sure and clear.
16
Whereon the noble Gama hied to greet
gladly the Moors that up the bulwarks plied;
for lightly trusteth sprite without deceit;
and gallant souls in goodly show confide.
The crafty people on the Flagship meet,
mooring their light canoes along her side:
Merrily trooped they all, because they wot
the wisht-for prizes have become their lot.
17
The cautious warmen gather on the land
arms and ’munitions; that whene’er th’ Armade
ride at her anchors near the riv’erine strand
the work of boarding may be readier made:
With deepest treachery the traitors plan’d
for those of
