Luis de Camoes Collected Poetical Works

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by Luis de Camoes


  thus in soliloquy the God communed: —

  “Fate hath determined in olden time, 74

  that conquests, fit the self of Fame t’ outface,

  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?

  “Erst willed the Gods, who willed away the right 75

  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?

  “This must not, shall not be! ere he arrive 76

  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 fixed view.”

  He spoke infuriate, nay, well-nigh insane, 77

  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 Mozambique,

  a crafty greybeard, favoured of the Shaykh.

  And, entering him to rede at hour and time 78

  most fitting deemed for designed 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 foreigner past

  who with false pacts of peace his anchors cast.

  “And, know thou further” (quoth the Moor) “’tis said, 79

  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-framed plottings, certes, 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.

  “I also learned how determined be 80

  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.

  And, even should they by this not’able feat 81

  fail to be scatter’d, shatter’d, wholly slain,

  I have imagined 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.”

  These words of wisdom hardly had he stay’d, 82

  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.

  And, eke, he seeketh, such deceit to speed, 83

  a Moslem 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.

  Already lit Apollo’s morning ray 84

  the Nabathaean mounts with rosy light,

  when dight was Gama and his stout array

  by sea for watering on the land t’ alight:

  Their boats the soldiers armed for fight and fray

  as though they scented tricks of Moslem spite:

  Here was suspicion easy, for the wise

  bear a presaging heart that never lies.

  Further, the messenger who went ashore 85

  to claim the promise of the needful guide,

  heard tone of battle when replied the Moor,

  though none had deemed 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.

  But now the Moormen, stalking o’er the strand 86

  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.

  Along the snow-white sandy marge advance 87

  the bellic Moors who beck their coming foes;

  they shake the shield and poise the perilous lance,

  daring the warrior Portughuese to close.

  The gen’erous People with impatient glance

  the ban-dogs eye who dare their fangs expose:

  They spring ashore so deftly no man durst

  say who the soldier that touched land the first.

  As in the gory ring some gallant gay, 88

  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,

  lowering its horned front, in fury flies

  with eyne fast closed; and, roaring horrid sound,

  throws, gores, and leaves him lifeless on the ground:

  Lo! from the launches sudden flash the lights 89

  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.

  Withal the Portingalls are not content; 90

  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.

  Still, in his flight, the Moorman draweth bow, 91

  but forceless, frighted, flurried by alarms,

  showers of ashlar, sticks, and stones they throw;

  their madding fury �
�ministereth arms:

  Now from their islet-homesteads flocking row

  toward the mainland, trembling terrified swarms:

  They pass apace and cut the narrow Sound,

  The thin sea-arm, which runs their islet round.

  These ply the deeply-laden almadie, 92

  those cut the waves and dil’igent swim the Main;

  some choke ‘neath bending surge of surfy sea,

  some drink the brine, out-puffing it again.

  The crank canoes, wherein the vermin flee,

  are torn by smaller bombards’ fiery rain.

  Thuswise, in fine, the Portingalls chastise

  their vile, malicious, treach’erous enemies.

  Now to the squadron, when the day was won, 93

  rich with their warlike spoils the Braves retire,

  and ship at leisure water all their own,

  none meet offence where none t’ offend desire.

  The Moors heart-broken vainly make their moan,

  old hatreds ‘flaming with renewed fire;

  and, hopeless to revenge such foul defeat,

  nourish the fairest hopes of fresh deceit.

  To proffer truce repentant gives command 94

  the Moor who ruleth that iniqu’ous shore;

  nor do the Lusitanians understand

  that in fair guise of Peace he proffers War:

  For the false Pilot sent to show the land

  who ev’ry evil will embosom’d bore,

  only to guide them deathwards had been sent; —

  such was the signal of what peace was meant.

  The Capitayne who now once more incline’d 95

  on wonted way and ‘custom’d course to hie,

  fair weather favouring with propitious wind,

  and wend where India’s long-wisht regions lie;

  received the Helmsman for his ill design’d

  (who greeted was with joyous courtesy;)

  and, giv’en his answer to the messenger,

  in the free gale shakes out his sailing gear.

  Dismist by such device the gallant Fleet 96

  divideth Amphitrite’s wavy way;

  the Maids of Nereus troop its course to greet,

  faithful companions, debonnair and gay:

  The Captain, noways doubting the deceit

  planned by the Moorman to secure his prey,

  questions him largely, learning all he knows

  of general Inde and what each seaboard shows.

  But the false Moorman, skilled in all the snares 97

  which baleful Bacchus taught for such emprize,

  new loss by death or prison-life prepares,

  ere India’s seaboard glad their straining eyes:

  The hythes of India dil’igent he declares,

  to frequent queries off ‘ring fit replies:

  For, holding faithful all their pilot said

  the gallant People were of nought afraid.

  And eke he telleth, with that false intent, 98

  whereby fell Sinon baulked the Phrygian race

  of a near-lying isle, that aye had lent

  to Christian dwellers safest dwelling-place.

  Our Chief, of tidings fain, gave due attent

  of ear so gladly to these words of grace,

  that with the richest gifts he bade the Guide

  lead him to regions where such men abide.

  E’en so that losel Moorman had designed, 99

  as the confiding Christian begged and bade;

  knowing his islet was of old assigned

  to the malignant sons of Mafamed:

  Here he foresees deceit with death combined,

  for — that in pow’r and force the place outweigh’d

  weaker Mozambic; and that islet’s name

  is Quiloa bruited by the blast of Fame.

  Thither th’ exulting Squadron lief would steer: 100

  but the fair god Cythéra loves to greet,

  seeing its certain courses changed to near

  the coasts where Doom of Death awaits defeat,

  nills that the people, loved with love so dear,

  such dreadful fates on shore so distant meet;

  and, raising adverse gales, she drives them wide

  from the foul goal where guides that felon guide.

  Now when the caitiff Moor could not but know 101

  that in this matter useless was his guile,

  seeking to deal another dev’ilish blow,

  and still persistent in his purpose vile,

  he urgeth, since the winds’ and currents’ flow

  had borne them on parforce full many a mile,

  they near another island, and its race

  Christian and Moor hold common dwelling-place.

  Here too with every word the liar lied, 102

  as by his reg’iment he in fine was bound;

  for none who CHRIST adore could there abide,

  only the hounds who worship false Mahound.

  The Captain trustful to his Moorish guide,

  veering the sails was making for the Sound:

  But, as his guardian Goddess leave denieth,

  he shuns the river-bar, and outside lieth.

  So near that Islet lay along the land, 103

  nought save a narrow channel stood atween;

  and rose a City throned on the strand,

  which from the margent of the seas was seen;

  fair-built with lordly buildings tall and grand,

  as from its offing showed all its sheen:

  Here ruled a monarch for long years high famed;

  Islet and City are Mombasah named.

  And when the Captain made that happy shore, 104

  with strangest joyaunce, in the hope to view

  baptized peoples, and to greet once more

  dear Christian men, as sware his guide untrue;

  lo! boats come bearing, the blue waters o’er

  their King’s good greeting who the stranger knew:

  For long had Bacchus of th’ event advised,

  in other Moorman’s shape and form disguised.

  Friendly the message which the foemen brought, 105

  beneath whose surface covered venom lay;

  for deadly hostile was their ev’ry thought

  and soon the hidden fraud uncover’d they.

  Oh dreadful dangers with destruction fraught!

  Oh line of life-tide, never certain way!

  where’er his dearest hope poor mortal hoardeth,

  such scant security life e’er affordeth.

  By sea such tempests, such sore injury, 106

  with Death so often showing near and sure!

  By land such warfare, such foul treachery,

  so much of curst necessities t’ endure!

  Ah! where shall weary man take sanctuary,

  where live his little span of life secure?

  and ‘scape of Heav’n serene th’ indignant storms

  that launch their thunders at us earthen worms?

  CANTO II.

  ARGUMENT OF THE SECOND CANTO.

  INSTIGATED by the Demon, the King of Mombasah aimeth at destroying the Navigators: He plotteth treason against them under the fiction of friendship: Venus appeareth to Jupiter, and intercedeth for the Portugueze: He promiseth her to favour them and prophetically relateth some feats which they shall perform in the East: Mercury discloseth himself to the Gama in a dream, and warneth him to shun the dangers of Mombasah: They weigh anchor and reach Melinde, whose King receiveth the Captain with favour and hospitality.

  ANOTHER ARGUMENT.

  Dar El Rei de Mombasa o Jim prepara

  Ao Gama illustre, com mortal engano:

  Desce Venus ao mar, a frota empara,

  E a fallar sobe ao Padre soberano:

  Jove os casos futuros Ihe declara:

  Apparece Mercurio ao Lusitano:

  Chega a frota a Melinde, e o Rei potente

  Em seu porto a recebe alegremente.


  CANTO II.

  ‘TWAS now the period when the Planet bright, 1

  whose race distinguished 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,

  ‘Mid them a villain, who had undertane 2

  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.

  “And, as he burneth, with extreme desire, 3

  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, certes, Nature must such rest command.

  “And if thou wendest seeking merchandise 4

  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.”

  Unto the Herald straight our Chief replieth, 5

  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.

  He questions further, an the land contain 6

  christened 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 phantasies of doubt and fear:

  Wherefore the Gama straightways ‘gan to place

  Faith in that faithless unbeliever-race.

  And, as condemned felons he had brought, 7

  convict of mortal crime and shameful deed,

 

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