Luis de Camoes Collected Poetical Works

by Luis de Camoes

  in fire-stuffed shells, and burning bombs of war:

  Others with voices which invade the skies,

  make brazen notes from blaring trumps arise.

  Echoes a loud reply the ready shore. 91

  with buzzing fireworks forming giddy gyre;

  whirl burning wheels that far in AEther soar;

  sulphurous dust deep-hid explodes in fire:

  Heav’en-high resounds the multitudinous roar;

  the soft blue waters don Flame’s red attire;

  nor blazeth land the less:’Tis thus friends greet

  their friends as foemen who in battle meet.

  Again the restless Spheres revolving sped, 92

  to olden drudg’ry dooming man anew:

  Again did Memnon’s Mother radiance shed,

  and from the sluggard’s eyne soft sleep withdrew:

  The latest shadows slowly melting fled,

  on earthly flow’rets weeping frigid dew;

  when the Melindan King took boat that he

  might view the Squad that swam the Blackmoor sea.

  Boiling about him, swarming round the Bay, 93

  dense crowds glad gather’d and enjoy’d the sight:

  Caftans of finest purple glisten gay;

  glance splendid robes with silken tissue dight:

  In lieu of warrior lance, and harsegaye

  and bow whose burnisht cusps mock Luna’s light;

  aloft the revellers bear the palmy bough,

  the fittest crown that decks the conqueror’s brow.

  A spacious stately barge, o’ercanopied 94

  with dainty silks, of divers teinture stained

  beareth Melinde’s King, accompanied

  by lords and captains of the land he reigned.

  Rich clad he cometh with what pomp and pride,

  his country customs and his taste ordained;

  a precious Turbant winds around his head

  of cotton wrought with gold and silken thread.

  Caftan of costly texture Damascene, — 95

  the Tyrian colour honour’d there of eld; —

  Torque round his collar, shining golden sheen,

  whose wealth of work its wealth of ore excel’d:

  Glitters and gleams with radiance diamantine

  Dag-targe of costly price by girdle held:

  And show, in fine, upon his sandal-shoon

  velvets with seed-pearl and gold-spangle strewn.

  With silken sunshade, high and round of guise 96

  fast to its handle bound, a gilded spear,

  a Minister the solar ray defies

  lest hurt of baleful beam the high King bear:

  High in the poop his strange glad musick hies,

  of asp’erous noise, most horr’ible to the ear,

  of arched trumpets writhed in curious round,

  roaring a rough, rude, unconcerted sound.

  Nor with less garnishment our Lusitanian 97

  swift-sailing galleys from the Squadron bore,

  to meet and greet the noble Melindanian,

  begirt by goodly company galore

  The Gama cometh dight in dress Hispanian;

  but of French work the doublet was he wore,

  Satin which Adrian Venice works and stains

  crimson, a colour which such prize obtains.

  Buttons of gold his looped sleeves confine, 98

  where solar glancings dazzle gazing eyes:

  Hosen of soldier fashion purfled shine

  with the rich metal Fortune oft denies:

  Points of the same the slashes deftly join,

  gored in his doublet, with right del’icate ties:

  Gold-hilted sword in mode of Italy:

  Plume in his bonnet worn a little wry.

  I’ the suite and escort of the Captain show’d 99

  of the dye murex, — Tyre’s surpassing tint, —

  the various shades that joy’d men’s eyne, and mode

  of dress devis’d with fashion different:

  Such was th’ enamel, and as bright it glow’d

  with cunning colours in quaint mixture blent,

  as though her rutilant bow had rear’d in air

  the Maid of Thaumas, fairest of the fair.

  Sonorous trumpets manly breasts incite 100

  gladding the heart with martial musick gay:

  Churned the Moorish keels blue waters white

  and awnings sprent with dews of pearly spray:

  The horrid-sounding bombards thunder fright

  while smoky hangings veil the splendid day;

  roar the hot volleys hurtling sounds so loud,

  fain close with hands their ears the Moorish crowd.

  And now the King our Captain’s galley sought, 101

  who strained in his arms the welcome guest:

  He with the courtesy which Reason taught,

  his host (who was of Royal rank) addrest.

  Noted th’ admiring Moor, with marvel fraught,

  his visitor’s ev’ery mode, and look, and gest,

  as one regarding with a huge esteem

  Folk who so far in quest of India came.

  And to him proffers in his phrase high-flown 102

  whatever goods his realm and haven boast;

  the while commanding him to hold his own

  what store might haply serve his turn the most:

  Eke he assures him Fame had made well-known

  the Lusian name ere Lusians reached his coast:

  for long ’twas rumour’d that in realms afar

  it had with peoples of his law waged war.

  How Africk continent’s farthest shores resound, 103

  he told him, with great deeds the warmen did;

  whose long campaigns the Conquerors had crown’d

  lords of the lands where dwelt the Hesperid.

  With long harangue he taught the crowd around

  the least deserts the Lusians merited,

  and yet the most that Fame was fain to teach;

  when thus Da Gama to the King made speech: —

  “O thou! who sole hast seen with pit’iful eye, 104

  benignant King! our Lusitanian race,

  which in such mis’ery dire hath dared defy

  Fate, and the furies of mad seas to face;

  may you Divine eternity on high,

  that ruleth man, revolving skyey space,

  since gifts so goodly givest thou, I pray

  the Heav’ens repay thee what we never may.

  “Of all Apollo bronzed hath thou sole, 105

  peaceful didst greet us from th’ abysmal sea:

  To thee from AEolus’ winds that moan and howl,

  we find good, truthful, glad security.

  Long as its Stars leads forth the vasty Pole,

  long as the Sun shall light the days to be,

  where’er I haply live, with fame and glory

  shall live thy praises in my People’s story.”

  He spake, and straight the barges ‘gin to row 106

  whither the Moorman would review the Fleet;

  rounding the vessels, one by one, they go

  that ev’ery not’able thing his glance may meet:

  But Vulcan skywards voll’eying horr’ible lowe

  with dire artill’ery hastes the guest to greet,

  while trumpets loud canorous accents blend;

  with shawms the Moorish hosts their answer send.

  When due attention to the sights had lent 107

  the gen’erous Moslem, fill’ed with thrilling wonder,

  and hearing, eke, th’ unwonted instrument

  that told its dreadful might in fiery thunder;

  he bade the light Batel wherein he went

  at anchor quiet ride the Flagship under,

  that with the doughty Gama he might hold

  converse of matters erst by Rumour told.

  The Moor in varied dialogue took delight, 108

  and now he prayed the
vis’itor would expound

  each war renowned and famous feat of fight

  fought with the races that adore Mahound:

  Now of the peoples he would gain a sight

  that hold our ultimate Hispanian ground:

  Then of the nations who with us confine;

  then of the mighty voyage o’er the brine.

  “But first, O valiant Captain! first relate,” 109

  quoth he, “with all the diligence thou can,

  what lands and climes compose your natal state,

  and where your home, recount with regular plan;

  nor less your ancient lineage long and great

  and how your Kingdom’s lofty rule began,

  with all your early deeds of derring-do;

  e’en now, tho’ know’ng them not, their worth we know.

  “And, prithee, further say how o’er the Main 110

  long on this voyage through fierce seas you stray’d,

  seeing the barb’arous ways of alien strain,

  which our rude Africk-land to you display’d:

  Begin! for now the team with golden rein

  draws near, and drags the new Sun’s car, inlaid

  with marquetry, from cold Aurora’s skies:

  Sleep wind and water, smooth the wavelet lies.

  “And as th’ Occasion such a fitness showeth, 111

  so is our wish your wondrous tale to hear;

  who dwells among us but by rumour knoweth

  the Lusitanian’s labour singular?

  Deem not so far from us removed gloweth

  resplendent Sol, that need thy judgment fear

  to find Melinde nurse so rude a breed,

  which can ne prize ne praise a noble deed.

  “Vainly the haughty olden Giants vied 112

  by war to win Olympus clear and pure:

  Pirith and Theseus mad with ign’orance tried

  of Pluto’s realm to burst the dread Obscure;

  If in the world such works hath worked pride,

  not less’t is labour excellent and dure,

  bold as it was to brave both Heav’en and Hell,

  for man o’er raging Nereus to prevail.

  “With fire consumed Dian’s sacred fane, — 113

  that master-piece of subtle Ctesiphon,

  Herostratus, who by such deed would gain

  of world-wide Fame the high immortal boon:

  If greed of foolish praise and glory vain

  to actions so perverse may urge men on,

  more reason’t is to crown with endless fame

  Deeds that deserve, like Gods, a deathless name.”

  CANTO III.

  ARGUMENT OF THE THIRD CANTO.

  THE talk of Vasco da Gama with the King of Melinde, wherein he describeth Europe, and recounteth the origin of the kingdom of Portugal, its kings (including the King Dom Fernando) and its principal achievements: The notable feat of Egas Moniz: The Queen of Castile, Dona Maria, visiteth Portugal to crave aid for the Battle of the Salado: The loves and luckless fate of Dona Ignez de Castro: Some events which befel the King Dom Fernando.

  ANOTHER ARGUMENT.

  A populosa Europa se descreve;

  De Egas Moniz o feito sublimado,

  Lusitania, que Reis, que guerras teve;

  Christo a Afonso se ex poem crucificado:

  De Dona Ignez de Castro a pura neve

  Em purptira converte o povo irado:

  Mostra-se o vil descuido de Fernando,

  E o grao poder de hum gesto suave, e brando.

  CANTO III.

  Now, my Calliope! to teach incline 1

  what speech great Gama for the King did frame:

  Inspire immortal song, grant voice divine

  unto this mortal who so loves thy name.

  Thus may the God whose gift was Medicine,

  to whom thou barest Orpheus, lovely Dame!

  never for Daphne, Clytia, Leucothoe

  due love deny thee or inconstant grow he.

  Satisfy, Nymph! desires that in me teem, 2

  to sing the merits of thy Lusians brave;

  so worlds shall see and say that Tagus-stream

  rolls Aganippe’s liquor. Leave, I crave,

  leave flow’ry Pindus-head; e’en now I deem

  Apollo bathes me in that sovran wave;

  else must I hold it, that thy gentle sprite,

  fears thy dear Orpheus fade through me from sight.

  All stood with open ears in long array 3

  to hear what mighty Gama mote unfold;

  when, past in thoughtful mood a brief delay,

  began he thus with brow high-raised and bold: —

  “Thou biddest me, O King! to say my say

  anent our grand genealogy of old:

  Thou bidd’st me not relate an alien story;

  thou bidd’st me laud my brother Lusians’ glory.

  “That one praise others’ exploits and renown 4

  is honour’d custom which we all desire;

  yet fear I ’tis unfit to praise mine own;

  lest praise, like this suspect, no trust inspire;

  nor may I hope to make all matters known

  for Time however long were short: yet, sire!

  as thou commandest all is owed to thee;

  maugre my will I speak and brief will be.

  “Nay, more, what most obligeth me, in fine, 5

  is that no leasing in my tale may dwell;

  for of such Feats whatever boast be mine,

  when most is told, remaineth much to tell:

  But that due order wait on the design,

  e’en as desirest thou to learn full well,

  the wide-spread Continent first I’ll briefly trace,

  then the fierce bloody wars that waged my Race.

  “Atwixt the Zone, where Cancer holds command, — 6

  the lucent Sun’s septentrionahmete, —

  and that whose frigid horrors freeze the land

  as burns the middle Belt with fervid heat,

  lies haughty Europe: On her goodly strand,

  facing Arcturus and the Ponent, beat

  the briny billows of Atlantis plain,

  while free t’wards Auster flows the Midland-main.

  “That part where lovely Dawn is born and bred, 7

  neighboureth Asia: But the curved river,

  from far and frore Rhipaean ranges shed,

  to feed Maeotis-lake with waves that shiver,

  departs them, and the Sea-strait fierce and dread,

  that owned the vict’ory of the Greek deceiver,

  where now the seaman sees along the shore

  triumphant Troja’s mem’ories and — no more.

  “There farther still the Boreal Pole below, 8

  Hyperborean mountain-walls appear,

  and the wild hills where AEolus loves to blow,

  while of his winds the names they proudly bear:

  Here such cold comfort doth Apollo show,

  so weak his light and warmth to shine and cheer,

  that snows eternal gleam upon the mountains,

  freezeth the sea, and ever freeze the fountains.

  “Here of the Scythic hordes vast numbers be, 9

  in olden day a mighty warrior band,

  who fought for honours of antiquity

  with the then owners of the Nylus-land:

  But how remote their claims from verity,

  (for human judgments oft misunderstand),

  let him who seeks what higher lore reveal’d

  ask the red clay that clothes Damascus-field.

  “Now in these wild and wayward parts be told 10

  Cold Lapland’s name, uncultivate Norway,

  Escandinavia’s isle, whose scions bold

  boast triumphs Italy shall ne’er gainsay.

  Here, while ne frost, ne wintry rigours hold

  in hand the waters, seafolk ply the way,

  over the arm of rough Sarmatic Main


  the Swede, the Brusian, and the shiv’ering Dane.

  “Between the sea and Tanai’s-stream we count 11

  strange races, Ruthens, Moscows, and Livonians, —

  Sarmatae all of old, — and on the Mount

  Hercynian, Marcomanni, now Polonians.

  Holding the empire Almayne paramount

  dwell Saxons, and Bohemians, and Pannonians;

  and other tribes, wherethrough their currents frore

  Rhine, Danube, Amasis, and Albis pour.

  “Twixt distant Ister and the famous Strait, 12

  where hapless Helle left her name and life,

  the Thracians wone, a folk of brave estate,

  Mars’ well-loved country, chosen home of strife:

  There Rhodope and Haemus rue the weight

  of cursed Othman’s rule with horror rife;

  Byzance they hold beneath their yoke indign

  great injury working to great Constantine!

  “Hard by their side the Macedonians rest, 13

  whose soil is water’ed by cold Axius’ wave:

  Eke ye, of ev’ery choicest realm the best,

  Lands of the free, the wise, the good, the brave,

  that here did breed and bear the facund breast,

  and to the world its wit and wisdom gave,

  wherewith thou, noble Greece! hast reach’ed the stars,

  no less by arts exalt than arms and wars.

  “The Dalmats follow; and upon the Bay 14

  where rose Antenor’s walls in while of yore,

  superb Venetia builds on wat’ery way,

  Adria’s Queen that erst was lowly poor.

  Hence seawards runs a land-arm made to sway

  forceful the sons of many a stranger shore;

  an arm of might, whose Race hath conquer’d time

  nor less by spirit than by sword sublime.

  “Girdeth her shores the kingdom Neptunine, 15

  while Nature’s bulwarks fence her landward side;

  her middle width departeth Apennine,

  by Mars, her saint and patron, glorified:

  But when the Porter rose to rank divine,

  she lost her prowess, and her bellic pride:

  Humbled she lies with antique puissance spent:

  So Man’s humil’ity may his God content!

  “Gallia can there be seen, whose name hath flown 16

  where Caesar’s triumphs to the world are told;

  by Sequana ’tis watered and the Rhone,

  by Rhine’s deep current and Garumna cold:

  Here rise the ranges from Pyrene known,

  the Nymph ensepulchre’d in days of old,

  whence, legends say, the conflagrated woods

  rolled golden streams, and flowed silvern floods.

  “Lo! here her presence showeth noble Spain, 17