which man’s imprison’d, witch-bound heart can turn
no, not to stone, but flames that fiercely burn?
“Who se’eth a firm-fixt glance, a gesture bland, 143
soft promises of angel-excellence,
the soul transforming aye by charmed command;
say, who from pow’er like this can find defence?
Pardie, he scantly blameth King Fernand
who pays, as he did, Love’s experience:
But human Judgment would, if fancy-free,
adjudge his laches even worse to be.
CANTO IV.
ARGUMENT OF THE FOURTH CANTO.
DA GAMA pursueth his discourse with the King of Melinde, and relateth the wars between Portugal and Castile, touching the succession to the throne, after the death of the king, D. Fernando: Military feats of the Constable, D. Nuno Alvares Pereira: Battle and victory of Aljubarrota: Diligent attempts to discover India by land, in the days of the king D. Joam II.: How the king D. Manoel gained this end by resolving upon the present voyage: Preparations for it: Embarkation and farewells of the navigators upon the Belem beach.
ANOTHER ARGUMENT.
Acclamado Joao, de Pedro herdeiro,
Convoca Leonor ao Castelhano:
Oppoem-se Nuno, intrepido gnerreiro;
Da-se batalha, vence o Lusitano:
Quem a Aurora buscar tentou primeiro
Pelas tumidas ondas do Oceano;
E como ao Gama coube esta alta empreza,
Por affinar a gloria Portugueza.
CANTO IV.
“AFTER the horrors of the stormy Night, 1
with gloom, and lightning-gleams, and hiss of wind,
breaks lovely Morning’s pure and blessed light,
with hope of haven and sure rest to find:
Sol banisheth the dark obscure from sight,
laying the terror of man’s timid mind:
Thus to the doughty kingdom it befel,
when King Fernando bade this world farewell.
“For, if so many with such hopes were fired 2
for one whose potent arm their harms could pay
on those, that wrought their wrongs with soul untired,
nerved by Fernando’s heedless, feeble way;
in shortest time it happed as they desired,
when ever-glorious John arose to sway,
the only heir that did from Pedro spring,
and (though a bastard) every inch a King.
“That such accession came from Heaven divine 3
proved ‘special marvels, God His truth proclaiming,
when Ev’ora city saw the choicest sign,
a babe of age unspeech’d the ruler naming;
and, but to show the Heav’en’s supreme design,
she raised her cradled limbs and voice, exclaiming, —
‘Portugal! Portugal!’ high uplifting hand,
‘for the new king, Dom John, who rules the land.’
“Changed in sprite were all within the Reign, 4
old hatreds firing hearts with novel flame;
absolute cruelties none cared restrain
popular Fury dealt to whence it came:
Soon are the friends and kith and kinsmen slain
of the adult’erous County and the Dame,
with whom incontinent love and lust unblest,
the wappen’d widow showed manifest.
“But he, dishonour’d and with cause, at last 5
by cold white weapon falls before her eyes,
and with him many to destruction past;
for flame so kindled all consuming flies:
This, like Astyanax, is headlong cast
from the tall steeple (‘spite his dignities);
whom orders, altar, honours, nought avail;
those through the high ways, torn and stript they trail.’
“Now long Oblivion veils the deeds accurst 6
of mortal fierceness, such as Rome beheld,
done by fierce Marius, or the bloody thirst
of Sylla, when parforce his foe expel’d.
Thus Leonor, who mortal vengeance nurst
for her dead County gars, with fury swell’d,
Castilia’s force on Lusitania fall,
calling her daughter heir of Portugal.
“Beatrice was the daughter, interwed 7
with the Castilian, who for kingship greedeth,
putative offspring of Fernando’s bed,
if evil Fame so much to her concedeth.
Hearing the voice, Castile high raiseth head,
and saith this daughter to her sire succeedeth;
for warfare must’ereth she her warrior bands
from various regions and from various lands.
“They flock from all the Province, by one Brigo 8
(if such man ever was) yclept of yore;
and lands by Ferd’inand won, and Cid Rodrigo
from the tyrannick gov’ernance of the Moor.
Little in fear of warlike feat doth he go
who with hard plowshare cleaving lordeth o’er
the champaign Leoneze, and boasts to be
the blight and bane of Moorish chivalry.
“In Valour’s ancient fame the Vandal host, 9
confident still and stubborn, ‘gan appear
from all Andalusia’s head and boast,
laved by thy chrystal wave, Guadalquivir!
the noble Island eke, whilere the post
of Tyrian strangers, to the war drew near,
bringing insignia by renown well known,
Hercules’ Pillars on their pennons shown.
“Eke come they trooping from Toledo’s reign, 10
City of noble, ancient or’igin, span’d
by Tagus circling with his sweet glad vein,
that bursts and pours from Conca’s mountain-land.
You also, you, all craven fear disdain
sordid Gallegos! hard and canny band,
for stern resistance fast to arms ye flew,
warding their doughty blows whose weight ye knew.
“Eke War’s black Furies hurried to the fight 11
the fierce Biscayan folk, who clean despise
all polisht reasons, and ne wrong ne slight
of stranger races bear in patient guise.
Asturias-land and that Guipusc’oan hight,
proud of the mine which iron ore supplies,
with at their haughty sworders armed and made
ready their rightful lords i’ the war to aid.
“John in whose bosom Peril only grows 12
the strength Jew Sampson borrow’d of his hair,
though all he hath be few to fight his foes,
yet bids his few for battle-gage prepare:
And, not that counsel fails when danger shows,
with his chief lords he counsels on th’ affair,
but drift of inner thoughts he seeks and finds;
for ‘mid the many there be many minds.
“Nor lack their reas’onings who would disconcert 13
opinions firmly fixt in pop’ular will,
whose weal of ancient valour is convert
to an unused and disloyal ill:
Men in whose hearts Fear, gelid and inert,
reigneth, which faith and truth were wont to fill:
Deny they King and Country; and, if tried,
they had (as Peter did) their God denied.
“But ne’er did such denial-sin appear 14
in noble Nuno Alv’ares, nay, instead, —
although his brothers show’d default so clear, —
he fiercely chid the fickle hearts misled;
and to the lieges steeped in doubt and fear,
with phrase more forceful than fine-drawn he said,
too fere for facund, as he bared his glave,
threating Earth, seas, and sphere with ban and brave: —
“‘What! ‘mid the noble sons of Portugale 15
crowned War’s princess in ev’ery earthly part
breathes, who his aid denies, such nid’ering thrall?
renaying faith and love, and force and art
of Portingall; and, be whate’er the cause,
would see his country keep the stranger’s laws?
“‘What! flows not still within your veins the blood 16
of the brave soldiers who ‘neath banners borne
by great Henriques fierce with hero-mood,
this valiant race in war did ever scorn
When tane so many banners, and withstood
so many foemen, who such losses mourn,
that seven noble Yarls were forced to yield
their swords besides the spoils that strewed the field?
“‘Say you, by whom were alway trodden down 17
these, now who seem to tread adown on you;
for Diniz and his son of high renown,
save by your sires’ and grand sires’ derring-do?
Then if by sin or sore neglect o’erthrown
so could your olden force Fernand undo,
to you fresh forces this new King shall bring;
an it be sooth that Subjects change with King.
“‘Such King ye have, that an ye courage have 18
equal his kingly heart ye raised to reign,
all en’emies shall ye rout so be ye brave,
much more the routed, eath to rout again:
But an such noble thought no more may save
your souls from pen’etrant Fear to bosom tane,
the craven hands of seely terrors tie,
this stranger’s yoke I, only I, defy.
“‘I with my vassals only, and my brand 19
(this said, his dreadful blade he bared mid-way)
against the high and hostile force will stand,
that threats a kingdom strange to stranger sway:
By virtue of my Liege, my mourning Land,
of Loyalty denied by you this day
I’ll conquer all, not only these my foes,
but whatsoever durst my King oppose.’
“E’en as the Youths who ‘scaping Cannae-field, 20
its only remnants, — to Canusium fled
despairing, and well-nigh disposed to yield,
and hail the Carthaginian vict’ory-led,
the young Cornelius to their faith appeal’d,
and took his comrades’ oath upon his blade
the Roman arms t’ uphold as long as life
hold, or hath pow’er to ‘scape the mortal strife:
“Forceth the Folk enforced in such wise 21
Nuno, and when his final words they hear,
th’ ice-cold and sullen humour sudden flies,
that curdled spirits with a coward fear:
“To mount the beast Neptunian all arise,
charging and tossing high the lance and spear;
they run and shout with open-mouthed glee, —
‘ Long live the famous King who sets us free!’
“O’ the pop’ular classes not a few approve 22
the War their natal land and home sustains:
These fare to furbish armours, and remove
injurious rust, of Peace the biting stains;
they quilt their morions, plates for breast they prove;
each arms himself e’en as his fancy fain’s;
while those on coats with thousand colours bright,
the signs and symbols of their loves indite.
“With all this lustrous Company enrol’d 23
from fresh Abrantes sallies John the Brave,
Abrantes, fed by many a fountain cold
of Tagus rolling sweet abundant wave.
The vanguard-knights commands that warrior bold
by Nature fittest made command to have
of th’ Oriental hordes withouten count,
wherewith Sir Xerxes crost the Hellespont:
“I say Don Nuno, who appeared here 24
the proudest scourger of that prideful Spain,
as was in olden days the Hun so fere,
curse of the Frankish, of Italian men.
Followed another far-famed cavalier
who led the dexter phalanx Lusitane,
apt to dispose them, prompt to lead his fellows,
Mem Rodrigues they call de Vasconcellos.
“While of the Knights in corresponding flank 25
Antam Vasques d’Almada hath command,
to Avranches’ Earldom rose anon his rank,
who holds the Lusian host’s sinistral hand.
Nor far the banner from men’s notice shrank
in rear, where Cinques by Castles bordered stand
with John the King, who shows a front so dread
E’en Mars must learn to hide his ‘minished head.
“Lined the rempart groups of trembling fair, 26
whom hopes and fears alternate heat and freeze,
mothers and sisters, wives and brides in pray’er,
with fasts and pilgrim-vows the Heav’ens to please.
And now the Squadrons wont the war to dare,
affront the serried hosts of enemies,
who meet this onset with a mighty shout;
while all are whelmed in dreadful direful doubt.
“Messenger-trumpets to the cries reply, 27
and sibilant fife, and drum, and atambor;
while Antients wave their flags, and banners fly
with many-colour’d legends ‘broidered o’er.
’Twas fruity August when the days be dry,
and Ceres heaps the peasant’s threshing-floor,
August, when Sol Astraea’s mansion reigneth;
and the sweet must of grapes Lyaeus straineth.
“Sudden Castilia’s trump the signal gave 28
horribly fearful, sounding tem’erous dread:
Heard it the Hill Artabrus; and his wave
Guadiana rolled backwards as he fled:
O’er Douro and Transtagan lands it drave;
Tagus sore agitated seaward sped;
while mothers trembling at the terr’ible storm
embraced with tighter arm each tiny form.
“How many faces there wan waxt and white, 29
whose fainting hearts the friendly life-blood cheered!
For in dire danger Fear hath more of might, —
the fear of danger, — than the danger feared:
If not, it seemeth so; when rage of fight
man’s sprite to quell or kill the foe hath stirred,
it makes him all unheed how high the cost
were loss of limb, or dear life rashly lost.
“Battle’s uncertain work begins; and move 30
right wings on either part to take the plain;
these fighting to defend the land they love,
those egged on by hope that land to gain:
Soon great Pereira, who would foremost prove
the knightly valour of his noble strain;
charges and shocks, and strews the field till sown
with those who covet what is not their own.
“Now in the dust-blurred air with strident sound 31
bolts, arrows, darts and man’ifold missiles fly;
beneath the destrier’s horny hoof the ground
quaketh in terror, and the dales reply;
shiver the lances; thundereth around
the frequent crash of felled armoury;
foes on the little force redoubling fall
of Nuno fierce, who makes great numbers small.
“See! there his brethren meet him in the fray: 32
(Fierce chance and cruel case!) But dreads he
nought;
right little were it brother-foe to slay,
who against King and Country trait’orous fought:
Amid these ren’egades not a fe
w that day
war in the foremost squadrons fury-fraught
against their brethren and their kin (sad Fate!)
as in great Julius’ warfare with the Great.
“O thou, Sertorius! O great Coriolane! 33
Catiline! all ye hosts of bygone age,
who ‘gainst your Fatherland with hearts profane
raged with rav’ening parricidal rage;
if where Sumanus holds his dismal reign
most dreadful torments must your sin assuage,
tell him, that e’en our Portugal sometimes
suckled some traitors guilty of your crimes.
“Here doth the foremost of our lines give way, 34
so many foemen have its force opprest:
There standeth Nuno, brave as Ly’on at bay,
where Africk Ceita rears her hilly crest;
who sees the ‘circling troop of cavalry,
over the Tetu’an plain to chace addrest;
and raging as they couch the deadly spear
seems somewhat stirred, but hides all craven fear:
“With sidelong glance he sights them, but his spleen 35
ferine forbids the King of Beasts to show
a craven back; nay, rather on the screen
of plumping lances leaps he as they grow.
So stands our Knight, who stains and soils the green
with alien gore-streams: On that field lie low
some of his own; howe’er with valour dowered
hearts lose their virtue by such odds o’erpowered.
“John felt the danger and the dure affront 36
of Nuno; straight like Captain wise and ware,
he rushed afield, viewed all, and in the brunt
with words and works taught men fresh deeds to dare.
As nursing Ly’oness, fere and fierce of front,
who, left for chase her whelps secure in lair,
findeth while for’aging for their wonted food
Massylian hind hath dared to rob her brood:
“Runs, frantick raging, while her roar and moan 37
make the Seven-Brother Mountains shake and rave.
So John with other chosen troop hath flown
foeward his dexter wing t’ enforce and save:
‘Oh strong Companions! Souls of high renown!
Cavaliers braver than what men hold brave,
strike for your country! now all earthly chance,
all hope of Liberty is on your lance!’
“‘Behold me here, your Comrade and your King, 38
who ‘mid the spear and harness, bolt and bow,
foremost I charge and first myself I fling;
smite, ye true Portughuese, deal yet one blow!’
Thus spake that great-soul’d Warrior, brandishing
Luis de Camoes Collected Poetical Works Page 11