Luis de Camoes Collected Poetical Works
Page 18
Ne’er forged such lightning-bolts of living fire 78
against the Giants’ haught rebellious band,
the great toil-sordid Blacksmith, in desire
to grace with radiant arms his stepson’s hand.
Never was known the mighty Thunderer’s ire
to rain such fulm’inant fulgor o’er the land
in the great Deluge, which alone withstood
the pair that changed stones to flesh and blood.
How many mountains levelled with the lea 79
those Waves that burst and brake with awful might!
How many a gnarled trunk of ancient tree
the Winds uptore with wild and wilful spite!
Ne’er reckt those bulky cable-roots to see
their heels upturned to meet the heav’enly light;
nor thought the deep-laid sands that floods could flow
so fierce, and raise aloft what lay below.
Da Gama, seeing that so near the scope 80
of his long voyage, ev’ery chance had failed;
seeing the seas to depths infernal ope,
then with redoubled rage the Lift assailed:
By nat’ural Fear confused, and sans a hope
of Life, where nought of heart or art availed,
to that high Puissance, and that certain Aid
which makes th’impossible possible, thus pray’d: —
“Celestial Guard! divine, angelical 81
of Skies and Earth and Sea sole Suzerain;
Thou, who didst lead Thy people Israel
thro’ Erythrean waters cleft in twain:
Thou, who didst deign defend thy servant Paul
from sandy Syrtes and the monstrous Main,
Who deign’edst the second Sire and children save
to fill the regions emptied by the Wave:
“If through new perilous paths a way I wore 82
through other Scyllas and Charybdes came,
Saw other Syrtes reef the sandy floor,
other Acroceraunian rocks infame:
Why, when such labours are wellnigh no more,
why are we thus abandoned, left to shame,
if by our travails Thou be not offended
Nay, if Thy greater glory be intended?
“Oh happy they whose hap it was to die 83
on grided points of lances African;
to fall, while striving still to bear on high
our Holy Faith in regions Mauritan!
Whose feats illustrious live in ear and eye,
whose mem’ories aye shall haunt the heart of man;
whose Lives by ending life win living name,
whose Deaths are sweeten’d by a deathless Fame!”
Thus he, while battling Winds still fiercer clashed, 84
like raging Bulls indomitably wood;
to greater rage the raging gale was lashed,
hissing and howling through the twiney shroud:
The lightnings’ dreadful night-light brighter flashed,
and dreadful thunders rolled and rent the cloud,
as though the Heavens to Earth unaxled fell,
and the four El’ements in battle mell.
But now the lovely Star with sparkling ray, 85
led forth clear Sol in Eastern hemisphere;
Day’s lovely Herald hasting to display
her gladdening brow, and Earth and Sea to cheer:
The Goddess-ruler of its skyey way,
whom faulchion-girt Orion flies in fear
when seen the billows and her dear-loved Fleet
with equal anger and with fear was smit.
“Here, certes, Bacchus’ handwork I descry,” 86
quoth she, “but Fortune ne’er shall gar him gain
his wicked object, nor shall ‘scape mine eye
the damn’d intention which he plans in vain:”
Thus she; and slipping instant from the sky
lightly she ‘lighteth on the spacious Main,
bidding her Nymphs to wear as on she sped
a rosy garland on each golden head.
Garlands she bade them wear of varied hue, 87
on blondest tresses of the purest shine:
Who had not said the ruddy florets grew
on nat’ural gold, which Love had loved to ‘twine?
To tame and blandish by the charming view
the noisome crew of Winds, she doth design
her galaxy of Nymphs, a train as fair
as Planets dancing on the plains of air.
And thus it was: For when in Beauty’s pride 88
showed the fair Bevy, faded straight away
the force wherewith each windy Warrior vied,
and all surrender’d happy to obey:
It seemed their mighty feet and hands were tied
by hanks of hair that dimmed the leven-ray;
meanwhile her Boreas, she who ruled his breast,
loveliest Orithyia, thus addrest: —
“Think not, fere Boreas! e’er ’twas thought of mine 89
that thou hast loved me with constant love;
for gentle ways be Love’s securest sign;
wrath has no power the lover’s heart to move:
See, an thou bridle not that rage indign,
expect no grace of me, whom ‘twill behove
henceforth to murther Love by deadly Fear;
for Love is terror when Fear draweth near.”
Bespake fair Galatea in such strain 90
her furious Notus; for she wots right well
long in her presence pleasure he had tane,
and now she feeleth he must feel her spell.
The Salvage scarcely can his joy contain,
nor will his heart within his bosom dwell;
o’erjoyed to view his Dame vouchsafe command,
he deems ’tis little to wax soft and bland.
Thus eke had others equal pow’er to tame 91
those other lovers who their hests obey’d;
yielding to Venus every Wind became
tranquil of semblance by new softness sway’d:
She promised, seen their loves her aidance claim,
in Love’s sweet wars her sempiternal aid;
and took their homage on her beauteous hands,
to bear, while sail the Ships, her dear commands.
Now splendid Morning tipt the hills with red 92
whence rolls the Gange his sacred sounding tide,
when seamen percht upon the topmast head
Highlands far rising o’er the prows descried:
Now, ‘scaped the tempest and the first sea-dread,
fled from each bosom terrors vain, and cried
the Melindanian Pilot in delight,
“Calecut-land, if aught I see aright!”
“This is, pardie, the very Land of Inde, 93
what realms you seek behold! ahead appear;
and if no farther Earth ye long to find,
your long-drawn travail finds its limit here.”
No more the Gama could compose his mind
for joy to see that Inde is known and near;
wich knees on deck and hands to Heav’en upraised
the God who gave such gift of grace he praised:
Praise to his God he gave, and rightly gave, 94
for he not only to that Bourne was brought
wherefore such perils he and his did brave,
wherefore with toil and moil so sore he fought;
but more, because so barely ‘scaped the grave
when raging Ocean death for him had wrought
by the dure fervid Winds’ terrifick might,
he was like one who wakes from dream of fright.
Amid such fierce extremes of Fear and Pain, 95
such grievous labours, perils lacking name,
whoso fair Honour wooeth aye shall gain,
Man’s true nobility, immortal Fame:
Not those who ever lean on antient str
ain,
imping on noble trunk a barren claim,
not those reclining on the golden beds,
where Moscow’s Zebelin downy softness spreads:
Not with the novel viands exquisite, 96
not with the languid wanton promenade,
not with the pleasures varied infinite,
which gen’erous souls effeminate, degrade:
Not with the never-conquer’d appetite,
by Fortune pamper’d as by Fortune made,
that suffers none to change and seek the meed
of Valour, daring some heroick Deed:
But by the doughty arm and sword that chase 97
Honour which man may proudly hail his own;
in weary vigil, in the steely case,
‘mid wrathsome winds and bitter billows thrown,
suffering the frigid rigours in th’ embrace
of South, and regions lorn, and lere, and lone;
swall’owing the tainted rations’ scanty dole,
salted with toil of body, moil of soul:
The face enforcing when the cheek would pale 98
to wear assured aspect glad and fain;
and meet the red-hot balls, whose whistling hail
spreads comrades’ arms and legs on battle-plain.
Thus honour’d hardness shall the heart prevail,
to scoff at honours and vile gold disdain,
the gold, the honours often forged by Chance,
no Valour gained, no Virtue shall enhance.
Thus wax our mortal wits immortal bright 99
by long Experience led, Man’s truest guide;
and thus the soul shall see, from heavenly height,
the maze of human pettiness and pride:
Whoso shall rule his life by Reason-light which feeble
Passion ne’er hath power to hide,
shall rise (as rise he ought) to HONOUR true,
maugre his will that ne’er hath stoop’d to sue.
CANTO VII.
ARGUMENT OF THE SEVENTH CANTO.
ON the occasion of the famous Discovery of India, a notable and poetic Exhortation is addrest to the Princes of Christendom, arousing them to like Enterprizes: Description of the Reign of Malabar wherein lieth the Empire of Calecut, at whose Port the Armada anchoreth: Appeareth the Moor Monsayde who giveth information to the Gama and eke instructeth him concerning the natives of the land: The Catual, or Governor of Calecut, fareth to see the Fleet.
ANOTHER ARGUMENT.
Da fundo a frota a Calecut chegada;
Manda-se mensageiro ao Rei potente;
Chega Moncaide a ver a Lusa armada,
E da Provincia informa largamente:
Faz Gama ao Samori sua embaixada;
He recebido bem da Indica gente:
Co’o Regedor o Mouro ao mar se torna,
Que de toldos e flammulas se adorna.
CANTO VII.
AND now th’ Armada near’d the Morning-land, 1
many so much desired to have seen,
Reigns by those Indie currents moated, and
by Gange who dwelleth in the sky terrene.
Up Braves! and at them, an your valiant hand,
to snatch victorious Palms determined bene
Here ends your warfare; here before you lies
the realm of riches and your rightful prize.
To you, O race from Lusus sprung! I say, 2
to whom such puny part of Earth is dole’d
nay, what say I of Earth, but of His sway
who ruleth all the rounded skies enfold?
You, whom ne dangers dure ne dire dismay
from conqu’ering brutal Heathenesse withhold,
but eke no greed of gain may wean from love
of Mother-essence throned the Heavens above.
Ye, Portingalls! as forceful as ye’re few, 3
who e’er disdain to weigh your weakly weight;
ye, who at cost of various deaths be true
the Laws of Life Eternal to dilate:
Cast by the heav’enly lots your lot ye drew,
however poor or mean your mundane state,
great deeds for Holy Christendom to show:
So high, O CHRIST! exaltest Thou the low!
See them, those Germans, stiff-neckt, herd-like horde 4
who browse the pastures of such wide extent,
to him rebellious who hath Peter’s ward,
choose a new Shepherd, a new Sect invent:
See them absorbed in ugly wars abhor’d
(nor yet with blinded errant ways content!)
fight, not the haught tyrannick Othoman,
but th’ apostolick yoke they fain unspan.
See the hard Englander proclaim his right 5
of that old Sacred City King to be,
where reigns and rules the base-born Ishmaelite
(Honour of Truth so nude who e’er did see!);
‘mid Boreal snows he taketh sad delight
to mould new mode of old Christianity:
For those of CHRIST he bares the ready brand,
not to rethrone Lord CHRIST in Holy Land.
Holds for himself meanwhile a faithless Roy, 6
Jerusalem City, the terrestrial;
who holds not holy law, but dares defy
Jerusalem City, the celestial.
Then what of thee, vile Gaul! what need say I?
who wouldst thy vaunting self “Most Christian.” call,
not that such title wouldest ward and guard,
but that the name thro’ thee be smircht and mar’d!
Thy claim to conquer Christian lands beseems 7
one who so much and such fair land doth claim?
why seek not Cinyps and the Nilus, streams
which ever hate that antique Holy Name?
There should they feel of steel the hard extremes,
who would the Church’s truthful song defame:
Of Charles, of Louis, name thou didst inherit
and lands; — why not of justest wars the merit?
What shall I say of those who ‘mid delights, 8
which vilest Idlesse bare for manhood’s bane,
spend life and love to waste the gold that blights,
and clean forget their antient valiant strain?
Tyrannick hest to hostile act incites,
which virile races view as foulest stain:
To thee I speak, O It’aly! sunk by curse
of thousand sins, who dost thyself adverse.
Ah, wretched Christians, who such cross incur, 9
be you perchance the teeth by Cadmus sown,
that waste of brother-blood ye thus prefer
when all by self-same mother-womb are grown?
How durst you see you Holy Sepulture
owned by the bandogs who such feuds disown,
who come to hold and have your antient ground,
their warlike prowess making them renown’d?
Ye know ’tis now their usance and decree, 10
whereof they are observantists entire,
to levy restless hosts of Heathenry,
and harm the hearts that dear CHRIST’S love desire:
While fierce Alecto ‘mid your chivalry
for ever soweth tares of wrath and ire:
Look! an your eyes to risks like these ye close,
how they and you to you be deadliest foes.
If lust of lucre and of lordship led 11
your course to conquer far and foreign lands,
see you not Hermus and Pactolus shed
adown their fertile valleys aureate sands?
Assyria, Lydia, spin the golden thread,
lurk veins of sheeny ore in Africk strand:
Let these rich treasures sluggish sprites arouse
since rouse you not the rights of Holy House.
Those fierce projectiles, of our days the work, 12
murtherous engines, dire artilleries,
against Byzantine wa
lls, where dwells the Turk,
should long before have belcht their batteries.
Oh, hurl it back in forest-caves to lurk
where Caspian crests and steppes of Scythia freeze,
that Turkish ogre-prog’eny multiplied
by op’ulent Europe’s policy and pride.
Georgians, Armenians, Grecians, hapless Thrace 13
cry on your name to quell th’ unspeakable horde
that dooms parforce their darlings to embrace
Alcoran’s precepts (tax of blood abhor’d!):
Prove, when you punish you inhuman race,
the Sage’s spirit and the Soldier’s sword;
nor covet arr’ogant praise and vainest boast
of vaunting valour o’er a brother-host.
But while ye blindly thirst to drink the blood 14
of your own veins, Oh hapless Race insane!
never hath failed Christian hardihood
in this our little household Lusitane:
Her seats are set by Africk’s salty flood;
she holds in Asian realms the largest Reign;
She sows and ears o’er all the Fourth new-found;
and there would hasten had but Earth more ground.
Meanwhile behold we what new chance befel 15
the seld-seen Voyagers who Fame would earn,
Since gentle Venus deigned the gale to quell,
and futile furies of fierce winds to spurn;
when they the large-spread Land’s appearance hail,
of stubborn obst’inate toil the bound and bourne,
and where the Saviour’s seed they wend to sow,
enthrone new lords, new lights, new laws bestow.
Soon as along the stranger-shores they lay, 16
a fragile fleet that fishing people bare
they found, and by such guidance learnt the way
to Calecut, whose denizens they were:
Thither inclined the Prores without delay;
for ’twas the City fairest ‘mid the fair
in land of Malabar and where abode
the King, whose orders all that Region owe’d.
Outside of Indus, inside Ganges, lies 17
a wide-spread country famed enough of yore;
northward the peaks of caved Emodus rise,
and southward Ocean doth confine the shore:
She bears the yoke of various sovranties
and various eke her creeds: While these adore
vicious Mafóma, those to stock and stone
bow down, and eke to brutes among them grown.
There, deep i’ the mighty Range, that doth divide 18
the land, and cutteth Asian continent,
whose crests are known by names diversified,
of ev’ry country where its trend is bent;