Luis de Camoes Collected Poetical Works

by Luis de Camoes

  the lofty towers to the foe betrayeth,

  and stifled, crusht, the price of treason payeth.

  This opes of warded Fort the valvarte-wall, 98

  maketh the felon friend his faith forego:

  This changeth noblest Thane to vilest Thrall

  and yieldeth Captains to the luring foe:

  This maketh purest maiden foully fall,

  and know no fear, no reck of Honour trow:

  This Art and Science shall at times deprave,

  blind sanest judgment, consciences enslave:

  This loves to gloss with subtler sense than meant 99

  the Texts: This maketh Laws and Laws unmaketh:

  This tainteth subjects with a traitor-taint:

  This in the patriot King the tyrant waketh.

  E’en he, self-vowed to th’ Omnipotent,

  as proved by thousand instances, forsaketh

  God’s way by Gold’s enchanting Siren woo’d;

  yet haply showing still some tint of good.

  CANTO IX.

  ARGUMENT OF THE NINTH CANTO.

  Now, free’d from the snares and perils which threatened him, Vasco da Gama quitteth Calecut, and returneth to the Kingdom (Portugal), with the glad tidings of having discovered Oriental India: Venus directeth his course to a delicious Island: Description of that same Island: Landing of the Navigators: Festive shows wherewith they are there received; the soldiers by the Nereids and Da Gama by Thetis (sic).

  ANOTHER ARGUMENT.

  Parte de Calecut o Lusitano.

  Com as alegres novas do Oriente,

  E no meio do tumido Oceano,

  Venus Ihe mostra huma Insula excellente:

  Aqui de todo hem soffrido dano,

  Acha repouso assaz conveniente,

  E com Nymphas gentis o mais do dia

  Em festas passa, e jogos de alegria.

  CANTO IX.

  WITHIN the City long remained pent 1

  nor found a purchaser our Factor-twain:

  The wily Infidels by foil and feint

  made every trader cease from trade and gain:

  For all they purposed, and hoped, and meant,

  was there the stout Discov’erers to detain

  of India, till arrive th’ expected Fleet

  of Mecan vessels and the foe defeat.

  There, where the City crowns the Red Sea bight 2

  founded by Egypt’s royal Ptolemy,

  and from his sister-spouse Arsin’oe hight,

  to Suez changed in our modern day;

  the harbour lieth at a distance light

  from far-famed Meca, raised to high degree

  by the false superstition and profane,

  the Holy Water of the Moorish men.

  Gida the hythe is ‘titled, where the trade 3

  of all the Red Sea shore-lands flourisht most,

  whereby was great and grateful gain convey’d

  unto the Soldan, who possest the coast:

  Hence to the Malabars, by contract made

  with th’ Infidel, tall ships, a potent host,

  each year fares sailing over Indic seas

  stocking their teeming holds with spiceries.

  Upon these ships firm hopes the Moors had set, 4

  e’en as their puissance was so much the higher,

  that these who sought their gains so grateful great,

  they might consume with crepitating fire:

  For the good succour all confiding wait,

  and from th’ Explorers naught they now require,

  save to retard their sailing in such sort,

  that the famed Meca-fleet should make the port.

  But He who rules the Heav’ens and human race, 5

  who for whatever willed hath His will,

  the fittest causes from afar doth trace

  which shall His provident effects fulfil;

  pitiful accidents of ruth and grace

  dealt to Monsayde, who, with guarded skill,

  devoted self Da Gama to advise,

  and gain his rightful guerdon, — Paradise.

  He, whom the Moorish rout might not suspect, 6

  being like them a Moor, but firmly thought

  a villain member of the villain sect,

  unveiled the frauds with foulest treason fraught:

  The ships by distance from the shore protect,

  in stealth with pious heart full oft he sought,

  mourning the causeless evils that ordain

  malignant hate and vengeance Sarracen.

  He warns the wary Gama that th’ Armade 7

  due from Arabian Meca year by year,

  is that whereon his fellows’ hope is laid,

  to be the deadly arm of certain snare:

  “They sail with armed hosts amain,” he said,

  “and Vulcan’s horrid thunderbolts they bear;

  So may ye read’ily fall an easy prey

  as you be poorly furnisht for the fray!”

  And eke the Gama, now considering 8

  the time had come for him to quit the Port,

  and that no gladder tidings from the King

  he could expect who doth the Moors support;

  the Factors left ashore straight summoning,

  he bade them haste aboard: And, lest report

  of such a flitting might their flight impede,

  he bids them privily their steps to speed.

  But in the shortest space had Rumour flown 9

  on res’onant wing, nor here as wont did lie,

  that both the Factors were in prison thrown,

  when found attempting from the town to fly.

  Without delay the true report was known

  to the shrewd Captain, who incontinently

  reprisals dealt on certain who had sought

  the Fleet to traffick with the gems they brought.

  Now those detained are merchants grave and old, 10

  richards of Calecut in good repute;

  and in their absence all their brethren hold

  the ships withhold them and full true the bruit.

  But in the Fleet our Mariners brave and bold

  the capstans man, and each in several suit

  is told to task; these haul the cables in,

  those with hard breasts to shove the bars begin.

  Others to yard-arms hanging on let go 11

  the sail that bellies with a bell’owing sound;

  yet the King heareth louder sounds which show

  that fast the Squadron fareth homeward-bound:

  The wives and children, dight to die of woe

  for their lost loved ones, crowd in tears around

  the Samorim, and piteously complain

  from these their fathers, mates from those are tane.

  Forthwith the Lusian Factors he restoreth 12

  with stuffs in fullest tale and all-tax free,

  despite the rancorous Moor who all abhorreth,

  so might the prison’d lieges rendered be:

  Pardon for his deceit the King imploreth.

  The Captain greeteth, far more glad to see

  Factors than phrases hear; sets loose some Blacks

  and, making sail, adown the coast he tacks.

  Down coast he tacketh, for he comprehendeth 13

  that with the Gentoo King ‘twere labour vain

  to knit those peaceful bonds, which he intendeth

  should strengthen commerce and her object gain:

  But seeing how the glorious Realm that trendeth

  Aurora-ward, must aye well-known remain,

  with these glad news he seeks dear Fatherland,

  sure tokens taking of what things he fand.

  He taketh eke some Malabars aboard 14

  parforce, the fellows by the Samorim sent

  when were the Factor-pris’oners restor’d:

  Of purchased stores he taketh hot piment:

  Nor is of Banda the dried flow’er ignor’d,

  nutmeg
and swarthy clove, which excellent

  makes New Malucan Isle, with cinnamon

  the wealth, the boast, the beauty of Ceylon.

  All this was gathered by the deft design 15

  of true Monsaydé, borne aboard the Fleet:

  who thus of Angel-influences digne

  is register’d in CHRIST His roll-call writ:

  Blest African! whom clemency divine

  in prison-gloom with Gospel-light hath lit,

  who thus couldst find, from country forced to roam,

  the way to mortal man’s true heav’enly home!

  Then turning from that coast of torrid heat 16

  the vent’urous Prores their southing courses bend,

  where Nature pleased to place her farthest mete,

  the Good Hope Cape, where Austrine shorelands end;

  bearing the joyful news, and hopes to greet

  their Lisbon homes from Morning-land they wend,

  again resigned to snares of terror spread

  by seas uncertain, glad, withal in dread:

  The joy one’s own dear Land once more to view, 17

  sweet home and kith and kin to sight again,

  with whom old voyage-feats we face anew,

  and tell of climates strange and stranger men;

  to taste the honey’d draught of praises due

  by long mischances, toil, and ill and pain,

  each hath of pleasure such a perfect store,

  the shallow vessel of man’s heart brims o’er.

  Natheless the Cyprian goddess, who ordained 18

  had been her Lusitanian sons to guard;

  and by the Sire Eterne had been constrained,

  through rolling years to lend them watch and ward;

  the Glory gallant toils and travails gained

  the weals that nobly suffered ills reward,

  for them ordaining was, who did intend

  all their sea-sorrows in sea-joys should end.

  In thought revolving for a season brief 19

  how they had faced the might’iest Sea that flows;

  and thinking how the God sore gall and grief

  worked, who in Amphionean Thebae rose;

  she had already planned right glad relief

  a prize outweighing all their passing woes,

  to find them rare delight and gentle rest

  deep in the liquid chrystal’s tranquil breast:

  Something, in fine, of that repose so sweet, 20

  refocillating bodies weary-wan,

  for these her wanderers, and pay interest meet

  of toil, that short’eneth life of short-lived Man.

  Then to secure the ear it seemed fit

  of her Son-god, whose might of Gram’arye can

  degrade the high Divine to low terrene,

  and raise our human clay to Heav’en serene.

  And, duly pond’ering, all her thoughts incline 21

  there to bespread upon their wat’ery way,

  ‘mid waves of Ocean-stream, some Isle divine

  with bloom enamel’d and with greenery gay;

  for she hath many, where her realms confine

  with the First Mother girt by ‘bosoming bay,

  besides those Gardens of the Midland Seas,

  within the portals oped by Hercules.

  There ’tis her will, the watery Damosels 22

  await the coming of her hero-train,

  the Nymphs who worth’ily bear the name of belles,

  for eyne a pleasure and for hearts a pain;

  with choirs and dances, and by potent spells

  bring secret hoards of Love their love to gain,

  that all should labour with the best of will

  the Youths they love with lover-joys to thrill.

  Erst so she schemed for the son she bare 23

  to her Anchises, that he welcome found

  in the fair country, where by subtle snare

  a single ox-hide spanned the spacious ground:

  She seeks his aidance whom she may not spare,

  fierce Cupid, in whose force her force is bound;

  that e’en as in her olden enterprize

  he aided, aid he now to pluck the prize.

  Yoked to her chariot are the Birds whose song 24

  doth exequies of Death in life’s own tide,

  and they whose figure took in syne gone long,

  Peristera who pluckt the daisies pied.

  Behind the hasting Goddess troop the throng,

  all through the lift with billing kisses glide:

  Where’er on windy wings the Goddess flies

  with gracious movement she serenes the skies.

  Now o’er th’ Idalian mounts her car impendeth, 25

  where for her coming waits her Archer-son,

  who mustering potent host with it intendeth

  to fare on famous expedition,

  and rebel worlds debel till he amendeth

  those direful errors long by mortals done,

  who love goods given by the Gods above

  for man to use and not for man to love.

  He saw Actaeon, hunter so austere, 26

  so blindly bent on snatching brutal prize,

  that to pursue some ugly beast and fere,

  far from the human form divine he flies:

  The Boy for vengeance sweet as ’tis severe

  charms with chaste Dian’s shape his hungry eyes;

  then let the for’ester take him careful heed

  lest his loved Hounds upon their Hunter feed.

  He sees the wide world o’er how evry Lord, 27

  for public welfare naught doth reck nor feel;

  he sees that none the boon of love afford,

  save where Philautia counsels selfish weal:

  He sees how men who sit at royal board

  for words of wisdom aye prefer to deal

  in sale of flatt’eries vile, which ne’er permit

  the tares be weeded from the fair young wheat.

  He sees that men, to poverty who owe 28

  duty of Holy Love and Charity,

  live only pow’er to gain and wealth to show,

  pretending Justice and Integrity:

  Of ugly Tyr’anny breeding asp’erous woe

  they coin a right with vain severity:

  Laws they devise in favour of the King;

  Laws which the lieges favour down they fling,

  He sees, in fine, none love as all should love, 29

  save that which dealeth only ill delight:

  Nor for a longer time doth it behove

  to waive a punishment as dire as right.

  He bids his summoned Ministers to move

  armaments, fitted for that mortal fight

  he lists engage with you misgovern’d crowd,

  that hath till now allegiance disavow’d.

  Of these small winged Impes a band is set 30

  to varied labours in their several crafts;

  these on the grindstone piercing piles to whet,

  and those to shave and thin the caney shafts:

  Soothes ev’ery labour love-sweet canzonet,

  wedding strange chances to the song that wafts

  sonorous melodies and roundels gay;

  suave is the song, angelical the lay.

  Th’ immortal Furnaces wherein they forged 31

  for their swift arrows points that penetrate,

  with fiery Hearts by way of fu’el are gorged,

  and Vitals vital still that palpitate:

  The tempering waves wherein the tips were merged,

  are lovers’ Tears in love unfortunate:

  The live bright light and never-failing fire

  is ever burning ne’er outburnt Desire.

  Some hied their dext’erous hands to exercise 32

  on the rude Vulgus’ hard unfeeling hearts:

  Re-echo’d through the welkin frequent sighs

  of victims smitten by the shaft that smarts:
r />   Fair be the Nymphs who deal the remedies

  dear to the hurts they deal, and such their arts,

  the sorely hurt not only they revive,

  but boon of life to life unborn they give.

  Beauteous the many, while the few are plain, 33

  consonant with the qual’ity of the wound;

  for to heal venom spread through ev’ery vein

  the bitter’est Theriacks oft the best are found.

  Many are doomed aye to wear the chain

  by subtle bond of weirdest witch’ery bound:

  thus haps it mostly, when the darts acerb

  are armed and tinctured with the poyson-herb.

  And from such wilful shots discharged sans aim, 34

  wherewith those awkward Impes aye joy to play,

  arise a thousand loves that mar and maim

  the victims wounded in such wretched way:

  E’en of the Heroes boasting highest fame

  a thousand impious loves the sight dismay;

  Such was May Byblis, such the Cinyraean:

  This Youth Assyrian born, and that Judaean.

  Ye too, my Lordlings! oft have seen the hour 35

  when love of Shepherd-lass your souls hath smit;

  and ye, my Ladies! oft the couthless boor

  hath meshed your Ladyships in Vulcan-net.

  These waiting nocturns to the tryst fain scour,

  those scale the casements and o’er pantiles flit:

  Yet hold I mainly that such loves indign

  are more the Mother’s than the Son’s design.

  Now the light char’iot on the green depose 36

  the pure white Cygnets, slowly softly wending;

  and Dionaea, who conjoined shows

  roses in waste of snows, is seen descending.

  Her Bowyer-son who dareth Heav’en oppose,

  to greet her hasteth with douce smile unbending;

  while of the little Cupid lads a band

  crowdeth to kiss the Queen of Beauty’s hand.

  She, to save precious time from vanities, 37

  whispers the Boy embosom’d in her arms

  confident thus:—” Dear Son whose hand supplies

  the firmest footing of my chiefest charms;

  Son! on whose pow’ers my power aye relies;

  thou, holding cheap Typhoeus’ dread alarms,

  her force by thine t’ enforce, an urgent case

  bringeth thy mother to bespeak thy grace.”

  “The Lusitanick toils well hast thou ken’d, 38

  whom I for ages watch with tenderest guise,

  Since sware the Parcae unto me, their friend,

  they shall adore my name, my favour prize;

  and, as their feats of armed prowess shend

  all feats of rival Rome, I lief devise