but our light Prores their course had now inclined
to strike where shelter’d by the nearest isle:
Soldiers and sailors in one toil conjoined
as though were here the period of their toil:
They take in sail, and strike the lofty spar,
and Ocean, anchor-smit, froths high in air.
49
Não eram ancorados, quando a gente
Estranha pelas cordas já subia.
No gesto ledos vêm, e humanamente
O Capitão sublime os recebia:
As mesas manda pôr em continente;
Do licor que Lieo prantado havia
Enchem vasos de vidro, e do que deitam,
Os de Faeton queimados nada enjeitam.
Nor had they anchor’d, when the stranger race 49
the shrouds upswarming ready footing gained;
joyous they cluster glad of gest and face;
our Captain gracious greeting gives unfeigned.
He bids incontinent the board to grace
with vinous liquor first Lyaeus drained;
they crown the chrystal cups, the proffer’d wine
Phaeton’s scorched folk nowise decline.
50
Comendo alegremente perguntavam,
Pela Arábica língua, donde vinham,
Quem eram, de que terra, que buscavam,
Ou que partes do mar corrido tinham?
Os fortes Lusitanos lhe tornavam
As discretas respostas, que convinham:
“Os Portugueses somos do Ocidente,
Imos buscando as terras do Oriente.
Afeasting cheery all the guests enquired 50
in Arab language, Whence had come their hosts?
Who were they? Where their land? What they desired?
What seas their keels had cut and conn’d what coasts?
The valiant Lusians answered with required
discretion, and eschewing foolish boasts, —
“We are the Occidental Portughuese;
And, seeking Orient lands, we sail the seas.
51
“Do mar temos corrido e navegado
Toda a parte do Antártico e Calisto,
Toda a costa Africana rodeado,
Diversos céus e terras temos visto;
Dum Rei potente somos, tão amado,
Tão querido de todos, e benquisto,
Que não no largo mar, com leda fronte,
Mas no lago entraremos de Aqueronte.
We now have coasted, running Ocean o’er, 51
Callisto’s Arctick and th’ Antarctick lands;
our course hath circled Africk’s winding shore;
strange skies exploring and yet stranger strands:
Ours is a potent King, loved evermore,
and we so prize his praise and his commands,
with mien right joyful, not the sea and sky,
but even Ach’eron Lake we dare defy.
52
“E por mandado seu, buscando andamos
A terra Oriental que o Indo rega;
Por ele, o mar remoto navegamos,
Que só dos feios focas se navega.
Mas já razão parece que saibamos,
Se entre vós a verdade não se nega,
Quem sois, que terra é esta que habitais,
Ou se tendes da Índia alguns sinais?”
“And wend we seeking by his royal will 52
where farthest Indus wat’ereth Eastern plain:
For him through wild wide waves we hoist the sail,
where ugly seals and ores deform the Main.
But Reason tells us that ye may not fail
to answer, an of Truth your souls be fain,
Who are ye? What this land wherein ye wone?
And sign of India is to you beknown?”
53
“Somos, um dos das ilhas lhe tornou,
Estrangeiros na terra, Lei e nação;
Que os próprios são aqueles, que criou
A natura sem Lei e sem razão.
Nós temos a Lei certa, que ensinou
O claro descendente de Abraão
Que agora tem do mundo o senhorio,
A mãe Hebréia teve, e o pai Gentio.
Informações. A Ilha de Moçambique.
“We live,” an island-man thus answ’ering said, 53
“aliens in land and law and eke in blood;
where native races are by nature bred,
a lawless, loutish, and unreasoning brood.
We hold his certain Law, that Holy Seed,
springing from Abram’s loins, who hath subdued
the nations subject to his sign’ory true;
by sire a Gentile and by mother Jew.
54
“Esta ilha pequena, que habitamos,
em toda esta terra certa escala
De todos os que as ondas navegamos
De Quíloa, de Mombaça e de Sofala;
E, por ser necessária, procuramos,
Como próprios da terra, de habitá-la;
E por que tudo enfim vos notifique,
Chama-se a pequena ilha Moçambique.
“This little island, where we now abide, 54
of all this seaboard is the one sure place
for ev’ery merchantman that stems the tide,
from Quiloa or Sofalah or Mombas:
Here, as ’tis necessary, long we’ve tried
to house and home us, like its proper race:
In fine to find you with the facts you seek,
man calls our little island ‘Mozambique.’
55
“E já que de tão longe navegais,
Buscando o Indo Idaspe e terra ardente,
Piloto aqui tereis, por quem sejais
Guiados pelas ondas sabiamente.
Também será bem feito que tenhais
Da terra algum refresco, e que o Regente
Que esta terra governa, que vos veja,
E do mais necessário vos proveja.”
“And, as far-faring now ye come to view 55
Indie Hydaspes and his burning board,
hence ye shall bear a Pilot, sure and true,
whose skill the safest guidance shall afford:
‘Twere also well, ere you your toils renew,
vittaile to ship, and let our island-lord,
who governeth this land, his guests behold,
and stock with needed store each empty hold.”
56
Isto dizendo, o Mouro se tornou
A seus batéis com toda a companhia;
Do Capitão e gente se apartou
Com mostras de devida cortesia.
Nisto Febo nas águas encerrou,
Co’o carro de cristal, o claro dia,
Dando cargo à irmã, que alumiasse
O largo mundo, enquanto repousasse.
His speech thus spake the Moor, and took his leave, 56
he and his meiny where the batels lay:
formal farewells to chief and crews he gave,
exchanging congees with due courtesy.
Now weary Phoebus in the western wave
had stalled the chrystal chariot of the Day,
and gave his bright-brow’d sister charge t’ illume
the vast of Earth while lasted nightly gloom.
57
A noite se passou na lassa frota
Com estranha alegria, e não cuidada,
Por acharem da terra tão remota
Nova de tanto tempo desejada.
Qualquer então consigo cuida e nota
Na gente e na maneira desusada,
E como os que na errada Seita creram,
Tanto por todo o mundo se estenderam,
Aboard the way-worn Fleet blithe sped the night 57
in careless joyaunce recking nought of fear;
for the far land which long had ‘scaped their sight
at length gave tidings, and at last lay near.
Now to take notice �
�gins each curious wight
of the strange people’s manners, ways, and gear,
and much they marvell’ed how the sect misguided
o’er Earth’s broad surface far and wide abided.
58
Da Lua os claros raios rutilavam
Pelas argênteas ondas Neptuninas,
As estrelas os Céus acompanhavam,
Qual campo revestido de boninas;
Os furiosos ventos repousavam
Pelas covas escuras peregrinas;
Porém da armada a gente vigiava,
Como por longo tempo costumava.
Rained Luna’s radiance shedding rutilant showers 58
o’er Neptune’s wavelets tipt with silver sheen:
And like the May-mead fleckt with daisy flowers
sprent with its sparkling stars the sky was seen:
The blust’ring storm-winds slept in distant bowers,
Antres obscure in regions peregrine;
yet on th’ Armada’s decks a weapon’d guard
kept, as so long they wont, good watch and ward.
59
Mas assim como a Aurora marchetada
Os formosos cabelos espalhou
No Céu sereno, abrindo a roxa entrada
Ao claro Hiperiónio, que acordou,
Começa a embandeirar-se toda a armada,
E de toldos alegres se adornou,
Por receber com festas e alegria
O Regedor das ilhas, que partia.
Rut when Aurora with her marquetry 59
‘gan strew the glorious honours of her head
o’er the clear Heav’ens, and oped the ruddy way
to bright Hyperion rising from his bed;
lief is the Fleet to dress in brave array
of flags, and goodly awnings gay to spread,
that all may greet with holiday and hail
that island-lord who came with flowing sail.
60
Partia alegremente navegando,
A ver as naus ligeiras Lusitanas,
Com refresco da terra, em si cuidando
Que são aquelas gentes inumanas,
Que, os aposentos cáspios habitando,
A conquistar as terras Asianas
Vieram; e por ordem do Destino,
O Império tomaram a Constantino.
He came right merrily o’er the Main, and sought 60
to view our nimble Lusitanian fleet;
bringing his country-cates, for’t was his thought
in the fierce foreigner perchance to meet
the race inhuman, which hath ever fought
to change its Caspian caves for happier seat
in Asian continent; and, by Will Divine,
of rule imperial robbed Constantine.
61
Recebe o Capitão alegremente
O Mouro, e toda a sua companhia;
Dá-lhe de ricas peças um presente,
Que só para este efeito já trazia;
Dá-lhe conserva doce, e dá-lhe o ardente
Não usado licor, que dá alegria.
Tudo o Mouro contente bem recebe;
E muito mais contente come e bebe.
With glad reception our Commander meets 61
the Moorish chieftain and his whole convoy;
whom with a gift of richest gear he greets
whereof a store was shipped for such employ:
He gives him rich conserves, he gives, rare treats,
the liquors hot which fill man’s heart with joy.
Good be the gifts the Moor contented thinks,
but more the sweetmeats prizes, most the drinks.
62
Está a gente marítima de Luso
Subida pela enxárcia, de admirada,
Notando o estrangeiro modo e uso,
E a linguagem tão bárbara e enleada.
Também o Mouro astuto está confuso,
Olhando a cor, o trajo, e a forte armada;
E perguntando tudo, lhe dizia
“Se por ventura vinham de Turquia?”
The sailor-people sprung from Lusus’ blood 62
in wond’ering clusters to the ratlines clung;
noting the stranger’s novel mode and mood
with his so barb’arous and perplexed tongue.
Sometime the wily Moor confused stood
eyeing the garb, the hue, the fleet, the throng;
and asked, with questions manifold assailing,
if they from Turkey-land, perchance, were hailing.
63
E mais lhe diz também, que ver deseja
Os livros de sua Lei, preceito eu fé,
Para ver se conforme à sua seja,
Ou se são dos de Cristo, como Crê.
E porque tudo note e tudo veja,
Ao Capitão pedia que lhe dê
Mostra das fortes armas de que usavam,
Quando co’os inimigos pelejavam.
He further tells them how he longs to see 63
what books their credence, law and faith contain;
if these conforming with his own agree
or were, as well he ween’d, of Christian grain:
Nay more, that hidden naught from him may be,
he prayed the Captain would be pleased t’ ordain
that be displayed every puissant arm
wherewith the foreigners work their foemen harm.
64
Responde o valeroso Capitão
Por um, que a língua escura bem sabia:
“Dar-te-ei, Senhor ilustre, relação
De mim, da Lei, das armas que trazia.
Nem sou da terra, nem da geração
Das gentes enojosas de Turquia:
Mas sou da forte Europa belicosa,
Busco as terras da índia tão famosa.
To this the doughty Chieftain deals reply, 64
through one that obscure jargon knowing well:
“Illustrious Signior! I fain will try
all of ourselves, our arms, our creed to tell.
Nor of the country, kith or kin am I
of irksome races that in Turkey dwell;
my home is warlike Europe and I wend
Seeking the far-famed lands of farthest Inde.
65
A lei tenho daquele, a cujo império
Obedece o visíbil e ínvisíbil
Aquele que criou todo o Hemisfério,
Tudo o que sente, o todo o insensíbil;
Que padeceu desonra e vitupério,
Sofrendo morte injusta e insofríbil,
E que do Céu à Terra, enfim desceu,
Por subir os mortais da Terra ao Céu.
“I hold the law of One by worlds obey’d, 65
by visible things and things invisible;
He who the hemispheres from naught hath made,
with sentient things and things insensible:
Who with vitup’erate foul reproach bewray’d
was doomed to suffer death insufferable;
And who, in fine, by Heav’n to Earth was given,
that man through Him might rise from Earth to Heaven.
66
Deste Deus-Homem, alto e infinito,
Os livros, que tu pedes não trazia,
Que bem posso escusar trazer escrito
Em papel o que na alma andar devia.
Se as armas queres ver, como tens dito,
Cumprido esse desejo te seria;
Como amigo as verás; porque eu me obrigo,
Que nunca as queiras ver como inimigo.”
“Of this GOD-MAN most highest, infinite, 66
The books thou wouldst behold I have not brought;
we stand excused of bringing what men write
on paper, when in sprite ’tis writ and wrought.
But an with weapons wouldst refresh thy sight,
As thou hast asked, I deny thee nought;
A friend to friends I show them; and I vow
ne’er wouldst be shown their temper as my foe.
”
67
Isto dizendo, manda os diligentes
Ministros amostrar as armaduras:
Vêm arneses, e peitos reluzentes,
Malhas finas, e lâminas seguras,
Escudos de pinturas diferentes,
Pelouros, espingardas de aço puras,
Arcos, e sagitíferas aljavas,
Partazanas agudas, chuças bravas:
This said, he bids his armourers diligent 67
bring arms and armour for the Moorman viewer:
Come sheeny harness, corselets lucident,
the fine-wove mail-coat and plate-armour sure;
shields decorate with ‘scutcheons different,
bullets and spingards, th’ ice-brook’s temper pure;
bows, quivers furnisht with the grinded pile,
the sharp-edged partizan, the good brown bill:
68
As bombas vêm de fogo, e juntamente
As panelas sulfúreas, tão danosas;
Porém aos de Vulcano não consente
Que dêem fogo às bombardas temerosas;
Porque o generoso ânimo e valente,
Entre gentes tão poucas e medrosas,
Não mostra quanto pode, e com razão,
Que é fraqueza entre ovelhas ser leão.
Brought are the fiery bombs, while they prepare 68
sulph’urous stink-pots and grenades of fire:
But them of Vulcan biddeth he to spare
their dread artill’ery belching flames in ire;
naught did that gentle gen’erous spirit care
with fear the few and fearful folk t’ inspire,
and right his reas’oning:’Twere a boast too cheap
to play the Lyon on the seely Sheep.
69
Porém disto, que o Mouro aqui notou,
E de tudo o que viu com olho atento
Um ódio certo na alma lhe ficou,
Uma vontade má de pensamento.
Nas mostras e no gesto o não mostrou;
Mas com risonho e ledo fingimento
Tratá-los brandamente determina,
Até que mostrar possa o que imagina.
But from whate’er th’ observant Moorman heard, 69
and from whate’er his prying glance could see,
a settled deadly hate his spirit stir’d,
and evil crave of treach’erous cowardrie:
No sign of change he showed in gest or word;
but with a gay and gallant feigning he
vowed in looks and words to treat them fair,
till deeds his daring purpose could declare.
70
Pilotos lhe pedia o Capitão,
Por quem pudesse à Índia ser levado;
Diz-lhe que o largo prémio levarão
Do trabalho que nisso for tomado.
Promete-lhos o Mouro, com tenção
De peito venenoso, e tão danado,
Que a morte, se pudesse, neste dia,
Em lugar de pilotos lhe daria.
The Captain prayed him Pilots to purvey, 70
Luis de Camoes Collected Poetical Works Page 35