Classic Poem

" AFTER the horrors of the stormy Night,
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
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
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! Port'ugal!" high uplifting hand,
" for the new king, Dom John, who rules the land."

" Changed in sprite were all within the Reign,
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 Country and the Dame,
with whom incont'inent love and lust unblest,
the wappen'd widow showed manifest.

" But he, dishonour'd and with cause, at last
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 highways torn and stript they trail.

" Now long Oblivion veils the deeds accurst
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
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
(if such man ever was) yclept of yore;
and lands by Ferd'inand won, and Cid Rodrigo
from the tyrannick gov'ernance of the Moon.
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,
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,
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
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 it their haughty sworders armed and made
ready their rightful lords i' the war to aid.

" John in whose bosom Peril only grows
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
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
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
that nills to strike for freedom beats a heart?
What! in this province which the nations all
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
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 Yaris were forced to yield
their swords besides the spoils that strewed the held?

" " Say you, by whom were alway trodden down
these, now who seem to tread adown on you;
for Diniz and his son of high renown,
save by your sires' and grandsires' 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
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
(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, —
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
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
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
while those on coats with thousand colours bright,
the signs and symbols of their loves indite.

" With all this lustrous Company enrol'd
from fresh Abrantes sallies John the Brave,
Abrantes, led 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
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
Antam Vascues 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,
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,
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
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,
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
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
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:
(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 few 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!
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,
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
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
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
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,
who 'mid the spear and harness, bolt and bow,
foremost I charge and first myself I fling;
smite, ye cue Portughuese, deal yet one blow!"
Thus spake that great-soul'd Warrior, brandishing
four times his lance before the final throw;
and, thrusting forceful, by that single thrust
lanceth such wounds that many bite the dust.

" For, see, his soldiers brent with ardour new,
honoured repentance, honourable fire,
who shall display most courage staid and true,
and dare the dangers dealt by Mars his ire
contend: The steel that catcheth flamey hue,
aims first at plate, then at the breast aims higher;
thus, wounds they give and wounds they take again;
and, dealing Death, in Death they feel no pain.

" Many are sent to sight the Stygian wave,
into whose bodies entered iron Death:
Here dieth Sanct' Iago's Master brave,
who fought with fiercest sprite till latest breath;
another Master dire of Calatrave,
horrid in cruel havock, perisheth:
Eke the Pereiras foully renegate
die God denying and denouncing Fate.

" Of the vile, nameless Vulgar many bleed;
flitting with Gentles to the Gulf profound;
where hungers, rav'ening with 'eternal greed,
for passing human Shades the three-head Hound:
And humbling more that haughty, arr'ogant breed,
and better taming enemies furibund,
Castilia's Gonfanon sublime must fall
beneath the forceful foot of Portugall.

" Here wildest Battle hath its cruel'est will,
with deaths and shouts, and slash and gory shower;
the multitud'inous Braves, who're killed and kill,
rob of their proper hues the bloom and flower:
At length they fly! they die! now waxeth still
War's note, while lance and spear have lost their power:
Castilia's King the fate of pride must own,
seeing his purpose changed, his host o'erthrown.

" The field he leaveth to the Conqueror,
too glad his life had not been left in fight:
Follow him all who can; and panick sore
lends them not leet, but feather'd wings for flight:
Their breasts are filled with a wild dolo u r,
for Deaths, for Treasure waste in wanton plight;
for woe, disgust, and foul dishonour's soil
to see the Victor rev'elling in their spoil.

" Some fly with furious curses, and blaspheme
him who the World with Warfare made accurst;
others that cov'etous breast all culp'able deem
for Greed enquicken'd by his selfish thirst.
That, alien wealth to win, with sore extreme
he plunged his hapless folk in woes the worst;
leaving so many wives and mothers, lorn
of sons and spouses, evermore to mourn.

" Camped our conqu'ering John the 'customed days
on foughten field, in glory of the brave;
then with vowed pilgrimage, gift, pray'er, and praise,
he gave Him graces who such vict'ory gave.
But Nuno, willing not by peaceful ways
on human memory his name to 'grave,
but by his sovran feats of war, commands
his men pass over to Transtagan lands.

" His gallant project favoureth Destiny,
making effect commensurate with cause;
the Lands that bordered by the Vandals lie
yielding their treasures bow before his laws:
Now Baetic banners which Seville o'erfly,
and flags of various princes, without pause,
all trail foot-trampled; naught their force availeth
whate'er the forceful Portingall assaileth.

" By these and other Victories opprest,
Castilia's lieges long deplored their woes;
when Peace by all desired and gentle Rest,
to grant their vanquisht fone the Victors chose;
then seemed it good to His almighty hest
that the contending Sovrans should espouse
two royal Damsels born of English race,
Princesses famed for honour, form, and grace.

" Nills the brave bosom, used to bloody broil,
the lack of foeman who his force shall dree;
and thus, Earth holding none to slay and spoil,
he carries conquest o'er the unconquer'd Sea.
First of our Kings is he who left the soil
patrial, teaching Africk's Paynimry,
by dint of arms, how much in word and deed
the Laws of C HRIST Mafamed's laws exceed.

" See! thousand swimming Birds the silv'ery plain
of Thetis cleave, and spurn her fume and fret,
with bellied wings to seize the wind they strain,
where his extremest mete Alcides set:
Mount Abyla, and dight with tow'er and fane
Ceita, they seize, ignoble Mahomet
they oust: and thus our gen'eral Spain secure
from Julian-craft, disloyal and impure.

" Death granted not to Portugal's desire
Hero so happy long should wear the crown;
but soon th' angelick Host and heav'enly Choir
a home in highest Heaven made his own:
To ward his Lusia, and to raise her higher,
He who withdrew him left the goodly boon,
building our country on her broadest base, —
of noble Infants a right royal Race.

" Noways so happy was Duarte's fate,
what while he rose the royal rank to fill:
Thus troublous Time doth ever alternate
pleasure with pain, and temper good with ill.
What man hath lived through life in joyous state,
who firmness finds in Fortune's fickle will?
Yet to this Kingdom and this King she deigned
spare the vicissitudes her laws ordained.

" Captive he saw his brother, hight Fernand,
the Saint aspiring high with purpose brave,
who as a hostage in the Sara'cen's hand,
betrayed himself his 'leaguer'd host to save.
He lived for purest faith to Fatherland
the life of noble Ladye sold a slave,
lest bought with price of Ceita's potent town
to publick welfare be preferred his own.

" Codrus, lest foemen conquer, freely chose
to yield his life and, conqu'ering self, to die;
Regulus, lest his land in aught should lose,
lost for all time all hopes of liberty;
this, that Hispania might in peace repose,
chose lifelong thrall, eterne captivity:
Codrus nor Curtius with man's awe for meed,
nor loyal Decii ever dared such deed.

" Afonso, now his kingdom's only heir, —
a name of Vict'ory on our Spanish strand, —
who, the haught fierceness of the Moor's frontier
to lowest mis'ery tamed with mighty hand,
pardie, had been a peerless cavalier
had he not lusted after Ebro-land:
But still shall Africk say, 't were hopeless feat
on battle-plain such terr'ible King to beat.

" This could pluck Golden Apples from the bough,
which only he in Tiryns born could pluck:
He yoked the salvage Moor, and even now
the salvage Moorman's neck must bear his yoke.
Still palms and greeny bays begird his brow
won from the barb'arous raging hosts that flock,
Alcacer's forted town with arms to guard,
Tangier the pop'ulous, and Arzille the hard.

" All these by gallant deeds, in fine, were gained,
and low lay ev'ery diamantine wall
anent the Portingalls, now taught and trained
to throw the Pow'er that lists to try a fall:
Such extreme marvels by strong arms attained, —
right worthy el'oquent scripture one and all, —
the gallant Cavaliers, whose Gestes of glory
added a lustre to our Lusian story.

" But soon, ambition-madded, goaded on
by Passion of Dominion bitter-sweet,
he falls on Ferdinand of Aragon,
Castile's haught kingdom hoping to defeat.
The swarming hostile crowds their armour don,
the proud and various races troop and meet,
from Cadiz fast to tow'ering Pyrenee,
who bow to Ferdinand the neck and knee.

" Scorned an idler in the realm to rest
the youthful John; who taketh early heed
to aid his greedy father with his best,
and sooth, came th' aidance at the hour of need.
Issued from bloody battle's terr'ible test
with brow unmoved, serene in word and deed
maugre defeat, the Sire, that man of blood,
while 'twixt the rivals Vict'ory doubtful stood:

" For-that of valiant princely vein his son,
a gentle, stalwart, right magnan'imous Knight,
when to th' opponents he such harm had done,
one whole day camped on the field of fight.
Thus from Octavian was the vict'ory won,
while Anthony, his mate, was Victor hight,
when they the murth'erers who the Caesar slew,
upon Philippi-field the deed made rue.

" But as thro' gathered shades of Night eterne
Afonso sped to realms of endless joy,
the Prince who rose to rule our realm in turn
was John the Second and the thirteenth Roy.
This, never-dying Glory's meed to earn,
higher than ventured mortal man to fly,
ventured; who sought those bounds of ruddy Morn,
which I go seeking, this my voyage-bourne.

" Envoys commiss'ioneth he, who passing o'er
Hispania, Gaul, and honoured Italy,
took ship in haven of th' illustrious shore
where erst inhumed lay Parthenope;
Naples, whose Dest'iny was decreed of yore,
the var'ious stranger's slave and thrall to be,
and rise in honour when her years are full
by sovereign Hispama's noble rule.

" They cleave the bright blue waves of Sic'ulan deeps;
by sandy marge of Rhodos-isle they go;
and thence debark they where the cliffy steeps
are still enfam'd for Magnus here lain low:
To Memphis wend they, and the land that reaps
crops which fat Nylus' flood doth overflow;
and climb 'yond Egypt to those Æthiop heights
where men conserve C HRIST'S high and holy rites.

" And eke they pass the waters Erythrean,
where past the shipless peoples Israelite;
remain arear the ranges Nabathean,
which by the name of Ishmael's seed are hight:
Those odoriferous incense-coasts Sabaean,
dainty Adonis' Mother's dear delight,
they round, and all of Happy Araby known,
leaving the Waste of Sand and Reign of Stone.

" They push where still preserveth Persic Strait,
confused Babel's darkling memory;
there, where the Tygre blendeth with Euphrate,
which from their head-streams hold their heads so high.
Thence fare they his pure stream to find, whose fate
'twill be to deal such length of history,
Indus, and cross that breadth of Ocean-bed
where daring Trajan never dared tread.

" Strange tribes they saw, and through wild peoples past
Gedrosian, and Carmanian, and of Inde;
seeing the various custom, various caste,
which ev'ery Region beareth in her kind.
But from such asp'erous ways, such voyage vast
man finds not facile safe return to find:
In fine, there died they and to natal shore,
to home, sweet home, returned they nevermore.

" Reserved, meseemeth, Heav'en's'clear-sighting will
for Man'oel, worthy of such goodly meed,
this arduous task, and stirred him onward still
to stirring action and illustrious deed:
Man'oel, who rose the throne of John to fill,
and to his high resolves did eke succeed,
forthwith when taken of his realm the charge,
took up the conquest of the Ocean large:

" The same, as one obliged by a noble Thought,
the debt of Honour left as 'heritance
by predecessors, (who in life aye fought
their own dear land's best interests to advance)
ne'er for a moment failed of his fraught, —
Obligement; — at what hou. Day's radiance
pales, and the nitid Stars on high that rise,
with falling courses woo man's sleep-worn eyes:

" Already being on bed of gold recline'd
where Fancy worketh with prophetick strain;
revolving matters in his restless mind,
the bounden duties of his race and reign;
Sleep, soft restorer, comes his eyne to bind,
while thought and mem'ory both unbound remain;
for, as his weary lids sweet slumber sealeth,
Morpheus in varied forms himself revealeth.

" Here seems the King so high to soar away,
that touched his head the nearest primal Sphere,
where worlds of vision 'neath his glances lay,
nations of vasty numbers, strange and fere:
and there right near the birthplace of the Day,
unto his outstretched eyne began appear,
from distant, olden, cloud-compelling mountains
flowing, a twain of high, deep, limpid fountains.

" Birds of the feral kind, and kine, and flocks,
'bode in the shadows of the shaggy wood:
A thousand herbs and trees with gnarled stocks,
barring the paths of passing mortals stood.
Adverse had ever been those mountain-rocks
to human intercourse, and clearly show'd,
never since Adam sinned against our days,
brake foot of man this breadth of bosky maze.

" From out the Fountains seemed he to behold
for him inclining, with long hasty stride,
two Men, who showed old and very old,
of aspect rustick yet with lordly pride:
Adown their twisted pointed locks slow roll'd
gouts which their bodies bathed on ev'ery side;
the skin of earthy texture, dark and dull;
the beard hirsute, unshorn, but long and full.

These hoary Fathers round their foreheads bore
tree-boughs, with unknown shrub and herb entwine'd;
and one a worn and wearied aspect wore,
as though from regions lying far behind:
And thus his waters which did slower pour
seemed adown the further side to wind:
E'en thus Alpheus from Arcadia fled
to Syracuse and Arethusa's bed.

" This, who with graver gait and gesture came,
thus from a distance to the Monarch crieth:
" O thou! whose sceptre and whose crown shall claim,
of Earth a mighty part that guarded lieth;
we twain, who fly through mouths of men by Fame,
we, whose untamed neck man's yoke defieth,
warn thee, O King! 'tis time to send commands,
and raise large tribute from our natal lands.

" " Illustrious Gange am I, whose farthest fount
in realms celestial, heav'enly heights, I trace:
And yon stands Indus, King, who on the mount
which thou regardest, hath of birth his place.
Thou shalt hard warfare wage on our account,
but, still insisting ev'ery fear to face,
with ne'er seen conquests, and sans soil or stain,
the tribes thou viewest thou shalt curb and rein."

" No more that holy noble River said;
both in a moment fade and disappear:
Awaketh Manoel in novel dread,
and big o'ercharged thoughts ybred of fear.
Meanwhile his glitt'ering mantle Phaebus spread
upon the sombre somn'olent hemisphere;
Dawn comes and o'er the gloomy welkin showers
blushings of modest rose, and fiery flowers.

" The King in counsel calls his lords to meet,
and of the vision'd figures news imparts;
the holy Elder's words he doth repeat,
which with a mighty marvel heaves their hearts.
All straight resolve t' equip a sturdy fleet,
that men, well skilled in navigator-arts,
should cut the stubborn Main and forth should fare
in search of novel climes and novel air.

" I, who right little deemed, forsooth, to find
myself attaining hopes my Sprite desired;
yet mighty matters of such cunning kind
my heart presaging promised and inspired;
e'en now ken not, or how or why design'd,
or for what happy chance in me admired,
that famous Monarch chose me, gave to me
of this grave, gracious enterprize the key.

" And with fair offer coucht in courteous phrase,
lordly command obliging more than laws, —
he said: " In exploits dure and daring ways
who woo most perils win the most applause:
Riskt life enfameth man with highest praise
or lost in HONOUR'S , not in honours', cause,
And, when to blighting Fear it never bends,
short it may be, yet more its length extends.

" " Thee from a chosen host have chosen I
the dangers claimed by thee to undergo:
'Tis heavy travail, hard, heroick, high;
which love of me shall lighten, well I trow."
I could not suffer more: — " Great King!" I cry,
" to face the steel-clad host, sword, lance, fire, snow,
for thee were thing so slight, my sole annoy
is to see trivial life so vain a toy.

" " Imagine ev'ery wildest aventure,
such as Eurystheus for Alcides plan'd:
Cleone's Lyon, Harpies foul and dour,
and Boar of Erymanth and Hydra ban'd;
in fine to seek those empty shades obscure
where Styx surrounds of Dis the dire Dead-land;
the greatest danger and the deadliest brunt,
for thee, O King! this soul, this flesh would front."

" His thanks and costly gifts on me bestows
the King, whose reason lauds my ready will;
for Valour fed on praises lives and grows,
Praise is the noble Spirit's spur and spell.
At once to share my fortunes doth propose,
whom friendship and fraternal love compel,
nor less resolved to win him name and fame, a
dear trusty brother named Paul de Gama.

" Eke Nicholas Coelho volunteers,
trained to toilsome tasks and sufferings long;
both are in valour and in counsel peers,
in arms experienced, and in battle strong.
Now choicest hands in Youthtide's gen'erous years,
lusting for Bravery's meed around me throng;
doughty, high-mettled, as doth best become
advent'urous manhood that would tempt such doom.

" All these by Man'oel's hand remun'erate were,
that Love through Duty might the more increase;
and with high words each heart was fired to bear
adventures, peradventure, sans surcease.
Thus did the Minyae for their feat prepare, —
to gain the glories of the Golden Fleece, —
orac'ulous Argo-ship, that dared the first
through Euxine waves her vent'urous way to burst.

" Now in famed Ulyssea's haven man'd,
with raptures worthy of the great design
(where his sweet liquor and his snowy sand
our Tagus blendeth with Neptuman brine),
ride the ships ready. Here my strong young band
by fear unbridled glad in labour join;
for those of Mars and Neptune, one and all,
the world would wander did I only call.

" Fast by the foreshore comes the solidery
in various colours prankt with various art;
nor less enforced by inner force are they
to seek and see Earth's unexplored part.
Round the good Navy gentle breezes play
and blithely waves each airy estandart:
They swear, far-gazing on the breadth of brine,
'mid stars Olympick Argo-like to shine.

" When all prepared according to this sort
with what of wants such lengthy way demandeth,
our souls we did prepare for Death's disport
who before seaman's eyne for ever standeth:
To the Most Highest, throned in Heaven's court
which He sustains, whose glance this globe commandeth,
that He, our guard and guide, His aidance lend,
we prayed, and see our incept to its end.

" Thus we departed from the saintly Shrine
built on the margent of the briny wave,
named, for all mem'ory, from the Land Divine,
where God incarned came the world to save.
King! I assure thee when this mind of mine
rememb'ereth how 'twas ours those shores to leave,
filled are my sprite and heart with doubts and fears,
and eyes can hardly stay their trickling tears.

" The City-people on that saddest day
(these for their bosom-friends, and those for kin,
and others but spectators) thronged the way
sad and down-hearted at the dreary scene:
We, winding through the virtuous array
a thousand monks and priests of rev'erend mien,
praying, in solemn pageant, to the Lord,
afoot set forth the ready barques to board.

" On such long dubious courses sent to steer,
us deemed the people den'izens of the tomb;
the wailing women shed the piteous tear,
and sadly sighed the men to sight our doom:
Wives, sisters, mothers (most their hearts must fear
whose love is foremost) added to the gloom
Despair; and shudder'd with a freezing fright
lest we, their loved ones, aye be lost to sight.

" This, following, saith: " O son! I ever held
coolth of my sorrows and the sweet relief
of mine already weary way-worn eld
so soon to sink in glooms of need and grief;
why leave me thus to want and woe compel'd?
Why fly my love, fond child? whose days so brief
shall set in darkness, and in briny grave
shalt feed the fishes of the greedy wave.

" That, with loosed locks: " O douce and dearest spouse,
lacking whose love Love willeth not I live;
why risk, when daring Ocean's wrath to rouse,
thy life, my life which is not thine to give?
How canst forget our fond fair marriage-vows?
Why face the waves a homeless fugitive?
Our love, our vain content shall nought avail
thrown to the breezes as they blow the sail?"

" With such and sim'ilar words that spake the tongue
of love and human nature's yearning woe,
followed our seaward path both old and young,
life's two extremes by Time made weak and slow.
Sad Echo wailed the near wolds among,
as though hard hills were moved grief to show
And tears the snowy shore suchwise bedew'd,
drops rivall'd sands in equal multitude.

" Of us the Company, ne'er raising eye
on wife or mother, marcht in such a state,
we feared our hearts fall faint, and fain we fly
our fixt resolves, repenting all too late:
Thus I determined straight aboard to hie,
sans " Fare-thee-wells" by custom consecrate;
which, though they be dear love's own lovely way,
redouble grief to those who go or stay.

" But now an aged Sire of reverend mien,
upon the foreshore thronged by the crowd,
with eyne fast fixt upon our forms was seen,
and discontented thrice his brow he bow'd
His deep-toned accents raising somewhat keen,
that we from shipboard hear him speak aloud,
with lore by long experience only grown,
thus from his time-taught breast he made his moan: —

" " Oh craving of Command! Oh vain Desire!
of vainest van'ity man miscalleth Fame!
Oh fraud'ulent gust, so easy fanned to fire
by breath of vulgar, aping Honour's name!
What just and dreadful judgment deals thine ire,
to seely souls who overlove thy claim!
What deaths, what direful risks, what agonies
wherewith thou guerd'onest them, thy fitting prize!

" " Thou dour disturber of man's sprite and life,
fount of backsliding and adultery,
sagacious waster, and consummate thief
of subjects, kingdoms, treasure, empery:
They hail thee noble, and they hail thee chief,
though digne of all indignities thou be;
they call thee Fame and Glory sovereign,
words, words, the heart of silly herd to gain!

" " What new disaster dost thou here design?
What horror for our realm and race invent?
What unheard dangers or what deaths condign,
veiled by some name that soundeth excellent?
What bribe of gorgeous reign, and golden mine,
whose ready offer is so rarely meant?
What Fame hast promised them? what pride of story?
What palms? what triumphs? what victorious glory?

" " But oh! race gendered by his sin insane,
whom disobedience of the high command,
not only chased from the heav'enly reign,
and doomed to distant and exiled land;
but, eke, from other state too blest for men
where Peace with Innocence fared hand in hand,
that olden golden Age, his victims hurl'd
into an iron and an armed world:

" " Since by this gustful Van'ity led astray,
lighter thou makest man's light phantasy;
since his brute fierceness and his lust of prey
bear honoured names of Strength and Valiancy;
since thou wilt price and prize, in wildest way,
despisal of man's life, which aye should be
esteemed of mortals, nay, held doubly dear,
when He who gave it, gave it up with fear.

" " Neighbours thee not the hateful Ishmaelite,
with whom abundant strife shalt ever hold?
Follows he not th' Arabian's law unright,
an thou wouldst fight to fill of C HRIST the fold?
A thousand cities, regions infinite,
are they not his, an cov'etest earth and gold?
Is he not strong in warfare, high in name,
if Honour be, not greed of gain, thine aim?

" " Dost leave the foeman breeding at thy gate
who wendest foreign far-off fone to seek;
whereby this antique realm lies desolate;
whose strength, o'erstretched, waxeth ruinous weak?
Seekest thou dark and dubious chance of fate,
who hearest Fame with honey'd accents speak,
lauding thy lot, and hailing thee seignior
of Inde, Perse, Arab and Æthiopia-shore?

" " Oh, curst the Mortal, who the first was found
teaching the tree to wear the flowing sheet!
worthy th' eternal pains of the Profound,
if just that justest law I hold and greet.
Ne'er may man's judgment lofty and renown'd.
nor genius rare, nor harp sonorous sweet,
requite such gift with mem'ory, honour, fame;
perish thy glory, perish e'en thy name!

" " Iapetus' daring Son from Heaven brought
the fire he added human breast to bless;
fire, that inflamed to wars a world distraught,
with death and eke disgrace: (ah, sad distress!)
How better far for us and ours hadst wrought
Prometheus! and with loss of life the less
had thy famed Statue never felt the fire
of great designs that 'gender great desire!

" " Ne'er had the Stripling, miserably brave,
'tempted his Sire's high car, nor empty Air
the mighty Mason and his boy, who gave
names which the Sea-gulf and the River bear.
No fierce emprize and fell, by land and wave,
through fire, steel, water, wind, frost, heat, to fare,
wherein the human race loves not to range.
Sorrowful sort! condition strangest strange!"