C lasl^y
THE
L U S I A D;
O R,
THE DISCOVERY OF INDIA.
A N
EPIC P O E M.
TRANSLATED FROM
The Original Portuguefe of Luis de Camoens.
By WILLIAM JULIUS MICKLE,
NEC VERBUM VERBO, CURABIS REDDERE, FIDUS
INTERPRES. HoR. Art. Poet.
6^
OXFORD,
^Tl
PRINTED BY JACKSON AND LISTER;
And Sold by Cadell^ in the Strand; Dilly, in the Poultry; Bew, Pater-nofter-Row j
Flexnev, Holborn; Evans, near York-Buildings ; Richardson and Urquhart,
under the Royal-Exchange ; and Goodsman, near Chaiiiig-Crofs, London.
M.DCC,LXXV1-
1
1 8 Ij
i O Y .J^l 51 V (
TO THE
DUKE of BUCCLEUGH,
My Lord,
' I ^ H E firfl: Idea of offering my Lusiad to fome dif-
tinguifhed Perfonage, infpired the earnefl wifh, that it
might be accepted by the illuftrious Reprefentative of that
Family, under which my Father, for many years, difcharged
the duties of a Clergyman.
Both the late Duke of Buccleugh, and the Earl of
Dalkeith, diflinguifhed Him by particular marks of their
favour 5 and I mufl have forgotten Him, if I could have
wifhed to offer the firfl Dedication of my literary Labours to
any other than the Duke of Buccleugh.
I am, with the greateji refpeSf,
My LORD,
Tour Grace*s mvjl devoted
And mojl obedient humble Servant,.
WILLIAM JULIUS MICKJLM*
LIST of SUBSCRIBERS.
HIS Highnefs the Prince of Anhal
Deffau.
His Highnefs the Duke of Arenberg.
Le Chev. d'Arcy, Marechal de Camp, &c.
a Paris.
The Right Rev. the Bilhop of St. Afaph.
The Rev. the Dean of St. Afaph.
John Armftrong, M. D. Phyfician to the
Army.
M. PAnglois, Efq;
John Arbuthuft, Efq; F. R. S.
Mr. Thomas Abercrombie.
Jofeph d'Aguilar, Efq;
Mr. James Alvey, Merchant, of Oporto.
Mr. Addington, fen. Winchcfter Coll.
Richard Aubrey, Efq; All Souls Coll. Oxon.
iames Adams, Efq; Univ. Coll. Oxon.
ir. John Applebee, St. John's Coll. Oxon,
Mr. Andrew Allan, London.
Mr. George Allan, London,
Mrs. Airey, Yorkftiire.
Mr. Thomas Adams, Oxford.
Mr. Alhe, Pemb. Coll. Oxon.
Mrs. Andrew.
Rev. Mr. Adamthwaite, Queen's Coll. Ox.
B,
His Grace the Duke of Buccleugh.
Her Grace the Dutchefs of Beaufort.
The Right Hon. Lady Bofcawen.
T'/jc late Right Hon. Earl Bathurll.
The Right Hon. Earl Bathurft, Lord Chan-
cellor of Great Britain.
The Right Hon. Lord Vifcount Bulkley.
Sir George Beaumont, Bart.
iames Bofwell, Efq; of Auchinleck.
)r. Blair, Profeflbr of Rhetoric, Edinburgh.
Rev. Mr. Bowles, Canon Refid. Sarum.
William Bowles, Efq; New Coll. Oxon.
Hon. Earth. Bouverie, Univ. Coll. Oxon.
Rev. Mr. Brereton, New Coll. Oxon.
Re/. Dr. Buckler, All Souls Coll. Oxon.
William Buckler, Efq; of Boreham,
Stephen Briggs, Efq; Tottenham.
Mr. Giles Barker, Merchant, London.
James Balmain, Efq;
Mr. William Ballantyne, Merchant, London.
Mr. Charles Buckeridge, St. John's Coll.
Oxoa.
Mr. William Bree, Baliol Coll. Oxon.
Mr. Bifcoe, C C. C. Oxon.
Le Comte de Belgioiofo, AmbafTadeur de
I'Empire, a Londres.
Le Chev. Brito, a Paris.
LeChev. de Bory, Chef d'Efquadre, Mem-
bre dc I'Academie Royale des Sciences
de Paris.
Le Chev. de Bordn, de I'Academie Royale
de Sciences de Paris.
M. le Blanc, a Paris.
M. le Dr. Bicchierai, a Florence.
Le Dr. le Begue du Prille, a Paris.
The late Rev. Dr. Burton, Head Matter of
Winchelter Coll.
Charles Henry Burgh, Efqj Oriel CoM.
Oxon.
Mr. Burland, C. C. C. Oxon.
Mr. Birch, Leyton, Eflex, 2 copies.
Mr. Thomas Baverltock, Surgeon, Hants.
Mr. Barton, Student of Ch. Ch. Oxon.
Poole Bathurft, Efq;
Mr. S. S. Bale, Ch. Ch. Oxon.
Rev. Mr. Chrift. Butfon, Dublin.
• The Hon. William Bouvirie, Univ. Coll.
Oxon.
Edmund Bunny, Efq; Univ. Coll. Oxon.
Rev. Mr. James Brifco, Queen's Coil. Oxon.
John Bourke, Efq; Univ. Coll. Oxon.
William Wrightfon Batty, Efq;
Rev. Mr. H. Bathurll, Canon of Ch. Ch.
Oxon.
Lovelace Bigg, Efq;
Charles Bapipfylde, Efq; New Coll. Oxon.
Anfclm Beaumont, Efq;
Hugh Bailey, Efq;
Daniel Braithwaite, Efq;
Richard Barwell, Ivfq; at Bengal.
Edward Baber, Efq; at Bengal.
Mr. Richard Barrol, Hereford.
Mr. Thomas Bruntc-n, Birmingharu.
Rev. Mr. George Buit, Ch. Ch. Oxon.
Mr. Bateman, London.
Mrs. Brooke.
Mr. Barnet.
Mr. John Bell.
Rev. Mr. Beresford, St. Mary HalL i
Mr. Thomas Bellamy. j
Charles Bragge, Efq; New Coll. Oxon.
Rev. Mr. Bagfhav/, Bromley, Kent. ..
4 Rcv>
LIST of SUBSCRIBERS.
Rev.Mr. JohnBuckland, C. C. C. Oxon.
Rev. Mr. Thomas Bruce, Jefns Coll. Oxon,
Mr. Bargus, Pemb. Coll. Oxon.
Mr. Surges, tJniv. Coll. Oxon.
Dr. Eouchier.
Mr. Charles Bathurft, New Coll. Oxon.
Ynyr Burges, Efq;
Rev, W. Brookes, St. John's Coll. Oxon,
Mr. Fra. Blick, ditto.
1'he Jafe Right Hon. Lord Clive.
The Right Hon. Lord Clive.
Le Due de Chanlues, a Paris.
L'Abbe de Chappele, F. R. S. a Paris.
Le Marquis de Courtenveaux, Capt. Col.
des Cent. Suifles, a Paris.
Le Marquis de Cordon, Ambaffadeur du
Roy du Sardaigne, a Londres.
Count John Baptift Carburi, F. R. S. &c.
a Paris.
M. de Cunha, Ambaffadeur de Portugal, a
la Haye.
Lady Courtney.
Mifs Courtney.
Mifs Anne Courtney.
The Hon. Mrs. Cholmondeley.
The Hon. James Cochrane, Bal. Coll. Ox.
Sir Thomas Clarges, Bart.
His Excell. General Carnac.
Sir David Carncgy, Ch. Ch. Oxon.
.Dr. De la Cour, Phyfician, Bath.
Abbe Chevalier, F. R. S.
Dr. Ciera, Profcffor of the Univerfity of
Coimbra.
Mr. Thomas Cairns, London.
Mr. Cooke, Merton Coll. Oxon.
Thomas Caldecott, Middle Temple, Efq;
John Cater, Efq; New Coll. Oxon.
Charles Cauilon, Efq; London.
.Joze Ant. Cardozo, of Lifbon.
Mr. W. Cockayne, Surgeon, London.
George Capadoce, Efq; 2 copies.
Mr. John Curie.
Rev. Mr. Collins, fecond Matter of Win-
chefter School.
Rev. Mr. William Crowe, New Coll. Ox.
John Campbell, Efq; Queen's Coll. Oxon.
Herbert Croft, Efq; Lincoln's- Inn, London.
Mr. Campbell, Upton St. Leonard's, Glou-
cefter, 3 copies.
Mr. Callcndar, Baliol Coll. Oxon.
Rev. Mr. Clar«, St. John's Coll. Oxon.
Mr. C. Cox, Oxford.
Mr. Cox, C. C. C. Oxon.
Rev. Mr. John Cleaver, Ch. Ch. Oxon.
Mr. J. P. Cwramins, New Coll. Oxoa.
George Cholmondeley, Efqj
Dr. Samuel Cholwick.
Rev. Mr. W. Cadogan, Ch. Ch. Oxon.
Rev. Mr. Coryton, All Souls Coll. Oxon.
Gilbert Clarke, Efq; New Coll. Oxon.
John Coker, Efq; New Coll. Oxon.
Parker Coke, Efq; All Souls Coll. Oxon.
Francis Charlton, Efq;
Edward Carver, Efq; Birmingham.
John B. Cholwick, Efq;
Richard Clarke, Efq;
John Cuthbert, Efq;
Cox, Efq; Ch. Ch. Oxon.
Rev. Mr. Crawford, Baliol Coll. Oxon.
Mr. Cure, St. John's Coll. Oxon.
Mr. Theodore Corbett, Fort St. George.
Mr. Vincentio Corbett, ditto.
Charles Cotes, Efq; All Souls Coll. Oxon.
Charles Cave, Efq; St. Mary Hall, Oxon,
Mr. J. Croker, Wadh. Coll. Oxon.
Mr. Charles Chambers, Oriel Coll. Oxon.
Mr. Cox, Baliol Coll. Oxon.
Chefter Reading Club.
D.
Rev. Dr. Douglas, Canon of Windfor.
George Dempfter, Efq;
T. Drummond, Efq; Ch. Ch. Oxon.
Robert Drummond, Efq; ditto.
Mr. Dutens.
Edward Delaval, Efq; F. R. S.
Mr. Dumbleton, Univ. Coll. Oxon.
Rev. Mr. Davenport, St. John's Coll. Oxon.
Thomas Drake, Efq;
Rev. Mr. Defalks, Queen's Coll. Oxon.
John Daubeney, Efq;
James Daubeney, Efq; New CollTOxon.
Charles Daubeney, Efq; New Coll. Oxon.
Nathaniel Draper, Efq;
John Davidfon, Efq;
Mr. Peter Dickens, Hereford.
Mr. Philip Davies, ditto.
Rev. Mr. Dunfter, Trin. Coll. Oxon.
Mr. Dalbein, Ch. Ch. Oxon.
Mr. Alexander Dunbar, London.
Thomas Dunn, Efq;
Mr. William Davenport, Oxford.
The Right Hon. Lord Elibank.
Chev. Efcarano, Charge d'Afaires die Sc
Majefte Chatholiqoe.
Monf. Erdmanfdorft'.
W. Benfon Earle, Efq; Sarum.
Mr. John Elliot, Weftminfter.
Mr. Elford, Baliol Coll. Oxon.
Mr. John Eton, New Coll. Oxon.
John
LIST of S U B S C R I BE R'S,
John Ewer, Efq; Univ. Coll. Oxon.
Mr. James Eyre, Trin. Coll. Oxon,
■ . Egerton, Efq;
Gilbert Elliot, Efq; Ch. Ch. Oxon.
Stephen Elliot, Efq; ditto.
Edw. Eftcourt, Efq; St. John's Coll. Oxon.
— — Eftcourt, Efq; Gloucefterfhire, 8 copies^
Rev. Mr. Evans, New Coll. Oxon.
James Ellis, Efq; Bengal.
Mr. Deputy Ellis.
Jofeph Eyre, Efq; Univ. Coll. Oxon*
Mr. N. Elliott, Oxfoid.
F.
The Right Hon. the Earl of Finlater.
The Right Hon. Lord Vifcount Folkeftone.
M. le Comte de Figuerola, a Bruffels.
Dr. Franzini, Profeilbr of the Univerfity of
Coimbra.
M. de Franchl.
The Rev. Dr. Fothergill, Provoft of Queen's
Coll. and Vice- Chancellor of the Uni-
verfity of Oxford.
Rev. Mr. Fothergill, Queen's Coll. Oxon.
The Hon. Hugh Fortefcue, Efq;
Henry Thomas Cope Freeman, Efq;
Mr. Frowd, Merton Coll. Oxon.
Rich. Fenton, Efq; Middle Temple, Lend.
Mofes Franco, Efq;
Rev. Mr. W. M. Friend, Ch. Ch. Oxon.
Mr. Furneaux, Univ. Coll. Oxon.
T. E. Freeman, Efq; Queen's Coll. Oxon.
Rev. Francis Fawkes, Kent.
• ■ — Farr, Efq; Kenbury, 2 copies,
James Filher, Efq; C. C. C. Oxon,
Andrew Foley, Efq; Braze-Nofe Coll. Oxon.
Rev. Mr. Fitz Thomas, C. C. C. Oxon.
Mr. Jofeph Fortnom, Oxford.
William Fullarton, of Rofemont, Efq;
William Fullarton, of Carftairs, Efq;
G.
His Grace the Duke of Grafton.
The Hon. James Grenvillc.
Le Marquis Grifelli de Rofignan, AmbafT.
du Roy du Sardaigne, a Berlin.
Sir William Gordon, Britilh Ambaffador at
Bruffels.
Benjamin Graham, E|q; London.
Mr. Garforth, Univ. Coll. Oxon.
Rev. Mr. Greenfield, Bal. Coll. Oxon.
Ambrofe Goddard, Efq; Wilts.
Bev. Dr. Gower, Worceiler Coll. Oxon.
Mrs. Gruber, Oxford.
J. Gouch, Efq;
George Gray, Efq;
Mr. Florence Gwatkin, Hereford.
t
David Garrick, Efq; zo^^pieu
The late Dr. Goldfmith.
Mr. James Grierfon, London.
Mr. David Goodfman, London.
Mr. Green, Oxford.
■ " Graves, Efq;
Mr. Grofvenor, Surgeon, Oxon.
H.
James Harris, Efq; Sarum.
James Harris, jun. Efq; His Majefty's Mi»
• nifter at the Court of Berlin, 2 copies.
David Hume, Efq;
John Home, Efq;
Rev, Dr. George Home, Prefidentof Magd,
Coll. Oxon.
Mr. Hutton, Ch. Ch. Oxon.
Mr. William Hilliard.
Mr. John Hunter.
Mr. James Hadow, Baliol Coll. Oxon,
Rev. Richard Heighway, ditto.
Mr. Hutchinfon, Magd. Coll. Oxon.
The late Rev. Mr. Hawkins, ditto.
John Howe, Efq; Queen's Coll. Oxon.
Rev. T. Huntingford, New Coll. Oxon.
Rev. G. T. Huntingford, Trin. Coll. Oxon.
Rev. Benjamin KUUifax, D. D. Lincola
Coll. Oxon.
Mr. Edmund Hague, London,
Rev, Mr. Hutton, Baliol Coll. Oxoa.
Mr. James Hedges, Oxford.
Mr. Arch. Hamilton, London.
Rev. R. Holmes, New Coll. Oxon.
William Harris, Efq; Lincoln's Inn.
Julius Hutchinfon, Efq;
The Hon. Jof. Hewet, Univ. Coll. Oxoo.
Thomas Heathcote, Efqj New Coll. Oxon.
Douglas Hill, Efq;
Robert Hepburn, of Clarkington, Efq;
Mr. George Henderfon.
Thomas Henchman, Efq; Bengal.
Mr. Francis Havard, Hereford.
Rev. James Herries, A. M.
Mr. Hanfon, London.
Capt. Hutchinfon, of the Eaft India Service.
John Hoole, Eaft India Houfe.
Mr. Samuel Hoole, ditto.
Samuel Hoole, Efq;
John Hunter, Surgeon, London.
Rev. Mr. Haden, Ch. Ch. Oxon.
Mr. Hardcaftle.
Mr. Hollift, New Coll. Oxon.
Mx. Hewet, Braze-Nofe Coll. Oxon,
J.
Sir James Johnftone, Bart. Wefterhall.
Mifs Betty Joliiilloae.
a 2 Sir
LIST of SUBSCRIBERS.
Colonel /ohnflone.
John Johnftone, Efq;
Governor Johnftone.
Capt. Walter Johnftone.
Sir Banks Jenkinfon, Bart.-
Samuel Johnfbn, LL. D.
William Jones, Efq; Univ. Coll. Oxon.
George Jardin, Efq; Profellbr of Logic,
Univerfity of Glafgow.
Havvton James, Efq;
Mr. JackfcT', C. C, C. Oxon.
Mr. Iremonger, ditto.
Mr. T. Jenner, M. A. Merton Coll. Oxon.
Dr. Jacob, Sarum.
Mr. J. Ireland, Merchant, Briftol.
Jehn Jacob, Efq; Wilts.
S.Ifted, Efq; Geat. Com. New Coll. Ox.
J. Ingram, Efq; Fellow of AH Souls Coll.
Oxon.
Mr. Mathew Irwin, at Langholm.
Eyles Irwin, Efq; at Madras.
James Irwin, Efq; at Bengal.
Mr. William Ireland, St. John's Coll. Ox.
Mr. Henry Jones, Attorney, Hereford.
Mr. J. Ireland, Oxford.
John Irving, Efq; of the Temple, London.
Mr. William Jackfon, Oxford.
Rev. Dr. JefFerfqn, Ch. Ch. Oxon.
Mr. Jofiah Jewett.
Richard Ingram, Efq;
John Innys, Efq; BriftoL
K.
The Right Hon. Lord Kilwalin.
Le Baron de Klingfted, Confeiller d'Etat,
&c. a Peterftjurg.
Rev. Dr. Kennicott, Canon Ch. Ch. Oxon.
^he late Mr. T. King, Bath.
Rev. Mr. Knatchbull, Ch. Ch Oxon.
W. King, Efq; C. C. C. Oxon.
Jolhua Kenfworth, Efq;
Mr. King, Fellow of New CoU. Oxon.
John Knott, Efq;
William Kenrick, LL. D.
George Knott, of Rydai, Efq;
William Kettle, Efq; Birmingham.
— Kennedy, Efq; Ch. Ch. Oxon.
L.
The Right Hon. Lord Lewifliam.
Sir James Lake.
Vemey Lovett, Efq; Trin. Coll. Cantab.
Egerton Leigh, Efq; Sidney Coll. Cantab.
Rev. Dr. Long, All Souls Coll. Oxon.
Langton, Efq;
Mr. Lomax, St. John's, CoU. Oxon.
Rev. Alex. Litchfield, Wadh. Colk Oxon.
Le Comte de Lauragais.
M. Lifakewitz, Confeiller d'Ambafiadet
de Riiifia.
Dr. Letfom, F. R. S.
Richard Lane, Efq; Univ. Coll. Oxon.
The hti Rev. Mr. Loggin, New Coll. Ox.
Rev. Mr. Lear, ditto.
Mr. John Lacock, Hereford.
Anthony Lax, of Chefterfield, Efq; Der-
byfhire.
Mr. W. Lypfcomb, C. C- C. Oxon.
Robert Lechmere, Efq; Gent. Cora,Queen*8
Coll. Oxon.
John Loveday, Efq; Madg. Coll. Oxon.
Mr. James Lifter, Oxford.
Mr. John Leech, ditto.
M.
His Excell. the Earl Marlfchall of Scot-
land, Berlin.
M. le Prince Maflalfki, aWarfovie.
M. I'Abbe Marci, Chancelier de I'Univer-
fite de Lourain.
M. le Comte de Merci, Ambafladeur de
I'Empire a Paris.
yi. Trudaine de Montigny, Confeiller
d'Etat, et Intend. General des Finances*
a Paris.
M. le Comte Mouffin-Poufchkin, Ambaflaid,
de I'Emperatricc de Toutes les Ruflles,
a Londres.
Madamoifelle Murray, at Bruftels.
John-Hyacinth de Magellan, F. R. S.
Charles May, Efq;
Mr. Kenneth Makenxie, London.
Mr. James Makenzie, ditto.
Mr. James Morrifon, ditto.
Francis Martin, Efq; of Antigua.
John Maxwell, Efq; of Broomholme.
Thomas Mayne, Efq;
Mrs. Millar, London.
Mr. John Murray, Fleet-Street, London.
John Millar, Efq; ProfefTor of Civil Law,
Glafgow.
Maxwell, Efq; Univ. Coll. Oxon.
Thomas Mathews, Efq;
Mr. Philip Mallet, Wine-Merchant, Lond.
Mr. Moore, Odiham, Hants.
Mr. John Murdoch, London.
y he late Rev. Mr. Macock, Lin. Coll. O^.
Marriott, Efq; Queen's Coll. Oxon.
Mr. Mufter, Gent. Com. New Coll. Oxon.
Mr. M'Carty, Uaiv. Coll. Oxon.
Mr. John Monro, St. John's Coll. Oxen.
Rev. Dr. Moore, Ch. Ch. Oxon,
John Maddifon, Efq;
C Malfingberd, Eij; New Coll. Oxon.
Rev.
LIST of SUBSCRIBERS.
Rev. Mr. Mill©r» New CoU. Oxon.
Richard Meade, Efq; Hert. Coll. Oxon.
Samuel ^.liddieton, Efq; Bengal.
AbraJiam Martin, Efq;
Paul Col. Methuen, Efq; Univ. Coll. Ox.
Mr. la Mcfiirier, Wcw Coll. Oxon.
Arch. Macdonald, Efq; Lincoln's Inn.
N.
Mr. I'Abbe Nicoli, Charge d'Afraircs de
Tefcane, a Paris.
Tubervjlle Needham, F. R S. Direflor of
the Imperial Academy at BrufTels.
Edward Norton, Efq; Univ. Coll. Oxon.
Francis Newdigate, Efq; ditto.
A' r. Richard Nev/man, Worcefter.
Mr. John Nicols, London,
^afilius Nikitin, Efq; Gent, of RuiUa, St.
Mary-Hall, Oxon.
Tbe late Rcv. Mr. Nunenam.
O.
The Right Rev. the Bifhop of Oxford.
Rev. Dr. Oglander, Warden of New Coll.
Oxon.
Rev. Mr. Hca. Oglander, New Coll. Oxon.
Robert Orme, Efq;
Charles O'Hara, Efq;
Kev. Mr, Owen, Qtjeeo's Coll. Oxon.
P,
Monf. le Chev. pinto, Amba/Tad. du Roy
du Portugal, a Londres.
Le Prince Pignatelli, a Paris.
The Right Rev. the Biiliop of Peterborough.
Lord Pitfour, Senator of the College of
Jufticc.
M. Je Marquis du Pezay, Meftre de C?mp
de Dragons, &c. a Paris.
Monf Patu, Baron de Melo, a Paris.
I<e Baron de Poederle.
William Poultney, Efq;
Rev. Sir Henry Parker, Bart.
John Paradife, Efq; F. R. S.
Nathaniel Pigott, Efq; F. R S.
Jofeph PrielUey, LL. D. F. R. S.
William Pitt, Efq; 2 copies.
William Powlett, Efq; New Coll. Oxon.
Robert Pafley, Efq; Lilbon.
John Pafley, Efq; TenerifFe, 20 copies,
Charles Pafley, Efq; of ditto.
John Perry, Efq; of Oporto
Capt. Thomas Pafley, of the Na\7,
Mr. Abraham dc Paz, London.
Rev. Mr. Profl'cr, Bal. ColJ. Oxon.
■ Paul, Efq; Gloucefterftiire.
Mr, J. Payton, Oxford.
Thomas Pearfon, Efq;
Edward Poore, Efq; Queen's Coll. Oxon.
2 copies, fine.
Rev. Dr. Thomas Percy.
Mr. Page, Uni,v. Coll. Oxon.
Rev. Mr. Price, Wadh. Coll. Oxon.
Richard Parrot, Efq; Warwickfliire.
Samuel Potts, Efq;
Anthony Polier, Efq; Bengal.
Mr. Edward Philpot, Hereford.
Meflrs Pearfon and Rollafon, Birmi»gham*
Mr. Andrew Price, Magd. Coll. Oxon.
Mr. Power, near Stroud, Gloucefterftiiro,
Mr. Pechell, Ch. Ch. Oxon,
Mr. Pomeroy, ditto.
R.
His Grace the Duke of Richmond.
M. le Baron Reigersfeldt, Secretaire de
PAmbafTadeur de I'Empire, a Londres.
M. le Roy, de I'Academie Royale des
Sciences, a Paris.
Rev. Dr. William Robertfon, Principal of
the Univerfity of Edinburgh.
Mr. Reeves, Merton Coll,. Oxon,.
William Henry Reynell, Efq; Falmouth.
Mr. William Rufl'el, Gray's Inn, London,
Rev. T. Robinfon, Merton Coll. Oxon.
Henry Ridley, Efq; Univ. Coll. Oxon.
William Rofe, Efq; Ex. Coll. Oxon.
Rev. Mr. Henry Richards, ditto.
John Royds, Efq; Univ. Coll. Oxon.
Mr. Reay, ditto.
Mr. James Robertfon, Bal. Coll. Oxon.
J. Rofs, Efq;
Read, Efq; St. Mary Hall, Oxon.
Ifaac Reed, Efq; Staple Inn, London.
Thomas Rumbold, Efq;
Jacob Rider, Efq; Bengal.
Mr. Charles Rathband, Weft Chefter. '
Mr. Hugh Randal, London.
Charles Rooke, Efq; Merton CoU. Oxojj.
Mr. Richardfon, Printer, London.
John Ghrifl:opher Roberts, Efq;
Rev. Mr. Rogers, Ch. Ch. Oxon.
Rev. Mr. Ruflbl, C. C. C. Oxon.
Rev. Mr. Edward Richardfon, Kildare.
Rev. Mr. Richards, Wadh. Coll. Oxon,
S.
The Right Hon. the Earl of Shelburne.
The late Sir Charles Shuckburg.
Sir George Shuckburg.
Ifaac Henriques de Sequeira, M. P. Lond,
Manuel Fra. Silva, Efq;
Mr. Prochore SuvorofF, Gent, of Ruflia,
Queen's Coll. Oxon.
John
C flS^'T' k>f $ U B S G R I B E R s;
John Smith, M. D. Savllian Profeflbr, Ox.
M. Dionis du Sejour, Confeiller au Pari,
a Paris.
M. le Com tede Span gen, a BrufTels.
M . Souza, AmbafT. du Pbrftigal, a Paris.
Dr. Spielmann, Profeflbr at Stralbourg.
Le Comte Scarnafis, Ambafladeur du Roy
du Sardaigne, a Vienna.
Hugh Stoddard, Efq; Jefus Coll. Oxon.
Dr. Anthony Ribeiro Sanchez, of the Im-
perial Academy at Peterfburg.
Mr. le Prefident de Saron, a Paris.
M4-. Stewart, Student of Ch. Ch. Oxon.
John Stevenfon, Efq; Univ. Coll. Oxon^
Chriftopher Steigar, Efq; ditto.
William Scott, Efq; ditto.
Mr. John Scott, ditto.
Rev. Mr. William Stratford, C. C. C. Ox.
Henry Strachey, Efq;
Cullen Smith, Efq;
Giles Stibbart, Efq;
Ruflel Skinner, of Theobalds, Efq;
Jfaac Sage, Efq;
Arch. Swinton, of Manderilon, Efq;
John Swinton, of Swinton, Efqj
William Swinton, Efq;
John Stables, Efq;
John Shakefpear, Efq; Bengal.
Jofeph Scott, Efq; of Langley.
Mr. Jofeph Salt, Birmingham.
Mr. Swinney, Bookfeller, ditto.
William Smith, Efq;
John Scott, Efq;
Mr. Francis Spilfbury.
Mr. John Sim, Oxford.
Rev. Jofeph Smith, Oriel Coll. Oxon.
Mr. John Stevens, Apothecary, Oxford.
T.
The Right Hon. the Earl Temple.
Hon. and Rev. Dr. Tracey, Warden of All
Souls Coll. Oxon.
Le Comte de Treflan, Lieutenant General,
&c. a Paris.
Mr. Tackoen, Confeiller aU grand Confeil,
a Malines.
Abbe Thiftaert, Doyen du JacqOes, Pyo-
fefleur a Loarain.
Capt. Primrofe Thomfon, In India, 2 copies.
Marmaduke Tunftal, Efq; F. R.'S.
Mr. James Trift, St. John's Coll. Oxon.
Mr. 'I'ripe, Univ. Coll. Oxon.
Mr. Samuel Taner, Baliol Coll. Oxon.
Mr. Taterfall, C. C. C. Oxon.
Mic. Angelo Taylor, Efq; ditto.
Charles Tilfard, Eiq; Univ. Coll. Oxon.
Mr. Talbot, ditto.
Samuel Trotman, Efq; New Coll. Oxon.
The Hon. John Trevor.
John H. Thorpe, Efq; New Coll. Oxon.
Thomas Todd, Efq;
John Taylor, of Abbot's-Hall, Kendal, Efq;
Mr. Francis Thomas, Hereford. ^
Mr. Towle, Oxford.
Thomas Tyres, Efq; Inner Temple.
Richard Twifs, Efq;
Mrs. Thrale, Southwark, London.
Tremlett, Efq; ■
Mr. John Taylor, Painter, London.
V.
Harry Verelft, Efq;
Mr. de la Voifiere, de I'Academie Royale
de Sciences de Paris.
Mr. de Villoifon, de I'Academie Royale
des Infcriptions, a Paris-
■ Vellez,Efq; St. John's Coll. Oxonj
Thomas Violet, Efq; ditto.
Mr. Richard Valpy, Pemb. Coll. Oxon.
W.
The Right Hon. the Earl of Winchelfea.
Rev. Mr. T. Warton, Trin. Coll. Oxon.
Rev. Dr. J. Warton, Head Mafterof Win-
chefter School.
Rev. Dr. Wheeler, Profeifor of Portry,
Oxon, 2 copies.
Rodolph Waltravers, Efq; F. R. S.
Benjamin Wilfon, F.R. S. of the Royal
Academy at Upfal.
Dr. Wolfe.
Bouchier Wray, Efq; New Coll. Oxon.
Henry Penruddocke Wyndham, Efq;
Rev. Dr. Wynne, All Souls Coll. Oxon.
Mr. Thomas Wright, Printer, London.
Mr. Welch, Univ. Coll. Oxon.
Mr. Weodhoufe, C. C. C. Oxon.
Rev. Mr. Benjamin Webb, Odiham, Hants.
Mr, Willis, Wadham Coll. Oxon.
Rev. Mr. T. Walker, Tylehurft, Berks.
Mr. John Cope Weftcott, Ex. Coll. Oxon.
John Warde, Efq; Waterfham, Kent.
Rev. Mr. Wood, Bal. Coll. Oxon.
Francis Waftie, Efq; Oxfordfhire.
William Wyndham, Efq; Univ. Coll. Ox.
Edward Watts, Efq; ditto.
Benedict Freeman Willis, Efq; ditto.
Rev. Mr. Webber, New Coll. Oxon.
White, Efq; Student of Ch. Ch. Ox.
Rev. Mr. Williams, of Wincbefter Coll.
Ed. Winnington, Efq; Ch. Ch. Oxon.
Thomas Watts, Efq;
Hugh Watts, Efq;
William Wynne, F/q; Bengal.
The
LIST of SUBSCRIBERS.
Tlfe late Rev. W. Gwin, Principal of Braze-
Nofe Coll. Oton.
James Wathan, Efq; of Dinder, Hereford-
fhire.
Mr. William Winfton, Hereford.
Mr. Gerard Walker, ditto.
Mr. John Wathan, ditto.
John Wyrley, Efq; near Birmingham.
Thomas Woodhoufe, Efq; All Souls Coll.
Oxon.
Rev. Mr. White, Arabic Profeflbr, Oxon.
Ralph Winter, Efq;
Mr. Wefton, Ex. Coll. Oxon.
Michael Wodhul, Efq; Gloucefterfhire.
Rev. Mr. James Williamfon, Hert. CoU.
Oxon.
John Wilmott, Efq; All Souls Coll. Oxon.
Mr. Winftanley, Braze-Nofe Coll. Oxon.
Y.
Mr. Young, Univ. Coll. Oxoiu
Mrs. Yates, 2 coj>ies.
ERRATA.
p. XXXV. 1. 29. for left, read left.
p. 149. in the notes j fecond column., \. 4, for where, read zni.,
p. 156. 1. 9. /or fpear-ftafF, r^a^/ fpear-llaffs.
p. 204. fecond column of notes, for faces, r€ad foes.
p. 224. 1. 14. _/or ftreams, rt'^fl' fteams.
p. 256. 1. %^ for clofen, r^a^ cloven.
y/«^ in p. 293. /"r/? column of the notes, and firfi line, in place of ten thoufand, read ten
millions. Some other errors, moftly of punftuation and orthography, will be obvious to
the reader ; who will perceive, that the note on p. 279, and p. vii. of the Introdudlion,
were at prefs ere the peace between the Ruffians and Turks, and ere the prefent unhappy
commotions in America.
In p. xxxiv. of the IntroduSlion, 1. iS.frJi column of the notes, after this fentence. All a
miflakc the reader is defired to add the follonuing : Nor is the Author of Hijhire Pht-
lofophique, &c. lefs unhappy. Mifled by the common opinion of Columbus, he has thus
pompoufly cloathed it in the drefs of imagination — Un homme obfcur, fays he, plus advance
que fon Jiecle, &c. — thus literally, an obfcure man, more advanced than his age in the know-
ledge of aftronomy and navigation, propofed to Spain, happy in her internal dominion, to
aggrandife herfelf abroad. Chriftopher Columbus felt, as if by inftinft, that there muft
be another continent, and that he was to difcover it. The Antipodes, treated by reafon
itfelf as a chimera, and by fuperftition, as error and impiety, were in the eyes of this man
of genius an inconteftible truth. Full of this idea, one of the grandefl. which could enter
the human mind, he propofed, &c. The minifters of this Princefs (Ifabel of Spain)
efteemed at firfl as a vilionary, a man who pretended to difcover a world Thus the
Abbe R But be it our's to reftore his due honours to the Prince of Portugal. Henry, &c.
In p. clvii. of the Introdu^ion, 1. II. after, a Heiflor and a Priam, the reader is alfo
defired to add : If Camoens has happily avoided the exhaulled contrail of fierce and mild
heroes, he has nevertheleft been able to give his poem more manners than the Eneid. And
if his fubjedl obliged him to have lefs aftion than the Iliad, it has allowed him to difplay
more rmprfffement and fire, more of the real adion of the conduft, divelied of the epifodes,
than the Odyfley, though the Odyfley be efteemed the moftperfeft model of Epic compofition.
INTRODUCTION
TO THE
L U S I A D.
IF a concatenation of events centered in one great adion,
events which gave birth to the prefent Commercial Syfleni
of the World, if thefe be of the firft importance in the civil
hiflory of mankind, the Lufiad, of all other poems, challenges
the attention of the Philofopher, the Politician, and the
Gentleman.
In contradiftin(5lion to the Iliad and ^neid, the Paradife
Loft has been called the Epic Poem of Religion. In the fame
manner may the Lufiad be named the Epic Poem of Commerce.
The happy completion of the moft important defigns of Henry
Duke of Vifeo, Prince of Portugal, to whom Europe owes both
Gama and Columbus, both the Eaftern and the Weftern Worlds,
conftitutes the fubjedt of that celebrated Epic Poem, (known
hitherto in England almoft only by name) which is now offered
to the Englifh Reader. But before we proceed to the hiftorical
introdud:ion neceflary to elucidate a poem founded on fuch an
important period of hiftory, fome attention is due to the opi-
nion of thofe Theorifts in political philofophy who lament that
either India was ever difcovered, and who affert that the in-
creafe of Trade is only the parent of degeneracy, and the nurfe
of every vice.
Much indeed may be urged on this fide of the queftion, but
much alfo may be urged againft every inftitution relative to man.
Imperfedlion, if not necelTary to humanity, is at leaft the cer-
tain attendant on every thing human. Though fome part of
the traffic with many countries refemble Solomon's impor-
tation of apes and peacocks -, though the fuperfluities of life,
the baubles of the opulent, and even the luxuries which
b enervate
li INTRODUCTION.
enervate the irrefolute and adminifter difeafe, are introduced by
commerce ; the extent of the benefits which attend it are alfo
to be confidered, ere the man of cool reafon will venture to
pronounce that mankin4 are i|ijurfd], ar^ rendered lefs virtuous
and lefs happy by the increafe of Commerce.
If a view of the ftate of mankind, where Commerce opens
no intercourfe between nation and nation be negleded, unjuft
conclufions will certainly follow. Where the flate of bar-
barians and of coi>ntries und^ the different degrees of civHiza-
tion are candidly weighed, we may ^-eafonably expedi.a. jufl
decifion. As evidently as the appointment of Nature gives
paflure to the herds, as evidently is man born for fociety*.
As every other animal is in its natural ftate when in the fitua-m
tion which its inftinft requires ; fo man, when his reafon is
cultivated, is then, and only then, in the ftate proper to bis,
nature. The life of the naked favage, who feeds on acorti^
and fleeps like a beaft in his den, is commonly called the na-^
tural ftate of man; but if there be any propriety in this
alfertion, his rational faculties compofe no part of his nature,
and were given not to be ufed. If the favage therefore live in
a ftate contrary to the appointment of nature, it muft follow
that he is not fo happy as. nature intended him to be. And a.
view of his true character will confirm this conclufion. The.
reveries, the fairy dreams of a Roufleau, may figure the paradifial
life of a Hottentot, but it is only in fuch dreams that the happinefs
pf the barbarian exifts. The favage, it is true, is relu<5tant to leave
his manner of life ; but unlefs we allow that he is a proper judge
of the modes of living, his. attachment to his own by no means';
proves that he is happier than he might otherwife have been>
His attachment only exemplifies the amazing power of habit j'li''
reconciling the human breaft to the moft uncomfortable fitua- '
tions. If the intercourfe of mankindin fome inftances be intrdr *
dudtive of vice, the want of it as certainly excludes the exertion '
of the nobleft virtues ; and if the feeds of virtue are indeed in the
hearts they often lie dormant, and unknown even to the favagej
poflefibr. The moft beautiful defcription of a tribe of favages,
which we may be aflured is from real life, occurs in thefe words ^
And the five fpies of Dan ** came to Laifh, and Jaw the people that
were there y how they dwelt carelefs after the manner of the ZM
donianSf quiet and fecure, and there was na magijlrate in the lancl
that
INTRODUCTION.
m
that might put them to poame in any thing .... And the fpics
faid to their brethren, Arife, that we may go up againjl them ;
for we have feen the land, and behold it is very good .... and
they came unto Laifh, unto a people that were quiet and fecure, and
they fmote them with the edge of the fivord, and burnt the city
with f re y and there -was no Deliverer, becaufe it was far from
Zidon, and they had no bufmefs with any man However the
happy limplicity of this fociety may pleafe the man of fine ima-
gination, the true philofopher will view the men of Laifli with
other eyes. However virtuous he may fuppofe one generation,
the children of the next were fure to fink into every vice of
brutality. When his wants are eafily fupplied, the manners of
the favage will be fimple, and often humane, for the human
heart is not vicious without objeds of temptation. But thefe
will foon occur; he that gathers the greateft quantity of fruit
will be envied by the lefs indufi:rious : The human paffions.
will operate, and where there is no magifirate to put to fhame
in any thing, depredation will foon difplay all its horrors.
And could fuch a tribe be fecured from the confequences of
their own unreftrained pafilons, could even this impolli^bility
be furmounted, fiill are they a wretched prey to the firft in-
vaders, and becaufe they have no bufinefs with any man,
they will find no deliverer. While human nature is the fame,
the fate of Laidi will always be the fate of the weak and
defencelefs; and thus the moft amiable defcription of favage
life, raifes in our minds the flrongefi: imagery of the mifery
and impofiible continuance of fuch a flate. But if the view of
Laifh then terminate in horror, with what contemplation /hall
we behold the wilds of Africa and America ? Immenfe tradls
peopled by a few tribes fcattered at great diftances, who
efleem and treat each other as beafts of the chace. Attachment
to their own tribe conftitutes their higheft idea of virtue; but
this virtue includes the mofi: brutal depravity, makes them con-;
fider the man of every other tribe as one with whom nature had
placed tliem in- a flate of war, and had commanded to deftroy*.
• This ferocity of favage manners affords ci-eafe, the flronger commit depredations
a philofophical account how the moft diftant on the weaker ; and thus from generation,
and inhofpitable climes were firft peopled. to generation, they who efther dread juft
When a Romulus erefts a monarchy and punifhment or unjuft opprellion, fly farther
makes war on his neighbours, fome natu- and farther in fcarch of that proteilion
Tilly fly t6 the wilde. As their families in- which is only to be found in civilized fociety.
b 2 And
IV
INTRODUCTION.
And to this principle their cuflortis and ideas of honour ferve as
rituals and minifters. The ancient cruelties pradtifed by the
American favages on their prifoners of war (and war was their
chief employment) convey every idea expreiled by the word
diabolical, and give a mofl (hocking view of the degradation
of human nature. But what peculiarly completes the cha-
radler of the favage, is his horrible fuperftition. In the moll
diftant nations the favage is in this the fame. The terror
of evil fpirits continually haunts him, and his God is beheld as
a relentlefs tyrant, and is wor/hipped often with cruel rites,
always with a heart full of horror and fear. In all the numer-
ous accounts of favage worfliip, one trace of filial dependancc
is not to be found. The very reverfe of that happy idea is the
hell of the ignorant mind. Nor is this barbarifm confined
alone to thofe ignorant tribes, whom we call favages. The
vulgar of every country pofiefs it in certain degrees, propor-
tionated to their opportunities of converfation with the more
enlightened. Selfilhnefs, cruel and often cowardly ferocity,
together with the moll unhappy fuperftition, are every where
the proportionate attendants of ignorance and fevere want.
And ignorance and want are only removed by intercourfe and
the offices of fociety. So felf-evident are thefe pofitions, that
it requires an apology for infiftingupon them j but the apology
is at hand. He who has read knows how many eminent wri-
ters*, and he who has converfed knows how many relpe(5table
* The author of that voluminous work,
HiJicirePhito/ophiquei^ Politique des Etablijfe-
mens iS du Ccmmerce des Europeens dans let
Jeux Indes, Is one of the many who affert
that the favage is happier than the civil
life. His reafons are thus abridged : The
favage has no care or fear for the future, his
hunting and filhing give him a certain fub-
fiftence. He fleeps found, and knows not
the difeafcs of cities. He cannot want what
he does not defire, nor defire that which he
does not know, and vexation or grief do
not enter his foul. He is not under the con-
troul of a fuperior in his aftions ; in a word,
fays our author, the favage only fuiFers the
evils of nature.
If the civilized, he adds, enjoy the ele-
gancies of life, have better food, and are
more comfortably defended againft the
change of feafons, it is ufe which makes
thefe things neceffary, and they are pur-
chafed by the painful labours of the mul-
titude who are the bafis of fociety. To
what outrages is not the man of civil life
expofed ? if he has property it is in danger ;
and government or authority is, according
to our author, the greateft of all evils. If
there is a famine in the north of America,
the favage, led by the wind and the fun,
can go to a better clime ; but in the horrors
of famine, war, or peftilence, the ports
and barriers of polifhed ftates place the fub-
jefts in a prifon, where they muft perifh —
In rejieroit encore — There Hill remains aa
infinite difference between the lot of the
civilized and the favage ; a difference, toute
entieret all entirely to the difadvantage of
fociety, that injuftice which reigns in the
inequality of fortunes and conditions. " In
fine, fays he, as the wiih for independence
I N T R O D U G T I O N.
^ V
Inames, connecfl the idea of innocence and happinefs with the
life of the favage and the unimproved riiflic. To fix the cha-i
ra(fter of the favage was therefore neceflary, ere we examine the
affertion, that it had been happy for both the old and the riew
Worlds if the Eaft and Weft Indies had never been difcovered.
The bloodflied and the attendant miferies which the unparral*^
is one of the firft inftlndls of man, he who
can join to the po/Teffion of this primitiTC
right, the moral fecurity of a fubfiftence,
(which we were juft told the favage could
do) is incomparably more happy than the
rich man furrounded with laws, fuperiors,
prejudices and fafliions, whiclx endanger
his liberty." — !
Such are the fentiments of a writer, whofe
hiftorical intelligence has acquired him a
reputation on the continent ; and as he is
not fingular in his eflimate of favage hap-
pinefs, his abfurdities merit fome obferva-
tion. And nothing can be more evident,
than that if habit deftroy the relifh of the
elegancies of life, habit alfo will deftroy
the pleafure of hunting and fifhing, when
thefe are the fole bufmefs of the favage.
You may as well fay, a poftillion jaded with
fatigue and fhivering with wet and cold, is
extremely happy becaufe gentlemen ride on
horfeback for their pleafure. That we can-
not want what we do not defire, nor defire
wharwe do not know, are juft pofitions ;
but does it follow, that fuch ftate is happier
than that which brings the wiftics and cares
of civil life ? By no means : For, accord-
ing to this argument, infenfibility and hap-
pincfs proceed in the fame gradation, and
of confequence an oyfter * is the happieft
of all animals. The advantages afcribed
to the lavage over the civilized in the time
of war and famine, in the equality of rank,
and fecwity of liberty, outrage common
fenfe, and are ftriking inftances that no ab-
furdities are too gro is for the reveries of
ipodern phllofophy. This author quite
forgets what dangers the favages are every
where expofed to, how their lands, if of
any value, are fure to be fcized by their
more powerful neighbours, and millions of
their perfons erflaved by the more poliihed
ftates. He quite forgets the infinite difiance
between the refources of the focial and fa-
vage life ; between the comforts adminiftered
by fociety to infirmity and old age, and
the miferable ftate of the favage when he
can no longer purfue his hunting and fi/h-
ing. He alfo quite forgets the infinite dif-
ference between the difcourfe of the favage
hut, and the cana deorum, the friendfhip
and converfation of refined and elevated
underftandings. But to philofophife is the
contagion which infefts the e/prits /oris of
the continent ; and under the mania of
this difeafe, there is no v«onder that com-
mon fenfe is fo often crucified. It is only
the reputation of thofc who fupport fome
opinions that will vindicate the ufe of re-
futing them. We may therefore, it is hoped,
be forgiven, if, rn hagateUe, we fmile at
the triumph of our author, who thus fums
up his arguments: " Jprh tout, un mot
'* peut terminer ce grand proch — After all,
" one word will decide this grand difpute,
" fi fortement debattue entre let pbilcjophes,
" fo ftrongly canvafted among philofophers :
*• Demand of the man of civil life, if he
•' is happy ? Demand of the favage, if he
" is miferable ? If both anfwer. No, the
" difpute is determined." By no means ;
for the beaft that is contented to wallow in"
the mire, is by this argument in a happier
ftate than the man who has one wifti to
fatisfy, however reafonably he may hope tp .
do it by his induftry and virtue.
• And ourmthor in reality goes as far, " Temo'in cet Ecojfols, Witnefs that Scotchman, fays he/^ho
being left alone on the ifle of Fernantlcz, was only unhappy while his memory remained ; but when his
natural wants fo Cngrofled him that he forgot his country, his language, his name, and even the articu-
lation of words, this European, at the end of four years, found himftlf eafed of the burden of focial
fife, in having the happinefs to lofe the ufe of refleftion, of thefe thoughts which led him hack to the part,*'
or taught him to dread the future." But this is as erroneus in faft, as fuch happinefs is falfc in philoCophy*'-
Alexander .Selkirk fell into no fuch ftate of happy idtotifm ; and on his return to England, the remem-»r.
brance of his fuffcrings on the iflc of Fernandez, 3fibrdc4 the hint of Robinfon Crufae.
lelled
A^l
IN T R O D U C T I O N.
idled :fapbi€, ^nd cruelties of the. Spaniards fpread over the new
world, indeed dilgraqe human nature. The great and flou*
ridii-ng empires Q? Mexico and Peru, fteeped in the blood
pf forty millip|i$> of their fons, prefent a melancholy profped:,
whjch; muil; pjfcite . the indignation of every good heart. Yet
fuch defolation is not the certain confequence of difcovery.
And even fliould we allow that the depravity of human nature
is fo great, that the avarice of the merchant and rapacity of the
fdldier will overwhelrh with mifery every new difcovered
C-ountfy, Aill are there, other, more comprehenfive views, to be
taken,, ere we decide againft the intercourfe introduced by na-
vigation. When we weigh the happinefs of Europe in the fcale
of political philofophy, we are not to confine our eye to the
dreadful ravages of Attila the Huh, or of Alaric the Goth. If
the waters ,of a ftagnated lake are .diflurbed by the fpade when
led i'litp 'hew channels, we oughr'irbf ■ to inveigh a^ainft the
alteration becaufe the waters are fouled at the firft i we are to
wait to fee the ftreamlets refine and fpread beauty and utility
through a thoufand vales which they never vifited before. Such
were the conquefts of Alexander, temporary evils, but civiliza-
tion and happinefs followed in the bloody tract. And though
difgraced with every barbarity, happinefs has alfo followed the
conquefls of the Spaniards in the other hemifphere. Though
die vijlainy of the Jefuits defeated their fchemes of civilization
in many countries, the labours of that fociety have been
crowned with a fuccefs in Paraguay and in Canada, which does
them the greateft honour. The cufloms and cruelties of many
American tribes ftill difgrace humajn nature, but in Paraguay and
Canada the natives have been brought to relifh the bleffings.
of' fociety and the arts of virtuous and civil life. If Mexico is
itotfo populous as it once w^, neither is it fo barbarous*; the
• The Innocent fimpUcityof the Americans
in their conferences with the Spaniards, and
the horrid cruelties they fuffcred-, divert Our
view from their complete charafter. But al-
moft every thing was horrid in their civil cuf-
toms and religious rites. In feme tribes,
tQ cohabit with their mothers, fifters, and
daughters, was efteemed the means of do-
meiiic peace. In oihers, catamites were
maintained in every village; they went
from houfe to houfe as they pleafed, and it
wa* unlawful to refufe them what viftuals
they chufed. In every tribe, the cap-
tives taken in war were murdered with the
molV wanton cruelty, and afterwards devoured
by the viftors. Their religious rites were,
if poffible, ftill more horrid. The abomina-
tions of ancient Moloch were here out-
numbered ; children, virgins, flaves, and!
captives, bled on different altars, to .appeafe
their various gods. If there was a fcarcity
of human viftims, the priefts announced
that the gods were dying of thirft for human
blood. And to prevent a threatened famine
by
fhrifkBof the. humane vid:im do- rtot; >nb\^ refound from tei^ple'
to t€hiple,. nor does. the kumanih^afffc, held up reeking to the
Sy4, ilDpreoatc the vengeance of heaven on the guilty empire.
And however impolitically defpotic the Spafiiiih governitients may
be,.ftiirdothef^ e^^onies eaajoy the opportunities of improvemen-t,
whii:h in everjir age aHfc from the knowledge of commer<?e' a-nd'^f
of letters, opportjunities which were never enjoyed in South
America under the reigns of Montezuma and Atabalipar But
if from Spanrilh, we turn our eyes to-Briti£h America, ' what a
glorious profpedli Here onceon.the^wiM.lkwn, perhaps twice in
the year, a few favage hunters kriidled their evening fire, kindled
it more to prote(5t them from evil fpirits and beafls of prey, than
from the cold, and with their feet pointed to it^flepton the ground.
Here now population fprcads her thoufands, and fociety appears
in all its blcillngs of mutual help, and the mutual lights of in-
telledlual improvement. *' What work' of art, or power, or-
** public utility, has ever equalled tHe glory of having people<l<^(
'^ a continent, without guilt or bloodfl)ed, with a multitude of^
**' free and happy common-wealths,- to have given them the
** l|efl ants of life and government-!" This, indeed, is the
greateft glory of the Britifli crown, ** a grea.ter than any other
by fupplying the altars, the kings of Mexico ' cemented with lime. In fome of thefV-
weie obliged to make war on tlie neigh- towers Andrew de Tapia one day counted'-
bouring flates. The prifoners of either fide 136,000 ikulls. During the war withrf
died by the band of the prieft. But the Cortez they increafed their ufual facrifices^
number of the Mexican facrifices fo greatly till prieft atid'pefjple were tired of thtir^
exceeded thofe of other nations, that the blcpdy: religion.; Frequent embaffies froiflp
Tlafcalans.whowcrehunteddownforthispur- differenf tribes complained to Cortcz that,
pofe,readiIyjoinedCortezwith about 200.000 they were weary of their' rites, and in- '
men, and fired by the moft fixed hatred, treated him ta teach them his law. And ■
enabled him to make one, great facrifice of though the Peruvians, it is faid, were more ^
the Mexican nation. W^ho that views polilhed, and did not facrifice quite fo many
Mexico, fteeped in her own blood, can as the Mexicans, yet 200 children was the ^
refirain the emotion which whifpers to him, ufual hecatomb for the health of the Yncia,/
This is the hand of heaven ! — By the num- and a much larger one pf all ranks hoJ^p^^pd j
ber of thefe facred butcheries, one would his obfequies. The method of facrifyfing
think that cruelt}' was the greateft amufement was thus ; Six priefls laid the vidim on aiit
of Mexico. At the dedication of the tern- altar, which was narrow at top, when five j
I^e of Vltzuliputzli, A. D. i486, 64,080 bending him acrofs, the fixth' cut up" his
human viftims were facrificed in four days. ftomach with a Iharp flint, and while he
And, according to the beft accounts, the held up the heart reeking to the fun, the
annual facrifices of Mexico required feveral others tumbled the carcafe down a flight of
thoufands. The fkulls of the viftiras fome- ftairs near the altar, and immedrately pro-
times were hung on firings which reached ceeded to the next Ikcrifice.. See Acofta,
from tree to tree around their temples, and Gomara, Careri, the Letters of Cortez to
fomctimes were built up in towers and Charles V. &c. &c.
** nation
viii IN TROD U C T I O N.
*< nation ever acquired j" and from the confequences of the
genius of Henry, Duke of Vifeo, did the Britifh American
empire arife, an empire which moft probably will one day be
the glory of the world.
Stubborn indeed mull be the Theorift, who will deny the im-
provement, virtue and happinefs, which in the refult, the voyage
of Columbus has fpread over the Weftern World. The happinefs
which Europe and Afia have received from the intercourse with
each other, cannot hitherto, it muft be owned, be compared
either with the pofleflion of it, or the fource of its increafe
eftabliflied in America. . Yet let the man of the moft melan-
choly views eftimate all the wars and depredations which are
charged upon the Portuguefe and other European nations, ftill
will the Eaftern World appear confiderably advantaged by the
voyage of Gama. If feas of blood have been ftied by the Por-
tuguefe, nothing new was introduced into India. War and de-
predation were no unheard of ftrangers on the banks of the
Ganges, nor could the nature of the civil eftablifhments of the
eaftern nations fecure a lafting peace. The ambition of their
native princes was only diverted into new channels, into chan-
nels, which in the natural courfe of human affairs, will cer- ;
tainly lead to permanent governments, eftabliftied on improved
laws and juft dominion. Yet even ere fuch governments are
formed, is Afia no lofer by the arrival of Europeans. The
horrid malfacres and unbounded rapine which, according to
their own annals, followed the vidtories of their Afian con-
querors, were never equalled by the worft of their European
vanquifliers. Nor is the eftabliftiment of improved govern-
ments in the Haft the dream of theory. The fuperiority of the
civil and military arts of the Britifh, notwithftanding the hate-
ful character of fome individuals, is at this day beheld in India
with all the aftoniftiment of admiration, and all the defire of
imitation. This, however retarded by various caufes, muft in
time have a moft important eff*e(5t, muft fulfil the prophecy of
Camoens, and transfer to„ the prit^fli the high compliment he
pays to his countrymen ; ■
Beneath their fway majeftic, wife and mild,
-Proud of her vi(9;or'8 lawJB thriee happier India fmiled.
' ' In
INTRODUCTION. ix
In formef ages, and within thefe few years, the fertile em-
pire of India has exhibited every fcene of human mifery, under
the undillinguifhing ravages of their Mohammedan and native
princes ; ravages only equalled in European hiftory by thofe
committed under Attila, furnamed the fcourge of God, and the
deftroyer of nations. The ideas of patriotifm and of honour were
feldom known in the cabinets of the eaftern princes till the arrival
of the Europeans. Every fpecies of affaflination was the policy
of their courts, and every a6t of unreftrained rapine and maf-
facre followed the path of vi(Story. But fome of the Portu-
guefe governors, and many of the Englilh officers, have taught
them, that humanity to the conquered is the beft, the trueft
policy. The brutal ferocity of their own conquerors is now
the object of their greateft dread ; and the fuperiority of the
Britifh in war has convinced their * princes, that an alliance with
the Britifh is the fureft guarantee of their national peace and
profperity. While the Englifh Eaft India Company are pofTef-
ied of their prefent greatnefs, it is in their power to diffule over
the Eaft every bleffing which flows from the wifeft and moft
humane policy, a policy till of late unknown, even in idea, in
Alia. Long ere the Europeans arrived, a failure of the crop of
rice, the principal food of India, has fpread the devaftations of
famine over the populous plains of Bengal. And never, from
the feven years famine of ancient Egypt to the prefent day, was
there a natural fcarcity in any country which did not enrich the
proprietors of the granaries. The Mohammedan princes and
Moorifh traders have often added all the horrors. of an artificial
to a natural famine. But however fome Portuguefe or other
governors may ftand accufed, much was left for the humanity
of the more exalted policy of an Albuquerque or a Caftro, And
under fuch European governors as thefe, the diftrefles of the
Eaft have often been alleviated by a generofity of condudt, and
a train of refources formerly unknown in Alia. The introduc-
tion of the Britifh laws into India, of laws already admired as the
dicftates of heaven, muft, in the courfe of ages, have a wide and
flupendous effedl. The abjed: fpirit of Allan fubmiffion, will
be taught to fee, and to claim thofe rights of nature, of which
♦ Mahommed Ali Khan, Nabob of the Carnatic^ declared, " 1 met th« BritilTi witli
.*^ that freedom of opennefs which they love, and I efteem it my honour as well as fecurity
' ' to be tlie ally of fuch a nation of princes." . ..,..>
c the
X INTRODUCTIOK.
the difpirited and paflive * Gentoos could, till lately, hardly
form an idea. From this, as naturally as the noon fuccecds the
dawn, mufk the other bleffings of civilization arife. And
though the four great tribes of India are almoft inacceffible
to the introduction of other manners and of other literature
than their own, happily there is one defpifcd tribe, who are
not bound by their fuperftition to reject the advantages which
flow from an inter-community with civilized ftrangers. Nor
may the political philofopher be deemed an enthuliafV, who
would boldly prophefy, that unlefs the Britifh are driven from
India, that tribe, the defpifed Hallachores, into which the re-
fufe of the reft are now excommunicated, will in the courfe of
a few centuries, from the advantages received from intercom-
munity, bear fuch a fuperiority over the others, that the others
will be induced to break the fhackles of their abfurd fuperfti^
tions, (which almoft in every inftance J are contrary to the feel-
ings and wishes of nature) and will be led to partake of thofe
advantages which arife from the free fcope and due cultivation
of the rational powers. Nor can the obftinacy even of the
conceited Chinefe always refift the delire of imitating the Eu-
ropeans, a people who in arts and in arms are fo greatly fu-
perior to themfelves. The ufe of the twenty-four letters, by
which we can exprefs every language, appeared at firft as mi-
raculous to the Chinefe. Prejudice cannot always deprive
that people, who are not deficient in felfifh cunning, of the
eafe and expedition of an alphabet ; and it is eafy to forefee,
that, in the courfe of a few centuries, fome alphabet will
certainly take place of the 60,000 arbitrary marks, which now
render the cultivation of the Chinefe literature not only a la-
bour of the utmoft difficulty, but even impoflible to attain,
beyond a very limited degree. And from the introdud:ion
of an alphabet, what improvements may not be exped:ed from
the laborious induftry of the Chinefe ! Though moft obfti-
nately attached to their old cuftoms, yet there is a tide in
the manners of nations which is fudden and rapid, and which
adts with a kind of inftindtive fury againft ancient prejudice
and abfurdity. It was that nation of merchants, the Phceni-
• See the »ote on tlie VII. Lufiad.
X Every man moft follow his father's trade, and muft marry a daughter of the fame oc-
cupation. Innumerable are their other barbarous reftri^lions of genius andincUnation.
cians.
INTRODUCTION. xi
ctans, which diiFufed the ufe of letters through the ancient,
and Commerce will undoubtedly difFufe the fame bleflings
through the modern world.
To this view of the political happinefs, which is ftire to be
introduced in proportion to civilization, let the Divine add
what may be reafonably expeded from fuch opportunity of the
increafe of Religion. A fad:ory of merchants, indeed, has fel-
dom been found to be the fchool of piety; yet, when the ge-
neral manners of a people become aflimilated to thofe of a
more rational worfhip, fomething more than ever was produced
by an infant million, or the neighbourhood of an infant colony,
may then be reafonably expedied, and even foretold.
In eflimating the political happinefs of a people, nothing is.
of greater importance than their capacity of, and tendency to,
improvement. As a dead lake will continue in the fame ftate
for ages and ages, fo would the bigotry and fuperflitions of the
Eafl continue the fame. But if the lake is begun to be opened
into a thoufand rivulets, who knows over what unnumbered
fields, barren before, they may diiFufe the bleflings of fertility,
and turn a dreary wildernefs into a land of fociety and joy.
In contraft to this, let the Golden Coaft and other immenfc
regions of Africa be contemp^ted :
Afric behold ; alas, what altered view !
Her lands uncultured, and her fons untrue ;
Ungraced with all that fweetens human life.
Savage and fierce they roam in brutal ftrife ;
Eager they grafp the gifts which culture yields.
Yet naked roam their own negledted fields
Unnumber'd tribes as beilial grazers ftray.
By laws unform'd, unform'd by Reafon's fway.
Far inward ftretch the mournful fteril dales.
Where on the parch'd hill-fide pale famine wails.
LusiAD X.
Let us view what millions of thefe unhappy favages are drag-
ged from their native fields, and cut ofi^ for ever from all the
hopes and all the rights to which human birth entitled them.
And who would hefitate to pronounce that Negro the greatefi:
of patriots, who, by teaching his countrymen the arts of
c 2 fociety
xii INTRODUCTION.
fociety, fhould teach them to defend themfelves in the pof-
feflion of their fields, their families, and their own perfonal
liberties ?
Evident however at it is, that the voyages of Gama and Co-
lumbus have already carried a fuperior degree of happinefs, and
the promife of infinitely more, to the Eaftern and Weftera
worlds ; yet the advantages derived from the difcovery of thefe
regions to Europe may perhaps be denied. But let us view
what Europe was, ere the genius of Don Henry gave birth to
the fpirit of modern difcovery.
Several ages before this period the feudal fyftem had degene-
rated into the moft abfolute tyranny. The barons exercifed the
moft defpotic authority over their vaflals, and every fcheme of
public utility was rendered impracflicable by their continual
petty wars with each other ; and to which tney led their de-
pendends as dogs to the chace. Unable to read, or to write his
own name, the Chieftain was entirely pofTefled by the moft ro-
mantic opinion of military glory, and the fong of his domeftic
minftrel conftituted his higheft idea of fame. The Clafiics
flept on the fhelves of the monaftries, their dark, but happy
afylum, while the life of the monks refembled that of the fat-
tened beeves which loaded their tables. Real abilities were in-
deed poflefiTed by a Duns Scotus and a few others ; but thefe
were loft in the moft trifling fubtleties of a fophiftry, which
they dignified with the name of cafuiftical Divinity. Whether
Adam and Eve were created with navels, and how many thou-
fand angels might at the fame inftant dance upon the point of
the fineft needle without one joftling another, were two of the
feveral topics of like importance which excited the acumen
and engaged the controverfies of the Learned. While every
branch of philofophical, of rational inveftigation, was thus un-
purfued and unknown. Commerce, incompatible in itfelf with
the feodal fyftem, was equally negledled and unimproved.
Where the mind 4s enlarged and enlightened by Learning, plans
of Commerce will rife into action, and which, in return, will,
from every part of the earth, bring new acquirements to phi-
lofophy and fcience. The birth of Learning and Commerce
may be different, but their growth is mutual and dependent
upon each other. They not only aflift each other, but the
fame enlargement of mind which is neceffary for perfedion
in
r N T R O D U O T 10 K. mi
in the one, is alfo neceffary for perfedion in the other ; and
the fame caufes impede; and are alike deftrudtive of both.
The Intercourse of mankind is the parent of both. Ac-
cording to the confinement or extent of Intercourfe, barbarity
or civilization proportionably prevail. In the dark Monkifli
ages, the Intercourfe of the learned was as much impeded and
confined as that of the merchant. A fev^ unwieldy vefiels
coafted the fhores of Europe, and mendicant friars and ignorant
pilgrims carried a miferable account of what was paffing in
the world from monaftery to monaftery. What Docftor had laft
difputed on the peripatetic philofophy at fome univerfity, and
what new herefy had laft appeared, comprifed the whole of
their literary intelligence ; and which was delivered with little
accuracy, and received with as little attention. While this thick
cloud of mental darknefs overfpread the weftern world, was
Don Henry prince of Portugal born, born to fat mankind free
from the feodal fyftem, and to give to the whole world every
advantage, every light that may polTibly be difi:ufed by the Inter-
courfe of unlimited commerce :
For then from ancient gloom emerg^^d
The rifing world of Trade : the Genius^ then,.
Of Navigation, that in hopelefs floth / * V
Had llumber'd on the vaft Atlantic deep .
For idle ages, ftarting heard at laft
The Lufitanian Prince, who, heaven-infpir*d.
To love of ufeful glory rous'd mankind.
And in unbounded Commerce mixt the World. Thom.
In contraft to the melancholy view ' of human nature, funk,
in barbarifm and benighted with ignorance, let the prefent ftate
of Europe be impartially eftimated. Yet though the great in-
creafe of opulence and learning cannot be denied, there are
fome who afifert, that virtue and happinefs have as greatly de-
clined. And the immenfe overflow of riches, from the Eaft in
particular, has been pronounced big with deftru(I:1:ion to the Bri-
tifh empire. Every thing human, it is true, has its dark as well
as its bright fide; but let thefe popular complaints be examined^
and it will be found, that modern Europe, and the Britifli em-
pire in a very particular manner, have received the greateft and,
moft folid advantages from the modern enlarged. fyftexii of Com-q
merce
xiv I N T R Q D U C T r O N*
merce. The magic of the old romances, which could make
the moil withered, deformed hag, appear as the moil beautiful
virgin, is every day verified ia popular declamation. Ancient
days are there painted in the moft amiable fimpUcity, and the
modern in the moil odious colours. Yet what man of fortune
in England lives in that ilupendous grofs luxury, which every day
was exhibited in the Gothic cailles of the old Chieftains ! Four
or five hundred knights and fquires in the domeilic retinue of a
warlike earl was not uncommon, nor was the pomp of embroi-
dery inferior to the profufe wafte of their tables ; in both in-
fiances unequalled by all the mad excefles of the prefent age.
While the Baron thus lived in all the wild glare of Gothic
luxury, agriculture was almoil totally negle(5led, and his meaner
vailals fared harder, infinitely lefs comfortably, than the meaneil
induflrious labourers of England do now. Where the lands are
uncultivated, the peafants, ill-cloathed, ill-lodged, and poorly
fed, pafs their miferable days in iloth and filth, totally ignorant
of every advantage, of every comfort which nature lays at their
feet. He who pafTes from the trading towns and cultured fields
of England, to thofe renwte villages of Scotland or Ireland,
which claim this defcription, is afloniihed at the comparative
wretched nefs of their deilitute inhabitants ; but few confider,
that thefe villages gnly exhibit a view of what Europe was, ere
the fpirit of Commerce difFufed the bleflings which naturally
flow from her improvements. In the Hebrides the failure of a
harvell almoil depopulates an ifland. Having little or no trafiic
to purchafe grain, numbers of the young and hale betake them-
felv^js to the continent in queil of employment and food, leaving
a few, lefs adventurous, behind, to beget a new race, the heirs
of the fame fortune. Yet, from the fame caufe, from the want
of trafiic, the kingdom of England has often felt more dread-
ful effeds than thefe. Even in the days when her Henries and
Edwards plumed themfelves with the trophies of France, how
often has Famine fpread all her horrors over city and village ?
Our modem hifi:ories negled: this charadleriflical feature of an-
cient days; but the rude chronicles of thefe ages inform us,
that three or four times, in almoil every reign of continuance,
was England thus vifited. The failure of the crop was then
feverely felt, and two bad harveils together were almoil infup-
portable< But Comraerce has now opened another fcene, has
armed
INTRODUCTION. uly
armed Government wkh the happicft j)ower that can be exerted
by the rulers of a nation ; the power to prevent every extremi-
ty * vv^hich may pofTibly arife from bad harvefts ; extremities,
which, in former ages, were efteemed more dreadful vilitations
of the wrath of heaven, than the peftilence itfelf. Yet mo-
dern London is not fo certainly defended againft the latter, its
antient vifitor in almoft every reign, than the Commonwealth by
the means of Commerce, under ajuft and humane government,
is fecured againft: the ravages of the former. If, from thefe great
outlines of the happinefs enjoyed by a commercial over an un-
commercial nation, we turn our eyes to the manners, the ad-
vantages will be found no lefs in favour of the civilized.
Whoever is inclined to declaim on the vices of the pre^
fent age, let him read, and be convinced, that the Gothic
ones were lefs virtuous. If the fpirit of chivalry prevented ef-
feminacy, it was the foiler-father of a ferocity of manners^,
now happily unknown. Rapacity, avarice, and effeminacy are
the vices afcribed to the increafe of Commerce ; and in fome
degree, it muft: be confelTed, they follow her fleps. Yet infi-
nitely more dreadful, as every palatinate in Europe often felt>
were the effedls of the two firft under the feodal Lords, than
pofHbly can be experienced under any fyflem of trade. The
virtues and vices of human nature are the fame in every age :
they only receive different modifications, and are dormant or
awaked into adion under different circumftances. The feodal
Lord had it infinitely more in his power to be rapacious than
the merchant. And whatever avarice may attend the trader,
his intercourfe with the refl of mankind lifts him greatly above
that brutifh ferocity which adluates the favage, often the
ruftie, and in general chara6terifes the ignorant part of man-
kind. The abolition of the feodal fyflem, a fyflem of abfolute
flavery, and that equality of mankind, which affords the pro-
tection of property, and every other incitement to induflry, are
the glorious gifts which the fpirit of Commerce, awaked by
prince Henry of Portugal, has beflowed upon Europe in gene-
ral } and, as if directed by the manes of his mother, a daughter
of England, upon the Britifh empire in particular. h\ the vice
* Extremity ; for it were both highly unjuft and impolitic in government, to allow im-
portation in fuch a degree as might be deftru^ve of domeftic agrKulture, when there is a
jreal failure of the harveft.
of
^i .I'K T R 6 D y C T I O N.
hf elTeminacy kldhcy' pet^ftpsi' Bx^ we exceed our anceftors; yet
even here we 'have infinitely the advantage over them. The
brutal ferocity of former ages is now-loft, and the general mind
is humanifed. The favage breaft is the native foil of revenge;
a vice, of all others, ingratitude excepted, peculiarly ftampt
with the character of hell. But the mention of this was re-
ferved for the chara<fler of the favages of Europe. The favage
of every country is implacable when injured, but amotig fome,
revenge has its meafure. The wilds of America hear the hoftile
parties join in their mutual lamentations over the murdered, and
whom, as an oblivion of malice, they bury together. But the
meafure of revenge, never to be full, was left for the demi-
favages of Europe. The vafTals of the feudal Lord entered
into his quarrels -'with the moil ineJcorable rage. Juft or unjuft
was no conlideration of theirs. It was a family feud ; no far-
ther enquiry was made; and from age to age, the parties, who
never injured each other, breathed nothing but mutual rancour
and revenge. And anions, fuitable to this horrid fpirit, every
where confeffed its violent influence. Such were the late days
of Europe, admired by the ignorant for the innocence of man-
ners. ' Refentment of injury indeed is natural; and there is a
-degree which is honeft, arni though warm, far from inhuman;
But if it is the hard tafk of humanifed virtue to preferve the
feeling of an injury unmixt with the flighteft criminal wifh
of revenge, how impoffible is k for the favage, to attain the
dignity of forgivenefs, the greateft ornament of human nature.
As in individuals, a virtue will rife into a vic^e, generofity
into blind profufion, and even niercy into criminal lenity, fo
civilifed manners will lead the opulent into effeminacy. But
let it be confidered, this confequence is by no means the
certain refult of civilization. Civilization, on the contrary,
provides the certain preventive of this evil. When refinement
degenerates into whatever enervates the mind, whenever frivo-
loufnefs predominates, literary ignorance is fure to complete
the effeminate character. A mediocrity of virtues and of talents
is the lot of the great majority of mankind; and even this me-
diocrity, if cultivated by a liberal education, will infallibly
fecure its pofi'effor againfl thofe exceffes of effeminacy whicn
are really culpable. To be of plain manners it is not neceffary
to be a clown, or to wear coarfe cloaths ; nor is it neceffary
to
I N T R D U C T ION; Km.
to lie on the ground and feed like the favage, to be truly
manly. The beggar who, behind the hedge, divides his offals
with his dog, has often more of the real fenfualifl than he who
dines at an elegant table. Nor need we hefitate to affert, that
he who, unable to preferve a manly elegance of manners, dege-
nerates into the petit mmtre, would have been, in any age or
condition, equally infignificant and worthlefs. Some, when
they talk of the debauchery of the prefent age, feem to think
that the former were all innocence. But this is ignorance of
human nature. The debauchery of a barbarous age is grofs and
brutal; that of a gloomy fuperftitious one, fecret, exceflive, and
murderous : that of a more polifhed one, not to make an apo-
logy,, much happier for the fair fex *, and certainly not fo bad.
If one difeafe has been imported from Spanifh America, the
moil valuable medicines have likewife been brought from thefc
regions ; and diftempers, which were thought invincible by our
forefathers, are now cured. If the luxuries of the Indies uflier
difeafe to our tables, the confequence is not unknown ; the
wife and the temperate receive no injury, and intemperance has
been the deftroyer of mankind in every age. The opulence of
ancient Rome produced a luxury of manners which proved fatal
to that mighty empire. But the effeminate fenfualifls of thefe
ages were not men of intelledlual cultivation. The enlarged
ideas, the generous and manly feelings, infpired by a liberal
education, were utterly unknown to them. Unformed by that
wifdom which arifes from fcience, they were grofs barbarians,
drelTed in the mere outward tinfel of civilization -f-. Where
* Even that warm admirer of favage hap- ture preceded the fate of the ftate, and the
pinefsj the Author of Hijioire Philofophique reafon is obvious. The men of fortune
tif Politique des EtabUjJemens, See. confefles, grew frivolous, and fuperficial in every
that the wild Americans feem deftitute of branch of knowledge, and were therefore
the feeling of love. In a little while, fays unable to hold the reigns of empire. The
he, when the heat of pafTion is gratified, degeneracy of literary tafte is, therefore,
they lofe all affeftion and attachment for the fureft proof of the general ignorance,
their women, whom they degrade to the However foreigners may jullly defpife our
moft fervile offices. — A tender remembrance theatrical tafte, the juftice of their con-
of the firft endearments, a generous parti- tempt by no means fi:xes a flain on the na-
cipation of care and hope, the compaf- tional. A London audience is chiefly com-
fionate fentiments of honour ; all thefe de- pofed of thofe ranks who never, in any
licate feelings, which arife into afFeftion country, had any pretenfion to lietrary tafte.
and bind attachment, are indeed incompa- Manly criticifm, and every difcuffion of phi-
tible with the ferocious and grofs fenfations lofophy, never appeared in greater luftre
•of the barbarian of any country.- than in the prefent age ; and Englifh lite-
t The degeneracy of the Roman litera- rature is the ftudy of "Eiux)pe.
d the
xvjil INTRODUCTION'..
the enthuiiafm of military honour charadlerifes the rank of
gentlemen, that nation will rife into empire. But no fooner'
does conqueft give a continued fecurity, than the mere foldier
degenerates^; and the old veterans are foon fucceeded by a new
generation, illiterate as their fathers, but deftitute of their vir-
tues and experience. Luxury prevails ; titles and family are
the only merit, and the whole body of the nobility are utterly
ignorant of the principles of commerce and true policy. A
flately grandeur is preferved, but it is only outward, all is de-
cayed within, and on the iirfl ftorm the weak fabrick falls to
the dufl. Thus rofe and thus fell the empire of Rome, and
the much wider one of Portugal. But moft elTentially diffe-
rent from this is the prefent character of the Britifh nation :
Science and every branch of liberal ftudy have here taken
deep root, and fpread their fruitful boughs wide over the un-
rivalled empire. Our politicians of the day may declaim as
ignorant paflion leads them, but the true chara(5ler of the pre-
fent age, compared with that of the laft and the preceding
centuries, does honour to human nature. Neither do the ilavifh
principles of the Royalifts of the laft century, nor the uncon-
ftitutional fury of the Republicans, conftitute the prefent ge-
neral character. A fpirit more manly than that of the former,
more rational, more liberal than that of both, predominates in.
every branch of the people. The weaknefs of effeminacy
has neither appeared in the Camp nor in the Senate. The ad-
vantages of cultivated talents, on the contrary, never fhone
forth with greater luftre, than the prefent age has beheld them
difplayed, in the difputes of the Senate and in the arts of war.
And if thus we are defended againft the evils of effeminacy,
we may alfo prefume, that the fame liberal cultivation of the
minds of the Great will preferve us from thofe evils which other
nations have fuffered from the fudden influx of enormous
wealth. The wifdom of legiflature might certainly have pre-
vented every evil which Spain and Portugal have experienced
from iheir acquifitions in the two Indies *. But what other
* The foldiers and navigators were the only conllderable gainers by their acquirements in
the Indies. Though agriculture and manufaftory are the natural flrength of a nation; and
though the true ufe of colonization is to increafe thefe in the mother country, thefe received
little or no increafe in Spain aod Portugal by the great acq^uiiitions of thefe crowns. But of
this hereafter.
than;
INTRODUCTION. xix
than the total eclipfe of their glory could be expeded from a
nobility, rude and unlettered as thofe of Portugal are de*
fcribcd by the author of the Lufiad, a court and nobility,-
who fealed the truth of all his complaints againfl them,
by fufFering that great man, the light of their age, to die
in an alms-houfe ! What but the fall of their ftate could be
expected from barbarians like thefe ! Nor can the annals of
mankind produce one inftance of the fall of empire, where the
charadler of the grandees was other than that alcribed to bis
countrymen by Camoens.
No lefTon can be of greater national importance than the
hiftory of the rife and the fall of a commercial empire. The
view of what advantages were acquired, and of what might
have been ftill added ; the means by which fuch empire might
have been continued, and the errors by which it was loft, are
as particularly confpicuous in the naval and commercial hiftory
of Portugal, as if Providence had intended to give a lafting
example to mankind ; a chart, where the courle of the h.£c
voyage is pointed out, and where the fhelves and rocksy and
the feafons of tempeft are difcovered, and foretold.
The hiftory of Portugal, as a naval and commercial power,
begins with the defigns of Prince Henry. But as the enter-
prizes of this great man, and the completion of his defigns
are intimately conne(5ted with the ftate of Portugal, a fhort
view of the progrcfs of the power, and of the chara<fter of that
kingdom, will be neceffary to elucidate the hiftory of there*
vival of commerce, and the fubjed; of the Lufiad.
During the centuries, when the effeminated Roman pro-
vinces of Europe were defolated by the irruptions of northern
or Scythian barbarians, the Saracens, originally a wandering
banditti of Afiatic Scythia, fpread the fame horrors of brutal
conqueft over the fineft countries of the caftern world. The
northern conquerors of the finer provinces of Europe embraced
the Chriftian religion as profefied by the monks, and, contented
with the luxuries of their new fetrlements, their military fpirit
foon declined. Their ancient brothers, the Saracens, on the
other hand, having embraced the religion of Mohammed, their,
rage of war received every addition which may poflibly be in-
fpired by religious enthufiafm. Not only the fpoils of the van-
quiftied, but their beloved Paradife itfelf was to be obtained by
d 2 their
XX INTRODUCTION-
their fabres, by^ extending the faith of their prophet by force
of arms and ufurpation of dominion. Strengthened and in-
spired by a commiflion which they efteemed divine, the ra-
pidity of their conquefts far exceeded thofe of the Goths and
Vandals. A great majority of the inhabitants of every
country they fubdued embraced their religion, imbibed their
principles, united in their views, ;.^d the profeffors Moham-
medifm became the moft formidable :combination that ever was.
leagued together againft the reft ©f mankind. Morocco and
the adjacent countries, at this time amazingly populous, had.
now received the dod:rines of the Koran, and incorporated with
the Saracens. And the Turkifh arms fpread llaughter and defo-
lation from the fouth of Spain to Italy and the iflands of the
Mediterranean. All the rapine and carnage committed by the
Gothic conquerors were now amply. returned on their lefs, war-
like pofterity. In Spain, and the province how called Portugal,,
the Mohammedans eredted powerful kingdoms, and their lufl
of conqueft threatened deftrudion to every Chriftian power..
But a romantic military fpirit revived in Europe, under the
aufpices of Charlemagne. ; The Mohammedans,, during the
reign of this fovereign, made a moft formidable irruption into
Europe, and France in particular felt the weight of their fury 5
when that political monarch, by inventing new military honours,
drew the adventurous youth of every Chriftian power to his
ftandards, and in fad;, a circumftance, however negleded by
hiftorians, gave birth to the Crufades, the beginning of which,,
in propriety, ought to be dated from his reign. Few indeed
are the hiftorians of this period, but enough remain to prove
that though the writers of the old romance feized upon it,,
though they gave full room to the wildeft flights of imagination,
and added the inexhauftible machinery of magic to the adven-
tures of their heroes,; yet the origin of their fidions was founded
on hiftorical fads *. Yet, however this period may thus refemble
the fabulous ages of Greece, certain it is, that an Orlando, a,
Rinaldo, a Rugero, and other celebrated names in romance,.
• Ariofto, who adopted the legends of the old romance, chofe this period for the fubjed
of his Orlando Furiofo. Paris befieged by the Saracens, Orlando and the other Chriftian
knights affemble in aid of Charlemagne, who are oppoled in their amours and in battle by
Rodomont, Ferraw, and ojher infidel knights. That there was a noted Moorifh Spaniard,,
named Ferraw, a redoubted champion of that age, we have the teftimony of Marcus An**
lonius Sabellicus, a writer of note of the fifteenth century.
acquired
INTRODUCTION. xxi
acquired great honour in the wars which were waged againft
the Saracens, the invaders of Europe. In thefe romantic wars,
by which the power of the Mohammedans was checked, feveral
centuries elapfed, when Alonzo, king of Caftile, apprehenfive
that the whole force of the Mohammedans of Spain and Mo-
rocco was ready to fall upon him, prudently imitated the con-
dud: of Charlemagne. He availed himfelf of the fpirit of chi-
valry, and demanded leave of Philip I. of France, and of other
princes, that volunteers from their dominions might be allowed
to diftinguifh themfelves under his banners againfl the infidels.
His defire was no fooner known, than a brave romantic army
thronged to his ftandards, and Alonzo was vidorious. Honours
and endowments were liberally diftributed among the champions,
and to one of the braveft of them, to Henry*, a younger fon
of the duke of Burgundy, he gave his daughter Terefa in mar-
riage, with the fovereignty of the countries fouth of Galicia in
dowry, commiffioning him to extend his dominions by the ex-
pulfion of the Moors. Henry, who reigned, by the title of
Count, improved every advantage which offered.. TIijc two
rich provinces of Entro Minho e Douro, and Fra los Monies,
yielded to his arms ; great part of Beira alfo was fubdued, and
the Moorifh king of Lamego became his tributary. Many
thoufands of Chriftians, who had lived in miferable fub-
jedlion to the MourSy or in defolate independency in the moun-
tains, took flicker under the generous protedtion of Count
Henry. Great numbers alio of the Moors changed their re-
ligion, and chofe rather to continue in the land where they
were born, under a mild government, than be expofed to the
feverities and injuflice of their native governors. And thus^
on one of the moft "^ beautiful and fertile fpots of the world,
and in the fineft climate, in confequence of a Crufade "f* againft
the Mohammedans, was eflablKhed the fovereignty of Portugal,
a fovereignty which in time fpread its influence over the world,
and gave a new face to the manners of nations.
- Count Henry, after a fuccefsful reign, was fucceeded by his
infant fon Don Alonzo-Henry, who having furmounted feveral
* See the notes on page 94 and g^.
X Small indeed in extent, but fo rich in fertility, that it was called Medulla Bifpanke,
7he marrczv of Spain. Vid. Refandii Antiq. Lulit. 1. iii.
f In propriety moll certainly a Crufade, though that term has never before been applied
to this war.
dangers
xxii INTRODUCTION.
dangers which threatened his youth*, became the founder of
the Portuguefe monarchy. In 1 1 39 the Moors of Spain and
Barbary united their forces to recover the dominions from which
they had been driven by the Chriftians. According to the loweft
accounts of the Portuguefe writers, the army of the Moors
amounted to near 400,000 ; nor is this number incredible, when
we conlider what armies they at other times brought to the
field, and that at this time they came to take poffellion of the
lands they expedied to conquer. Don Alonzo, however, with
a very fmall army, gave them battle on the plains of Ourique,
and after a flruggle of fix hours, obtained a mofl glorious and
compleat -f vidory, and which was crowned with an event of
the utmoft importance. On the field of battle Don Alonzo was
proclaimed King of Portugal by his vid:oriQus foldiers, and he
in return conferred the rank of nobility on the whole army.
But the conftitution of the monarchy was not fettled, nor was
Alonzo invefted with the Regalia till fix years after this me-
morable vid:ory. The government the Portuguefe had ex-
perienced under the Spaniards and Moors, and the advantages
which they faw were derived from their own valour, had taught
them a love of liberty, which was not to be complimented
away in the joy of victory, or by the fhouts of tumult. AlOnzo
himfelf underflood their fpirit too well to make the leafl at-
tempt to ered; himfelf a defpotic Monarchy nor did he difcover
the leafl inclination to deftroy that bold confcioufnefs of free-
dom which had enabled his army to conquer and eledl him their
Sovereign. After fix years fpent in farther victories, 'in extend-
ing and fecuring his dominions, he called an aflembly of the
prelates, nobility and commons, to meet at Lamego. When
the afi^embly opened, Alonzo appeared feated on the throne,
but without any other mark of regal dignity. And ere he was
crowned, the conftitution of the ftate was fettled, and eighteen
ftatutes were folemnly confirmed by oath % as the charter of
king and people ; fi:atutes diametrically oppofite to tho. jure divina
and arbitrary power of kings, to the principles which in-
* See the note on page 96.
t For an account of this battle, and the coronation of the firft king of Portugal, fee the
note, p. 105.
X The power of depofing, and of eledling their kings, undfcr certain circumftanccs, is
veftedio the people by the ftatutes of La.mego. See the notes, p. 106 and 160.
culcate
INTRODUCTION. xxiil
culcate and demand the unlimited paffive obedience of the
fubjedt.
Confcious of what they owed to their own valour, the
founders of the Portuguefe monarchy tranfmitted to their heirs
thofe generous principles of liberty which compleat and adorn
the martial charadier. The ardour of the volunteer, an ardour
unknown to the flave and the mercenary, added to the mofl ro-
mantic ideas of military glory, charadierifed the Portuguefe
under the reigns of their firft monarchs. In almofl: continual
wars with the Moors, this fpirit, on which the exigence of
their kingdom depended, rofe higher and higher; and the defire
to extirpate Mohammedifm, the principle which animated
the wifh of viftory in every battle, feemed to take deeper root
in every age. Such were the manners, and fuch the principles
of the people who were governed by the fuccefTors of Alonzo
the Firfl, a fuceeflion of great men, who proved themfelves
worthy to reign over fo military and enterprifing a nation.
By a continued train of vid:ories Portugal increafed confider-
ably in ftrength, and the Portuguefe had the honour to drive
the Moors from Europe. The invafions of thefe people were
now requited by fuccefsful expeditions into Africa. And fuch
was the manly fpirit of thefe ages, that the ftatutes of Lamega
received additional articles in favour of liberty,, a convincing
proof that the general heroifm of a people depends upon the
principles of freedom. Alonzo IV. -f though not an amiable
character, was perhaps the greateft warrior, politician, and
monarch of his age. After a reign of military fplendor he left
his throne to his fon Pedro, who from his inflexible juftice was
furnamed the Juft, or, the Lover of Jnftice. The ideas of
equity and literature were now diffufed by this great J prince,
who was himfelf a polite fcholar, and moft accomplilhed gentle-
man. And Portugal began to perceive the advantages of culti-»
vated talents, and to feel its fuperiority over the barbarous po-
litics of the ignorant Moors. The great Pedro, however, was
fucceeded by a weak prince, and the heroic fpirit of the Portu-
guefe feemed to exifl no more under his fon Fernando^ fur-
named the Carelefs*
f For the charafter of this prince, fee the note, p. 136.
t. For anecdotes of thi? monarch, fee the notes, p. 138 and 140,
But
xxiv INTRODUCTION.
But the general charadter of the people was too deeply im-
prefled to be obliterated by one inglorious reign, and under John
I. § all the virtues of the Portuguefe fhone forth with redoubled
luftre. Happy for Portugal his father beftowed a moft excel-
lent education upon this prince, which added to, and improv-
ing his great natural talents, rendered him one of the greateft
of monarchs. Confcious of the fuperiority which his own
liberal education gave him, he was affiduous to beftow the fame
advantages upon his children, and he himfelf often became
their preceptor in the branches of fcience and ufeful knowledge.
Fortunate in all his affairs, he was moft of all fortunate in his
family. He had many fons, and he lived to fee them men,
men of parts and of adtion, whofe only emulation was to fliew
affedion to his perfon, and to fupport his adminiftration by
their great abilities.
There is fomething exceeding pleafmg in reading the hiflory
of a family which fhews human nature in its moft exalted vir-
tues and moft amiable colours -, and the tribute of veneration is
fpontaneoufly paid to the father who diflinguifhes the different
talents of his children, and places them in the proper lines of
adlion. All the fons of John excelled in military exercifes, and
in the literature of their age ; Don Edward and Don * Pedro
were particularly educated for the cabinet, and the mathemati-
cal genius of Don Henry, one of his youngeft fons, received
every encouragement which a king and a father could give, to
ripen it into perfe<5lion and public utility.
Hiftory was well known to Prince Henry, and his turn of
mind peculiarly enabled him to make political obfervations upon
it. The wealth and power of ancient Tyre and Carthage
fhewed him what a maritime nation might hope -, and the flou-
rifhing colonies of the Greeks were the frequent topic of his
converfation. Where the Grecian commerce, confined as it
§ This great prince was the natural fon of Pedro the Juft. Some years after the murder
of his beloved fpoufe Inez de Caftro (of which fee the text and notes, p, 130, &c.) left his
father, whofe fevere temper he too well knew, fhould force him into a difagreeable marriage,
Don Pedro commenced an amour with a Galician lady, who became the mother of John I.
the preferver of the Portuguefe monarchy. See the notes, p, 146 and 148.
* The fons of John, who f^^^re in hiftory, were Edward, Juan, Fernando, Pedro, and
Henry. Edward fucceeded his father, (for whofe reign andcharafter, fee the note p. 165.)
Juan, diftinguiftied both in the camp and cabinet, in the reign of his brother Edward
had the honour to oppofe the wild expedition againft Tangier, which was propofed by his
|)roiher Fernando, in whofe perpetual captivity it ended. Of Pedro afterwards,
was.
INTRODUCTION. xxv
was, extended its influence, the deferts became cultivated fields,
cities rofe, and men were drawn from the woods and caverns to
unite in fociety. The Romans, on the other hand, when they
deftroycd Carthage, buried in her ruins, the fountain of civili-
zation, of improvement and opulence. They extingui(hed the
fpirit of commerce ; the agriculture of the conquered nations,
Britannia * alone, perhaps, excepted, was totally negle<fted.
And thus, while the luxury of Rome confumed the wealth of
her provinces, her uncommercial policy dried up the fources of
its continuance. The egregious errors of the Romans, who
perceived not the true ufe of their diftant conquefls, and the
inexhauftible fountains of opulence which Phoenicia had efla-
blifhed in her colonies, inftrudled Prince Henry what gifts to
be/low upon his country, and in the refult upon the whole
world. Nor were the ineftimable advantages of commerce the
fole motives of Henry. All the ardour that the love of his
country could awake, confpired to Simulate the natural turn
of his genius for the improvement of navigation. '
As the kingdom of Portugal had been wrefted from the Moors
and eftablifhed by conqueft, fo its exiftence ftill fubfifted on the
fuperiority of the force of arms ; and ere the birth of Henry, the
fuperiority of the Portuguefe navies had been of the utmoft con-
fequence to the protedlion of the ftate. Whatever therefore might
curb or ruin the power of the Moors, was of the laft importance
to the exiftence of Portugal. Such were the views and the cir-
cumftances which united to infpire the defigns of Henry, all
which were powerfully enforced and invigorated by the religion
of that prince. The defire to extirpate Mohammedifm was
patriotifm in Portugal. It was the principle which gave birth
to, and fupported their monarchy. Their kings avowed it,
and Prince Henry, the piety of whofe heart cannot be quef-
tioned, always profefled, that to propagate the gofpel and extir-
pate Mohammedifm, was the great purpofe of his deligns and
enterprizes. And however both the one and the other, in the
* The honour of this is due to Agrlcola. for feveral ages after, the Romans drew
He employed his legions in cutting down immenfe quantities of wheat from their
forefts and in clearing marfhes. And Britifh province.
e event.
xxvi INTRODUCTION.
event, were -f negle6ted, certain it is, that the fame principles
infpired, and were § always profefled by king Emmanuel, under
whom the Eaftern World was difcovered by Gama. - '•^^'•'''
The Crufades, to refcue the Holy Land from the infidels,
which, however unregarded by hiilorians, had already been of
the greateft political fervice to Spain, and Portugal, |1 began now
to have fome eiFedt upon the commerce of Europe. The Hans
Towns had received charters of liberty, and had united together
for the protection of their trade againft the numerous pyrates of
the Baltic. A people of Italy, known by the name of the
Lombards, had opened a lucrative traffic with the ports of
Egypt, from whence they imported into Europe the riches of
India ; and Bruges in Flanders, the mart between them and the
Hans Towns was, in confequence, furrounded with the heft
agriculture of thefe ages J. A certain proof of the dependance
of agriculture upon the extent of commerce. Yet though thefe
gleams of light, as morning ftars, began to appear, it was not
the grofs multitude, it was only the eye of a Henry which
could perceive what they prognofticated, and it was only a
genius like his which could prevent them from again fetting in.
the depths of night. The Hans Towns were liable to be
buried in the vidiories of a Tyrant, and the trade with Egypt
was exceedingly infecure and precarious. Europe was ftill en-
veloped in the dark mifts of ignorance, and though the mari-
ner's compafs was invented before the birth of Henry, it was
improved to no naval advantage. Traffic ftill crept, in an in-
fant ftate, along the coafts, nor were the conftrudtion of fhips
adapted for other voyages. One fuccefsful Tyrant might have
overwhelmed the fyftem and extinguifhed the fpirit of com-
t Neglefted in xhe idea of the com- England the greateft fervice, by introduc-
manders ; the idea of Henry however was ing the prefent fyftem of agriculture. Where-
gfeatly fulfilled. For the dominion of the trade increafes, men's thoughts are fet
Pbhuguefe in the Indian fea cut the ilnews in aftion ; hence the increafe of food
of the Egyptian and other Mohammedan which is wanted, is fupplicd by a redoubled
powers. But of this afterwards. attention to hulbandry ; and hence it was
§ See the notes, p. 432. that agriculture was of old improved and
II See the note, p, 277. difFufed by the Phoenician colonies. Some
X Flanders has been the fcbool-miftrefs Theorifts complain of the number of lives
of hulbandry to Europe. Sir Charles Lifle, which are loft by navigation, but they to-
a Royalift, refided in this country feveral tally forget that commerce is the parent of
years during the ufurpation of the Regi- population.
cides ; and after tie Reftoration, rendered
merce.
INTRODUCTION. xxvii
merce, for it flood on a much narrower and much feebler bafis,
than in the days of Phoenician and Grecian colonization. Yet
thefe mighty fabricks, many centuries before, had been fwal-^
lowed up in the defolations of unpolitical conqueft. A broader
and more permanent foundation of commerce than the world
had yet feen, an univerfal bafis, was yet wanting to blefs man-
kind, and Henry Duke of Vifeo was born to give it.
On purpofe to promote his defigns. Prince Henry was by his
father ftationed the Commander in chief of the Portuguefe forces
in Africa. He had already, in 14 12, three years before the re-
du(ftion of Ceuta-f-, fent a ihip to make difcoveries on the Bar-
bary coaft. Cape Nam§, as its name intimates, was then the
Ne plus ultra of European navigation ; the fhip fent by Henry
however pafTed it fixty leagues, and reached Cape Bojador^
Encouraged by this beginning, the Prince while he was in
Africa acquired whatever information the moft intelligent of the
Moors of Fez and Morocco could give. About a league and
one half from the Cape of St. Vincent, in the kingdom of Al-
garve, Don Henry had obferved a fmall but commodious fitua-
tion for a fea-port town. On this fpot, fuppofed the Promon-
torium Sacrum of the Romans, he built his town of Sagrez,
by much the beft planned and fortified of any in Portugal.
Here, where the view of the ocean, fays Faria, infpired his
hopes and endeavours, he erected his arfenals, and built and
harboured his fhips. And here, leaving the temporary buflle
and cares of the flate to his father and brothers, he retired like
a philofopher from the world, on purpofe to render his fludies
of the utmofl 'importance to its happinefs. Having received all
the light which could be difcovered in Africa, he continued
unwearied in his mathematical and geographical fludies ; the
art of fhip-building received amazing improvement under his
dire(5tion, and the truth of his ideas of the flrudlure of the
terraqueous globe are now confirmed. He it was who firfl
fuggefled the ufe of the compafs, and of longitude and latitude
in navigation^ and how thefe might be afcertained by aflrono-
f At the reduftion of Ceuta, and other fword. Yet though even pofleffed by the
engagements in Africa, Prince Henry dif- enthufiafm of chivalry, his genius for na-
played a military genius and valour of the vigation pr(;vailed, and confined him to the
firfl: magnitude. The important fortrefs rock of Sagrez.
of Ceuta was in a manner won by his own § Nam^ in Portuguefe, a negative.
e 2 mical
xxviii I N T R O D U C T I O IST-
mical obfervations, fuggeftions and difcoveries which would have
held no fecond place among the conjedlures of a Bacon, or the
improvements of a Newton. Naval adventurers were now in-
vited from all parts to the town of Sagrez, and in 1418 Juan
Gonfalez Zarco and Triftran Vaz fet fail on an expedition of
Jifcovery, the circumflances of which give us a ftriking pidure
of the flate of navigation, ere it was new modelled by the
genius of Henry.
Cape Bojador, fo named from its extent*, runs about forty
leagues to the weflward, and for about fix leagues off land there
is a moft violent current, which dafhing upon the {lielves>
makes a tempeftuous fea. This was deemed impaflible, for it
was not confidered, that by (landing out to the ocean the cur-
rent might be avoided. To pafs this formidable cape was the
commiffion of Zarco and Vaz, who were alfo ordered to pro-
ceed as far as they could to difcover the African coaft, which,
according to the information given to Henry by the Moors and
Arabs, extended at leaft to the equinodlial line. Zarco and Vaz,
however, loft their courfe in a ftorm, and were driven to a little
ifland, which, in the joy of their deliverance, they named
Puerto Santo, or the Holy Haven. Nor was Prince Henry,
on their return, lefs joyful of their difcovery, than they had
been of their efcape : A ftriking proof of the miferable ftate
of navigation -, for this ifland is only the voyage of a few days,
in favourable weather, from the promontary of Sagrez.
The Difcoverers of Puerto Santo, accompanied by Bartholo*
mew Perellrello, were with three {hips fent out on farther trial..
Pereftrello, having fowed fome feeds and left fome cattle on.
Holy Haven, returned to Portugal J. But Zarco and Vaz di-
recting their courfe fouthward, in 1419, perceived fomething
like a cloud on the water, and failing toward it, difcovered an
ifland covered with wood, which from thence they narned Ma-
deira., And this rich and beautiful ifland, which foon yielded,
a confiderable revenue, was the iirft reward of the enterprizes
of Prince Henry.
• Forty leagues appeared as a vaft diftance to the failors of that age, who named thi»
Cape Bojador, from the Spanifli, iojar, to compafs or go about.
X Unluckily alfo were left on this ifland two rabbits, whofe young fo iticreafed, that in
a few years it was found not habitable, ev^ry vegetable being deftroyed by the great in-.
creafe of thefe animals.
I N T R 6 D U C T I O N. xxlx
If the Duke of Vifeo's liberal ideas of eftablifhing colonies,
thofe finews of a commercial ftate, or his views of African and
Indian commerce, were too refined to ftrike the grofs multi-
tude ; yet other advantages refulting from his defigns, one would
conclude, were felf-evident. Nature calls upon Portugal to be
a maritime power, and her naval fuperiority over the Moors,
was, in the time of Henry, the fureft defence of her exiftence
as a kingdom. Yet though all his labours tended to eftablifli
that naval fuperiority on the furefl bafis, though even the re-
ligion of the age added its authority to the cleareft political
principles in favour of Henry ; yet were his enterprizes and his
expefted difcoveries derided with all the infolence of ignorance
and bitternefs of popular clamour. Barren deferts like Lybia,
it was faid, were all that could be found, and a thoufand dif-
advantages, drawn from thefe data, were forefeen and foretold.
The great mind and better knowledge of Henry, however, were
not thus to be fhaken. Though twelve years from the difcovery
of Madeira had elapfed in unfuccefsful endeavours to carry his
navigation farther, he was now more happy -, for one of his
captains, named Galianez, in 1434 palled the Cape of Bojador,
till then invincible ^ an adlion, fays Faria, in the common
opinion, not inferior to the labours of Hercules.
Gilianez, the next year, accompanied by Gonfalez Baldaya,
carried his difcoveries many leagues farther. Having put two
horfemen on fhore, to difcover the face of the country, the
adventurers, after riding feveral hours, faw nineteen men armed
with javelins. The natives fled, and the two horfemen pur-
fued, till one of the Portuguefe, being wounded, loft the firft
blood that was facrificed to the new fyftem of commerce. A
fmall beginning; a very fmall ftreamlet, fome perhaps may ex-
claim, but which foon fwelled into oceans, and deluged the
eaftern and weftern worlds. Let fuch philofophers, however,
be defired to name the defign of public utility, which has been
unpolluted by the depravity of the human paffions. To fuppofe
that Heaven itfelf could give an inftitution which could not
be perverted, and to fuppofe no previous alteration in human
nature, is a contradidtion in propolition ; for as human nature
now exifts, power cannot be equally polTefled by all, and when-
ever the felfifh or vicious paffions predominate, that power will
certainly be abufed. The cruelties therefore of Cortez, and..
that
KXX
INTRODUCTION.
that more horrid barbarian Pizarro*, are no more to be charged
upon Don Henry and Columbus, than the villainies of the
Jefuits and the horrors of the Inquifition are to be afcribed to
him, whofe precepts are fummed up in the great command.
To do to your neighbour as you would wiih your neighbour to
do jl:o you. But if it is flill alledged that he who plans a dif-
covery ought to forefee the miferies which the vicious will en-
graft upon his enterprize, let the objedior be told, that the
miferies are uncertain, while the advantages are real and fure ^
and that the true philofopher will not confine his eye to the
Spanifli campaigns in Mexico and Peru, but will extend his
profped: to all the ineftimable benefits, all the improvements of
laws, opinions, and of manners, which have been introduced by
the intercourfe of univerfal commerce.
In I 440 Anthony Gonfalez brought fome Moors prifoners to
Lifbon. Thefe he took two and forty leagues beyond Cape
Bojador, and in 1442 he returned with his captives. One Moor
efcaped, but ten blacks of Guinea and a confiderable quantity
* Some eminent writers, both at home
and abroad, have of late endeavoured to
foften the charafter of Cortez, and have
urged the neceflity of war for the flaughters
he committed. Thefe authors have alfo
greatly foftened the horrid features of the
Mexicans. If one, however, would trace
the true charafter of Cortez and the Ame-
ricans, he muft have recourfe to the nu-
merous Spanifh writers, who were either
witnefTes of the firft v/ars, or. . foon after
travelled in thefe countries. In thefe he will
iind jnany anecdotes which afford a light,
not to be found in our modernifed hiftories.
In thefe it will be found, that Cortez fet
Out to take gold by force, and not by efta-
blifhing any fyftem of commerce with the
natives, the only juft reafon of effe^fting a
fettlement in a foreign country. He was
afked by various ftates, what commodities
or drugs he wanted, and was promifed a-
bundant fupply. He and his Spaniards, he
anfwered, had a difeafe at their hearts,
which nothing but gold could cure ; and he
received intelligence, that Mexico abound-
ed with it. Under pretence of a friendly
conference, he made Montezuma his pri-»
foner, and ordered him to pay tribute to
Charles V. Immenfe fums were paid, but
the demand was boundlefs. Tumults en-
fued. Cortez difplayed amazing general-
fhip, and fome millions of thofe, who in
enumerating to the Spaniards the greatnefs
of Montezuma, boafted that his yearly fa-
crifices confumed 20,000 men, were now
Sacrificed to the difeafe of Cortez's heart.
Pizarro, however, in the barbarity of his
foul, far exceeded him. There is a very
bright fide of the charafter of Cortez. If
we forget that his avarice was the caufe of
a moft unjuft and moft blopdy war, in every
other refpeft he will appear one of the
greateft of heroes. But Pizarro is a cha-
rafter completely deteftable, deftitute of
every fpark of generofity. He maflacred
the Peruvians, he faid, becaufe they were
barbarians, and he himfelf could not read.
Atabalipa, amazed at the art of reading,
got a Spaniard to write the word Dios (the
Spanifli for God) on his finger. On trying
if the Spaniards agreed in what it fignified,
he difcovered that Pizarro could not read.
And Pizarro, in revenge of the contempt
he perceived in the face of Atabalipa, or-
dered that prince to be tried for his life,
for having concubines, and being an idola-
ter. Atabalipa was condemned to be burn-
ed ; but on fubmitting to baptifm, he was
only hanged.
of
INTRODUCTION. xxxi
of gold duft were given in ranfom for two others. A rivulet at
the place of landing was named by Gonfalez, Rio del Oro, or
the River of Gold. And the iflands of Adeget, Arguim, and
de las Gar^as, were now difcovered.
The Guinea blacks, the firft ever feen in Portugal, and the
gold duft, excited other paffions befide admiration. A company-
was formed at Lagos, under the aufpices of Prince Henry, to
carry on a traffic with the new difcovered countries ^ and as the
Portuguefe confidered themfelves in a flate of continual hoftility
with the Moors, about two hundred of thefe people, inhabi-
tants of the Iflands of Nar and Tider, in 1444, were brought
prifoners to Portugal. And Gonzalo de Cintra was the next
year attacked by the Moors, fourteen leagues beyond Rio del
Oro, where with feven of his men he was killed.
This hoftile proceeding difpleafed Prince Henry, and in 1446
Anthony Gonfalez and two other captains were fent to enter
into a treaty of peace and traffic with the natives of Rio del
Oro, and alfo to attempt their converfion. But thefe propofals
were rejedled by the barbarians, one of whom, however, came
voluntarily to Portugal, and Juan Fernandez remained with the
natives, to obferve their manners and the produdts of the coun-
try. In the year following Fernandez was found in good health
and brought home to Portugal. The account he gave of the
country and people affi^rds a ftriking inftance of the mifery of
barbarians. The land an open, barren, fandy plain, where the
wandering natives were guided in their journeys by the ftars and
flights of birds , their food milk, lizards, locufts, and fuch
herbs as the foil produced without culture ; and their only de- .
fence from the fcorching heat of the fun fome miferable tents
which they pitch as occafion requires on the burning fands.
In 1447 upwards of thirty fhips followed the route of traffic
which was now opened j and John de Caftilla obtained the in-
famy to ftand the firft on the lift of thofe names, whofe vil-
lanies have difgraced the fpirit of commerce, and affi^rded the
loudeft complaints againft the progrefs of navigation. DifTatif-
iied with the value of his cargo, he ungratefully feized twenty
of the natives of Gomera, (one of the Canaries) who had affif-
ted him, and with whom he was in friendly alliance, and brought
them as flaves to Portugal. But Prince Henry refented this out-
rage, and having given them fome valuable prefents of clothes^
reilored the captives to freedom and their native country..
xxxii INTRODUCTION.
The converfion and redudion of the Canaries was alfo this
year attempted j but Spain having challenged the difcovery of
thefe iflands, the expedition was difcontinued. In the Canary
iflands was found a feodal cuftom ; the chief man or governor
was gratified with the firft night of every bride in his diftri(5l.
In 1448 Fernando Alonzo was fent ambaifador to the King
of Cabo Verde with a treaty of trade and converfion, which
was defeated at that time by the treachery of the natives. In
1 449 the Azores were difcovered by Gonfalo Velio, and the coaft
fixty leagues beyond Cape Verde was vifited by the fleets of
Henry. It is alfo certain that fome of his commanders pafled
the equinodial line. It was the cuftom of his failors to leave
his motto Talent de Bien Faire, wherever they came;
and in 1525 Loaya, a Spanifh captain, found that device carved
on the bark of a tree in the ifle of St. Matthew, in the fecond
degree of fouth latitude.
Prince Henry had now with the moft inflexible perfeverance
profecuted his difcoveries for upwards of forty years. His
father, John I, concurred with him in his views, and gave
him every aflifl;ance; his brother. King Edward, during his
fhort reign, was the fame as his father had been ; nor was the
eleven years regency of his brother Don Pedro lefs aufpicious
to him *. But the mifunderflanding between Pedro and his
nephew Alonzo V. v/ho took upon him the reins of govern-
ment in his feventeenth year, retarded the defigns of Henry,
and gave him much unhappinefs J. At his town of Sagrez,
from whence he had not moved for many years, except when
called to court on fome emergency of fliate, Don Henry, now
in his fixty-feventh year, yielded to the ftroke of fate, in the
year of our Lord 1463, gratified with the certain profpecfl, that
the route to the eafiiern world would one day crown the enterprizes
to which he had given birth. He had the happinefs to fee
the naval fuperiority of his country bver the Moors eftablifhed
* The difficulties he furmounted, and the town of Sagrez to defend his brother at
affiftance he received, are inconteftible court, but in vain. Pedro, finding the
proofs, that an adventurer of inferior birth young king in the power of Braganza, fled,
could never have carried his defigns into and foon after was killed in defending him-
cxecution. felf againfl a party who were fent to feize
X Don Pedro was villainoufly accufed of him. His innocence, after his death, was
treacherous defigns by his baftard brother, fully proved, and his nephew Alonzo V.
the firft Duke of Braganza. Henry left his gave him an honourable burial.
on
INTRODUCTION. xxxiii
on the moft folid bafis, its trade greatly upon the increafe, and
what he efteemed his greateft happinefs, for the piety of his
heart was fincere, he flattered himfelf that he had given a mor-
tal wound to Mohammedifm, and had opened the door to an
univerfal propagation of chriftianity and the civilization of man-
kind. And to him, as to their primary author, are due all the
ineftimable advantages which ever have flowed, or ever will
flow from the difcovery of the greateft part of Africa, of the
Eaft and Weft Indies. Every Improvement in the ftate and»
manners of thefe countries, or whatever country may be yet dif-
covered, is ftrid:ly due to him ; nor is the difference between
the prefent ftate of Europe and the monkifti age in which he
was born, lefs the refult of his genius and toils. What is an
Alexander crowned with trophies at the head of his army com-
pared with a Henry contemplating the ocean from his window
on the rock of Sagrez ! The one fuggefts the idea of the evil
daemon, the other of the Deity.
From the year 1448, when Alonzo V. afliimed the power of
government, till the end of his reign in 1471, little progrefs
was made in maritime affairs, and Cape Catharine was only
added to the former difcoveries. But under his fon John II.
the defigns of Prince Henry were profecuted with renewed
vigour. In 148 1 the Portuguefe built a fort on the Golden
Coaft, and the King of Portugal took the title of Lord of
Guinea. Bartholomew Diaz, in i486, reached the river which
he named dell Infante on the eaftern fide of Africa, but de-
terred by the ftorms of that region from proceeding farther,
on his return he had the happinefs to be the Difcoverer
of the Promontory, unknown for many ages, which bounds
the fouth of Afric. This, from the ftorms he there encoun-
tered, he named the Cape of Tempefts ; but John, elated
with the promife of India, which this difcovery, as he
juftly deemed, included, gave it the name of the Cape of Good
Hope. The arts and valour of the Portuguefe had now made
a great impreffion on the minds of the Africans. The King
of Congo, a dominion of great extent, fent the fons of fome
of his principal officers to Lifbon to be inftru(5led in arts and
religion ; and ambafladors from the King of Benin requefted
teachers to be fent to his kingdom. On the return of his
fubjeds, the King and Queen of Congo, with 100,000 of
f their
xxxlv INTRODUCTIO N.I
their people, were baptized. An ambaffador alfo arrived from
the Chriflian Emperor of Abyfllnia, and Pedro de Covillam
and Alonzo de Payva were fent by land to penetrate into thd^
Eaft, that they might acquire whatever intelligence might faci--^
litate the defired navigation to India. Covillam and Payv»
parted at Toro in Arabia and took different routs. The
former having vilited Conanor, Calicut, and Goa in India, re^-
turned to Grand Cairo, where he heard of the death of his*^
companion. Here alfo he met the Rabbi Abraham of Beja,
who was employed for the fame purpofe by king John. Covil-
lam fent the Rabbi home with an account of what countries he
had feen, and he himfelf proceeded ^o Ormuz and Ethiopia,
but as Camoens expreffes it: ■>:.-\=.
to his native ihore.
Enrich'd with knowledge, he return'd no moF€.
Men, whofe genius led them to maritime affairs, began
now to be pofleffed by an ardent ambition to diftinguifh them-
felves ; and the famous Columbus offered his fervice to King
John, and was reje(3:ed. Every one knows the difcoveries of
this great adventurer, but his hiftory is generally mifunderftood*.
It is by fome believed, that his ideas of the fphere of the earth
• Greatly mifunderftood, even by the mathematician Henry was the author of that
ingenious author of the Account of the Eu- grand difcovery, and of the u/e of tlie com-
ropean Settlements in America. Having pafs. Every alteration here afcribed to
mentioned the barbarous ftate of Europe ; Columbus, had almoft fifty years before
** Mathematical learning, fays he, was little been effeded by Henry. Even Henry's
valued or cultivated, l^e true fyftem of idea of failing to India was adopted by Co-
the heavens was not dreamed of. There lumbus. It was every where his propofal.
was no knowledge at all of the real form of When he arrived in the Weft Indies, he
the earth, and in general the ideas of man- thought he had found the Ophir of Solomon,
kind were not extended beyond their fenfi- and thence thefe iflands received their gene-
ble horizon. In this ftate of affairs Chrif- ral name, and on his return he told John H.
topher Columbus, a native of Genoa, un- that he had been at the iflands of India.,
dertook to extend the boundaries which ig- To find the fpice iflands of the Eaft was his
norance had given to the world. This propofal at the court of Spain ; and even on
man's defign arofe from the j oft idea he had his fourth and laft voyage in 1502, three
formed of the figure of the earth" All years after Gama's return, he promifed the
■^iju C<J^ nctv<-t*^ ^ miftake. U Henry, who undertook to ex- king of Spain to find India by a weftward
; • r«A' Ly\- ^^^'^ ^^^ boundaries which ignorance had paflTage. But though great difcoveries re-
YUl^k^ lAv t"rV^fc^* given to the world, had extended them warded his toils, his firft and laft purpofe
much beyond the fenfible horizon long ere he never compleated. It was referved for
Columbus appeared. Columbus indeed Magalhaens to difcover the weftward route
taught the Spaniards the ufe of longitude to the Eaftera World,
and latitude in navigation, but that great
gave
lyN T R O D U C T I O N; txxxv
gave birth to his opinion, that there raufl be an immenfe un*
known continent in the weft, fuch as America is now known
to be 5 and that his prppofals were to go in fearch of it *. But
the limple truth is, Columbus, who, as wc have certain evi-
dence, acquired his ikill in navigation among the Portuguefe,
could be no ftranger to the defign long meditated in that king-
dom, of difcovering a naval route to India, which, according
to ancient geographers and the opinion of that age, was fu^-
pofed to be the next land to the weft of Spain. And that
India and the adjacent iflands were the regions fought by Co-
lumbus, is alfo certain. John, whoefteemed the route to India
as almoft difcovered, and in the power of his own fubjedts, rejed:ed
the propofals of the foreigner. But Columbus met a more
favourable reception from Ferdinand and Ifabella, the king and
queen of Caftile. To interfere with the route or difcoverieg,
opened and enjoyed by another power, was at this time eftecmed
contrary to the laws of nations. Columbus, therefore, though
the objed; was one, propofed, as Magalhaens afterwards did for
the fame reafon, to fteer the weftward courfe, and having in
1492 difcovered fome weftern iflands, in 1493, oi^ bis return to
^painj he put into the Tagus with great tokens of the riches
of his difcovery. Some of the Portuguefe courtiers, the fame
ungenerous minds perhaps who advifed the rejection of Colum-
bus becaufe he was a foreigner, propofed the afTafli nation of
that great man, thereby to conceal from Spain the advantages
of his navigation. But John, though Columbus rather roughly
upbraided him, looked upon him now with a generous regret,
and difmifled him with honour. The king of Portugal, how-
ever, was alarmed, lefc the difcoveries o£ Columbus, interfered
with thofe of his crown, and gave orders to equip a war fleet
to protect his rights. But matters were adjufted by embaflies>
and that celebrated treaty by which Spain and Portugal divided
the Weftern and Eaftern Worlds between themfelves. The
eaftern half of the world was allotted for the Portuguefe, and
the weftern for the Spanifti navigation. The line of meridian
• C5omara and other Spanifh writers re- .municated tlie journal of his voyage to Co-
late, tiiat wliile Columbus lived in Madeira, Iambus. But this ftory, as it Hands at
a pilot, th/2 only furviver of a ihip's crew, large, is involved in contradiftion without
died at his houfe. This pilot, they fay, proof, and is every \yh^re efteeraed a fable
had been driven to the Weft Indies or Ame- of malicC. ■ • ■ - ■- - « • - .>^... /
rica by tempeft, and on his death -bed com-
f 2 from
xxxvi I N T R O D U C T I O K.
from the north to the fouth pole was their boundary, and thus
each nation had one hundred and eighty degrees^ within whieh
they might eftablKh fettlements and extend their difcoveries'.
And a Papal Bull, which, for obvious reafons, prohibited the
propagation of the gofpel in thefe bounds by the fubjedts of any
other ftate, confirmed this amicable and extraordinary treaty.
Soon after this, while the thoughts of king John were intent
on the difcovery of India, his preparations were interrupted by
his death. But his earned defires and great deiigns were in-
herited, together with his crown, by his coufin Emmanuel.
And in 1497, ^^^ Y^^^ before Columbus made the voyage which
difcovered the mouth of the river Oronoko, Vafco de Gama
failed from the Tagus on the difcovery of India.
Of this voyage, the fubjedl of the Luliad, many particulars
are neceifarily mentioned in the notes ; we fhall therefore only
allude to thefe, but be more explicit on the others, which are
omitted by Camoens in obedience to the rules of the Epopaeai''-
Notwithflanding the full torrent of popular clamour againft
the undertaking, Emmanuel was determined to profecute the
views of Prince Henry and John II. Three (loops of war and
a ftore {hip manned with only 160 men wer6 fitted out;
for hoflility, was not the purpofe of this humane expe-
dition. Vafco de Gama, a gentleman of good family, who,
in a war with the French, had given fignal proofs of his naval
fkill, was commiflioned admiral and general, and his brother
Paul, for whom he bore the fincerefl affed:ion, with his friend
Nicholas Coello, were at his requefl appointed to command
under him. It is the greatefl honour of kings, to diflinguifh
the characters of their officers, and to employ them accordingly.
Emmanuel in many inflances was happy in this talent, par-
ticularly in the choice of his admiral for the difcovery of India.
All the enthufiafm of defire to accomplifh his end, joined with
the greatefl heroifm, the quickeft penetration, and coolefl pru-
dence, united to form the charadler of Gama. On his appoint-
ment to the command, he confefTed to the king that his mind
had long afpired to this expedition. The king exprefTed great
confidence in his prudence and honour, and gave him, with his
own hand, the colours which he was to carry. On this banner,
which bo^e the crofs of the military order of Chrifl, Gama,
witli
INTRODUCTION. xxxvii
with great enthufiafm to merit the honours beftowed upon him,
took the oath of fidelity.
About four miles from Lifbon there is a chapel on the fea
fide. To this, the day before their departure, Gama condudled
the companions of his expedition. He was to encounter an
ocean untried, and dreaded as unnavigable, and he knew the
force of the ties of religion on minds which are not inclined to
difpute its authority. The whole night was fpent in the chapel
in prayers for fuccefs, and in the rites of their devotion. On
the next day, when the adventurers marched to the fleet, the
fhore of Belem * prefented one of the moil folemn and affecting
fcenes perhaps recorded in hiftory. The beach was covered
with the inhabitants of Lifbon. A numerous procefiion of
priefls in their robes fung anthems and offered up invocations
to heaven. Every one beheld the adventurers as brave innocent
men going to a dreadful execution, as rufhing upon certain
death ; and the vaft multitude caught the fire of devotion, and
joined aloud in the prayers for fuccefs. The relations, friends,
and acquaintances of the voyagers wept ; all were afFed:ed ; the
figh was general ; Gama himfelf fhed fome manly tears on
parting with his friends, but he hurried over the tender fcene,
and haftened aboard with all the alacrity of hope. Immediately
he gave his fails to the wind, and fo much affetfled were the
many thoufands who beheld his departure, that they remained
unmoveable on the fhore till the fleet, under full fail, evanifhed
from their fight.
It was on the 8th of July when Gama left the Tagus. The
flag fhip was commanded by himfelf, the fecond by his brother,,
the third by Coello, and the flore fhip by Gonfalo Nunio.
Several interpreters, fkilled in the Ethiopian, Arabic, and other
o;iental languages, went along with them. Ten malefactors,
men of abilities, whofe fentences of death were reverfed, on
condition of their obedience to Gama in whatever embaflies or
dangers among the barbarians he might think proper to employ
them, were alio on board. The fleet, favoured by the weather,
pafTed the Canary and Cape de Verde iflands, but had now to
encounter other fortune. Sometimes flopped by dead calms,
but for the moft part tofl by tempefts, which increafed their
* Or Bethlehem, fo named from the chapl.
violencfi;
xxxviii INTRODUCTION.
violence and horrors as they proceeded to the fouth. Thus
driven far to lea they laboured through that wide ocean which
furrounds St. Helena, in feas, fays Faria, unknown to the Por-
tuguefe difcoverers, none of whom had failed fo far to the weft.
From the 28th of July, the day they pafted the ifle of St. James,
they had feen no (hore, and now on November the 4th they
were happily relieved by the fight of land. The fleet anchored
in a large * bay, and Coello was fent in fearch of a river where
they might take in wood and frefti water. Having found one
convenient for their purpofe the fleet made toward it, and
Gama, whofc orders were to acquaint himfelf with the manners
of the people wherever he touched, ordered a party of his men
to bring him fome of the natives by force or ftratagem. One
they caught as he was gathering honey on the fide of a moun-
tain, and brought him to the fleet. He exprefl^ed the greateft
indifference of the gold and Bne clothes which they fhewed
him, but was greatly delighted with fome glafl^es and little brafs
bells. Thefe with great joy he accepted, and was fet on Ihore j
and foon after many of the blacks came for, and were gratified
with the like trifles ; and for which in return they gave great
plenty of their beft provifions. None of Gama's interpreters,
however, could underftand a word of their language or receive
any information of India. And the friendly intercourfe between
the fleet and the natives was foon interrupted by the imprudence
of Velofo, a young Portuguefe, which occafioned a fcufile,
wherein Gama's life was endangered. Gama and fome others
"Were on Ihore taking the altitude of the fun, when in confe-
quence of Velofo's rafhnefs they were attacked by the blacks
with great fury. Gama defended himfelf with an oar, and re-
ceived a dart in his foot. Several others were likewife wound-
ed, and they found their fafety in retreat. The fhot from
the ftiips facilitated their efcape, and Gama efteeming it im-
prudent to wafte his ftrength in attempts entirely foreign to the
defign of his voyage, weighed anchor, and fteered in fearch of
the extremity of Afric.
In this part of the voyage, fiiys Oforius, m illo autem curfu
valdi Garnet virtus cnituit-*''^—ThLQ heroifm of Gama was greatly
difplayed. The waves fwelled liJce mountains in height, the
• Now called St. Helen's.
fhips
INTRODUCTION.
XXXIX
{hips feemed now heaved up to the clouds, and now appeared
as precipitated by gulphy whirlpools to the bed of the ocean.
The winds were piercing cold, and fo boifterous that the pilot's
voice could feldom be heard, and a difmal, almoft continual
darknefs, which at that tempefluous feafon involves thefe feas,
added all its horrors. Sometimes the ftorm drove them fouth-
ward, at other times they were obliged to ftand on the tack and
yield to its fury, preferving what they had gained with the
greateft difficulty.
With fuch mad feas the daring Gama fought
For many a day, and many a dreadful night,
IncefTant labouring round the flormy Cape,
By bold ambition led Thomson.
During any gloomy interval of the ftorm, the failors, wearied
out with fatigue, and abandoned to defpair, furrounded Gama,
and implored him not to fuifer himfelf, and thofe com-
mitted to his care, to perifh by fo dreadful a death. The
impoflibility that men' fo weakened fhould ftand it much
longer, and the opinion that this ocean was torn by eternal
tempefts, and therefore had hitherto been, and was unpaftable,
were urged. But Gama's refolution to proceed was unalter-
able*. A formidable confpiracy was then formed againft his
* The voyage of Gama has been called thofe which attacked Gama. All the
merely a coafling one, and therefore much three commanders were endangered by
lefs dangerous and heroical than that of Co- mutiny ; but none of their crews, fave
lumbus, or of Magalhaens. But this, it is Gama's, could urge the opinion of ages,
prefumed, is one of the opinions haftily and the example of a living captain, that
taken up, and founded on ignorance. Co- the dreadful ocean which they attempted
lumbus and Magalhaens undertook to navi- was impaflablc. Columbus and Magalhaens
gate unknown oceans, and fo did Gama ; always found means, after detefting a con-
with this difference, that the ocean around fpiracy, to keep the reft in hope ; but
tije Cape of Good Hope, which Gama Gama's men, when he put the pilots in
was to encounter, was believed to be, and irons, continued in the utmoft defpair. Co-
had been avoided by Diaz, as unpaffable. lumbus was indeed ill obeyed ; Magalhaens
Prince Henry fuggefted that the current of fometimes little better ; but nothing, fave
Cape Bajador might be avoided by ftanding the wonderful authority of Gama's com-
to fea, and thus that Cape was firft parted. mand, could have led his crew through the
Gama for this reafon did not coall, but tempeft which he furmounted ere he doubled
ftood to fea for upwards of three months of the Cape of Good Hope. Columbus, with
tempeftuous weather. The tempefts which his crew, muft have returned. The expe-
afflifted Columbus and Magalhaens are by dients with which he ul'ed to foothe them,
their different hiftorians defcribed with cii-- would, under bis authority, have had no
cumftances of lefs horror and danger than avail in the tempeft which Gama rode
tlirough..
xl I N T R O D U C T I O N.
life. But his brother difcovered it, and the courage and pru-
dence of Gama defeated its deiign. He put the chief con-
fpirators and all the pilots in irons, and he himfelf, his bro-
ther, Coello, and fome others, flood night and day to the
helms and directed the courfe. At Jaft, after having many
days, with unconquered mind, withftood the tempeft and an
enraged mutiny fmolem perfidicej the jflorm fuddenly ceafed, and
they beheld the Cape of Good Hope.
On November the 20th all the fleet doubled that promon-
tory, and fleering northward, coafled along a rich and beautiful
fhore, adorned with large forefls and numberlefs herds of cattle.
All was now alacrity ; the hope that they had furmounted every
danger revived their fpirits, and the admiral was beloved and
admired. Here, and at the bay, which they named St. Bias,
they took in provifions, and beheld thefe beautiful rural fcenes,
defcribed by Camoens. And here the flore Hoop, now of no
farther fervice, was burnt by order of the admiral. On De-
cember the 8th a violent tempefl drove the fleet from the fight
of land, and carried them to that dreadful current which
made the Moors deem it impoflible to double the Cape.
Gama, however, though unlucky in the time of navigating
thefe feas, was fafely carried over the current by the violence
through. From every circumftance it is in that fea was happy. The navigation of
evident that Gama had determined not to the ftraits of Magellan and the Pacific are
return, unlefs he found India. Nothing in this country little known ; but the courfe
kfs than fuch refolution to perifh or attain of Gama is at this day infinitely more ha-
his point could have led him on. But Co- zardous than that of Columbus, If Colum-
lumbus, ill obeyed indeed, returned from bus found no pilots to conduft him, but
the mouth of the river Oronoko, before he encountered his greateft dangers in founding
had made a certain difcovery whether the his courfe among the numerous weftern
land was ifle or continent. When Gama iflands, Gama, though in the Indian ocean
met a ftrong current off Ethiopia he bore ailifted by pilots, had as great trials of his
on, though driven fiom his courfe. Co- valour, and much greater ones of his pru-
lumbus fteering fouthward in fearch of con- dence. The force and the deep treacherous
tinent met great currents. He imagined arts of the Moors, were not found in the
they were the rifing of the fea towards the weft. AH was fimplicity among the natives
canopy of heaven, which for ought he there. The prudence and forefight of
knew, fay the Uiiiverfal Hiftorians, they Gama and Columbus were of the higheft
might touch towards the fouth. He rate ; Magalhaens was in thefe fometimes
therefore turned his courfe, and fteered to rather inferior. He loft his own, and the
the weft. The pafling of the ftraits of Ma- lives of the greateft part of his crew, by
gellan, however hazardous, was not attend- hazarding a land engagement at the advice
ed with fuch danger as Gama experienced of a judicial aftrologer. Sec the note, p.
at the Cape. The attempt to crofs the 477.
Pacific was greatly daring, but his voyage
of
I N T R O D U C T I ON. xli ^^
of a tempeft; and having recovered the fight of land, as his
fafefl courfe, he fleered northward along the coaft. On the
loth of January they defcried, about 230 miles from their lafl
watering place, fome beautiful iflands, with herds of cattle frifk-
ingin the meadows. It was a profound calm, and Gama flood
near to land. The natives were better drefTed and more civi-
lized than thofe they had hitherto feen. An exchange of pre-
fents was made, and the black king was fo pleafed with the
politencfs of Gama, that he came aboard his fhip to fee him.
At this place, which he named Terra de Natal, Gama left two
of the malefactors, to procure what information they could
againfl his return. On the 15th of January, in the dufk of the
evening, they came to the mouth of a large river, whofe banks
were fhaded with trees loaded with fruit. On the return of
day they faw feveral little boats with palm-tree leaves making
towards them, and the natives came aboard without hefitation
or fear. Gama received them kindly, gave them an entertain-
ment, and fome filken garments, which they received with
vifible joy. Only one of them however could fpeak a little
broken Arabic. From him Fernan Martinho learned, that not
far diftant was a country where fhips, in fhape and fize like
Gama's, frequently reforted. This gave the fleet great fpirits,
and the admiral named this place The River of Good Signs.
Here, while Gama careened and refitted his fhips., the crews
were attacked with a violent fcurvy, which carried off feveral
of his men. Having taken in frefh provifions, on the 24th of
February he fet fail, and on the firfl: of March they defcried
four iflands on the coaft of Mozambic. From one of thefe
they perceived feven vefTels in full fail bearing to the fleet.
Thefe knew Gama's fhip by the admiral's enfign, and made up
to her, faluting her with loud huzzas and their inltruments of
mufic. Gama received them aboard, and entertained them
^th great kindnefs. The interpreters talked with them in
Arabic. The ifland, in which was the principal harbour and
trading town, they faid, was governed by a deputy of the king
of Quiloa^ and many Saracen merchants, they added, were
fettled here, who traded with Arabia, India, and other parts of
the world. Gama was overjoyed, and the crew with uplifted
hands returned thanks to heaven.
g Pleafed
xlU INTRODUCTION.
Pleafed with the prcfents which Gama fent him, and ima-
gining that the Portuguefe were Mohammedans from Morocco,
Zacocia the governor, drelled in rich embroidery, came to con-
gratulate the admiral on his arrival in the Eaft. As he ap-?-
proached the fleet in great pomp, Gama removed the fick out
of fight, and ordered all thofe in health to attend above deck,
armed in the Portuguefe manner ; for he forefaw what would
happen when the Mohammedans fhould difcover it was a
Chriftian fleet. During the entertainment provided for him,
Zacocia feemed highly pleafed, and afked feveral quefl:ion&
about the arms and religion of the flrangers. Gama fhewed
him his arms, and explained the force of his cannon, but he
did not affe(5t to know much about religion ; however he
frankly promifed to (hew him his books of devotion when-
ever a few days refreshment would give him a more convenient
time. In the meanwhile he intreated Zacocia to fend him fome
pilots who might conduct him to India. Two pilots were next
day brought by the governor, a treaty of peace was. folemnly
concluded, and every office of mutual friendfhip feemed to
promife a lafting harmony. But it was foon interrupted. Za-
cocia, as foon as he found the Portuguefe were Chriftians, ufed
^very endeavour to defl:roy the fleet. The life of Gama was
attempted. One of the Moorifli pilots deferted, and fome of
the Portuguefe, who were on fhore to get frefh water, were
attacked by feven barks of the natives, hut were refcued by a
timely afliftance from the fhips.
Belides the hatred of the Chrifl:ian name, infpired by their
religion, the Mohammedan Arabs had other reafons to wifh
the deftru(5tion of Gama. Before this period, thefe Arabs were
almoft the only merchants of the Eaft; they had colonies in
every place convenient for trade, and were the fole mailers of
the Ethiopian, Arabian, and Indian feas. They clearly fore-
faw the confequences of the arrival of Europeans, and every
art was foon exerted to prevent fuch formidable rivals from ef-
fecting any footing in the Eaft. To thefe Mohammedan
traders, the Portuguefe, on account of their religion, gave the
name of Moors.
Immediately after the ikirmifh at the watering-place, Gama,
having one Moorifh pilot, fet fail, but was foon driven back to
the fame ifland by tempeftuous weather. He now refolved to
take
r N T R O D U C T I O N* xliii
take In frefli Water by force- The Modi's parceiv'ed his inten-
tion, about two thoufand of whom rifing from ambufli,
attacked the. Portuguefe detachment. But the prudence of
Gama had not been afleep. His fhips were Rationed with art^
and his artillery not only difperfed the hoftile Moors, but re-
duced their town, which was built of wood, into a heap of
afhes. Among fome prifoners taken by Paulus de Gama was a
pilots and Zacocia begging forgivenefs for his treachery, fent
another, whofe fkill in navigation he greatly commended.
' A war with the Moors was now begun. Gatna perceived
that their jealoufy of European rivals gave him nothing to expedt
but open hoftility and fecret treachery; and he knew what nu-
merous colonies they had on every trading coaft of the Eaft.
To imprefs them therefore with the terror of his arms on their
firft acS of treachery, was worthy of a great commander. Nor
was he remifs in his attention to the chief pilot, who had been
lafl: fent. Heperceived in him a kind of anxious endeavour to bear
near fome little iflands, and fufpedting there were unfeen rocks
in that courfe, he confidently tharged the pilot with guilt, and
ordered him to be feverely whipped. The punifliment pro-
duced a confeffion and promifes of fidelity. And he now ad-
vifed Gama to Hand for Quiloa, which he afTured him was in-
habited by Chriftians. Three Ethiopian Chriftians had come
aboard the fleet while at Zacocia's ifland, and the current opi-
nions of Preiser John's country inclined Gama to try if he
could find a port, where he might exped: the aiiiftance of a
people of his own religion. A violent ftorm hov/ever drove
the fleet from Quiloa, and being now near Mombaze, the pilot
advifed him to enter that harbour, where, he faid, there were
alfo many Chriftians.
The city of Mombaza is agreeably fituated on an ifland,
formed by a river which empties itfelf into the fea by two
mouths. The buildings are lofty and of firm ftone, and the
country abounds with fruit trees arid cattle. Gama, happy to
find a harbour where every thing wore the appearance of civi-.
lization, ordered the fleet to caft anchor, which was fcarcely
done, when a galley, in which were loo men in Turkifli
habit, armed with bucklers and fabrcs, rowed up to the flag
fhip. All of thefe feemed defirous to come aboard, but only
four, who by their drefs feemed ofiicers,. were admitted ; nofj
i^'.j g 2 were
x\W IN T R O D F C T I OKI
were thefe allowed, till ftript of their arms. As foon as- on
board, they extolled the prudence of Gama in refufing admit-
tance to armed ftrangers ; and by their behaviour, feemed de-*^
firous to gain the good opinion of the fleet. Their country^
they boafted, contained all the riches of India, and their king,
they profeflled, was ambitious of entering into a friendly treaty;
with the Portuguefe, with whofe renown he was well ac-
quainted. And that a conference with his majefly and the
offices of friendfhip might be rendered more convenient, Gama
was requefted and advifed to enter the harbour. .As no place
could be more commodious for the recovery of the fick, and the
whole fleet was flckly, Gama refolved to enter the port ; and in
the meanwhile fent two of the pardoned criminals as an embafly
to the king. Thefe the king treated with the greatefl: kindr
nefs, ordered his officers to fhew them the fl:rength and opu-
lence of his city -, and on their return to the navy, he fent a
prefent to Gama of the mofl: valuable fpices, of which he,
boafl:ed fuch abundance, that the Portuguefe, he faid, if they
regarded their own interefl:, would feek for no other India.
To make treaties of commerce was the buflnefs of Gama ;.
one fo advantageous, and fo deiired by the natives, was there-
fore not to be refufed. Fully fatisfied by the report of his fpies,
he ordered to weigh anchor and enter the harbour. His own
fhip led the way, when a fudden violence of the tide, made
Gama apprehenfive of running aground. He therefore ordered
the fails to be furled and the anchors to be dropt, and gave a
fignal for the reft of the fleet to follow his example. This
mainceuvre, and the cries of the failors in executing it, alarmed,
the Mozambic pilots. Confcious of their treachery, they
thought their defign was difcovered, and leapt into the fea.
Some boats of Mombaza took them up, and refufing to put
them on board, fet them fafely on fhore, though the admiral
repeatedly demanded the reftoration of the pilots. Thefe cir-
cumftances, evident proofs of treachery, were farther confirmed
by the behaviour of the king of Mombaza. In the middle of
the night Gama thought he heard fome noife, and on examina-
tion, found his fleet furrounded by a great number of Moors,
who, in the utmoft privacy, endeavoured to cut his cables.
But their fcheme was defeated ; and fome Arabs, who remained,
on board, confeflfed that no Chriflians were refident either all
Quiloa
ItN T R O D U C T I O N. xlv
Qailoa or Mombaza. The florm which drove them from the
one place, and their late efcape at the other, were now beheld
as manifeftations of the Divine favour, and Gama, holding up
his hands to heaven, afcribed his fafety to the care of Provi-
vidence *. Two days, however, elapfed, before they could
get clear of the rocky bay of Mombaze, and having now ven-
tured to hoift their fails, they fleered for Melinda, a port, they
had been told, where many merchants from India reforted. In
their way thither they took a Moorifh veflel, out of which
Gama fele6led fourteen prifoners, one of whom he perceived by
his mein to be a perfon of diftin(5lion. By this Saracen, Gama
was informed, that he was near Melinda, that the king v/as
hofpitable, and celebrated for his faith, and that four fliips from
India, commanded by Chriftian mafters, were in that harbour.
The Saracen alfo offered to go as Gama's meffenger to the king,
and promifed to procure him an able pilot to condu(ft him to
Calicut, the chief port of India.
As the coaft of Melinda appeared to be dangerous, Gama
anchored at fome difhance from the city, and unwilling to
hazard any of his men, he landed the Saracen on an ifland op-
poiite to Melinda. This was obferved, and the ftranger was
brought before the king, to whom he gave fo favourable an
account of the politenefs and humanity of Gama, that a pre-
fent of feveral'fheep, and fruits of all forts, was fent by his ma-
jefty to the admiral, who had the happinefs to find the truth of
what his prifoner had told him, confirmed by the mafters of
the four fliips from India. Thefe were Chriffcians from Cam-
baya. They were tranfported with joy on the arrival of the
Portuguefe, and gave feveral ufeful inflrud:ions to the admiral.
The city of Melinda was lituated in a fertile plain, furround-
ed with gardens and groves of orange-trees, w^hofe flowers dif-
fufed a mofl grateful odour. The paftures were covered with
herds, and the houfes built of fquare flones, were both elegant
and magnificent. Defirous to make an alliance with fuch a
Hate, Gama requited the civility of the king v^ith great gene-
rofity. He drew nearer the fhore, and urged his inftru^^tions
as apology for not landing to wait upon his majefty in perfon..
• It afterwards appeared, that the Moorifli king of Mombaza had been informed of
what happened at Mozambic, and intended to revenge it by the total deilruftion of the
fleet.
The
%lvi INTRODUCTION.
The apology was accepted, and the king, whofe age and infir-
mity prevented himfelf, fent his fon to congratulate Gama, and
enter into a treaty of friendfhip. The prince, who had fome-
time governed under the dire(flion of his father, came in great
pomp. His drefs was royally magnificent, the nobles who at-
tended him difplayed all the riches of filk and embroidery, and
the mufic of Melinda refounded all over the bay. Gama, to
exprefs his regard, met him in the admiral's barge. The
prince, as foon as he came up, leapt into it, and diftinguifhing
the admiral by his habit, embraced him with all the intimacy
of old friendfhip. In their converfation, which was long and
fprightly, he difcovered nothing of the barbarian, fays Ofo-
rius, but in every thing fliewed an intelligence and politenefs
worthy of his high rank. He accepted the fourteen Moors,
whom Gama gave to him, with great pleafure. He feemed to
view Gama with enthufiafm, and confefi"ed that the make of
the Portuguefe fhips, fo much fuperior to what he had feen,
convinced him of the greatnefs of that people. He gave Gama
an able pilot, named Melemo Cana, to condudl him to Calicut;
and requeiled, that on his return to Europe, he would carry an
ambafi^ador with him to the Court of Lifbon. During the few
days the fleet ftayed at Melinda, the mutual friendfiiip increafed,
and a treaty of alliance was concluded. And now, on April
22, refigning the helm to his fliillful and honefi: pilot, Gama
hoifted fail and fleered to the north. In a few days they pafied
the line, and the Portuguefe with extacy beheld the appearance
of their native fky. Orion, Urfa major and minor, and the
other flars about the northern pole, were now a more joyful
difcovery than the fouth J pole had formerly been to them.
X A circumftance in the letters of Amc- to mark them out. — All this is truly curi^
rigo Vefpucci del'erves remark. Defcribing ous, and affords a good comment on the
his voyage to America. Having pafl the temper of the man who had the art to de-
line, fays he, *' e come dejidef/o d'eJJ?re fraud Columbus, by giving his own name
Jutore che fegnajfila JieMa defirous to be to America; of which he challenged the
the namer and difcoverer of the pole ilar of difcovery. Near fifty years before the
the other hcmifpherc, I loll my fleep many voyage of Amerigo Vefpucci, the Portu-
nightsin contemplating the ftars of the other guefc had croflcd the line ; and Diay, four-
pole." He then laments, that as his in- teen, and Gama near three years before,
llrumenls could not difcover any ftar of lefs had doubled the Cape of Good Hope, had
motion than ten degrees, he had not the difcovered feven liars in the conrtellation of
fatisfaftion to give « name to any one. But the fouth pole, and from the appearance of
- as he obferved four ftars, in form of an al- the four moft luminous, had given it the
mond, which had but little motion, he name of 7'/'^ Oy}, a figure which it better
hoped in his next voyage he fliould be able refembles than that of an almond.
INTRODUCTION. xlvii
The pilot now flood to the eafl, through the Indian ocean, and
after failing about three weeks, he had the happinefs to con-
gratulate Gama on the view of the mountains of Calicut.
Gama, tranfported with extacy, returned thanks to heaven, and
ordered all his prifoners to be fet at liberty, that every heart
might taite of the joy of his fuccefsful voyage.
About two leagues from Calicut Gama ordered the fleet to
anchor, and was foon furrounded by a number of boats. By
one of thefe he fent one of the pardoned criminals to the city.
The appearance of an unknown fleet on their coaft brought
immenfe crowds around the ftranger, who no fooner entered
Calicut, than he was lifted from his feet and carried hither and
thither by the concourfe. Though the populace and the fl:ranger
were alike earneft to be underftood, their language was unintel-
ligible to each other, till, happy for Gama in the event, a
Moorifh merchant accofted his meflTenger in the Spaniili tongue.
The next day this Moor, who was named Monzaida, waited upon
Gama on board his fhip. He was a native of Tunis, and the
chief perfon, he faid, with whom John II. had at that port
contracted for military fl:ores. He was a man of abilities and
great intelligence of the world, and an admirer of the Portu-
guefe valour and honour. The engaging behaviour of Gama
heightened his efteem into the fincerefl attachment. He offered
to be interpreter for the admiral, and to ferve him in whatever
belides he might poflibly befriend him. And thus, by one
of thofe unforefeen circumftances, which often decide the
greatefl events, Gama received a friend, who foon rendered
him the moil: critical and important fervice.
At the firffc interview, Monzaida gave Gama the fulleft in-
formation of the clime, extent, cufloms, religions, and various
riches of India, the commerce of the Moors, and the characfler
of the fovereign. Calicut was not only the imperial city, but
the greateft port. The king or Zamorim, who refided here,
was acknowledged as emperor by the neighbouring princes ;
and as his revenue confiiled chiefly of duties on merchandife,
he had always encouraged the refort of foreigners to his
harbours.
Pleafed with this promifing profpedt, Gama fent two of his
A ofhcers with Monzaida to wait upon the Zamorim at his palace
of Pandarene, a few miles from the city. They were admitted
to
xlviii INTRODUCTION,
to the royal apartment, and delivered their embaffy ; to which
the Zamorim replied, that the arrival of the admiral of fo great a
prince as Emmanuel, gave him inexpreffible pleafure, and that
he would williijgly embrace the offered alliance. In the mean-
while, as their prefent ftation was extreamly dangerous, he ad-
vifed them to bring the ihips nearer to Pandarene, and for this
purpofe he fent a pilot to the fleet.
A few days after this, the Zamorim fent his firft miniiler, or
Catual, attended by feveral of the Nayres, or nobility, to con-
duit Gama to the royal palace. As an interview with the Za-
morim was abfolutely neceffary to compleat the purpofe of his
voyage, Gama immediately agreed to it, though the treachery
he had already experienced fmce his arrival in the eaflern feas,
fhewed him the perfonal danger which he thus hazarded. He
gave his brother Paulus and Coello the command of the fleet
in his abfence ; and in the orders he left them, difplayed a
hcroifm fuperior to that of Alexander, when he crofl'ed the
Granicus. That of the Macedonian was ferocious and frantic,
the offspring of vicious ambition ; that of Gama was the child
of the ftrongefl: reafon, begotten upon the mofl: valorous mental
dignity : It was the high pride of honour, a pride, of which
the man, who in the fury of battle can rufh on to the mouth
of a cannon, may be utterly incapable.
The revenue of the Zamorim arofe chiefly from the traffic
of the Moors ; the various colonies of thefe people were com-
bined in one interefl:, and the jealoufy and consternation which
his arrival in the eafl:ern feas had fpread among them, were cir-
cumftances well known to Gama : And he knew alfo what he
had to exped:, both from their force and their fraud. But duty
and honour required him to compleat the purpofe of his voyage.
He left peremptory command, that if he was detained a pri-
foner, or any attempt made upon his life, they fhould take no
ftep to fave him, or to reverfe his fate ; to give ear to no mef-
fage which might come in his name for fuch purpofe, and to
enter into no negociation on his behalf. Though they were to
keep fome boats near the iliore, to favour his efcape if he per-
ceived treachery ere detained by force ; yet the moment that
force rendered his efcape impracticable, they were to fet fail,
and carry the tidings to the king. For as this was his only
-concern, he would fuffer no rifli: that might lofe a man, or en-
danger
INTRODUCTION. xlix
danger the homeward voyage. Having left thefe unalterably
orders, he went afhore with the Catual, attended only by
twelve of his own men, for he would not weaken his fleet,
though he knew the pomp of attendance would in one refpedt
have been greatly in his favour at the firfl court of India.
As foon as landed, he and the Catual were carried in great
pomp, in fofas, upon mens fhoulders, to the chief temple, and
from thence, amid immenfe crouds, to the royal palace. The
apartment and drefs of the Zamorim were fuch as might be ex-
pelled from the luxury and wealth of India. The emperor lay
reclined on a magnificent couch, furrounded with his nobility
and officers of ftate. Gama was introduced to him by a vene-
rable old man, the chief Bramin. His majefty, by a gentle
nod, appointed the Admiral to fit on one of the fleps of his
fofa, and then demanded his embafly. It was againfl the cuf-
tom of his country, Gama replied, to deliver his inflruflions
in a public afTembly, he therefore defired that the king and a
few of his miniflers would grant him a private audience. This
was complied with, and Gama, in a manly fpeech, fet forth
the greatnefs of his fovereign Emmanual, the fame he had
heard of the Zamorim, and the defire he had to enter into an
alliance with fo great a prince ; nor were the mutual advantages
of fuch a treaty omitted by the Admiral. The Zamorim, in reply,
profefTed great efleem for the friendfhip of the king of Portugal,,
and declared his readinefs to enter into a friendly alliance. He-
then ordered the Catual to provide proper apartments for Gama
in his own houfe ; and having promifed another conference, he
difmiffed the Admiral with all the appearance of fincerity.
The charadler of this monarch is ftrongly marked in the
hiflory of Portuguefe Afia. Avarice was his ruling pafHon ;
he was haughty or mean, bold or timorous, as his interefl rofe
or fell in the ballance of his judgment ; wavering and irrefo-
lute whenever the fcales feemed doubtful which to preponderate.
He was pleafed with the profpedl of bringing the commerce of
Europe to his harbours, but he was alfo influenced by the
threats of the Moors.
Three days elapfed ere Gama was again permitted to fee the
Zamorim. At this fecond audience he prefented the letter and
prefents of Emmanuel. The letter was received with politc-
jtiefs, but the prefents were viewed with an eye of contempt.
h Gama
1 I N T R O D tJ C T lb N.
Gama beheld it, and faid he only came to difcovef the t-oGte ^6
India, and therefore was not charged with valuable gifts, ere the
frienddiip of the ftate, where they iHight chufe to traffic, was
known. Yet that indeed he brought the moft valtiable of all
gifts, the offer of the friendship of his fovereign, and the com-
merce of his country. He then entreated the king not to reveal
the contents of Emmanuel's letter to the Moots, and the king
with great feeming friendfliip delired Gama to guard againft the
perfidy of that people. And at this time, it is highly probable;^
the Zamorim was fincere. "'^^ ij --"-»[
Every hour fince the arrival of the fleet, the Moors had held,
fecret conferences. That one man of it might not return was
their purpofe ; and every method to accomplish this was medi-
tated. To influence the king againft the Portuguefe, to aflafli-
nate Gama, to raife a general infurredion to deftroy the foreign
navy, and to bribe the Catual, were determined. And the
Catual, the mafler of the houfe where Gama was lodged, ac-
cepted the bribe, and entered into their intereft. 0£ all thefe
circumftances, however, Gama was apprifed by his faithful in-
terpreter Monzaida, whofe aflfedlion to the foreign Adniiral the
Moors hitherto had not fufpedted. Thus informed, and having
obtained the faith of an alliance from the fovereign of the firll:
port of India, Gama refolved to elude the plots of the Moors;
and accordingly, before the dawn, he fet out for Pandarene, in
hope to get aboard his fleet by fome of the boats which he had
ordered to hover about the fhore.
Biit the Moors were vigilant. His efcape was immediately
known, and the Catual, by the king's order, purfued and brought
him back by force. The Catual, however, for it was neceflTary
for their fchemes to have the (hips in their power, behaved
with politenefs to the Admiral, and promifed to ufe all his in-
ter eft in his behalf.
The eagernefs of the Moors now contributed to the fafety of
Gama. Their principal merchants were admitted to a formal
audience, when one of their orators accufed the Portuguefe as a
ration of faithlefs plunderers : Gama, he faid, was an exiled
pirate, who had marked his courfc with blood and depredation.
If he were not a pirate, ftill there was no excufe for giving fuch
warlike foreigners any footing in a country already fupplied
with all that nature and commerce could give. He expatiated
on
INTRODUCTION. II
on the great fervices which the Moorifh traders had rendered to
Calicut, or wherever they fettled ; and ended with a threat,
that all the Moors would leave the Zamorim's ports, and find
feme other fettlement, if he permitted thefe foreigners any fhare
in the commerce of his dominions.
However ftaggered with thefe arguments and threats, the
Zamorim was not blind to the felf-intereft and malice of the
Moors. He therefore ordered, that the Adn>iral fhould once
more be brought before him. In the meanwhile the Catual
tried many ftratagems to get the fleet into the harbour ; and at
laft, in the name of his mafter, made an abfolute demand that
the fails and rudders fhould be delivered up, as the pledge of
Gama's honefty. But thefe demands were as abfolutely refufed
by Gama, who fent a letter to his brother by Monzaida, en^
forcing his former orders in the ftrongeft manner, declaring
that his fate gave him no concern, that he was only unhappy
left the fruits of all their fatigue and dangers fhould be loflr.
After two days fpent in vain altercation with the Catual, Gama
was brought as a prifoner before the king. The king repeated
his accufation, upbraided him with non-compliance to the re-
quefts of his minifter, yet urged him, if he were an exile or pirate,
to confefs freely, in which cafe he promifed to take him into
his fervice, and highly promote him on account of his abilities.
But Gama, who with great fpirit had baffled all the ftratagems
of the Catual, behaved with the fame undaunted bravery before
the king. He afferted his innocence, pointed out the malice
of the Moors, and the improbability of his piracy ; boafted
of the fafety of his fleet, offered his life rather than his fails
and rudders, and concluded with threats in the name of his
fovereign. The Zamorim, during the whole conference, eyed
Gama with the keeneft attention, and clearly perceived in his
unfaultering mein the dignity of truth, and the confcioufnefs
that he was the Admiral of a great monarch. In their late ad-
drefs, the Moors had treated the Zamorim as fomewhat de-
pendant upon them, and he faw that a commerce with other
nations would certainly \efftn their dangerous importance. His
avarice ftrongly defired the commerce of Portugal ; and his
pride was flattered in humbling the Moors. After many pro-
pofals, it was at laft agreed, that of his twelve attendants he
fhould leave feven as hoftages, that what goods were aboard his
h 2 fleet
lii INTRODUCTION.
fleet rtiould be landed, and that Gama fhould be fafely conducted
to his fhip, after which the treaty of commerce and alliance
was to be finally fettled. And thus, when the aflaflination of
Gama feemed inevitable, the Zamorim fuddenly dropt the de-
mand of the fails and the rudders, refcued him from his de-
termined enemies, and reflored him to liberty and the command
of his navy.
As foon as he was aboard * the goods were landed, accom-
panied by a letter from Gama to the Zamorim, wherein he
boldly complained of the treachery of the Catual. The Zamo-
rim, in anfwer, promifed to make enquiry, and to punifh him
if guilty, but did nothing in the aiFair. Gama, who had now
anchored nearer to the city, every day fent two or three different
perfons on fome bufinefs to Calicut, that as many of his men
as poffible might be able to give fome account of India. The
Moors, in the meanwhile, every day afTaulted the ears of the
king, who now Hegan to waver; when Gama, who had given
every proof of his defire of peace and friendship, fent another
letter, in which he requefted the Zamorim to permit him to
leave a conful at Calicut to manage the affairs of king Em-
manuel. But to this requefl, the moft reafonable refult of a
commercial treaty, the Zamorim returned a refufal full of rage
and indignation. Gama, now fully mafter of the characfter of
the Zamorim, refolved to treat a man of fuch an inconflant
difhonourable difpofition with a contemptuous filence. This
contempt was felt by the king, who yielding to the advice of
the Catual and the entreaties of the Moors, feized the Portu-
guefe goods, and ordered two of the feven hoflages, the two
who had the charge of the cargo, to be put in irons. The Ad-
miral remonftrated by the means of Monzaida, but the king
ftill perfifted in his treacherous breach of royal faith. Repeated
folicitations made him more haughty, and it was now the duty
and intereft of Gama to ufe force. He took a velTel, in which
\yere fix Nayres or noblemen, and nineteen of their fervants.
The fervants he fet afhore to relate the tidings, the noblemen
he detained. As foon as the news had time to fpread through
the city, he hoiflcd his fails, and, though with a flow motion,
feemed to proceed on his homeward voyage. The city was
• Faria y Soafa..
now
INTRODUCTION. liii
now in an uproar; the friends of the captive noblemen fur-
rounded the palace, and loudly accufed the policy of the Moors.
The king, in all the perplexed diftrefs of a haughty, avaritious,
weak prince,- fent after Gama, delivered up all the hoftages,
and fubmitted to his propofals ; nay, even felicitated that an
agent fliould be left, and even defcended to the meannefs of a
palpable lie. The two factors, he faid, he had put in irons,
only to detain them till he might write letters to his brother
Emmanuel, and the goods he had kept on fhore that an agent
might be fent to difpofe of them. Gama, however, perceived
a myfterious trifling, and, previous to any treaty, infiiled upon
the refloration of the goods.
The day after this altercation Monzaida came aboard the fleet
in great perturbation. The Moors, he faid, had raifed great
commotions, and had enraged the king againfl the Portuguefe.
The king's fhips were getting ready, and a numerous Moorifh
fleet from Mecca was daily expecTted. To delay Gama till this
force arrived, was the purpofe of the court and of the Moors,
who were now confident of fuccefs. To this information Mon-
zaida added, that the Moors, fufpedling his attachment to
Gama, had determined to aflfaflinate him. That he had nar-
rowly efcaped from them ; that it was impoflible for him to re-
cover his efl^ed:s, and that his only hope was in the proted:ion
of Gama. Gama rewarded him with the friendfhip he merited,
took him with him, as he defired, to Lifl3on, and procured
him a recompence for his fervices.
Almofl: immediately after Monzaida, feven boats arrived,
loaded with the goods, and demanded the refl:oration of the
captive noblemen. Gama took the goods on board, but refufed
to examine if they were entire, and alfo refufed to deliver the
prifoners. He had been promifed an ambafl^ador to his fove-
reign, he faid, but had been fo often deluded, he could trufl:
fuch a faithlefs people no longer, and would therefore carry the
; captives in his power to convince the king of Portugal what
infults and injufl:ice his ambafl^ador and admiral had fuifered
from the Zamorim of Calicut. Having thus difmifl'ed the
Indians, he fired his cannon and hoiflied his fails. A calm,
however, detained him on the coafl: fome days, and the Zamo-
rim feizing the opportunity, fent what veflTels he could fit out,
twenty of a larger fize, fixty in all, full of armed men, to at-
tack
}m INTRODUCTION.
tack him. Though Gama's cannon were well pUyed, coafid^nt
of their numbers, they preiTed on to board him, when a fudden
tempeit, which Gama's fhips rode out in fafety,_ n?ktferably dif-
perfed the Indian fleet, and compleated their ruin.
After this victory the Admii-al made a halt at a little ifland
neax the fhore, where he eredied a crofs *, bearing the name
and arms of his Portuguefe majefty. And from this place, by
the hand of Monzaida, he wrote a letter to the ^a^x^orim,
wherein he gave a full and circumftantial account of all th«
plots of the Catual and the Moors. Still, however,, he profeiJe4
JiLs deiire of a commercial treaty, and promifed to reprefen^
the Zamorim in the beft light to Emmanuel. The prifoners,
he faid, fhould be kindly ufed, were only kept as ambaifadors
to his fovereign, and {hould be returned to India when they were
enabled from experience to give an account of Portugal. The
letter he fent by one of the captives, who by this means obr
tained his liberty.
The fame of Gama had now fpread over the Indian feas, and
the Moors were every where intent on his deftru(ftion. As he
was near the fhore of Anchedivaj, he beheld the appearance of 2k
floating ifle, covered with trees, advance towards him.. But his
prudence was not to be thus deceived. A bold pirate, name4
Timoja, by linking together eight veflfels full of men and co-
vered with green boughs, thought to board him by furprize.
But Gama's cannon made feven of them fly -, the eighth, loaded;
with fruits and proviflon, he took. The beautiful ifland of
Anchediva now offered a convenient place to careen his fliips
and refrefh his men. While he flaid here, the firfl minifler of
Zabajo king of Goa, one of the mofl powerful princes of India,
came on board, and in the name of his mafler, congratu-
lated the Admiral in the Italian tongue. Provifwpns, arr^s and?
money were offered tp- Gama, ai>d he was entreated to accept
the friendfhip of Zabajo. The Admiral was flruck with admin
ration, the addrefs and abilities of the minifler appeared fo con-,
fpicuous. He faid he was an Italian by birth, but in failing to
Greece, had been taken by pirates, and after va,riQus misfor-
• Itwas the cuftom of thefirft difcoverers one to St. George, at Mozan\bic, one ta
to creft crolTes on places remarkable in their St. Stephen, at Meljnda, oqe to. St. Ga-r,
voyage. Gama crefted fix ; one, dedicated brieh, at Calicut, and one to St. Mary, at
to St. Rapl>aQl, ajt the river of Good Sigi\s, the ifland thence named, near Anchediva.
tunes.
INTRO nix O .N, ^ Iv
ixt&ts, had been neceffitated to enter into the ierwct; od H '^-■■
hammedan prince, the noblenefs of" whofe difpolitian her
natended in the highefl: terms. Yet, with all his abilities, O ; ■.■
perceived an artful inquifitivenefs, that namelefs fometiiir.p
which does not accompany fniiple honefty. After a long con-
fibretldei, Gama abruptly upbraided him as a fpy, and ordered
him to be put to the torture — -And this foon brought a confef-
fion, that he was a Polonian Jew by birth, and was fent to ex-
amine the ftrength of the fleet by Zabajo, who was muftering
all his power to attack the Portuguefe. Gama on this imme-
diately fet fail, and took the fpy along with him, who foon after
was baptized, and named Jafper de Gama, the Admiral being his
godfather. Afterwards he became of great fervice to Emmanuel.
Gama now flood weftward through the Indian ocean, and
after being long delayed by calms, arrived off Magadoxa, on the
coafi: of Africa. This place was a principal port of the Moors -,
he therefore levelled the walls of the city with his cannon, and
burned and deftroyed all the fhips in the harbour. Soon after
this he defcried eight Moorifh veffels bearing down upon him ;
his artillery, however, foon made them ufe their oars in flight,
nor could Gama overtake any of them for want of wind. The
hofpitable harbour of Melinda was the next place he reached.
His men, almoft worn out with fatigue and licknefs, here re-
ceived, a fecond time> every afllftance which an accomplifhed
and generous prince could beftow. And having taken an am-
baflclor on board, he again fet fail, in hope that he might pafs
the Cape of Good Hope while the favourable weather con-
tinued, for his acquaintance with the eaftern feas now fuggefted
to him, that the tempeftuous feafon was periodical. Soon after
he fet fail his brother's fhip ftruck on a fand bank, and was
burnt by order of the admiral. His brother and part of the
crew he took into his own fhip, the reft he fent ort board of
Coello ; nor were more hands now alive than were necefl^ary to
man the two veflels which remained. Having taken in pro-
vifions at the ifland of Zanzibar, where they were kindly enter-
tained by a Mohammedan prince of the fame fed: with the king
of Melinda, they fafely doubled the Cape of Good Hope on
April 26, 1499, ^"d continued till they reached the ifland of
St. lago in favourable weather. But a tempeft here feparated
the two fhips, and gave Gartia and Coello an opportunity to
fhew
Ivi INTRODUCTION.
fhew the goodnefs of their hearts, in a manner which does
honour to human nature.
The Admiral was now near the Azores, when Paulus de
Gama, long worn with fatigue and ficknefs, was unable to en-
dure the motion of the fhip. Vafco, therefore, put into the
ifland of Tercera, in hope of his brother's recovery. And fuch
was his affedtion, that rather than leave him, he gave the com-
mand of his fhip to one of his officers. But the hope of re-
covery was vain. John de Sa proceeded to Lifbon with the flag
fliip, while the admiral remained behind to foothe the death
bed of his brother, and perform his funeral rites. Coello, in the
mean while, landed at Lifbon, and hearing that Gama was not
arrived, imagined he might either be fhipwrecked or beating about
in diftrefs. Without feeing one of his family, he immediately
fet fail, on purpofe to bring relief to his friend and Admiral.
But this generous defign, more the efFe<5t of friendlhip than
juft confideration, was prevented by an order from the king,
ere he got out of the Tagus.
The particulars of the voyage were now diffufed by Coello,
and the joy of the king was only equalled by the admiration of
the people. Yet while all the nation was fired with zeal to ex-
prefs their efteem of the happy Admiral, he himfelf, the man
who was fuch an enthufiaft to the fuccefs of his voyage, that
he would willingly have facrificed his life in India to fecure that
fuccefs, was now in the completion of it a dejected mourner.
The compliments of the court and the fhouts of the ftreet were
irkfome to him, for his brother, the companion of his toils and
dangers, was not there to fhare the joy. As foon as he had
waited on the king, he fhut himfelf up in a lonely houfe near
the fea fide at Bethlehem, from whence it was fometime ere he
was drawn to mingle in public life.
During this important expedition, two years and almofl two
months elapfed. Of i6o men who went out, only 55 returned.
Thefe were all rewarded by the king. Coello was penfioned
with 100 ducats a year and made a fidalgo, or gentleman of
the king's houlhold, a degree of nobility in Portugal. The
title of Don was annexed to the family of Vafco de Gama;
he was appointed admiral of the eaftern feas, with an annual
falary of 3000 ducats, and a part of the king's arms was added
to his. Public thankfgivings to heaven were celebrated
throughout
INTRODUCTION. Mi
throughout the churches of the kingdom, and feafts, interludes,
and chivalrous entertainments, the tafte of that age, demon-
ftrated the joy of Portugal.
As the prophetic Song in the tenth Luiiad requires a com-
mentary, we fhall now proceed to a compendious hiftory of the
negociations and wars of the Portuguefe in India ; a hiftory,
though very little known, of the utmoft importance to every
commercial ffcate, particularly to that nation which now com-
mands the trade of the Eaft.
The power, intereft, and difpofition of the Moors, the maf-
ters of the eaftern feas, pointed out to Emmanuel what courfe he
ought to follow, if he intended to reap either honour or ad-
vantage from the difcovery of India. The accumulated trea-
chery of the Moors had kindled a war ; force was now necef-
fary ; a fleet therefore of thirteen fail and 1 500 men was fitted
out for India, and the command of it given to an experienced
officer, Pedro Alvarez de Cabral.
The chief inftrudtions of Cabral, were to enter into a treaty
of friendfhip with the Zamorim, and to obtain leave to build a
fort and fadory near Calicut. But if he found that prince ftill
perfidious and averfe to an alliance, he was to proceed to hof-
tilities on the firft inftance of treachery.
Cabral, in this voyage, was driven to America by a tempefi:,
and was the firft who difcovered the Brazils. As he doubled
the fouth of Africa, he encountered a mofi: dreadful ftorm ; the
heavens were covered with pitchy darknefs for many days, and
the waves and winds vied with each other in noife and fury.
Four Ihips, with all their crews, periflied ; among, whom was
the celebrated Bartholomew Diaz, the difcoverer of the Cape
of Good Hope, which, as if prophetic of his fate, he had
named the Cape of Tempefts.
When Cabral reached the coafi: of Zofala, he had only fix
fhips. Here he engaged two Moorifh vefiels, laden mofi:ly with
gold dufi:, and took them. But finding they were commanded
by, and belonged to Foteyma, an uncle of the king of Melinda,
he not only refi:ored the prizes, but treated the Xeque with the
greateft courtefy. At Mozambique he agreed with a pilot to
conduct him to Quiloa. The king of this place and the admiral
had a pompous interview. An alliance was folemnly concluded.
But Homeris, brother to the king of Melinda, was at Quiloa; and
i by
Iviil INTRODUCTION.
by him Cabral was informed of a treacherous preparation to
attack him. As his deftination was for Calicut, he delayed re-
venge, and proceeded to Mclinda. Here he landed the Mclin-
dian ambaflador, who had been fent to Portugal ; and here his
generous treatment of the Xeque Foteyma ftrcngthened the
friend'fhip and good offices which had begun with Gama.
When he arrived at Calicut, whether he was conducted by
two Melindian pilots, he fent Ayres Corrca on fhorc to fettle
the manner how the Zamorim and the admiral were to meet.
Six principal Bramins, whofe names were brought from Por-
tugal by the advice of Monzaida, were given as hoftages for the
fafety of the admiral -, and the Indian noblemen, who had been
carried away by Gama, were returned. After mudi delay with
the wavering Zamorim, a commercial alliance, by which tlie
Portuguefe vefTels were to receive their lading before thofe of
any other nation, was folemnly confirmed by oath, and a houfe
was appointed as a fadlory for the Portuguefe ; of w~hich
Correa, with feventy men under his command, took immediate
poffeffion.
The hiftory of an infant fcttlement is like that of infant
Rome ; if the fmalleft circumftances are not attended to, the
fecret fprings of action efcape us, and we are fure to be led
into error. Cabral's fleet was to be laded with fpicery ; but the
Moorifh merchants, ftill intent on the ruin of their rivals the
Portuguefe, did every thing in their power to retard it, in hope
6f another rupture. While promifes to Cabral trifled away the
time, the Zamorim defired his aflifl:ance to take a large fhip
belonging to the king of Cochin, who not only intended to
invade his dominions, but alfo had refufed to fell him an ele-
phant which was iiow aboard that fhip. There were twa
Moorifli agents with whom Cabral was obliged to tranfadt bufi-
nefs. To Coje Bequi he paid the greatefl: refpeft, for he found
him mofl: worthy of it; but Cemireci, the other, pretending
great friendfliip to Cabral, advifed him by all means to gratify
the Zamorim by taking the fhip of Cochin. This veffel was
large and full of foldiers, but Cabral appointed one of his
fmalleft, commanded by Pedro Ataide, not a fixth part of her
fize, to attack her. When Ataide firfl: made towards the enemy,,
the Indian infulted him with every i\gn of reproach ; but the
Portuguefecannon drove her into the port of Cananor, a place
forty
I NTRODUCTION, lix
forty miles to the north of Calicut. Here fhe lay all the night,
while Ataide watched the mouth of the harbour ; and fearing
to be burnt in the port, in the morning (he again took to fea.
But Ataide foon came up with her, and by the dexterous ufe of
his artillery, made her fleer what courfe he pleafed, and at lafl:
drove her in triumph before him into the harbour of Calicut.
This affair was of great confequence to the Portuguefe. It
not only raifed a high idea of their valour and art of war, but
it difcovered a fcene of treachery, and gave them a mofl bene-
ficial opportunity to difplay their integrity and honour. "When
Cabral converfed with the captives, he found that the ftory of
the elephant and the invafion were falfe, and that they had been
warned by Cemireci, that the Portuguefe, a fet of lawlefs
pirates, intended to attack them. On this, Cabral not only re-
lk)red the fhip to th^ king of Cochin, but paid for what
damage fhe had fuftained, and alTured him he had been abufed
by the villainy of the Moors.
The Zamorim profefTed the greateft admiration of the Portu-
guefe valour, yet while he pretended to value their friendfliip
at the higheft rate, he ufed every art to delay the lading of their
fhips. Twenty days was the time ftipulated for this purpofe,
but three months were now elapfed, and nothing done. Cabral
feveral time complained to the Zamorim of the infringement
of treaty, that many Moorifh veflels had been fuffered to lade,
while he could obtain no cargo. The Zamorim complained of
-the arts of -the Moors, and gave Cabral an order, on paying for
'the goods, to unlade whatever Moorifh veffels he pleafed, and
■to fupply his own. Cabral, however, was apprehenfive of
fome deep delign, and delayed to put this order in execution :
urged by Correa, who feverely upbraided him with negledt
-of duty, he at laft feized a veffel which happened to belong to
'one of the richeil of the Moors. A tumult was immediately
•raifed, the Portuguefe faO:ory was fuddenly befet by four thou-
2fand-of that people, and before any ailiftance could come from
-the fhips, Correa, and the greateft part of his companions, were
-mairacFed. Cabral, though greatly enraged, waited fufiicient
'time to hear the excufe of the Zamorim, but waited in vain.
'Ten large Mooriih veflels burnt in the harbour, the. city of
Calicut bombarded one day, and 600 of its inhabitants (lain,
revenged the death of Correa.
i 2 The
Ix I N T R O D U C T I O N.
The king of Cochin, when Cabral returned the (hip which
he had taken, highly pleafed with his honour, invited him to
traffic in his port. Cabral now failed thither, and was treated
in the moft friendly manner. A ftrong houfe was appointed for
a factory, and a treaty of commerce folemnly concluded. Am-
baffadors alfo arrived from the kings of Cananor, Caulan, and
other places, intreating the alliance. of the Portuguefe, whom,
they invited to their harbours.
About eight hundred years before this period, according to
tradition *, Perimal, the fovereign of India, having embraced
the religion of Mohammed, in which he had been inftrudted
by fome Arabian merchants, refolved to end his days as a hermit
at Mecca. He therefore divided his empire into different fove-
reignties, but rendered them all tributary to the Zamorim of
Calicut. From this port Perimal fet fail, and the Arab mer-
chants conceived fuch a fuperftitious affeftion for this harbour,
though not fo commodious as many others around, that on the
arrival of Gama it was the great centre of the Moorifh com--
merce in India. The tributary kings, fays the author of Hijioire
Philofophique, &c. delirous to throw off their dependence on the
Zamorim, invited the Portuguefe to their harbours. He ought
to have added, that it was impoffible they fhould have atfted fo,
unlefs they had conceived a high idea of the Portuguefe virtue
and valour, which was thus rewarded by the friendfhip of fome
powerful princes, who ever after remained true to the Portuguefe.
When Cabral was about to fail from Cochin, he received inr-
formation from the king, that the Zamorim, with a large fleet,
containing 1 5,000 foldiers, intended to attack him. Cabral pre-
pared for battle, and the Indian fleet fled. He afterwards touched
at Cananor, where he entered into a friendly alliance with the
king, who fufpedling from the fmall quantity of fpicery which he
bought that the Admiral was in want of money, intreated him
to give a mark of his friendship by accepting of what he pleafed.
But Cabral fhewed a confiderable quantity of gold to the king's
meflengers, politely thanked him, and faid he was already fuf-
ficiently loaded. Having left factors on fhore, and received
ambafladors on board, he proceeded on his homeward voyage.
Near Mclinda he took a large fhip, but finding Ihe belonged ta
f Sec the notes. Book VII*
a merchant
INTRODUCTION. Ixi
a merchant of Cananor, he fet her at liberty, and told, the com-
mander, " that the Portuguefe monarch was only at war with
the Zamorim and the Moors of Mecca, from whom he had re-
ceived the greateft injuries and indignities." The king of Me-
linda, and other Mohammedan princes, who had entered into
alliances with Gama and Cabral, were not of the tribe or con-
federacy of thofe who had in different parts attempted the ruin
of the Portuguefe. That people were now diftinguhhed by the
name of the Moors of Mecca : and to diftrefs this port became
now a principal objedl of the Portuguefe.
Emmanuel, now fully informed by Cabral of the ftates and
traffic of the Indian feas, perceiving that the rci iforcement of
three veffels, which he had fent under John de Nova *, could
little avail, fitted out twenty fliips, the command of which
warlike fleet was given to the celebrated Vafco de Gama. At
the fame time the Pope ilTued a Bull, in which he ftyled Em-
manuel, Lord of the Navigation, Conquefls and Trade, of
i^thiopia, Arabia, Periia, and India.
Gama, having doubled the Cape of Good Hope, touched at
Sofala, and made a treaty with the Mohammedan fovereign of
that rich country. Mozambic was now governed by a new
monarch, who entreated an alliance with the Portuguefe, which
was granted ; and the ifle where Gama had the battle with the
Moors ;|;, became, for long after, a mofl convenient watering-
place for the Portuguefe navies. In revenge of the plots againfl
himfelf, and the injuries received by Cabral, he battered the
city of Quiloa with his cannon, and made the king fubmit ta
pay tribute to Emmanuel. As he proceeded for Calicut, he met
a large fhip of Mecca, which, with many people of diflindion
who were going on a pilgrimage to the tomb of their prophet,
had lately left that harbour. This veilel, after an obftinate
flruggle, in which 300 Moors were -f killed, he took and burnt.
And from fome veflels of Calicut, as he approached that port,
he took about thirty prifoners. As foon as he anchored near
the city, the Zamorim fent a meffage to offer terms of friendi-
* This officer defeated a large fleet of the Zamorim, but could not be fuppofed to efFc£l
any thing of permanency. On his return to Europe, Nova difcovered the ifle of St. Helena.
X See the firft Lufiad. ,• ■. » .• , 1 v/i i^.'ijVv- -I 1
f Twenty children were faved. Thefe were fent to Lif^on, where, they were Baptize^
and educated in the fervice of Emmanuel. Their hap|)y fate, boafted <k by the Portuguefe
writers, fliews us the chara<^er of thefe times.
fliip^
I
IxU I N T R O D U G T I t) N. .
fliip, to excCire the maliacre of the PortOguefe under CotWSi, a*s
the fole adtion of an enraged populace, with which g6vernment
had no concern -, and added, that the fate of the fhip of Mecca
he hoped would fuffice for revenge. Gama, previous to any
new treaty, demanded a reftitution of the goods of which the
Portuguefe fadlory had been plundered, and threatened to put
his prifoners to death and batter the city in cafe of refufal.
After waiting fofne time in vain for an anfwer, Gama ordered
his thirty prifoners to be hanged and their bodies to be fent
afhore, together with a letter, declaring war againft the Za-
biorim, in the name of the king of Portugal. And next day,
having for feveral hours played his cannon upon the city, he
fleered his courfe for the more friendly port of Cochin.
Here the fadtors who had been left by Cabral gave Gama
the higheft charadter of the faith of the king, and his earnell
d«fire to cultivate the friendfhip of the Portuguefe ; and the
former alliance was mutually confirmed by the king and the ad-
miral. The Zamorim, who with rage and regret beheld the
commerce of Europe carried to other harbours, fent a Bramin
to Gama, while he was lading at Cochin, intreating an oblivion
of paft injuries, and a renewal of the league of amity. The
Admiral, flill defirous to cultivate friendship, gave the com-
mand of the fleet to his coufin Stephen de Gama, and with tw6
fhips only failed for Calicut -, yet, left treachery fhould be in-
tended, he ordered Vincent Sodre with five fliips to follow him.
On his arrival at the city, he found that diflimulation was ftill
the charad:er of the Zamorim. Four and thirty veffels, full of
armed men, attacked Gama's £hip with great fury, for the other
vefTel he had fent to haflen the fquadron of Sodre. In this
fituation nothing but a brifk wind could pofTibly fave Gama,
and a briflc gale in this extremity rofe and carried him beyond
the reach of the fleet of Calicut. But having met the reinforce-
ment of Sodre, the Admiral immediately returned, and totally
deflroyed the fleet of the enemy.
Difappointed in war, the Zamorim now by intreaties and
threats endeavoured to bring the king of Cochin into his in-
terefl:. But that prince, with the .greateft honour, refiifed to
betray the Portuguefe ; and Gama having promifed to leave a
iquadron to protect his harbour, failed with thirteen loaded
(hips for the port of Cananor. On his way thither, as he 'paft
within
INTRODUCTION. hiii
within ^ f/sw miles of Calicut, |ie was again vigoroufly attacked
by twenty-nine yeffels, fitted out by the Zamorim, on purpofe
to intercept him. Gama ordered three fhips, which had the
leafl loading, to begin the engagement, and victory foon d.e-
cl^red in his favour. He then proceeded to Cananor, where h.e
entered ini;o a treaty with the fovereign, who bound himfelf
never to make war on the king qf Cochin, or to affift the Za-
mprim^ A"^ Gama, haying left fix fliips under the command
of Sp^re, for the prptedion of Cocliin ^nd Cananor, failed for.
Portugal, where, after a profperpus voyage, he arrived ^itl^
twelve fhips, loaded with the riches pf the Ea/l.
As foon as Gama'-s departure was known, the Zamorim made
great preparations to attack Cochin. It was the pur])ofe ojf
Emmanuel, that Sodre {hould be left with a fquadron to cruife
about the mouth of the Red Sea, and annoy the Moors of
Mecca; but Gama, whofe power was difcretionary, ordere^
Ifiim not to leave Cochi-n, unlefs every thing bpre the appeatr
ance of peace with the Zamorim. Sodre, however, though
hoftility was every day expected, prepared to depart. Diego
Correa, the Portuguefe agen.t left at Cochin, in the flrongefl
manner urged him to do his duty and continue at that port,
but in vain. Wbile the king of Cochin refplutely refufed>
though advifed by many of his pouncil, to deliver up the Por-
tuguefe refidents to the Zamorim, Sodre, contrary to the orders
of Qama, failed for the Red Sea, in hope of the rich prizes of
Mecc^; and thus bafely deferted his countrymen, and a prince,
whoie /^ith to the Portuguefe had involved him in a war which
threatened deftrudion to his kingdom.
The city of Cochin is fituated on an ifland, divided from the
continent by an arm of the fea, one part of which, at low
water, is fordable. At this pafs the Zamorim l^egan ^the war,
and |i>et fome defeats. At laft, by the force ,pf nuqabers !an^
the power of bribery, he took the city, and the king of Cochin
fled to the ifland of Viopia. Yet, though ftript of his clo-
minions, he retained his faith to the Portuguefe. He topk
them with him to this place, where a few men could defend
themfelves ; and though the Zamorim offered to refiore him to
his throne if he would deliver them up, he replied, ** that, his
<* enemy might ftrip him of his dominions and his life, but it
**^)Was not in his power to ^jleprive.hiipofj l:\is fiidelitv."
While
Ixiv IN 9* R b b'UX T I O N. '■
While Trimumpara, king of Cochin, was thus fhut up on a
little rock, Sodre fuffered a- punilhment worthy of his perfidy.
His {hip was beaten to pieces by a tempeft, and he and his
brother lofh their lives. The other commanders conlidered this"
as the judgment of heaven, and haftened back to the relief of
Cochin : by ftrefs of weather, however, they were obliged to
put into one of the Anchidivian iflands. Here they were joined
by Francis Albuquerk, who, on hearing the fate of Cochin,
though in the rigour of winter, fet fail for its relief. When
the fleet appeared in light of Viopia, Trimumpara exclaiming
Portugal, Portugal, ran in an extacy to the Portuguefe ; and
they in return, with fhouts of triumph, announced the reftora-
tion of his crown. The garrifon left in Cochin by the Zamo-
rim immediately fled. I'rimumpara was refl:ored to his throne
without a battle, and Albuquerk gave an inft:ance of his mafl:erly
policy. Together with the thanks of Emmanuel, he made the
king of Cochin a prefent of 10,000 ducats. An ad: which
wonderfully excited the admiration of the princes of India, and
was a fevere wound to the Zamorim.
Francis and Alonzo Albuquerk and Duarte Pacheco were
now at Cochin. The princes, tributary to Trimumpara, who
had deferted to the Zamorim, were feverely punifhed by
the troops of Cochin, headed by the Portuguefe, and their de-
predations were carried into thc-Zamorim's own dominions.
A treaty of peace was at laft: concluded, on terms greatly ad-
vantageous to the Portuguefe commerce. But that honour
which had been of the greatefl: benefit to their affairs, was
now fl:ained. A fliip of Calicut was unjufl:ly feized by the Por-
tuguefe agent at Cochin; nor would Francis Albuquerk make
reftitution, though required by the Zamorim. Soon after
this, Francis failed for Europe, but gave another infl:ance of
his infamy ere he left India. The Zamorim had again declared
war againil the king of Cochin, and Francis Albuquerk left
only one fhip, three barges, and about one hundred and fifty
men, for the defence of Trimumpara ; but this fmall body was
commanded by Pacheco. Francis Albuquerk, and Nicholas
Coello, celebrated in the Luflad, failed for Europe, but were
heard of no more.
Anthony Saldanna and Roderic Ravafco were at this time
fent from LiflDon to cruife about the mouth of the Red Sea.
Th«
INTRODUCTION. Ixv
Thekingof Melindawas engaged in a dangerous war with the king
of Mombaffa, and Saldanna procured him an honourable peace.
But Ravafco adled as a lawlefs pirate on the coaft of Zanzibar.
Though the innocent inhabitants were in a treaty of peace with
Gama, he took many of their fhips, for which he extorted
large ranfoms, and compelled the prince of Zanzibar to pay an
annual tribute and own himfelf the vafTal of Emmanuel. The
Pope's Bull, which gave all the Eaft to the king of Portugal,
began now to operate. The Portuguefe efteemed it as a facred
charter, the natives of the Eaft felt the confequence of it, and
conceived a fecret jealoufy and diilike of their new mailers.
The exalted policy and honour of many of the Portuguefe go-
vernors delayed the evil operation of this jealoufy, but the
remedy was only temporary. The Portuguefe believed they had
a right to demand the valTallage of the princes of the Eaft, and
to prohibit them the navigation of their own feas. When the
ufurpation of dominion proceeds from a fixed principle, the
wifdom of the ableft Governor can only fkin over the mortal
wound ; for the groffeft barbarians are moft acutely fenfible of
injuftice, and carefully remember the breaches of honour.
The Zamorim had now colle(fted a formidable power for the
deftrudiion of Cochin. But before we mention the wonderful
victories of Pacheco, it will be necefiary to give fome account
of the land and maritime forces of the Eaft. And here it is to be
lamented, that the Portuguefe authors have given us but very
imperfed: accounts of the military arts of India. Yet it is to be
gathered from them, that though fire arms were not unknown,
they were very little ufed before the arrival of the Portuguefe.
Two natives of Milan, who were brought to India by Gama on
his fecond voyage, deferted to the Zamorim, and were of great
fervice to him in making of powder and cafting of cannon.
The Perfians defpifed the ufe of fire arms, as unmanly, and the
ufe of artillery on board of a fleet, is feveral times mentioned,
as peculiar to the Moors of Mecca. The vefi"els of the Zamo-
rim were large barges rowed with oars, and crouded with men,
who fought with darts and other miffile weapons. We are told
by Oforius, that the pilot of Melinda, who conduced Gama
to Calicut, defpifed the Aftrolabe, as if ufed*to fuperior inftru-
ments. We doubt, however, of his fuperior knowledge, for
we know that he coafted nqrthward to a particular limit, and
k then
ixvi introduction:
then ftood diredly for the rifing fun. We are alfo told by the
Jefuits of the perfed:ion of the Qhinefe navigation, and thai
they have had the ufe of the compafs for 3000 years ; but this
is alfo doubtful. For there is not a name in any eaftern lan-
guage for that inftrument ; nor do they know hov\^ to makq
on€, or to arm the loadftone. They purchafe them of Eu-
ropeans, and the Italian word Buflbla is the name of the com,-
pafs among the natives of the Eaft.
While the Zamorim was preparing his formidable armament
againft Cochin, the fecurity which appeared on the mein of
Pacheco, prompted Trimumpara to fulped: fome fraud : and
he intreated that captain to confefs what he intended. Pacheco
felt all the refentment of honour, and affured him of vidtory.
He called a meeting of the principal inhabitants, and uttered
the fevereft threats againft any perfon who fhould dare to defert
to the Zamorim, or to leave the ifland. Soon after, two fifhejr-
men were brought before him, who had been following their erri^
ployment beyond the limits he had prefcribed. Pacheco ordered
them to be hanged in prifon. The king pleaded for their lives,
but Pacheco in public was inexorable. In the night, however, he
fent the two fifhermen to the king's palace, where he delired
they might be concealed with the greateft fecrecy ; and the
feverity of their fate was publickly believed. Every precaution,
by which the pafTage to the ifland of Cochin might be fecured,
was taken by Pacheco. The Portuguefe took the facrament,
and devoted themfelves to death. The king of Cochin's troops
amounted only to 5000 ; the fleet and army of the Zamorim
confifted of 57,000 men. Yet this great army, though pro-
vided with brafs cannon, and otherwife affifted by the two Mi-
lanefe engineers, was defeated by Pacheco. Seven times the
Zamorim raifed new armies, fome of them more numerous
than the firft, but all of them were defeated at the fords of
Cochin, by the ftratagems and intrepi<iity of Pacheco. Though
the Zamorim in the latter battles expofed his own perfon to the
greateft danger, and wasfometi^nes fprinkled with the blood of
his attendants -y though he had recourfe to poifon and every art
of fraud, all his attempts, open and private, were baffled. At
laft, in defpair ot revenge, he religned his crown, and fhut
himfelf up for the remainder of his days in one of his idol
temples. Soon after the kingdom of Cochin was thus rcftored
to
INTRODUCTION. Ixvii
to profperity, Pacheco was recalled to Europe. The king of
Portugal paid the higheft compliments to his valour ; and as he
had acquired no fortune in India, in reward of his fervices he
gave him a lucrative government in Africa. But merit al-
ways has enemies. Pacheco was accufed, and by the king's
order brought to Lifbon in irons ; and thofe hands which pre-
ferved the intereft of Portugal in India, were in Portugal chain-
ed in a dungeon a confiderable time, ere a legal trial determin-
ed the juftice of this feverity. He was at laft tried, and ho-
nourably acquitted ; but his merit was thought of no more, and
he died in an alms-houfe. Merit thus repaid, is a fevere wound
to an empire. The generous ardour of military fpirit cannot
receive a colder check, than fuch examples are fure to give it.
Before the departure of Pacheco, a fleet of thirteen fhips,
commanded by Lopez Soarez, arrived in India. The new Za-
morim beheld with regret the ruined condition of his kingdom,
his tributary princes not only now independent, but pofleTred of
the commerce which formerly enriched Calicut, the fatal con-
fequence of his uncle and predecefTor's obftinacy. Taught by
thefe examples, he defired a peace with the Portuguefe; but
Soarez would hear nothing till the twoMilanefe deferters were de-
livered up. This perfidy to men who had been promifed protec-
tion, the Zamorim generoufly refufed. And Soarez, regardlefs
of the fate of fome Portuguefe who had been left at Calicut by
Cabral, battered the city two days, in place of granting an
honourable and commercial peace. Nor was this his only
impolitical error. By fhewing fuch eagernefs to fecure the
Milanefe engineers, he told the Zamorim the value of thefe
European artifts. And that prince foon after applied to the
Soldan of Egypt, who fent him four Venetians, able engineers,
and mafters of the art of the foundery of cannon.
In the ftately fpirit of conqueft Soarez traverfed the Indian
feas, deflroyed many Calicutian and Moorifh vefTels, and made
various princes pay tribute and confefs themfelves the vaflals of
Emmanuel. But the Soldan of Egypt began now to threaten
hoftilities, and a ftronger force of the Portuguefe was necefl'ary.
Francifco d'Almeyda, an officer of diftinguifhed merit, was
therefore appointed Viceroy of India, and was fent with two
and twenty fhips to afiert his jurifdid:ion. And according to the
uncommercial ideas of Gothic conqueft with which he fet out,
k 2 he
Ixvili INTRODUCTION.
he proceeded. On his arrival at Quiloa, a meeting between him
and the king was appointed. Almeyda attended, but the king
did not, for a black cat, as he fet out, happened to crofs his
way, and intimidated by this evil omen, he declined the inter-
view. On this, Almeyda levelled his city with the ground,
and appointed another king, tributary to Emmanuel. Some
late treacheries of MombaiTa were alfo revenged by the deftruc-
tion of that city and the vafTalage of its monarch. When the
Viceroy arrived in India, he defeated the king of Onor, built
forts and left garrifons in various places. Trimumpara, king
of Cochin, had now retired to fpend the evening of his life in
a Brahmin temple, and his nephew, who with great pomp was
crowned by Almeyda, acknowledged himfelf the tributary of
the king of Portugal.
The Soldan of Egypt was at this time one of the greateft
princes of the world. The lucrative commerce of the Eaft had
long flowed to the Weft through his dominions. His fleets
and his armies were thus rendered numerous and powerful, and
bound by their political religion, in a war with the Chriflians,
every Mohammedan prince was his ally. A heavy revenge of
the Crufades was in meditation, and Europe miferably divided
in itfelf, invited its own ruin; when, fays an author*, accurate
in hiftorical facts, the liberties of mankind were faved by the
voyage of Vafco de Gama : The finews of the Egyptian and
Turkifh ftrength were cut afunder by the deftrudtion of their
commerce with the eaftern world.
Enraged with the interruption which his trade had already
received, the Soldan refolved to prevent its utter ruin. He
threatened the extirpation of all the Chriftians J in his do-
minions, if the court of Rome would not order the king of
Portugal to withdraw his fleets for ever from the eaftern feas.
One Maurus, a monk, was his ambaflfador to Rome and Lifbon,
but in place of compliance, he returned with the feverer threats
of Emmanuel. War was now determined, and a moft for-
midable fleet, fixty veflfels of which were larger than the Portu-
guefe, manned With Turks experienced in war, were fent to
the affillance of the Zaniorim. But by the fuperior naval fkill
♦ See Hiftoire Phik/opbique l^ Pclitijue da Etablljfemens l^ du Comment des Europeens
dans Us d(ux Jndes. % See the note, p. 432.
and
INTRODUCTION. Ixlx
and romantic bravery of Almeyda and his fon Lorenzo, thi^
mighty armament was defeated.
At this time Triftan de Cugna and the celebrated Alphonfo
Albuquerk arrived in the Eaft, and carried war and vicflory from
Sofala to India. Allured by the honour and truly commercial
treaties of Gama and Cabral, feveral princes of India invited
thefe ftrangers to their harbours. But the alteration of the be-
haviour and claims of the Portuguefe, had altered the fenti-
ments of the natives. Almofl every port now oppofed the en-
trance of the Portuguefe, and the cargo of almoft every fhip
they loaded was purchafed with blood. At the fack of the
city of Lamo, fome of the foldiers under Cugna cut off the
hands and ears of the women to get their bracelets and ear-
rings with more expedition. But though thefe villains, by
overloading their boat with their plunder, were all drowned,
this ftain on the Portuguefe character made war againft the
Portuguefe name and intereft. When Albuquerk arrived be-
fore Ormuz, he fummoned the king to become the vaffal
of Emmanuel, and to be happy under the protection of fo
great a prince. The king of Ormuz, who expedted fuch a vifit,
had provided an army of 33,000 men, 6000 of which were
expert archers, auxiliaries of Perlia. Yet thefe were defeated
by 460 difciplined men, well played cannon, and the dauntlefs
valour of Albuquerk. And the king of Ormuz fubmitted to vaf-
falage. Lords of the feas alfo, the Portuguefe permitted no
ihip to fail without a Portuguefe palTport. Nor was this re-
garded, when avarice prompted that the paffport was forged.
A rich fhip of Cananor was on this pretence taken and plun-
dered, and the unhappy crew, to conceal the villany, were
fewed up in the fail cloths and drowned. Vaz, it is true, the
commander of this horrid deed, was broken. But the bodies of
the Moors were thrown on fhore, and the king o£ Cananor,
the valuable ally of Portugal, in revenge of this treachery,
joined the Zamorim, and declared war againfl the Portuguefe.
Another powerful armament, commanded by Mir Hocem, a
chief of great valour, was fent by the Soldan. Perlia alfo af-
fifted. And even the mountains of Dalmatia *, by the conni-
* The timber was brought through the Mediterranean to Cairo, and from thence wa*
carried by camels to the port of Suez,
nivance
Ixx INTRODUCTION.
vance of Venice, were robbed of their forefts, to build navies
in Arabia againfl the Portuguefe.
Almeyda fent his brave fon Lorenzo to give battle to Mir
Hocem, but Lorenzo fell the vidiim of his romantic bravery.
While the father prepared to revenge the death of his fon, his
recall, and the appointment of Albuquerk to fucceed him, ar-
rived from Europe ; but Almeyda refufed to refign till he had
revenged his fon's defeat. On this^ a difpute between the two
governors arofe, of fatal confequence to the Portuguefe interefl
in Afia. Albuquerk was imprifoned, and future governors often
urged this example on both fides of the queftion, both to protradt
the continuance, and prefs the inftant furrender of ofEce. Al-
meyda, having defeated the Zamorim and his Egyptian allies,
failed for Europe*, crowned with miUtary laurels. But though
thus plumed in the vulgar eye, his eftablifhments were contrary
to the fpirit of commerce. He fought, indeed, and conquered ;
but he left more enemies of the Portuguefe in the Eaft than he
found there. The honours he attained were like his, who
having extinguifhed a few fires in a city, marches out in triumph,
but leaves glowing embers in every houfe, ready to burft forth
in a general flame. It was left for the great Albuquerk to efta-
blifh the Portuguefe empire in Afia on a furer bafis, on ads of
mutual benefit to the foreign colonifts and native princes.
Albuquerk, whofe power was fomewhat limitted by that of
Coutinho, now turned his thoughts to the folid eftablilhment
of the Portuguefe empire. To extinguifh the power of Ca-
licut, and to eredt a fortified capital for the feat of govern-
ment, were his defigns -, and in thefe he was greatly aflifted,
both by the arms and the counfel of Timoja the pirate,
who, greatly injured by the Indian princes, was glad to enter
into alliance with the Portuguefe. With thirty vefiTels and
2400 men, Albuquerk and Fernando Coutinho failed from
Cochin to befiege Calicut. It was agreed, that the troops un-
der Coutinho, fhould have the honour to land firft. Thofe
under Albuquerk, however, galled by the enemy, leapt firft
aOiore. Coutinho, on this, roughly upbraided him : To con-
quer the feeble Indians, he faid, was no fuch honour as fome
boafled. And I will tell the king of Portugal, he added, that
See his fate, p. 208.
I entered
INTRODUCTION. Ixxi
I entered the palace of the Zamorim with only my cane in my
hand. Albuquerk remonftrated the danger of ra£hnefs in vain.
Coutinho ordered Jafper de Gama, the Polonian Jew, to con-
du(ft him to the palace ; to which, with 800 men, he marched
in confufed fpeed. Albuquerk, whofe magnanimity could re-
venge no infult when his country's intereft was at ftake in the
hour of battle, followed in good order with 600 men, and left
others properly Rationed, to fecure a retreat, for he forefaw
deftrudtion. Coutinho, after feveral attacks, at laft, with the
lofs of many men, entered the palace, and gave his foldiers
liberty to plunder. All was now diforder among them. And
Albuquerk, who perceived it, eatreated Coutinho, by meflage,
to beware of a fiercer attack. He was anfwered, he might take
care of the troops under his own command. After two hours
fpent in plundering the palace, Coutinho fet fire to it and
marched out. But ere he could join Albuquerk, both parties
were furrounded by enraged multitudes. Coutinho and his
braveft officers fell ; Albuquerk was wounded by arrows in the.
neck and left arm. At laft, flruck on the breaft by a large
ftone, he dropped down, to appearance dead. On his fhield he
was carried off with great difficulty. All was confufion in the
retreat, till the body of referve, placed by Albuquerk, came
up, and repulfed the enemy. Albuquerk was carried on board
without hope of recovery. His health, however, was reflored
at Cochin, and the Zamorim allowed a fort to be built near
Calicut, and fubmitted to the terms of peace propofed by the
Portuguefe governor.
The ifland of Goa, on the coafl of Decan, a mofl commo-
dious fituation for the feat of empire, and whofe prince had
been treacherous to Gama, after various defperate engagements,,
was at laft yielded to Albuquerk. According to his defign, he
fortified it in the befl manner, and rendered it of the utmoft con-
fequence to the prefervation of the Portuguefe power. He now
turned his thoughts to Malaca, the great mart of the eaflern
half of the oriental world. Under the government of Almeyda,
Sequeira had failed thither, and while about fettling a treaty
with the natives, narrowly efcaped a treacherous maffacre, in
which feveral of his men were llain. . Albuquerk offered peace
and commerce, but demanded atonement for this injury. His
terms were rejeded, and this important place, won by mofl
ailonifhing
Ixxii INTRODUCTION.
aftonifhing vidories, was now added to the Portuguefe do-
minion. Here, as at Goa, the governor coined money; re-
gulated the courts of juftice, and by his generous behaviour,
won the afFediion and efteem of the people whom he had con-
quered. He received from, and fent ambafTadors to the king of
Siam and other princes ; to whom he oifered the trade of Malaca
on more advantageous conditions than it had hitherto been.
And an immenfe commerce from China and all the adjacent
regions foon filled that harbour. For here, as at Ormuz and
Goa, the redu6tion which he made in the cuftoms, gave an
increafe of trade which almofl: doubled the revenue of the king
of Portugal. At every place where he made a fettlement, AI-
buquerk promoted the marriage of his foldiers with the natives,
and thus fecured the means of mutual defence : a piece of the
beft policy, though feldom adopted by other nations *. When
the governor returned to Goa, he was received, fays Faria, as
a father by his family. The ifland was at this time befieged
by 20,000 of Hydal Can, the lord of Decan's troops, yet vidory
declared for Albuquerk. But to difplay the terror of the Por-
tuguefe arms was only the fecond motive of this great man.
To convince the Indian princes of the value of his friendfhip
was his firfl care, and treaties of commerce were with mutual
fatisfadiion concluded with the king of Bifnagar, the king of Nar-
finga, and other powerful princes. The city of Aden, near the
mouth of the Red Sea, was of great importance to the fleets of
the Soldan. Albuquerk tv/ice attacked this place, but could not
carry it for want of military flores. By the vefTels, however,
which he kept on thefe coafts, he gave a fevere wound to the
Egyptian and Mooriih commerce; and by the eftablifhments
which he made in India, entirely ruined it. Mahomet, the ex-
pelled tyrant of Malaca, aflifted by 20,000 Javans, attempted to
recover his throne ; but the wifh of the people was fulfilled,
and Albuquerk was again vi(5torious. The Perfians, to whom
Ormuz had been tributary, endeavoured to bring it again under
their yoke f ; but Albuquerk haftened from Malaca and totally
• The ofFspring of the Portuguefe marriages at this day people many of the coafts of
India and Africa ; and were Portugal what Great Britain now is, might be of the utmoft
fervice to her commercial intereft.
X When the Perfians fent a demand of tribute, Albuquerk f^id it flicu'd be paid ; and a
large filver bafon, under cover, was prefented to the anibaflador. When uncovered, leaden
bullets and points of fpears appeared : There, faid Albuquerk, is the tribute which the
Jkings of Portugal pay. defeated
INTRODUCTION. Ixxiii
defeated them, to the great joy of the inliabitants. Here he
fell fick, and being advifed by his phylicians to go to India for
the recovery of his health, the king of Ormuz, who called him
his father, parted from him with tears. On his way to India
he received intelligence, that a fleet, arrived from Portugal, had
brought his recall, that Lopez Soarez was appointed to fucceed
him, and that lago Mendez was come to be governor of Cochin.^
When he heard this, he exclaimed, ** Are thefe whom I fent
prifoners to Portugal for heinous crimes, are thefe returned to
be governors ! Old man. Oh, for thy grave ! Thou haft incurred
the king's difpleafure for the fake of the fubjeds, and the fub-
jedts for the fake of the king ! Old man, fly to thy grave, and
retain that honour thou has ever preferved !" A profound me-
lancholy now feized him ; but finding the certain approaches
of death, he recovered his chearfulnefs, and with great fervor
gave thanks to God, that a new governor was ready to fucceed
him. On the bar of Goa, in the lixty-third year of his age, he
breathed his laft*, after a regency of little more than five years.
Yet, in this fhort fpace, he not only opened all the eaftern
world to the commerce of Portugal, hut by the regulations of
his humane and exalted policy, by the ftrid: diftribution of
juftice which he eftablifhed, fecured its power on a bafis, which
nothing but the difcontinuance of his meafures could fubvert.
Under Albuquerk the proud boaft of the hiftorian Faria was
juftified. Tie trophies of our vi&ories, fays he, are not bruifed
helmets and warlike engines hung on the trees of the mountains ;-
but cities 3 ifands, and kingdoms y firft humbled under our feet, and
then joyfully worjhiping our government. The princes of India,^
who viewed Albuquerk as their father, clothed themfelves in,
mourning on his death, for they had experienced the happinefs
• A little before he died he wrote this edly read to him ; and he expired with the
manly letter to the king of Portugal, " Un- greateit compofure. Long after his death
ifcr the pangs of death, in the dijici'.lt breathing his bones were brought to Portugal ; but it
erf the lafl hour, I nx,rite this my lafl letter to was with great difficulty, and after long de-'
your Highnefs ; the lafl of many I haue 'voritten lays, ere the inhabitants of Goa would con-
to yon full of life ^ for 1 ivas then employed in fent to part with his remains. Goa was
your fernjice. I hwve a fon. Bias de Albu' populous, its inhabitants chiefly Moors and
qucrk; I entreat your Highnefs to make him Indians. Thefe, when injured by the Per-
as great as my fer-vice dtferves. The affairs tuguefe, would come and weep at the tomly
of India ivill anhver for themfelves, and for of Albuquerk, utter their complaints to hii
me" Oforius fays, the latter part of the manes, rjid call on his God to revenge their
Gofpel of John,,,was, ,at his defire, repea^t, wrqne^.-. - j>!i;i
Ixxiv INTRODUCTION.
and prote^llon which his friendfhip gave them. And the fin-
cerity of their grief fliewed Emmanuel what a fubjedl he had
loft. The affairs of the Portuguefe in India were now in the
happieff condition ; but there was a difeafe at the court of Lif-
bon, which exerted its fatal malignity, that difeafe of all go-
vernments, particularly the defpotic, the falfe accufation of the
abfent, by thofe who are prefent at the fountain of power.
Accuftomed to the affable manners of Albuquerk, the re-
ferved haughty dignity affumed by Soarez, gave the Indian allies
of Portugal the firff proof that the mourning which they wore
for his predeceffor was not in vain. Now, fay the Portuguefe
authors, commenced the period when the foldier no more fol-
lowed the did:ates of honour, when thofe who had been cap-
tains turned traders, and procured the loading of their (hips in
the military way, as if upon the forage in ap enemy's country.
After having performed the parade of a new governor in vifit-
ing the forts, and in breaking and railing officers, Soarez pre-
pared, according to his orders, to reduce the coafts of the Red
Sea to the obedience of Portugal. Another great Egyptian
fleet, commanded by a Turk, named Raez Solyman, had failed
from Suez, and Soarez, with twenty-feven £hips, fet fail in
fearch of it. When he came before Aden, he found that ftrong
city defencelefs. Solyman, by order of the Soldan, with whom
the governor had quarrelled, had levelled a part of the wall.
The governor, thus at his mercy, artfully offered the keys
to Soarez, and entreated his friendfhip. Secure of the Moor's
honefty, Soarez delayed to take poffeflion, till he had given
battle to the Soldan's fleet. This he found in the port of Gidda
or Jodda, defended by the cannon of the walls. He therefore
did not attempt it ; and after burning a few defencelefs towns,
he returned to Aden. But the breaches were now repaired, and
his own force, which had fuffered greatly by tempeftuous
weather in the Red Sea, was, he deemed, unable to take that
city, which now refufed to furrender. While Soarez was em-
ployed in this inglorious expedition, Goa was reduced to the
greatefl danger. A quarrel about a Portuguefe deferter had
kindled a war, and Hydal Can, with an army of 30,000 men,
kid feige to that important fortrefs. But the arrival of three
Portuguefe fhips raifed the feige, at a time when famine had
almofl brought the garrifon to defpair. Nor was Malaca hap-
pier
I N T R O D l^ C T I O N; :\^^^
pier than Goa. The uncurbed tyranny of the Portuguefe had
almoft driven trade from that harbour, and the dethroned king
once more invaded the ifland with a great army. But Alexis de
Menezes, appointed governor of that place, arrived, in the moit
critical time, with 300 men, and faved Malaca. The trade
with China after this greatly increafed, and the king of Ceylon,
with whom Albuquerk had eftablifhed a valuable commerce,
was compelled by Soarez to pay tribute to the king of Portu-
gal. A furveyor of the king's revenue about this time arrived
in India, veiled with a power, which interfered with, an^
lellened that of the governor. Hence complaints and appeals
were by every fleet carried to Europe, and by every fleet that
returned the removal of officers was brought. Integrity now
afforded no proteftion, and to amafs Wealth with the utmoft
expedition, was now the beft way to fecure its poflTeflion.
Rapacity prevailed among the Portuguefe, and all was difcon-
tent among the natives, when in 151 8, after a regency of about
three years, Soarez was recalled, and in power and title of
governor fucceeded by lago Lopez de Sequeyra. Albuquerk
was dreadful to his enemies in war, and to his foldiers on the
leafl: appearance of difobedienc^. But at other times, his en-
gaging manners won the hearts of all. And his knowledge of
human nature, which formed his political conduct, was of the
firfl: rate. Soarez, on the contrary, the man who refufed an
equitable treaty offered by the Zamorim, and. was for fuch
errors of incapacity fent prifoner to Lifbon by, Albuquerk,
difplayed in all his tranfadlions the meanefl abilities. All his
capacity feemed to reach no farther than to preferve that folemn
face of dignity, that haughty referved importance with which
the dull tranfa(fl the moft trifling affairs ; a folemnity of which
heavy intelled:s are extremely jealous and careful, which the
ignorant revere, and which the intelligent defpife. When the
court of Lifbon fent a Soarez to fupercede an Albuquerk, they
gave a prophecy of the fall of their" empire.
Sequeyra, the difcover of Malaca, began his regency with the
relief of that important marti and the king of Bintam, the
befieger, after feveral attempts, was compelled to fubmit to a
treaty didated by the Portuguefe. Forty-eight fiiips, under the
command of the governor. Tailed to reduce the flrong fort and
harbour of Diu or Dio, on the coafl of Cambaya, an obiedt
2 ^ ere
of
re at
Ixxvi I N T R O D U C T I O Nl
great importance to the Portuguefe, but nothing was attempted.
Continual Skirmifhes, however, dyed every fhorei with blood,
while no method of cultivating the friendfhip of the hoftile
natives was thought of. Every thing on the contrary tended to
inflame them. John de Borba, fhipwrecked on the coaft of
Achem, was generoufly relieved by the fovereign. George de
Brito arrived foon after, and Borba informed him, that in the
fepulchres of the kings were immenfe treafures of gold ^ and
that the prefent king, his benefadior, had formerly robbed fome
Portuguefe veffels. Brito, at the head of 200 men, immediately
began hoftilities, but was defeated and killed, and the kings of
Achem became the inveterate enemies of the Poi'tuguefe, and
often gave them infinite trouble. The Maluco illands were
now difcovered. The kings of thefe at flrife with each other,
were each earneft for the alliance of the Portuguefe. But they,
led by their ufual ideas, foon involved themfelves in war and
flaughter. Ormuz, where Albuquerk was beloved as a father,
was now unable to bear the Portuguefe yoke. The tribute was
raifed, and the king complained that his revenues could not
afford to pay it. Sequeyra on this fent Portuguefe officers to
impofe and collect the king's cuftoms. This impolitical ftep
was follovt^ed by its natural confequence. The infolence and
oppreflion of the officers produced a revolt. Sequeyra, however,
defeated the people of Ormuz, and almofi: doubled the tribute
which before they were unable to pay. It is truly aftonifhing
how men (hould exped; that dominion thus fupported fhould
continue long ; that they could not fee that fuch vidories both
fowed and nourifhed the feeds of future war. Even the Portu-
guefe hiftorians adopted the impolitical uncommercial ideas of
their governors. The villainy of the Portuguefe merchants loll:
the profitable trade of Canton, and only a few efcaped with
great hazard> obliged to fight their way through the Chinefe
fleet. Next year Alonzo de Melo, ignorant of this, entered
that harbour with four fliips, which were inftantly feized and
the crews maffacred by the enraged * Chinefe. Faria y Sou fa
• The Chinefe, however, had too much tea of China, at the port of Sanciam.
Dutch policy utterly to expel any merchan- And an event which refutes all the Je-
dize from their harbours. A few years, fuitical accounts of the greatnefs of the
after this, the Portuguefe who brought gold power and perfeftion of the Chinefe go-
from Africa and fpicery from India were vernment, foon gave them a better fet-
allowed to purchafe the filks, porcelain, and tlement. A pirate, named Tchang-fi-lao,
;- i made
INTRODUCTION. Ix^vii
makes an apology for mentioning this, and calls it a matter of
trade, a fubjed: unworthy of grave hiftory.
While Sequeyra was engaged in a fecond attempt upon Dio,
Duarte de Menezes arrived in India, and fucceded him in ofRce.
Unmeaning llaughter on the coafls of Madagafcar, the Red Sea,
India, and the Maluco iflands, comprife the whole hiftory of
his regency.
About this time died Emmanuel, king of Portugal. If this
hiftory feem to arraign his government, it will alfo prove how
difRcult it is for the moft vigilant king always to receive juft in-
telligence. For Emmanuel was both a great and a good king.
Of great vigilance in council, of great magnanimity in the exe-
cution of all his enterprizes : Of great capacity in diftinguilh-
ing the abilities of men, and naturally liberal in the reward of
merit. If fuch a prince as Emmanuel erred, if his adminiftra-
tion of Indian affairs in any inflance arraign his policy, let it
thence be inferred, what exactitude of intelligence is neceflary
to the happy government of a diftant colony.
The maladminiftration of Indian affairs was now the popular
complaint at the court of Lifbon. The trafhc of India which
had raifed the Caliphs of Egypt to the height of their formid-
able power, and which had enriched Venice, was now found
fcarcely fufHcient to fupport the military method of command-
yj^ng it, pradifed by the Portuguefe. A General of the firft
., ,abilities was wanted, and the celebrated Vafco de Gama, old as
he now was, honoured with the title of Count de Vidigueyra,
was appointed Viceroy by John III. In 1524 Gama arrived the
third time in India. Cochin, the faithful ally and chief trading
port of the Portuguefe, was threatened by a pov/erful army of
the Zamorim, and the Indian feas were infefled by numberlefs
fleets of Moors, whom their enemies called pirates. To fup-^
prefs thefe Gama fent different fquadrons, who were fuccefsful
in executing their orders. But while he meditated far greater
made himfelf mafter of the little ifland of pire of China could not do, and the ifland
Macao. Here he built fleets which blocked of Macao was given them by the emperor,
up the ports of China, and laid feige to in reward of this eminent fervice. The
Canton itfelf. In this crifis of diftrefs the porcelain of China is not fo brittle, nor the
Chinefe implored the afliftance of the Por- figures upon it more awkward, than the
tuguefe, whom they had lately expelled as Chinefe ftrength and policy muft appear in
the worft of mankind. Two or three Por- the light which this event throws upon
taguefe floops effedled what the potent em- them.
defigns.
Ixxviii INTRODUCTION.
defigns, defigns of the fame exalted and liberal policy which
had been begun by himfelf, and fo glorioufly profecuted by Al-
buquerk, death, at the end of three months, clofed the regency
of Gama. It was the cuftom of the kings of Portugal to fend
commidions fealed up to India, with orders, which fhould be
firft opened when a fucceflbr to government was wanted. Gama,
who brought with him three of thefe, finding the approach of
diflblution, opened the firft commiffion. And as Henry de
Menezes, therein named, was at Goa, he appointed Lopez Vaz
de Sampayo, a man of great abilities, to take the command till
Menezes arrived. When Menezes arrived at Cochin, he pro-
hibited the ufual marks of public joy on his elevation, and faid,
it was more neceflary to mourn for the lofs of their late Vice-
roy. Nor did the public conduct- of the new governor, the
firft, fays Faria, who honoured the memory of his predeceiTor,
deviate from this generous principle. A Portuguefe vefTel at
this time committed feveral depredations on ftates at peace with
Portugal. This fhip, by order of Menezes, was taken, and the
crew were impaled. A noble inftance of juftice, of more po-
litical fervioe than all the vicftories of a Soarez. The danger of
Cochin required war, and Menezes carried it into the territories
of the Zamorim, whom he feverely humbled. The Portuguefe
arms cleared the feas of pirates, took the flrong city of Dofar,
and reduced fome valuable iflands on the Red Sea. Great pre-
parations were alfo made for the redudition of Dio, when Me-
nezes, after a regency of thirteen months, died of a mortifica-
tion in his leg. That he left the military power of the Portu-
guefe much more formidable than he found it, is the leaft of
his praife. Every where, at Ormuz in particular, he curbed
the infolence and rapacity of his countrymen, and proved that
time was only wanting for him to have reftored the lituation of
India as left by Albuquerk. He convinced the Indian princes
that rapacity was not the characfler of all the Portuguefe, for he
accepted of no prefent, though many, as the cuftom of the
country, were offered to him. At his death, which happened
in his thirtieth year, thirteen reals and an half, not a crown in
the whole, was all the private property found in the poireflion
of this young governor.
Other tranfadtions now fucceed. The fecond and third
commiflions, brought by Gama, were unopeaed, and lefl.
he
INTRODUCTION. Ixxir
he who was firft n^med (hould be diftant, Menezes, on his
death- bed, appointed Francis de Sa to aflume the command
till the arrival of the proper governor. On opening the fecond
commiffion, Pedro de Mafcarenhas was found named. As this
officer was at Malaca, a council was held, wherein it was re-
folved to fet alide Francis de Sa, and open the third commif-
fion. Sampayo, who in this was appointed, took an oath to
refign on the arrival of Mafcarene, and immediately he aflhmed
the power of government. Mafcarene about this time per-
formed fome adlions of great military fplendor in defence of
Malaca. The king of Bintam, with feveral auxiliary princes,
who with numerous armies threatened deftrudion to the Portu-
guefe fettlement, were defeated by this brave officer. The
Spaniards about this time took poiTeilion of fome of the Maluco
illands, where the treachery of the Portuguefe had made their
name odious. Don George de Menezes and Don Garcia En-
riquez, two captains on this ftation, put one another alternately
in irons. They at laft came to a civil war, wherein Garcia
was worfted ; and Menezes was defeated by the Spaniards, wha
publickly executed fome of his officers, as traitors to Charles V.
to whom they owed no allegiance. Oppreffed by the tyranny
of the Moors, the king of Sunda implored the protection of
the Portuguefe, offered to pay a confiderable tribute, and en-
treated them to built a fort in his dominions. Yet it was not
in the power of Sampayo to rejftore the tranquillity of the Ma-
lucos, or to improve the offers of Sunda. He had engaged ia
a fcheme of policy v/hich fettered his operatioLS* One villainy
muft be defended by another, and the public intereft muft be
fecondary in the politics of the moft able Ufurper of unjufl
power. Sampayo was refolved to withhold the regency from
Mafcarene, and therefore to ffrengthen himfelf at Cochin was
his firfl care. Where his own intereft and that of the public
were one, Sampayo behaved as a great commander ; but where
they were lefs immediately connedled, that of the latter was
even neceffarily neglected, and fell into ruin. It was his intereft
to crufh the Zamorim, and he gained confiderable vidories over
Cutial, admiral of the moft formidable fleet which had hitherto
been fitted out from the ports of Calicut. Sampayo then failed.
to Goa, where Francis de Sa refufed to acknowledge him as.
governor. This difpute was fubmited to the council Of the
city„
Ixxx INTRODUCTION.
city, and the man in power was confirmed. Sa was then fent
to build a fort in Siinda, but the politics of Sampayo could not
fpare a force fufficient to overawe the Moors, and Francis de Sa
could not effect his defign.
The artful Sampayo now wrote to the king of Portugal, that
a moil formidable hoftile alliance was in meditation. The nor-
thern princes were ready to afiift the king of Cambaya, and
Solyman, the Turkifh admiral, had promifed the Soldan to
drive the Portuguefe from India, if he would give him a com-
petent armament. It was the intereft of Sampayo to make
every preparation of defence, and every excufe for preparation.
But he ftill kept near Cochin. The brave Hedlor de Sylveyra
was fent to Dio and other places, and the reputation of the
actions he performed ftrengthened the authority of the Ufurper.
A fleet of five fliips now arrived from Portugal, and brought
two new commiflions. Thefe were opened by Mexia, in-
fpe6lor of the revenue, and Lopez Vaz de Sampayo, contrary
to the former commiflions, was here named prior to Pedro de
Mafcarene. What an infatuation of government was this ! Had
all been happy in India, this mull: have baniflied harmony from
the councils of the Portuguefe, and for a time unhinged the
operations of juft authority. Sampayo, when he took the oath
to refign to Mafcarene, difpatched a meflage to Malaca with
the tidings. Mafcarene immediately afi^umed his power there,
and Sampayo, who now expedled his arrival, held a council at
Cochin. It is almoll needlefs to name the refult. He was
prefent, and in power ; and it was refolved that Mafcarene
fhould not be acknowledged as governor. Sampayo then retired
to Goa, and left Mexia at Cochin to give Mafcarene the re-
ception concerted between them. Immediately as Mafcarene
landed, Mexia's fpear run him through the arm, feveral of his
company were wounded by the armed attendants of Mexia, and
a retreat to the fleet favcd tlie lives of Mafcarene and his friends.
When the tidings of" this reached Goa, Henry Figuera fup-
pofed the friend of the eje(::l:ed governor was difpofTefTed of the
command of Coulam, and Mexia was by Sampayo appointed to
fucceed. Anthony de Sylveyra was fent to take Mafcarene at
fea, to put him in irons, and to deliver him prifoner to Simon
de Mcnezes, commander of Conanor ; all which was performed.
This haughty tyranny, however, produced loud complaints.
The
INTRODUCTION. ixxx^
The murmur was general at Goa. Souza, commander of
Chaul, remonflrated, and the brave Hedor de Sylveyra boldly
upbraided Sampayo for his unworthy treatment of Mafcarene,
to whom a trial had been refufed. Sampayo, fierce, refolute to
perfift; Hedtor retired, and fummoned the council of Goa.
A letter figned by three hundred, who promifed to fupport him
as governor, was fent to Mafcarene. It was alfo agreed to
feize Sampayo, but he was no ftranger to this defign, and im-
prifonment was the fortune of the brave He6lor. Menezes,
governor of Cananor, as foon as he received information from
Goa of the caufe why Mafcarene was in chains, fet him free,
and, together with Souza, commandant of Chaul, and Anthony
de Azevedo, admiral of the Indian feas, acknowledged him go-
vernor. The Portuguefe were now on the eve of a war among
themfelves, when Azevedo and other leaders propofed to ac-
commodate difputes by arbitration. Sampayo with great cun-
ning managed this affair. He delayed his confent, though on
the brink of ruin, till he knew who were named as judges, and
till he had procured a pardon for Alonzo Mexia, his friend,
who had attempted the life of Mafcarene. Yet, though the
defenders of this brave officer had influence to remove one of
the appointed judges, and to add five others of their own nomi-
nation, the arts of Sampayo prevailed. The chief inhabitants
of Cochin attended, and confcious of their former vote in
council againfl: Mafcarene, declared, that if his title was pre-
ferred, they would revolt to the Moors. He who does a man
an injury, generally becomes the rancorous enemy of the in-
jured man ; and even the friends of him whofe power is on the
decline, cautioufly withdraw from his intereft. The council
of Goa, who had promifed to fupport, now deferted Mafcarene^
forward to make their peace where they feared to oppofe.
Sampayo was declared lawful governor, and Mafcarene em^
barked for Lifbon, where he was honourably received by the
king, and in reward of his merit, appointed governor of Azamor
in Africa ; on his return from whence he perifhed at fe.a.
Sampayo, now undifturbed by a rival, but confcious of the
accufations which Mafcarene would lay again ft him, exerted all
his abilities to recommend himfelf to his fovereign. But Al-
meyda, not Albuquerk, was the pattern he imitated. The prin-
cipal leaders of the Turkifli fleet had been alTaffinated by the
m friends
Ixxxii JNTR9@UCTI0N.
friends of each other, and their war (hips were fcattered in dif-
ferent places. Sampayo fent Azevedo to deftroy all he could
find, and Alonzo de Melo was difpatched with a proper
force to erect a fort on the iiland of Sunda. What heavy ac-
cufation of his former condudt, devoted to his private intereft,
was this late execution of thefe important defigns \ Other cap-
tains were fent upon various expeditions. Hedtor de Sylveyra,
one of the moil gallant officers ever fent from Portugal to India,
greatly diftinguifhed himfelf ; John Deza deftroyed the remains
of the Zamorim's fleets, commanded by Cutiale, a Chinefe
admiral ; and Sampayo himfelf fpread flaughter and deva-
ftation over the feas and fhores of India. Every where, fays
Faria, there was fire and fword, ruin and deflrudtion. In the
midft of this bloody career, Nunio de Cunha arrived with a
commiffion to fucceed Sampayo. Sampayo pleaded to finifh
what he had begun, to clear the feas of pirates; and Nunio,
according to the honour of that age, granted his requeft, that it
might not be faid he had reaped the laurels already grafped by
another. Some time after this, Nunio, in his way to Cochin,
put into the harbour of Cananor. Sampayo, who happened to
be there, fent his brother in law, John Deza, to Nunio, in-
viting him to come afhore and receive the refignation of the go-
vernor. But Nunio perhaps feared a fnare, and he infifted that
Sampayo fliould come on board. He came, and having refigned
with the ufual foleitinities, was ordered by Nunio to attend him
to Cochin, where, by order of the new governor, his effects
were feized and his perfon imprifoned. And foon after, amid
the infults of the croud, he was put aboard a (hip and fent pri-
funer to Lifbon, where his life and his property were left to thi^
determination of the fovereign *. ,
• When Sampayo was arrefted, " Tell carried to the caflle, and there confined in
'Kunio, faid he, / hwve imprifoned others^ a dungeon, where not even his wife was per-
aiid am ncvj imprifoned, and one ivill come mitted to fee him. After two years, the
to imprifon him." When this was report- Duke of Braganza, who admired his mili-
ed, " Tell Sampayo, faid Nunio, that I tary exploits, procured his trial. When he
doubt it not ; but there Jhall be this difference was brought before the king, who was fur-
betnveen us ; he defernies imprifonment, but I rounded with his council and judges, his
Jhall net defernje it." When the fliip which long white beard which covered his face,
carried Sampayo arrived at the ifle of Ter- and the other tokens of his fufferings, fays
cera~, an officer, who waited his arrival, Faria, might have moved Mafcarene him-
put him in irons. When he landed at Lif- felf to forgivenefs. He made a long maf-
bon, he was fet upon a mule, loaded with terly fpeech, wherein he enumerated his fer-
chains, and amid the infults of the populace, vices, pleaded the neceffities of public affairs,
and
INTRODUCTION, Ixxxiii
The ads and charadter of this extraordinary man demand the
attention of every country pofTeiTed of colonies. His abilities
were certainly of the firfl: rate, but having made one ftep of
villany, the neceflity of felf-defence rendered his talents of little
benefit, rather of great prejudice to his country. The Portu-
guefe writers, indeed, talk in high terms of his eminent fer-
vices and military glory. But there is a furer teft than their
opinion. The Indian princes fincerely mourned over the alhes
of Albuquerk, whom they called their father ; but there was a
general joy on the departure of their tyrant Sampayo ; a certain
proof that his condud: was of infinite prejudice to the intereft
of Portugal. However high and dreadful they may feem, men
in his fituation never dare to punifh without refped of the of-
fender's connexions. The tyranny of George de Menezes,
governor of Maluco, under Sampayo, difgraces human nature.
He openly robbed the houfes of the Mooriih merchants, cut
off the hands of fome, and looked on, while a magiftrate, who
had dared to complain, was, by his order, devoured by dogs *.
If the embarrafiment of Sampayo was the only protection of
this mifcreant, others, however, had his fandion. Camoens,
that enthufiaft of his nation's honour, in an apoftrophe to Maf-
carene, thus charaderifes the regency of the Ufurper, " Avarice
and ambition now in India fet their face openly againft God and
juftice; a grief to thee, but not thy fhame !" And Camoens
is exceeding accurate in the fads of hiftory, and with the reft
of his countrymen, admires the military renown of Sampayo.
But if Sampayo humbled the Moors, it fliould alfo be remem-
bered that, according to Faria, thefe people had improved the-^
and urged the examples of others, who had captive. The vidlim is tied to a tree, his,,^
been rewarded. His defence ftaggered the teeth and nails are drawn, burning wood is
king's refolution againft him, but his ufur- held to every tender part, his roafted fingers
pation could not be forgiven. He was {en- are put into the bowl of a pipe and fmoaked
fenced to pay Mafcarene 10,000 ducats, to by the favages ; his tormentors with horrid
forfeit his allowance as governor, and to be howls dance round him, wounding him at
baniihed into Africa. But he was after- every turn with their poignards ; his eyes
wards allowed to return in a private ftation are at laft thruft out, and he is let loofe to
to Portugal. His friend Alonzo Mexia, ftagger about as his torture impels him. A3
tiie infpeftor of the revenue, was alfo fe- foon as he expires, his diflevered limbs are
vcrely puniihed, if lefs than his rapacity de- boiled in the war-kettle, and devoured by
ferved, may be called fevere. his executioners. While George de Mene-
* This tyrant, on his return to Lifbon, zes fufFered this torture, charity would hope
was baniihed to the Brazils, where, in a that the remembrance of his cruelties la
rencounter with the natives, he was taken India gave him his fevereft pains.
prifoner^ and died the death of an American
m 2 divifions
Ixxxlv INTRODUCTION.
divifions made by his politics, greatly to the hurt of the Por-
tuguefe fettlements. And when he did conquer, pu(hed on by
the rage to do fomething eminent, every vid:ory was truly
Gothic, and was in its confequence uncommercial. It is not
earthquakes and whirlwinds that revive a blighted harveft ; the
gentle rains and mild dews of heaven alone diffufe fertility, and
heal the chafms of the withered foil. Malaca, while governed
by the injured Mafcarene, was the only divilion of Portuguefe
Afia where commerce flouriflied. After his departure, all was
wretchednefs ; Portuguefe againft Portuguefe, piracy and rapine
here and at the Malucos. In what condition the reft were left
by Sampayo will foon appear.
The king of Cochin, the valuable ally and auxiliary of the
Portuguefe, was confined by the fmall-pox when Nunio arrived.
Nunio offered to wait upon him, but the king declined the inter-
view on account of the infedtion, though a fight of the new gover-
nor, he added, he was fure would cure his fever. Nunio waited
upon him, and heard a long lift of the injuries and rapine com-
mitted by Sampayo and Mexia. Thefe, in true policy, Nunio
redrefifed 5 and the king, who complained that he had been
kept as a flave in his own palace, was now made happy. Nunio
vifited the other princes in alliance with Portugal, and at every
court and harbour found oppreflion and injuftice. At Ormuz
in particular, tyranny and extortion had defied refiftance. Nunio
foothed and redrefifed the wrongs of the various princes. Pro-
clamation was made every where, inviting the injured Moors
and Indians to appear before him and receive redrefs. Many
appeared, and to the aftoniftiment of all India, juftice was con-
fpicuoufly diftributed. Raez Xarafo, the creature of Sampayo,
prime minifter, or rather tyrant of the king of Ormuz, ftood
accufed of the moft horrid crimes of office. Rapine was defend-
ed by murder; and the fpirit of induftry, crufhed to the ground,
fighed for fupport amid the defolate ftreets. Innocence and in-
duftry were now protected by Nunio, and Xarafo, though a
native of India, was fent in irons to LifiDon to take his trial.
Nor was Nunio forgetful of the enemies, while thus employed
in reftoring to profperity the allies of Portugal*. He6tor de
• Before his arrival, Nunio greatly dif- Melinda and Zanzibar to great diftrefs.
tinguiftied himfelf on the Ethiopian coaft. Nunio reduced Mombaza to aflies, and left
The king of Mombaza, in hatred to the a garrifon at Melinda, which afterwards
Portuguefe, had again reduced the kings of rendered confiderable fervice to that city.
INTRODUCTION. Ixxxv
Sylveyra,- with a large fleet, made a line acrofs the "gulph at the
jiiouth of the Red Sea, and let not a Mooridi or Egyptian vcflel
efcape. Anthony. Galvam, a very enthufiaft in honelty, was
fent by Nunioto fueceed Ataide, governor of the Malucos, a
villain v.dio trod 'in the fleps of Menezes. All was in confufion
when Galvam arrived ^ but he had infinitely more difficulty,
fays Faria, to fupprefs the villainy of the Portuguefe, than to
quell the hollile natives. By his wifdom, however, refolution,
and moft fcrupulous integrity, the Malucos once more became a
fiourifhing fettlement, and the neighbouring kings, fome of whom
he had vanquifhed, entreated his continuance when he received
his recal. Anthony de Sylveyra fpread the terror of his arms
along the hoftile coafl: of Cambaya, and from thence to Bengal.
Stephen de Gama, fon of the great Vafco, was fent to Malaca,
which he effediually fecured, by the repeated defeats of the
neighbouring princes in hoftility. And the governor himfelf
attempted Dio ; but while employed in the reducflion of the
flrongly fortified ifland of Beth, where the brave He6lor de
Sylveyra fell, a great reinforcement, commanded by Muftapha,
a Turk, entered Dio, and enabled that city to hold out againft
all the vigorous attacks of Nunio.
While the governor was thus employed in refi:oring the
flrength of the Portuguefe fettlements, fcenes, new to the Por-
tuguefe, opened, and demanded the exertion of all his wifdom
and abilities. One of thofe brutal wars, during which the
eaflern princes defolate kingdoms and flied the blood of mil-
lions, now broke forth. Badur, king of Guzarat or Cambaya,
one of thofe horrid characters common in oriental hiftory,
afcended the throne, through the blood of his father and elder
brothers. Innumerable other murders, adts of perfidy and un-
juft invafions of his neighbours, increafed his territories, when
the Mogul, or king of Delhi, fent a demand of homage and
tribute. Badur flayed the ambafl"adors alive, and boafted that
thus he would always pay his tribute and homage. Armies of
about 200,000 men were raifed on each fide, and alternately
defi:royed, fometimes by the fword, fometimes by famine*
Nev/ armies were repeatedly mufliered, inferior kingdoms were
defolated as they marched along, but Badur was at lafi: reduced
to the loweft extremity. In his difi:refs he implored the afiif-
tance of the Portuguefe, and not only yielded Dio, a city among
almoil
Ixxxvi INTRODUCTION.
almoft inacceffible rocks, but gave permiflion to Nunio to for-
tify it as he pleafed *". The Mogul alfo made large offers, but
thofe of Badur were accepted, and the king of Delhi's army
foon after withdrew from Cambaya. Abraham, king of Decan,
entitled Hydal Can, had about this time laid feige to Golconda
with an army of near half a million, but Cotamaluco, the
J)rince whom he befieged, found means to defeat him by fa-
mine. Abraham had dethroned his own brother, Mulacham,
and thruft out his eyes. Azadacam, an expert Mohammedan,
at the head of a large army, endeavoured to revenge Mulacham,
when the people of Decan, defolated by thefe brutal wars, en-
treated Nunio to take the dominion of their country, and de-
liver them from utter ruin. As the Decan forms the continent
oppofite to Goa, the offer was accepted, and ratified by the
confent of Azadacam. Azadacam now fled to the king of Bif-
nagar, the old enemy of the Decan, and Abraham, now afiifted
by Catamaluco, the prince whom he befieged in Golconda, in-
vaded Bifnagar with an army of 400,000 men and 700 ele-
phants. But while human blood flowed in rivulets, Azadacam
iiiade his peace with Abraham, and Cotamaluco joined the king
of Bifnagar. King Badur,- who owed his crown to the Portu-
guefe, now meditating their defl:ru6lion, entered into a league
with the Hydal Can. And Azadacam, who had ratified the
treaty, by which the miferable inhabitants of Decan had put
themfelves under the Portuguefe dominion, now advifed his
mailer to recover his territory by force of arms. A war enfued,
•but neither Azadacam, nor Solyman Aga with his Perfian
auxiliaries, could expel the Portuguefe. Hydal Can, tired by
the groans of the people, ordered hoflilities to ceafe, but was
not obeyed by Azadacam, who, to cover his treafon, attempted
to poifon Hydal Can. Yet foon after the traitor bought his par-
• One lago Botello performed the moft and four and a half deep. Three Portu-
wonderful voyage, perhaps, upon record, guefe, his fervants, and fome Indian flaves,
.on this occafion. He was an exile in India, were his crew. When out at fea he dif-
and as he knew how earneftly the Idng of covered his true purpofe : this produced a
Portugal defired the poffeffion of Diu, he mutiny, in which all that were failors were
hoped, that to be the meflenger of the killed. Botello, however, proceeded, and
.igreeable tidings would procure his pardon. arrived at Lilbon, where his pardon was all
Having got a draught of the fort, and a his reward. His vcffel, by the king's order,
copy of the treaty with Badur, he fet fail was immediately burned, that fuch evidence
on pretence for Cambaya, in a veffel only of the fafety and eafe of the voyage to India
^xteen feet and an half long, nine broad, might not remain.
don
INTRODUCTION. Ixxxvfi
don with gold, for gold is omnipotent in the fordid courts of the
Eaft. Nunio, however, compelled Azadacam to a truce, but
a new enemy immediately arofe. The Zamorim, encouraged
by Badur, raifed an army of about 50,000 men, but was fix
times defeated by the Portuguefe. Badur had now recourfe to
perfidy. He entreated a conference with Nunio at Diu, and
with bouza, the governor of the fort, with intention to aifaffi-
nate them both. But ere his fcheme was ripe, Souza, one day,
in flepping into Badur's barge, fell into the water. He was
taken up in fafety, but fome Portuguefe, who at a dillance be-
held his danger, rowed up haftily to his affiftance, when Badur,
troubled with a villain's fears, ordered Souza to be killed. Four
Portuguefe gentlemen immediately boarded his barge, and
rufhed on the tyrant. lago de Mefqueta wounded him, but
though thefe brave men loft their lives in the attempt, they
forced Badur to leap over board for fafety. A commotion in
the bay enfued, and the king, unable to fwim any longer, called
out aloud who he was, and begged affiftance. A Portuguefe
officer held out an oar, but as Badur laid hold of it, a common
foldier, moved with honefl indignation, ftruck him over the
face with a halbert, and repeating his blows, delivered the
world of a tyrant, whofe remorfelefs perfidy and cruelty had
long difgraced human nature.
In this abridged view of the dark barbarous politics, un-
blufhing perfidy, and defolating wars of king Badur, the king
of Delhi, and the Hydal Can, we have a complete epitome of
the hiflory of India. Century after century contains only a re-
petition of the fame changes in policy, the fame defolations>
and the fame deluges of fpilt blood. And who can behold fo
horrid a pi(5ture without perceiving the ineftimable benefits
which MAY BE DIFFUSED ovcr the Eafl by a potent fettlement
of Europeans, benefits which true policy, which their own in-
t^reft demand from their hands, which have in part been given,
and certainly will one day be largely diffufed. Nunio, as much
as poffibly he could, improved every opportunity of convincing
the natives, that the friendship of his countrymen was capable
of affording them the furefl defence. Greatly fuperior to the
grofs ideas of Gothic conqueft he addreffed himfelf to the reafon
and the interefts of thofe with whom he negociated. He called
a meeting of the principal inhabitants and merchants of Cam-
baya.
Ixxxvili INTRODUCTION.
baya, and laid the papers of the dead king before them. By
thefe, the treacherous defigns of king Badur fully appeared, and
his negociation to engage the Grand Turk to drive the Portu-
guefe from India was deteded. Cojc Zofar, one of the firfl
officers of Badur, and who was prefent at his death, with feveral
others, witnefled the manner of it. And Moors and Pagans
alike acquitted the Portuguefe. Letters, to this purpofe, in
Arabic and Perfic, ligned by Coje Zofar and the chief men
of Cambaya, were difperfed by Nunio every where in India
and the coafts of Arabia. Nor did this great politician ftop
here. Superior to bigottry, he did not look to the Pope's Bull
for the foundation of authority. The free exercife of the Mo-
hammedan and Brahmin religions was permitted in every Por-
tuguefe territory, and not only the laws, the officers appointed,
but even the penfions given by king Badur, were continued.
The Portuguefe fettlements now enjoyed profperity. A priva-
teering war with the Moors of Mecca, and fome hoftilities in
defence of the princes, his allies, were the fole incumbrances
of Nunio, while India was again fteeped in her own blood.
While the new king of Cambaya was dethroned, while Omaum
king of Delhi loft an army of above 400,000 men in Bengal,
and while Xercham, the king of that country, together with
his own life, loft almoft as many in the feige of Calijor, Nu-
nio preferved his territory in the Decan in a ftate of peace and
fafety, the envy of the other provinces of India. But the ar-
mament of the Turk, procured by Badur, now arrived, and
threatened the deftrud:ion of the Portuguefe. Selim, Sultan of
Conftantinople, a few years before, had defeated the Soldan of
Egypt, and annexed his dominions to the Turkifli empire.
The Mohammedan ftrength was now more confolidated than
ever. The Grand Turk was at war, and meditated conquefts
in Europe. The traffic of India was the mother and nurfe of
his naval ftrength, and the prefents fent by king Badur gave
him the higheft idea of the riches of Indoftan. Seventy large
velTels, well fupplied with cannon and all military ftores, under
the command of Solyman, Baftiaw of Cairo, failed from the
port of Suez, to extirpate the Portuguefe from India. The
feamen were of different nations, many of them Venetian galley-
flaves, taken in war, all of them trained failors ; and 7000 Ja-
Difaries were deftined to ad on fliore. Some. Portuguefe Rene-
gades
INTRODUCTION. Ixxxix
gados were alfo in the fleets and Coje Zofar, who had hitherto?
been the friend of Nunio, with a party of Cambayans, joined
Solyman. The hoflile operations began with the feige of Dio,
but when Nunio was ready to fail to its relief with a fleet of
eighty velTels, Garcia de Noronha arrived with a commiffion to
fucceed him as governor. Nunio immediately refigned, and
Noronha, in providing a greater fleet, by a criminal lofs of
time, reduced the garrifon of Dio to the greateft extremity.
Here the Portuguefe fhewed miracles of bravery. Anthony de
Sylveyra, the commander, was in every place. Even the wo^
men took arms; the officers ladies went from rampart to ram-
part upbraiding the leafl: appearance of langour. Juan Roderigo-,
with a barrel of power in his arms, paffed his^ companions,
make way, he cried, / carry my own and many a mans death.
His own, however, he did not, for he returned fafe to his
ftation ', but above a hundred of the enemy were defliroyed by
the explofion of the powder, which he threw upon one of their
batteries. Of 600 men who at firfl were in the garrifon, forty
were not now able to bear arms, when Coje Zofar, irritated by
the infolence of Solyman, forged a letter to the garrifon, which
promifed the immediate arrival of Noronha. This, as he de-
ligned, fell into the hands of Solyman, who immediately hoifted
his fails, and with the fhattered remains of his formidable fleet,
fled to Arabia, where, to avoid purtilhitient, he died- by his^
own hands.
But while Nunio refl:ored the afl'airs of India, the political
canker at the court of Lifl^on accumulated its malignity. PTe
did not amufe them with the glare of unmeaning Gothiie ebft*-
queflis, and the wifdom of his policy was unperceived. Even"
their hifl:orians feem infenfible of it, and even the author of
Hijhire Philofophique, in his account of the Portuguefe politics,<
pays no attention to Nunio, though- he even improved upon the
ideas of Albuquerk. In- place of rewards, chains were pre-
pared in Portxigal for this great commander; but his death' at
lea, after a happy regency of about ten years, prevented the
completion of his country's ingratitude.
When Noronha was fent to fupercede Nunio, an allegorical
poet might feign that the daemon of infatuation directed the
councils of Lifl)on. Noronha's regency began with an infamous
delay of the fuccour^ deflined by Nunio for Dio. Coje Zofar,
n by
3h:7 : I N T R O D 'UC^nT-l 6 N.I
by the fame fpirit of delay^ was permitted, long after the dfe--.
parture of Solym^n, to harrafs the Portuguefe of that irmportant
place. The Hydal Can, many other princes, and even the
Zamorim himfelf, awed by the dignity and joiftiee of Nunio's
government, entreated the alliance of Portugal, and Noronha
had the honour to negociate a general peace j a peace, which
on the part of the Zamorim, gave the Portuguefe every oppor-
tunity to ftrengthen their empire, for it continued thirty years.
■ Thefe tranfadtions, the privateering war with the Moors,
fbme ikirmifhes in Ceylon, the defign, contrary to the king's
commiffion, to appoint his fon to fucceed him, his death, and
the pubhc joy which it occalioned, comprife the hiftory of the
regency of the unworthy fuccefTor of the generous Nunio.
Both the Portuguefe and the natives gave unfeigned demon-
ftrations of joy on the appointment of Stephen de Gama, the
fon of the great Vafco. By his iirft adt he ordered his private
eftate to be publickly valued, and by his fecond he lent a great
fum to the treafury, which by Noronha was left exhaufted.
He viiited and repaired the forts, and refitted the fleets in every
harbour* By his officers he defeated the king of Achem, who
difturbed Malaca. He reftored tranquility in Cambaya, where
the Portuguefe territory was invaded by a powerful army, led
by Bramaluco, a prince who had been dethroned by king Badur.
His brother Chriftoval he fent on an expedition into Ethiopia*,
and the governor himfelf failed to the Red Sea with a fleet,
equipped at his own expence. Here he gave a fevere wound
to the Turkifh naval ftrength. But while every thing w^s in
profperity under the brave and generous Stephen, he was fud-
denly fuperceded by the elevation of Martin Alonzo de Souza.
Though no policy can be more palpably ruinous than that
which recalls a governor of decided abilities ere he can poflibly
complete any plan of importance 5 yet fuch recalls, ere now,
had been ifliied from the court of Lifbon. But none of them,
perhaps, gave a deeper wound to the Portuguefe tntereft than
this. Stephen de Gama trod in the fteps of his father and of
Albuquerk. Souza's actions were of a different charadter. He
began his government with every exertion to get witneffes to
impeach his predeceffor, but though he pardoned a murderer on
• For his melancholy fate, fee p. 451.
that
INTRODUCTIO N. xci
that condition, every accufation was refuted, and Stephen dc
Gama was received with great honour at Liibon. Having re-
fufed to give his hand, however, to a bride, chofen for him by
John III. he found it convenient to banifh himfelf from his
native country, the country which his father had raifed to its
higheft honours. He retired therefore to Venice, his eftate
40,000 crowns lefs than when he entered upon his fhort govern-
ment of two years and one month. ;!>
Wars of a new characfler now took place. By the toleration
which Nunio gave to the religions of the natives, he rendered
the Portuguefe fettlements happy and flouriihing. But gloomy
fuperftition now prevailed, and Souza was under the direcftion
of priefts, who efleemed the butcheries of religious perfecution
as the fervice of heaven. The ternples of Malabar were laid
in afhes, and thoufands of the unhappy natives, for the crime
of idolatry, were flaughtered upon their ruined altars. This
the Portuguefe hiftorians mention as the greateft honour
of the piety of their countrymen, ignorant of the deteftation
which fuch cruelty muft certainly bring upon the religion which
infpires it : ignorant too, that true religion, under the tolera-
tion of a Nunio, poflelles its bell opportunity to conquer the
heart by the difplay of its fuperior excellence. At the feige of
Batecala, the Portuguefe foldiers quarrelled about the booty,
and while fighting with each other, were attacked by the na-
tives and driven to their fhips. The pay of the common foldiers
had been diminifhed by Souza, and they freely owned that this
was the caufe of the mutiny. The city afterward was taken,
and the flreets ran with blood ; fuch was the rage of the army
to recompence themfelves by plunder. The king of Ormuz,
unable to pay the exorbitant tribute exacted from him, which
was now fix times more than the tax impofed by Albuquerk,-
refigned his revenues to the Portuguefe. Azadacam, now in
open war with his mailer the Hydal Can Abraham, drew Souza
to his party* The defign was to dethrone Abraham, who had
been always friendly to the Portuguefe, and to place Meale
Can his brother in his dominions. The Portuguefe ofiicers
murmured at this Ihamelefs injullice, but only Pedro de Faria,
trufting to his venerable yearsj had the courage to remonllrate
with the governor. Souza, haughty as he was, liftened to the
man of fourfcore, and confefifed that he h^d faved both his.life^
^ " n 2 ** ana
xdi I N T R O D U C T I O ISf.
and his honour. The attempt, however, was highly refented
by the Hydal Can, who gathered fuch a ftorm to crufli the Por-
tuguefe, that Souza, forefeeing the tempeft that was hovering
over him, threatened to open the commiffions, and refign to the
governor next named. He complained that he could not go-
vern men who had neither truth nor honour ; he did not con^
iider, however, that his unjuft treatment of the common fol-
diers occafioned their diforder and difobedience. But while he
thus meditated a cowardly and treacherous retreat, treacherous
becaufe it was to defert his pofl in the hour of danger, a fleet
from Portugal brought the great John de Caftro, the fucceffor
of the embarraffed undetermined bouza.
The naval and military ftrength of the Portuguefe in India
was in a fickly condition. Great difcontent among the few
who were honeft ; all was villainy and diforder among the reft.
The natives, earneft for their total extirpation, from different
provinces joined Hydal Can, and their warlike operations began
with the feige of Diu. John de Mafcarene, the governor, made
a brave defence, and the Portuguefe difplayed many prodigies
of valour. Azadacam, Coje Zofar, and others, of the greatcft
military reputation, diredted the attacks, and loft their lives in
the feige. Whenever a breach was made, the Turks and
Indians prefled on by ttn thoufands, but were always repulfed.
Unnumbered artillery thundered on every fide, and mines were
fprung, by one of which Fernando, the fon of Caftro, was
with his battallion blown up in the air. After eight months
Caftro arrived with a large fleet, and without oppofition entered
the fort. From thence he marched out at the head of 2500 Por-
tuguefe and fome auxiliaries of Cochin. The numerous army
of Hydal Can continued in their trenches, which were defended
with ramparts and a profufion of artillery. But the enemy were
driven from their works, and purfued with incredible flaughter
through the ftreets of the city. Rume Can, the fon of Zofar,
f allied about 8000 of his braveft troops, and was totally defeated
Ky Caftro*. It was neceftary to profecute the war, and the
* Doting tKe heat of this engagement, not, the Prieft led them to vi&ory. A
father Cazal, with, a aqcifix on the point we^on broke off an arm of the crucifix,
of a fpear, greatly animated the Portuguefe. and Cazal exclaiming aloud, facriledge^ fa-
Rame Can, notwithftanding all the efFcMrts criledgey retnnge the facriledge, infpired a
©f C^o, put his troop* at laft in great fury \vhi<^ determined the battle. In maay
diforder. But though the General could other engagements the leaders promoted
their
INTRODUCTION. xcifi
governor, in great want of money to carry it on, defired the
citizens of Goa to advance a loan of 20,000 pardaos, for which
he fent them a lock of his muftacheos in pledge. A fecurity
indeed uncommon ; but which included in it a fignal pawn of
his honour. More money than he required was fent, and even
the women flript themfelves of their bracelets and other jewels
to fupply his want. The jewels, however, he returned, and
having with great afliduity improved his naval and military
fl:rength, he and his captains carried fire and fword over the do-
minions of the hoftile princes, while Hydal Can, with an army
of 150,000 men, retired before him. The king of Achcm
was alfo defeated at Malaca, and the flubborn villainy of the
debauched Portuguefe foldiers and traders was the only enemy
unfubdued. While he laboured in this much more arduous
war, in correcting the abufes of the revenue, and the diftribu-
tion of juftice, grief, it is faid, impaired Caftro's health and
haftened his end, at a time when Hydal Can and all who had
been in arms againffc the Portuguefe were luing for peace. On
the approach of death he appointed a council of feled: perfons
to take the management of affairs. And fo poor was the great
Caftro, that the firfl ad: of this committee was an order to
fupply the expences of his death-bed from the king's revenue ;
for a few reals, not half a dozen, was all the property found
in his cabinet.
Garcia de Sa, an experienced officer, fucceeded this great
man, and concluded the various treaties of peace, procured by
the arms, and in agitation at the death of Caftro, greatly to the
advantage and honour of Portugal. Here Camoens ends his
prophetic fong, and here alfo* the moft important period of the
hiftory of the Portuguefe empire in Afia is naturally wound up*.
A repetition of the fame oppreffive impolitical meafures, which
had often armed the Eafl againft them, defcribes the condud: of
the governors who ruled India for twenty years after Caftro.
But the rapine of individuals every year became more fhamelefs
and more general. Indian women of quality were publickly
their iiuereft in this manner. They often front of the Portuguefe fqnadrons. And
faw the fign of the crofs in the air, and at the Portuguefe foldiers, who faw no fuch
different times fome Moori(h prifoners en- perfonages, were thus taught to believe
quired after the beautiful young woman, and themfelves under the particular care of the
venerable old man, who appeared in the Virgin and St. Jofeph.
dragged
xciv INTRODUCTION.
dragged from their friends by Portuguefe ravifhers. When the
Count de Redonda was governor, a Portuguefe fhip, contrary
to the treaty of peace, was attacked by three vefTels of Malabar.
Redonda complained, and was anfwered by the Zamorim, that
fome rebels had done it, whom he was welcome to feize and
chaflife. Irritated by this reply, he fent Dominic de Mefquita
with three fhips to fcour the coaft of Malabar. And Mefquita
foon murdered above 2000 Malabrians, the greateil: part of
whom were fewed up in their own fail cloths and wantonly
drowned. When the Zamorim complained, Redonda retorted
his own reply, " It was done by rebels, whom he was welcome
to feize ahd chaftife." A fpirited reprifal is often the mofl
decilive meafure ; but this inhuman one, furely, was not dic-
tated by wifdom. Harraffed by their cruel awful tyrants, who
trampled on every law of humanity and good policy, the princes
of India combined in a general league for the utter extirpation
of the Portuguefe. Eaftern politics never produced a better
concerted plan of operation than this, and fo confident were the
natives of fuccefs, that not only the poiTeffions of the Portu-
guefe, but the moft beautiful of their wives and daughters were
alfo divided among them. Five years was this league in form-
ing ; at lafl, at the fame inftant, the king of Ternate attacked
the Malucos, the king of Achem invaded Malaca, the queen
of Garzopa carried her arms againft Onor; Surat was feized by
Agalachem, a prince tributary to the Mogul ; the Hydal Can
attacked Chaul, Daman, Bazaim and Goa ; and the Zamorira
laid feige to Mangalor, Cochin and Cananor. And even the
ancient Chriftians of St. Thomas, perfecuted by the archbifhops
of Goa, for n-on-fubmiflion to the See of Rome, joined the
Pagans and Mohammedans againft the natives of Portugal. But
where even the embers of virtue remain, danger and an able
general will awake them into a flame. Luis de Ataide, the
Portuguefe governor, was advifed to withdraw his troops from
the exterior parts for the fupport of Goa, the feat of their em-
pire. But this he gallantly refufed, and even permitted a fleet
with 400 men to fail for Portugal. No fooner did he gain an
advantage in one place than he fent relief to another. He and
the beft troops haftened from fort to fort, and vidory followed
vldiory, till the leaders of this moft formidable combination
fued
INT R O D U C T I O N.
xcv
fued for peace. A fignal proof of what valour and military art
may do againil the greateft multitudes of undifciplined militia.
The brave Ataide, after his return to Portugal, was fent a
fecond time Viceroy to India*, where, foon after the defeat of
king Sebaflian in Africa, he died of melancholy, fo deeply was
he affected with the fall of his country, which he forefaw and
foretold. Gama, Albuquerk, and Nunio de Cunha, certainly
underflood the great principles upon which a foreign commerce
can only be eflablifhed and rendered fecure. But the court of
Lilbon, and moft of the other governors, never perceived the
true intereft of their empire. When errors in government begin,
the wife fee the fecret difeafe, but it is the next generation that
feels the worfl of its effects. Camoens, whofe political pene-
tration was perhaps unequalled in his age and country, faw the
declenfion of manners, and foretold in vain the fall of empire.
Portugal owed its exiftence to the fpirit of chivalry and the
ideas of liberty, which were confirmed. by the flatutes of La-
mego. Camoens, in a fine allegory, laments the decay of the
ancient virtues. Under the character of a huntfman he paints-
the wild romantic purfuits of king Sebaftian, and wifhes that
he may not fall the vidim of his blind paflion. The courtiers,
he charadlerifes.
* Ataide often checked the wild purfuits
of the young king Sebaftian, and ftrongly
oppofed his romantic deiire to head an ex-
pedition in Africa. The Prince, to be eafed
of the reftraint of his prefence, fent Ataide a
fecond time to India, and in a fpeech which
he made to'^him, ftrongly charafterifed the fri-
voloufnefs which now prevailed in the cabinet
of Portugal. Don Conftantine de Braganza,
of the blood royal, never performed one
action which did honour to his abilities.
The officers he fent out on various expedi-
tions were generally defeated. He himfelf
fhared the lame fate, and once faved his life
by inglorious flight. His views were of no
importance. He imprifoned Luis de Melo
for lofing too much time in a vidlorious ex-
pedition on the coaft of Malabar. In a
defcent on Ceylon the Portuguefe feized the
tooth of a monkey, a relick held facred by
the Pagans, for which, according to Lin-
fchoten, 7oo,o:;o ducats were offered ia-
ranfom ; but Conftantine ordered it to bd
burned. The kings of Siam and Pegu pre-
tended the real tooth was faved by a Banian,
and each afferting he was in pofTeffion of
the genuine one, bloody wars, which much
endangered the Portuguefe eaftern fettle-
ments, were kindled; and Conftantine,
finding himfelf embarrafled, refigned, con-
trary to the defire of Sebaftian. Ataide,
on the contrary, had performed moft in-
credible adions, had faved the Portuguefe
from the greateft dangers they ever fur-
mounted in Afia. Yet when the fecond
time Ataide went out Viceroy, Sebaftian
did not bid him reign as he had formerly
done. No, he bade him reign like Don
Conftanftine a whifRer, whofe abili-
ties reached no farther than perhaps to open
a ball gracefully, for his politenefs was hi« .
ooly commendation.
M l each?
xcvi
INTRODUCTION.
' !! ■ ■■ each for fome b^fe intereft of his own.
With flattery's manna'd lips aflfails the throne.
And the clergy, the men of letters —
trim'd the lamp at night's mid hour.
To plan new laws to arm the regal power,
Sleeplefs at night's mid hour to raze the laws.
The facred bulwarks of the people's caufe.
Framed ere the blood of hard-earn'd vidiory
On their brave father's helm-hackt fwords was dry.
Unperceived by the unlettered nobility, the principles of the
conftitution gradually expired under the artful increafe of the
royal perogative. If Sebaftian was more abfolute than John the
Firft, his power was bought by the degeneracy and weaknefs of
his fubje6ts, the certain price with which monarchs purchafe
their beloved defpotifm. The negled: of one man of merit is
the fignal for the worthlefs, if rich, to croud to court. Many
of thefe fignals were given in the reigns of Emmanuel, John III.
Sebaftian, and his fucceflbr the Cardinal Henry ; and thus the
labours of an Albuquerk, a Nunio, a Caftro, and an Ataide,
were fruflrated and reverfed. Thefe governors, bred in war,
enthufiafts in honour, all died poor. Xarafo, the creature of
Sampayo, the tyrant of his mafter the king of Ormuz, charged
with murders and the moft unbounded extortion, was fent in
irons to Liibon. But he carried his treafures with him, and
was reftored to his employments. Anthony Galvam, the moft
honeft of men, faved the Malucos, returned poor to Portugal,,
and like Pacheco, died in an alms-houfe. Some of the firft no^
bility and princes of the blood were after Caftro made Viceroys
of India. Nor came they there on purpofe to return with empty
coffers *. Under the fhade of filken umbrellas they rode tQ
• The governors of India, about this
time, cleared 800,000 ducats per annum.
200,000 was the falary of the commanders
of fome forts, befide the profits of trade,
which were immenfe, for the fliips they
fent to Europe were loaded with the plunder
of their rapine. Yet at this time all the
royal revenue which arofe from the cuftoms,
and all the tribute paid by the acquired
territory and vaflal princes, afforded only
1,000,000 crowns, the highefl annual fum
received by the kings of Portugal, a fum.
often purchafed by armaments, of much fu»
perior expcnce. Though a king of Ceylon
was fo ignorant as to refufe a prefent of ta-
peftry from the Portuguefe, his allies, becaufe
the figures upon it, he faid, were inchant-
ed men, who would kill him in the night
time ;
IN T R O D U C T I O N. xcvii
battle in chairs carried on men's fhoulders. All was luxury,
weaknefs, and unlimitted oppreflion. Ataide effected a glorious
recovery of the Portuguefe affairs, but they foon relapfed with
doubled confulion into their former diforder. Both before and
after this period, a long fucceffion of governors, in one uniform
courfe, regardlefs of the injury which the commerce of their
country fuftained by their depredations, ftudioufly kindled un-
juft wars, that they might enrich themfelves by the enormous
plunder. Sebaftian loft his crown in Africa, and was fucceeded
by an old weak man, his grand uncle Cardinal Henrico. Two
years clofed Henry's pulillanimous fway, and Philip II. of Spain
foon after made himfelf mafter of the kingdom of Portugal.
Totally engroffed by their immenfe American empire and the
politics of Europe, the Spanifh court paid little attention to
Portuguefe India. Little or no fupplies arrived from Europe.
The commanders on the different ftations ceafed to ad: in con-
cert with each other. Unreftrained by a regular government,
each endeavoured to enrich himfelf. Their mother country
groaned under the yoke of Spain. Moflly natives of the Eafl,
the Portuguefe in India loft all afFedion for Portugal, and in-
deed the political chain which bound them together was now
but a {lender thread. The will of the captain of the fort was
abfolute, and his protedion of the moft audacious plunderers
was the fupport of his power. Around the Malucos, fort
after fort fell into the hands of the neighbouring princes. Some
of the Portuguefe were impaled, others entered into the fervice
"of their conquerors, and in many adions fought againft each
other with the greateft rancour. In this wretched condition of
Portuguefe Afia, Houtman, a Dutch merchant, in jail for debt
at Lilbon, planned the eftablifhment of his countrymen in the
Eaft. The Hollanders paid his debts ; he failed for the Eaft,
and returned with credentials of his promife, which gave birth
to the Dutch India company, an inftitution of deep commercial
time ; Though the general opinion of India Indian prince to another, their management
efteerried the Portuguefe as a race fuperior of their revenue, and their love of luxury,
to other men ; You are among men, faid an will foon ruin them. And a king of PerAa
Indian, what lions are among beafts, and aflced a Portuguefe captain, how many of
nature has appointed that your fpecies fiiould their Indian Viceroys had been beheaded by-
be equally few for the fame reafon ; Though tlie kings of Portugal ? None, replied the
fuch ignorance of the natives facilitated the officer: then you will not long, returned the
Portuguefe viaories, fome, however, had Perfian, be the mailers of India.
more reafon. Let them alone, faid one
wifdom.
xcviii INTRO D U C T I O N.
wifdom. In Java and the Malucos, wliere the Portugucfe were
weakeft, the Dutch began their operations, and from thenc^
carried their hoftilities into Bengal and the other parts of India^
The Portuguefe valour feemed to revive, and the Dutch, in
many engagements, were defeated. Their vanquiflied fleets,
however, carried rich cargoes to Europe, and brought frefh
fupplies. The Portuguefe Jefuits omitted no invention that
might inflame the natives againft them -, even their republican
form of government was urged as big with ruin to the Indian
princes. But the deteftation of the Portuguefe name was deep
in India ; and that rooted odium, to which their villainies and
cruelties had given birth and had long nourifhed, was now felt
to militate againft them more than millions in arms. Had the
general condud of the Portuguefe governors been like that of
Albuquerk, had the princes of India mourned over their graves*
no ftrangers had ever eftablifhed themfelves on the ruin of
filch allies. Though repeatedly defeated in war, the Dutch
commerce increafed, the harbours of India received them with
kindnefs, and gave them affiftance, while the friendlefs detefted
Portuguefe, though vidtorious in almoil: every fkirmilh, were
harralTed out and daily weakened. Like beafts of prey in their
dens, or mountaineer banditti, they kept their gloomy fortrefies,
their deftrudtion the wifli of the natives, who yet were afraid
too openly to provoke the rage of thefe wolves and tygers.
Five years after the arrival of the Dutch, the Englifh alio ap-
peared in India. The Dutch, who pleaded the law of nature,
without ceremony entered the heft harbours, and endeavoured to
drive the Portuguefe from their fettlements. The Englifhj in
1601, under Sir James Lancafter, ere(fled feveral factories in
India, but they went to ports open to all, and interfered with
neither Dutch, Portuguefe, nor Moorifh fettlement. Twenty
Englifh fleets made the voyage to India without hofl:ility, when
the Portuguefe Jefuits brought on a rupture, which ended in the
lofs of the Portuguefe miUtary reputation. Every treacherous
art which the Moors pradifed againfl: Gama was repeated by
the Jefuits, and the event was the fame. The Jefuit Pinneus
influenced the Mogul againfl: the Englifli, and commerce with
them was interdicted. While Captain Befl; in a large fliip, and
Captain Salmon in a bomb ketch, lay near Surat, Nunio de
Cunha, with four large galliots aad twenty-five frigates, was
fent
I
INTRODUCTION. xcii?
^titto deftroy them. An Indian, who bad been aboard the
Englifh fhips, told Nunio that they had not above a week's
provifion, and that he had nothing to do but to prevent them
to take in frefh water. Nunio replied, that i)e would not fpend
a week's provifions upon his own men to purchafe a vtSiory that
might be gained in an hour. And in the fame high fpirit he fertt
Canning, an Englifh prifoner in his cuftody, to help his country-
men to fight, boafting, that he would foon take him again wit^
more company. As Nunio advanced, with red banners difplayed,
Beft weighed his anchors, and began the fight in the centre of
the four large galliots ; and Captain Salmon, in the bomb ketch>
behaved with equal courage *. The Mogul had an army at this
time upon the fhore. The beach and the eminences were co-
vered with fpedtators. And nov/ thofe who had deemed the
Portuguefe invincible at fea, with aftonilhment beheld nine and
twenty (hips vanquifhed and put to flight by two vefi'els. But
they knew not that the vi(flors had fought under a Drake and a
Raleigh. After the arrival of the Dutch, the Spanifh court
began to pay fome attention to India, and fupplies were fent
againft them and the Englilh. But Thomas Befl, in a harder
eonflicfl", was again victorious. Azevedo, the Viceroy nomi-
nated by Spain, prepared an armament of eight vefl'els, each of
about 600 tons, and fixty frigates ; but though often braved by
the Englifli, reinforced only with four fhips, to the deeper
aftonifhment of all India, he declined the combat, and fuifered
the Englifh, unmolefted, to proceed homeward with loaded
fhips. The reputation of the Portuguefe valour was now no
more. The Dutch power increafed, and the natives in every
* Withlngton, a writer of king James's Dutch logic, wa? her crime ; and thus, be-
time, thus mentions this engagement, caufe the Portuguefe groaned under Spanifli
*' Capt. Salmon, of the bomb ketch, the oppreflion, the Spanifh oppreflion in the
Ofiander, was like a Salamander amid the Netherlands was revenged upon thera. The
fire, dancing the hay about the Portuguefe, truth is, the Portuguefe fettlements were
friflcing and playing like a falmon." The little regarded by Spain, and the Dutch in-
Portuguefe writers afcribe thefe vidories truded upon them as the ftronger boars ii> a
to the excellence of the Englifh and in- German foreft fhouldcr the weaker ones
capacity of their own gunners. Soon from the bell fall of acorns. Though beat
after, however, the Englilh commerce in oiF by the herdfmen, the ftronger boars
India greatly declined. The Dutch pre- perfift and return ; fo the Dutch perfifted,
tended that their hoftilities in India were in till they fecured pofieflion. Every thing,
revenge of the Spanifh tyranny in the Ne- however, was different in the firft fettle-
therlands. Portugal alfo bended down be- meat of the Enclifh. The Author of Hif-
neath the fame cruel yoke j yet this, in the thire Phiio/opbique, t^c, feems to decry the
o 2 policy
c INTRODUCTION.
place openly declared war againft them. Philip de Brito
Nicote, whofe bravery and villainy were the fcourge and terror
of Siain and the adjacent regions, after a brave defence, was
overpowered in his ftrong fort of Siriam. His wife and foldiers
were maimed and fent into ilavery. He himfelf and his male-
kindred were impaled on the ramparts of his garrifon. While
the memory of the injuries fufFered by the natives thus poured
deftrudlion upon the unpitied Portuguefe, the Spanifli court
compleated the ruin of their eaftern empire. The expence of
the fupplies lately fent, far exceeded the advantages reaped by
Spain. And Azevedo, the Viceroy, received an order from
the court of Madrid, to difpofe of every employment, of every
office under him, by public fale, that money might be raifed to
fupport his government. We now need add no circumftance
more. The hiftory of the fall of the Portuguefe empire is here
complete. Every thing after was headlong declenfion. A fuc-
ceffion of governors continued, and ftill continue ; but of all
their numerous fettlements on every coaft of the eaftern world.
policy of their firft captains, who made
themfelves mailers of no port, but bought
their cargoes of the native merchants, an un-
certain foundation of continuance, accord-
ing to him, though the Englifh trade with
China is now carried on in this manner.
With all t\ie fang f rot d oi a materialift phi-
lofopher, the Englifh perceived, fays he,
that great riches cotilJ not be acquired 'utith-
cut grrat injiij}ice, and that to attain the
advantages enjoyed by the Portuguefe and
Dutch, they mull alfo adopt their meafures,
and eftablifh themfelves by force of arms.
But James, he adds, as if he condemned
fuch narrow policy, was too pufillanimous,
and too much engaged in controverlial di-
vinity, to allow warlike operations. The
treaty of the Englifh with the potent king
of Perfia, however, he mentions as an ef-
fort of great political wifdom. But Sir
D. Cotton's embaffy into Perfia, in the
Clarendon State Papers, Vol. I. p. 36. fol.
throws another light upon this affair. The
treaty with Perfia was the idleft flep the
Englilh could pofCbly have taken. Accord-
ing to this authentic record, the great mo-
narch of Perfia appears little better than a
captain of Italian banditti ; and his prime
minifler, raifed from the meaneil flation.
was a greater fhuffler and villain than his
matter. The treaty with Perfia, indeed,
alarmed the Mogul, the Portuguefe and
the Dutch, and brought hoftilities upon the
Englifh, which the pufillanimous James
would not allow them to punifh as jufllce
required. But it was not two months to-
gether in the mind, nor was it in the power
of the tyrant of Perfia to give any effeflual
affiftance to the Englifh. A Perfian boxed
Lord Shirley, the Sophi's ambaffador, in the
prefence of James, and each charged the
other with impoflure. And the king of
Perfia and his minifler did nothing but
fcruple the credentials fent from England,
and endeavour to extort prefents. While
James thus amufed himfelf with his Per-
fian negociaticn, as fagacious and fruitlefs
as thofe he held with the court of Spain
and the Prince Palatine, the commerce of
his fubjedls languifhed in India. Hopelefs
of any help from Perfia, they entered into
a kind of partnerfliip in fome of the Dutch
fettlements. But when the Hollander found
his opportunity, the Englifh of Amboyna
and other places experienced injuries and
cruelties, which are yet unatoned, and which
for many years rendered them of little or no
confequence in the Eafl.
the
INTRODUCTION. ci
the ports of Goa and Diu in India, and the ifle of Macao in the
bay of Canton, only remain in the pofleflion of the Portuguefe.
Two finall vefTels, often Chinefe, once in the year carry fome
porcelaine to Goa and Diu, but thefe muft touch at Surat and
other ports to complete their return of filk and fpicery. And
one (hip, with a poor cargo, according to Hijloire Philofophiqiie,
partly furnifhed by the two Hoops of Macao, and partly pur-
chafed from the Englifh, fails once in the year from Goa for
Lilbon. Such is the fall of that power which once com-
manded the commerce of Africa and Alia from the ftraits of
Gibraltar to the eaftern fide of Japan.
The author, jufl now mentioned, in his refledlions on the
fate of the Portuguefe, informs his reader, that while the court
of Lifbon projeded the difcovery of India, and expected inex-
hauftible riches, the more moderate and enlightened forefaw
and foretold the evils which would follow fuccefs. And time,
fays he, the fupreme judge of politics, haftened to fulfill their
predi(5lions. He, however, who is acquainted with the Portu-
guefe Hiftorians, mufl perceive the errors of this mifreprefen-
tation. The objed:ions againfl the voyage of Gania, were by
no means of the enlightened kind. They were thefe : Nothing
but barren deferts, like Lybia, were to be found ; or, if the
difcovered lands were rich, the length of the voyage would
render it unprofitable; or if profitable, the introduAion of
wealth would beget a degeneracy of manners fatal to the king-
dom. Foreign fettlements would produce a depopulation and
negled: of agriculture; or if foreign colonies were neceffary, Ethi-
opia offered both nearer and better fettlements. And the wrath
of the Soldan of Egypt, and a combination of all Europe againfl
Portugal, completed the prophecy of the threatened evils. But
it was neither forefeen nor foretold, that the unexampled mif-
condudl of the Portuguefe would render the mofl lucrative com-
merce of the world an heavy, and at lafl infupportable expence
on the treafury of Lifbon or Madrid; nor was it foretold, that
the fliamelefs villainy, the faithlefs piracies and rapine of their
countrymen would bring down deflru(5tion upon their em-
pire. Of the objedlions here enumerated, few are named by
our author. Nor does the evil of the increafe of wealth, the
depopulation and negled; of agriculture, which he mentions as
the confequenccs of the navigation to India, do honour to the
wifdom
cii INTRODUCTION.
wifdom of thofe who foretold them, or to that of thofe whd
adopt the opinion. Many have pronounced, that the fame
evils vs^hich overwhelmed the Portuguefe, are ready to burfl
upon the Britifh empire ; an enquiry, therefore, into the caufe
from whence thefe evils fprung, is of no trivial importance to
the Britifh nation.
Mines of gold, though moil earnellly defired, are the leaft
valuable parts of foreign acquilition. To encreafe the po-
pulation of the mother country is the only real wealth, and this
can only be attained by increafing the means of employment,
in fuch manner as will naturally infpire the fpirit of induftry.
The ftaple commodities of a country muft therefore be manu-
fadlured at home, and from hence, agriculture will of neceflity
be improved. To export the domeftic manufadlure, and import
the commodities of foreign countries, are the great, the only
real ufes of foreign fettlements. But did Spain and Portugal
derive thefe advantages from their immenfe acquifitions in the
Eafl and Weft ? Every thing contrary. The gold of Mexico
and Peru levied the armies of Charles V. but eftablifhed or en-
couraged no trade in his kingdom. Poverty and depopulation,
therefore, was not the natural confequence of the difcoveries of
Columbus, but the certain refult of the evil policy of Spain.
We have feen how the traffic of India was managed by Portugal.
That commerce which was the foundation of the maritime
ftrength of the Mohammedan powers, and which enriched
Venice, was not only all in the power of the Portuguefe, but
it was their's alfo to purchafe that traffic on their own terms
with the commodities of Europe. Had thefe methods been
purfued, Portugal, a much finer country, had foon been more
populous than Holland is now. He who foretells the negledt
of agriculture on the increafe of commerce, foretells an event
contrary to the nature of things ; and nothing but an infatuation,
which cannot at a diftance be forefeen, may poffibly fullfil the pre-
diction. Ignorance of the true principles of commerce, that great
caufe of the fall of the Portuguefe empire, does not at prefent
threaten the Britifh ; nor is the only natural reafon of that fall
applicable to Great Britain. The territory of Portugal is too
fmall to be the head of fo extenlive an empire as once owned its
authority. Auxiliaries may occafionally affift, but permanancy
of dominion can only be enfured by native troops. The nu-
merous
INTRODOrCTION.
can
merous garrifons of Portugal in Brazil, in Africa and Aiia, re-
quired more fupplies than the feat of empire could afford with-
out depriving itfelf of defence in cafe of invafion. In the event,
the foreigfi garrifons were loft for want of fupplies, and the
feat of empire, on the fhock of one difafter, fell an eafy prey to
the ufurpation of Spain. Great Britain, on the contrary, by
the appointment of nature, reigns the commercial emprefs of
the world. The unrivalled ifland is neither too large nor too
fmall. Ten millions of inhabitants are naturally fufficient to
afford armies to defend themfelves againft the greateft power;
nor is fuch radical ftrength liable to fall afunder by its own
weight. Neither is nature lefs kind in the variety of the cli-
mate of the Britifh illes. That variety in her different provinces
alike contributes to the produ<5tion of her invaluable ftaples and
hardy troops. Won and defended from the Mohammedans in
wars efteemed religious, the circumftances of Portugal, pro-
duced a high and ardent fpirit of chivalry, which raifed her to
empire ; but when fuccefs gave a relaxation to the a<5lion of this
fpirit, the general ignorance of all ranks funk her into ruin.
The circumftances of the Britifti empire are greatly different.
Her military fpirit is neitlxer cherifhed by, nor dependent upon
caufes which exift in one age and not in another ; and deep,,
indeed, muft be her degeneracy, when all her ranks are as ig-
norant of her true intereft as thofe of Portugal were, previou$
to her fall. Nor is the increafe of wealth big with fuch evils
as fome efteem. Portugal did not owe her fall to it, for fhe
was not enriched by the commerce of India. And if Great
Britain ever fuffer by enormous wealth, it muft be by a.
general corruption of manners. This, however, is infinitely
more in the power of government than fome furmife. To re-
medy an evil we muft trace its fource. And never was there
national corruption of manners which did not flow from the
vices and errors of government. Where merit is the only paff-
port to promotion, corruption of manners cannot be general.
Where the worthlefs can purchafe the offices of truft, univerfal
profligacy muft follow. It was not the acquifitions given by
Columbus, it was the dull ignorant politics of Madrid which
rendered America in any degree a curfe to Spain. It was not
the fall of Carthage that corrupted Rome, it was the want of
knowledge and the want of virtue in the Roman Senate which
introduced
civ INTRODUCTION.
introduced that venality, which, as a hectic fever, confumed
the Roman ftrength. Mankind, it may be faid, are liable to
be corrupted, and wealth affords the opportunity. But this
axiom will greatly millead us from the line of truth, if taken
in a general fenfe. The middle rank of men is infinitely more
virtuous than the loweft. Profligacy of manners is not therefore
the natural confequence of affluence, it is the accident which
attends a vulgar mind in whatever external lituation. And when
vulgar minds are preferred to the high offices "of church or ffate,
it is the negligence, or wickednefs of government, and not the
increafe of wealth, which is the fource of national corruption.
Some articles of traffic have an evil influence on a people.
But neither is this in juftice to be charged on the increafe of
national trade. The true principles of commerce on the contrary,
require the reftridion of many *", and perhaps the prohibition
of fome articles. And ignorance of the true fpirit of commerce,
and negledt in the legiflature, are therefore the only fources
of thefe evils. The afcendency of this ignorance and this ne-
gle6t, are always attended with venality, and mufl: prove fatal
in every country. The two firfl; fatal to the commercial fl:rength,
venality to the national power and manners. When the king
of Spain commanded Azevedo, his Viceroy of India, to difpofe
of every office by public fale, he made an edicft, that merit
fhould be negled:ed, and that the moft worthlefs and unfit
fliould only be entrufl:ed with the public affairs. Exactly pro-
portioned to the degrees of venality, as it is checked or predo-
minant, does the confliitutional health of every empire recover
or decline. I'hat of Portuguefe Afia, from the complex variety
* That private vices, the luxury and ex- become a dangerous burden on the common
tfavagance of individuals, are public bene- wealth. Nor is all which is fpent by indi-
fits, has been confidently afTerted, yet no viduals, gained, as fome aflert, by the public.
theoretical paradox was ever more falfe. A young merchant who diffipates 10,000 1.
Luxuries, indeed, employ many hands, but in debauchery among (harpers and courte-
all hands in employment c'onduce not alike zans, people of no labour, does not advan-
to the fervice of the ftate. Thofe employed tage the public in any degree equal to the
on the natural ftaples are of the firtt rate lofs which it fuftains in the diftrefTes of his
fervice ; but thofe engaged on luxuries of- indullrious creditors. Nor is even this all ;
ten require materials which contribute to where private luxury is cherilhed as a public
turn the ballance of trade againft the coun- benefit, a national corruption of manners,
try where they refide ; and as the fale of the moft dreadful political difeafe, will be
their labours depends upon fafhion and ca- fure to prevail, fure to reduce the moft
price, not upon the real wants of life, they flourifhing kingdom to the moft critical
are apt to be thrown out of employ, and to weakncfs.
of
I NT RODUCTION. cv
^f caufes we have traced, had long ftruggled in a deep con-
fumption, and was now in the laft flage, when Philip II. made
an edi6l in open favour of venality, an a6t which almoft imme-
diately ended her political exiftence.
If happily many of the caufes of the fall of Portugal do not
threaten the Britifh empire j yet againft thofe caufes laft men-
tioned. Great Britain cannot be too well guarded ; and may He
who foretells her danger from them, never prove a Caflandra in
prophecy; may He never have the gift of foretelling what is true,
and yet be fated to obtain no credit ! — But if the fall of the
Portuguefe empire be an example peculiarly held up to the
Britifh, ftill more particularly does the hiftory of Portuguefe
Alia demand the attention of that ftupendous Common Wealth,
the United Eaft India Company.
The hiftories of wars, from the earlieft times, are much
alike ; the names of the countries ravilhed, the towns deftroy-
ed, and captains (lain, are different -, the motives and condudt of
the oppreffors, and the miferies of the opprefled, are the fame.
Portugal raifed the firft commercial empire of the modern
world ; the hiftory of her fate therefore opens a new field for
the moft important fpeculation. The tranfa(5tions of the Portu-
guefe in India are peculiarly the wars and negociations of com-^
merce, and therefore offer inftrudtions to every trading coun-
try, which are not to be found in the campaigns of a Caefar or
a Marlborough. The profperity and declenfton of foreign fet-
tlements, refulting from the wifdom or errors of the fupreme
^ower at home, from the wifdom or imprudence, the virtues or
vices of governors abroad ; The ftupendous effedts of unftained
honour and faith ; The miferable ruinous embarraffments which
attend difhoneft pohcy, though fupported by the greateft abili-
ties in the field or in the council ; I'he uncommercial and dread-
ful confequences of wars unjuftly provoked, though crowned
with a long feries of vidlories ; The felf-deftrud:ive meafures,
uncommercial fpirit and inherent weaknefs of defpotic rule ;
The power^ affluence, and ftability which reward the liberal
policy of humane government ; m a word, All thofe caufes
which nourifli the infancy, all thofe which as a fecret difeafe
vmdermine, or as a violent poifon fuddenly deftroy the vital
ftrength of a commercial empire ; all thefe are developed and
p difplayed.
cvi INTRODUCTION.
difplayed. In the moft exemplary manner, in the hiflory of the
tranfadions of Portuguefe Afia.
And all thefe combine to afcertain the one great principle
upon which the Britifh Eaft India Company muft exift or fall.
The viceroy or governor always finds two interefts, often dif-
ferent from each other, foliciting his attention; the public intereft
and his own private one. If inflitutions cannot be devifed to
render it the true intereft of governors, to make that of the
public their firft care, ftability cannot be preferved *. — But
it were unjuft to require the poverty of an Albuquerk or a
Nunio. He who devotes his life to the fervice of his country,
merits a reward adequate to his ftation. An eftimate of the re-
ward which true policy will give, may be drawn from the fate
of the Dutch fettlement at Brazil. Prince Maurice of NafTau,
the general of a Dutch Weft India company, expelled the Por-
tuguefe from one half of this rich and extenfive country.
In reward of his fervice he was appointed governor, but his
mercantile mafters, earneft for immediate gain, and ignorant of
what was neceffary for future fecurity, were offended at the
grandeur in which he lived, the number of fortrefies which he
built, and the expence of the troops which he kept. They
forced him by ill treatment to refign, and the ideas of the
compting-houfe were now adopted. The expence of troops
and of fortreffes was greatly reduced -, even that of the court of
juftice was retrenched j in their commerce with their new fub-
jedts every advantage of the fordid trader was taken, and pay-
ment was enforced with the utmoft rigour. Cent, per cent.
was now divided in Holland, and all was happy in the idea of
the Burgo-mafters, the Lords of this colony ; when the Portu-
guefe, invited by the defencelefs ftate, and joined by the dif-
contented fubjedts of the Dutch, overwhelmed them with ruin.
* Nor is it enough to fupprefs the merchant is fettered by difficulties, only
means of private villainy : To render a fet-* men of defperate fortune will fettle in a
tiement profperous, the honeft merchant dillant climate. And thefe, confcious of
mull have every poflible encouragement. the reftraints under which they labour, con-
If it is eafy to acquire an handfome inde- fcious that they have much to gain and
pendcnce in an honourable channel, the little to lofe, will, in the nature of things.
Ions of men of property and of connexions, be folely influenced by the fpirit of the mere
will adventure ; and where capital and real adventurer ; by that fpirit which utterly
abilities are bell rewarded, commerce mull: ruined the Portuguefe in India,
greatly increafe. If on the other hand, the
Though
INTRODUCTION. cvii
Though the States now interefted themfelves vigouroufly, all
the great expence of their armaments was loft. Brazil was re-
covered by the Portuguefe, and the Dutch Eaft India Company
was utterly extinguiflied.
Nor can we clofe our obfervations without one more. Nunio
acquired an extenlive territory in India. HarrafTed by the hor-
rible wars of their native princes, the regions around Goa im-
plored the Portuguefe to take them under prote(5tion. And fafe
and happy, while all around was fteeped in blood, the territory
.under the dominion of Nunio was the envy and wonder of
India. Taught ° by this example, every humane breaft muft
warm on the view of the happinefs which, the Britifh India
Company may diffufe over the Eaft, a happinefs which the
'Britifh * are peculiarly enabled to beftow. Befides the many
inftanees of Portuguefe tyranny and mifcondudt already enu-
iinerated, there was a defed: in their government which muft
ever prove fatal to a commercial empire. All the ftupendous
efforts of Portuguefe colonization were only founded on the
fands, on the quick-fands of human caprice and arbitraiy power.
They governed by no certain fyftem of laws.. Their governors
carried to India the image of the court of Lifbon, and againft
the will of the Ruler there was no appeal to the civil powen
Confidence in the high juftice of a Nunio may give nations
habituated to oppreffion a temporary fpirit of induftry ; but .
temporary it muft be, as a hafty journey made in the uncertain
interval of a tempeft. The cheerful vigour of commerce ,
can only be uniform and continued where the merchant is coa^
•fcious of protedtion on his appeal tb known laws of fupremd
authority. On the firm bails of her laws the colonies of Great
Britain have wonderfully profpered, for ftie gave them an image
of her own conftitution. And even where the government of
* The form of the goverHment, and the ' property, educated in Independance. India,.
national chah-ifter of the Britifh, peculiarly perhaps the moft fertile country in. the
enable them to diiFufe the bleffings which world, has fuffered more by famine than
flow from the true fpirit of commerce. The any other. For the thoufands who have
Dutch havea penurioufnefs in their manners, died of hunger in other countries, India has
and a palpable felfiihnefs in their laws, ill buried millions of her fons, who have thu&
relifhed by the neighbours of their fettle- perifhed. Amazingly populous, the failure
ments. They want a mixture of the blood of a crop of rice is here dreadful. It is the
of gentlemen ; or to drop the metaphor, they true fpirit of commerce to prevent famine, to
want that liberal turn of idea and fentiment bring provifion from one country to another,
which arifes from the intercourfe and con- And may this true fpirit of it be exerted by
verfation of thc^ merchant with the man of the Britifh in India f
P 2 the
cviii INTRODUCTION.
the natives cannot be new modelled, an eafy appeal to the fu-
premacy of her civil laws, muft place her commerce upon the
furejft foundation. It is not the fpirit of Gothic conquefi, it is
not the little cunning finefle of embroiling the Indian princes
among themfelves 5 of cajoling one and winning another; it is
not the groveling arts of intrigue, often embarrafied, always fhift-
ing, which can give lading fecurity. An eflential decifive predomi-
nancy of the juftice of laws like the Britifh, can alone fecure the
profperity of the mofl powerful commercial fyftem, or render its
exiftence advantageous or even safe to the feat of Empire.
The next period of the Introduction to the Luiiad requires
The LIFE of the A U T H O R.
WHEN the glory of the arms of Portugal had reached
its meridian fplendor. Nature, as if in pity of the literary
rudenefs of that nation, produced one great Poet, to record the
numberlefs actions of high fpirit performed by his countrymen.
Except Oforius, the hiftorians of Portugal are little better than
.dry journalifts. But it is not their inelegance which rendered
the poet neceflary. , It is the peculiar nature of poetry to give a
colouring to heroic actions, and to exprefs an indignation againft
the breaches of honour, in a fpirit which at once feizes the
heart of the man feeling, and carries with it an inftantaneous
con virion. The brilliant adtions of the Portuguefe form the
great hinge which opened the door to the mofl important al-
teration in the civil hiftory of mankind. And to place thefe
anions in the light and enthufiafm of poetry, that enthufiafm
which particularly affimulates the youthful breaft to its own
fires, was Luis de Camoens, the poet of Portugal, born.
Different cities claimed the honour of his birth. But accord-
ing to N. Antonio, and Manuel Correa his intimate friend, this
event happened at Lifbon in 15 17. His family was of confiderable
note, and originally Spanifli. In 1 370, Vafco Perez de Caamans,
difgufted at the court of Caftile, fled to that of Lifbon, where king
Ferdinand immediately admitted him into his council, and gave
him the lordfhips of Sardoal, Punnete, Marano, Amendo, and other
confiderable lands; acertainproof of the eminence of his rank and
abilities. In the war for the fucceffion, which broke out on the
death of Ferdinand, Caamans, fided with the king of Caftilc, and
was killed in the battle gf Aljabarrota. But though John I. the
vi(5tor,
IN T R O I> U C T I O N. clx
vidiQ^j feized a great part of his eflate, his widow, the daugh-
ter c^ Gonfalo Tereyro, grand mailer of the order of Chrift,
and general of the Portuguefe army^ was not reduced beneath
her rank. She had three fons, who took the name of Camoens.
The family of the eldeft inter-married with the firfl: nobility of
Portugal^ and even^ according to Caftera^ with the blood royaL
But the family of the fecond brother, whofe fortune was flender>
had the fuperior honour to produce the Author of the Lufiad..
Early in his life the misfortunes of the Poet began. In hiS'
infancy, Simon Vaz de Camoens, his father, commander of a
vefTel, was fliipwrecked at Goa, where, with his life, the
greatefl part of his fortune was lofl. His mother, however^
Anne de Macedo of Santarene, provided for the education of
her fjn Luis at the univerfity of Coimbra. What he acquired
there his works difcover : An intimacy with the claffics, equal
to that of a Scaliger, but diredted by the tafte of a Milton
or a Pope.
When he left the univerfity he appeared at court. He was
handfome *, had fpeaking eyes, it is faid, and the finell com-
plexion. Certain it is, however, he was a polifhed fcholar,,
which, added to the natural ardour and gay vivacity of his dif-
polition, rendered him an accomplifhed gentleman. Courts
are the fcenes of intrigue, and intrigue was fafhionable at Lif-
bon. But the particulars of the amou-rs of Camoens reft un-
known. This only appears : He had afpired above his rank, for
he was banifhed from the court; and in feveral of his fonnets he.
afcribes this misfortune to love.
He now retired to his mother's friends at Santarene.- Here
he renewed his ftudies, and began his Poem on the Difcovery
of India. John III. at this time prepared an armament againft
Africa. Camoens, tired of his inactive obfcure life, went to-
Ceuta in this expedition, and greatly diftinguiflied his valour iw
feveral rencounters. In a naval engagement with the Moors
in the ftraits of Gibraltar, in the conflict of boarding he was
among the foremoft, and loft his right eye. Yet neither the
* The French Tranflator gives us fo fine a Nicolas Antonio, ** Mediocri Jiatura fuitf.
defcription of the perfon of Camoens, that it et came plena, capillis u/que ad croci colortm
feems to be borrowed from the Fairy Tales. fiwvefcentibus , maxime injwventute. Emine-
nt is univerfally agreed, however, that he 6at ei frons, i^ medius na/ujf catera longuSf.
was handfome, and had a moft engaging et infne trajjiuftuluit*
niein and addrefs. He is thus defaibed by
hurry
ex INTRODUCTION.
hurry of actual fervice nor the diffipation of the camp could
ftifle his genius. He continued his Lujiadasy and feveral of his
mofl beautiful fonnets were written in Africa, while, as he
expreiTes it.
One hand the pen, and one the fword employed .
The fame of his valour had now reached the court, and he ob-
tained permiffion to return to Lifbon. But while he folicited
an eftabhfhment which he had merited in the ranks of battle,
the malignity of evil tongues, as he calls it in one of his letters,
was injurioufly poured upon him. Though the bloom of his
early youth was effaced by feveral years refidence under the
fcorching heavens of Africa, and though altered by the lofs of
an eye, his prefence gave unealinefs to the gentlemen of fome
families of the firft rank where he had formerly vifited. Jea-
loufy is the charaderiftic of the Spanifh and Portuguefe ; its re-
fentment knows no bounds, and Camoens now found it prudent
to banifli himfelf from his native country. Accordingly, in
1553, he failed for India, with a refolution never to return.
As the (hip left the Tagus he exclaimed, in the words of the
fepulchral monument of Scipio Africanus, Ingrata patria, non
pojjidebis ojja mea ! Ungrateful country, thou {halt not pollefs
my bones ! But he knew not what evils in the Eafh would
awake the remembrance of his native fields.
When Camoens arrived in India, an expedition was ready to
fail to revenge the king of Cochin on the king of Pimenta.
Without any reft on fhore after his long voyage, he joined
this armament, and in the conqueil: of the Alagada iflands, dif-
played his ufual bravery. But his modefty, perhaps, is his
greateft praife. In a fonnet he mentions this expedition : We
went to punifli the king of Pimenta, fays he, e fiiccedeones bem,
and we fucceeded well. When it is conlidered that the Poet
bore no inconfiderable iliare in the vi(5lory, no ode can conclude
more elegantly, more happily than this.
In the year following, he attended Manuel de Vafconcello in
an expedition to the Red Sea, Here, fays Faria, as Camoens
had no ufe for his fword he employed his pen. Nor was his
adiivity confined in the fleet or camp. He vifited Mount Felix
and tjie adjacent inhofpitable regions of Africa, which he fo
ftrongly
INTRODUCTION. cxi
flrongly piAures in the Luiiad, .and in one of his little pieces,
where he laments the abfence of his miftrefs.
When he returned to Goa he enjoyed a tranquility which en-
abled him to beftow his attention on his Epic Poem. But this
ferenity was interrupted, perhaps by his own imprudence. He
wrote fome fatyrs which gave offence, and by order of the Vice-
roy Francifco Barreto he was banifhed to China.
Men of dull abilities are more confcious of their embarrafT-
ment and errors than is commonly believed. When men of
this kind are in power, they affed; great folemnity ; and every
expreflion of the moft diftant tendency to leffen their dignity, is
held as the greateft of crimes. Confcious alfo how feverely the
man of genius can hurt their intcrefl, they bear an inftincftive
antipathy againft him, are uneafy even in his company, and on
the flighteft pretence are happy to drive him from them. Ca-
moens was thus iituated at Goa ; and never was there a fairer
field for fityr than the rulers of India at this time afforded.
Yet whatever efteem the prudence of Camoens may lofe in our
idea, the noblenefs of his difpofition will doubly gain. And i'o
confcious was he of his real integrity and innocence, that in
one of his fonnets he wiihes no other revenge on Barreto, than
that the cruelty of his exile fhould ever be remembered*.
* Caftera, who always condemns Camoens of the territory and revenues promlfed them
as if guilty of facriledgc, when the flighteft by the Ufurper. In the fpirit of Sampayo,
reproach of a grandee appears, tells us, Barreto's officers dcfolated the coafts of Ma-
*' that pofterity by no means enters into the labar and Ceylon. Becaufe Hydal Can
*' refentment of our poet, and that the Por- fought revenge for the favour fhewed to
*' tuguefe hiftorians make glorious mention the Ufurper, Barreto fent Coutinho to attack
" of Barreto, who was a man of true merit." Salfete and Bardes, all the fea ports of which
The Portuguefe hiflorlans, however, knew he deftroyed with fire and fword, and re-
not what true merit was. The brutal uncom- turned, fays Faria, with h'-nour and riches
mercial wars of Sampayo are by them men- to Goa. Hydal Can on this raifed a great
tioned as much more glorious than the lefs army. Barreto did the fame ; but though
bloody campaigns of a Nunio, which efta- he made a winter campaign, did nothing,
blifhed commerce and empire. But the fays Faria, worthy of hiftory. The king
aftions of Barreto fhall be called to witnefs of Cinde defired Barreto's afiiftance to crufh
for Camoens. a neighbouring prince who had invaded his
We have feen Souza's villainous nego- dominions. Barreto w>.^nt h'unfelf to relieve
elation in favour of Meale Can, and the him ; but having difagieed about the re-
dangerous war which it kindled. Barreto ward he required, for the king h.id made
took up the fame bufinefs, and Meale Can, peace with his enemy, he burned Tata the
in breach of the treaty with his brother royal city, killed above 8000 of the people
Hydal Can, was by him proclaimed king he cams tO] r. teft, for eight days deftroyed
of Vifipor. This begat a war, which end- ever)' thing on the banks of th^: Indus, and
cd in the captivity of Meale Can and the loaded his veflels, fays our author, with the
difgrace of the Portuguefe, who were ftript richeft booty hidierto taken in India. The
war
cxii INTRODUCTION.
The accomplifliments and manners of Camoens foon found
^ liim friends, though under the difgrace of banifhment. He
was appointed commiflary of the Defundt in the ifland of
Macao, a Portuguefe fettlement in the bay of Canton. Here
he continued his Lufiad ; and here alfo, after five years refi-
"dence, he acquired a fortune, though fmall, yet equal to his
wifhes. Don .Conflantine de Braganza was now Viceroy of
India, and Camoens, defirous to return to Goa, refigned his
charge. In a fhip, freighted by himfelf, he fet fail, but was
Shipwrecked in the gulph near the mouth of the river Mehon on
the coaft of China. All he had acquired was loft in the waves :
his poems, which he held in one hand, while he fwimmed
with the other, were all he found himfelf poflelTed of, when he
flood friendlefs on the unknown fhore* But the natives gave
him a moft humane reception : this he has immortalifed in the
prophetic fong in the tenth Lufiad*;'and in the feventh, he
lells us, that here he loft the wealth which fatisfied his wifhes.
Agora da efperan^aja adquirida, &c.
"Now bleft with all the wealth fond hope could crave.
Soon I beheld that wealth beneath the wave
Forever loft ; '
My life like Judah's heaven-doom'd king of yore
By miracle prolong'd '
On the banks of the Mehon, he wrote his beautiful para-
phrafe of the pfalm, where the Jews, in the fineft ftrain of
poetry, are reprefented as hanging their harps on the willows
war with Hydal Can, kindled by Barreto's and fuch were the villains who aded under
treachery^ continued. The city of Dabul him,
was deftroyed by the viceroy, who, foon after, * Having named the Mehon ; .
at the head of 17,000 men, defeated the Ejh recebera placido, l^ bran do ^
injured Hydal Can's army of 20,000. No feu regagoo Canto, que molhado. Sec.
While horrid defolation followed thefe vie- Literally thus : ** On his gentk hofpitable
tories, and while Hydal Can raifed new bofom (Jic hxzndLO poetice) Ihall he receive
armies, Duarte Deza treacheroufly impri- the fong, wet from woeful unhappy fhip-
ibned the king of Ternate and his whole wreck, efcaped from deftroying tempefts,
family, though in alliance with Portugal, from ravenous dangers, the efFeft of the
and ordered them to be ftarved to death. unjuft fentence upon hira, whofe lyre fhall
This kindled a war, which endangered the be more renowned than enriched." When
Malucos, and ended in the fubmiiTion of Camoens was commiflary, he vifited the
the Portuguefe. Such was the monfter iflands of Ternate, Timor, &c. defcribed
.Barreto, the man who exiled Camoens, in tlie Lufiad.
by
' INTRODUCTION. cxiii
by the rivers of Babylon, and weeping their exile from their
iiative country. Here Camoens continued fome time, till an
opportunity offered to carry him to Goa. When he arrived at
that city, Don Conflantine de Braganza, the Viceroy, whofe
chara(Seri{l:ic was politenefs, admitted him into intimate
friendfhip, and Camoens was happy till Count Redondo alTumed
the government. Thofe v/ho had formerly procured the banifh-
ment of the fatyrifb, were filent while Conftantine was in
■power. But now they exerted all their arts againft him. Re-
dondo, when he entered on office, pretended to be the friend
of Camoens;. yet, with all that unfeeling indifference with
which he made his mofl horrible witticifm on the Zamorim,
he fuifered the innocent man to be thrown into the common
prifon, Afte;" all the delay of {^ringing witneffes, Camoens, in
a public "trial, fully refuted every accufation of his cohdud:>
while commiffary :at Macao, and his enemies were loaded
with' ignominy and reproach. But Camoens had fome credi-
tors ^ and thefe detained him in prifon a confiderable time, till
the gentlemen of Goa began to be afhamed, that a man of his
lingular merit fhould e^Jfperience fuch treatment among thern.
Efe was/Yet* at'li]berj:y^ an^ again he affumed the- profeflipn
bf arms, and received the allowance of a gentleman volunteer^
'd character at this time common in Portuguefe India. Soon
after, Pedro Barreto, appointed governor of the fort at Sofala,
by high promifes, , iillured the poet to attend him thither>
jThe' governor of a difbant fort, in a barbarous country, fliares ia
fome meafure the fa.te of an exile. Yet, though the only
motive of Barreto was, in this unpleafant fituation, to retain
the:cbnverfation of Camopns at his table/ it was his le aft care
to render the life of his gueft agreeable. Chagrined with his
treatment, and a confiderable time having elapfed in vain depen-^
dence upon Barreto, Camoens refolved to return to his native
country. A fhip, 6n the homeward voyage, at this time touched
at Sofala, and feveral gentlemen * who were on board were
idelirous that Camoens Ihould accompany them. But this the
governor ungeneroufly endeavoured to prevent, and charged him
** According to the Portuguefe Life of ward voyage, wrote annotations upon tji^
Camoens, prefixed to Gedron's, the beft Lufiad, under, the eye of its author. B^ut
edition of his works, Diogo de Couto, the thefe unhappily have neVer a^peayed^ |a
hiilorian, one of the company in this home- public. •' , ' ,,"^
a vhth
cxiv INTRODUCTION.
with a debt for board. Anthony de Cab ral, however, and Hedor
de Sylveyra, paid the demand, and Camoens, fays Faria, and
the honour of Barreto, were fold together.
After an abfence of fixteen years, Camoens, in 1569, returned
to Lifbon, unhappy even in his arrival, for the peftilence theij
raged in that city, and prevented his publication for thre^
years. At laft, in 1572, he printed his LuHad, which, in the
opening of the firft book, in- a moil: elegant turn of compliment
he addrefled to his prince, king Sebaftian, then in his eigh-
teenth year. The king, fays the French tranllator, was io
pleafed with his merit, that he gave the Author a peniion of
4000 reals, on condition that he fhould refide at court. ■ But
this falary, fays the fame writer, was withdrawn by Cardinal
Henry, who fucceeded to the crown of Portugal, loft. by. Se-
baftian at the battle of Alcazar. '' '
' But this ftory of the peniion is yei*jr doubtful. Correa, and
other cotemporary authors, do not mention it, ' though fome
late writers have given credit to it. If Camoens, however, had
a penfian, it is highly probable that Henry deprived him of it.
While Sebaftian was devoted to the chace, his grand uncle, the
Cardinal, prefided at the council board, and Camoens, in his
addrefs to the king, which clofes the Lufiad, advifes him tp
exclude the clergy from ftate affairs. It was eafy to fee that the
Cardinal was here intended. And Henry, befides, was one of
thofe ftatefmen who can perceive no benefit refulting to the
public from elegant literature. But it ought alfo to be added
in completion of his character, that under the narrow views and
weak hands of this Henry, the kingdom of Portugal fell into
utter ruin -, and on his death, which clofed a fhort inglorious
reign, the crown of Lifbon, after a faint ftruggle, was annexed
to that of Madrid. Such was the degeneracy of the Portuguefe,
a degeneracy lamented in vain by Camoens, and whofe obfer-
vation of it was imputed to him as a crime.
Though the great * patron of one fpecies of literature, „;*
• Cardinal Henry*s patronage of learning /ee the itotej p. ^^6.) He correfponded
and learned men is mentioned with cordial with them, direfted their labours, and re-
efteem by the Portuguefe writers. Happily ceived the firft accounts of their fuccefs.
they alfo tell us what that learning was. Under his patronage it was difcovered, that
It was to him the Romifh Friars of the Eaft St. Thomas ordered the Indians to wor-
tranfmitted their childifh forgeries of in- fhip the Crofs ; and that the Moorifh tra-
fcriptions and miracles ^cr/ow* 0/ w^/V/', dition of Perimal, (who, having embraced
Mohammedifm,
INTRODUCTION.
cxv
fpecies the reverfe of that of Camoens, certain it is, that the
author of the Lufiad was utterly neglected by Henry, under
whofe inglorious reign he died in all the mifery of poverty.
By fome, it is faid, he died in an alms-houfe. It appears, how-
ever, that he had not even the certainty of fubfiftence, which
thefe houfes provide. He had a black fervant, who had grown
old with him, and who had long experienced his mafter's hu-
manity. This grateful Indian, a native of Java, who, accord-
ing to fome writers, faved his mafter's life in the unhappy fliip-
wreck where he loft his efted;s, begged in the ftreets of Liihoiv
for the only man in Portugal on whom God had beftowed thofe
talents, which have a tendency to ere6l the fpirit of a down-
ward age. To the eye of a careful obferver, the fate of Ca-
moens throws great light on that of his country, and will appear
ftri(5tly conne(fted with it. The fame ignorance, the fame de-
generated fpirit, which fuffered Camoens to depend on his fhare
of the alms begged in the ftreets by his old hoary fervant, the
fame fpirit which caufed this, funk the kingdom of Portugal
into the molt abjedt vaflallage ever experienced by a conquered
nation. While the grandees of Portugal were blind to the ruin
Mohammedifm, divided his kingdom among
his officers, whom he rendered tributary to
the Zamorim,) was a malicious niifrepre-
fentation, for that Perimal, having turned
Chriftian, refigned his kingdom and became
a monk. Such was the learning patronifed
by Henry, under whofe aufpices, that horrid
tribunal, the inquifition was eroded atLifbon.
And he himfelf long prefided as inquifitor
general. Nor was he content with this, he
eftablifhed an inquifition alfo at Goa, and
fent a whole apparatus of holy fathers to
form a court of inquifitors, to fupprefs the
Jews and reduce the native Chriftians to the
See of Rome. Nor muft the treatment ex-
perienced by Buchanan at Lilljon be here
omitted, as it affords a convincing proof
that the fine genius of Camoens, was the
t^ue (burce of his misfortunes. John III.
earnelt to promote the cultivation of polite
literature among his fubjeds, engaged Bu-
chanan, the moll elegant Latinift, perhaps,
of modern times, to teach philofophy and
the Be//es Lettres at Lifbon. But the defign
of the monarch was foon fruftrated by the
clergy, at the head of whom was Henry,
afterwards the fovereign. Buchanan was.
committed to prifon, becaufe it was alledged
he had eaten flefh in Lent, and becaufe in
his early youth, at St. Andrews in Scotland,
he had written a fatyr againft the Francif-
cans ; for which, however, ere he would
venture to Lilbon, John had promifed ab-
folute indemnity. John, with much diffi-
culty, procured his releale from a loathfome
jail, but could not efFeft his reftoration as
a teacher. No, he only changed his prifon,
for Buchanan was fent to a monaftery to be
iyiJiruBed by the monks, the men of letters
patronifed by Henry. Thefe are thus cha-
raderifed by their pupil Buchanan, — nee in^
humaniSf nee malis, fed otnnis religion: s
ignaris. " Not uncivilized, not flagitious, but
ignorant of every religion." A fatyrical
negative compliment, followed by a chargo
of grofs barbarifm. In this confinement
Buchanan wrote his elegant verfion of the
pfalms. Camoens, about the fame time,
failed for India. The blefled cfFefts of
the fpirit which perfecutcd fuch men, arc well
exprefTed in the proverb, A Spaniard, Jiript
of all his virtues, makes a good Portugutfe,
I which'
ex VI
INTRODUCTION.
which impended over them, Camoens beheld it with a pun-
gency of grief which haftened his exit. In one of his letters
he has thefe remarkable words, '* Em fin accaberey a '•ctda^ e
'verram todos que fuy afeigoada a minho patria, &c." I am end-
ing the courfe of my life, the world will witnefs how I have
loved my country. I have returned, not only to die in her
bofom, but to die with her." In another letter, written a little
before his death, he thus, yet v/ith dignity, complains, ** Who
has feen on fo fmall a theatre as my poor bed, fuch a reprefenta-
tion of the difappointments of fortune. And I, as if flie could
not herfelf fubdue me, I have yielded and become of her party;
for it were wild audacity to hope to furmount fuch accumu-
lated evils."
In this unhappy lituation, in 1579, in his fixty-fecond year,
the year after the fatal defeat of Don Sebaftian, died Luis de
Camoens, the greateft literary genius ever produced by Portu-
gal ; in martial courage and fpirit of honour, nothing inferior
to her greateft heroes. And in a manner fuitable to the poverty
in which he died was he buried. Soon after, however, many
epitaphs honoured his memory ; the greatnefs of his merit was
univerfally confefTed, and his Luliad was tranflated into various
languages *. Nor ought it to be omitted, that the man fo
miferably negledted by the weak king Henry, was earneftly en-
quired after by Philip of Spain, when he alTumed the crown
of Lifbon. When Philip heard that Camoens was dead, both
his words and his countenance expreffed his difippointment
and grief.
From the whole tenor of his life, and from that fpirit which
glows throughout the Luliad, it evidently appears that the courage
and manners of Camoens flowed from true greatnefs and dignity
of foul. Though his polifhed converfation \ was often courted
* According to Gedron, a fecond edition
of the Lufiad appeared in the fame year
with the firft. I'here are two Italian and
four Spanifh tranflations of it. An hundred
years before Caftera's verfion it appeared in
French. Thomas de Faria, Bp. of Targa
in Africa, tranflated it into Latin, and
printed it without either his own or the
name of Camoens : a mean but vain attempt
to pafs his verfion upon the public as an
original. Le P. Niceron fays there were
two other Latin tranflations. It is tranfla-
ted alfo into Hebrew with great elegance
and fpirit by one Luzzetto, a learned artd
ingenious Jew, author of feveral poems in
that language, and who, about thirty years
ago, died in the Holy Land.
X Camoens has not efcaped the fate of
other eminent wits. Their ignorant ad-
mirers contrive anecdotes of their humour,
which in reality difgrace them. Camoens,
it is faid, one day heard a potter finging
fome of his verfes in a miferable mangled
manner, and by way of retaliation, broke
a parcel
11^ t ii'^'b 'V<;-^/i o N.-
CXVll
by the great,- He aj)p6ars fo diflafft^frdm fervility, thi^t his impru-
dence in this refpeci'is by fome highly blamed. 'Yet' the- inft^rides
of it by no means deferve that feverity of cenfure with which fortie'
writers have condemned him.' ' Unconfcious of the fedlings of
^ Camoens, they knew not that a carelefTnefs in fecuring the
fmiles of fortune, and an open honefty of indignation, are almoft
infeparable from the enthufiafm of fine imagination. The truth
is, the man poffefled of true genius feels his greatefl happinefs in
the purfuits and excurfions of the mind, and therefore makes
an ellimate of things, very different from that of him whofe
unremitting attention is devoted to his external intereft. The
profufion of Camoens is alfo cenfured. Had he diflipated the
wealth he acquired at Macao, his profufion indeed had been
criminal ; but it does not appear that he ever enjoyed any other
opportunity of acquiring independence. But Camoens was un-
fortunate, and the unfortunate man is viewed
through the dim (hade his fate cafls o'er him :
A fhade that fpreads its evening darknefs o'er
His brighteft virtues, while it lliews his foibles
Crowding and obvioiis as the midnight ftars.
Which in the funfhine of profperity
Never had been defcried
Yet after the ftridiefl difcuiTion, when all the caufes are weigh-i
ed together, the misfortunes of Camoens will appear the fault
and difgrace of his age and country, and not of the man. His
talents would have fecured him an apartment in the palace of
Auguflus, but fuch talents are a curfe to their pofTeffor in an
illiterate nation. After all, however, if he was imprudent on
his firft appearance at the court of John III. if the honefty o£j
his indignation led him into great imprudence, as certainly it-
-did, when at Goa he fatyrifed the Viceroy and the firft Goths '
a parcel of hisearthen ware, "Friend, faid
he, you deftroy my verfes and I deftroy
your goods." The fame foolilh ftory is told
of Ariofto ; nay, we are even informed,
that Rinaldo's ipeech to his horfe in the
iirfl book,
Ferma Baiardo mio, &c.
was the paflage miftuned ; and that on the
potter's complaint, the injured poet replied.
" I have only broken a few bafe pots of thine
not worth a groat, but thou haft murdered
a fine ftanza of mine worth a mark of gold."
But both thefe filly tales are borrowed from
Plutarch's life of Arcefilaus, where the fame
dull humour is told of Philoxenus. ** He
heard fome brick-makers miftune one of his
fongs, and in return he deftroyed a number
of their bricks."
in
cxviii INTRODUCTION.
in power j yet let it alfo be remembered, that " The gifts of
•• imagination bring the heavieft taik upon the vigilance of ^
** ,reafon; and to bear thofe faculties with unerring reditude or
'^invariable propriety, requires a degree of firmnefs and of cool
** attention, which doth not always attend the higher gifts of
** the mind. Yet difficult as nature herfelf feems to have ren-
** dered the tafk of regularity to genius, it is the fupreme con-
'^.folation of dullnefs and of folly to point with Gothic triumph
*' to thofe excelTes which are the overflowings of faculties they
** never enjoyed. Perfed:ly unconfcious that they are indebted
'* to their itupidity for the conliftency of their condud:, they
** plume themfelves on an imaginary virtue, which has its
*^ origin in what is really their difgrace. — Let fuch, if fuch
" dare approach the fhrine of Camoens, withdraw to a refped-
** ful diftance j and fliould they behold the ruins of genius, or
** the weaknefs of an exalted mind, let them be taught to la-
*' ment, that nature has left the noblell: of her works im-
'' perfea*."
And Poetry is not only the nobleft, but alfo not the leaft ufeful, if
civilization of manners be of advantage to mankind. No moral
truth may be more certainly demonilrated, than that a Virgil or a
Milton are not only the firil ornaments of a ftate, but alfo of the
firft confequence if the lafl refinement of the mental powers be of
importance. Strange as this might appear to a J Burleigh or a
Lo<2ke> it is philofophically accounted for by Bacon 5 nor is
* This paflage in inverted commas is ci tod, one Spenfer. Ten thoufond are born, fays
\Vith the alteration of the name only, from Sir William, with abilities requifite to form
Langhorne's account of the life of William a great Statefman, for one who is born with
Collins. the talents or genius of a great Poet.
J' Burleigh, though a deep politician in Locke's ideas of poetry are accounted for in
ftate intrigue, had no idea, that to introduce one fhort fentence j He knew nothing
polite literature into the vernacular tongue,' about the matter. An extract from
was of any benefit to a nation, though heit . his correfpon den ce with Mr. MolyneuK, and,
vernacular literature was the glory of Romp a. citjuion , from one of his treatifes, fhall
when at the height of empire, and though demdnilrate the truth of this aflertion.
empire fell with its declenfion. Spenfer,
the man who greatly condiioed to. re- Molyneux writes to Locke : ■ .
fine the Engllfh Mufes, was by Bur- << Mr. Churchill favoured me with the:
leigh efteemed a ballad' maker, unworthy prefent of Sir R. Blackmore's K. Arthur.
of regard. Yet the Englilh polite lite- I, had read Pr. Arthur beforei, and read it
ratune is. at this day, in the efteem wbict it. with admiration, which is not atall leffened'
CKJrtmanda abroad, is of more real ferviceto by this fecond piece, /^l/ our EngJJ/h poetj^
EhglUTidi than all the reputation or intrigues (except Mihor.) hwve been mere balLad-7nakcrs
of. Burleigh.. And. ten thoufand Burleighs, in'cbmpRrifonto him. Upcir the publication
according to Sir W. Teicple, are-Jbora for ofJ»isftrllpo»m,lintiTnatedtoihim^ through.
Air,
i'N t K ^ ibm^i^ t^Ui.
txik
l^^ke^s^ ef^ittio-n ^^itl^elr Irte^pTft^^ y the |;-reat
U\lj Ways dccejitiblei to Sir -R. lihall fctiti
Mr. 'Churchill's hands, iiow excflfefttly' iT
Jhought h^e might perform . a ' phiioffiidiic
poem, from many touches he gave, in his
rr. Arthur, particularly from Mopas's fong.
'And I perceive by his preface to K. Arthur
^e has had the lik« iptimations frccfi otherti
but rejefts them as being an enemy to all
philofophic hypothefes."
Mr. Ldcke anfw$»s j
^ ;«'^! ftail,, Vi^hfen r fee Sir'R. Blacjkmor^i,
difcOurfe hirh as y6u defire. There is, I with
pleafure find, a ilrange harmony throu^out,
between your thoughts and mine."
Molyneux replies j ' / *
" I perceive you are fo happy as to be ac*
quairited with Sir Rich. Blackmorej.he is
an extraordinary perfon, and I admire hii
two prefaces as much as I do any parts of
his books : The firft, wherein he expofes
** the licentioufnefs and immorality of
cur late poetry" is incomparable, and the
fecond, wherein he profecutes the fame.fub-
jeft, and delivers his thoughts concerning
hypothefes, is no lefs judicious, and I am
wholly of his opinion relating to the latter.
However the hiftory and pha;nomena of
nature we may venture at ; and this is what
I propofe to be the fubjeft of a philofophic
poem. Sir R. Blackmore has exquifite
touches of this kind, difperfed in many
places of his books : (to pafs over Mopas's
long) I'll inftance one particular in the moft
profound fpeculations of Mr. Newton's phi-
lofophy, thus curioufly touched in King
Arthur, Book IX. p. 243.
The conftellations fliine at his command ;
He form'd their radiant orbs, and with his hand
He weigh'd, and put them off with fuch a force
As might preferve an everlafting courfc *,
'-[** I doubt not but Sir R. Blackmore, in
thefe lines, had a regard to the proportion-
ment of the projeftive motion of the vis
centripeta, that keeps the planets in their
continued courfes.
" I have by me fome obfervations, made
by a judicious friend of mine on both of Sir
R. Blackmore's poems. If they may be
tttemitojyDu.'"<
' Mr." Ldclte again replies ;
' *' Though Sir R.B's vein in poetry be what
, every; body muft bHow him tp have an ex-
traordinary talent in, and though, with you,
I exceedingly valued his firft preface, y,et I
in*Mft own to you, there was rtothing that I
fo rcitth. admired him for, as for what he
-fays 6i hypothefe' in his laft. It ftcms td
me fo right, and is yet fo much out of the
way of the ordinary writers, and praftition-
ers in that faculty, that it Ihews as great a
ftrehgth and penetration of judgment «3j his
foelry has Jhenvnjlighls of fancy.''''
As the belt comment on this, let -art eXi
traft from Locke's E/Tay on Education fully
explain his ideas.
" If he have a poetic vein, 'tis to rnc the
ftrangeft thing in the world, that the father
fliould defire or fufffer it to be cherifhed or
improved. Methinks the parents fhould
labour to have it ftifled and fuppreffed as
much as may he, and I know not what rea-
fon a father can have to wifh his fon a poet,
who does not defire to have him bid defiance
to all other callings or bnfinefs, v/hich is not
yet the worft of the cafe ; for if he proves i.
fuccefsful rhymer, and gets once the repu-
tation of a wit, I defire it may be confider-
ed, what company and places he is like to
fpend his time in, nay, and eftatc too ; for
it is very feldom feen that any one difcovers
mines of gold or filver in Pamaflus. 'Tis
a pleafant air but a barren foil, and there
are very few inftances of thofe who have
added to their patrimony by any thing they
have reaped from thence. Poetry and'
Gaming, which ufually go together, are
alike in this too, that they feldom bring
any advantage bat to thofe who have no-
thing elfe to live on. Men of cftates almoft
conftantly go away lofers, and 'tis well if
they efcape at a cheaper rate, than their
whole eflates or the greateft part of them.
If therefore you would not have your fon
the fiddle to every jovial company, without
whom the fparks could not relifh their wine,
nor know how to fpend an afternoon idly ;
if you would not have him wafte his time
and
• Thefe lines, however, are a dull wretched paraphrafe of fome parts of the Pfalms.
cxx
INTRODUCTION.
Bacon, faw deeper into the tme fpirit of poetry and the human
affedtions than a Burleigh. Jftjancient Qi-eece, this works of Ho-
mer were called the leflbn or philofophy of kings ; and Bacon de-
fcribes the effedls of poetry in,the^ moft exalted terms. "Wh^itis
deficient of perfecflion in^ hifloryan4 nature poetry fupplies^oit
thus ered:s the mind, and confers magnanimity, morality, iand
/ielightj " and therefore, fays he, it was ever thought to have
fome participation of divinenefs *l" " The love of- pdetry is fo
and eftate to divert others, and copdemij
the. dirty acres left him by his anceftors, I
/do not think you will much care he Ihould
be a poet."
This ignorance of poetry, is even worfp
than the Dutch idea of it. But this, and
his opinion of Blackmore fully prove, that
Locke, however great in other refpefts,
knew no difference between a Shakefpeare,'
that unequalled phllofopher of the pafTions,
and the dulleft Griib-ftreet plodder; Be-,
tween a Milton and the tavern rhymers of
the days of the fecond Charles. But Milton's
knowledge of the affeftions difcovered -in
the civilization of the Mufes a ufe of the
firft importance. A tafte formed ■ by ,the
great poetry he efleems as the ultimate re-
finement of the underftanding. " This, (fays
he, in his Traftate on the Education of
y'outh) would make them foon perceive,
vvhat defpicable creatures our common rhy-
iners and play writers be, and {hew them
what religious, what glorious and magnifi-
cent ufe might be made of poetry, both in
divine and human things. From hence,
aud not till now, will be the right feafon of
forming them to be able writers and com-
pofers in every excellent matter . . . whether
they be to fpeak in parliament or council,
honour and attention would be waiting on
their lips. There would then alfo appear
in pulpits other vifages, other geftures, and
(tuff otherwife wrought than what we now
fij: under"
f, * His high idea of poetry is thus philo-
fcphically explained by the great Bacon :
' '* Sp likewife I finde. Tome particular
writings of an elegant nature, touching
{pme of the affeftions, as of anger, of com-
fort, upon adverfe accidents, of tendernefTc
of countenance, and other. But the poets
and writers of billories are the bell doftcrs
of this knowledge, where we find painted^
4)rth with the life, how affedions are kin-
.e.Til«iT 3.1 J lo e)itq smollo Aki4c[&Tiiq b3ib)«\/
died and incited, and how pacified and re-
ilrained : and ho\y sgaiinp c<>ntained. from
a£l aujd farther dcgrea :,.hQw they, difcjofe
themfelves, how they worice, how they
vary, 'how they gather atid fortify, how
they are in wrapped one within another, and
how they doe fight and encounter one with
another, and other the like particularities,
amongft the which this laft is of fpecial ufe
in moral and civile matters." •:
Here poetry is ranked with hiflory ; in the
following its effefts on the pafhwis is pre-
ferred. , -f. o:^ } c; ■ if I ... -'■ . ,i:?0Vf;
" Theiafe of this 'famed Hift'oiy (Pdetry)
hath been to- give fome fhadowe of fatis-
faftion to. the. mind of man in thofe points
in which nature doth deny it : the world
Jjeing in proportion inferior to the foul:
By rbafoH whereof there is agreeable to the
fpirit of man a more ample greatneile, a
more exaft goodliefTe, and a more abfolute
variety tlien can be found in the nature of
things. Therefore becaufe the events of
true hiftory have not that magnitude which
fatisfieth the mind of man, Pocfy fayneth
a£ls and events greater and more heroicall;
becaufe true hiftory proponndeth the fnc-
cefTes and ifTues of aftions not fo agreeable
to the merits of virtue and vice, therefore
Poefy faynes them more juft in retribution,
and more according to revealed Providence ;
becaufe true Hiftory reprefenteth aftions and
events more ordinary and lefs interchanged,,
therefore, Pocfy endueth them .with more,
rareneffe, and more unexpefted and alterna-
tijve variations. So then it appeareth that
poefy ferveth and conferreth to magnani-'
mity, morality, and delegation, and there-
fore it was ever thought to have fpmepar-,
ticipation of divinenefTe, . becaufe it doth-
raife and cred the mind, by fubmitting the
fhewes of things to the defireg of the mind,'
wher^as^reafop" doth humble a^^d bow the
mind' unto the nature of things."
nc^tural
INTRODUCTION. cxxi
natural to the ftronger afFediions, that the moft barbarous na-
tions delight in it. And always it is found, that as the rude
war fong and eulogy of the dead hero refine, the manners of
the age refine alfo. The hiflory of the flages of poetry is the
philofophical hiflory of manners ; the only hiflory in which,
with certainty, we can behold the true charadler of pafl ages.
True civilization and a humanifed tafle of the mental pleafures,
are therefore fynonimous terms. And mofl certain it is, where
feeling and affedlion refide in the breafl, thefe mufl be mofl
forcibly kindled and called into adlion by the animated repre-
fentations and living fire of the great poetry. Nor may Mil-
ton's evidence be rejedled, for though a poet himfelf, his judg-
ment is founded on nature. According to him, a true tafle
for the great poetry gives a refinement and energy to all other
lludies, and is of the lafl importance in forming the fenator and
the gentleman. That the poetry of Camoens merits this high
charadler in a lingular manner, he that reads it with tafle and
attention mufl own : A DifTertation on it, however, is the duty
of the Tranflator
But this mufl be introduced by an examination of the criti-
cifm of Voltaire, a criticifm which, though mofl amazingly er-
roneous, is generally efleemed in feveral countries of Europe
as the true charadler of the Lufiad.
When Voltaire was in England, previous to his publication
of his Henriade, he publifhed in Englifli an EfTay on the Epic
Poetry of the European nations. In this he highly praifed and
feverely attacked the Lufiad. In his French editions of this
EfTay, he has made various alterations at different times in the
article of Camoens. The original Englifh, however, fhall be
here cited, and the French alterations attended to as they occur.
Nor is it improper to premife, that fome mofl amazing falfities
will be detedied ; the grofs mifreprefentation of every objection
refuted ; and demonflration brought, that when Voltaire wrote
his Englifh Eflay, his knowledge of the Lufiad was entirely
borrowed from the bald, harfli, unpoetical verfion of Fanlhaw.
" While Trifiino, fays Voltaire, was clearing away the rubbilli
in Italy, which barbarity and ignorance had heap'd up for ten
centuries, in the way of the arts and fciences, Camouens in
Portugal fleer'd a new courfe, and acquir'd a reputation which
r lalts
cxxii I N T R O D U C T ION.
lafts fliil among his countrymen, who pay as much refpe<ft to
his memory, as the Englifh to Milton.
" He was a ftrong inltance of the irrefiftible impulfe of nature,
which determines a true genius to follow the bent of his talents,
in fpight of all the obftacles which could check his courfe.
" His infancy loft amidft the idlenefs and ignorance of the
court of Lifbon ; his youth fpent in romantic loves, or in the
war againft the Moors ; his long voyages at fea, in his riper
years -, his misfortunes at court, the revolutions of his country,
none of all thefe could fupprefs his genius.
** Emanuel the fecond king of Portugal, having a mind to
find a new way to the Eaft Indies by the ocean, fent Velafco
de Gama with a fleet in the year 1497, ^° ^^^^ undertaking,
which being new, was accounted rafh and impradiicable, and
which of courfe gained him a great reputation when it fucceeded.
** Camouens follow'd Velafco de Gama in that dangerous
voyage, led by his friendship to him, and by a noble curioiity,
which feldom fails to be the charad:er of men born with a
great imagination.
• ** He took his voyage for the fubjecfl of his poem ; he enjoy'd
the fenfible pleafure, which nobody had known before him, to
celebrate his friend, and the things he was an eye witnefs of.
*' He wrote his Poem, part on the Atlantic Sea, and part on
the Indian fhore. I ought not to omit, that in a fhipwrack on
the coafts of Malabar, he fwam a fliore, holding-up his poem in
one hand, which otherwife had been perhaps loft for ever.
** Such a new fubjed:, manag'dbyan uncommon genius, could
not but produce a fort of Epic Poetry unheard of before.
There no bloody wars are fought, no heroes wounded in a
thoufand different ways ; no woman enticed away, and the
world over-turn'd for her caufe ; no empire founded ; in fliort,
nothing of what was deem'd before the only fubjed: of poetry.
" The Poet conduds the Portuguefe fleet to the mouth of the
Ganges, round the coafts of Africk. He takes notice in the way,
of many nations who live upon the African Ihore, Pie inter-
weaves artfully the hiftory of Portugal. The fimplicity of his
fubjed, is rais'd by fome fidions of different kinds, which I
think not improper to acquaint the Reader with.
*' When the fleet is failing in the fight of the Cape of Good
Hope, call'd then the Cape of the Storms, a formidable fhape
appears.
INTRODUCTION. cxxiii
appears to them, walking in the depth of the fea -, his head
reaches to the clouds, the ftorms, the winds, the thunders,
and the lightnings hang about him ; his arms are extended
over the waves. 'Tis the guardian of that foreign ocean un-
plow'd before by any fhip. He complains of being oblig'd to
fubmit to fate, and to the audacious undertaking of the Portu-
guefe, and foretells them all the misfortunes which they muft
undergo in the Indies. I believe, that fuch a fidtion would be
thought noble and proper, in all ages, and in all nations.
" There is another, which perhaps would have pleas'd the
Italians as well as the Portuguese, but no other nation befides :
It is the inchanted ifland, call'd the Ifland of Blifs, which the fleet
finds in her way home, jufl riling from the fea, for their comfort
and for their reward : Camouens defcribes that place, as Taflb
did fome years after, his ifland of Armida. There a fupernatural
power, brings in all the beauties, and prefents all the pleafures
which nature can aftbrd, and which the heart may wifh for ;
a Goddefs enamour'd with Velafco de Gama, carries him to
the top of an high mountain, from whence fhe (hews him all
the kingdoms of the earth, and foretells the fate of Portugal.
'* After Camouens hath given loofe to his fancy, in the lafci-
vious defcription of the pleafures which Gama and his crew
enjoy'd in the ifland, he takes care to inform the Reader, that
he ought to underfl:and by this fidtion, nothing but the fatis-
fadlion which the virtuous man feels, and the glory v/hich
accrues to him by the practice of virtue ; but the befl: excufc
for fuch an invention, is, the charming fl:ile in which it is de-
liver'd (if we believe the Portuguefe) for the beauty of the
elocution makes fometimes amends for the faults of the poets,
as the colouring of Rubens make fome defedls in his figures
pafs unreguarded.
" There is another kind of machinery continued throughout all
the Poem, which nothing can excufe, in any country whatever;
'tis an unj udicious mixture of the Heathen Gods with our Religion.
Gama in a ftorm addrefles his prayers to Chrifl:, but 'tis Venus .
who comes to his relief; the heroes are chrifl:ians, and the poet
heathen. The main defign which the Portuguefe are fuppos'd to
have (next to promoting their trade) is to propagate Chriftianityj
yet Jupiter, Bacchus, and Venus, have in their hands, all the
management of the voyage. So incongruous a machinery, calls
r 2 a blemifh
cxxiv INTRODUCTION.
a blemifh upon the whole Poem ; yet Ihews at the fame time,
how prevailing are its beauties, fince the Portuguefe like it with
all its faults.
" Camouens hath a great deal of true wit, and not a little fhare
of falfe ; his imagination hurries him into great abfurdities. I
remember, that after Velafco de Gama, hath related his adven-
tures to the king of Melinda, now, fays he, O king, judge if
Ulyfles, and i^neas, have travell'd fo far, and undergone io many
hardships. As if that barbarous African was acquainted with
Homer and Virgil.
" His poem, in my opinion, is full of numberleft faults and
beauties, thick fown near one another; and almoft in every
page, there is fomething to laugh at, and fomething to be de-
lighted with. Among his moll lucky thoughts, I muft take
notice of two for the likenefs, which they bear to two mofl
celebrated paiTages of Waller, and Sir John Denham.
** Waller fays, in his Epiftle to Zelinda 3
Thy matchlefs form will credit bring.
To all the wonders I can fing.
** Camouens fays, in fpeaking of the voyages of the Argo*
nautes, and of UlyfTes, that the undertaking of the Portuguefe
fhall give credit to all thofe fables, in furpafling them.
** Sir John Denham, in his Poem on Cooper's-Hill, fays to
the Thames ;
O could I flow like thee, and make thy ftream.
My great example, as it is my theme ;
Tho' deep, yet clear, tho' gentle, yet not dull.
Strong without rage, without o'erflowing full.
** Camouens addrefl^es the Nymphs of Tagus in the like manner;
** O Nymphs, if ever I fung of you, infpire me now with new
and ftrong lays ; let my ftyle flow like your waves ; let it be
deep and clear, as your waters, &c."
Such is the original criticifm of Voltaire on the Lufiad. And
never, perhaps, was there fuch a random reverie, fuch a mafs
of mifreprefentations and falfities as the whole of it exhibits.
The mofl excufeable parts of iX are fuperiicial ia the higheft
degree.
INTRODtTCTION, exxv
degree. Both the poet and the hero are mifnamed by him.
The name of the hero has been corrected, that of Camouens
remains flill in Voltaire, the only author who ever fpelled it in
this manner. There never was an Emmanuel the fecond of
Portugal. Camoens was not fhipwrecked on the coaft of Ma-
labar, but on the river Mehon in China. ** That Gama went
a new way to the Eaft Indies by the ocean," though corrected
in the edition of 1 768, affords a mofl flriking proof of Voltaire's
very carelefs perufal of the Lufiad at the time when he firft
prefumed to condemn it. For it is often repeated in the pOem,
that tfeere was no way to India by the ocean before. That the
infancy of Camoens was loji amidjl the idlenefs and ignorance of
the court of Lijbon, is certainly falfe. His youth could not have
been fpent in idlenefs or ignorance, for his works difplay a moft
mafterly accuracy in every branch of ancient literature.
Though Voltaire has correded his error in fending Camoens
to the Baft Indies along with Gama, fuch an original unpar-
ralled romance ought to be recorded. Gama failed on the dif-
covery of India in 1497. Camoens was born in 15 17, and was
not feven years of age when Gama died. Thefe fa6ts were im-
mediately objected to Voltaire, but, at firft, he would not
yield. Contrary to the teftimony of Camoens himfelf, and
every circumftance of his life, an * hypothefis muft defend this
favourite fuppofition. In his Amfterdam edition of 1738, Vol-
taire boldly afferts that Camoens was a Spaniard, born in the reign
of Ferdinand and Ifabel, that he came to Lifl')on in the firft
year of Emmanuel, and was in intimate friendihip with Gama,
* This honeji hypothefis which makes from which we are to believe that Milton
Camoens a Spaniard, is of a piece with borrowed his Paradife Loft from a Comedy
another of the fame ingenious Author. In which nobody ever faw. From the fame
his unhappy Effay on Epic Poetry he afTert- refearches in England, Voltaire alfo learned
ed, that Milton built his Paradife Loft upon other circumftances, of which the public
an Italian Comedy, written by one An- were totally ignorant. The writing by
dreino. This was immediately denied, and which Milton fold his Paradife Loft to one
even fome Italian Literati declared, that no Simmonds, a Bookfeller,. is ftill extant,
fuch Author or Comedy was known in But Voltaire difcovered that he fold it to
Italy. Voltaire, however, would not yield, Tompfon for thirty piftoles, " enfin Tompfon
and very gravely he tells the reader, " // lui donna trente pift'les de cet ou-vrage,.
n*ejl pas etonnant -it is not at all aftonifh- Lord Sommers and Dr. Atterbury, he adds,
ing, that having carefully fearched in Eng- refolving that England fhould have an Epic
land for whatever related to that great man Poem, prevailed on the heirs of Tcmpfon to
(Milton) I fhould difcover circumftances of print a fplendid edition of it. And Addi-
his life, of which the public were igno- fon wrote, fays he, and the Englifh were per-
lant."— — This, therefore, is the authority fuaded, that they had an Epic Poem."
whom;
cxxvi INTRODUCTION.
whom he accompanied in his firfl voyage. Certain it is, how-
ever, by the archives of Portugal, that Camoens was in India
about feventy-two years after this voyage, and that, according
to this hypotheiis of Voltaire, he muft have been near an hun-
dred years old when he publiflied his Lufiad. Voltaire, how-
ever, at laft, confelles that Camoens did not accompany Gama.
Yet fuch is his accuracy, that even in the edition of 1768, in
an eflay which he calls Idee de la Henriadey a few pages before
this confefBon, the old affertion is ftill retained. ** Le Ca~
mouens, gut eft le Virgile de Portugais a celebre un ev^nement dont
il avait ete temoin hii-meme, Camouens, the Portuguefe yirgil,
has celebrated an event of which he himfelf had been witnefs."
No anecdotes ever threw more light upon a chara<3:er than
thefe throw upon that of Voltaire. The afTertion that the
Epic Poet enjoyed the fenjible pleafure, which 7iobody had known
before him, to celebrate his friend and the things he was an
eye witnefs of can only be accounted for by the fuppofition, that
Voltanx was pleafed with the idea, and in a little while mif-
took his flrong impreffion for the rei^iembrance of a fadt. The
laboured abfurd hypotheiis, which would defend this fanciful
error, cannot be placed in fo fair a light. And the error con-
feiled, and ftill retained, is a true Voltairifm. Yet the idea of
his accuracy which thefe accounts of the Poet muft infpire,
will even be heightened by the examination of his criticifm on
the poem. The narrative of a voyage conftitutes the Odyfley,
the half of the Eneid, and forms the body of the Luliad. Yet
the Lutiad, fays Voltaire, contains nothing of what was deemed
before the only fid f 51 of poetry. It forms, indeed, a fort of Epic
poetry unheard of before : But Voltaire's objed:ion to this points
out its true praife. No heroes, fays he, are wounded a thoufand
different ways, no woman enticed away and the world overturned for
her caufe — And muft the fate of Helen, and the thoufand dif-
ferent wounds defcribed by Homer, be copied by every Epic
Poet ? If this fentence has any meaning this is included. Yet
what is jthis puerility of criticifm in comparifon of Voltaire's
affertions, that in the Lufiad 7io bloody wars are fought, no em-
pire founded. — If the deftrudtion of Troy be allowed to be in the
Eneid, there are wars enough in the poem of Camoens. The
effedt of fire-arms on people who never before beheld thefe
dreadful engines, and ahoftile town burnt by a fleet, are finely
defcribed
INT R O D U C T I O N. exxvii
defcribed in that part which is called the ad:ion of the Epic
Poem. , But Voltaire was as utter a flranger to the firft book
of the Lufiad, as to the One fubjed of the poem. The founding
of the Portuguefe empire in the Eaft.-— iVi? battle fought, no em-
fire founded 1 What infult to the literary world is this ! A late
corredion will never difprove his ignorance when he wrote this.
Should a pretended critic on Virgil tell his reader that the poet
conducted Eneas to tlie mouth of the Thames, could we believe
he was acquainted with his Author ? Yet Voltaire tells us, that
Camoens conduSis the Portuguefe fleet to the mouth of the Ganges
round the coafts of Afric. Camoens, indeed, condu(fts his
fleet to Calicut on the coaft of Malabar. But though the fcene
of the ad:ion of the four laft books lie upon this coaft, Voltaire
was not happy enough to dip into any of the numerous pafTages
which fix the geography. He has therefore given the voyage
of Gama a dimeniion almoft as much beyond the real one given
by Camoens, as the Weft Indies are diftant from England.
Such errors are convincing proofs that Voltaire only dipt here
and there into the Lufiad, even after the critics fet him right in
fomc places; for this grofs error is ftill retained. But a mifre-
prefentation, not founded on ignorance, now offers itfelf. Gamay
in aflorm, fays Voltaire, addre/J'es his prayers toChrifl, but 'tis Venus
who ffomcs to his relief — -A bold afl'ertion ftill alfo retained, but
there is no fuch pafiage in the Lufiad. Gama, in a tempeft, prays
to the holy Power, to whom nothing is impofiible, the fovereign of
earth, fea, and land, who led Ifrael through the waves, who deli-
vered Paul, and who protecfled the children of the fecond father of
the world from the deluge. But Chrift is not once mentioned in
the whole pafi^age. To fay that Gama was a good Catholic, and
intended Chrift under thefe appellations, is unworthy of poetical
criticifm, where the whole ridicule confifts in the oppofition of
the name of Chrift and Venus. Such is the candour of Vol-
taire ! Nor is it difficult to trace the fource of this unfair re-
prefentation. Fanftiaw thus tranflates the mention of Paul*
Thou who didft keep and fave thy fervant Paul
Monfieur Voltaire wanted no more. Thy fervant Paul was to
him enough to vindicate the ridicule he chufed to beftov^. But
unhappily for the mifguided critic, the original fays only, T«
que livrajie Paulo '^ — thou who deliveredft Paul. — And thus
• See Lufiadas, Cant. VI. St. 8i. we
cxxviii INTRODUCTION.
we are furnifhed with a Aire hint of the medium by which our
critic ftudied the Lufiad. To this laft unblufhing fallity, that
Gama prays to Chrijly is added, in the edition of 1768, ** Bac-
chus ^ la Vierge Marie fe trouveront tout naturellement enfemble,
Bacchus and the Virgin Mary are very naturally found together.'*
If words have meaning, this informs the reader, that they are
found together in the Lufiad. Yet the truth is, in the whole
poem there is no fuch perfonage as the Virgin Mary.
After thefe grofs faliities, Voltaire adds, " A parler ferieufe-
ment, un merveilleux Ji abjurde, defigure tout Fouvrage aux yeux
de le5ieurs fenfes, — To fpeak ferioufly, fuch an abfurdity in the
marvellous, disfigures the whole work in the eyes of the fenfible
readers." — To fuch as take Voltaire's word for it, it muft in-
deed feem disfigured ; but what literary murder is this ! Nor
does it end here. A fimilie muft enforce the fliamelefs mifre-
prefentation, " It is like the works of Paul Veronefe, who
has placed BenediBine fathers and Swifs foldiers among his
paintings from the Old TCeflament.'' And to this alfo is added,
** Le Camouens tombe prefque toujour s dans de telles difparates.
Camouens almoft continually falls into fuch extravagancies." Yet
with equal juftice may this fentence be applied to Virgil; and
peculiarly unhappy is the inftance which Voltaire immediately
gives : ** J remember, fays he, Vafco de Gama fays to the king of
Melinda, O king, judge ifJJlyJfes and Eneas have travelled fo far, and
undergone fo 7nany hardjhips : as if that barbarous African was
acquainted with Homer and Virgil.'' I'his fentence is, ftill re-
tained in Voltaire's laft edition of his works. But, according
to hiftory, the Melindians were a humane and polifhed people ;
their buildings elegant, and in the manner of Spain. The
royal family and grandees were Mohammedan Arabs, defcended
of thofe tribes, whofe learning, when it fuits his purpofe, is the
boaft of Voltaire. The prince of Melinda, with whom Gama
converfed, is thus delcribed. by the excellent hiftorian Oforius :
** in omni autem fer7none princeps ille non hominis barbari fpecimen
dabat, fed ingenium et prudentiam eo loco dignam prce fe ferebat —
In the whole converfation the Prince betrayed no fign of the
barbarian ; on the contrary, he carried himfelf with a politenefs
and intelligence worthy of his rank." — It is alfo certain, that
this Prince, whom Voltaire is pleafed to call a barbarous Afri-
i:an, had fufiicient opportunity to be acquainted with Homer,
for
INTRODUCTION.
CXXIX
for the writings of Homer are tranflated into the Syriac, in a
dialed; of which the interpreters of Gama talked with the
prince of Melinda J.
The Lufiad, in i7iy opinion, fays Voltaire, is full of numberkfs
faults and beauties, thick fown near one another, and almoft in
every page there is fomething to laugh at, and fomething to be de-
lighted with.'' This fentence, though omitted in the French
editions, had fome fource, and that fource we fhall ealily trace.
Nor is the characfler of the king of Melinda fo grofsly falfified
by Voltaire, as the charadler of the Lufiad of Camoens is here
mifreprefented. Except the polite repartee of Velofo [of which
fee p. 203.) there are not above two or three paiTagcs in the
whole poem which even border upon conceit. The mofl: uni-
form fimplicity of manly didion is the true charadler of the
Portuguefe Luiiad : Where then did Voltaire find the falfe wit,
and fomething to laugh at almofi in every page f If there be a
tranflation which ftridily deferves this character, we cannot
fuppofe that Voltaire hit this character, and at the fame time
was fo wide of the original, merely by chance. No, he dipt
into Fanfliaw's Lufiad, where, in every page, there are puns,
conceits, and low quaint expreflions, uncountenanced by the
original. Some citations from Fanfliaw will loon juflify this
aflertion. Yet, however decifive this proof may be, it is not
the only one. The refemblance found by Voltaire between Sir
John Denham's addrefs to the Thames, and that of Camoens to
the nymphs of the Tagus, does not exift in the original. Let
my file fow like your waves, let it be deep and clear as your waters
X The Arabs have not only innumerable
volumes of their own, but their language is
alfo enriched with tranflations of feveral
Greek writers. The fate of Euclid is well
known. And to mention only two of their
authors, Ben-Shohna, who died in 1478, a
little before the arrival of Gama, wrote an
univerfal hiftory, which he calls Raivdhat
almenadhir Ji ilm alaivail ^valaavachir ; that
is. The meadow of the Eye of ancient and
modern knowledge. And Abul Pharajius,
who lived in the thirteenth century, wrote
an hiftory in Arabic, in ten chapters, the
firft of which treats of the Patriarchs from
Adam to Mofes ; the fecond of the Judges
3nd Kings of Ifrael ; the third of the Jcwifh
Kings ; the fourth of the Kings of Chaldea ;
the fifth of the Kings of the Magi ; the fixth
of the ancient Pagan Greeks ; the feventh of
the Romans ; the eighth of the Conftanti-
nopolitan Emperors ; the ninth of the Ara-
bian Mohammedan Kings ; and the tenth of
the Moguls. The fame author acquaints us
that Homer's two works are elegantly tran-
flated into the Syriac ; which language is
fifter to that fpoken by the Arabs of Melin-
da. Camoens, who was in the country,
knew the learning of the Arabians. Vol-
taire, led by the defire to condemn, was
hurried into abfurdities, from which a mo-
ment's confideration would have prefcrved
him.
— contams
cxxx INTRODUCTION.
— contains indeed the fame allufion as that exprefTed in the lines
cited by Vohaire from Denham. But no fuch idea or allufion exifls
in the Portuguefe. Though Voltaire flill retains this fentence, its
unauthenticity has been detedled by feveral critics. But it was
left for the prefent Tranflator to difcover the fource of this
wide miftranllation. He fufpefted the allufion might be in
Fanfhaw, and in Fanfhaw he found it. The nymphs of the
Tagus are in Sir Richard's verfion thus addrelTed :
If I in low, yet tuneful verfe, the praife
Of your fweet river always did proclaim,
Infpire me now with high and thundering lays,
Give tite them clear and Jiowing like his Jlr earn.
He who has read Camoens and Fanfhaw, will be convinced
where Voltaire found the fomething to laugh at in every page.
He who has read neither the original nor that tranflation, will now
perceive that Voltaire's opinion of the Lufiad was drawn from a
very partial acquaintance with the unfaithful and unpoetical
verfion of Fanfhaw.
And, as if all his mifreprefentations of the Lufiad were not
enough, a new and mofl capital objeftion is added in the late
editions of Voltaire. ** Mais de tons les defauts de ce poeme,
&c." — '* But of all the faults of this poem, the greatefl is the
want of connexion, which reigns in every part of it. It re-
fembles the voyage which is its fubjed:. The adventures fuc-
ceed one another, fa wonderful objeSlion) and the poet has no
other art, than to tell his tales well." Indeed ! but the reader
cannot now be fui'prifed at any of our Critic's mifreprefentations
— Though he has condemned the machinery of the Lufiad
UPON CIRCUMSTANCES WHICH HAVE NO PLACE IN IT, the
mixture of Chriflian and Pagan mythology, which he in general
afcribes to it, requires fome attention, A fhort Dillertation on
the poem is therefore neceflary ; and an examen of its condud:
will clearly evince, that the Eneid itfelf is not more perfed:
than the Lufiad in that connedlion, which is requifite to form
One whole, according to the ftridefl rules of Epic Unity.
The term Epopoeia is derived from the Greek '^Etto^, difcourfey
and hence the Epic, may be rendered the narrative poem. In
the full latitude of this definition fome Italian critics have con-
tended.
INTRODUCTION, cxxxi
tended, that the poems of Dante and Ariofto were Epic. And
in. the fame manner Telemachus and the Faerie Queen are
Epic poems. A definition more reftrided however, a definition
defcriptive of the nobleft fpecies of poetry, has been given by
Ariftotle ; and the greateft critics have followed him, in appro-
priating to this fpecies the term of Epopoeia, or Epic. The fub-
jed: of the EpopcEia, according to that great father of criticifra,
muft be One. One adiion mufi: be invariably purfued, and
heightened through different ftages, till the Cataftrophe clofe it
in fo complete a manner, that any farther addition would only
inform the reader of what he already perceives. Yet in purfu-
ing this One end, collateral Epifodes not only give that variety
fo efiTential to good poetry, but, under judicious manage-
ment, afiift in the moft pleafing manner to facilitate and pro-
duce the Unravelment, or Cataftrophe. Thus the anger of
Achilles is the fubjed of the Iliad. He withdraws his afilf-
tance from the Greeks. The efforts and diftreifes of the Gre-
cian army in his abfence, and the triumphs of He6tor, are the
confequences of his rage. In the utmofh danger of the Greeks,
he permits his friend Patroclus to go to battle. Patroclus is
killed by Hed:or. Achilles, to revenge his fall, rufhes to the
field. Hedor is killed, the Trojans defeated, and the rage of
Achilles is foothed by the obfequies of his friend. And thus
alfo the fubjecft of the Eneid is One. The remains of the Tro-
jan nation, to whom a feat of empire is promifed by the oracle,
are reprefented as endangered by a tempeft at fea. They land
at Carthage. Eneas, their leader, relates the fate of Troy to
the hofpitable queen ^ but is ordered by Jupiter to fulfil the pro-
phecies, and go in fearch of the promifed feat of that empire,
which was one day to command the world. Eneas again fets
fail, many adventures befal him. He at laft lands in Italy,
where prophecies of his arrival were acknowledged. His fated
bride, however, is betrothed to Turnus. A war enfues, and
the poem concludes with the death of the rival of Eneas. In
both thefe great poems a machinery fuitable to the allegorical
religion of thefe times is preferved. Juno is the guardian of
the Greeks, Venus of the Trojans. Narrative poetry without
fidion can never pleafe. Without fidion it muft want the
marvellous, which is the very foul of poefy ; and hence a ma-
chinery is indifpenfible in the Epic poem. The condud and
f 2 machinery
cxxxii INTRODUCTION.
machinery of the Lufiad are as follow : The poem opens with
a view of the Portuguefe fleet before a profperous gale on the
coaft of Ethiopia. The crews, however, are worn with labour,
and their fafety depends upon their fortune in a friendly harbour.
The Gods of ancient or poetical mythology are reprefented as in
council. The fate of the Eaftern world depends upon the fuc-
cefs of the fleet. But as we trace the machinery of the Lufiad,
let us remember that, like the machinery of Homer and Virgil,
it is alfo allegorical. Jupiter, or the Lord of Fate, pronounces
that the Luflans fhall be profperous. Bacchus, the evil daemon
or genius of Mohammedifm, who was worfliipped in the Eaft,
forefeeing that his empire and altars would be overturned,
oppofes Jove, or Fate. The celefliial Venus, or heavenly Love,
pleads for the Luflans. Mars, or divine Fortitude, encourages
the Lord of Fate to remain unaltered ; and Maia's fon, the
Meflfenger of Heaven, is fent to lead the navy to a friendly
harbour. The fleet arrives at Mozambic. Bacchus, like Juno
in the Eneid, raifes a commotion againfl; the Luflans. A battle
enfues, and the victorious fleet purfue their voyage, under the
care of a Moorilli pilot, who advifes them to enter the harbour
of Quiloa. According to hiftory they attempted this harbour,
where their defl;rud:ion would have been inevitable ^ but they
were driven from it by the violence of a fudden tempefl:. The
poet afcribes this to the celefl:ial Venus,
' whofe watchful care
Had ever been their guide
They now arrive at Mombafl!*a. The malice of the evil daemon
or genius of Mohammedifm, fl:ill exites the arts of treachery
againfl: them. Hermes, the meflfenger of heaven, in a dream,
in the fl:yle of Homer, warns the hero of the poem of his
danger, and commands him to fteer for Melinda. There he
arrives, and is received by the prince in the moft friendly
manner. Here the hero receives the flrft certain intelligence or
hope of India. The prince of Melinda's admiration of the for-
titude and prowefs of his guefts, the flrfl who had ever dared
to pafs the unknown ocean by the tempeftuous Cape, artfully
prepares the reader for a long epifode. The poem of Virgil
contains the hiftory of the Roman empire to his own time.
Camoens
INTRODUCTION. cxxxiii
Camoens perceived this, and trod in his fheps. The hiftory of
Portugal, which Gama relates to the king of Melinda, is not
only neceffary to give their new ally an high idea of the Lufian
prowefs and fpirit, but alfo naturally leads to, and accounts for
the voyage of Gama; the event, which in its confequences,
fums up the Portuguefe honours. It is as requilite for Gama to
tell the rife of his nation to the king of Melinda, as it is for
Eneas to relate to Dido the caufe of his voyage, the deftrudtion
of Troy. And Gama's long account of his own voyage, will
bear to be read after the fimilar parts of either the OdyfTey or
the Eneid. Pleafed with'the fame of their nation, the king of
Melinda vows lafling friendfliip with the Lufians, and gives
them a faithful pilot. As they fail acrofs the great Indian
ocean the machinery is again employed. The evil daemon im-
plores Neptune and the powers of the fea to raife a tempejft to
defhroy the fleet. The failors on the night watch, fortify their
courage by the valiant acfts of their countrymen, and an epifode
in the true poetical fpirit of chivalry is introduced. Thus
Achilles in his tent is reprefented as finging to his lyre the
praifes of heroes. And in the Epic condud:, this narrative and
the tales told by Neftor, either to reflrain or inflame the rage
of the Grecian chiefs, are certainly the fame.
The accumulation of the tempell in the meanwhile is finely
defcribed. It now defcends. Celefl:ial Venus perceives the
danger of her fleet. She is introduced by the appearance of her
ftar, a fl:roke of poetry which would have fliined in the Eneid.
The tempeil is in its utmofl rage.
The flcy and ocean blending, each on fire,
Seem'd as all nature fl:ruggled to expire.
When now the filver flar of Love appear'd ;
Bright in her eafl: her radiant front llie rcar'd ;
Fair through the horrid fliorm the gentle ray
Announced the promife of the cheerful day.
From her bright throne Celeftial Love beheld
The tempeft burn
And in the true fpirit of Homer's allegory {See the note, p. 266.)
fhe calls her nymphs, and by their minifliry fl:ills the tempefl:.
Gama now arrives in India. Every circumfl:ance rifes from the
preceding one \ and, as fully pointed out in the notes> the con-
dud:
e^xxiv I N T R O D U C T I-O N.
diwft in every circumftance is as exadlly Virgilian, as any two
tragedies may poffibly be alike in adherence to the rules of the
drama. Gama, having accomplished his purpofe in India, fets
fail for Europe, and the machinery is the laft time employed.
Venus, to reward her heroes, raifes a Paradifaical ifland in the
fea. Voltaire, in his Englifh elfay, has faid, that no nation
but the Portuguefe and Italians could bear fuch lafcivious de-
fcription. In the French he has fuppreffed this fentence, but
has compared it to a Dutch brothel allowed for the failors.
Yet this idea of it is as falfe as it is grofs. Every thing in the
ifland of Love refembles the flatue of Venus de Medicis. The
defcription is warm indeed, but it is chafte as the firft loves of
Adam and Eve in Milton. And fo far from deferving the cen-
fure of Voltaire (See the note, p. 394.) were Dante, Ariofto,
Tailo, Spenfer, and even Milton himfelf, to contend with him
for the palm of modefly, there could be no hefitation in fixing it
upon the brow of Camoens. After the poet has explained the
allegory of the ifland of Love, the Goddefs of the ocean gives
her hand and commits her empire to Gama, whom flie conduces
to her palace, where, in a prophetic fong, he hears the actions
of the heroes who were to eftablifli the Portuguefe empire in
the Eaft. In Epic conduct nothing can be more mafterly*
The funeral games in honour of Patroclus, after the Iliad has
turned upon its great hinge, the death of Hedor, are here
mofl happily imitated after the Lufiad has alfo turned upon its
great hinge, the difcovery of India. The conduifl is the fame,
though not one feature is borrowed. UlyfTes and Eneas arc
fent to vifit the regions of the dead; and Voltaire's hero mufl
alfo be conveyed to Hell and Heaven. But how fuperior is the
fpirit of Camoens ! He parrallels thefe flriking adventures by a
new fidtion of his own. Gama in the ifland of Blifs, and
Eneas in Hell, are in Epic condud: exacflly the fame j and in
this unborrowing famenefs, he artfully interweaves the hijlory
of Portugal: artfully as Voltaire himfelf confefTes. The
^pifode with the king of Melinda, the defcription of the
painted enfigns, and the prophetic fong, are parallel in man-
ner and purpofe with the epifode of Dido, the fhield of
Eneas, and the vifion in Elylium. To revenge the rage of
Achilles, and to lay the foundation of the Roman empire, are
the grand purpofes of the Iliad and Eneid ; the one efteded by
the
INTRODUCTION.
cxxxv
the death of Hed:or j the other by the alliance of Latinus and
Eneas, accomplifhed in the death of Turnus. In like manner,
to eftablifh the Portuguefe Chriftian empire in the Eafl^ is the
grand defign of the Lufiad, accompliflied in the happy return
of Gama. And thus, in the true fpirit of the Epopoeia, ends
the Lufiad, a poem where every circumftance rifes in jufl gra-
dation, till the whole is fummed up in the moll; perfed: unity
of Epic ad:ion.
The machinery of Homer {See the notey p. 266.) contains a
moft perfe(ft and mafterly allegory. To imitate the ancients
was the prevailing tafte when Camoens wrote ; and their
poetical manners were every where adopted. That he ef-
teemed his own as allegorical he affures us in the end of
the ninth book, and in one of his letters. But a proof even
more determinate, occurs in the opening of the poem. Caftera,
the French Tranflator, by his over refinement, has much mif-
reprefented the allegory of the Lufiad. Mars, who never ap-
pears but once in the firil book, he tells us, fignifies Jefus Chrifl.
This explanation, fo open to ridicule, is every way unnecefi!ary,
and furely never entered the thought of Camoens. It is evi-
dent, however, that he intended the guardian powers of Chrif-
tianity and Mohammedifm under the two principal perfonages
of his machinery. Words cannot be plainer :
Where'er this people fhould their empire raife.
She knew her altars fhould unnumber'd blaze ;
And barbarous nations at her holy fhrine
Be humanifed and taught her lore divine :
Her fpreading honours thus the one infpir'd,
And one the dread to lofe his worfhip fir'd.
And the fame idea is on every opportunity repeated and enforced.
Pagan mythology had its Celeflial, as well as Terreflrial Venus*.
* The celeftial Venus, according to Plato,
was the daughter of Ouranus or Heaven, and
thence called Urania... The paflage ftands
in the Sympofion of that author as follows :
TJxP.ei; yuf la-fxiv on ax if** «>£u E^wlo; A^§o^tT>)*
TaJlr;; ^i [/.kx,^ f^tv ua-nf, tiq ay »jv E^w;' ettej S'e
avo s^-ov, ^vo avxyKYi x«« Egwls ilyen. ww? ^ov
Slo rcc- ^tu ; 7) jtAtK yi 9rof , v^ia-^vlt^x, xo6»
af^-niuf, Ovfxva ^vycclrif, n> ^>j xai ov^xnav
tJrovofA.x^ofAtv Ti ^i ysultqa, Ajo{ t^ Atwvijf, »)» ^
This Urania- Venus, according to Pau-
fanias and other writers, had fumptuous
temples in Athens, Phoenicia, &c. She
was painted in complete armour ; her prieft-
efles were virgins ; and no man was allowed
to approach her fluine. Xenophon fays,
fhe prefided over the love of wifdom and
virtue, which are the pleafures of the ibul,
as the terrellrial Venus prefided over the
pleafures of the body.
The
cxxxvi INTRODUCTION.
The Celeftial Venus is therefore the moft proper perfonage of
that mythology to figure Chriftianity. And Bacchus, the con-
queror of the Eaft, is, in the ancient poetical allegory, the moft
natural protecftor of the altars of India. Whatever may be faid
againft the ufe of the ancient machinery in a modern poem,
candour mull confefs, that the allegory of Camoens which arms
the genius of Mohammedifm -f againft the expedition of his
heroes, is both fublime and moft happily interefting. Nor muft
his choice of the ancient poetical machinery be condemned
without examination. It has been the language of poetry
thefe three thoufand years, and its allegory is perfedly un-
derftood. If not impoffible, it will certainly be very diffi-
cult to find a new, or a better machinery for an Epic
poem. That of Taflb is condemned by Boileau, yet, that of
Camoens may plead the authority of that celebrated critic, and
is even vindicated, undefignedly, by Voltaire himfelf. In an
efTay prefixed to his Henriade, Le mot d' A?7iphitritey fays he,
dans notre poefis, nefignijie que la Mer, & non I Epoufe de Neptu?je
— the v/ord Atiiphitrite in our poetry fignifies only the Sea, and
not the wife of Neptune." And why may not the word Venus
in Camoens fignify divine Love, and not the wife of Vulcan ?
** Love, fays Voltaire, in the fame eflay, has his arrows, and
Juftice a ballance, in our moft chriftian writings, in our paint-
ings, in our tapeftry, without being efteemed as the leaft mix-
ture of Paganifm." And if this criticifm has juftice in it, why
not apply it to the Lufiad as well as the * Henriade ? Candour
will not only apply it to the Lufiad, but will alfo add the au-
thority of Boileau. He is giving rules for an Epic poem :
t This, as obfervcd, is exprefsly fuggefted Father, and at the fame time, feconded by
in the firft book. For feveral collateral the arrows of Cupid, renders the Nereides
proofs, fee the note, p. 215, and text, p. amourous of the Portuguefe." — But this,
339. where Bacchus, the evil daemon, takes one of his lateft additions, is as unlucky as
the form of Mohamm«d, and appears in a all the reft. The Eternal Father is the fame
dream to a prieft of the Koran. Jove, who Is reprefented as the /upreme Fa-
* Thus, when ihe Henriade is to be de- ther in the firft book, {St. 22. Portuguefe.)
fended, the arrows of Cupid convey no mix- and in book 9. ft. 18. is only faid to have
ture of Paganifm. But when the ifland of ordained Venus to be the good genius of the
Love in the Lufiad is to be condemned, our Lufitanians. There is not a word about the
honnete critic muft ridicule the ufe of thcfe nffijiance of his counfel ', that was introduced
very arrows — Cefi la que Venus, aidie des by Voltaire, folely to throw ridicule upon
conftils du Perg Etcrnel, et fecondee en meme an allegory, which, by the bye, when ufed in
terns des feches de Cupidon, — It is there tliat the Henriade, has not the leaft fault ; but
Venus, aided by the counfels of the Eternal is there every way in the true ftylc of poetry.
Dans
INTRODUCTION. cxxxvii
Dans le vqfle recit d'une longue a6iion,
Sefoutient par la fable, et vit deJiSiion.
La pour nous enohanier tout eft mis en ufage :
'Tout prend un corps, une ame, un efprit, un 'vifage ;
Chaque vertu devient une divinite -,
Minerve eft la prudence, & Venus la beaut L
Ce neft plus la vapeur qui produit le tonnerre,
C'eji Jupiter arme pour eftrayer la terre.
Tin or age terrible aux yeux des matelots,
C'eji Neptune en courroux, qui gourmande lesjlots ....
Sans touS'Ces ornemens le 'vers tombe en langueur -,
La poejie eji morte, ou r amp e fans vigueur :
Le poete neft plus quun orateur timide,
^'unfroid hijiorien d' une fable infipide.
Every idea of thefe lines ftrongly defends the Lufiad. Yet, it
muil riot be concealed, a diftindiion follows which may appear
againft it. Boileau requires a profane fubjecSl for the Epic Mufe.
But his reafon for it is not juft :
De lafoi d'un Chretien les myjieres terribles
D' ornemens egayes ne font point fufceptibles,
L'evangile d I'efprit noffre de tous cotes
^ue penitence a fair e, & tour mens merit es :
Et de ijosfiBions le melange coupabk
Meme djes v^rites donne Vair de la fable.
*V\s.t myfteres terribles afford indeed no fubjedl for poetry. But^
the, Bible offers to the Mufe fomething befides^^;?/V^«r^ ancj^
jnerited torments. The Paradife Loft, and the works of the
greateft Painters, evince this. Nor does this criticifm, falfe as .
it is, contain one argument which excludes "the 'heroes of a
Chriftian nation from being the fubjedt of poetry. Modern
fubje6ts are indeed condemned by Boileau, and ancient fable,
with its Ulyffes, Agamemnon, &c. noms heureux femolent
nes pour les 'vers — are recommended to the poet. But, happy for
Camoens, his feelings dire<5ted him to another choice. For, in
contradidion of a thoufand Boileaus, no compoiitions are fo
miferably uninterefting as our modern poems, where the heroes
of ancient fable are the perfonages of the adion. Unlefs,
t therefore
CXXXVlll
I N T R O D U t't I b N.
therefore, the fubje(5t of Gamoens -f* may thus feerti condemned
by the celebrated French critic, every other rule he propofes is
in favour of the machinery of the Lufiad. For whatever report
Falfehood and Vohaire may have rai fed again ft^ itj in the ma-
chinery there is no mixture of Pagan and Chriftian perfonages.
The heroes, indeed, are Chriftians, and Santa Fe, holy faith,
is fometimes mentioned. But the allegorical and hiftorical
parts of an Epic poem are effentially different, though the hif-
torical part be even often conducted under the veil of allegory;
as, ac«ording to the precepts of Boileau, the deliverance of the
Luiian fleet is afcribed to the celefhia! Venus. Nor is poetical
ufe the only defence oi our injured author. In the age of Ca-
moens, Bacchus was efleemed a real * daemon : And celeftial
f But to carry the reftrlftion fo far, was
certainly not the meaning of Boileau: for
he himfelf ufe^ the Pagan mythology in his
poem on the paflage of the Rhine by the
French army in 1 672.
* It was the belief of the firft ages of
Chriftianity, that the Pagan Gods were
fallen angels. Milton, with admirable
judgment, has adopted this fyftem. His
Mammon, the architeft of Pandaemonium,
he alfo calls Vulcan :
Nor was his name unheard or unador'd
In ancient Greece, and in Aufonian land.
Men caird him Mulciber ; and how he fell
From heaven, they fabled, thrown by angry
Jove
On Lemnos, th' Egean ifle : Thtis they relate
Erring \ for he with this rebellious rout
Fell long before.
Moloch and Vulcan are therefore mentioned
together with great propriety in the Para-
dife Loft. The belief of the firft Chrif-
tians, with refpeft to da;mons, was una-
bated in the ageof Camoens ; for the oracles
of the Pagan deities were then believed to have
b^en given by evil fpirits. Bacchus might
therefore in a Chriftian poem of fuch ages
reprefent the Evil dxmon ; and it was on
this principle that TzKo felt no impropriety
in calling Pluto his king of hell, the grand
foe of mankind^ and making him talk of the
birth of Chrift. In like manner, when
Camoens fays that the Chriftian altar raifcd
(book IT.) to deceive the Lufians, was the
illufion of Bacchus ; he fays no more than
what was agreeable to the popular belief,
which cfteemed the Pagan gods real dsmons.
and no more than what poetry allows when
a ftorm is afcribed to Neptutie': In- ^
word, it is not the illufions which TafTo
afcribes to his magic, or Camoens to Bac-'
chus; it is the unallegorical oppofition or
concert of Chriftian and Pagan ideas,
' which forms the abfurd, and disfigures
a poem. But this abfurd oppofition or
concert of perfonages has no place in the
machinery of the Lufiad, though it is found
in the greateft of modern poets. The power
of magic oppofes the power of God and his
arch-angel Michael in TafTo. But from
Milton both the allowable and blameable
mixture of Chriftian and Pagan ideas may
be beft exemplified. With great judgment,
as already obferved, he ranks the Pagan
deities among the fallen angels. When he
alludes to Pagan mythology, he fometimes
fays, " as fables feign ;" and fometimes he.
mentions thefe deities in the allegory of'
poetical ftyle ; as thus.
When Bellona ftorms,
With all her battering engines bent to rafe
Some capital city >
And thus, when Adam fmiles on Eve ;
as Jupiter
On Juno fmiles when he irapregns the clouds
That ftied May flowers
Here the perfonages are mentioned expre/T-
ly in their allegorical capacity, a ufe recom-
mended by Boileau. In the following the
blameable mixture occurs. He is defcrib-
ing Paradife — —
■ Univerfal
INTRODUCTION. cxxxix
Venus was confidered as the namely which the Ethnics ex-
preiTed the divine Love. But if the cold hyper-critic will ftill
blame our author for his allegory, let it alio be remembered,
that of all Chriilian poets, Camoens is in this the leaft repre-
henfible. The Hell, Purgatory, and Paradife of Dante, form
one continued texture of Pagan and Scriptural names, <lefcrip-
tions, and ideas. Ariofto is continually in the fame fault ; and
in this, and his addition of Gothic inchantment, he is followed
by TafTo. The Paradife Loft alfo has this mixture, in a manner
not to be found in the Lufiad. And if it is a fault to ufe the
ancient poetical machinery in a poem where the heroes are
Chriftians, Voltaire himfelf has infinitely more of the melange
coupable than Camoens.. The machinery of his Henriade is, as
fConfeffed by himfelf, upon* the idea of the Pagan mythology.
He cites Boileau,
Cejl d'unfcrupule vamf^allarmerfottemenf,
Et VQuloir aux leSteurs plaire fans agrement
B ten- tot Us defe'ndront de peindre la prudence,
T)e donner a T^himis ?2i bandeau, ni balance
Et par-tout des difcours, comme une idolatrie,
Dans leur faux zele iront chafer Vallegorie,
But he fupprefles the verfes which immediately follow, where
the introdud:ion of the true God is prohibited by the critic,
Et fabuleux c lor et tens, nations point darns nosfonges,
Du Dieu de veriiefaire un Dieu de 7?ienfonges,
\ Uhlverfal Pan .. in naked beauty more adorn'd
Knit witli the Graces and the Hours in dance Move lovely than Pandora, whom the Gods
Led on th' eternal fpring. Not that fair field Endow'd with all their gifts, and O too like
of Enna, where Proferpin, {fathering flowers, In fad event, when to th' unwifer fon
Herfelf a fairer flower, by gloomy Dis Of Japhet brought by Hermes fhe enfnar'd
Was gather'd : which coft C\ res all that pain Mankind with her fair looks, to be avenged
To feek her through the world — — On him who had ftole Jove's authentic iire.
— might with this Paradife ,
Of Edenftrive Here we have the heathen Gods, another
origin of evil, and a whole firing of fables.
The mention of Pan, the Graces and Hours, alluded to as real events, on a level with his
is here in the pure allegorical ftyle of poetry. fubjeft. Nor are thefe the only inllances ;
But t;he ftory of Proferpin is not in allegory; the death of Hercules, and feveral others in
It IS mentioned in the fame manner of au- Milton, demerit the cenfure of an unjudi-
th^nticity as the many Scripture hiftories cious mixture of facred and profane my-
ititroduced into the Paradife Loft. When thology aiid hiftory.
the angel brings Eve to Adam, fhe appears
t 2 Yet,
cxl
IN T R O D U C T I O ISf.
Yet, the God of truth according to the Chriftian ideay in dlre(£l
violation of this precept, is a c-onfiderable p'e>rfonag6 in the Pagaft
allegorical machinery of the Henriade. But the couplet lafi
cited, though as dired: againft the Henriade as if it had heeii
written to condemn it, is not <iji the leaft degree applicable to
the machinery of the Lufiad ^ a machinery much lefs'' culpable,
according to the fevereft criticifm, than that of ^'^^^flb, and
infinitely fuperior in every refpecft to that of J VoMal^ey diough
Camoens wrote at the revival of learning, ere criticifm had
given her beft rules to the modern -Mufe. fif'.'-u: :. : ' : ::
The poem of Camoens, indeed, fo fully vindicated itfelf,
that this defence of it perhaps may feem unneceflaryt -Yet one
confideration will vindicate this defence-.f'i ^The'pofem is written
in a language unknown in- politelitefaturel- Few.are able to
judge of the Original, and the unjuft clamour failed ag^inft it
by Rapin * and Voltaire, has been received in Europe as its true
chara<5ter. Lord Kaime&'f', and other authors, very cordially
X See the DifTertation on the Machinery
of TafTo and Voltaire.
* It is an unhappy thlng^ to write In an
unread tongue. Never was author fo
mifreprefented by ignorance as the poet of.
Portugal. Rapin, that cold-blooded critic,
tells us, that to write a good Epic, Il.faut
ebfernjer de la proportion dans le dejfein, it is
neccflary to obferve proportion in the defign,
juftnefs in the thought, and not to fall into
rambling." — He then afferts, thiat Catnoens
trefpaffes again ft- all thefe rules — that he
wants difcernment, and condudl — ^that he
thought of nothing but to exprefs the pride
of his nation, for his ftyle, he fays, eji fier
Iff faflueux, fierce anjd Hiked. In ano-
ther place he fays, " poetical diftion ought
to be clear, natural, and harmonious, and
that obfcurity is its greateft blemifli," — to
which, having named Camoens, he adds,
" fes vers font Ji- ob/curSt qu'ils pourroient
$ajfer pour des myjleres — his verfes are fo oh-
fcure that they may pafs for mylleries." —
Perhaps the old French verfion may deferve
this charafter ; but certain it is from hence,
that Rapin never read the original. Per-
fpicuity, elegant fimplicity, and the moft
natural unllralned harmony, is the juft cha-
r.idleriftic of the ftyle of Camoens. The
appeal is to the world. And the firft Lin-
jjuift of the age, has given the ftyle of Ca-
moens a very different charafter from this
of Rapin : Camoenjtatn Lufitanum, citjus poejis
ade)) venujf'a eJi , adeo polita., ut nihil ej/e pojjit
jucundius ; inter dum 'vero, adeo elata, grandi~~
loqua, ac fonora, tit nihil fingi pojJit ?nagniji-
centius. Jones, Poefeos Aliat. Comment.
Montefquieu's high idea of the Lufiad is
cited p. 227. We fhall only add' the fuf-
frage of the great Cervantes^ who, in his
Don Quixote, C. iv. 1. 6. moft warmly ex-
prefles his idea' of the excellency of the
genius of Camoens. . '
f Lord Kaimes thus" follows Voltaire :
" Portugal was rifmg in power and fplendor
•' (it nxjas hajiening, to the •very laji ft ages
** of rlecknfion) when Camoens wrote the
*' Lufiad, and with, refpeft to the mufic of
'_' verfe it has merit. , The author however
** is far from fliining in point of tafte (moft
*' mafterly dcfcription '■ and boundlefs variety
" ho'we'ver are his charaBeriftics. He has
*' given the tivo firieft' fidions in poetry,
*' And according to Voltaire the ftory of Inez,
'* is equal to the beft ^written parts of Virgil.)
** He makes a ftrange jumble of Heathen
" and Chriftian Deities. " Gama" ob-
" ferves Voltaire, " in a ftorm addrefTes
" his prayers to Chrift, but it is Venus who
** comes to his relief." Voltaire's obfer-
" vation is but too well founded {and is it
" indeed in the name of hcnefty ! ) In the
•' firft
IN T R O D U C T I O N.
cxli
condemn its mixture of Pagan and Chriftlan mythology ; even
condemn it in terms, as if the Luliad, the poem which of all
other modern ones is the moft unexceptionable in this, were
in this mixture the moft egregioufly unfufFerable — Belides,
whatever has the fandlion of the celebrated name of Voltaire
will be remembered, and unlefs circumflantially refuted, may
** firft book, Jove fummons a council of
** the Gods, which is defcribed at great
♦' length, for no earthly purpofe but to fhew
*' that he favoured the Portuguefe : Bac-
*' chus, on the other hand, declares again ft
** them on the following account, that he
*' himfelf had gained immortal glory as
"conqueror of India; which would be
**jeclipfed if the Indies Ihould be conquered
*f a feeond time by the Portuguefe. A
.*'* Moorifh commander having received
** Gama with fmiles, but with hatred in
** .his heart, the poet brings down Bacchus
** from heaven to confirm the Moor in his
** wicked purpofes, which would have been
" perpetrated, had not Venus interpofed in
** Gama's behalf. In the feeond canto
*• Bacchus feigns himfelf to be a Chriftian,
'*.*, in order to deceive the Portuguefe, but
■ *f Venus implores her father Jupiter to pro-
*• tea them."
Such is the view of the Luliad given by a
profeffed Critic. It is impoffible to make
ajiy remark on it without giving offence to
Falfe Delicacy. But to that goddefs the
Tranflator of the injured Camoens will offer
no facrifice. What ignorance of the Epic
poem, unpardonable in a profeffed dictator
in criticifm, does the whole of it betray !
Lucan has been feverely cenfured by the
greateft of ancient and modern critics, for
the want of poetical cloathing or allegory.
But we have already been explicit on that
allegorical perfonification in which the true
fpirit of poetry exifts. In this manner
yirgil and Homer conduct their poems.
(See the notCy p. 267.) But our critic per-
ceives nothing of this kind in Camoens.
Though the whole conduft of the Lufiad
depends upon the council held by Jove, upon
the allegorical parts taken by the perfonages,
Her fpreadiag honours thus the one infpir'd,
And one the dvcad to lofe his worfhij) fir'd—
and though this allegory is finely fullained
throughout the whole poem, where Celeftial
Love is ever mindful (See B. 9.) that Jove or
fate had decreed her altars Ihould be reared
in confequence of the fuccefs of her heroes j
though all this is truly Homeric, is what the
world ever efteemed the true Epic condud,
our critic can fee no earthly purpofe in the
council of Jove, but to fhew that he favour-
ed the Lufians ; no reafon for the oppofition
of Bacchus, but that he had been conqueror
of India, and was averfe it fhould.be con-
quered a feeond time. In the fame igno-
rance of the Epic cbnduft is the 'vacant zcu
count of Bacchus and the Moor. Biit let
our critic be told, that through the fides of
Camoens, if his blow will avail, he has
murdered both Homer and Virgil. What
condemns Bacchus and the Moor, condemns
the part of Juno in the Eneid, and every
interpofition of Juno and Neptune in Ho-
mer. To make the Lufians believe that
Mombaffa was inhabited by Chriltians, the
Moors took the Ambaffadors of Gama to a
houfe, where they fliewed them a Chriftian
altar. This is hiflory. Camoens, in the
true fpirit of the Epic poetry, afcribes this
appearance to the illufioh of Bacchus. Hec-
tor and Tumus are both thus deceived.
And Bacchus, as already proved, was ef-
teemed a fallen angel when our poet wrote.
Nor are the ancients alone thus reprobated
in the fentence paffcd upon Camoens. If
his machinery mull be condemned, with
what accumulated weight muil his fentencie
/all upon the grcatell of our modern poets!
But the myftery is cafily explained : There
are a race of Critics, who cannot perceive
the noble profopopreia of Milton's angels,
who would reduce a Virgil to a Lucan, a
Camoens to a mere hillorian ; who would
flrip poetry oi all her ornaments,, becaufe
they cannot fee them, of all her paflions,
becaufe they cannot feel them ; in a word,
who would leave her nothing but the ncat-
nefs, the cadence, and tinkle of verfe.
©ne
Cxlii
INTRODUCTION.
one tipie perhaps * be appealed to, as decifive, in the contro-
verfies of literary -f- merit.
Other views of the condud: of the Lufiad now offer them-
felves. Beiides the above remarks, many obfervations on the
machinery and poetical conduct, are in their proper^ places
Icattered throughout the notes. The exuberant exclamations
^' VoltMre's defcription of the apparition
near the Cape of Good Hope, is juft as
wide of the original as bombaft is from
the true fublime ; yet it has been cited by
feveral writers. In Camoens a dark cloud
hovers over the fleet, a tremendous noife is
heard, Gama exclaims in amazement, and
the apparition appears in the air,
rifing thro' the darken'd air,
Appaird we faw an hideous Phantom glare.—
Every part of the defcription in Camoens is
fublime and nobly adapted for the pencil.
In Voltaire's laft edition, the pafTage is thus
rendered " C^eji une fantoms, que fele-ue
-—it is a phantome which rifes from the
bottom of the fea ; his head touches the
clouds ; the tempells, the winds, the thun-
ders are around him, his arms are ftretched
afar over the furface of the waters" — Yet
not one pifturefque idea of this is in the
Original. If the phantom's arms are ftretch-
ed upon the furface of the waters, his
•fhoulders, and his head which touches the
clouds, muft only be above the tide. Yet,
though this imageric, with tempefts, winds
and thunders hanging around him, would be
truly ubfurd upon canvas, a celebrated Ita-
lian writer has not only cited Voltaire's de-
fciption, as that of the Original, but has
mended that of the Frenchman by a ftroke
of his own. The feet of the Phantom, fays
Signor Algarotti, are in the unfathomable
abyfs of the fea." (See his ireati/e on Neuu-
ion's Theory of Light and Colours) And
certainly, if his flioulders and head reached
from the furface of the waters to the clouds,
the length which the Signor has given to his
parts under the water was no bad calculation.
Nor is Algarotti the only abfurd retailer of
Voltaire's mifreprefentations. An Engli/li
Traveller, who lately publiftied an account
of Spain and Portugal, has quite compleated
the figure. *' Ses bras f'etendent au loin fur
la furface des eaux, fays Voltaire ; and our
Traveller thus tranflates it. His arms extend
over the nvhok furface of the waters." And
thus the burlefque painter is furnifhed with
the fineft defign imaginable for the mock
fublime. A figure up to the arm-pits in
the water, its arms extending over the ivhole
furface of the fea, its head in the clouds,
and its feet in the unfathomable abyfs of the
ocean ! Very fine indeed, it is impoflible
to mend it farther. Nor is our Traveller's
fpecimen of the Portuguefe literature lefs
happy. He very candidly, and nvith much
kno-ivledge of his fuhjeS, retails feveral of
the grofs mifreprefentations and falfities of
Voltaire ; and alfo adds a little blunder or
two of his own \. And though this Tra-
veller could not perceive || any beauty in the
epifode of the fixth Lufiad, that epifode will
not yield in poetical merit to all the talcs
of Neftor in Homer.
f As we have paid attention to the ftric-
tures of Voltaire, fome is alfo due to the
praifes which he beftows on the Lufiad.
Though he falfely aflerts that it wants con-
nexion, he immediately adds, " Tout cela
prowve enfn, que Vowvrage eji plein des gran-
des bcautes — This only proves, in fine, that
the work is full of grand beauties, fince
thefe two hundred years it has been the de-
light of an ingenious nation." — The fiftion
of the apparition, he owns, will pleafe in
every age ; and of the epifode of Inez, he
fays, 11 y a peu d\ndrcits dans Firgile plus
attendrifjants iff micux ecrits — There are
few parts of Virgil more tender or better
written."
\ As for example, C:imoens, he fays, was born in 1543, whilO John III. reigned, whofe fnccedbr, Don
Emmanuel, fcnt Vafto Je Gama on the diicovery of Indii." But this is juft the fame as if a Portuguefe
ftiould give his countrymen an account of England, and tell tlicm tJiat George I. was fucceeded by Queen
Anne ; and that Shakefpeare was I)orn in the reigii of King James. .
II He thus -w'lUilj ridicules it : A talc is told ai bo-w twelve Portuguefe went to England, &c.
of
INTRODUCTION. cxliii
of Camoens are there defended. Here let it only be added,
that the unity of adlion is not interrupted by thefe ParenthefeS,
and that if Milton's beautiful complaint of his blindnefs be
not an imitation of them, it is in the fame manner and fpirit.
Nor will we fcruple to pronounce that fuch addreffes to the
Mufe would have been admired in Homer, are an interefting
improvement on the Epopoeia, and will certainly be imitated
if ever the world fhall behold another real Epic poem.
The Lufiad, fays Voltaire, contains a fort of Epic poetry un^
heard of before. No heroes are wounded a thoufand different
ways ', no woman enticed away and the world overturned for
her cauje.— -But the very want of thefe, in place of fupporting
the obje<5lion intended by Voltaire, points out the happy judg-
ment and peculiar excellence of Camoens. If Hoi^er has given
us all the fire and hurry of battles, he has alfo given us all the
uninterefting tirefome detail. What reader but muft be tired
with the deaths of a thoufand heroes, who are never mentioned
before nor afterwards in the poem. Yet in every battle we
are wearied out with fuch Gazette returns of the flain and
wounded
''EvO:z Tivoc "ut^Stov^ rivx ^'v(f}ocjov i^evoc^^^sv
'^Exjoop H^iociAiS^'^Cy ore ol Zsvg KvSog £(5w;^£V ;
^Aaaouov ^sv Tt^lcTOC'^ j^ AvrovooVy ;^ 'Oitnriv,
Al(7Vixi)ov r fl^ov'TSy .;^ 'iTTTrovoov fAsvey^oc^ixYiv
Th^ oi^ oy i^ysiJLovoic /^ocvocZv eAsv ocvtoc^ i'urella,
nX)jd{iv a;; oTATOTSy 8cc.
II. Lib. XL lin. 299.
Thus imitated by Virgil,
Cajdicus Alcathoum obtruncat, Sacrator Hydafpem :
Partheniumque Rapo, & prajdurum viribus Orfen :
Meflapus Cloniumque, Lycaoniumque Ericetem :
Ilium, infrasnis equi lapfu tellure jacentem ;
Hunc, peditem pedes. Et Lycius procellerat Agis,
Quern tamen haud expers Valerus virtutis avitas
Dejecit : Atronium Salius ; Saliumque Nealces- — —
/En. 1. X. 747.
cxliv INTRODUCTION.
With fuch catalogues is every battle extended ; and what can
he more tirefome than fuch uninterefting defcriptions and their
imitations! If the idea of the battle be raifed by fuch ennu-
meration, ftill the cbpy and original are fo near each other, that
they can never pleafe in two feparate poems. Nor are the
greater parts of the battles of the Eneid much more diftant
from thofe of the Iliad. Though Virgil with great art has in-
troduced a Camilla, a Pallas, and a Laufus, ftill in many par-
ticulars, and in the action upon the whole, there is fuch a
famenefs with the Iliad, that the learned reader of the Eneid is
deprived of the pleafure infpired by originality. If the man of
tafte, however, will be pleafed to mark how the genius of a
Virgil has managed a war after a Homer, he will certainly be
idre^ with a dozen of Epic poems in the fame ftyle. Where the
feige of a .town and battles are the fubjecft of an Epic, there
!^vill of necelTity, in the characters and circumftances, be a re-
femblance to Homer ; and fuch poern muft therefore want ori-
ginality., Happy for TafTo, the variation of manners, and his
malterly fuperiority over Homer in defcribing his duels, has
given his Jerufalem an air of novelty. Yet with all the dif-
ference between Chriftian and Pagan heroes, we have a Priam,
an Agamamnon, an .Achilles," ^c. armies llaughtered, and a
city befieged. In a word, we have a handfome copy of the
Iliad in the Jerufalem Delivered. If fome imitations, however,
have been fuccefsful, how -many other Epics ,of ancient and
modern times have hurried dpwii the ftream pf oblivion !; Some
of their authors had. poetical merit, but the fault was in the
choice of their fubjeds. So fully is the flrife of war exhaufted
by Hdfii^r, that Virgil and Taflb could ^dd/todt biit little
novelty; no wonder, therefore, that fo many Epics on Ibattles
and feiges have been' fuffered to iink into utter negled:. Ca-
moens, perhaps, did not weigh thefe circijmftances, but the
flrength of his poetical genius dired:ed him. He could not but
feel what it was to read Virgil after Homer; and the original
turn and. force of, h^s, piind led him from the beaten trad: of
Helen's and Lavinia's, Achilles's and Hedor's, feiges and llaugh-
ters, where the hero hews down and drives to flight whole
armies with his own fword. Camoens was the firfl who wooed
the Modern Epic IVJufe, and fhe gave; him the wreath of a
firll Lover: uij'ort of )f.pic Poetry unheard of. before x\ or, as
Voltaire
INTRODUCTION. cxlv
Voltaire calls it in his laft edition, une nouvelle efpece d' Epopee,
And the grandeft fubjedt it is (of profane hiftory) which the world
has ever beheld*. A voyage efteemed too great for man to dare;
the adventures of this voyage through unknown oceans deemed
unnavigable; the Eaftern World happily difcovered, and for ever
indilTolubly joined and given to the Weftern ; the grand Por-
tuguefe empire in the Eaft founded ; the humanization of man-
kind and univerfal commerce the confequence ! What are the
adventures of an old fabulous hero's arrival in Britain, what are
Greece and Latium in arms for a woman, compared to this !
Troy is in afhes, and even the Roman empire is no more.
But the eifedts of the voyage, adventures, and bravery of the
Hero of the Lufiad, will be felt and beheld, and perhaps in-
creafe in importance, while the world fhall remain.
Happy in his choice, happy alfo was the genius of Camoens
in the method of purfuing his fubjedt. He has not, like Taflb,
given it a total appearance of fidlion ; nor has he, like Lucan,
excluded allegory and poetical machinery. Whether he in-
tended it or not, for his genius was fufficient to fuggeft its pro-
priety, the judicious precept of Petronius is the model of the
Lufiad. That elegant writer propofes a poem on the civil war;
EjCce Belli Civilis, fays he, ingens opus Non enim res gefice
'verfibiis comprehendendce funt (quod longe melius hijiorici faciunt )
fed per ambages Deorumque minijleria, & fabulofmn fententiariim
tormentum prcecipitandus eji liber fpiritus : ut potius furentis aiiimi
vaticinatio appareat, quam religiofc^ orationis fub tejiibus fides
No poem, ancient or modern, merits this charatfler in any de-
gree comparative to the Lufiad. A truth of hiflory is preferved,
yet, what is improper for the hiftorian, the miniftry of heaven
is employed, and the free fpirit of poetry throws itfelf into
fidions, which makes the whole appear as an effufion of prophetic
* The Drama and the Epopceia are in haufted. There cannot poflibly be fo im-
nothing fo different as in this : Thefubjeds portant a voyage as that which gave the
of the Drama are inexhauftible, thofe of Eaftern world to the Weftern. And did
the Epopoeia are perhaps exhaufted. He even the ftory of Columbus afford materials
who chufes war and the warlike charafters, equal to that of Gama, the adventures of
cannot appear as an original. It was well the hero, and the view of the extent of his
for the memory of Pope, that he did not difcoveries, mull now appear as fervile copies
write the Epic poem he intended. It would of the Lufiad. The view of Spanifh Ame-
have been only a copy of Virgil. Camoens rica, given in the Juracana, is not only a
and Milton have been happy in the novelty mere copy, but is introduced even by the
of their fubjefts j and thefe they have ex- very machinery of Camoens.
u fury.
cxivi INTRODUCTION.
fury, and not like a rigid detail of fad:s given under the fandion
of witnefles. Contrary to Lucan, who, in the above rules
draw^n from the nature of poetry, is feverely cendemned by Pe-
tronius, Camoens conducts his poem per ambages Deorumque
minijleria. The apparition, which in the night hovers athwart
the fleet near the Cape of Good Hope, is the grandeft fidtion
in human compolition ; the invention his own ! In the Ifland
of Venus, the ufe of which fidtion in an Epic poem is alfo his
own, he has given the compleatell alTemblagc of all the flowers
which have ever adorned the bowers of love. And never was
th.^ furentis animi vaticinatio, more confpicuoufly difplayed than
in the prophetic fong, the view of the fpheres, and of the
globe of the earth. TafTo's imitation of the Ifland of Venus is
not equal to the original ; and though *' Virgil's myrtles * drop-
ping blood are nothing to Taflb's inchanted forefl:," what are all
Ifmeno's inchantments to the grandeur and horror of th^ ap-
pearance, prophecy, and evanilhment of the fpeftre of Ca-
moens! j: — It has been long agreed among the critics, that the
folemnity of religious obfervances gives great dignity to the hif-
torical narrative of the Epopoeia. Camoens, in the embarka-
tion of the fleet, and in feveral other places, is peculiarly happy
in the dignity of religious alluflons. Manners and chara<fler are
alfo required in the Epic poem. But all the Epics which have
appeared, are, except two, mere copies of the Iliad in thefe.
Every one has its Agamemnon, Achilles, Ajax, and Ulylfes,
its calm, furious, grofs and intelligent hero. Camoens and
Milton happily left this beaten trad:, this exhaufted field, and
have given us pictures of manners unknown in the Iliad, the
Eneid, and all thofe poems which may be clafled with the
Thebaid. The Lufiad abounds with pictures of manners, from
thofe of the higheft: chivalry, to thofe of the rudefl:, fiercefl:, and
moft innocent barbarifm. In the fifth, fixth, and ninth books,
Leonardo and Velofo are painted in ffcronger colours than any
of the inferior characters in Virgil. But flriking charadler, in-
deed, is not the excellence of the Eneid. That of Monzaida,
* See Letters on Chivalry and Romance. gal venting their murmurs upon the beach
X The Lufiad is alfo rendered poetical by when Gama fets fail, difplay the richneis
other fiftions. The elegant fatyr on king of our Author's poetical genius, and are
Sebaftian, under the name of Afteon ; and not inferior to any thing of the kind in
the profopopceia of the populace of Porta- the Clailics.
the
INTRODUCTION. cxlvii
the friend of Gama, is much fuperior to that of Achates.
The bafe, felfiifh, perfidious and cruel charaders of the Za-
morim and the Moors, are painted in the ftrongeft colours;
and the charader of Gama himlelf, is that of the finifhed
hero. His cool command of his paffions, his deep fagacity,
his fixed intrepidity, his tendernefs of heart; .his manly piety,
and his high enthufiafm in the love of his country, are all
difplayed in the fuperlative degree Let him who ob-
jects the want of character to the Lufiad, beware left he
ftumble upon its praife ; left he only fay, it wants an Achilles, it./,
a Hedor, and a Priam.N. And to the novelty of the manners )^ /^^^^^
of the Lufiad let the novelty of fire-arms alfo be added. It M*-^^ *^
has been faid, that the buckler, the bow, and the fpear, muft Efy^'*^^'*^
continue the arrhs of poetry. Yet, however unfuccefsful others
may have been, Camoens has proved that fire-arms may be
introduced with the greateft dignity and fineft effed: in the
Epic Poem.
As the grand intereft of commerce and of mankind forms the
fubjed; of the Lufiad, fo with great propriety, as neceflary ac-
companyments to the voyage of his Hero, the Author has given
poetical pidlures of the four parts of the world. In the third
book, a view of Europe ; in the fifth, a view of Africa j and in
the tenth, a pidlure of Afia and America. Homer and Virgil
have been highly praifed for their judgment in the choice of
fubjects which interefted their countrymen, and Statins has
been as feverely condemned for his uninterefting choice. But
though the fubjed: of Camoens be particularly interefting to his
countrymen, it has alfo the peculiar happinefs to be the Poem
of every trading nation. It is the Epic Poem of the Birth of
Commerce. And in a particular manner the Epic Poem of
whatever country has the controul and pofleflion of the com-
merce of India.
An unexhaufted fertility and variety of poetical defcription,
an unexhaufted elevation of fentiment, and a conftant tenor of
the grand fimphcity of didlion, complete the character of the
Lufiad of Camoens : A poem which, though it has hitherto re-
ceived from the public moft unmerited negled:, and from the
critics moft flagrant injuftice, was yet better underftood by the
greateft poet of Italy. TafiTo never did his judgment more
credit, than when he confefled that he dreaded Camoens as a
u 2 rival.
cxlviii INTRODUCTION.
rival ; or his generofity more honour, than when he addreffed
this elegant Sonnet to the Hero of the Lufiad :
SONNETTO.
VafcQ, le cui felici, ardite antenne
In contro al fol, che ne riporta il giorno
Spiegar le vele, e fer cola ritorno.
Dove egli par che di cadere accenne :
Non piu di te per afpro mar foftenne
Quel, che fece al Ciclope oltraggio, e fcorno :
Ne chi turbo TArpie nel fuo foggiorno,
Ne die piu bel foggetto a colte penne.
Et hor quella del colto, e buon' Luigi,
Tant' oltre flende il gloriofo volo
Che i tuoi fpalmati legni andar men lunge.
Ond' a quelli, a cui s'alza il noftro polo,
Et a chi ferma in contra i fuoi veftigi.
Per lui del corfo tuo la fama aggiunge.
SONNET.
Vafco, whofe bold and happy bowfprit bore
Againft the rifing morn ; and, homeward fraught,
Whofe fails came weftward with the day, and brought
The wealth of India to thy native fliore :
Ne'er did the Greek fuch length of feas explore :
The Greek, who forrow to the Cyclop wrought.
And he, who, Vidlor, with the Harpies fought.
Never fuch pomp of naval honours wore.
Great as thou art, and peerlefs in renown.
Yet thou to Camoens ow'fl thy nobleft fame ;
Farther than thou didil: fail, his deathlefs fong
Shall bear the dazzling fplendor of thy name ;
And under many a fky thy actions crown,
While Time and Fame together glide along.
It
I NT R O D U C T I O N.
cxiix
It only remains to give feme account of the Verfion of the
Luiiad; which is now. offered to the Public. Befides the Tran-
flations mentioned in the life of Camoens, M. Duperron De
Caftera, in 1735* gave in French profe a loofe unpoetical
paraphrafe * of the Lufiad. Nor does Sir Richard Fanfhaw's
Englifli verfion, publifhed during the ufurpation of Cromwell,
merit a better charadler. Though ftanza be rendered for ftanza,
though at firfl view it has the appearance of being exceedingly-
literal, this verfion is nevertheless exceedingly unfaithful. Un-
countenanced by his original, Fanfhaw
teems with many a dead-born jefl-f*.
Nor had he the leafl idea of the dignity of the Epic J ftyle,
or of the true fpirit of poetical tranllation. For this, indeed,
no definite rule can be given. The Tranflator's feelings alone
muft dired: him, for the fpirit of poetry is fure to evaporate
in literal tranflation.
Literal tranflation of poetry is in reality a folecifm. You
may conflrue your author, indeed, but if v/ith fome Tranflators
you boafl that you have left your author to fpeak for himfelf.
* Caftera was every way unequal to his
tafk. He did not perceive his author's
beauties. He either fupprefTes or lowers the
moft poetical paflages, and fubftitutes French
tinfel and impertinence in their place. In
the neceflary illuftrations in the notes, the
citations from Caftera will vindicate this
charafter.
t Pope, OdyfT, xx.
X Richard Fanfhaw, Efq; afterwards Sir
Richard, was Englilh Ambaffador both at
Madrid and Lilbon. He had a tafte for
literature, and tranflated from the Italian
feveral pieces, which were of fervice in the
refinement of our poetry. Though his Lu-
fiad, by the dedication of it to WiUia/n
lEjaxloi Strafford y dated May i, 1655, feems
as publifhed by himfelf, we are told by the
Editor of his Letters, that " during the
•' unfettled times of our Jnarchy, fome of
** his MSS. falling by misfortune into un-
" fkillful hands, were printed and publiflicd
" without his confent or knowledge, and
" before he could give them his laft finifh-
♦' ing ftrokes : Such was his tranflation of
•' the Luftadsr
The great refpcfl due to the memory of
a gentleman, who, in the unpropicious age
of a Cromwell, endeavoured to cultivate
the Englifh Mufes, and the acknowledge-
ment of his friend, that his Lufiad received
not his finilbing flrokes, may feem to de-
mand that a veil Ihould be thrown over its
faults. And not a blemilh flioukl have been
pointed out by the prefcntTranflator, if the
reputation of Camoens were unconcerned,
and if it were not a duty he owed his reader
to give a fpecimen of the former tranflation.
We have proved that Voltaire read and drew
his opinion of the Lufiad frcm Fanfhaw.
And Rapin moft probably drew his from
the fame fource, Perfpicuity is the charac-
teriftic of Camoens ; yet Rapin fays, his
verfes are fo obfcurc they appear like myf-
teries. Fanfhaw is indeed fo obfcure, that
in dipping into him, into parts which he
had even then tianflated, the prefent Tran-
flator has often been obliged to have re-
courfc to the Portugucfe, to difcover his
meaning. Sancho Panza was not fonder
of proverbs. He has thruft many into his
verfion.
cl , INTRODUCTION.
that you have neither added nor diminifhed, you have in reality
grofsly abiifed him, and deceived yourfelf. Your literal tranfla-
tion can have no claim to the original felicities of expreffion j
the energy, elegance, and fire of the original poetry. It may
bear indeed a. refemblance, but fuch a one as a corps in the
fepulchre bears to the former man when he moved in the bloom
and vigour of life.
Nee "oerbum 'verbo curabis reddere,Jidus
Interpres
was the tafte of the Auguflan age. None but a Poet can tran-
flate a Poet. The freedom which this precept gives, will,
therefore, in a poet's hands, not only infufe the energy, ele-
gance, and fire of his author's poetry into his own verfion, but
will give it alfo the fpirit of an original.
He who can conflrue may perform all that is claimed by the
literal Tranllator. He who attempts the manner of tranflation
prefcribed by Horace, ventures upon a tafk of genius. Yet
however daring the undertaking, and however he may have
failed in it, the Tranllator acknowledges, that in this fpirit he
endeavoured to give the Lufiad in Englifh. Even farther liber-
ties in one or two inftances feemed to him advantageous
verfion. He can never have enough of con- And the appearance of Indians in canoes
ceits, low aliufions, and exprefTions. When approaching the fleet, is the very next de-
gathering of flowers, " as loninas apan- fcription which occurs ;
hando" is fimply mentioned (C. 9. ft. 24.)
he gives it, rather' d flonjoers by pecks. And ^""^ freight out of that Idc which feem'd moft nccr
.u r J* D ^' • • ir^ on. \ Unto the continent, Behold a number
the Indian Regent is avaricious (C. 8. ft. 95.) ^^ ,i^^^ g^^,^ incompanie appeer,
Meaning a better penny thence to get. Which (clapping all wings on) the long Sea flinder !
•n ^ 1 r I /- 1 II < The men are rapt with joy, and, with the meer
But enough of thefe have already appeared E^cefs of it, can only look, and wonder,
in the notes. It is ncceflary now to give a What nation's this, (witliin themfelves they fay)
few of his ftanzas entire, that the reader What rites, what laws, what king do they obey ?
may form an idea of the manner and fpirit
of the old tranflation. Nor fliall we feleft T'l'''?.'"'"^ rf / I"'?°'^^^^"'^ /"^ "o-" A^t,
y c • rr■^ i_i -jrii/r But apt t o rc-ict (as being piHcht and long)
the fpecimens. The noble attitude of Mars A»d then thefdf-wim like rats *. The fayles, of mat
m the firft book, is the firrt ftriking defcrip- Made of palm-leaves, wove curioufly and ftrong.
tion in the poem, and is thus rendered ; The mens complexion, the felf-fame with that
He E gave the earth's burnt parts (from licaven flung)
Lifting a little up his Helmet-fight Who was more brave than wife ; That this is true
('Twas adamant; with confidence enough, The Po doth know and Lampctufa rue.
To give his vote himfelf he placed right _ , ^ 1 1 , r
Before tliethioneofjove.arnrd, valiant, tough: " maybe neceflary to add, the verfion
And (giving \^ith the butt-end of his pyke of Fanflviw, though the Lufiad very parti-
A great thump on the floor of pureit ftutfe) cularly requires them, was given to the
The heavens did tremble, and Apollo's light Public without one note.
It went, and came, like colour in a fright.
Not in the Orijjinal,
But .
INTRODUCTION.
cli
But a minutenefs * in the mention of thefe will not appear with
a good grace in the firft (perhaps laft) Edition of his work :
And the oHginal'is in the hands of the world.
Though unwilling to enter into the controverfy on the
fuperiority of blank verfe or rhyme, as the Tranflator has
chofen the latter, he prefumes it may not be improper to
bffer to the Reader the reafons which dired:ed his choice.
But he gives them not as decifive. He only confefles, that
fuch is his taile In Shakefpeare, and in the heft parts
of Otway and Southern, the Englifh blank verfe appears in
great perfed:ion and propriety. But this is of the Iambic or
Dramatic kind, a kind very different from the Heroic.
This, if not attainable, has never yet in perfedion been at-
tained in the Englifh language; for certain it is, that in Milton,
and every other writer of heroic blank verfe, almofl every four
or five lines are interrupted with other two or three, which are
abfolute profe. Every objecftion againfl rhyme recurs with ac-
cumulated charge againfl blank heroics. The monotony of the
Night Thoughts, The Seafons, and of Leonidas, is infinitely
* Some liberties of a l&fs poetical kind,
however, require to be mentioned. In
Homer and Virgil's lifts of flain warriors,
Dryden and Pope have omitted feveral
names which would have rendered Englilh
verfification dull and tirefome. Several al-
lufions to ancient hiftcry and fable have for
this reafon been abridged, e. g. In the prayer
of Gama (Book 6.) the mention of Paul,
" thou vjho deliveredft Paul and defendedil
him from quickfands and wild waves —
Das fcyrtes arenofas l£ ondas feas "
is omitted. However excellent in the ori-
ginal, the prayer in Englifh, fuch is the
difference of languages, would lofe both its
dignity and ardour, if burthened with a
farther enumeration. Nor let the critic, if
he find the meaning of Camoens in fome
inflances altered, imagine that he has
found a blunder in the Tranflator. He
who chufes to fee a flight alteration of this
kind, will find an inftance, which will give
him an idea of others, in Can. 8. 11. 48.
and another in Can. 7. ft. 4t. It was not
to gratify the dull few, whoie greatcll plca-
fure in reading a tranflation is to fee what
the author exaftly fays ; it was to give a
poem that might live in the Englifl^ lan-
guage which was the ambition of the Tran-
flator. And for the fame reafon, he has
not confined himfelf to the Portuguefe or
Spanifli pronunciation of proper names. It
is ingenioufly obferved in the Rambler, that
Milton, by the introdudion of proper
names, often gives great dignity to his
verfe. Regardlefs therefore of Spanifli pro-
nunciation, the Tranflator has accented
Granada, Evora, &c. in the manner which
fccmed to him to give moft dignity to Eng-
lifli verfification. In the word Sofala he has
even rejeded the authority of Milton, and
followed the more fonorous ufage of Fan-
fhaw. Thus Sir Richard : " Againji So-
fala's batter'ti fort" And thus Milton :
" And Sofala thought Ophir—" Which
is the moft fonorous there can be no difpute.
If the Tranflator, however, is found to have
trefpafTed again ft good talle in thefe liber-
ties in the pronunciation of proper names^
he will be very willing to acknowledge and
corrcdl his error.
more
clii I N: T R O D U C T I O N.
more tirefome than the famenefs of Dryden and Pope. Unna-
tural diftortion of language feems peculiar to blank verfe. It is
therefore a fare method to fpoil the ftyle and expreffion of
youth, who, by the way, are generally its warmeft advocates.
That rhyme makes the poet walk in fhackles is denied. He
that feels it fo, is forbidden by nature to write in verfe ; and
let him obey the admonition, and prefume not to dictate to
others from his own feelings Every advantage of imitative
harmony, of running the lines into each other, is enjoyed by
rhyme in as high a degree as blank verfe. Other arguments in
favour of rhyme, are founded on the nature of our language :
The repetition of found, unlefs murdered indeed in the reading,
produces a fliort reft ; and this reft fixes the numeroufnefs of
the ten fyllables, which in blank heroics, when the lines
run into each other, is often totally loft. For the ear feldom
perceives, in this cafe, where the harmony of the line ends,
and thence it neceflarily becomes profaic, and is therefore
contrary to the genius of our^language. And the numerouf-
nefs thus produced by repetition of found leads even to a greater
advantage. Rhyme admits and delights in the moft elegant
eafe both of the natural fimplicity and force of expreftion. But
blank heroics, alas ! — Yet, peace to its admirers. Thefe ob-
fervations are not obtruded as criticifms, they are only offered
as the reafons which induced the Tranflator to give the Englifh
Lufiad that drefs, in which he has prefented it to the Public.
To his Subfcribers the Tranflator begs leave to offer his moft
grateful acknowledgements of the honour they have done him.
If the time of his publication exceed the period he at firft pro-
pofed, the idea he then conceived, and his propofals, are alfo
much exceeded by the Introdudtion and Notes which he found
neceflary to give. As he advanced in his undertaking, new
views opened upon him, and to render his work as ufeful and as
complete as he poffibly could, was his firft care. Nor is his
thanks alone due to his Subfcribers in general. Many of the
moft refped:able names have honoured his Lufiad with their
countenance, and have promoted its fuccefs. His lift of fub-
fcribers will fhew the refped: that was paid to the opinion
of fome Gentlemen of the Univerfity of Oxford, who have
interefted themfelves in its favour. . And that his work may
vindicate their good opinion, is not only his firft ambition,
but,
INTRODUCTION. . cliii
but, if fo happy, the befl return he could poflibly make them.
— The manner in which his Grace the Duke of Buccleugh
took the Englifh Lufiad under his patronage, infinitely inhanced
the honour of his acceptance — To Governor Johnftone, whofe
anceftors have been the hereditary patrons of the anceflors of
the Tranflator, he is under every obligation which the warmefl
zeal to promote the fuccefs of his undertaking can poflibly con-
fer. To this Gentleman, in a great meafure, the appearance of
the Lufiad in Englifli is due. — To the Gentlemen of the
Eafl: India Company, wJio are his Subfcribers, the Tranflator
ofl^ers his Angular thanks ; and with pleafure he aflures them,
that their defire to fee an Epic Poem, particularly their own,
in Englifli, greatly encouraged him in the profecution of his
laborious work — To Thomas Pearfon, Efq; of the Eafl: India
Company's Service, he owes the afllftance of fome Portuguefe
Hifliorians and other books, which have enabled him to eluci-
date his author. To this Gentleman he alfo owes the acknow-
ledgement for a numerous lifl: of Subfcribers. But thefe, in
themfelves, he efleems the leafl: of Major Pearfon's favours.
The manner of conferring them, and the continuance of his
friendly wiflies, cannot be repaid by the warmefl: acknowledge-
ments — To James Bofwell, Efq; he confelfes many obligations.
To the friendfliip of Mr. Hoole, the elegant Tranflator of
Taflb, he is peculiarly indebted. — And while thus he recolle6ts
with pleafure the names of many gentlemen from whom he
lias received afllfl:ance or encouragement ; he is happy to be
enabled to add Dr. Johnfon to the number of thofe, whofe
kindnefs for the man, and good wiflies for the Tranflation, call
for his fincereft gratitude. Nor mufl: a tribute to the memory
of Dr. Goldfmith be negledled. He faw a part of this verfion ;
but he cannot now receive the thanks of the Tranflator. Neither
mufl another circumflance, which he efleems fo flattering an
honour, be pafled over in filence : Various fpecimens of this
tranflation have been feen by Portuguefe Literati, and the
Tranflator has been favoured with their earneft defire to com-
plete his undertaking. The ingenious Mr. Magellan, of the
family of the celebrated Navigator, has been even an enthufiafl:
in promoting its intereft. By his means, fome of the moft re-
fped:able literary names of Portugal and of Paris have honoured.
his lifl. From Mr. Magellan and fome other Portuguefe gen--
X tlemea
cliv INTRODUCTION.
tlemen he has received confiderable information on various parts
of his fubjedt. For thefe favours, and particularly for the
honour they did him, in wifhing him to be the Tranflator of
the Poet of their nation, he returns them his mod refpe(5tful
thanks. Yet, though flattered with the approbation of fome
of thofe literary names, for whom the Public bear the greatefl
refped:, Though he has introduced to the Englifh Reader a
Poem, truly Virgilian, the Tranflator confefTes he has his
fears for its fate. His execution but no apology will fupply
the defeds of elegance and poetical fpirit ; no apology fhall
therefore be offered. Yet whatever anxiety the confcience
of his inability may give him, he alfo feels other confidera-
tions, which leem to authenticate his fears. We are not,
indeed, in the condition of ancient Rome, when, in the de-
clenfion of her literature, the Latin tpngue was defpifed, and
the Greek only admired. Yet, though a mafterly treatife in
fome branches of literature v/ould immediately receive the ap-
probation due to merit, ere the jull reputation of his poetry be
fixed, an Author perhaps may be where the applaufe of the
world cannot come. Long after Shakefpeare wrote, and thirty
years after the Paradife Lofl was publiflied, Shaftfbury pro-
nounced that the Englifli Mufes were lifping in their cradles.
And Temple, a much greater authority in poetical tafle, efleems
Sidney the greatefl of all modern poets. Nor was his negled:
.of Milton fingular. Even though that immortal Author's re-
putation be now fixed, I have known a learned gentleman who
could not endure a line of the Paradife Lofl, who yet, with
feeming rapture, would repeat whole pages of Ovid. There
is a charm in the found of a language which is not debafed
by familiar ufe. And as it was in falling Rome, nothing
in his vernacular tongue will be highly efleemed by the
Scholar of dull tafle. A work which claims poetical merits
while its reputation is uneflablifhed, is beheld, by the great
majority, with a cold and a jealous eye. Tlie prefent age, in-
deed, is happily aufpicious to Science and the Arts 3 but Poetry
is neither the general tafle nor the fadiionable favourite of thefe
times. Often, in the difpirited hour, have thefe views ob-
truded upon the Tranflator. Whilft he has left his Author
upon the table and wandered in the fields, thefe views have
doathed themfelves .almofl imperceptibly in the flanza and
allegory
INTRODUCTION. civ
allegory of Spenfer. Thus connecSted with the Tranllation of
Camoens, unfinifhed as they are, they fhall clofe the Introdudion
to the Englifh Lufiad.
Hence, vagrant Minftrel, from my thriving farm.
Far hence, nor ween to fhed thy poifon here :
My hinds defpife thy lyre's ignoble charm -,
Seek in the Sloggard's bowers thy ill earn'd cheer :
There while thy idle chaunting foothes their ear.
The noxious thiftle. choaks their lickly corn^
Their apple boughs, ungraff'd, four wildings bear.
And o'er the ill-fenced dales with fleeces torn
Unguarded from the fox, their lambkins ftray forlorn-
Such ruin withers the negleded foil.
When to the fong the ill-ftarr'd fwain attends.
And well thy meed repays thy worthlefs toil ;
Upon thy houfelefs head pale want defcends
In bitter fhower : And taunting fcorn ftill rends.
And wakes thee trembling from thy golden dream :,-
In vetchy bed, or loathly dungeon ends
Thy idled life What fitter may befeem^,
Who poifons thus the fount, fhould drink the poifon'd ftream.
And
civi INTRODUCTION, ^
And is it thus, the heart-flung Minftrel cry'd.
While indignation fhook his filver'd head, .=
And is it thus, the grofs-fed lordling's pride, " ;
And hind's bafe tongue the gentle Bard upbraid!
And mufl the holy fong be thus repaid
By fun-bafk'd ignorance, and chorlifli fcorn !
While liftlefs drooping in the languid iliade
Of cold negledt, the facred Bard mufl mourn,
Though in his hallowed breafl heaven's purefl ardours burn !
Yet how fublime, O Bard, the dread behefl.
The awful trufl to thee by heaven aflign'd !
*Tis thine to humanife the favage breafl.
And form in Virtue's mould the youthful mind :
Where lurks the latent fpark of generous kind,
*Tis thine to bid the dormant ember blaze :
Heroic rage with gentlefl worth combin'd
Wide through the land thy forming power difplays.
So fpread the olive boughs beneath Dan Phoebus rays.
When Heaven decreed to foothe the feuds that tore
The wolf-eyed Barons, whofe unletter'd rage
Spurn'd the fair Mufe, Heaven bade on Avon's fhorc
A Shakefpeare rife and foothe the barbarous age :
A Shakefpeare rofe ; the barbarous heats afwage — —
At diflance due how many bards attend !
Enlarged and liberal from the narrow cage
Of blinded zeal new manners wide extend.
And o'er the generous breafl the dews of heaven defcend.
And
INTRODUCTION. clvii
And fits it you, ye fons of hallowed power.
To hear, unmoved, the tongue of fcorn upbraid
The Mufe negleded in her wintry bower.
While proudly flourifhing in princely fhade
Her younger fiflers lift the laurel'd head
And fhall the pencil's boldeft mimic rage.
Or fofteft charms foredoom'd in time to fade.
Shall thefe be vaunted o'er th' immortal page.
Where paffion's living fires burn unimpair'd by age !
\
And fhall the warbled ftrain or fweeteft lyre.
Thrilling the palace roof at night's deep hour;
And {hall the nightingales in woodland choir
The voice of heaven in fweeter raptures pour !
Ah no, their fong is tranfient as the flower
Of April morn : In vain the fhepherd boy
Sits liftning in the filent Autumn bower ;
The year no more reftores the fhort-lived joy.
And never more his harp fhall Orpheus* hands employ.
Eternal Silence in her cold deaf ear
Has clofed his ftrain ; deep as eternal night
Has o'er Apelles' tints, fo bright while-ere.
Drawn her blank curtains — never to the fight
More to be given But cloath'd in heaven's own light
Homer's bold painting fhall immortal fhine.
Wide o'er the world fhall ever found the might.
The raptured mufic of each deathlefs line.
For death nor time may touch their living foul divine.
And
clviii INTRODUCTION.
And what the flrain, though Pel-ez fwell the notfe.
High though its rapthrey tb the Mufc of fire !
Yes, what the tranfieht founds, devoid of thought^
To th* unabated flood of Shakefpeare'^ ire.
Or Mihon's giant fway, till tirrie expire
Foredoom'd to live ; as heaven's dread energy
Unconfcious of the bbtihd^ bf pldcc " ' '
DISSERTATION.
DISSERTATION
On the Machinery of Taffos Jerufalem, and Voltaire* s Henriadc.
CAmoens, unheard, unread by the critics,
has been reprefented to the world as the
tnoft extravagant, moft abfurd of all poets, in
the injudicious profane mixture of Chriftian
and Pagan ideas. The grofs falllty of this
charge we have fully detefted. But juftice
to the reputation of my Author demands
fomething farther. If the great TafTo be
guilty of the fault injurioufly afcribed to Ca-
moens, and if his arch-accufer Voltaire has
adopted a machinery infinitely lefs worthy
of the Epic Mufe, what muft we think of
"the unjuil condemnation of the poet of Por-
tugal ! The machinery of the Jerufalem is
thus abridged : God fends the angel Gabriel
to Godfrey : Gabriel announces him general
.by the will of heaven, and incites him to a
vigorous profecution of the war, to refcue
the tomb of Chrift from the Infidels. A
magician, an apoftate Chriftian, who could
alarm Pluto in his own regions.
Sin ne la regia fua Flutan ffa'venta——t
and who ftill mixed fome Chriftian rites
with his profane incantations,' advifes Ala-
dine king of Jerufalem to feize a ftatue of
the Virgin and place it in his mofque, af-
furing him, that while it continued there,
jbis fpells fhould proteft the city. The image
is accordingly placed in the mofque, con-
trary to Mohammedan manners, from whence
it miraculoufly difappears. The war com-
mences. The foe of man, afterwards named
Pluto, calls a council of the infernal powers.
Polypheme, Gorgon, Cerberus, ,&c. are
here. Pluto relates his own fall from hea-
ven, the birth of Chrift, Chrift's defcent
into hell, his refcue of captive fouls ; and
then propofes to deftroy the Chriftian army,
particularly by the fnares of love. Armida,
a moft beautiful enchantrefs, is fent by her
uncle, the king of Damafcus, who is alfo a
magician, to delude the Chriftian chiefs.
j3he arrives at the camp; pretepds to be^a
xlcthroned princefs, and begs aftlftance.
pThc flower of the Chriftian warriors are
,e5^ger to go with her : ten are appointed by
Jpt, and* many others fdllow her by ftealtli.
Thefe, like Circe, Ihe enchants, and turns
them into fifties. Beelzebub and Aledlo are
alternately introduced, as exciting the Infi-
dels to treachery. God now fends the arch-
angel Michael to drive the daemons from the
battle. The magician Ifmeno excites the
Soldan Solyman againft the Chriftians, and
conveys him in an enchanted chariot to Je-
rufalem. The daemons, who had been
driven by Michael to Acheron, are recalled
by Ifmeno, and ordered to take pofleflion
of a foreft, from whence it was neceflary
for the Chriftians to cut timber to carry on
the feige. Tancred, terrified by apparitions,
defifts from his attempt to cut down the
foreft. The hermit Peter pronounces that
this fcrvice was decreed for Rinaldo, who
is in the power of the enchantrefs Armida.
Peter informs Ubald and Charles, that a
Chriftian magician at Afcalon will aflift
them to relieve the hero from her inchant-
ment. The epifode of Armida, abounding
in poetry, is now introduced. Rinaldo is
relieved, and the enchanted foreft by him
cut down. 1 he poem now draws to the
hurry of conclufion , The wall of Jerufalem
is aflalled ; Ifmeno and two othfer magicians,
in defence of the Infidels, endeavour to
change the courfe of nature with their in-
chantments,
Ritentar 'volle V arti fue fallaci
Per sj'orzar la nalura •
And the arch-angel Michael appears to
Gpdfrey, to whom he ftiews the fouls qf
the Chriftian heroes who had fallen in thp
war ftill fighting under his banners, and
the hoft of heaven ready to oppofe the ene-
,niy. The afTault is fuccefsful. The Infidel
chiefs are killed by difi"crent Chriftian heroes.
Armida, who fought in the Egyptian army,
fubmits to Rinaldo, and Godfrey is com-
pletely victorious.
Such is the machinery of a poem, univer-
fally and juftly admired. Yet whatever praife
is due to the grandeur of Gothic inchant-
ment, the oppofitlon of it to the arch-rngel
Michael, the immediate meftenger of God,
cairles
clx
DISSERTATION.
carries in it a fomething which muft dif-
pleafe. No popular belief of the power of
magic will palliate the difgull of the fenfible
reader. Had the hermit Peter, who is re-
prefentcd as a prophet, worked miracles,
fuch as abound in the monkifh legends ;
thefe, the objefts of firm popular belief,
with greater propriety and even more poetry
might have oppofed the power of infernal
magicians. But as the machinery ftands in
Taflb, that of Camoens, which is purely
the well known allegory of poetry, is infi-
nitely lefs culpable in the mixture of ideas.
As the machinery of the Henriade can-
not be traced without a view of the whole
aftion of the poem, a diffeftion of the whole
fhall be accurately given. It has been faid,
that the French language is incapable of
Epic dignity. The Henriade proves the
juftice of this obfervation. The Reader,
who is acquainted with Virgil, muft perceive
the miferable comparative poverty of the
Henriade ; he will alfo obferve, that the
following citations are made in examination
of the machinery, and not feleded with a
view to the want of Epic dignity.
The aftion of the Henriade is founded
on French hiftory. Soon after the horrid
maifacre of Paris, an aflbciation again ft the
proteftants was formed under the Duke of
Guife. The power of this affociation,
called the Holy League, began to give un-
eafinefs to Henry III. a v/eak diflipated
prince, and Guife, by his order, was aflaf-
finated. The League, however, became
more formidable, and Henry was driven
from his capital. He implored the afliftance
of his former enemy, Henry of Navarre,
the head of the proteftant party. While
the two kings affailed Paris, Henry III. was
ftabbed by a young friar, and Henry of
Navarre, the legal heir of the crown, con-
tinued the fiege. Paris, though reduced to
the moft dreadful extremities of famine, ftill
held out, till Henry, perceiving the unal-
terable hatred which the League bore to his
religion, abjured the proteftant doftrine, and
Paris opened her gates and received him with
joy. And thus, fays Voltaire, in his Englifh
introdudlioh to the Henriade, (omitted in his
French copies) " What his valour and mag-
*' nanimity could never bring about, was
*' eafily obtained by going to mafs, and by
** receiving abfolution of the Pope."
However bold it may feem to condemn
this fubjeft as unworthy of the Epic Mufe,
there needs no argument to prove it infinite-
ly inferior to that of the Lufiad. In dignity
and conduft Camoens is every where Vir-
gilian : Voltaire ftiall fpeak for himfelf.
The ftate of France, at the commencement
of the adion, is thus defcribed r
Les loix etaient fans force, et les droits confondus^
Ou plutot en effet Falois ne regnait phis
On 'voyait dans Paris la Difcorde inkumaine
Excitant aux combats, & la Lifue & Mayene—'
Ce monfire impetueux, Janguinaire, inflexible,
Defes propres fujets ejl I'ennemi terrible.
In the machinery which is now introduc-
ed, the foul of St, Louis a£ts the part of
Venus in the Enead. From the height of
the heavens he beholds and protects Henry
of Navarre, but he conceals the arm which
he fpreads to guard him, left the hero, too
fure of viftory, and with lefs danger, fhould
acquire lefs glory. The lines are thefe :
frigid indeed !
Le Pere de Bourbons, dufein des immortels,
Louts, fxaitfur hi fes regards paternels ——'
Mais Henri s^ an/an fait 'vers fa grandeur fupr erne.
Par des chemins fecrets, inconnus a lui mime ;
Loiiis du haut de cieux lui pretait fon apptii%
Mais il cachait le bras qu'il etendait pour lui,
De peur que ce heros, trop fur de fa •■viBoire,
Avec mains de danger n'eiit acquis mains deglcire.
Having thus introduced the reader to the
leading perfonage of the machi-aery, Paris is
befieged by the two kings, we are told, and
the dasmon of carnage has carried his rage
from fea to fea. The aftion now com-
mences, Henry III. of the houfe of Valois,
deplores his fituation to Henry of Navarre,
tells him that the papal thunders are ifTued
againft him, and that Spain is about to fend
auxiliaries to the League. He therefore
entreats him to go to England to folicit an
army to affift them.
Henry then fails from Dieppe.
Vimpetueux Boree, enchaine dans les airs,
Aufoufle de Zephyre abandonnott les mers.
Then comes a ftorm, in very common place
defcription, in which Henry thought of no-
thing but the evils of his country ;
Nefonge en ce danger qu'auxmaux defapatrie.
Then the God of the Univerfe comm'anda
the ftorm to carry the veftcl to the ifle of
Jerfey. Here the hero lands and finds a
venerable old man, who fought peace far
from
DISSERTATION.
cixi
from the court, loin de la cour, and God, it
fcems, had fent Wifdom to open the book
of Fate to this fame hermit ;
Ce Dieu qu'll athrait, pritfain de fa 'vieilkjfe,
lifit daas jon defer t defcendre la Sagejfe j
E,t prcd'igue envcrs lui defts irefors di-vms,
U cwvrit afesjuux le livre de Defiins.
An cl here Mornay, the Calvinift friend of
Henry, who
Pretaii au Calvinifmi un apput redoutable—'
and the herfnit, hold a difcourfe upon theo-
logy, in wliich the old prophet execrates
Galvinifm, and foretells, that a worfhip fo
new, could not always continue ;
Un culteji nowveau ne pent durer ioujgurs.
Des caprices de fhomme il a tire f on eire :
On le verra perir ainfi qvCon la vH naitre.
The hermit then prophefies, that Henry,
fhould turn papift and be king. An idle
declamation on the Engllfh, who are unfit
either to be flaves or freemen,
^i ne pent ni fervlr, m nji'vre en liberie
and the character of Elizabeth, who chain-
ed dcftiny at her feet, and allonifhed the
world with the eclat of her reign,
Une femme afes pieds enchamant hi deJJins,
De Veclat defon regne eiomtait les humaini •— —
conclude the interview with the hermit of
Jerfey; an epifode of noufe in the conduft
of the poem, and a dull imitation of the
part afted by the hermit Peter in Taffo.
IVhaf firange fancy, fays Voltaire in his
Englifli critique on The Jerufalcm, to fend
Ubaldo and his companion to an holy con-
jurer." Yet this part in Taffo is not only
conduced in the t^-ue fpirit of the grand
machinery of Gothic enchantment, a ma-
chinery proper to the age of his heroes, but
is alfo intimately connefled with the cataf-
trophe of the poem. But in no circum-
flance does this defence of Taffo plead for
Voltaire.
Henry is now introduced to the queen of
England, who with impatience demands an
account of the troubles of France :
Elizabeth alors anjec impatience,
Demande le recit des troubles de la France,
Veutfavoir quels reports, 6f quel eUchdinement
Ontproduit dans Paris un fi grand changemcnt .
The mailacre of Paris is now related, with
feveral digreflive obfervations on tyranny,
without either force or novelty, and after
a long tete <i tete on laws and liberty. Sec.
&c. Elizabeth allows the Earl of Effex and
a thoufand Englifli youth to accompany
Henry, whom Ihe difmiffes in the true fpirit
oi petit maitcrifm. Of her troops, {lie fays ;
Au milieu des combats 'vous les I'errez courir
Plus pour njous imiter que pour vous f courir.
Formes par voire exemple au grand art de la
guerre,
lis apprendroni fous vous afervir V Angleterre-—
i. e. In the midH of battles you fliall fee
them haflen more to imitate you than to
help you. Formed by your example in the
great art of war, they fliall learn under you
to ferve England." And himfelfflie politely
compliments, as only worthy to talk of
himfelfj
Vous feul pouvez parler dtgnement devous-meme.
And thus ends in mere bagatelle the em-
baffy which ought to have been of the
utmoii importance throughout the Poem.
The. embaffy of king Latinus to Diomed,
and the journey of Eneas to king Evander,
are with admirable art worked into the great
action of the Eneid. The refufal of Dio-
med to make war againft Eneas, greatly,
heightens the character of the hero. The
abfence and return of Eneas are both moft
happily intereiling, and the fate of his new
friend and auxiliary, the fon of Evander,
gives the highell importance to the journey
of the hero, by conilituting a principal part
of the aftion and catailrophe of the Eneid,
In the Henriade every thing is different.
The iiero leaves the liege of Paris, hears
the effuiions of monkifh bigotry poured
forth by a hermit at the ifle of Jerfey, comes
to London, and in the true ilyle of coffee-
houfe politicians, has a long talk with queen
Elizabeth. The earl of Effex, it is true,
and a thoufand of the Engliih youth accom-
pany him to France ; but there is not one
circumftance performed by them, which even
gives a colour of importance to this embaffy
of the hero of the Henriade. In his firft
editions, Voltaire twice mentions the Eng-
lifli, but nothing particular is afcribed to
them ; and fo little did he regard the fpi-
rit of Virgil in the part of Pallas, that in
his laft edition, the Englifli auxiliaries are
only once mentioned as in battle, and that
in a manner utterly uninterefiing, of no
confequcnce to the condud of the poem.
y Henry's
clxli
DISSERTATION.
Henry's journey to England, therefore,
is in dired contradiction to that great rule
of the Epopxia, which requiroe unity of
aftion ; or in other words, which demands
that every circumftance fhould conduce, ac-
cording to its degree, to the completion of
the whole.
In the fourth book, at laft, fome bufmefs
commences. D'Aumale in the night attacks
the befiegers. Henry arrives, and turns the
fortune of war, not as a modern general,
but as an Achilles or Eneas, who drove
whole fquadrons before their fingle fwords.
But not a word is here mentioned of the
help of his Englifh auxiliaries. Now the
machinery takes place. D'Aumale is in
danger of being killed ; but Difcorde favv it.
La Difcorde le -vit, & trembla pour d'Aumale—
Elle s'ele-ve en rair, £if 'vole ajonftcours.
Then covering him with her iron immenfe
impenetrable buckler, this Jille de VEnfeVy
daughter of hell, carries him to the gates
of Paris, where Ihe cures him of the wounds,
which he had never felt ;
Sanglantf convert de coups qu'iln'a-vali point fent is.
Elle applique afes maux une main falutaire——'
Then Difcorde comforts Mayenne, the chief
of the League, who is in great diftrefs.
She then flies in a whirlwind to Rome,
which is defer ibed in the true fpirit of de-
clamation. La Politique is found in the
Vatican,
Aufond du Vatican regnait la Politique
Difcorde and fhe embrace each other. Po-
litique laments that flie could not now from
the Vatican lance her thunders and rule the
world. She complains that the Senate of
France had unmafked her, and agrees with
Difcorde to refume their loft power. Hum-
ble Religion, in the meanwhile, is in a de-
fert far from the pomp of Rome, fighing
for the day when Henry was to embrace
popery and revenge her altars. La Politi-
que and Difcorde feize upon Humble Re-
ligion, and God, to try her, gives her up
to their fury.
Son Dieu pour Veprowver la ti'vre a leursfureurs.
They ftrip her of her facred veftments, and
having covered their own impure heads with
them, they go to Paris to accomplilh their
defigns. La Politique gets into the Sor-
bonne and corrupts the doftors j to feme
flie offers the Mitre,
Par I' eclat d'une Mitre elle ebluit ieur 'vue — ^
and others Ihe intimidates. Truth flies
away weeping, and an old man of the Sor-
bonne fpeaks for his brethren, " The church
has the power to dethrone kings ; we are
the church, and we dethrone Valois. Oaths,
hitherto facred, we break your chain."
Scarce had he fpoke, when Difcorde wrote
the odious decree in blood, and
Chacunjure par elle, & figne fous fes j/eux.
Now in the habit of an Auguftin, and now
in the frock of a Francifcan, flie flies from
church to church, calls herfelf Religion, and
excites to the moll dreadful maflTacres. Then
ftie makes Sixteen of the heads of the faction
(whofe names may be feen in the notes to
the Geneva edition) ride befide her in her
bloody chariot ; and Pride, Treafon, Fury,
and Death, march before them in ftreams of
blood. During the management of this
machinery, our Author talks of Chrift, the
church, and the children of Ifrael ; he now
talks of the heathen goddefs Themis. She
refifteth the general contagion,
Lafoifde s" agrandir, la crainte, Vefperance,
R ten n'a'vait dansfes mains fait pancher fa balance ;
Son temple elait fans tache '
In this temple of Themis fat a venerable
fenate, propitious to innocence, dreadful to
guilt,
II etait dans ce temple un Senat 'venerable,
Propice a innocence, au crime redoutabk •
Then the tyrants of the League lay iiege
to this temple,
Des tyrans de la Ligue une affreufe coborte,
Du temple de Themis environne la porte.
A 'vile gladiator then bullies the Senate, and
by the help of the Sixteen, fends them in
chains to the Baftile. Clement, a young
Dominican friar, longs to kill Henry of
Valois, the king. He prays, and is h^ard
by Difcorde, who inftantly flies to Hell ia
fearch of Fanaticism,
Le plus cruel tyran de t empire des ombres.
Which goddefs, our Poet tells us, was the
author of the facrifices of Moloc, of Jeph-
tha's vow, of the death of Agamemnon's
daughter, of the human facrifices offered by
the priefts of the Teutatcs, and by the
Druids j and of the firit perfecution of the
Chriili^n;
DISSERTATION,
clxiii
Chriftians at Rome. Afterward, he adds,
fhe pafTed to the church and made the
Chriftians p^rfecute each other ; was the
caufe of the death of Charles I. at London,
and eftablifhed the inquifition at Madrid
and Lifbon, on purpofe to burn the Jews.
This Goddefs, cloathed in the habit of
which fhe had plundered Humble Re-
ligion, appears to Clement in a dream, en-
cou'-ages him by the example of Judith to
aflaffinate the king, and giving him a
fword, flies to her infernal abode. The
Sixteen heads of the fadtion are next repre-
fented at a magical facrifice, enquiring after
the decrees of Fate. It is midnight. They
have an altar on a tomb, where they place
the images of the two kings, Henry of
Valois, and Henry of Bourbon or Navarre,
Letirs facrileges mains ont mele fur Vaiitel,
A des nvms infernaux, le nom de VEiernel,
Their lances are ranged along the walls
with their points in vefTels of blood, and
they have a Jew for their prieft,
Leurs parricides bras fe lament dans le fang 5
De Valois fur Vautel ils 'vont percer leflanc ;
Avec plus de terreur, & plus encor de rage
De Htnri fjus leurs pieds ils ren-uerfent Vimage—
VHebreu joint cependanl la priere an hla'pheme :
II invoque I'abtme, et les cieux, & Dieu meme j
Tous ces itnpurs efprits qui troubleni tuniqjers,
Et le feu de lafoudre £f celui des Enjers.
While the Sixteen wait for the oracular re-
fponfe. Heaven, to punifh them, confents
to give a true one. Sudden lightnings flafli,
and Henry of Bourbon appears riding in the
chariot of viftory,
Au milieu de cesfeux, Henri brillant de gloire,
Apparait a leurs yeux fur un char de viSIoire . . .
Et le fceptre des Rois eclat ait dans fa ?nain.
Thunder then overturns the altar and dif-
perfes the facrificers ; but Clement, never-
thelefs, ftabs Valois— In Ariofto, Difcord
is found in a monaftery. This, and the
part flie afts, are copied by Voltaire. The
magical facrifice in Camoens is alfo imi-
tated. But though the machinery of Dif-
cord, Fanaticifm, &c. in the Henriade be
deftitute of poetical novelty, it is ftrcngly
marked with an originality of another kind.
The allegorical perfonages are drefTed, and
aft, in the very bagatelle of conceit and
quaintnefs. Jephtha's Vow, the Death of
king Charles the Firft, and the other exploits
afcribed to Fanaticifm, are in a ftrange fpi-
rit of Je nefcai quoif knick-knack, or fchool-
boy compofition : in that fpirit, perhaps,
which Shaftefbury intended, when he con-
demned the great Milton for his want of
the fafhion able turn of tnodern nvit. In the
Orlando Furiofo, a poem much in the fpirit
of Don Quixote, fatyrical quaintnefs and
conceit, indeed, are in their proper place ;
but the quaint attempts of wit, that mere
punning in poetical painting, with which
"\^oltaire draws his Politique, Fanaticifm,
&c. are utterly inconfiftent with Epic fo-
lemnity But to return to the progrefs of
the Henriade : A long debate enfues in Paris
on the choice of a king. Henry and the
army attack the city, and are on the point
of forcing their way into the gates, when St.
Louis appears,
du profond d'une aue
"Un fantome iclatant fe prefcnte a fa vue.
and orders Henry to flop ; tells him he was
St. Louis, the father of the Bourbons, his
proteftor and fire, reproves him for defert-
ing the faich, and foretells his advancement
to the throne. Thrice Henry tries to em-
brace the fhade of his father, but in vain.
He then, as commanded, leaves the feige
and marches to Vincennes. And thus all
the great and jufl defigns of the war, are
abfurdly fet afide, to make room for a piece
of machinery in direft imitation of Homer
and Virgil. The difference of conduct,
however, mufl be obferved. Ulyffes and
Eneas, in great diftrefs and uncertainty, are
defirous to confult the fates, and are favour-
ed with a view of the regions of the dead,
according to the mythology of their age.
By thefe interviews their diflreffes are alle-
viated, and their future conduft is formed.
And thus the unity of each poem is ad-
mirably preferved. Henry, on the con-
trary, is abfurdly driven from complete
viftory, to be carried through heaven and
hell, though his advancement to the throne,
the only part of the vifion connefted with
the interefl of the poem, had been already
twice foretold. And thus the Liaijon, or
connexion of operations necefTary in an
Epic Poem, is grofly violated in the con-
dudl of the Henriade.
No lefs inferior to the folemn horror of
the OdyfTey, and fublime poetry of the
Eneid, where the regions of the dead are
defcribed, is the poetical colouring of the
vifion of Henry. This will foon appear.
While he remains at Vincennes, whither
he fled from viftory, and to do what no critic
2 ear;.
«mi
clxi
IV
DISSERTATION,
CAn poflibly guefs, St. Louis fends Sleep and
Hope to comfort him. The Saint appears
to him ii) a dream, crowns him, and place-
ing him befide himfelf in a chariot of light,
they traverfe the heavens together ;
l.ou'is en ce m'ntent prenant fen diademe
Sur h front dii •vahiqueur il le pofa lui-meme : —>
Vun & I' autre a ces mots dans un char de iumiere
Des Cieux en un moment traverfent la carriere.
Then paffing the fun we have a view of the
worlds a.round him, according to the New-
tonian fyflem, in poetical colouring a very
poor imitation of the Ptolemaic, as defcrib-
ed in Camoens *. Henry paffcs,
A dcs mondes divers autour de lui flottans
Then they come to fpace,
On la mnt'tere nage, & que Dleu feulemhrajftf
Sont de Soleilsfans notnbrc, & des mondes fansfm.
He then comes, where the ghofts of Brah-
mins, Bonzes, Monks, wild Americans
and Mohammedans, wait the hour of judg-
ment. Here he makes a fpeech of twelve
lines on the falvation of Heathens and Chrif-
tians. A voice, which iTiakes the heavens
and makes the univerfe groan, anfwers from
the throne of God. Henry is then carried
by a whirlwind to an abode, the abomin-
able image of Chaos j
Vers iinfejour informe, ar'tde, affreux, fawvage,
De l" antique Cahos abovimabls image.
Hell is now defcribed, where they fee the
alTaffin Clement. Then comes an Elyzium,
where St. Louis prefides over Charlemagne
and other kings and heroes of France. The
E'alace of Deiliny then opens its hundred
rafs gates, and Henry is reproved by St,
Louis, his guide, for being a proteftant.
And after having fecn fome of the great
men of France, who were then unborn, the
hero awakes ; and thus clofes a moft fervile
uninventive imitation of the fixth Eneid.
Yet, uninventive as it is, original in no-
thing but the extravagance about the fal-
vation of Bonzes and Bramins, Marmontcl
has not fcrupled to pronounce it, " -vaut J'e»i
toute Vlliadc, worth alone all the Iliad."
Hitherto has the Henriade been without
Liai/on. The real aiStion has, like a i»ound-
ed fnahe, drag^^ d its Jlonu length along. But
fome bufmefs is now refumed. The eighth
book opens with the confufion of the
Leaguers, who neither durfl degrade nor
crown Mayenne ; when Difcorde, burlUng
from a cloud, appears in a luminous chariot,
and infpires their courage j
I^a Difccrde a ritijlant entr^oifvrant une nue,
Sur un chur lumincux fc prefente a feur 'vHc,
Courage, leur dit elle ^
The Spaniards under Egmont, and the
Leaguers under Mayenne prepare for war.
Henry advances to the plains of Ivry.
Difcorde blows her infernal trumpet to ani-
mate the Leaguers,
Elle 'vole a leur lete, et fa louche fat ab
Fait retentir au loin fa trcmpette infernale.
Pa>- CCS fons trop ccnnus d'Aumale eji fxcitCt
Auffi prompt que le trait dans les airs emfortc.
This battle is well defcribed, but without
originality. Mayenne and the Leaguers arc
defeated. St. Louis, furroundcd with the
foals of the other Bourbons, from the height
of the firmament obferves how Henry will
ufe his victory,
— — — du haut de firmament
Vint contempler Henri dans ce fameux moment.
and the refult of the battle is like a newfpa-
per in verfe. Difcorde goes now to find out
Love. And the ninth book opens with a
defcription of his temple. A defcription,
where one might have expefted original
poetry from the genius of Voltaire. But
every thing is contrary here. The defcrip-
tive part is moft hackneyed common place j
every expreffion of it may be felefted from
Cowley's poems. Darts, flames, fighs,
tears, rapture and mifery, are huftled to-
gether, and then ftrung in verfe without
gradation, without novelty. The reader is
entreated
* In the edition of London, 1717, Voltaire fccms to hftve imitated the ccleAlal fpherc of Camoens.
He fends his hero,
Parml ces tourhillons, que (Tune mnin fecondt
Difpofa I'Eteniel au premier jour dii monde,
Eft un globe eleve dans le faite des cteux
Dont r/clat fe de'robe i tios profanes jeux,
^ut thefe whirlwinds and the globe where the Moft High creates the fpirits, nnd whither they are returned
by <Ieath, are omitted in the latter editions. The citations made in this Diflcrtation are talicn from tht
iicucva cditioa of 1 768, which was piiblifljcd under Voltaire's own inipeftjon.
DISSERTATION.
clxv
entreated to compare the Temple of Love
in Dryden's Palemon and Arcite with that
in the Henriade ; and he is promifed that
he will find them as different as mere ver-
iification is from real poetry. But to return
to the fable of the Henriade. Love, who
by the bye is Difcord's brother, makes a
long fpeech about Hercules and Cleopatra.
He then flies over Troy, and other places
moft famoui in the dallies, and arrives at
laft at Ivry. He beholds the camp as his
prey, and feels an inhuman joy,
V Amour fent a fa 'vite unejoie inhumaine.
In imitation of Virgil, a ftorm is raifed,
which drives Henry to the Chateau of the
celebrated Madam D'Eftree, where
Sa verUi Vahandonne, & fon ame enyvree
N'ahKe, ne 'voit, n'entendy ne counait que d'EJirie.
bis virtue abandons him, and his intoxicated
foul loves, fees, hears, and knows nothing
but d'Eftrce." The danger of d'Eflree's
virtue, a poor fubaltern's daughter, is thus
pompoufly bewailed:
Contreunpou'voirfi^randqu'ent fufaire d^EJ}ree?
Par un charme indomtahie die etait att'tree ;
Elle a^ait a combattre, en ce funefie jour,
Sa jeunejfe, fan ccetir, un Heros, & t Amour !
i. e. Againft fo great power what could
d'Ellree do ? By an irrefiftible charm flie was
attrafted; in that fatal day fhe had to
combat her youth, her heart, a hero, and
Love !
The French, indeed, may admire this. No
nation hut themfelijes, honve^uer, could hear
fuch impertinence. What would be thought
of an Englifh writer, who would defcribe
the firft meeting of Charles IL and Nell
Gv;ynne, or Louis XV. and Pompadour, as
an incident worthy of Epic dignity ? The
epifode of Dido affords no defence for this
parody upon it. A fugitive prince, mar-
ried to the queen of a powerful ftate, is as
different in Epic grandeur from the amour
of Henry with a Subaltern's daughter, as are
the manners of the age of Eneas from thofe
of the days of the French Hero ; as dif-
ferent as the true dignity of Virgil is from
the French com;laiJatice and mock dignity
of Madam d'Eftree. During the amour of
Henry all is in danger ; tlie camp is all
licentioufnefs.
Oh diiJ^Uat ruaittqueUr s'einporU rinjllence---^
But St. Louis fends the genius of France to
put this to rights. The genius employs
Mornay, the Calvinifl, to refcue Henry
from the fnares of Love. And this, fays
the poet, was to jnftrudl us that reafon was
often fufficient to guide us, and thus Marcus
Aurclius and Plato are a difgrace to Chriftians j
II ^ s' addrejfi; a Mornay , c'etdit four nous injlruiref
Shie fowvent la ra'ifon fuffit a nous conduirej
Atnfi qiC elle gu'ida chez. des peuples Pay ens
Marc-Aurcle, ou Platan, la honte des Chretiens i
Love, however, is very angry at this choice,
but Mornay defpifes his rage and his charms,
Mais Mornay me pr if ait fa colere, & fes charmti*
Difcorde, in the meanwhile, irritates the Lea-
guers. Mornay finds the king and his miftrefs.
The king, aihamed, leaves d'Eftree and
attacks Paris. The battle of Ivry, the beft
part of the whole poem, is now defcribed,
but is as like TafTo, as the clofeft imitations
of Virgil refemble Homer. In book X.
Henry returns to the fiege, is juft on the
point of taking the city, when the angel of
France flops him,
S^uand /' An^e de la France, appaifantfon cauroux,
Rettfitfon bras vainqueur, & fufpendit fes coups.
A duel, in imitation of Homer, Virgil and
TafTo, between d'Aumale and Turenne, is
now defcribed. This is greatly admired in
France, and is perhaps the firft of the Hen-
riade in true merit ; but it is alfo a clofe
copy, and much inferior to the duels of
Taiib. A black cloud, during this com-
bat, vomits the monfters of hell over Paris,
Cependant fur Paris I'elcvait un nuage,
Sjii fetnblail apporter le tonnerre & rorage ;
Sesflancsiioirs& brulaas tout-a-coup entr^owvertSt
Votmffent dans ces lieux hs monflres des Enfers.
Fanaticifm, Difcorde, and dark Politique
with falfe heart and fquint eye,
LafomhrePalitiqu(y m coup- faux, fs" Vceil loucht--^
And the dzemon of battles,
Dieuxenyvres defang,Dieux d'gnesdes LigueurS'-m
all fly to the aid of d'Aumale. But the
height of the heavens opens, and an Angel
dcfcends on the throne of the air, with the
olive of peace in one hand, and the fvverd
of God's vengeance in the other ;
Voila qu'an meme infant, du kaut de cieux owverts^
Un Ange efi defcendufur le trSni des airs,
Th«
clxvi
DISSERTATION.
The infernal monfters are difmayed j then
Paris, le Rot, VAr?neey £f VEnfer, & les Cieux,
Sur ce combat illuflre a-vaient Jixe lesyeux
Paris, the king, the army, hell and heaven
fix their eyes on the illullrious fight."
d'Aumale falls, the monfters of hell groan,
and voices are heard in the air,
Ces lugubres accens dans les airs s" entendirent-i'
acknowledging that their reign is paft.
The army of Henry demand leave to alTail
the city, but St. Louis will not allow it, and
Henry adls upon a fentiment very unworthy
of an Epic poem. He chufes rather to re-
duce the city by famine, as a method more
powerful than his arms,
Ilcrutquefans ajfauts,fans combats, fans allarmeSy
La difttte & la f aim, plus fortes que fes armes,
Lui livreraient fans peine un peuple inanime.
The horrors of famine are now defcribed in
lively colours, but too fhocking to incite
«ny one to a fecond reading. The befieged
are willing to fubmit, and Henry promifes
forgivene/s and mercy. But the priefts tell
them that they are the foldiers of God, and
that a tyrant heretic will not keep his word.
And by the priefts they are ordered to de-
fend their temples from his herefy,
Sau-vons nos temples faints defon culte heretique.
What now is to be done ? The faftion are
again outrageous, and the befteged may eat
one another, nay, as both hiftory and the
poem tell us, may open the graves in the
church-yards for food % ; but St. Louis will
not allow Henry to take the city by force.
What muft be done in this moft admirable
dignus vindice nodus ?
why truly St. Louis muft take the bufinefs
upon himfelf. The throne of God is now
defcribed in twenty-four lines, and here St.
Louis approaches,
Le fere de Bourbons a fes yeux fe prefente,
Et lui parle en ces mots d'une voix gemijanie.
In his fpeech he tells the Almighty, that if
the French difobeyed the laws of heaven, it
was on purpofe to obey them ; for that hli
fon, the grand Henri, their lawful kin^,
was an heretic. His converfion is therefore
implored. Of this, the Eternal, by a word
of his mouth, affures St. Louis,
Far un mot de fa boucke il daigna Vaffurer.
Truth then defcends from the height of
the heavens to the hero's tents,
Dans les tentes du Roi, defcend du haut des cieux.
Henry then turns Roman Catholic, and be-
lieves in the doftrine of Tranfubftaniiation ;
for Truth,
—lui decowvre un Dieufous un pain, qui n'efi plus.
Then St. Louis, with an olive bough in his
hand, defcends from the height of the hea-
vens, and leads Henry to the ramparts of
Paris, which open at his call, and receive
him in the name of God :
Loiiis dans ce moment, qui comble fes fcuh aits y
Louis tenant en main roli've de la patx,
Defcend du haut du Cieux vers les HerosquUlaimi;
Aux remparts de Paris il le conduit lui-meme ;
Les remparts ebranles s'enlfowvrent a fa •■vcix ;
II entre au mm de Dieu, qui J ait regner les Roism.
And thus ends the Henriade ; a poem in
every refpeft unworthy of the name of Epic.
Every reader who has an ear muft per-
ceive how diftant from the dignity of Virgil
are French heroics, e-ven in the hands of
Voltaire*. The condud of the fable is
not Epic, for it is not One. The ca-
taftrophe has not the leaft dependance
upon the long epifode of the journey to
England, though this epifode is almoft one
third of the whole poem. In the aftion
there is no gradation. Henry vanquifties
his foes, but St. Louis will not allow him
to reap the fruits of vidlory. Nothing there-
fore refults from the real aftion, but contrary
to Homer and Virgil, All is left to che ma-
chinery. After the long tale which Henry
tells Elizabeth, the real aftion or fable
would fill but a few pages ; five parts of fix
are
\ They ground the bones of the dead into a flour, of which they made bread.
* The old monkifh rhymes of friar Barton,
De planHu cudo metrunt cum carmine undo,
Eifian retrudo, cum tall themate ludo
In harmony and energy are hardly inferior to many paflagcs of the Hcnriadc. But tliis perhaps Is not
the fault of Voltaire ; but of the language.
DISSERTATION.
clxvll
are machinery, a machinery the moft ridi-
culous and puerile ever adopted by the heroes
of the Lutrin. If any French critic be
offended at this, let him renounce his ad-
miration of Boileau, by whom the machi-
nery of the Henriade, as already obferved,
is as feverely condemned, as if he had writ-
ten his celebrated critique on Epic poetry
on purpofe to condemn it. However fuperior
Voltaire may be in the other walks of poetry,
certain it is, no originality, no ftrength of
colouring, fhines in the Henriade. The
following lines, faid of Mornay, are ad-
mired in France as the finell fublime,
Mais line per met pas a fes flo'iques mains
Defe fouiller du fang des malheureux humaint,
De fon Roi feulement fon ame eft occupee :
Pour fa defenfe feule il a tireVepee ;
Et fon rare courage, ennemi des combat s^
Salt affronter la mort, & ne la donne pas.
But furely that cannot be the true fublime
which contains the true abfurd. Mornay
will not llain his hands with human blood.
He is only anxious to defend his king, for
his defence only he draws his fword. *' His
rare courage, enemy to battles, knows how
to dare death but not to give it ;" that is,
Mornay is earneft to defend his king, but
he ,will kill no body in his defence. In the
heat of battle he only parries the fwords
which attack him. The enemy may return
to the charge in a moment ; three or four
fwords may attack the king at a time, but
Mornay will not leflen their number or .
prevent a fecond attack. A moft excellent
method, indeed, to defend one's fovereign !
Yet fuch is the moft admired beauty in the
Henriade J ! Mr. Locke was highly
pleafed with the epic poems of Blackmore :
And there are a race of critics, of Mr.
Locke's tafte, who admire the Henriade,
who call it All Senfe, who are pleafed with
Difcorde in her chariot, and La Politique,
fometimes in one monk's frock, and fome-
times in another, the very Dutch ftyle of
painting ; but who yet decry the grand per-
fonnifications of Milton's angels, as the moft
abfurd and bizarre extravagance. Nor is
their refemblance to Locke's tafte lefs re-
markable, than the likenefs between Black-
more's Arthurs and the Henriade. That
fen/e which is admired in the French poem,
abounds in the Arthurs. In their machinery
of Angels and Souls is a ftriking likenefs ;
the fame ftrain of common place defcription,
the fame round of fervile imitations, the fame
idle pretences to moderation in theology,
and fame want of poetical novelty, charac-
terife the Henriade and the Ten epic poems
of Blackmore. To conftitute a poem wor-
thy of the name of Epic in the ftridleft and
higheft fenfe, fome grand charafteriftics of
fubjeft and condud, peculiarly its Ovvn, are
abfolutely neceffary. Of all the moderns,
Camoens and Milton have alone attained
this grand peculiarity in an eminent degree.
Taflo has fomething of it, but Voltatre has
, not the leaft claim to this effential confti-
tuent of a real Epic. In a word, let our cold-
blooded critics admire him as they pleafe,
the total want of originality, both in the
circumftances and poetical colouring, the
want of that connexion and gradation ne-
ceffary to the Epic unity ; the deficiency of
grandeur, the idle fpirit of theological nih-
bling about Plato, Bramins, and Bonzes,
which runs through the whole ; andy«t^ a,
machinery, all combine to vindicate the man
who is bold enough to pronounce that France
has as yet no Epic poem, though Voltaire
has written the Henriade.
\ Voltaire informs us, tliat the judicious Critics, with whom France abounds, defpife the Pandsemoniiim
of Milton, and cannot bear his Death and Sin. He tells us that we know not what angels are, and there-
fore cannot be intereftcd for them ; and that it is abfurd to arm ipirits with fwords, for they cannot
hurt each other with them. For tliefe reafons, he fays, the battle of the angels appears to the judicious
French critics as void of tafte, verifimilitudc, or reafon. But let the reputation of Voltaire be as high as
it will, who can forbear to call this criticil'm an utter ignorance of the fpirit of poetry. It is true wc
know neither the form nor the arms of an angel. But what then, in the name of all the Mufes ? Will
not true poetry perfonnify them in the manner of a Milton ? Muft Difcorde hr.vt a trumpet and ride
about in a chariot ; and muft not Milton arm a warrior angel with a fword ! Muft the paflions be per-
fonnified, and muft not an angel I)e reprcfented as the moft graceful figure ! But this needs no enforce-
ment That nation which can condemn the peribimifications of Milton, and admire thoic of the Hen-
riade, highly merit the charafter which Voltaire tells us (Gcnev. Edit. vol. I. p. 314.) Monficur Ma-
Iczieux, in converfation with himlelf, £avc them — '■'■ Ucs Fraii'^Qis t'ont pas latiieepi,iue The French
fcavc not heads for Epic Poetry."
THE
L U
I A D.
BOOK I.
ARMS and the Heroes, who from Lifbon's fhore.
Thro' Seas " where fail was never fpread before.
Beyond where Ceylon lifts her fpicy breaft,
And waves her woods above the watery wafte.
• The Lujtadi in the original, Os Lufi-
adas, The Lufiads, from the Latin name
of Portugal, derived from Lufus or Lyfas,
the companion of Bacchus in his travels,
and who fettled a colony in Lufitania. See
Plin. I. iii. c. i.
^ Thrai' Seal 'where fail 'was never fpread
lej'ore. — M. Duperr*n de Caftera, who has
given a French profe tranflation, or rather
paraphrafe of the Lufiad, has a long note
on this paflage, which he tells us, muft not
be underftood literally. Our author, he
fays, could not be ignorant that the African
and Indian Oceans had been navigated before
the times of the Portuguefe. The Phoeni-
cians whofe fleets paffed the ftraits of Gib-
raltar, made frequent voyages in thefe feas,
though they carefully concealed the courfc
of their navigation that other nations might
not become partakers of their lucrative traf- _
fie. It is certain that Solomon, and Hiram
king of Tyre, fent fliips to the Eaft by the
Red Sea. It is alfo certain that Hanno a
Carthaginian captain made a voyage round
the whole coaft of Africa, as is evident from
the hiftory of the expedition, written by
himfelf in the Punic language ; a Greek
tranflatlon of which is now extant. Be-
fides.
THE LUSIAD.
Book I.
With prowefs more thati 15maHT&^*3 their way
To the fair kingdoms of the rifmg day :
What wars they wag'd, what feas, what dangers paft.
What glorious Empire cfowri'd their toils at laft,
Vent'rous I fmg, on foaring pinions borne,
' And all my Country's wars the fong adorns
fides, Plihy, Pomponiiis Mela, Ptoloifty and
Strabo, affure us, that Mozambic and the ad-
jacent iflands and fome parts of India were
known to the Romans : and thefe words of
Macrobius, Set^ nee monjiruojis carnibus ab-
fiinetis, inferentes poculis tejiiculos Cajlorum
ft 'vejienata corpora Vtperarum\ quibus ad-
mifcetis quidquid India nutrity fufEciently
prove that they carried on a coPiiderable
traffic with the Eaft. From all which, fays
M. Caftera, we may conclude that the Por-
tuguefe were rather the Reftorers than the
Difcoverers of the navigation to the Indies.
In this firft book, and throughout the
whole Poem, Camoens frequently defcribes
his Heroes as paffing through feas which had
never before been navigated ; and
Slue Jo dos feyos focas Je navega.
Where but Sea-monjiers cut the ivaves before.
That this fuppofition afforded our author a
number of poetical imkges, and adds a f6-
lemn grandeur to his fubjeft, might perhaps
with M. Caftera be efteemed a fufficient a-
pology for the poetical licence in fuch a vio-
lation of hiftorical truth. Yet whatever li-
berties an Epic or Triagic Poet may com-
inendably take in embellilhing the aftions
of his heroes, an affertion relating to the
fc^ne where his Poem opens, if falfe, muft
be equally ridiculous as to call Vefpafian the
firft who had ever affumed the title of
Cefar. But it will be found that Camoens
has not fallen into fuch abfurdity. The
Poem opens with a defcHption of the Lufi-
tanian fleet, after having doubled the Cape
of Hope, driving about in the great Ethio-
pian Ocean, fo far from land that it required
the care of the Gods to condudl it to
fome hofpitable ftiore. Therefore, though
it is certain that the Phoenicians paffed the
Ne plus ultra of the ancients ; though it is
probable they traded on the coaft of Corn-
wach, and the ifle^ et Scilly ; thtHigih there
irfome reafon to believe that the Madeiras
and Carribees were known to them ; and
though it has been fuppo/ed that fome of
their (hips might have been driven by ftorm
to the Brazils or North- America ; yet there
is not the leaft^ fgjjndatidn in hiftory to fup-
pofe that they traded to the Indies by the
Cape of Good Hope. There is rather a
demonftration of the contrary; for it is
certain they carried on their traffic with
the Eaft, by a much nearer and fafer way,
by the two ports of Elath and Eziongeber
on the Red Sea. Neither is it known in
what particular part, whether in the Perfian
ghlph, or in the Indian Ocean, the Tarftiilh
and Ophir of the ancients are fituated.
Though it is certain that Hanno doubled
the Cape of Good Hope, it is alfo equally
certain that his voyage was merely a coafting
one, like that of Nearchus in Alexander's
time, and that he never "ventured into the
great Ocean, or went fo far as Gama. The
citation from Macrobius proves nothing at
all relative to the point in queftion, for it is
certain that the Romans received the Mer-
chandife of India by the way of Syria and
the Mediterranean, in the fame manner as
the Venetians imported the commodities of
the Eaft from Alexandria before the dif-
coveries of the Poituguefe. It remaihs,
therefore, that Gama, who failed by the
Compafs, after having gone further than
his cotemporary Bartholomew Diaz, was
literally the firft who ever fpread fail in the
great fouthern Oceati, and that the Portu-
guefe were not the Reftorers, bat literally
the Difcoverers of the prefent rout of Na-
vigation to the Eaft Indies.
' Jnd all my Country^! ivars. ' He in-
terweaves artfully the hiftory of Portugal.
— — Voltaire.
What
Book I.
THE LUSIAD
^ What Kings, what Heroes of my native land
Thunder'd on Afia's and on Afric's flrand :
lUuftrious fhades, who levell'd in the duft
The idol-temples and the fhrines of lull ;
And where, erewhile, foul demons were rever'd,
* To Holy Faith unnumber'd altars reai-'d :
Illuflrious names, with deathlefs laurels crown'd,
While time rolls on in every clime renown'd!
J
Let Fame with wonder name the Greek no more.
What lands he faw, what toils at fea he bore;
Nor more the Trojan's wandering voyage boafV,
What florms he brav'd, how driven on many a coail: :
'' To Holy Faith unnumher^ d altars rear' J.
-In no period of Hiftory does Human
Nature appear with more (hocking, more
diabolical features than in the wars of Cor-
tez, and the Spanifh Conquerors of South
America. To the immortal honour of the
Portuguefe Difcoverers, their conduft was in
every refpeft the reverfe. To eftablilh a
traffic equally advantageous to the natives
as to themfelves, was the motive on which
they afted ; the ftrifteft honour, and that hu-
manity which is ever infeparable from true
bravery, prefided over their tranfaftions ;
nor did they ever proceed to hoftilities till
provoked, either by the open violence or by
the perfidy of the Natives. Their honour was
admired, and their friendfhip courted by the
Indian Princes. To mention no more, the
name of Gama was dear to them, and the
great Albuquerque was beloved as a father,
and his memory honoured with every token
of afFeflion and refpcdl by the people and
princes of India, though his conquefls in the
Eaft were fo great, that his Countrymen,
without offering any injury to the fame of
Alexander, compared him to that renowned
Hero. It was owing to this fpirit of honour
and humanity, which in the heroical days of
Portugal charafterifed that nation, that the
religion of the Portuguefe was eagerly em-
braced by many kings and provinces of Af-
rica and India ; while the Mexicans with
manly difdain rejected the faith of the Spa-
niards, profeffing they would rather go to
hell to efcape thefe cruel Tyrants, than go
to heaven, where they were told, they
would meet them. Zeal for the Chriftian
religion was efteemed, at the time of the
Portuguefe grandeur, as the moil cardinal
Virtue, and to propagate Chriftlanity and
extirpate Mohammedifm were the moft cer-
tain proofs of that zeal. In all their expe-
ditions this was profeffedly a principal mo-
tive of the Lufitanian Monarchs, and Ca-
moens underftood the nature of Epic poetry
too well to omit, That the defign of his
Hero was to -divulge the Law of heaven, a
circumftance which gives a noble air of im-
portance to Jiis 5ubjeft. To take .notice pf
the vail fucccfs of the Portuguefe in propa-
gating tlvelr religion, a fuccefs fo different
from that of our modem milfionaries, is a
neceflary Elucidation of this, and of feveral
other paffages of the Lufud.
B 2
No
A
4 THE L U S I A D. Book 1.
No more let Rome exult in Trajan's name,
Nor eaftern conquefts Ammon's pride proclaim ;
A nobler Hero's deeds demand my lays
Than e'er adorn'd the fong of ancient days,
Illuftrious Gama, whom the waves obey'd.
And whofe dread fword the fate of Empire fway'd.
And you, fair Nymphs of Tagus, parent ftream,
If e'er your meadows were my paftoral theme,
While you have liften'd, and by moonfhine feen
My footfleps wander o'er your banks of green,
O come aufpicious, and the fong infpire
With all the boldnefs of your Hero's fire :
Deep and majeftic let the numbers flow,
^ And, rapt to heaven, with ardent fury glow,
^ Unlike the verfe that fpeaks the lover's grief,
When heaving fighs afford their foft relief,
And humble reeds bewail the fhepherd's pain :
But like the warlike trumpet be the ftrain
To roufe the Hero's rage, and far around,
With equal powers, your warriors' deeds refound.
r^ And thou, ' O born the pledge of happier days.
To guard our freedom and our glories raife, "
* King Sebaftian, who came to the throne like Virgil's Pollio, had not the happinefs to
in his minority. Though the warm ima- fulfil the prophecy. His endowments and
gination of Camoens anticipated the praifes enterprifing genius promifcd indeed a glo-
• «f the future Hero, the young monarch, rious reign. Ambitious of military laurels,
he
Book I.
THE LUSIAD.
7
Given to the world to fpread religion's fway.
And pour o'er many a land the mental day,
Thy future honours on thy fhield behold,
The crofs, and vi6lor's wreath, emboli in gold :
he led a powerful army into Africa, on pur-
pofe to replace Muley Hamet on the throne
of Morocco, from which he had been de-
pofed by Muley Molucco. On the 4th of
Auguft, 1578, in the 25th year of his age,
he gave battle to the Ufurper on the plains
of Alcazar. This was that memorable en-
gagement, to which the Moorilh Emperor,
extremely weakened by ficknefs, was carried
in his litter. By the impetuofity of the at-
tack, the firfl line of the Moorifh infantry
was broken, and the fecond difordered.
Muley Molucco on this mounted his horfe,
drew his fabre, and would have put himfelf
at the head of his troops, but was prevented
by his attendants. On this aft of violence,
his emotion of mind was fo great that he
fell from his horfe, and one of his guards
having caught him in his arms, conveyed
him to his litter, where, putting his finger
on his lips to enjoin them filence, he im-
mediately expired. Hamet Taba ftood by
the curtains of the carriage, opened them from
time to time, and gave out orders as if he
had received them from the Emperor. Vic-
tory declared for the Moors, and the defeat
of the Portuguefe was fo total, that not
above fifty of their whole army efcaped.
Hieron de Mendo9a, and Sebaftian de Mefa
relate, that Don Sebaftian, after having two
horfes killed under him, was furrounded and
taken ; but the party who had fecured him
quarrelling among themfelves whofe pri-
foner he was, a Moorifh officer rode up and
ftruck the King a blow over the right eye
which brought him to the ground; when,
defpairing of ranfom, the others killed him.
Faria y Soufa, an exaft and judicious hif-
■<orian reports, that Lewis de Brito meeting
the King with the royal ftandard wrapped
round him, Sebaftian cried out, *' Hold it
** faft, let us die upon it." Brito affirmed,
that after he himfelf was taken prifoner, he
faw the King at a diftance unpurfued. Don
Lewis de Lima afterwards met him making
towards the river ; and this, fays the hif^
torian, was the laft time he was ever feen
alive. About twenty years after this fatal
defeat there appeared a ftranger at Venice,
who called himfelf Sdbaftian, King of Portu-
gal, whom he fo perfeftly refembled, that the
Portuguefe of that city acknowledged him
for their Sovereign. Philip II. of Spain was
now Mafter of the crown and kingdom of
Portugal. His ambaflador at Venice charged
this ftranger with many attrocious crimes,
and had intereft to get him apprehended and
thrown into prifon as an impoftor. He un-
derwent twenty-eight examinations before a
committee of the nobles, in which he clearly
acquitted himfelf of all the crimes that had
been laid to his charge ; he gave a diflin^
account of the manner in which he had
pafled his time from the fatal defeat at Al-
cazar. It was objefted, that the fucceflbr of
Muley Molucco fent a corps to Portugal
which had been owned as that of the King
by the Portuguefe nobility who furvived the
battle. To this he replied, that his valet de
chambre had produced that body to facilitate
his efcape, and that the nobility afted upon
the fame motive, and Mefa and Baena con-
fefs, that fome of the nobility, after their
return to Portugal, acknowledged, that the
corps was fo disfigured with wounds that it
was impoffible to know it. He fhewed na-
tural marks on his body, which many re-
membered on the perfon of the King whofe
name he aiTumed. He entered into a
minute detail of the tranfa£tions that had
pafled between himfelf and the republic,
and mentioned the fecrets of feveral conver-
fations with the Venetian ambaffadors in the
palace of Lilhori. The Committee were
aftoniftied, and fhewed no difpofition to de-
clare him an Impoftor ; the Senate however
refufed to difcufs the great point, unlefs rc-
quefted by fome Prince or State in alliance
with them. This generous part was per-
formed by the Prince of Orange, and an
exa«
THE L U S I A D.
Book L
At thy commanding frown we truft to fee.
The Turk and Arab bend the fuppliant knee :
^ « Beneath the morn, dread King, thine Empire lies,
When midnight veils thy Lufitanian ikies ;
And when defcending in the weftern main
^* The fun ilill rifes on thy lengthening reign:
cxammatlon was made with great folemnity,
but no decifion followed, only the Senate
fet him at liberty, and ordered him to depart
their dominions in three days. In his flight
he fell into the hands of the Spaniards,
who condufted him to Naples, where they
treated him with the moft barbarous indig-
nities. After they had often expofed him,
mounted on an afs, to the cruel infults of
the brutal mob, he was fliipped on board a
galley as a flave. He was then carried to
St. Lucar, from thence to a caftle in the
heart of Caftile, and never was heard of
more. The firmnefs of his behaviour, his
lingular modefty and heroical patience, are
mentioned with admiration by Le Clede.
To the laft he maintained the truth of his
afl"ertions ; a word never flipt from his lips
which might countenance the charge of Im-
pofturc, or juftify the cruelty of his perfe-
cutors. All Eiu-ope were aftonilhed at the
Miniftry of Spain, who, by their method of
conducing i^ had made an affair fo little
to their credit, the topic of general conver-
fation ; and their affertion, that the unhap-
py fufferer was a magician, was looked
upon as a tacit acknowledgement of the
truth of his pretenfions.
« Portugal, when Camoens wrote his Lu-
fiad, was at the zenith of its power and
fplendor. The glorious fuccefles which had
attended the arms of the Portuguefe in
Africa, had gained them the higheft mili-
tary reputation. Their fleets covered the
Ocean. Their dominions and fcttlements
extended along the weftern and eaftefn fides
of the vaft African continent. From the
Red Sea to China and Japan they were fole
matters of the riches of the Eall ; and in
America, the fertile and extenfive regions of
Brazil compleated their Empire. It is not
therefore to be wondered at, that the ima-
gination of Camoens was warmed with the
view of his Country's greatnefs, and that
he talks of its power and grandeur in a
flrain, which muft appear as mere hyperbole
to thofe whofe ideas of Portugal are drawn
from its prefent diminiftied ftate. After the
defeat of Don Sebaftian at Alcazar, which
was the firft ftep of the declenfion of the
Portuguefe grandeur, his uncle Cardinal En-
ricus afcended the throne ; but he dying
after a reign of two years, Philip II. of
Spain made himfelf mafter of the kingdom
of Portugal, which remained under the
Spanifli yoke for about fixty years. During
this period, the Dutch poflfefl^ed themfelves
of the beft Portuguefe fettlements in the Eafl:
Indies, in Africa and America ; and thus,
a fudden evening interrupted the grandeur
of the Portuguefe : So juft is the obferva-
tion of Goldfmith,
That Trade's proud Empire haftes to fwift
decay.
As Ocean fweeps the labour'd mole away ;
While felf-dependent power can time defy.
As rocks refift the billows and the iky.
May the Englifli Eaft India Company, in
the midft of their fuccefl"es, remember the
fate of their predeccfTors, and ever be guarded
againft that politic people, who, according
to the principles on which they have always
a£led, would take the fame advantages of
the weaknefs of England, which heretofore
they took of the diftrefTes of Portugal !
^ The 5«»— Imitated perhaps from Ruti-
lius, fpeaking of the Roman Empire,
Fol'vitur ip/e tihi, qui cenfpicit omnia, Phaius^
Atq^iu tuis ortoi i» tua candit cquos.
or
1
I
Book Xl THE L U S I A D. 5^
Thou blooming Scion of the nobleft ftem,
Our nation's fafety, and our age's gem,
O young Sebaftian, haften to the prime
Of manly youth, to Fame's high temple climb :
Yet now attentive hear the Mufes lay
While thy green years to manhood fpeed away :
The youthful terrors of thy brow fufpend.
And, O propitious, to the fong attend.
The numerous fong, by Patriot-paffion fir'd.
And by the glories of thy race infpir'd :
/// To be the Herald of my Country's fame
My firfl ambition and my deareft aim :
/y Nor conquefts fabulous, nor a6lions vain.
The Mufe's paftime, here adorn the ftrain :
Orlando's fury, and Rugero's rage.
And all the heroes of th' Aonian page.
The dreams of Bards furpafs'd the world fhall view.
And own their boldefl fi6lions may be true ^
Surpafs'd, and dimm'd by the fuperior blaze
Of Gama's mighty deeds, which here bright Truth difplays.
Nor more let Hiftory boaft her heroes old,
Their glorious rivals here, dread Prince, behold :
Here fhine the valiant Nunio's deeds unfeign'd,
Whofe fmgle arm the falling ftate fuftain'd j
or more probably from thefe lines of Bu- Jnque tuis Phahus regnh orienfque caaenjqut
chanan, addreffed to John III. king of Per- Vix longum fejfo conderet axe diem.
tugal, the grand father of Sebaftian. £/ qua:canque 'vagofe circum'uol'vit Olympa
Affulgtt ratibus Jiamma minijlra tuis.
Here
8.: THE L ir S I A D. Book Li.
/"^ Here fearlefs Egas' wars, and, Fuas, thine,
To give full ardour to the fong combine ;
But ardour equal to your martial ire
Demands the thundering founds of Homer's lyre.
,' To match the Twelve fo long by Bards renown'd,
Here brave Magrizo and his Peers are crown'd
(A glorious Twelve!) with deathlefs laurels, won .]
In gallant arms before the Englifh throne.
/^ Unmatch'd no more the Gallic Charles fhall ftand,
Nor Caefar's name the firft of praife command :
Of nobler a(5ls the crown'd Alphonfos fee,
Thy valiant Sires, to whom the bended knee
Of vanquifh'd Afric bow'd. Nor lefs in fame.
He who confin'd the rage of civil flame,
■s
The godlike John, beneath whofe awful fword
Rebellion crouch'd, and trembling own'd him Lord.
Thofe Heroes too, who thy bold flag nnfurl'd,
/ 4, And fpread thy banners o'er the eaftern world,
Whofe fpears fubdued the kingdoms of the morn,
Their names, and glorious wars the fong adorn :
The daring Gama, whofe unequal'd name
Proud monarch (hines o'er all of naval fame :
Caftro the bold, in arms a peerlefs knight,
And ftern Pacheco, dreadful in the fight :
' To match the Tiuelve fo long by Bards the Epifode of MagrIzo and his eleven com-
rfwowMV— The Twelve Peers of France, panions, fee the fixth Lufiad.
often mentioned in the old Romances. For
The
Book I. THE L U S I A D. ^
The two Almeydas, names for ever dear,
By Tago's nymphs embalm'd with many a tear ;
Ah, ftill their early fate the nymphs (hall mourn,
And bathe with many a tear their haplefs urn :
Nor fhall the godlike Albuquerk reftrain
The Mufe's fury; o'er the purpled plain
The Mufe fhall lead him in his thundering car
Amidft his glorious brothers of the war,
Whofe fame in arms refounds from Iky to fky.
And bids their deeds the power of death defy.
And while, to thee, I tune the duteous lay,
Affume, O potent King, thine Empire's fway ;
With thy brave hofl through Afric march along,
And give new triumphs to immortal fong :.
On thee with earneft eyes the nations wait.
And cold with dread the Moor expe6ls his fate ;
The barbarous Mountaineer on Taurus' brows
To thy expe6led yoke his fhoulder bows ;
To thee, fair Thetis yields her blue domain,
And binds her daughter with thy nuptial chain j
And from the bowers of heaven thy Grandfires ^ fee
Their various virtues bloom afrefh in thee ;
One for the joyful days of Peace renown'd.
And one with War's triumphant laurels crown'd :
^T/jyGrati^f/ires— John 111. Kin^of?ort\i- and the Emperor Charles V. who was en-
gal, celebrated for a long and peaceful reign ; gaged in almoft continual wars.
C With
J^
(7
(JO THE L U S I A D. So6k 1.
With joyful hands, to deck thy manly brow,
They twine the laurel and the olive-bough ;
With joyful eyes a glorious throne they fee,
In Fame's eternal dome, referv'd ' for thee.
Yet while thy youthful hand delays to wield
The fcepter'd power, or thunder of the field,
Here view thine Argonauts, in feas unknown,
And all the terrors of the burning zone.
Till their proud ftandards, rear'd in other fkies,
And all their conquefts meet thy wondering " eyes.
Now far from land, o'er Neptune's dread abode
The Lufitanian fleet triumphant rode 3
Onward they traced the wide and lonefome main.
Where changeful Proteus leads his fcaly train ;
The dancing vanes before the Zephyrs flow'd.
And their bold keels the tra6llefs Ocean plow'd j
Unplow'd before, the green-ting'd billows rofe.
And curl'd and whiten'd round the nodding prows.
When Jove, the God who with a thought controuls
The raging feas, and balances the poles,
' Anne novum tardis Jidui te menjibus addas, beautiful complaint of his blindnefs has been
^a locus Erigonen inter chela/que fequentes blamed for the fame reafon, as being no part
Panditur: ipj'e tijbi jam brachia contrahit of the fubj eft of his Poem. The addrefs of
ardens - Camoens to Don Sebaftian has not efcaped
Scorpius, et caslijujia plus parte reliquit. the fame cenfure ; though in fome meafure
ViRG. G. I. undefervedly, as the Poet has had the art
"" Some Critics have condemned Virgil to interweave therein fome part of the ge-
for flopping his narrative to introduce even neral argument of his poem.
a (hort obfervation of his own. Milton's
From
A/
Book I. THE L U S I A D. . 1 1
From heav*n beheld, and wili'd, in fovereign ftate,
To fix the eaftern World's depending fate :
Swift at his nod th' Olympian herald flies,
And calls th' immortal fenate of the ikies ;
Where, from the fovereign throne of earth and heaven,
Th* immutable decrees of fate are given.
Inflant the Regents of the fpheres of light,
And thofe v^ho rule the paler orbs of night.
With thofe, the gods whofe delegated fway
The burning South and frozen North obey ;
And they whofe empires fee the day-ftar rife,
And evening Phoebus leave the weftern fkies,
All inftant pour'd along the milky road.
Heaven's chryflal pavements glittering as they trode :
And now, obedient to the dread command.
Before their awful Lord in order fland.
Sublime and dreadful on his regal throne,
That glow'd with ftars, and bright as lightning flione,
Th' immortal Sire, who darts the thunder, fate.
The crown and fceptre added folemn flate ;
The crown, of heaven's own pearls, whofe ardent rays,
Flam'd round his brows, outlhone the diamond's blaze :
His breath fuch gales of vital fragrance fhed.
As might, with fudden life, infpire the dead :
C 2 Supreme
12 THE L U S I A D. Book I.
Supreme Controul throned in his awful eyes
Appear'd, and mark'd the Monarch of the ikies.
<2^ <J' On feats that burn'd with pearl and ruddy gold.
The fubje6l Gods their fovereign Lord enfold.
Each in his rank, when, with a voice that fliook
The towers of heaven the world's dread Ruler fpoke :
^4 Immortal heirs of light, my purpofe hear.
My counfels ponder, and the Fates revere :
Unlefs Oblivion o'er your minds has thrown .
Her dark blank fliades, to you, ye Gods, are known
The Fate's Decree, and ancient warlike Fame
Of that bold race which boails of Lufus' name ;
That bold advent'rous race the Fates declare,
A potent empire in the Eaft fhall rear,
Surpafling Babel's or the Perfian fame,
Proud Grecia's boaft, or Rome's illuftrious name.
^ /' Oft from thofe brilliant feats have you beheld
The fons of Lufus on the dufty field.
With few triumphant o'er the numerous Moors.,
Till from the beauteous lawns on Tagus' fhores
They drove the cruel foe. And oft has heaven
Before their troops the proud Caftilians. driven 5
While Vi6lory her eagle-wings difplay'd
Where'er their Warriors waved the fhining blade.
Nor
Book I. THE L U S I A D.
Q^/^ Nor refls unknown how Lufus' heroes flood
When Rome's ambition dy'd the world with blood >
What glorious laurels Viriatus " gain'd,
How oft his fword with Roman gore" was ftain'd -,
And what fair palms their martial ardour crown'd,
When led to battle by the Chief renown'd,
Who " feign'd a daemon, in a deer conceal'd.
To him the counfel^ of the Gods reveal'd.
n
" This brave Lufitanlan, who was firft a
ftiepherd and a famous hunter, and after-
wards a captain of banditti, exafperated $t
the tyranny of the Romans, encouraged his
countrymen to revolt and fhake off the yoke.
Being appointed General, he defeated Veti-
lius the Pra::or, who commanded in Lufita-
nia, or farther Spain. After this he de-
feated in three pitched battles, the Praetors
C. Plautius Hypfsus, and Claudius Unima-
nus, though they led againft him very nu-
merous armies. For fix years he continued
vidtorious, putting the Romans to flight
wherever he met them, and laying wafte
the countries of their allies. Having ob-
tained fuch advantages over the Proconful
Servilianns, that the only choice which was
left to the Roman army was death or fla-
very ; the brave Viriatus, inftead of putting
them all to the fword, as he could eaflly have
done, fent a deputation to the General, of-
fering to conclude a peace with him on this
fingle condition, That he Jhould continue
Majler of the Country notv in his ponver, and
that the Romans Jhould rernain pojjijfed of
the re/i of Spain.
The Proconful, who expcS:ed nothing
but death or flavery, thought thefe very
favourable and moderate terms, and without
hefitation concluded a peace, which was foon
after ratified by the Roman fenate and peo-
ple. Viriatus, by this treaty, compleated
the glorious defign he had always in view.
which was to ere£t a kingdom in the vaft
country he had conquered from the Republic.
And had it not been for the treachery of
the Romans, he vvould have become, as
Florus calls him, the Romulus of Spain:
He would have founded a monarchy capablfe
of counterbalancing the power of Rome.
The Senate, ftill defirous to revenge theiy
late defeat, foon after this peace ordered
Qi Servilius Caepio to exafperate Viriatus^
and force him by repeated affronts to com-
mit the firft afts of hoftility. But this mean
artifice did not fucceed : Viriatus would not
be provoked to a breach of the peace. On
this the Confcript Fathers, to the eternal
difgrace of their Republic, ordered Ciepio
to delare war, and to proclaim Viriatus, who
had given no provocation, an enemy to
Rome. To this bafenefs Caepio added ftill
a greater ; he corrupted the ambaffadors
which Viriatus had fent to negotiate with
him, v/ho, at the inftigation of the Roman,,
treacheroufly murdered their Proteftor and
General while he flcpt. Univ. Hist.
o Sertorius, who was invited by the Lu--
fitanians to defend them againft the Ro-
mans, He had a tame white Hind, which
he had accuftomed to follow him, and from
which he pretended to receive the inftruc-
tions of Diana. By this artifice he impofed
upon the fuperftition of that people.
Vid. Plut.
And
14 THE L U S I AliD. Book I.
^ -n And now ambitious to extend their fway
, Beyond their cojtiquefts on the fouthmoft bay
Of Afric's fwarthy coafl, on floating wood
They brave the terrors, of the , dreary flood,
Where only black-wing'd mifts have hover 'd o'er,
Or driving clotids have fail'd the wave before j
Beneath new ikies they hold their dreadful way
To reach the cradle of the new-born day ;
, ^/^ And Fate, whofe mandates unrevok'd remain.
Has wiird, that long fhall Lufus' offjspring reign
The lords of that wide fea, whofe waves behold
The fun come forth enthroned in burning gold.
But now the tedious length of winter paft,
Diftrefs'd and weak, the heroes faint at laft-
What gulphs they dared, you faw, what ftorms they braved,
Beneath what various heavens their banners waved !
Now Mercy pleads, and foon the rifmg land
To their glad eyes fhall o'er the waves expand j
As welcome friends the natives fhall receive,
With bounty feafl them, and with joy relieve.
And when refrefliment fhall their flrength renew.
Thence fhall they turn, and their bold rout purfue.
(^ ^; So fpoke high Jove : The Gods in filence heard,
Then rifnig each, by turns, his thoughts prgferr'd :
But
Book I.
,T H B L U S 1 A D.
^5
^:?
But chief was Bacchus ^ of the adverfe train j
Fearful he was, nor fear'd his pride in vain,
Should Lufus' race arrive on India's fhore.
His ancient honours would be named no more ;
No more in Nyfa ** fhould the natives tell
What kings, what mighty hofts before him fell.
The fertile vales beneath the rifmg fun
He view'd as his, by right of viftory won.
And deem'd that ever in immortal fong
The Conqueror's title iTiould to him belong.
Yet Fate, he knew, had will'd, that loos'd from Spain
Boldly advent'rous thro' the polar main,
A warlike race fliould come, renown'd in arms.
And fliake the eaftern world with war's alarms,
Whofe glorious conquefls and eternal fame
In black Oblivion's waves fhould whelm his name.
%''..
Urania- Venus \ Queen of facred Love,
Arofe a pleader on the part of Jove -,
P But chief nuas Bacchus. The French
Tranflator has the following note on this
place : Le Camocns n*a pourt ant fait en cela
fie fuivre Vexemple de VEcriture, comme on
'voit dans ces paroles du premiere chapitre
de Job. Quidam autem die cum venifTent,
&c. Un jour que les enfans du Seigneur
s*etcient affemble devant fan tronCy Satan j
vint aujjiy ijfc.
'i No more in Nyfa. — An antient city in
India facred to Bacchus.
' Urania- Tenus.—'^ An Italian poet has
given the following defcription of tlje celef-
tial Venus.
^ejia e "jaga di Dio Venrre bella
yicina al Sole, efopra ogni altra efela
^uejia e quella brat a, a cui i'itichinaf
A cui fi 'volge de/iando amore,
Chiamata cui del del rara e di'vina
Belta che fien tra noi per nojiro honorfy
Per far le menti de/iando al CieU
Obliare Valtrui col propria njelo.
Ma r t f. I, .
Her
i6 THE L U S I A D. Book I.
<^ ^^ Her eyes, well pleas'd, in Lufus' fons could trace
A kindred likenefs to the Roman race,
For whom of old fuch kind regard fhe ' bore ;
The fame their triumphs on Barbaria's jQiore,
The fame the ardour of their warlike flame,
The manly mufic of their tongue the ' fame :
^A AfFedlion thus the lovely Goddefs fway'd.
Nor lefs what Fate's unblotted page difplay'd.
Where'er this people fhould their empire raife,
She knew her altars would unnumbered blaze,
And barbarous nations at her holy fhrine
Be humaniz'd, and taught her lore divine.
Her fpreading honours thus the one infpired.
And one the dread to lofe his worfhip fired.
Their llruggling fa6lions fliook th' Olympian ftate
With all the clamorous tempefl of debate.
5 S' Thus when the ftorm with fudden gufl invades
The antient foreft's deep and lofty fliades.
The burfling whirlwinds tear their rapid courfe,
The fhatter'd oaks crafh, and >vith echoes hoarfe
The mountains groan, while whirling on the blafl
The thickening leaves a gloomy darknefs cafl ;
* See the note in the Second Book on the Com pouca corrup^ao ere que he Latina.
following paflage ; — Qualifications are never elegant in poetr>'.
n, „.,A<,„ ;^ TJ ^ L n. n J r c ^ Fanfliaw's tranflation, and the original, both
Jis nvhenin Ida s bovver Jhe fiooa of yore. Sec. ^i- fa »
' J J J J f prove this.
* The manly mnf.c of their tongue the fame. . Z^,^/,- tongue
— Camoens fays, " ;^7^;V^ p^ fhi„j^j i^^^„ ^,y^^ j-^all drof
^ na lingoaf na qual quando imaginay among.
Such
3f
JBooK T. THE L U S I A D. 17
Such was the tumult in the bleft abodes,
When Mars, high towering o'er the rival Gods,
Stept forth : Hern fparkles from his eye balls glanc'd,
-And now, before the throne of Jove advanc'd.
O'er his left fhoulder his broad fhield he throws,
And lifts his helm above his dreadful brows :
Bold and enrag'd he flands, and, frowning round,
Strikes his tall fpear-ftaff on the founding ground ;
Heaven trembled, and the light turn'd pale * — Such dread
His fierce demeanour o'er Olympus fpread :
When thus the Warrior, — O Eternal Sire,
Thine is the fceptre, thine the thunder's fire,
Supreme dominion thine ; then. Father, hear.
Shall that bold Race w^hirh once to thee was dear.
Who now fulfilling thy decrees of old.
Through thefe wild waves their fearlefs journey hold,
Shall that bold Race no more thy care engage.
But fmk the victims of unhallowed rage !
Did Bacchus yield to Reafon's voice divine,
Bacchus the caufe of Lufus' fons would join,
Lufus, the lov'd companion of his cares.
His earthly toils, his dangers, and his wars :
But Envy Hill a foe to worth will prove.
To worth though guarded by the arm of Jove.
* and the light turned pale ^The the happieft manner of Camoens,
thought in the Original has fomething in it O ceo tremeo, e Apvllo detowado
wildly great, though it is not expreflcd in Hum fauco a lux perdeo, como in/ado.
D Then
i8 T H fe L U S I A D. Book I.
Then thou, dread Lord of Fate, unmov'd remain,
Nor let weak change thine awful counfels ftain,
For Lufus' Race thy promis'd favoiir fhew i
Swift as the arrow from Apollo's bow
Let Maia's fon explore the watery way,.
Where fpent with toil, with weary hopes, they ftray j
And fafe to harbour, through the deep untHed,
Let him, impower'd, their wandering vefTels guide ^
There let them hear of India's wifh'd-for fhore.
And balmy reft their fainting ftrength reftore.
He fpoke : high Jove aflenting bow'd the head.
And floating clouds of-nedlar'd fragrance fhed :
Then lowly bending to th' Eternal Sire,
Each in his duteous rank, the Gods retire.
Whilft thus in Heaven's bright palace Fate was weigh'd.
Right onward ftill the brave Armada ftray'd :
Right on they fteer by Ethiopia's ftrand
And paftoral Madagafcar's " verdant land.
Before the balmy gales of cheerful fpring,
"With heav'n their friend, they fpread the canvas wing ;
The fky cerulean, and the breathing air.
The lafting promife of a calm declare.
* And paftoral Madagafcar — Called by of the Moon; and by the Portuguefe, the
the ancient Geographers Menuthia, and Jfle of St. Laurence, on whofe fellival they
Cerna Ethiopica; by the natives, the Ifland difcovered it.
The
Book I. THE L U S I A D. 19
Behind them now the Cape of Prafo bends,
Another Ocean to their view extends,
Where black-topt iflands, to their longing eyes,
Lav!d by the gentle waves ^ in profpe6l rife.
But Gam A, (captain of the vent'rous band,
Of bold emprize, and born for high command,
Whofe martial fires, with prudence clofe allied,
Enfured the fmiles of fortune on his fide)
Bears off thofe fhores which wafte and wild appear'd,
And eaftward flill for happier climates fteer'd :
When gathering round and blackening o'er the tide,
A fleet of fmall canoes the Pilot fpied ;
Hoifling their fails of palm-tree leaves, inwove
With curious art, a fwarming crowd they move:
Long were their boats, and fharp to bound along
Through the dafh'd waters, broad their oars and flrong :
The bending rowers on their features bore
The fwarthy marks of Phaeton's '' fall of yore :
*= La'v'd by the gentle iMwue^ — The Origi- Phaeton is this. Phaeton was a young em-
nal fays, the Sea (hewed them new iflands, terprifmg Prince of Libya. Croffing the
which it encircled and laved. Thus rendered Mediterranean in queft of adventures he
by Fanfhaw, landed at Epirus, from whence he wcat to
Neptune difclos'd nen» ijles 'which he did play Italy to fee his intimate friend Cygnus.
About J and with his billows danc^t the hay. Phaeton was (killed in aftrology, from whence
•of Phaeton's fall— ^^ arrogated to himfelf the title of the fon
ferunt lu^u Cjcnu^. Fhaetonis amati, of Apollo. One day m the heat of fummer
Populeas inter frondes u^nbramquefororum ^^ he was riding along the banks of the Po.
Dum canit, & ma^fium mujajalatur amorem : ^''\ ^°'■^" f ^^^ ^"fht at a clap of thunder,
Canentem molli pluma duxifjh feneaam, and plunged into the river where together
Linquentem terras, et ftdera ^oce fequentem. '"'$' ^ M^' ^T^"^^ u^^^?"^?'
'^Y p who was a Poet, celebrated the death of his
' * friend in verfe, from whence the fable.
The hxitoncal foundation of the fable of Vid. Plutar. in vit, Pyrr.
D 2 When
20 THE L U S I A D. . Book 1.
When flaming lightnings fcorch'd the banks of Po,
And nations blacken'd in the dread o'erthrow.
Their garb, difcover'd as approaching nigh;* j<|f)t
Was cotton ftrip'd with many a gaudy dye :
"Twas one whole piece beneath one arm confin'd.
The reft hung loofe and flutter'd on the wind ^
All, but one breaft, above the loins was bare,.
And fwelling turbans bound their jetty hair :
Their arms were bearded darts and faulchions broad,.
And warlike mufie founded as they row'd..
With joy the failors faw the boats draw near.
With joy beheld the human face appear: iii to
What nations thefe, their wondering thoughts explore.
What rites they follow, and what God adore I
And now with hands and kerchiefs wav^d in air
The barb'rous race their friendly mind declare.
Glad were the crew, and ween'd that happy day
Should end their dangers and their toils repay.
The lofty mafts the nimble youths afcend.
The ropes they haule, and o'er the yard-arms bend v
And now their bowfprits pointing to the ihore,
A fafe moon'd bay, with flacken'd fails they bore i
With cheerful fhouts they furl the gather'd fail
That lefs and lefs flaps quivering on the gale j
The prows, their fpeed ft opt, o'er the furges nod.
The falling anchors dafti the foaming flood -,
When
Book I. THE L U S I A D. 21
When fudden as they ftopt, the fwarthy race
With fmiles of friendly wekome on each face,
Alert and bounding, by the cordage climb :
lUuflrious Gama, with an air fublime,
Soften'd by mild humanity, receives.
And to their chief the hand of friendfliip gives,
Bids fpread the board, and, inftant as he faid,
Along the deck the feflive board is fpread :
The fparkling wine in chryflal goblets glows.
And round and round with cheerful welcome flows.
While thus the Vine its fprightly glee infpires,
From whence the fleet, the fwarthy Chief enquires.
What feas they paft, what vantage would attain.
And what the flipre their purpofe hop'd ta gain ?
From farthefl: wefl, the Luiian race reply ,^
To reach the golden eaftern fhores we try.
Through that unbounded fea whofe billows roll
From the cold northern to the fouthern pole j
And by the wide extent, the dreary vaft
Of Afric's bays, already have we paft ;
And many a fky have feen, and many a lliore,.
Where but fea-monfters cut the waves before.
To fpread the glories of our Monarch's reign, .
For India's ftiore we brave the tracklefs main,
Our glorious toil, and at his nod would brave
The difmal gulphs of Acheron's black wave.
And
2ft THE L U S I A D. Book L
And now, in turn, your race, your Country tell,
If on your lips fair truth delights to dwell,
To us, unconfcious of the falfehood, fhew
What of thefe feas and India's fite you know.
Rude are the natives here, the Moor reply'd,
Dark are their minds, and brute-defire their guide :
But we of alien blood, and ftrangers here,
Nor hold their cuftoms nor 'their laws revere.
From Abram's " race our holy prophet fprung,
An Angel taught, and heaven infpir'd his tongue;
His facred rites and mandates we obey.
And diftant Empires own his holy fway.
From ifle to ifle our trading velTels roam,
Mozambic's harbour our commodious home.
If then your fails for India's fhores expand.
For fultry Ganges or Hydafpes' ftrand.
Here ihall you find a Pilot fkill'd to guide
Through all the dangers of the per'lous tide,
Though wide fpread fhelves, and cruel rocks unfeen, .
Lurk in the way, and whirlpools rage between.
Accept, mean while, what fruits thefe iflands hold.
And to the Regent let your wifh be told.
« From Abram^s race our holy prophet from Iflimael, the foa of Abraham by Ha-
fprung. — Mohammed, who was defcended gar.
Then
Book I.
THE LUSIAD.
23
Then may your mates the needful ftores provide,
And all your various wants be here fupplied.
So fpake the Moor, and bearing fmiles untrue
And figns of friendfhip, with his bands withdrew,
O'erpower'd with joy unhop'd the failors flood,
To find fuch kindnefs on a fhore fo rude.
Now {hooting o*er the flood his fervid blaze.
The red-brow 'd Sun withdraws his beamy rays j
Safe in the bay the crew forget their cares.
And peaceful reft their wearied flrength repairs.
Calm Twilight ^ now his drowfy mantle fpreads,
And fhade on Ihade, the gloom flill deepening fheds.
The Moon, full orb'd, forfakes her watery cave.
And lifts her lovely head above the wave.
The fnowy fplendors of her modefl ray
Stream o'er the glifl'ning waves, and quivering play :
Around her, gUttering on the heav'ns arch'd brow,
Unnumber'd flars, enclos'd in azure, glow,
^ Calm Tiui light noiv Camoens, in
this paffage, has imitated Homer in the
manner of Virgil : by diverfifying the fcene
he has made the defcription his own. The
paffage alluded to is in the eighth Iliad :
<t>xlvtr u^iiT^iTrixy Scc.
Thus elegantly tranflated by Pope :
u4s ivben the moony refulgent lamp of nighty
0*er hea'ven'j dear azure fpreads her facrcd
light.
irhen not a breath dijlurbs the deep ferenCt
And not a cLud o'ercajis the folemnfcene'y
Around her throne the 'vi'vid planets roll.
And far s unnu}nier^d gild the glo^ving pole.
O'er the dark trees a yellcwer verdure Jhed,
And tip 'with fiver every mountain s head ;
Then jhine the 'u.ifes, the rocks in profpefl rife,
A food of glory burfts from all the Jkies :
The confcious fivains rejoicing in the fight.
Eye the blue vault, and blifs the ufeful light.
Thick
24 THE L U S I A D. Book L
Thick as the dew-drops of the rofy dawn,
Or May-flowers crouding o'er the daify-lawn :
The canvas whitens in the filvery beam.
And with a paler red the pendants gleam :
The mafls' tall fhadows tremble o*er the deep ;
The peaceful winds an holy filence keep j
The watchman's carol echo'd from the prows.
Alone, at times, awakes the ftill repofe.
Aurora now, with dewy luftre bright,
Appears, afcending on the rear of night.
With gentle hand, as feeming oft to paufe.
The purple curtains of the morn fhe draws -,
The fun comes forth, and foon the joyful crew.
Each aiding each, their joyful talks purfue.
Wide o'er the decks the fpreading fails they throw ;
From each tall maft the waving flreamers flow ;
All feems a feflive holiday on board
To welcome to the fleet the ifland's Lord.
With equal joy the Regent fails to meet.
And brings frefli cates, his ofterlngs, to the fleet:
For of his kindred Race their line he deems,
That favage Race who rufti'd from Cafpia's flreams.
And triumph'd o'er the Eafl:, and, Afia won.
In proud Byzantium fixt their haughty throne.
Brave
Book I. THE L U S I A D. 25
Brave Vasco hails the chief with honeft fmiles,
And gift for gift with liberal hand he piles.
His gifts, the boaft of Europe's arts difclofe.
And fparkling red the wine of Tagus flows.
High on the fhrouds the wondering failors hung,
To note the Moorifh garb, and barbarous tongue ;
Nor lefs the fubtle Moor, with wonder fired,
Their mien, their drefs, and lordly fhips admired :
Much he enquires their King's, their Country's name^
And, if from Turkey's fertile fhores they came ?
What God they worfhipp'd, what their facred lore,
What avms they wielded, and what armour wore ?
To whom brave Gama -, Nor of Hagar's blood
Am I, nor plow from Izmael's fhores the flood ;
From Europe's flrand I trace the foamy way,
To find the regions of the infant day.
The God we worfhip flretch'd yon heaven's high bow.
And gave thefe fwelling waves to roll below j
The hemifpheres of night and day he fpread,
He fcoop'd each vale, and rear'd each mountain's head ;
His Word produc'd the nations of the earth,
And gave the fpirits of the fky their birth ;
On Earth, by him, his holy lore was given.
On Earth he came to raife mankind to heaven.
And now behold, what mofl your eyes defire.
Our fhining armour, and our arms of fire -,
E And
26 THE L U S I A D. Book L
For who has once in friendly peace beheld,
Will dread to meet them on the battle field.
Strait ^ as he fpoke the Magazines difplay'd
Their glorious fhew, where, tire on tire inlaid,
Appear'd of glittering fteel the carabines,
There the plumed helms, and ponderous brigandines ;
O'er the broad bucklers fculptur'd orbs emboli
The crooked faulchions dreadful blades were croft :
Here clafping greaves, and plated mail-quilts ftrong.
The long-bows here, and rattling quivers hung,
And like a grove the burnifli'd fpears were feen,
With darts, and halberts double-edged between j
Here dread grenadoes, and tremendous bombs,
With deaths ten thoufand lurking in their wombs,
And far around of brown, and dulky red
The pointed piles of iron balls were fpread.
The Bombadeers, now to the Regent's view
The thundering mortars and the cannon drew ;
Yet at their Leader's nod, the fons of flame
(For brave and generous ever are the fame)
B Strait as he fpoke The defcription of explique en pen des mots la Religion que ht
the armoury, and the account which Vafco Portugais fui'venty I'u/age des armes dont ils
de Gama gives of his religion, confifts, in fe fervent dans la guerre^ et le deffein qui let
the Original, of thirty-two lines, which M. amene.
Caftera has reduced into the following fen- This omiflion affords us one of the num-
teryre: Leur Go'verneur fait different es quef- berlefs inftances of the unpoetical tafte of the
tions au Capitainey qui pour le fatisfaire lui French Paraphrill.
Withheld
Book I. THE L U S I A D. ay
Withheld their hands, nor gave the feeds of fire
To roufe the thunders of the dreadful tire.
For Gama's foul difdain'd the pride of fhevv
Which a6ls the lion o'er the trembling roe.
His joy and wonder oft the Moor expreft,
But rankling hate lay brooding in his breaft -,
With fmiles obedient to his will's controul,
He veils the purpofe of his treacherous foul: ^dO
For Pilots, confcious of the Indian flrand «
Brave Vasco fues, and bids the Moor command
What bounteous gifts fhall recompence their toils;
The Moor prevents him with alTenting fmiles,
Refolved that deeds of death, not words of air,
Shall firft the hatred of his foul declare ;
Such fudden rage his rankling mind poffeft.
When ^Gama's lips Meffiah's name confell.
Oh depth of heaven's dread will, that rancorous hate
On heaven's beft lov'd in every clime fhould wait;
s When Gamuts lips Meffiah's name confeft. Zacocia, (governor of Mozambic) made
— This, and of confequence, the reafon of no doubt but our people were of fome Mo-
the Moor's hate, is entirely omitted by hammedan country. — The mutual exchange
Caftcra. The original is, the Moor con- of good offices between our people and thefe .
ceived hatred, " knowing they were fol- iflanders promifed a long continuance of
*• lowers of the truth which the Son of friendfhip, but it proved otherwife. No
" David taught." Thus rendered by Fan- fooner did Zacocia undcrftand they were
ihaw, ChrilUans, than all his kindnefs was turned
Knorving they foUoiAf^ that unerrinz Ushh ^"^0 the moft bitter hatred; he began to
^he Son of Daijid holds out in his Book. meditate their rum and fought by every
Tj . . c 1 A u J n , "^^^"^ ^° ^^^^^y ^^e fleet.— -Oforio, Bp.
^y ,^is Solomon mull be underftood, not of Sylves, Hill, of the Portu^ Difcov *•
the Melliah, as meant by Camoens. ®
E 2 ' Now
28 THE L U S I A D. Book L
Now fmiling round on all the wondering crew
The Moor attended by his bands withdrew ;
His nimble barges foon approaeh'd the land.
And fhouts of joy received him on the ftrand.
From heaven's high dome the Vintage-God beheld ;
(Whom ^ nine long months his father's thigh conceal'd)
Well-pleafed he mark'd the Moor's determined h^te
And thus his mind revolved in felf-debate :
Has heaven, indeed, fuch glorious lot ordain'd !
By Lufus' race fuch conquefts to be gain'd
O'er warlike nations, and on India's fhore.
Where I unrival'd, claim'd the palm before !
I fprung from Jove ! and Ihall thefe wandering few.
What Ammon's fon unconquer'd left, fubdue I
Ammon's brave fon who led the God of war
His flave auxiliar at his thundering car !
Mull thefe poflefs what Jove to him deny'd,
PofTefs what never footh'd the Roman pride !
Muft thefe the Vigor's lordly flag difplay
With hateful blaze beneath the rifmg day.
♦> IFhom nine Jon^ months his father'' s infancy in a cave of mount Meros, which in
thigh conceal'd. — According to the Ara- Greek fignifies a thigh. Hence the fable.
hmis, Bacchus was nourifhed during hif
My
Book L THE L U S I A D. 29
My name difhonour'd, and my vi<Elories flain'd,
O'erturn'd my altars, and my fhrines profaned !
No — be it mine to fan the Regent's hate ;
Occafion feized commands the anion's fate.
'Tis mine — this captain now my dread no more.
Shall never fhake his fpear on India's fhore.
So fpake the Power, and with the lightning's flight
For Afric darted thro' the fields of light.
* His form divine he cloath'd in human fhape.
And rufh'd impetuous o*er the rocky cape :
In the dark femblanc€ of a Moor he came
For art and old experience known to fame ;
Him all his peers with humble deference heard
And all Mozambic and its prince rever'd :
The Prince in hafte he fought, and thus expreft
His guileful hate in friendly counfel drefl: :
And to the Regent of this ifle alone
Are thefe Adventurers and their fraud unknown?
Has Fame conceal'd their rapine from his ear ?
Nor brought the groans of plunder 'd nations here ? .^^ f/
-* Mis form divine he cloath*d in human Jhape.
Ale£io towam faciem et furialia membra .
Exuit : in Hjultus fe/e transformat anilesy
Sit front em obfccenum rugit .arat» < Va »^« Ejh. 7.
.Yet
30 T H E L U S I A D. Book h
Yet flill their hands the peaceful olive bore
Whene'er they anchor'd on a foreign fhore ;
But nor their feeming, nor their oaths I truft,
For Afric knows them bloody and unjufl.
The nations fmk beneath their lawlefs force,
And fire and blood have mark'd their deadly courfe.
We too, unlefs kind heaven and Thou prevent,
•Muft fall the victims of their dire intent,
And, gafping in the pangs of death, behold
Our vv^ives led captive, and our daughters fold.
By ftealth they come, ere morrow dawn, to bring
The healthful beverage from the living fpring :
Arm'd with his troop the Captain will appear;
For confcious fraud is ever prone to fear.
To meet them there felefl a trufty band.
And in clofe ambufli take thy filent fland.
There wait, and fudden on the heedlefs foe
Rufh, and deftroy them ere they dread the blow.
Or fay fhould fome efcape the fecret fnare
Saved by their fate, their valour, or their care,
Yet their dread fall fhall celebrate our ifle.
If fate confent, and thou approve the guile.
Give then a Pilot to their wandering fleet,
Bold in his art, and tutor'd in deceit ;
Whofe hand adventurous fhall their helms mifguide.
To hoflile fhores, or whelm them in the tide.
So
Book I. T H E L U S I A D. 31
So fpoke the God, in femblance of a fage
Renown'd for counfel and the craft of age.
The Moor with tranfport glowing in his face
Approved, and caught him in a kind embrace j
And inflant at the word his bands prepare
Their bearded darts and implements of war.
That Lufus' fons, might purple with their gore.
The chryilal fountain which they fought on fhore :
And ftill regardful of his dire intent,
A fkilful pilot to the bay he fent ;
Of honeft mien, yet pradifed in deceit.
Who far at diftance on the beach fhould wait,
And to the 'fcaped, if fome fhould 'fcape the fnare
Should offer friendfhip and the pilot's care.
But when at fea, on rocks fhould dafh their pride.
And whelm their lofty vanes beneath the tide.
Apollo now had left his watery bed.
And o'er the mountains of Arabia fpread
His Tays that glow'd with gold ; when Gam a rofe.
And from his bands a trufly fquadron chofe :
Three fpeedy barges brought their cafks to fill
From gurgling fountain, or the chryflal rill :
Full-arm'd they came, for brave defence prepared,
For martial care is ever on the guard :
And
io
32 THE LUSIAD. Book I.
And fecret warnings ever are imprefl
On wifdom fuch as waked in Gama's breaft.
And now, as fwiftly fpringing o'er the tide
Advanced the boats, a troop of Moors they fpy'd ;
O'er the pale fands the fable warriors crowd.
And tofs their threatening darts, and fhout aloud.
Yet feeming artlefs, though they dared the fight,
Their eager hope they placed in artful flight.
To lead brave Gama where unfeen by day
In dark-brow'd (hades their filent ambufh lay.
With fcornful geftures o'er the beach they ftride.
And pufli their level'd fpears with barbarous pride.
Then fix the arrow to the bended bow.
And ftrike their founding fhields, and dare the foe.
With generous rage the Lufian Race beheld.
And each brave breafl with indignation fwell'd,
To view fuch foes like fnarling dogs difplay
Their threatening tufks, and brave the fanguine fray :
Together vwith a bound they fpring to land.
Unknown whofe ftep firft trode the hoftile ilrand.
Thus '', when to gain his beauteous Charmer's fmile.
The youthful Lover dares the bloody toil,
^ Thus luhen to gain his beauteous Charmr*s ercife in Spain, where it is ufual to Tee
fmiki young Gentlemen of the beft families enter-
7he y/)uthful Lover dares the hkody toil, ing the lifts to fight with a Bull, adorned
' This fimilie is taken from a favourite ex- with ribbons, and armed with a javelin or
kind
Book I. THE L U S I A D. 33
Before the nodding Bull's ftern front he ftands,
He leaps, he wheels, he fhouts, and waves his hands :
The lordly brute difdains the ftripling's rage,
His noftrils fmoke, and, eager to engage.
His horned brows he levels with the ground.
And fhuts his Naming eyes, and wheeling round
With dreadful bellowing rufhes on the foe.
And lays the boaftful gaudy champion low.
Thus to the fight the fons of Lufus fprung,
Nor flow to fall their ample vengeance hung :
With fudden roar the carabines refound.
And burfting echoes from the hills rebound j
The lead flies hifling through the trembling air.
And death's fell daemons through the flafhes glare.
Where, up the land, a grove of palms enclofe.
And caft their fliadows where the fountain flows,
The lurking ambufli from their treacherous fliand
Beheld the combat burning on the fl:rand :
They fee the flafh with fudden lightnings flare.
And the blue fmoke flow rolling on the air :
They fee their v/arriors drop, and, fliarting, hear
The lingering thunders burfl:ing on their ear.
kind of cutlas, which the Spaniards call leros being very expert at this valorous exer-
Macbete. Though Camoens in this defcrip- cife, and ambitious to difplay their dexteri-
tion of it has given the viftory to the Bull, ty, which is a fure recommendation to the
it very feldom fo happens, the young Cabal- favour and good opinion of the Ladies.
F AmazM,
34 THE L U S I A D. Book I.
Amazed, appall'd, the treacherous ambufh fled,
And raged ', and curft their birth, and quaked with dread..
The bands that vaunting fhew'd their threaten'd might,,
With (laughter gored, precipitate in flight ;
Yet oft, though trembling, on the foe they turn
Their eyes that red with lull of vengeance burn i
Aghafl with fear and ftern with defperate rage
The flying war with dreadful howls they wage,
Flints'", clods, and javelins hurling as they fly.
As rage and wild defpair their hands fupply ;
And foon difperfl:, their bands attempt no more
To guard the fountain or defend the fliore :
O'er the wide lawns no more their troops appear :
Nor fleeps the vengeance of the Viftor here j
To teach the nations what tremendous fate
From his right arm on perjur'd vows fliould wait,
He feized the time to awe the eaftern world.
And on the breach of faith his thunders hurl'd.
From his black fhips the fudden lightnings blaze.
And a'er old Ocean flafti their dreadful rays :
' fnaUtxia Jamque faces et faxa volant^ furor arma
O velho inerte, e a mayy que ofilha cria. minijlrat. Virg. En. I..
Thus tranflated by Fanfhaw, The Spanifli Commentator on this Place
curft their ill lucky relates a very extraordinary inftance of the
^h' old De'vil, and the Dam that /ave them ■^i'^°'' ''T'' !'''"'fi'-J'"'' ^ Portuguefe Sol-
y^f^. dier at the fiege of Diu in the Indies being
furroundcd by the enemy, and having no
* FUntSi clods, andja'velins hurling at they ball to charge his mufket, pulled out one of
fy> his teeth, and with it fupplied the place of
Ji rage, tiff. a biUlet.
White
Book I. T H E L U S I A D. 35
White clouds on clouds inroll'd the fmoke afcends.
The burfting tumult heaven's wide concave rends :
The bays and caverns of the winding fliore
Repeat the cannon's and the mortar's roar :
The bombs, far-flaming, hifs along the Iky,
And whirring through the air the bullets fly ;
The wounded air with hollow deafen'd found.
Groans to the direful Itrife, and trembles round.
Now from the Moorifh town the fheets of fire.
Wide blaze fucceeding blaze, to heaven afpire.
Black rife the clouds of fmoke, and by the gales
Borne down, in ftreams hang hovering o'er the vales;
And flowly floating round the mountain's head
Their pitchy mantle o'er the landfcape fpread.
IJnnumber'd fea-fowl rifmg from the fhore.
Beat round in whirls at every cannon's roar :
Where o'er the fmoke the mafts' tall heads appear,
Hovering they fcream, then dart with fudden fear,
On trembling wings far round and round they fly.
And fill with ^ifmal clang their native flcy.
Thus fled in rout confus'd the treacherous Moors
From field to field, then, hafl:ning to the fliores.
Some trufl: in boats their wealth and lives to fave.
And wild with dread they plunge into the wave j
F 2 Some
36 .THE L U S I A D. Book I.
Some fprcad their arms to fwim, and fome beneatli
The whelming billows, ftruggling, pant for breath.
Then whlrl'd aloft their noftrils fpout the brine ;
While fhowering ftill from many a carabine
The leaden hail their fails and veflels tore,
Till ftruggling hard th^y reach'd the neighb'ring fhore :
Due vengeance thus their perfidy repay'd,
And Gama's terrors to the Eall difplay'd^
Imbrown'd with duft a beaten pathway fhews
Where 'midft unbrageous palms the fountain flows ;.
From thence at will they bear the liquid health ;
And now fole matters of the ifland's wealth-.
With coflly fpoils and eaftern robes adorn'd.
The joyful vi£lors to the fleet return'd.
With hell's keen fires fl:ill for revenge athirft.
The Regent burns, and weens, by fraud accurft.
To fl:rike a furer, yet a fecret blow.
And in one general death to whelm the foe.
The promifed Pilot to the fleet he fends
And deep repentance for his crime pretends.
Sincere the Herald feems, and while he fpeaks.
The winning tears ileal down his hoary cheeks.
Brave Gama, touch'd with generous woe, believes.
And from his hand the Pilot's hand receives :
A dreadful
Book I. THE LUSIAD. 37
A dreadful gift ! inflrudled to decoy,
In gulphs to whelm them, or on rocks dellroy.
The valiant Chief, impatient of delay,
For India now refumes the watery way -,
Bids weigh the anchor and unfurl the fail.
Spread full the canvas to the rifing gale ;
He fpoke j and proudly o'er the foaming tide.
Borne on the wind, the fuU-wing'd vefTels ride -,
While as they rode before the bounding prows
The lovely forms of fea-born nymphs arofe.
The while brave Vasco's unfufpe£lirig mind
Yet fear'd not ought the crafty Moor delign'd :
Much of the coaft he afks, and much demands
Of Afric's fhores and India's fpicy lands.
The crafty Moor by vengeful Bacchus taught
Emplc y'd on deadly guile his baneful thought 5
In his dark mind he plann'd, on Gama's head
Full to revenge Mozambic and the dead.
Yet all the Cliief demanded he reveal'd.
Nor ought of truth, that truth he knew, conceal'd :
For thus he ween'd to gain his eafy faith.
And gain'dj betray to llavery or to death.
And now fecurely trufting to deftroy,
As erfl falfe Sinon fnared the fons of Troy,
Behold,
3§ .THE L U S I A Do Book L
Behold, difcloling from the iky, Jie cries, '
Far to the north, yon cloud-like ifle arife :
From ancient times the natives of the fhore
The blood-ltain'd Image on the Crofs adofe.
Swift at the word, the joyful Gama cry'd,
For that fair ifland turn the helm afide,
O bring my vefTels where the Chriftians dwell,
And thy glad lips my gratitude fhall tell :
With fallen joy the treacherous Moor comply'd,
And for that ifland turn'd the helm alide.
For well Quiloa's fwarthy race he knew.
Their laws and faith to Hagar's offspring true ;
Their flrength in war, through all the nations round,
Above Mozambic and her powers renown'd ;
He knew what hate the Chriftian name they bore.
And hoped that hate on Vasco's bands to poun
Right to the land the faithlefs Pilot fleers,
Right to the land the glad Armada bears j
But heavenly Love's fair Queen ", whofe watchful care
Had ever been their guide, beheld the fnare,
" But hewvenly Love' ! fair ^teen — When fpoke the Arabic langaage, Gama was
Gama anived in the Eaft, the Moors were obliged to employ them both as Pilots and
•the only people who engroffed the trade of Interpreters. The circumflance now men-
thofe parts. Jealous of fuch formidable tioned by Camoens is an hiftorical fa6l.
rivals as the Portuguefe, they employed The Moorifh Pilot, fays De Barros, in-
every artifice to accoraplifli the deftruftion tended to conduft the Portuguefe into Qui-
of Gama's fleet, for they forefaw the con- loa, telling them that place was inhabited
fequcnces of his return to Portugal. As the by Chriftians, but a fudden ftorm arifmg.
Moors were acquainted with thefe feas and drove the fleet from that (hore, where death
Book I. THE L U S I A D. 3^
A fudden ftorm fhe rais'd i Loud howl'd the blaft.
The yard-arms rattled^ and each groaning maft
Bended beneath the weight. Deep funk the prows.
And creaking ropes the creaking ropes appofe ;
In vain the Pilot would the fpeed reftrain^
The Captain fhouts, the Sailors tail in vain ;
Aflope and gliding on the leeward fide
The bounding veffels cut the roaring tide :
Soon far they paft 5 and now the llacken'd fail
Trembles and bellies to the gentle gale :
Now many a league before the tempeil: toft
The treacherous Pilot fees his purpofe croft : ,
Yet vengeful ftill, and ftill intent on guile.
Behold, he cries, yon dim emerging ille :
There live the votaries of Melliah's lore
In faithful peace and friendfhip with the Moor.
Yet all was falfe, for there Mefliah's name.
Reviled and fcorn'd, was only known by fame.
The groveling natives there, a brutal herd.
The fenfual lore of Hagar's fon preferr'd.
or flavery would have been the certain fate Moorifh Pilots who remained on board to be
of Gam A and his companions. The villany examined by whipping, who, after fome
of the Pilot was afterwards difcovered. As time, made a full confeffion of their in-
Gama was endeavouring to enter the port tended villany. This difcovery greatly en-
of Mombaze his fhip llruck on a fand bank, couraged Gam a and his men, who now in-
and finding their purpofe of bringing him terpreted the fudden ftorm which had driven
into the harbour defeated, two of the them from Quiloa as a miraculous interpo-
Moorilh Pilots leaped into the fea and fwam fition of the Divine Providence in their fa-
alhore. Alarmed at this tacit acknowledge-
ment of guilt, Gam A ordered two other
With
4:0 TCTHAET ?. LUU. S IIAHD.T B00& I.
With joy brave Gama hears the a'rtfal tale,
Bears to the harbour, and bids furl the fail.
Yet watchful ilill fair Love's celeflial Queen
Prevents the danger with an hand unfeen j
Nor paft the bar his ventrous veffels guides,
And fafe at anchor in the road he rides.
Between the ifle and Ethiopia's land
A narrow current laves each adverfe flrand j
Clofe by the margin where the green tide flows.
Full to the bay a lordly city rofe 5
With fervid blaze the glowing Evening pours
Its purple fplendors o'er the lofty towers ;
The lofty towers with milder luftre gleam.
And gently tremble in the glalTy ftream.
Here reign'd an hoary King of ancient fame -,
Mombaze the town, and fertile ifland's name.
As when the Pilgrim, who witli weary pace
Through lonely waftes untrod by human race.
For m^any a day difconfolate has ftray'd.
The turf his bed, the wild-wood boughs his fhade,
O'erjoy'd beholds the cheerful feats of men
In grateful profpe6l rifmg on his ken :
So Gama joy'd, who many a dreary day
Had trac'd the vaft, the lonefome watery way,
Had
Book I. THE L U S I A D. 41
Had feen new flars, unkown to Europe, rife,
And brav'd the horrors of the polar fkies :
So joy'd his bounding heart, when proudly rear'd,
The fplendid City o'er the wave appeJrr'd,
Where heaven's own lore, he trufted, was obey'd,
And Holy Faith her facred rites difplay'd.
And now fwift crowding through the horned bay
The Moorifli barges wing'd their foamy way,
To Gama's fleet with friendly fmiles they bore
The choiceft produ6ls of their cultured fhore.
But there fell rancour veil'd its ferpent-head,
Though feflive rofes o'er the gifts were fpread.
For Bacchus veil'd, in human fhape, was here.
And pour'd his counfel in the Sovereign's ear.
O piteous lot of Man's uncertain flate!
What woes on life's unhappy journey wait !♦
When joyful hope would grafp its fond delire.
The long-fought tranfports in the grafp expire.
By fea what treacherous calms, what rufhing ftorms.
And death attendant in a thoufand forms !
By land what ftrife, what plots of fecret guile.
How many ^a wound from many a treacherous fmile !
O where jQiall Man efcape his numerous foes,
And reft his weary head in fafe repofe !
END OF THE FIRST BOOK.
THE
L U S IAD.
BOOK IL
THE fervent luftre of the evening ray-
Behind the weftern hills now died away.
And night, afcending from the dim-brow'd eaft.
The twilight gloom with deeper fhades increall ;
When Gam A heard the creaking of the oar.
And markt the white waves lengthening from the (horej
In many a fkifF the eager natives came,
Their femblance friendfhip, but deceit their aim.
And now by Gama's anchor'd Ihips they ride.
And, Hail illuftrious chief, their leader cried.
Your fame already thefe our regions own,
How your bold prows from worlds to us unknown
G 2 Have
44 THE L U S I A D. Book IE
Have braved the horrors of the fouthern main,
Where ftorms and darknefs hold their endlefs reign^
Whofe whelmy waves our v^^eftward prows have barr'd
From oldeft times, and ne'er before were dared
By boldefl Leader : Earned to behold
The wondrous hero of a toil fo bold,
To you the Sovereign of thefe iflands fends
The holy vows of peace, and hails you friends.
If friendfhip you accept, whate'er kind heaven
In various bounty to thefe fhores has given,
Whatever your wants, your wants fhall here fupply^
And fafe in port your gallant fleet fhall lie ;
Safe from the dangers of the faithlefs tide,.
And fudden burfling ftorms, by you untry'd 5.
Yours every bounty of the fertile fhore,
*Till balmy reft your wearied crew reftore.
Or if your toils and ardent hopes demand
The various treafures of the Indian ftrand,
The fragrant cinnamon, the glowing clove.
And all the riches of the fpicy grove j
Or drugs of power the fever's rage to bound,
Or give foft langour to the fmarting wound j
Or if the fplendor of the diamond's rays,.
The fapphire's azur^, or the ruby's blaze,
Invite your fails to fearch the Eaftern world.
Here may thefe fails in happy hour be furl'd :
For
Book II.
THE
L U S I A D.
45
For here the fplendid treafures of the mine,
And richefl offspring of the field combine
To give each boon that human want requires,
And every gem that lofty pride defires 5
Then here, a potent King your generous friend.
Here let your perlous toils and wandering fearches * end,-
He faid : brave Gama fmiles with heart fincere.
And prays the herald to the king to bear
The thanks of grateful joy : but now, he cries.
The black'ning evening veils the coaft and ikies.
And through thefe rocks unknown forbids to fleer -,
Yet when the ftreaks of milky dawn appear
Edging the eaflern wave with filver hore.
My ready prows fhall gladly point to fliore ;
Affured of friendfhip, and a kind retreat,
Aflured and proffer'd by a King fo great.
Yet mindful ftill of what his hopes had cheer'd.
That here his nation's holy fhrines were rear'd.
s^.
" After Gama had been driven from
Qulloa by a fudden ftorm, the aflurances of
the Mozambic pilot that the city was chiefly
inhabited by Chriflians, ftrongly inclined
him to enter the harbour of Mombaze ;
" Nee ullum locum (fays Oforius) rnagisop-
portunum curandis atque reficiendis aegrotis
pofTe reperiri. Jam eo tempore bona pars
eorum, qui cum Gama confcenderant, variis
morbis confumpta fuerat, et qui evaferant,
erant gravi invaletudine debilitati. ....
Tellus abundat fruftibus et oleribus, et fru-
. gibus, et pccorum et armentorum gregibus,
et aquis dulcibus. Utitur praeterea mira cae-
litemperie. Homines vivunt admodum laute,
et domos more noftro asdificant.— -Milit rex
nuncios, qui Gamam nomine illius faluta-
rent. . . . Aiunt deinde regionem illam
efi« opulentifTimam, earumque rerum om-
nium pleniffimam, quarum gratia multi in
Indiam navigabant. Regem adeo efle in
illos voluntate propenfum ut nihil effet tarn
difficile, quod non fe eorum gratia fadurum
polliceretur." Oforius Silvenfis Epifc. de
Rebus Emman. Regis Lufit. geftis.
He
46 THE L U S I A D. Book; li.
He afks, if certain as the Pilot told,
Meffiah's lore had flourifhed there of old,
And flourifhed ftill ? The Herald mark'd with joy
The pious wifh, and watchful to decoy,
Melliah here, he cries, has altars more
Than all the various fhrines of other lore.
O'er joyed brave Vasco heard the pleafing tale,
Yet fear'd that fraud its viper-ftiiig might veil
Beneath the glitter of a fhew fo fair.
He half believes the tale, and arms againil the fnare.
" With Gama fail'd a bold advent'rous band,
Whofe headlong rage had urg'd the guilty hand :
Stern Juftice for their crimes had alk'd their blood.
And pale in chains condemn'd to death they flood ;
But fav'd by Gama from the fhameful death,
The " bread of peace had feal'd their plighted faith,
^ Erant enim in ea clafle decern ho- greateft atonement for their guilt which
mines capite damnati, quibus fuerat ea lege men in their circumftances could pofli-
vita concefTa, ut quibufcunque in locis a bly make. Where the fubjeft thus ob-
Gama relifti fuiflent, regiones luftrarent, trudes the occafion, a fhort digreffion, it
hominumque mores et inftituta cognefce- is hoped, will be pardoned. While every
rent. Ofdr. feeling breali mull be pleafed with the
During the reign of Emmanuel, and his wifdom and humanity of the Portuguefe mo-
predeceflbr John 11. few criminals were exe- narchs, indignation and regret muft rife on
cuted in Portugal. Thefe great and politi- the view of the prefent Hate of the penal
cal princes employed the lives which were laws of England. What multitudes every
forfeited to the public in the moft dangerous year, in the prime of their life, end their
undertakings of public utility. In their fo- days by the hand of the executioner ! That
reign expeditions the condemned criminals the I/Cgiflature might devife means to make
were fent upon the moft hazardous emer- the greateft part of thefe lives ufeful to fo-
gencies. If death was their fate, it was the ciety is a fadt, which furely cannot be dif-
punifhment they had merited : if fuccefsful puted ; though perhaps the remedy of an
in what was requited, their crimes were evil fo (hocking to humanity may be at
expiated ; and often, as in the voyage of fome diftance.
Gama, they rendered their country the
The
Book II. THE 'L U S I A D. 47
The defolate coaft, when ordered, to explore,
And dare each danger of the hoflile fhore :
, From this bold band he chofe the fubtleft two,
The port, the city, and its flrength to view.
To mark if fraud its fecret head betrayed.
Or if the rites of heaven were there difplayed.
With collly gifts, as of their truth fecure.
The pledge that Gam a deem'd their faith was pure.
Thefe two his Heralds to the King he fends :
The faithlefs Moors depart as fmiling friends.
Now thro' the wave they cut their foamy way.
Their chearful fongs refounding through the bay :
And now on fhore the wondering natives greet,
And fondly hail the ftrangers from the fleet.
The prince their gifts with friendly vows receives.
And joyful welcome to the Lulians gives;
Where'er they pafs, the joyful tumult bends.
And through the town the glad applaufe attends.
But he whofe cheeks with youth immortal fhone.
The God whofe wondrous birth two mothers own,
Whofe rage had ftill the wandering fleet annoyed,
Now in the town his guileful rage employed.
A Chriflian priefl: he feem'd ; a fumptuous *= flirine
He rear'd, and tended with the rites divine :
« Onitt the piaure o/that Jhapehe plac't. In thefe lines, the beft of all Fanfhaw,
In nuhicb the Holy Spirit did alight, the happy repetition " fo chafte, fo white,"
ThepiSure of the Dove, fo nxjhite, fo chafte ^ is a beauty which, though not contained in
On the bUji Virgin^ i bead ifo (haJle,fo'wkite. the original, the prefent tranflator was un-
willing to lofe.
O'er
4S THE L U S I A D. Book IL
O'er the fair altar waved the crofs on high,
Upheld by angels leaning from the fky ;
Defcending o'er the Virgin's facred head
/ ' So white, fo pure, the Holy Spirit fpread
The dove-like pi6lured wings, fo pure, fo white ;
And, hovering o'er the chofen twelve, alight
The tongues of hallowed fire. Amazed, oppreft,
With facred awe their troubled looks confeft
The infpiring Godhead, and the prophet's glow,
Which gave each language from their lips to flow.
Where *" thus the guileful Power his magic wrought
De Gama's heralds by the guides are brought:
On bended knees low to the earth they fall,
And to the Lord of heaven in tranfport call,
While the feign'd Priefl awakes the cenfer's fire,
And clouds of incenfe round the fhrine afpire.
With chearful welcome here, carefs'd, they flay
Till bright Aurora, mefTenger of day,
Walk'd forth j and now the fun's refplendent rays.
Yet half emerging o'er the waters, blaze.
When to the fleet the Moorifh oars again
Dafh the curl'd waves, and waft the guileful train :
The lofty decks they mount. With joy elate,
Their friendly welcome at the palace-gate.
* See the Preface.
The
Book II. THE L U S I^
The King's fmcerity, the people's care,
And treafures of the coaft the fpies declare :
Nor paft untold what moft their joys infpired,
What moft to hear the valiant chief defired,
That their glad eyes had {cen the rites divine,
Their "^country's worfliip, and the facred fhrine.
The pleafnig tale the joyful Gama hears ;
Dark fraud no more his generous bofom fears :
As friends fnicere, himfelf lincere, he gives
The hand of welcome, and the Moors receives.
And now, as confcious of the deftin'd prey,_
The faithlefs race, with fmiles and geftures gay,
Their fkifFs forfaking, Gama's fhips afcend,
And deep to ftrike the treacherous blow attend.
D.
49.
•* When Gama lay at anchor among the
iflands of 5/. George, near to Mozambic,
*' there came three Ethiopians on board,
(fays Faria y Sou/a) who, feeing St. Ga-
briel painted on the poop, /ell on their knees
in token of their Chriftianity, which had
been preached to them in the primitive
times, though now corrupted." Barros,
c. 4. and Caftaneda, 1. i. c. 9. report, that
the Portuguefe found two or three Abyffi-
nian Chriftians in the city of Mombaze,
who had an oratory in their houfe. The
following Ihort account of the Chriftians of
the Eaft may perhaps be acceptable. In
the fouth parts of Malabar, about 200000
of the inhabitants profeffed Chriftianity be-
fore the arrival of the Portuguefe. They
called themfelves the Chriftians of Saint
Thomas, by tvhich apoftle their anceftors
had been converted. For 1300 years they
had been under the Patriarch of Babylon,
who appointed their Mcterane or archbi(hop.
Dr. Geddes, in his Hiftory of the Church
of Malabar, relates, that Francifco Rex, a
jefuit miffionary, complained to Menezes,
the Portuguefe archbifhop of Goa,. that
when he Ihewed thefe people an image of
our Lady, they cried out, " Away with that
filthinefs, we are Chriftians, and do not
adore idols or pagods."
Dom . Frey Jlleixo de Menezes^ archbifhop
of Goa, did " endeavour to thruft upon
the church of Malabar the whole mafs of
popery, which they were before unacquainted
with." To this purpofe he had engaged all
the neighbouring princes to aflift him, " and
had fecured the major part of the priefts
prefent, in all one hundred and fifty three,
whereof two-thirds were ordained by him-
felf, and made them abjure their old reli-
gion, and fubfcribe the creed of pope Pius
fv." Millar's Hiftory of the Propag. of
Chriftianity.
H
Oh
m
50 THE L U S I A D.
On fhore the truthlefs monarch arms his bands>
And for the fleet's approach impatient ftands j
That foon as anchor'd in the port they rode
Brave Gama's decks might reek with Lufian blood i
Thus weening to revenge Mozambic's fate,
And give full furfeit to the Mooriih hate y
And now their bowfprits bending to the bay
The joyful crew the ponderous anchors weigh.
Their fhouts the while refounding. To the gale
With eager hands they fpread the fore-maft fail.
But Love's fair Queen the fecret fraud beheld :
Swift as an arrow o'er the battle-field.
From heaven fhe darted to the watery plain.
And caird the fea-born nymphs, a lovely train.
From Nereus fprung"; the ready nymphs obey,
Proud ' of her kindred birth, and own her fway.
Book H.
« Proud of her kindred birth — The French
tranflator has the following note on this
place, " Cet endroit eft Tun de ceux qui
montrent combien I'Auteur eft habile dans
la mythologie, et en meme terns combien
de penetration fon allegoric demande. II
y a bien peu de gens, qui en lifant ici,
&c. This is one of the places which
difcover our Author's intimate acquaintance
with Mythology, and at the fame time how
much attention his allegory requires. Many
readers, on finding that the proteftrefs of the
Lufians fprung from the fea, would be apt
to exfclaim. Behold, the birth of the ter-
reftrial Venus ! How can a nativity fo in-
famous be afcribed to the celeftial Venus,
who rcprdents Religion ? I anfwer, that
Camoens had not his eye on thofe fables,
which derive the birth of Venus from the
foam of the waves, mixed with the blood
which flowed from the difhoneft wound of
Saturn j he carries his views higher ; his
Venus is from a fable more noble. Nigidius
relates, that two fifties one day conveyed an
egg 10 the fea ftiore : This egg was hatched
by two pigeons whiter than fnow, and gave
birth to the Aflyrian Venus, which, in the
Pagan theology, is the fame v.ith the celef-
tial : She inftrufted mankind in Religion,
gave them the lefTons of virtue and the laws
of equity. Jupiter, in reward of her la-
bours, promifcd to grant her whatever fhe
defired. She prayed him to give immorta-
lity to rhe two fifties, who had been inftru-
mental in her birth, and the fifties were ac-
cordingly placed in the Zodiac
This fable agrees perfeftly with Religion,
as I could clearly ftiew ; but I think it more
proper to leave to the ingenious reader the
pleafure of tracing the allegory." Thus the
grave
Book II.
THE
L U S I A D.
51
She tells what ruin threats her fav'rite race ;
Unwonted ardour glows on every face^
With keen rapidity they bound away,
Dafh'd by their filver limbs, the billows grey
Foam round : Fair Doto, fir'd with rage divine.
Darts through the wave, and onward o'er the brine
The *^ lovely Nyfe and Nerine fpring
With all the vehemence and fpeed of wing.
The curving billows to their breafts divide
And give a yielding paflage through the tide.
grave Caftera. — ^^Befides the above, Mytho-
logy gives two other accounts of the origin of
the fign Pifces. When Venus and Cupid fled
from the rage of Typhon, they were faved
by two fiflies, who carried them over the
fiver Euphrates. The fifhes, in return, were
.placed in the Zodiac. Another fable fays,
that that favour was obtained by Neptune
for the two Dolphins, who iirll brought him
his beloved Amphitrite. This variety in
the Pagan Mythology is, at leaft, a proof
tnat tne allegory or a Poet ougnt not, witn-
out full examination, to be condemned on
the appearance of inconfiftency.
^ Doto, Nyfe, ,and Nerim Cloto, or
■Clotho, as Caftera obferves, has by fome
error crept into almoft all the Portuguefe
•editions of the Lufiad. Clotho was one of
the Fates, and neither Hefiod, Homer, nor
Virgil have given fuch a name to any of the
Nereides ; but in the ninth Eneid Doto is
mentioned,
• Magnique jubeho
JEquoris ejfe Deas, qualis Kere'ia Doto
Et Galatea fecat fpumantem pe£lore pontum.
The Nereides, in the Lufiad, fays Caftera,
are the virtues divine and human. In the
lirft book they accompany the Portuguefe
fleet;
■ ' before tht hounding pro'ws
The lovely forms of fea-btrn nymphs aroft.
" And without doubt, fays he, this allegory,
in a lively manner, reprefents the condi-
tion of mankind. The virtues languifti in
repofe ; adveriities animate and awake them.
The fleet failing before a favourable wind
is followed by the Nereides, but the Ne-
reides are fcattered about in the fea. When
danger becomes imminent, Venus, or Re-
ligion, aflembles them to its fafety." What-
ever the reader may think of the intention
of Camoens, there is undoubtedly a preiti-
nefs in this explication. The following part
is indeed highly pedantic. " Doto, continues
Caftera, is derived from the verb AtJ'wf**, /
give. According to this etymology Doto is
Charity. Nyfe is Hope, and Nerine Faith.
For the name Nyfe corners from Ntw, /
fuoitn. For the aftion of Hope agrees with
that of fwimming, and is the fymbol of it.
Nerine is a term compofed of i-oVk, an old
word, which fignifies the -waters of tht fea^
and of fvr., a file; as if one fhould fay, the
file ofthefea-ivaters, a myfterious exprefTion,
applicaible to Faith, which is the file of our
foul, and which is rendered perfeft by the
water of baptifm." Our Ptcnch Tranflator
wifely adds, that perhaps fome perfons may
defpife this etymology, but that for his part,
he is unwilling to rejcdlit, as it tends to un-
ravel the allegory of his author.
H 2
With
52 THE LUSIAD. Boofc II.
With furious fpeed the Goddefs rufh'd before^
Her beauteous form a joyful Triton bore,
Whofe eager face with glowing rapture fired,
Betray 'd the pride which fuch a talk infpired.
And now arriv'd, where to the whiftling wind
The warlike Navy's bending mafts reclin'd,
As through the billows rufh'd the fpeedy prows,
The nymphs dividing, each her ftation chofe.
Againfl the Leader's prow, her lovely breafl
With more than mortal force the Goddefs preH: ;
The fhip recoiling trembles on the tide.
The nymphs in help pour round on every fide.
From the dread bar the threaten'd keels to fave -, -*
The fhip bounds up, half lifted from the wave, >
And trembling, hovers o'er the watry grave. 3
As when alarm'd, to fave the hoarded grain,
The care-earn'd flore for Winter's dreary reign.
So toil, fo tug, fo pant, the labouring Emmet train.
So toil'd the Nymphs, and flrain'd their panting force
To turn ^ the Navy from its fatal courfe :
Back, hack the fhip recedes -, in vain the crew
With fhouts on fhouts their various toils renew -,
In vain each nerve, each nautic art they flrain.
And the rough wind diflends the fail in vain :
< Imitated from Virgil.
Cymothoe JimuU ff Triton adnixus acuta
Dctrudunt naves /copulo> » • ViRC. En. I.
Enraged,
Book II.
THE
L U S I A D.
Enraged, the Sailors fee their labours croft ;
From fide to fide the reeling helm is toft ;
High on the poop the Ikilful mafter ftands ;
Sudden he ftirieks aloud, and fpreads his hands.
A lurking rock its dreadful rifts betrays.
And right before the prow its ridge difplays ;
Loud fhrieks of horror from the yard-arms rife.
And a dire general yell invades the fkies.
The Moors ftart, fear-ftruck, at the horrid found.
As if the rage of combat roar'd around.
Pale are their lips, each look in wild amaze
The horror of dete6led guilt betrays.
Pierc'd by the glance of Gama's awful eyes
The confcious Pilot quits the helm and flies.
From the high deck he plunges in the brine;
His mates their fafety to the waves conlign^
Dafti'd by tlieir plunging falls on every fide
Foams and boils up around the rolling tide.
Thus ^ the hoarfe tenants of the fylvan lake^
A Lycian race of old, to flight betake^
9y?/r
•• Latona, fays the fable, flying from the
fcrpent Python, and faint witli thirft, came
to a pond, where fome Lycian peafants were
cutting the hulrufties. In revenge of the in-
fults which they offered her in preventing
her to drink, flie changed tliem into frogs.
This fable, fays Caftcra, like almoft all the
reft, is drawn from hiilory. Philocorus, as
cited by Boccace, relates, that the Rhodians
having declared war againft the Lycians,
were affifted by fome troops from Delos,
who carried the image of Latona on their
ftandards. A detachment of thefe going to
drink at a lake in Lycia, a croud of pea-
fants ( ndeavoured to prevent them. An en-
counter cnfued j the peafants fled to the lake
for flielter, and were there ilain. Some
months afterwards their companions came in
fearch of their, coipfes, and finding an un-
ufual quantity offrogs, imagined, according
to the fuperftition of their age, that the fouls
of their friends appeared to them under thaf
metamorphofis.
Li it allowable in Epic Poetry to introduce
ja cora-
54
THE
L U S I A D.
Book JL
At every found they dread Latona's hate,
And doubled vengeance of their former fate;
All fudden plunging leave the margin green^
And but their heads above the pool are feen.
So plung'd the Moors, when, horrid to behold !
From the bar'd rock's dread jaws the billows roU'd,
Opening in inftant fate the fleet to whelm.
When ready Vasco caught the ftaggering helm:
Swift as his lofty voice refounds aloud
The ponderous anchors dafh the whitening flood.
And round his velTel, nodding o'er the tide,
His other fhips, bound by their anchors, ride.
And now revolving in his piercing thought
Thefe various fcenes with hidden import fraught ;
a comparifon taken from a low image ? This
is a queftion which has exercifed the abilities
of Critics and Tranflators, till criticifm has
degenerated into trifling, and learning into pe-
dantry. To fome it may perhaps appear need-
lefs to vindicate Camoens, in a point wherein
he is fupported by the authority of Homer
and Virgil. Yet as many readers are infefted
with the fang froid of a BofTu or a Perrault,
an obfervation in defence of our Poet cannot
be thought impertinent. If we examine the
iineft effufions of genius, we fliall find, that
the moft genuine poetical feeling has often
diftated thofe iimilies which are drawn from
familiar and low objefts. The Sacred Wri-
ters, and the greateft Poets of every nation,
have ufed them. We may therefore con-
clude, that the criticifm which condemns
them is a refinement not founded on Nature.
But, allowing them admiffible, it muft be
ofeferved, that to reader them pleafmg. re-
quires a peculiar happinefs and delicacy of
management. When the Poet attains this
indifpenfible point, he gives a ftriking proof
of his elegance, and of his maflerfliip in his
art. That the fimilies of the Emmets and
of the Frogs in Camoens are happily ex-
prefled and applied, is indifputable. In
that of the Frogs there is a peculiar proprie-
ty, both in the comparifon itfelf, and in the
allufion to the fable ; as it was the intent of
the Poet to reprefent not only the flight,
but the bafenefs of the Moors, The fimilie
he feems to have copied from Dante, In£
Cant. 9.
Come le rane innan«,i a la nemica
B'tfcia per Vacqua Ji dilcguan' tiitte
Fin che a la terra ciafcuna s'jibb'tca.
And Cant. 22,
E come a Vorlo de Vacqua d''unfoJp>
Stan' It ranocchi pur col mujo fuori
SP che celano i fiedi, e I'ahro grojjh.
The
Book U. THE L U S I A D. $5
The boaftful Pilot's felf-accufmg flight,
The former treafon of the Moorifh fpight ;
How to the fatal rock the furious wind,
The rufhing current, and their art combin'd y
Yet though the groaning blaft the canvas fwell'd.
Some wondrous caufe, unknown, their fpeed witheld :
Amaz'd, with hands high rais'd, and fparkling eyes,
A ' miracle ! the raptur'd Gama cries,
A miracle! O hail, thou facred fign,
Thou pledge iiluflrious of the Care Divine.
Ah ! fraudful Malice ! how fhall Wifdom's care
Efcape the poifon of thy gilded fnare !
The front of honefly, the faintly fhew,
The fmile of friendfhip, and the holy vow ;
All, all conjoin'd our eafy faith to gain,
To whelm us, fhipwreck'd, in the ruthlefs main j
' Oforius gives the following account of quenfes gubernatores metu repentino per-
this adventure. Talking of the two Exiles culfi, fe prsecipites in mare dejiciunt, et ad
whom Gama had fent on fhore ; Rex laeta lintres quafdam, qus non procul aberat, nan-
et hilari fronte exules accepit, imperavitque do confugiunt At Gama magnis vo-
domefticis fuia, ut illis urbis fitum et pul- cibus ad eos, qui in lintribus erant, incla-
chritudinem demonftrarent. Ubi vero re- mavit, ut fibi fuos gubernatores redderent :
verfi funt. Rex multa aromatum genera, at illi clamores illius afpernati, gubema-
quae ex India deportari folent, illis oftentat, tores in terram expofuerunt. Hie Gama
et quantulum vifum ell donat, ut Gamse cum et conjedura, et aliquo etiam Arabis
monftrare poflent, et admoncre, quanto eflet gubernatoris indicio, et multis prsterea fig-
utilius apud Regem amicum rem gerere, nis, perfpexiffet e quanto periculo fuiflet
quam vitam tarn periculofaenavigationi com- auxilio divino liberatus, manus in ccelum
mittcre. Cum his mandatis redeunt exules fuftulit. Barros and Caftaneda, in relating
in claflem, Gama mirifice Istatus eft, et this part of the voyage of Gama, fay, that
poilridie anchoras tolli jubet, et naves prope the fleet, juft as they were entering the port
urbemconftitui. Ciim vcrd illius navis ifeflus of Mombafia were driven back, as it were,
incitati vi celerius, quam commodum eflet, by an invifible hand. By a fubfequent note
inveheretur, timens ille ne in vadum incide- it will appear, that the fafety of the Ar-
ret, vela contrahere et anchoras demittere mada depended upon this circumftance.
confeftim juflit Quo fafto Mozambi-
V But
^
■S6 T H E L U S I A D. Book IL
But where our prudence no deceit could fpy,
There, heavenly Guardian, there thy watchful eye
Beheld our d-anger : ftill, O ftill prevent,
Where human forefight fails, the dire intent,
The lurking treafon of the fmiling foe j
And let our toils, our days of lengthning woe.
Our weary wanderings end. If flill for thee,
To fpread thy rites, our toils and vows agree,
On India's flrand thy facred fhrines to rear,
Oh, let fome friendly land of reft appear :
If for thine honour we thefe toils have dar'd,
Thefe toils let India's long-fought fhore reward.
So fpoke the Chief: the pious accents move
The gentle bofom of Celeftial Love :
The beauteous Queen to heaven now darts away j
In vain the weeping nymphs implore her ftay :
Behind her now, the morning ftar flie leaves,
And the ^ fixth heaven her lovely form receives.
Her radiant eyes fuch living fplendors caft.
The fparkling ftars were brighten'd as fhe paft -,
The frozen pole with fudden ftreamlets flow'd,
And as the burning zone with fervor glow'd.
^ As the planet of Jupiter is in the fixth heaven, the Author has with propriety there
placed the throne of that God. C.
And
Book II.
THE LUSIAD.
S7
And now confeft before the throne of Jove,
In all her charms appears the queen of Love :
Flufh'd by the ardour of her rapid flight
Through fields of aether and the realms of light,
Bright as the blufhes of the rofeate morn.
New blooming tints her glowing cheeks adorn ;
And all that pride of beauteous grace fhe wore,
As ' when in Ida's bower fhe flood of yore,
When every charm and every hope of joy
Enraptured and allured the Trojan boy.
Ah ! ■" had that hunter, whofe unhappy fate
The human vifage lofl by Dian's hate.
' yeniends les cenfeurs, fays Caftera, fe
rfcrier que cet endroit-ci ne connjient nulle-
mtnt a la Venus celejle. 1 am aware of
the objeftion, that this paflage is by no
means applicable to the celeftial Venus. I
anfwer once for all, that the names and ad-
ventures of the Pagan Divinities are fo
blended and uncertain in Mythology, that a
Poet is at great liberty to adapt them to his
allegory as he pleafes. Even the fables,
which, to thofe who penetrate no deeper
than the Rhind, may appear as profane,
even thefe contain hiftorical, phyfical, and
moral truths, which fully atone for the feem-
ing licencioufnefs of the letter, I could
prove this in many inftances, but let the pre-
fcnt fuffice. Paris, fon of Priam, king of
Troy, fpent his firft years as a fhepherd in
the country. At this time Juno, Minerva,
and Venus difputed for the apple of gold,
which was dcllined to be given to the mofl
beautiful goddefs. They confented that Paris
fliould be their judge. His equity claimed
this honour. He faw them all naked. Juno
promifed him riches, Minerva the fciences,
but he decided in favour of Venus, who pro-
mifed him the poffeflion of the moft beau-
ful woman. What a ray of light is con-
tained in this philofophical fable ! Parii
reprefents a ftudious man, who, in the filencc
of folitude, feeks the fupreme good. Juno
is the emblem of riches and dignities, Mi-
nerva, that of the fciences purely human,
Venus is that of Religion, which contains
the fciences both human and divine ; the
charming female, which fhe promifes to the
Trojan fhepherd, is that Divine Wifdom
which gives tranquillity of heart. A Judge
fo philofophical as Paris wo'.ild not hefitatc
a moment to whom to give the apple of gold.
Thus Cailera. The above may likewife ferve
as a comment on the paflage in the firft
book. See pag. i6, 1. 5.
"' " The allegory of Camocns is here ob-
vious. If Afteon, and the Haves of their
\'iolent paffions could difcover the beauties
of true religion, they would be aftonilhed
and reclaimed ; according to the expreffion
of Seneca, " Si virtus cerni poflet oculif
corporeis, omnes ad amorem fuum pclli-
ceret." Caflera.
H<id
8
THE
L U S I A D.
Book II.
Had he beheld this fairer goddefs move
Not hounds had flain him, but the fires of love.
Adown her neck, more white than virgin fnow,
Of fofteft hue the golden trefTes flowj
Her heaving breafts of purer, fofter white.
Than fnow hills gliftening in the moon's pale light.
Except where covered by the fafh, were bare.
And " Love, unfeen, fmil'd foft, and panted there :
Nor lefs the zone the god's fond zeal employs,
The zone awakes the flames of fecret joys.
As ivy tendrils round her limbs divine
Their fpreading arms the young defires entwine ;
Below her waift, and quivering on the gale.
Of thinneft texture, flows the filken veil :
" "That is Divine Love, which always
accompanies Religion. Behold how our
Author infinuates the excellence of his mo-
ral !" C aft era.
As the French Tranflator has acknow-
ledged, there is no doubt but feveral Readers
will be apt to decry this allegorical interpre-
tation of the machinery of Camoens. In-
deed there is nothing more eafy for a fancy-
ful genius, than to difcover a fyftem of alle-
gory in the fimpleft narrative. The reign
of Henry VIII. is as fufceptible of it as any
fable in the heathen Mythology. Nay, per-
haps, more fo. Under the names of Henry,
More, Wolfey, Cromwell, Pole, Cranmer,
&c. all the war of the paffions, with their
different cataftrophes, might be delineated.
But though it may be eafy to find a meta-
phorical meaning, which was never intend-
ed by the Author, in what manner the
Poets of the two laft centuries adopted the
ufe of allegory, is the queftion at preftnt to
be confidered. Though it may be difficult
to determine how far, yet one may venture
to affirm, that Homer and Virgil fometimes
allegorifed. The poets, however, who
wrote on the revival of letters, have left us
in no doubt ; we have their own authority
for it, that their machinery is allegorical.
Not only the Pagan Deities, but the more
modern adventures of enchantment were ufed
by them to delineate the afFcftions ; and the
trials and rewards of the virtues and vices»
TaiTo publifhed a treatife to prove that his
Gierufalemtm Liherata is no other than the
Chriftian fpiritual warfare. And Camoens,
as obferved in the preface, has twice aflert-
ed, that his machinery is allegorical. The
Poet's afTertion, and the tafte of the age in
which he wrote, fufficiently vindicate the
Endewjour to unravel and explain the alle-
gorj' of the Luiiad.
(Ah!
Book II. THE L U S I A D. 59
(Ah ! where the lucid curtain dimly fhows,
With doubled fires the roving fancy glows !)
The hand of modefty the foldings threw,
Nor all conceal'd, nor all was given to view ;
Yet her deep grief her lovely face betrays,
Though on her cheek the foft fmile faultering plays.
All heaven was mov'd — as when fome damfel coy,
Hurt by the rudenefs of the amorous boy.
Offended chides and fmiles -, with angry mien
Thus mixt with fmiles, advanc'd the plaintive queen ;
And * thus : O Thunderer ! O potent Sire I
Shall I in vain thy kind regard require !
Alas ! and cherifh flill the fond deceit,
That yet on me thy kindeft fmiles await.
Ah heaven ! and muft that valour which I love
Awake the vengeance and the rage of Jove !
Yet mov'd with pity for my fav'rite race
I fpeak, though frowning on thine awful face, 1^ (}
I mark the tenor of the dread decree.
That to thy wrath configns my fons and me.
Yes 1 let flern Bacchus blefs thy partial care.
His be the triumph, and be mine defpair.
The bold advent'rous fons of Tajo's clime
I loved — alas ! that love is now their crime :
o The following fpeech of Venus and the thefirft Eneid, and do great honour to tlif
reply of Jupiter, are a fine imitation from Claflical tafte of the Portuguefe Poet.
I 2 O happy
6o THE L U S I A D. Book II.
O happy they, and profp'rous gales their fate>
Had I purfued them with relentlefs hate [
Yes ! let my woeful fighs in vain implore.
Yes ! let them perifli on fome barbVous fhore.
For I have loved them — Here, the fwelling figh
And pearly tear*drop rufhing in her eye,
As morning dew hangs trembling on the rofe.
Though fond to fpeak, her further fpeech oppofe —
Her lips, then moving, as the paufe of woe
Were now to give the voice of grief to flow ;
When kindled by thofe charms, whofe woes might move.
And melt the prowling Tyger's rage to love,
The thundering God her weeping forrows ey'd,
And fudden threw his awful flate afide :
With ^ that mild look which flills the driving ftorm,
When black roll'd clouds the face of heaven deform ^
With that mild vifage and benignant mien
Which to the Iky reftores the blue ferene.
Her fnowy neck and glowing cheek he preft,
Aad wip'd her tears, and clafp'd her to his breaft ;
Yet fhe, ftill fighing, dropt the trickling tear,
As the chid nurfling, mov'd with pride and fear,
*■ Imitated from Virc. En I.
Olli fubrldens hominum fator atque Deorumy
Vultu^ quo cctlum UmpeftatefqiteJ'irenati
Ofiula lihavit nata^'
Still
Book II. THE L U S I A D, 61
Still fighs and moans, though fondled and carefl j
Till thus great Jove the Fates' decrees confeft :
O thou, my daughter, ilill belov'd as fair,
Vain are thy fears, thy heroes claim my care :
No power of gods could e'er my heart incline.
Like one fond fmile, one powerful tear of thine.
Wide o'er the eaflern fhores fhalt thou behold
Thy flags far ftreaming, and thy thunders roll'd j
Where nobler triumphs fliall thy nation crown,
Than thofe of Roman or of Greek renown.
If by mine aid the fapient Greek could brave
Th' Ogycian feas, nor "^ fmk a deathlefs flave j
If through th' Illyrian (helves Antenor bore,
Till fafe he landed on Timavus' fhore ;
If, by his fate, the pious Trojan led.
Safe through Charibdis* ' barking whirlpools fped :
Shall thy bold Heroes, by my care difclaim'd,
Be left to perifh, who, to worlds unnam'd
By vaunting Rome, purfue their dauntlefs way ?
No — foon fhalt thou with ravifh'd eyes furvey,
From ftream to ftream their lofty cities fpread,
And their proud turrets rear the warlike head :
t i.e. The flave of Calypfo, who offered ' /u6 antra
Ulyfles immortality on condition he would Scjllarn, et caruUis canibus re/onantia/axa.
kve with her . V^irc. En. m.
The
62
THE
L U S I A D,
Book II.
The ftern-brow'd Turk iliall bend the fuppliant knee,
And Indian Monarchs, now fecure and free,
Beneath thy potent Monarch's yoke fhall bend.
And thy jufl Laws, wide o'er the Eaft, extend.
Thy Chief, who now in Error's circHng maze,
For India's fliore through flielves and tempefts ftrays j
Thy chief fhalt thou behold, with lordly pride.
O'er Neptune's trembling realm triumphant ride.
O wondrous fate !*when not a breathing ' gale
Shall curl the billows, or diftend the fail.
The waves fhall boil and tremble, aw'd with dread,
And own the terror o'er their empire fpread.
That barb'rous coaft, with various ftreams fupplied,
Which, to his wants, the fountain's gifts deny'd ;
That coaft fhalt thou behold his Port fupply,
Where oft thy weary fleets in reft fhall lie.
Each fhore which weav'd for him the fnares of death.
To him thefe fliores fhall pledge their ofFerr'd faith j
To him their haughty Lords fhall lowly bend.
And yield him tribute for the name of friend.
* After the Portuguefe had made great
conquefts in India, Gama had the honour to
be appointed Viceroy. In 1524, when fail-
ing thither to take pofTeflion of his govern-
ment, his fleet was fo becalmed on the coaft
Cambaya, that the fhips flood motionlefs
on the water, when in an inftant, without
the leaft change of the weather, the waves
were fliaken with a violent agitation, like
trembling. The ftiips were toflfed about.
The failors were terrified, and in the utmofl
confufion, thinking themfelves loft. When
Gama, perceiving it to be the efteft of an
earthquake, with his wonted heroifm and
prudence, exclaimed, *' Of ivhat are you
afraid ? Do ycu net fee hoiv the Ocean
trembles under its Sovereigns P* Barros,
L. 9. C. I. and Faria, C 9. who fays,
that fuch as lay fick of fevers were cured
by the fright.
The
Book II. THE L U S I A D. 6^
The Red-fea wave fliall darken in the fliade
Of thy broad fails in frequent pomp difplay'd;
Thine eyes (hall fee the golden Ormuz' fliore,
Twice thine, twice conquered, while the furious Moor,
Amazed, fhall view his arrows backward 'driven.
Showered on his legions by the hand of heaven.
Though twice aflailed by many a vengeful band,
Unconquered flill fhall Dio's ramparts ftand.
Such prowefs there fhall raife the Lufian name
That Mars fhall tremble for his blighted fame -,
There fhall the Moors blafpheming fink in death,
And curfe their prophet with their parting breath.
V
Where Goa's warlike ramparts frown on high,
Pleas'd fhalt thou fee thy Lufian banners fly;
The Pagan tribes in chains fhall crowd her gate.
While fhe fublime fhall tower in royal flate.
The fatal fcourge, the dread of all who dare
Againfl thy fons to plan the future war.
Though few thy troops who Conanour fuflain.
The foe, though numerous, fhall afTault in vain.
Great Calicut, for potent hofls renown'd,
By Lifbon's fons afTail'd fhall flrew the ground :
♦ Both Barros and Caftaneda relate this wind the arrows of the latter were driven
faft. Albuquerk, during the war of Or- back upon themfelves, whereby many of
muz, having given battle to the Perfians th«ir troops were wounded,
ipd Moors, by the violence of a fivdden
By
64 THE L U S I A D, Book II.
By Cochin's walls, againft whole troops of foes.
Shall one brave Lufian his proud breaft oppofe :
Ne'er did the lyre refound a hero's name
More brave, more worthy of immortal fame.
, When * blackening broad and far o'er Adium's tide
Auguftus' fleets the (lave of love defy'd.
When that fallen Hero to the combat led
^0$ The braveft troops in Ba6lrian Scythia bred.
With Aflan legions, and, his fhameful bane,
The Egyptian Queen attendant in the train -,
Though Mars raged high, and all his fury pour'd,
Till with the ftorm the boiling furges roar'd,
Yet (hall thine eyes more dreadful fcenes behold.
On burning furges burning furges roll'd.
The fheets of fire far billowing o'er the brine.
While I my thunder to thy Tons refign.
Thus many a fea (hall blaze, and many a fhore
Refound the horror of the combat's roar.
While thy bold prows triumphant ride along
By trembling China to the ifles unfung
' Hinc ope harbarica varii/\ue Anienius Aha petunt : pelago credas htnare rcvulfas
armis Cydadaf^ aut mantes ccncurrhe montilus altos:
ViSlor, ab Aurora populis l^ litort rubra *lanta mole 'viri turrit is puppibus injlant.
JEgyptum^ vire/que Orientist i^ ultima fe- ^ Stupeajlamma manu, telifque •volatile ferriim
cum Spargitur : ar'va nova Neptunia cade rube/'
^a£Ira a/ehit : fequiturque tiefas ! JEgsptia cunt,
conjux. ' f <evit meetto in certamine Ma'vors.
Una omnes ruere, ac totum fpumare redufiis ViRG. ^En. viii.
Ctn'vulfum remis rofirifque tri^entibus teq^mr.
By'
Book II. THE L U SI A D. 65
By ancient bard, by ancient chief unknown,
Till Oceans utmofl fhore thy bondage own.
Thus from the Ganges to, l;he Gadian ftrand.
From the moft northern wave^ to fouthmoft land ;
That land which firfl, the Lufian fhame and " pride,
The brave negle6led Magalhaens defcryed,
From all that Vaft, though crown'd with heroes old.
Who with the gods were demi-gods enroll'd :
From all that Vaft no equal heroes fhine
To match in arms, O lovely daughter, thine.
So fpake the awful Ruler of the fkies.
And Maia's fon fwift at his mandate flies :
His charge, from treafon and MombafTa's king
The weary fleet to friendly port to bring.
And while in fleep the brave De Gama lay.
To warn, and fair the, fhore of refl difplay.
Fleet through the yielding air Cyllenius glides, ,.
As to the light, the. nimble air divides.
The myflic helmet on his head he wore.
And in his right the fatal rod he "^ bore ;
" The Lufian Jhame and pride. — Magal- at this day are of the utmoft value to the
"*ens, a moil celebrated navigator. Ne- Spanifh Empire. Of this hero fee further,
glefted by Emmanuel king of Portu- X. Lufiad, in the notes,
gal, he offered his fervice to the king ^ Turn 'virgam capit : hac animas ilk
of Spain, under whom he made moft e'vocat Oreo
important difcoveries round the Straits, Pallente , alias fub trijlia Tartara mittit^
which bear his name, and in the back parts Dat fomnas adimitque, isf lumina tnorte re-
of South America; acquirements, which figf'ft' Virc. ^En. IV-
■ K. That
66 T H E L U S 1 A D. Book 11.
That rod, of power to wake the filent dead,
Or o'er the Hds of care foft (lumbers fhed.
And now, attended by the herald Fame,
To fair Melinda's gate conceal'd he catlie';
And foon loud Rumour ecchoed through the town.
How from the weftern world, from waves unknown,
A noble band had reach'd the JEtKiop fhore,
Through feas and dangers never dared before :
The godlike dread attempt their wonder fires,
'Their generous wonder fond regard infpires,
And all the city glows their aid to give,
To view the heroes, and their wants relieve.
'Twas now the folemn hour when midnight reigns.
And dimly twinkling o'er the ethereal plains
The flarry hoft, by gloomy filence led,
M.^i) O'er earth and fea a glimmering palenefs fhed ;
When to the fleet, which hemm'd with dangers lay,
The filver-wing'd Cyllenius darts away.
Each care was now in foft oblivion fteep'd,
" The Watch alone accuilom'd vigils kept ;
E'en Gama, wearied by the day's alarms,
Forgets his cares, reclined in flumber's arms.
Scarce had he clofed his careful eyes in reft,
When Maia's fon in vifion ftood confeft :
And fly, he cried, O Lufitanian, flyj
Here guile and treafon every nerve apply :
An
Book 11. THE L U S I A D. 6^
An impious king for thee the toil prepares,
An impious people weave a thoufand fnares :
Oh fly thefe fhores, unfurl the gather'd fail,
Lo, heaven, thy guide, commands the rjfmg gale.
Hark, loud it ruftles, fee, the gentle tide
Invites thy prows ; the winds thy lingering chide.
Here fuch dire welcome is for thee prepared
As * Diomed's unhappy ftrangers fhared ;
His haplefs guefts at filent midnight bled.
On their torn limbs his fnorting courfers fed.
Oh fly, or here with Arrangers' blood imbrew'd
Bufiris' altars thou flialt find renew'd :
Amidfl: his flaughter'd guefl:s his altars fl:ood
Obfcene with gore, and bark'd with human blood :
Then thou, beloved of heaven, my counfel hear j
Right by the coaft thine onvrard journey fl:eer.
Till where the fun of noon no fliade begets.
But day with night in equal tenor fets.
A Sovereign there, of generous faith unfl:ain'd,
With ancient bounty, and with joy unfeign'd
Your glad arrival on his ftiore fhall greet.
And foothe with every care your weary fleet.
' Diomede, a tyrant of Thrace, who fed Hercules vanquiflied both thefe tyrants, and
his horfes with human fleih ; a thing, fays put them to the fame punilhments which
the grave Caftera, prefque incroyablt, aimed their cruelty had inflidled on others. Ifo-
incredible. Bufiris, was a king of Egypt, crates compofed an oration in honour of
who facrificed ftrangers. Bufiris ; a mafterly example of Attic raillery
^ii^illaudati ne/cit Bujiridis aras ? and fatire. To this Caftera wifely appeals,
ViRG. Geor. iii. to prove the truth ofthehiftory of that tyrant.
K 2 And
68 THE L U S I .iA^X). Hook H.
And when again for India's golden ftrand
Before the profperous gale your fails expand,
A Ikilful Pilot oft in danger try'd,
Of heart fincere, fhall prove your faithful guide,:
Thus Hermes fpoke, and as his flight he takes
Melting in ambient air, De Gam a wakes.
Chill'd with amaze he flood," when through tlie night'
With fudden ray appeaf'd the Bifrfting light i
The winds loud whizzing through the cordage figh'd.
Spread, fpread the fail, the raptured Vasco cried ,
Aloft, aloft, this, this the gale of heaven.
By heaven our guide, th' aufpicious fign is given )
Mine eyes beheld the mefTenger divine,
O fly, he cried, and gave the favouring flgn.
Here treafon lurks. Swift as the Captain fpake
The mariners fpring bounding to the deck.
And now with fliouts far-ecchoing o'er the fea,
^00 Proud of their ftrength the ponderous anchors weigh.
When ^ heaven again its guardian care difplay'd ;
Above the wave rofe many a Moorifli head,
Conceal'd by night they gently fwam along.
And with their weapons fawed the cables ilrong,
y Having mentioned the efcape of the fet a noftris fingulari Gamje induftria vigi-
Moorilh pilots, Oforius proceeds : Rex latum, et infidiis fcelerati illius regis occur-
deinde homines magno cum filentio fcaphis fum, noftri^in Tummum vitas difcrimen inci-
& lintribus fubmittebat, qui fecuribus an- diffent.
choralia nodle pra^^ciderent. Quod nifi fuif-
That
Book IL THE L U S I A D. 69
That by the fwelling currents whirFd and toft, -
The navy's wrecks might ftrew the rocky coaft.
But now difcover'd, every nerve they ply.
And dive, and fwift as frighten'd vermin fly.
Now through the filver waves that curHng rofe,
And gently murmur'd round the floping prows.
The gallant fleet before the fteady wind
Sweeps on, and leaves long foamy tra6ls behind j.
While as they fail the joyful crew relate
Their wondrous, fafety from impending fate;.
And every bofom feels how fweet the joy
When dangers paft the grateful tongue employ.
The fun had now his annual journey run.
And blazing forth another courfe begun.
When fmoothly gliding o'er the hoary tide
Tv/o floops afar the watchful mafter fpied y
Their Moorifh make the feaman's art difplay'd j
Here Gam a weens to force the Pilot's aid :
One, bafe with fear, to certain fliipwreck flew 5
The keel dafli'd on the fliore, efcap'd the crew.
The other bravely trufts the generous foe.
And yields, ere Slaughter ftruck the lifted blow,
Ere Vulcan's thunders bellowed. Yet again
The Captain's prudence and his wifli were vain ,
No
'JO THE L U S I A D. Book IL
No Pilot here his wandering courfe to guide,
No lip to tell where rolls the Indian tide ;.
The voyage calm, or perilous, or afar,
Beneath what heaven, or which the guiding ftar :
Yet this they told, that by the neighbouring bay
A potent monarch reign'd, whofe pious fway
For truth and noblefl bounty far renown'd.
Still with the Stranger's grateful praife was crown'd.
O'erjoyed brave Gam a heard the tale, which feal'd
The facred truth that Maia's fon reveal'd j
And bids the Pilot, warn'd by heaven his guide,
For fair Melinda turn the helm afide.
'Twas now the jovial feafon, when the morn
From Taurus flames, when Amalthea's horn
O'er hill and dale the rofe-crown'd Flora pours,
And fcatters corn and wine, and fruits and flowers.
Right to the port their courfe the fleet purfued.
And the glad dawn that facred day renewed, .
When with the fpoils of vanquifli'd death adorn'd
To heaven the Viftor of the tomb return'd.
And foon Mclinda's fliore the failors fpy j
sSSJi' Fi'oni every maft the purple ftreamers fly j
Rich-figured tap'ftry now fupplies the fail,
The gold and fcarlet tremble in the gale ;
The fl:andard broad its brilliant hues bewrays.
And floating on the wind wide-billowing plays j
Shrill
Book II. THE LUSIAD. 74
Shrill through the air the quivering trumpet founds.
And the rough drum the roufing march rebounds.
As thus regardful of the facred day
The feftive navy cut the watery way,
Melinda's fons the fhore in thoufands crowd,
And offering joyful welcome Ihout aloud :
And truth the voice infpired. Unawed by fear.
With warlike pom^ adorn'd, himfelf fincere,
Into the port the generous Gama rides ;
His ftately veffels range their pitchy fides
Around their chief; the bowfprits nod the head,
And the barb'd anchors gripe the harbour's bed.
Strait to the king, as friends to generous friends,
A captive Moor the valiant Gama fends.
The Lufian fame the king already knew,
What gulphs unknown the fleet had labour'd through,
What fhelves, what tempefls dared : His liberal mind
Exults the Captain's manly truft to find ;
With that ennobling worth, whofe fond employ
Befriends the brave, the Monarch owns his joy.
Entreats the Leader and his weary band
To tafte the dews of fweet repofe on land.
And all the riches of his cultured fields
Obedient to the nod of Gama yields.
His care meanwhile their prefent want attends,
And various fowl, and various fruits he fends ;
The
^ f HE L U S I A. D. Book IL
The oxen low, the fleecy lambkins bleat.
And rural founds are ecchoed through the fleet.
His gifts with joy the valiant Chief receives.
And gifts in turn, confirming friendfhip, gives.
Here the proud fcarlet darts its ardent rays,
And there the purple and the orange blaze ;
O'er thefe profufe the branching coral fpread.
The ^ coral wondrous in its watery bed ;
Soft there it creeps, in curving branches thrown.
In air it hardens to a precious fl:one..
With thefe an Herald, on whofc melting tongue
The * copious rhet'ric of Arabia liiing,
He fends, his wants and purpofe to reveal,
And holy vows of lafting peace to feaL
The Monarch fits amidll his fplendid bands,
Before the regal throne the Herald fliands,
And thus, as eloquence his lips infpired,
O King, he cries, for facred truth admired,
Ordain'd by heaven to bend the ftubborn knees
qO 6 ^^ haughtiefl: nations to thy juft decrees ;
Fear'd as thou art, yet fent by heaven to prove
That Empire's flirength refults from Public love :
^ Vimen erat dum Jlagna fuhit, procejjirat undis
Gemma fuit. Claud.
Sic et ccralium, quo primum contigit auras.
Tempore durefcit, mollis fuit herbafub undis. Ovid.
* There were on board Gama's fleet feveral perfons Ikilled in the Oriental languages.
OSOR.
To
Book II. THE L U S I A D. 73
To thee, O King, for friendly aid we come ;
Nor lawlefs Robbers o'er the feas we roam :
No luft of gold could e'er our breafts inflame
To fcatter fire and flaughter where we came ;
Nor fword, nor fpear our harmlefs hands employ
To feize the carelefs, or the weak deftroy.
At our mofl potent Monarch's dread command
We fpread the fail from lordly Europe's ftrand ;
Through feas unknown, through gulphs untry'd before.
We force our journey to the Indian fhore.
Alas, what rancour fires the human breaft !
By what ftern tribes are Afric's fhores pofTeft !
How many a wile they try'd, how many a fnare !
Not wifdom fav'd us, 'twas the heaven's own care :
Not harbours only, e'en the barren fands
A place of reft deny'd our weary bands :
From us, alas, what harm could prudence fear !
From us fo few, their numerous friends fo near !
While thus from Ihore to cruel fhore long driven.
To thee conduced by a guide from heaven.
We come, O Monarch, of thy truth afiured.
Of hofpitable rites by heaven fecured ;
Such * rites as old Alcinous' palace graced,
When lorn UlyfTes fat his favour'd gueft.
» See the Eighth Odyflcy, &c.
L Nor
^M
74
THE
L U S I A D.
Book II.
iNJor deem, O King, that cold fufpicion taints
Our valiant Leader, or his wifh prevents j
Great is our Monarch, and his dread command
To our brave Captain interdicts the land
Till Indian earth he tread : What nobler caufe
Than loyal faith can wake thy fond applaufe,
O thou, who knowft the ever-preffing weight
Of kingly " office, and the cares of ftate !
And hear, ye confcious heavens, if Gama's heart
Forget thy kindnefs, or from truth depart,
The facred light fhall perifh from the Sun,
And Rivers to the fea fhall ceafe to " run.
*" Caftera's note on this place is fo cha-
rafteriftical of a Frenchman, that the Reader
will perhaps be pleafed to fee it tranfcribed.
In his text he fays, *' Toi qui occupes Ji dig-
nement le rang fupreme — Le Poete dit, fays
he, in the note, Tens de Rey o officio j l^oi
qui fais le metier de R oi — The Poet fays, t/jou
-who holdeji the bujinefs of a king, I confefs,
he adds, I found a ftrong inclination to
tranflate this fentence literally. I find much
noblenefs in it. However, I fubmitted to
the opinion of fome friends, who were afraid
that the ears of Frenchmen would be fhocked
at the word bujinefs applied to a King. It
is true, neverthelefs, that Royalty is a bufi-
nefs. Philip II. of Spain was convinced
of it, as we may difcern from one of his
letters. Hallo, fays he, me muy embara^adoy
&C. I amfo entangled and incumbered ivith
the multiplicity of bujinefs, that I ba've not a
moment to my f elf. In truth, ive kings hold a
laborious office \ (or trade) there is little rea-
J'on to ennjy us" May the politencfs of Eng-
land never be difguiled with the word buji-
tiejs applied to a King !
* The propriety and artfulnefs of Homer's
fpeeches have been often and jullly admired.
Camoens is peculiarly happy in the fame de-
partment of the Epopaea. The fpeech of
Gjuaa's herald to the King of Melinda is a
ftriking inftance of it. The compliment*
with which it begins have a diredl tendency
to the favours afterward to be afked. The
afTurances of the innocence, the purpofe of
the Voyagers, and the greatnefs of their
king, are happily touched. The exclama-
tion on the barbarous treatment they had ex-
perienced, *' Not wifdom faved us, but hea-
ven's own care," are mafterly infinuations..
Their barbarous treatment is again repeated
in a manner to move compaffion : Alas !
what could they fear, &c. is reafoning joined
with the pathos. That they were condudled
to the King of Melinda by heaven, and were
by heaven affured of his truth, is a mod de-
licate compliment, and in the true fpirit of
the Epic Poem. The allufion to Alcinous
is well timed. The apology for Gama's
refufal to come on Ihore, is exceeding art-
ful. It conveys a proof of the greatnefs of
the Portuguefe Sovereign, and affords a com-
pliment to Loyalty, which could not fail to
be acceptable to a Monarch. In fhort, the
whole of the fpeech fupplicatcs warmly, but
at the fame time in the moft manly manner ;
and the adjuration concludes it with all the
appearance of warmth and fmcerity. Eu-
ftathius would have written a whole chapter
on fuch a fpeech in the Iliad or Odyffey.
He
Book IL THE L U S I A D. 75
He. fpoke -, a murmur of applaufe fucceeds.
And each with wonder own'd the val'rous deeds
Of that bold race, whofe flowing vanes had wav'd
Beneath fo many a fky, fo many an Ocean brav'd.
Nor lefs the King their loyal faith reveres.
And Lifbon's Lord in awful flate appears,
Whofe leaft command on farthefl fhores obey'd.
His fovereign grandeur to the world difplay'd.
Elate with joy, uprofe the royal Moor,
And fmiling thus, — O welcome to my fhore !
If yet in you the fear of treafon dwell.
Far from your thoughts th' ungenerous fear expel :
Still with the brave, the brave will honour find.
And eqvial ardour will their friendfliip bind.
But thofe who fpurn'd you, men alone in fhew.
Rude as the beftial herd, no worth they know ;
Such dwell not here : and fince your laws require
Obedience ftrift, I yield my fond defire.
Though much I wifh'd your Chief to grace my board,
Fair be his duty to his fovereign Lord :
Yet when the morn walks forth with dewy feet
My barge fhall waft me to the warlike fleet j
There fliall my longing eyes the heroes view.
And holy vows the mutual peace renew.
What from the blufl:ering winds and lengthening tide
Your fliips have fufi^er'd, fliall be here fupply'd.
L 2 Arms
it THE L U S I A B. Book IL
Arms and provifions I myfelf will fend,
And, great of llcill, a Pilot fhall attends
So fpoke the King : and now, with purpled ray,.
Beneath the fhining wave the god of day
Retiring, left the evening (hades to fpread ;
And to the fleet the joyful herald fped :
To find fuch friends each breaft v^ith rapture glows.
The feaft is kindled, and the goblet flows ;
The trembling Comet's imitated rays
Bound to the fkies, and trail a fparkling blaze :
The vaulting bombs awake their fleeping fire,
And like the Cyclops* bolts, to heaven afpire :
The Bombadeers their roaring engines ply,
And earth and ocean thunder to the Iky.
The trump and fyfe's flirill clarion far around
The glorious rnufic of the fight refound;
Nor lefs the joy Melinda's fons difplay,
The fulphur burflis in many an ardent ray.
And to the heaven afcends in whizzing gyres,
And Ocean flames with artificial fires.
In fefl:ive war the fea and land engage,
And echoing fliouts confefs the joyful rage.
So pafl: the night : and now with filvery ray
The Star of morning uflier'd in the day.
The
Book II. THE L U S I A D. jj
The fhadows fly before the rofeate hours,
And the chill dew hangs glittering on the flowers.
The pruning hook or humble fpade to wield,
The chearful labourer haftens to the field j
When to the fleet with many a founding oar
The Monarch fails j the natives croud the fliore >
Their various robes in one bright fplendor join,
The purple blazes, and the gold-fl:ripes fliine j
Nor as fl:ern warriors with the quivering lance,
Or moon-arch'd bow, Melinda's fons advance j
Green boughs of palm with joyful hands they wave,
An omen of the meed that crowns the Brave :
Fair was the fliow the royal Barge difplay'd.
With many a flag of gliftning filk array 'd,
Whofe various hues, as nodding thro' the bay,
Return'd the lufl:re of the rifmg day :
And onward as they came, in fovereign fl:ate
The mighty King amid his Princes fate :
His robes the pomp of eafl:ern fplendor fhew,
A proud Tiara decks his lordly brow :
The various tiflue fhines in every fold,
The filken luflre and the rays of gold.
His purple mantle boafl:s the dye of Tyre,,
And in the fun-beam glows with living fire.
A golden chain, the fkilful Artifl:'s pride.
Hung from his neck j and glittering by his fide
The
7'
78 THE L U S I A D. Book II.
The dagger's hilt of flar-bright diamond fhone,
The girding baldric burns with precious flone ;
And precious ftone in fluds of gold enchafed,
The ihaggy velvet of his bufkins graced :
Wide o'er his head, of various filks inlaid,
A fair umbrella caft a grateful fhade.
. A band of menials, bending o'er the prow.
Of horn-wreath'd round the crooked trumpets blow ;
And each attendant barge aloud rebounds
A barbarous difcord of rejoicing founds.
With equal pomp the Captain leaves the fleet,
Melinda's Monarch on the tide to meet :
His barge nods on amidft a fplendid train,
. Himfelf adorn'd in ^ all the pride of Spain :
With fair embroidery fhone his armed breaft.
For polifh'd fleel fupply'd the warrior's veft 5
His fleeves, beneath, were filk of paly blue.
Above, more loofe, the purple's brightefl hue
Hung as a fcarf in equal gatherings roll'd.
With golden buttons and with loops of gold :
Bright in the Sun the polifh'd radiance burns.
And the dimm'd eyeball from the luflre turns.
•' Camoens feems to have his eye on the velvet, all flafhed, through which appears
pidlure of Gama, which is thus defcribed the crimfon lining, the doublet of crimfon
hy Fariay Sou/a. " He is painted with fattin, and over it Iiis armour inlaid with
a black cap, cloak and breeches edged with gold."
Of
Book 11. THE L U S I A D. 79
Of crimfon fattin, dazzling to behold
His cafToc fwell'd in many a curving fold,
The make was Gallic, but the lively bloom
Confeft the labour of Venetia's loom -,
Gold v^as his fword, and warlike trowfers laced
With thongs of gold his manly legs embraced.
With graceful mien his cap aflant was turn'd,
The velvet cap a nodding plume adorn'd.
His noble afpe6l, and the purple's ray,
Amidfl his train the gallant Chief bewray.
The various veftments of the warrior train,.
Like flowers of various colours on the plain,
Attra6l the pleafed beholders wondering eye,
And with the fplendor of the rainbow vie. ^^0
Now Gama's bands the quivering trumpet blow,
Thick o'er the wave the crowding barges row,
The Moorifh flags the curling waters fweep,
The Lufian mortars thunder o'er the deep ;
Again the fiery roar heaven's concave tears.
The Moors aftonifhed flop their wounded ears -,
Again loud thunders rattle o'er the bay.
And clouds of fmoke wide-rolling blot the day -,
The Captain's barge the generous King afcends.
His arms the Chief enfold, the Captain bends,
A reverence to the fcepter'd grandeur due :
Jn filent awe the Monarch's wondering view
Is
8o THE L U S I A D. Book II.
Is fixt ' on Vasco's noble mien 3 the while
His thoughts with wonder weigh the Hero's toil.
Efteem and friendfhip with his wonder rife,
And free to Gam a all his kingdom lies.
Though never fon of Lufus' race before
Had met his eye, or trod Melinda's fhore,
To him familiar was the mighty name,
And much his talk extols the Lufian fame ;
How through the vail of Afric's wildeft bound
Their deathlefs feats in gallant arms refound ;
When that fair land where Hefper's offspring reign'd,
Their valour's prize the Lufian youth obtain'd.
Much ftill he talk'd, enraptured of the theme,
Though but the faint vibrations of their fame
To him had ecchoed. Pleafed his warmth to view.
Convinced his promife and his heart were true.
The illuftrious Gama thus his foul expreft
And own'd the joy that laboured in his breaft :
Oh thou, benign, of all the tribes alone.
Who feel the rigour of the burning zone,
Whofe piety, with mercy's gentle eye
Beholds our wants, and gives the wifh'd fupply j
Our navy driven from many a barbarous coafl,
On many a tempefl-harrowed ocean toft,
« The admiration and friendfhip of the gil's Dido. In both cafes fuch preparation
king of Melinda, fo much infifted on by was neceffary to introduce the long epifodes
Camoens, is a judicious imitation of Vir- which follow.
At
BobK'lC THE L U S I A D. B\
At laft with thee a kindly refuge finds,
Safe from the fury of the howling winds.
O generous King, may He whofe mandate rolls
The circling heavens, and human pride eontrouls.
May the Great Spirit to thy breafb return
That needful aid^ bellowed on us forlorn !
And while yon Sun emits his rays divine.
And while the flars in midnight azure fhine,
Where'er my fails are ftretch'd the world around.
Thy praife fhall brighten, and thy name refound.
He fpoke ; the painted barges fwept the flood.
Where, proudly gay, the anchored navy rode ;
Earneft the King the lordly fleet furveys ;
The mortars thunder, and the trumpets raife
Their martial founds Melinda's fons to greet,
Melinda's fons with timbrels hail the fleet.
And now no more the fulphury tempefl: roars.
The boatmen leaning on the refted oars
Breathe fliort ; the barges now at anchor moor'd.
The King, while filence liften'd round, implored
The glories of the Lufian wars to hear,
Whofe faintefl: ecchoes long had pleafed his ear :
Their various triumphs on the Afric fliore
O'er thofe who hold the fon of Hagar's lore
M - Fond
Sf: THE L; U.^S I A D. Book JL-
Fond he demands, and now demands again
Their various triumphs on the weilcrn main:
Again, ere readiefl anfwer found a place,
He afks the flory of the Lufian race ;
What God was founder of the mighty line,
Beneath what heaven their land, what ftxores adjoin ; : 1/
And what their climate, where the fmking day-
Gives the laft glimpfe of twilight's filvery ray.
But moft, O Chief, the zealous monarch cries^
What raging feas you braved, what louring fkies ^
What tribes, what rites you faw -, what favage hate
On our rude Afric proved your haplefs fate :
Oh tell, for lo, the chilly dawning flar
Yet rides before the morning's purple car -,
And o'er the wave the fun's bold courfers raife ■
Their flaming fronts, and give the opening blaze j
Soft on the glafly wave the zephyrs fleep,
And the flill billows holy filence keep.
Nor lefs are we, undaunted Chief, prepared
To hear thy nation's gallant deeds declared -,
Nor think, tho' fcorch'd beneath the car of day,
Our minds too dull the debt of praife to pay -,
Melinda's fons the tell of greatnefs know.
And on the Lufian race the palm beflow.
If
Book II. THE L U S I A D, 83
If Titan's ' giant brood with impious arms
Shook high Olympus' brow with rude alarms ;
If Thefeus and Perithous dared invade
The difmal horrors of the Stygian fliade, •
Nor lefs your glory, nor your boldnefs lefs
That thus exploring Neptune's laft recefs
Contemns his waves and tempefts. If the thirit
To live in fame, though famed for deeds accurftj
Could urge the caitiff, whg to win a name
Gave Dian's temple to the wafting flame:
If fuch the ardour to attain renown,
How bright the luftre of the hero's crown,
Whofe deeds of fair emprife his honours raife,
And bind his brows, like thine, with deathlefs bays ! vA^
'i For a defence of the king of Melinda's learning, ignorantly objefted to by Voltairr,
fee the Preface,
END OF THE SECOND BOOK.
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T H B
L U S I A D.
■■
o
BOOK III.
H now, Calliope, thy potent aid !
What to the King th* illuflrious Gama faid
Cloath in immortal verfe. With facred fire
My breaft, if e'er it loved thy lore, infpire :
So may the patron of the healing art.
The blooming God, to thee incline his heart ;
From thee, the Mother of his darling * Son,
May never wandering thought to Daphne run :
* Calliope — the Mufe of Epic Poefy, and cothoe, who was buried alive by her Father
mother of Orpheus. Dajphne, daughter of for yielding to the folicitations of Apollo,
the river Peneus, flying from Apollo, was was by her Lover changed into an Incenfe
turned into the laurel. Clytia was meta- tree. The phyfical meaning of thefe fables
morphofed into the Sun-flower, and Leu- is obvious.
May
86 THE L U S I A D. Book IIL
"May never Clytia, norXeucothoe's pride ' --ts?r*-^»
Henceforth with thee his changeful love divide.
Then aid, O fairefl Nymph, my fond delire.
And give my verfe the Lufian^arltte fire :
Fired by the Song, the liftening vi^orld fhall know
That Aganippe's ftreams from Tagus flow. .
Oh, let no more the flow^s of Pindus fhineTT ' T
On thy fair breaft, or round thy temples twine :
On Tago's banks a richer chaplet blows,
And with the tuneful God my bpfom glows ;_
I feel, I feel the mighty power infufe.
And bathe my fpirit in Aonian dews I
Now filencc wooe'd th' illuftrious Chief's reply.
And keen attention watch'd on every eye j
When flowly turning with a modeft grace, *. r
The noble Vasco raifed his manly face ;
mighty king, he cries, at thy " command
The martial ftory of my native land
1 tell J but more my doubtful heart had joy'd
Had other wars my praifeful lips employ'd.
When men the honours of their race commend^^
The doubts of ftrangers on the tale attend i
* The preface to the fpeech of Gama, ample of the great models of antiquity : Fy
and the defcription of Europe which fol- adding fome charafteriftical feature of the
lows, are happy imitations of the manner climate or people, he renders his narrative
of Homer. When Camoens defcrtbes coun- pkafmg, piftorcf^uc, and poetical,
tries, Qr muftcrs an army, it is afte; the ex-
Yet
Book III. THE L IT S I A D: 87
Yet though relu6lance faulter on my tongue.
Though day would fail a narrative fo long,
Yet well aflured no fiction's glare can raife,
Or give my country's fame a brighter praife ;
Though lefs, far lefs, whate'er my lips can fay.
Than truth muft give it, I thy will obey.
Between that zone, where endlefs winter reigns,
And that, where flaming heat confumes the plains;
Array'd in green, beneath indulgent ikies.
The queen of arts and arms fair Europe lies.
Around her northern and her weftern fhores,
Throng'd with the finny race old Ocean roars j
The midland fea, where tide ne*er fweli'd the waves.
Her richefl lawns, the fouthern border, laves.
Againft the rifmg morn, the northmoft bound
The whirling Tanais parts from Afian ground.
As tumbling from the Scythian mountains cold
Their crooked way the rapid waters hold
To dull Masotis' lake : Her eaftern line
More to the fouth, the Phrygian waves confine ;
Thofe waves, which, black with many a navy, bore
The Grecian heroes to the Dardan fhore ;
Where now the feaman rapt in mournful joy
Explores in vain the fad remains of Troy.
Wide
88 T H E IL U S E A Dl Book III.
Wide to the north beneath the pole fhe fpreads j
Here piles of mountains rear their rugged heads.
Here winds on winds in endlefs tenipefls rowi^i
The valleys ligh, the lengthening ecchoes howL
On the rude clilfe with frofty fpangles grey.
Weak as the twilight gleams the folar ray ;
Each mountain's breaft with fnows eternal fliines.
The flreams and feas eternal froft confines.
Here dwelt the numerous Scythian tribes of old,
A dreadful race ! by vi6lor ne'er controul'd,
Whofe pride maintain'd that theirs the facred earth.
Not that of Nile, which firft gave man his birth.
Here difmal Lapland fpreads a dreary wild.
Here Norway's waftes where harveft never fmil'd,
Whofe groves of fir in gloomy horror frown.
Nod o'er the rocks, and to the tempeft groan.
Here Scandia's clime her rugged fhores extends,.
And far projefled, through the Ocean bends ;
Whofe fons' dread footfteps yet Aufonia- '^ wears.
And yet proud Rome in mournful ruin bears.
<= In the year 4 09 the city of Rome was
facked, and Italy laid defolate by Alaric,
king of the Scandian and other northern
tribes. In mentioning this circumftancc
Camoens has not fallen into the common
error of little Poets, who on every occafion
bewail the outrage which the Goths and
Vandals did to the Arts and Sciences. A
complaint founded on ignorance. The
Southern nations of Europe were funk into
the moft contemptible degeneracy. The
Sciences, with. every branch of manly litera-
ture, were almofl: unknown. For near two
centuries no Poet of note had adorned the*
Roman Empire. Thofe arts only, the abufe
of which have a certain and fatal tendency to
enervate the mind, the arts of Mufic and Cook-
ery, v/ere paffionately cultivated in all the re-
finements of effeminate abufe. The art of war
was too laborious for their delicacy, and the
generous warmth of heroifm and patriotifm
was incompatible with their effeminacy.
On
Book IIL
THE LUSIAD.
8^
When fummer burfts ftern winter's icy chain,
Here the bold Swede, the Pruffian, and the Dane
Hoifl the white fail and plough the foamy way,
Chear'd by whole months of one continual day :
Between thefe fhores and Tanais' rufhing tide
Livonia's fons and Rullia's hords refide.
Stern as their clime the tribes, whofe fires of yore
The name, far dreaded, of Sarmatians bore.
Where, famed of old, th' Hircinian foreft lour'd,
Oft feen in arms the Polifh troops are pour'd
Wide foraging the downs. The Saxon race.
The Hungar dextrous in the wild-boar chace,
The various nations whom the Rhine's cold wave
The Elbe, Amafis, and the Danube lave.
Of various tongues, for various princes known.
Their mighty Lord the German emperor own.
Between the Danube and the lucid tide
Where haplefs Helle left her name, and died :
On thefe defpicable Sybarites * the North
poured her brave and hardy fons, who,
though ignorant of polite literature, w6re
pofTefTed of all the manly virtues of the
Scythians in a high degree. Under their
conquefts Europe wore a new face, which
however rude, was infinitely preferable to
that which it had lately worn. And how-
ever Ignorance may talk of their barbarity,
it is to them that England owes her conftitu-
ti®n, which, as Montefquieu obferves, they
brought from the woods of Saxony. The
fpirit of gallantry and romantic attachment
to the fair fex, which diftinguilhed the
Northern Heroes, will make their manners
admired, while, confidered in the fame
point, the polifhed ages of Greece and
Rome excite our horror and deteftation. To
add no more, it is to the irruption of thefe
brave barbarians that modern Europe owes
thofe remains of the fpirit of Liberty, and
fome other of the greateft advantages, which
Ihe may at prefent poflefs.
■ Sybarii, a city in Grecia Magna, whofe iRhabitants were fo effeminate, that they ordeied all the cocki
To be killed, that they might not be dillut bed by their early ciowing. :,
N
The
90 T H E L U S 11 A^ D; Book IU.
The dreadful god of battles' kindred race,
Degenerate now, pofTefs the hills of Thrace.
Mount Hsemus here, and Rhodope reftown'd,
And proud Byzantiurti, long with empire Grown'd ;
Their ancient pride, their ancient virtue fled.
Low to the Turk now bend the fervile head.
Here fpread the fields of warlike Macedon,.
///'* And here thofe happy lands where genius fhonc
In all the arts, in all the Mufes' charms.
In all the pride of elegance and arms,
Which to the heavens refounded Grecia's name.
And left in every age a deathlefs fame.
The flern Dalmatians till the neighbouring ground ;
And where Antenor anchor'd in the found
Proud Venice as a queen majeftic towers,
And o'er the trembling waves her thunder pours.
_Por learning glorious, glorious for the fword.
While Rome's proud monarch reign'd the world's dread lord.
Here Italy her beauteous landfcapes fhews ;
Around her fides his arms old Ocean throws ;
The dafliing waves the ramparts force fupply j
The hoary Alps high towering to the fky.
From fhore to fhore a rugged barrier fpread.
And lour dejftru6lion on the hoftile tread.
But now no more her hoftile fpirit burns.
There now the faint in humble vefpers mourns j
To
91
Book III. T H JE L U S I A D.
To heaven more grateful than the pride of war.
And all the triumphs of the Vi6lor's car.
Onward fair Gallia opens to the view
Her groves of olive, and her vineyards blue :
Wide fpread her harvefts o'er the fcenes renown'd,
Where Julius proudly flrode with laurel crown'd.
Here Seyn, how fair when gliflening to the moon !
Rolls his white wave, and here the cold Garoon ;
Here the deep Rhine the flowery margin laves.
And here the rapid Rhone impervious raves.
Here the gruff mountains, faithlefs to the vows
Of loll Pyrene ^ rear their cloudy brows j
Whence, when of old the flames their woods devour'd,
Streams of red gold and melted filver pour'd.
And now, as head of all the lordly train
Of Europe's realms, appears illuftrious Spain.
Alas, what various fortunes has ftie known !
Yet ever did her fons her wrongs atone j
Short was the triumph of her haughty foes,
And ftill with fairer bloom her honours rofe.
Againft one coafl: the Punic fl:rand extends,
Each fliore to clofe the midland ocean bencjs,
'^ Faithlefs to the iio'ws of loft Pyrene, &c. etymology they relate, that by the negli-
— She was daughter to Bebryx, a king- of gence of fome fhepherds the antient forells
Spain, and concubine to Hercules. Hav- on thefe mountains were fet on fire, and
ing wandered one day from her lover Ihe burned with fuch vehemence, that the mel-
was dellroyed by wild beafts, on one of the ted metals fpouted out and ran down from
mountains which bear her name. Diodorus the fides of the hills. Ihe allufion to this
Siculus, and others, derive the name of the old tradition is in the true fpirit of Homer
Pyrenians from 7r?(i,^rt'. To fupport which and Virgil. C.
N 2 Where
92 T H E L U S I A D. Book III.
Where lock'd with land the ftruggling currents boil,
Famed for the godlike Theban's lateft toil %
Around her fhores two various oceans fwell,
And various nations in her bofom dwell ;
Such deeds of valour dignify their names.
That each the lordly right of honour claims.
Proud Arragon, who twice her ftandard rear'd
In conquer'd Naples j and for art revered,
Galicia's prudent fons j the fierce Navar,
^'^ ^ And he far dreaded in the Moorifli war,
The bold Afturian ; nor Sevilia's race.
Nor thine, Granada, claim the fecond place.
Here too the heroes who command the plain
By Betis water'd ; here, the pride of Spain,
The brave Caftilian paufes o'er his fword.
His country's dread deliverer and lord.
Proud o'er the reft, with fplendid wealth array 'd.
As crown to this wide empire, Europe's head.
Fair Lufitania fmiles, the weftern bound,
Whofe verdant breaft the rolling waves furround.
Where gentk evening pours her lambent ray.
The laft pale gleaming of departing day -,
« Hercules, fays the fable, to crown his benefit of commerce ; on which the ocean
labours, feparated the two mountains Calpe rufhed in, and formed the Mediterranean,
and Abyla, the one now in Spain, the other the Egean, and Euxin fcas.
in Africa, in order to open a canal for the
This,
Book III. THE L U S I A D. 93
This, this, O mighty King, the facred earth,
This the loved parent-foil that gave me birth.
And oh, would bounteous heaven my prayer regard,
And fair fuccefs my perilous toils reward.
May that dear land my lateft breath receive,
And give my weary bones a peaceful graye.
Sublime the honours of my native land.
And high in heaven's regard her heroes fland >
By heaven's decree 'twas theirs the firft to quell
The Moorifh tyrants, and from Spain expel ;
Nor could their burning wilds conceal their flight.
Their burning wilds confefl: the Lufian might. '
From Lufus famed, whofe honour'd name we bear,
(The fon of Bacchus or the bold compeer,)
The glorious name of Lufitania rofe,
A name tremendous to the Roman foes.
When her bold troops the valiant fhepherd led,
And foul with rout the Roman eagles fled -,
When haughty Rome atchiev'd the treacherous blow,
That own'd her terror of the matchlefs foe ^
But when no more her Viriatus fought,
Age after age her deeper thraldom brought ;
Her broken fons by ruthlefs tyrants fpurn'd.
Her vineyards languifli'd, and her pafl:ures mourn'd j
' The affafllnation of Viriatus, Sec the note on Book I. p. 13.
Till
94 THE LUSIAD. Book IIL
Till time revolving raifed her drooping head,
And o'er the wondering world her conqueils fpread.
Thus rofe her power : the lands of lordly Spain
Were now the brave Alonzo's wide domain ;
Great were his honours in the bloody fight,
And Fame proclaim'd him champion of the right.
And oft the groaning Sai'acen's proud creft
And fhatter'd mail his awful force confefl.
From Calpe's fummits to the Cafpian fhore
Loud-tongued Renown his godlike aftions bore.
And many a chief from diflant regions ^ came
To fliare the laurels of Alonzo's fame ;
Yet more for holy faith's unfpotted caufe
^(J C Their fpears they wielded, than for Fame's a^pplaufe.
Great were the deeds their thundering arms difplay'd,
And flill their foremoft fwords the battle fway'd.
8 Don Alonzo, king of Spain, appre- and became more rich and populous than
henfive of the fuperior number of the before. The two provinces of /fw/ro M/«^(7
Moors, with whom he was at war, de- e Douro, and Fra hs Montes, were fubdued,
manded afiiftance from Philip I. of France, with that part of Beira which was held by
and of the duke of Burgundy. According the Moorifh king of Lamegr, whom he
to the military fpirit of the nobility of that conftrained to pay tribute. Many thoufands
age, no fooncr was his defire known than- of Chriftians, who had either lived in mi-
numerous bodies of troops thronged to his fcrable fubjeftion to the Moors, or in de-
ftandard. Theie, in the courfe of a few folate indeptndency in the mountains, took
years, having fhewn fignal proofs of their ftielter under the proteftion of Count Henry,
courage, the king diftinguiihcd the leaders Great multitudes of the Moors alfo chofe
with different marks of his regard. To rather to fubmit and remain in their native
Henry, a younger fon of the duke of Bur- country under a mild government, than be-
gundy he gave his daughter Terefa in mar- expofed to the feverities and the continual
riage, with the fovereignty of the countries feuds and feditions of their own governors.
to tlie fouth of Galicia, commiflioning him Thefe advantages, added to the great ferti-
to enlarge his boundaries by the cxpulfion of lity of the foil of Henry's dominions, will
the infidels. Under the government of this account for the numerous armies and the
great man, who reigned by the title of frequent wars of the firft fovereigns of Por-
Count, his dominion was greatly enlarged, tugal.
And
Book III. THE LUSIAD. 95
And now to honour with diftinguifh'd meed
Each hero's worth the generous king decreed.
The firil and braveft of the foreign bands
Hungaria's younger fon brave Henry '' ftands.
To him are given the fields where Tagus flows,
And the glad King his daughter's hand beftows >
The fair Terefa fhines his blooming bride,
And owns her father's love, and Henry's pride.
With her, befides, the fire confirms in dower
Whate'er his fword might refcue from the Moor j
And foon on Hagar's race the hero pours
His warlike fury — foon the vanquifh'd Moors
To him far round the neighbouring lands refign.
And heaven rewards him with a glorious line.
To him is born, heaven's gift, a gallant fon.
The glorious founder of the Lufian throne.
^ Camoens, in making the founder of Amongjl thefe Henry, faith the hi,^r>ryf
the Portuguffe monarchy a younger fon of A younger fon of France, and a hrave prince^
the king of Hungary, has followed the old Had Portugal in lot.
chronologift Gal'van. The Spanifli and And the fame king did his oi^n da^fghier tie-'
Portugucfe hiftorians differ widely in their To him in nvcdlock, to infer jrom thence
accounts of the parentage of this gallant His firmer love.
ftranger. Some bring him from Conftan-
tinoplc, and others from the houfe of Lor- Nor are hiftorians agreed on the birth of
rain. But the cleartft and nioli: probable Donna Terefa, the fpoufe of Count Henry,
account of him is in the chronicle of I leury, Brandam, and other Portugucfe hiftorians,
wherein is preferved a fragment of French are at great pains to provi ihe was the le-
hiftory, written by a'Bencdidine monk in gitimate daughter of Alonzo and the beau-
the beginning of the twelfth century, and tiful Ximtna de Guzman. But it appears
in the time of Count Henry. By this it from the more authentic chronicle of Fleury,
appears, that he was a younger fon of that Xtmena was only his concubine. And
Henry the only fon of Robert the firft duke it is evident from all the hiftorians, that
of Burgundy, who was a younger brother Donna Un-aca, the heircfs of her father's
of Henry I of France. Fanfhaw having kingdom, was younger than her half-fifter,
an eye to this hiftory, has taken the un- the wife of Count Henry,
warrantable liberty to alter the fadt as
mentioned by his author.
Nor
96
THE
L U S I A D.
Book III.
Nor Spain's wide lands alone his deeds atteft,
Delivered Judah Henry's might ' confefl.
On Jordan's bank the vi6lor-hero ftrode,
Whofe hallowed waters bathed the Saviour-God ;
And Salem's gate her open folds difplay'd,
When Godfrey conquer'd by the hero's aid.
But now no more in tented fields oppofed,
By Tagus' ftream his honoured age he clofed ;
Yet ftill his dauntlefs worth, his virtue lived,
And all the father in the fon furvived.
And foon his worth was proved, the parent dame
Avow'd a fecond hymeneal flame ".
The low-born fpoufe afTumes the monarch's place,
And from the throne expels the orphan race.
But young Alphonfo, like his fires of yore,
(His grandfire's virtvies as his name he bore)
' Deliver* d y udah Henry' s might confeji.--
His expeditioR to the Holy Land is men-
tioned by fome monkifh writers, but from
the other parts of his hiftoiy it is highly
improbable. Camoens however fhews his
judgment in adopting every traditionary
circumftance that might give an air of fo-
lemnity to his poem.
'^ Don Alonzo Enriquez, fon of Count
Henry, was only entered into his third year
when his father died. His mother a/Turned
the reins of government, and appointed Don
Fernando Perez de Traba to be her minifter.
When the young prince was in his eigh-
teenth year, fome of the nobility, who
cither envied the power of Don i'ere-z., of
were really offended with the reports that
were fpread of his familiarity with the
prince's mother, of his intention to marry
her, and to exclude the lawful heir, cafily
perfuaded the young Count to take arms,
and affume the fovereignty. A battle cn-
fued, in which the prince was vidorious. Te-
refa it is faid, retired into the caftle oi Lego-
n 1/0, where {he was taken prifoner by her fon,
who condemned her to perpetual imprifon-
ment, and ordered chains to be put upon
her legs. That Don Alonzo made war
againft his mother, vanquished her party, and
that fhe died in prifon about two years after,
A. D. 1 130, are certain. But the caufe of
the war, that his mother was married to, or
intended to marry Don Penz, and that
fhe was put in chains, are uncertain.
Arms
Book III. THE L U S I A D. 97
Arms for the fight, his ravifh'd throne to win.
And the laced helmet grafps his beardlefs chin.
Her fiercefl firebrarids Civil Difcord waved,
Before her troops the luftful mother raved;
Loft to maternal love, and loft to fliame,
Unavved ftie faw heaven's awful vengeance flame ;
The brother's fword the brother's bofom tore,
And fad Guimaria's meadows bluftt'd with gore -^
With Lufian gore the Peafant's cot was ftain'd.
And kindred blood the facred ftirine profaned.
Here, cruel Progne, here, O Jafbn's wife,
Yet reeking with your childrens* purple life.
Here glut your eyes with deeper guilt than yours ;
Here fiercer rage her fiercer rancour pours.
Your crime was vengeance on the faithlefs fires.
But here ambition with foul lu ft confpires.
'Twas rage of love, O Scylla, urged the knife*
That robb'd thy father of his fated life ;
Here grofl^er rage the mother's breaft inflames.
And at her guiltlefs fon the vengeance aims.
But aims in vain ; her flaughter'd forces yield.
And the brave youth rides Vi6lor o'er the field.
8 The Scylla here alluded to was, accord- the fatal lock while her father flept. Minos
ing to fable, the daughter of Nifus king of on this was viftorious, but rejeded the love
Megara, who had a purple lock, in which of the unnatural daughter, who in defpair
lay the fate of his kingdom. Minos of Crete flung herfelf from a rock, and in the fall
made war againll him, for whom Scylla con- was changed into a lark.
cfiyed fo violent a pafTion, that fhc cut oft
O No
98 THE LUSIAD. Book III.
No more his fubje6ls lift the thlrfty fword>
And the glad realm proclaims the youthful Lord»
But ah, how wild the nobleft tempers run 1
His filial duty now forfakes the fon ;
Secluded from the day, in clanking chains
His rage the parents aged limbs conftrains.
Heaven frown'd — Dark vengeance lowring on his brows,
And fheath'd in brafs the proud Caftilian rofe,^
Refolved the rigour to his daughter fhewn,
The battle fhould avenge, and blood atone.
A numerous hofl againft the prince he fped,
The valiant prince his little army led :
Dire was the fhock ; the whizzing javelins fung,.
The Hauberks rattled, and the bucklers rung.
Yet thovTgh around the Stripling's facred head
By angel hands etherial fhields were fpread ;
Though glorious triumph on his valour fmiled,
Soon on his van the baffled foe recoil'd :
With bands more numerous to the field he came.
His proud heart burning with the rage of (hame.
And now in turn Guimaria's lofty wall,
That faw his triumph, faw the hero fall -,
Within the town immured, diflrefl he lay.
To flern Caflilia's fword a certain prey.
When now the guardian of his infant years.
The valiant Egas, as a god appears -,
To
Book III. THE L U S I A D. 99
To proud Cafteel the fuppliant noble bows.
And faithful homage for hi? prince he vows.
The proud Cafteel accepts his honoured fa^th,
And peace fucceeds the dreadful fcenes of death.
Yet well, alas, the generous Egas knew
His high-foul'd Prince to man would never fue ;
Would never ftoop to brook the fervile ftain,
To hold a borrow'd, a dependent reign.
And now with gloomy afpeft rofe the day,
Decreed the plighted fervile rites to pay ;
When Egas to redeem his faith's difgrace
Devotes himfelf, his fpoufe, and infant race.
In gowns of white, as fentenced felons clad,
When to the ftake the fons of guilt are led.
With feet unlhod they (lowly moved along.
And from their necks the knotted halters hung.
And now, O King, the kneeling Egas cries,
Behold my perjured honour's facrifice :
If fuch mean victims can atone thine ire,
Here iet my wife, my babes, myfelf expire.
If generous bofoms fuch revenge can take,
Here let them perifh for the father's fake ;
The guilty tongue, the guilty hands are thefe.
Nor let a common death thy wrath appeafe j
For us let all the rage of torture burn,
8vit to my Prince, thy fon, in friendfliip turn,
O 2 He.
100 THE L U S I A D. Book III.
He fpoke, and bow'd his proflrate body low,
As one who waits the lifted fabre's blow -,
When o'er the block his languid arms are fpread,
And death, foretafted, whelms the heart with dread :
So great a Leader thus in humbled flate,
So firm his loyalty, his zeal fo great,
The brave Alonzo's kindled ire fubdued.
And loil in filent joy the Monarch flood j
Then gave the hand, and fheath'd the hoftile fword,
And to fuch honour honour'd peace " reflored.
Oh Lufian faith ! oh zeal beyond compare !
What greater danger could the Perfian dare,
Whofe prince in tears, to view his mangled woe,
Forgot the joy for Babylon's " o'erthrowV
And now the youthful hero fhines in arms,
The banks of Tagus eccho war's alarms :
O'er Ourique's wide campaign his enfigns wave,
And the proud Saracen to combat brave.
Though prudence might arraign his fiery rage
That dared with one, each hundred fpears engage,
" The Univerfal Hiftorians having related of his Lords, named Zopyrus, having cut
this itory of Egas, add, " All this is very off his nofe and ears, perfuaded the enemy
pleafant and entertaining, but we fee no that he had received thefe indignities from
fufncicnt rcafon to afiirm that there is one the cruelty of his mafter. Being appointed
fyllable of it true." ' to a chief command ia Babylon, he betray-
» \Yhea Darius laid f^ige to Babylon, one ed the city to Darius. Vid- Juftin.
Ia
Book III. THE L U S I A D. loi
In heaven's prote^ling care his courage lies,
And heaven his friend fuperior force fupplies.
Five Moorifh Kings againft him march along,
Ifmar the nobleft of the armed throng >
Yet each brave Monarch claim'd the Soldier's name,
And far o'er many a land was known to fame.
In all the beauteous glow of blooming ° years,
Befide each King a warrior Nymph appears ;
Each with her fword her valiant Lover guards,
With fmiles infpires him, and with fmiles rewards.
Such was the valour of the beauteous ^ Maid,
Whojfe warlike arm proud Ilion's fate delay'd.
Such in the field the virgin warriors fhone.
Who drank the limpid wave of ^ Thermodon.
'Twas morn's ftill hour, before the dawning grey
The flars' bright twinkling radiance died away j
When lo, refplendent in the heaven ferene,
High o'er the Prince the facred Crofs was feen ;
The godlike Prince with faith's warm glow inflamed,
Oh, not to me, my bounteous God, exclaim'd !
• The Spani{h and Portuguefe hiftorles ^aks Thre'iei^ cumjlumina Thermodontis
afford feveral inftances of the Moorifh Chiefs Pulfanty et pidis bellantur Jmazones armis :
being attended in the field of battle by their Seu circum Hippolyterty feu cum ft Martia
miflrefles, and of the romantix; gallantry and curru
Amazonian courage of thefe ladies. Penthefika rejert: magnoque ululanie tu-
P Penthefilea, Queen of the Amazons, multu
who, after having fignalized her valour at Fceminea exultant lunatis agmlna peltis.
the feige of Troy, was killed by Achilles.
'i Thermodon, a river of Scythia in the ViRC. En. IX.
country of the Amazons.
Oh,
102 THE L U S I A D. Book IIL
Oh, not to me, who well thy grandeur know,
But to the Pagan herd thy wonders fhew.
• The Lufian hoft, enraptured, mark'd the fign
That witnefs'd to their Chief the aid divine :
Right on the foe they fhake the beamy lance,
And with firm ftrides, and heaving breafls, advance ;
Then burft the filence, Hail, O King, they cry ;
Our King, our King, the ecchoing dales reply :
Fired at the found, with fiercer ardour glows
The heaven-made Monarch 3 on the warelefs foes
Rufhing, he fpeeds Tiis ardent bands along :
So when the chace excites the ruflic throng,
Roufed to fierce madnefs by their mingled cries
On the wild bull the red-eyed mafliff flies.
The flern-brow'd tyrant trufls his potent horns.
Around and round the nimble maflifF turns -,
Now by the neck, now by the gory fides
He hangs, and all Ms bellowing rage derides :
In vain his eye-balls burn with living fire,
In vain his noftrils clouds of fmoke refpire,
His gorge torn out, down falls the furious prize
With ° hollow thundering found, and raging dies :
" It may, perhaps, be agreeable to the Reader, to fee the defcxiption of a Bull- fight, a$
managed by Homer.
jfj -TV hen a lion, rujhing from his deny
Amidft the plain of fome 'wide-iuater'd feny
• {Where numerous oxen., as at eafe they feed y
At large expatiate o'er the ranker mead \)
i Leaps en the herds before the herdfman^s eyes ;
The trembling herdfman far to dijiance flies :
. Stmt
Book III. THE L U S I A D. 103
Thus on the Moors the hero rufh'd along,
Th' aftonifli'd Moors in wild confufion throng ;
They fnatch their arms, the Kafty trumpet founds,
With horrid yell the dread alarm rebounds ;
The warlike tumult maddens o'er the plain.
As when the flame devours the bearded grain :
The nightly flames the whifl:ling winds infpire.
Fierce through the braky thicket pours the fire :
Rous'd by the crackling of the mounting blaze
From fleep the fliepherds fliart in wild amaze -,
They fnatch their cloaths with many a woeful cry.
And fcatter'd devious to the mountains fly :
Such fudden dread the trembling Moors alarms.
And thus confufed they fnatch the neareft arms 5
Yet flight they fcorn, and eager to engage
They fpur their foamy flieeds, and truft their furious rage :
Amidfl: the horror of the headlong fliock,
With foot unfliaken as the living rock
The Lufian hero fl:ands j the purple wounds
Gufli horrible, deep groaning rage refounds j
Reeking behind the Moorifh backs appear
The fliining point of many a Lufian fpear ;
Some lordly hull (the reft difpen^d and fed)
Ht Jingles outy arreftsy and lays him dead.
Thus from the rage of Jove-like HeSior fleiv
All Greece in heaps j but one hefti^d, andftexv \
Mycenian Peripbas, PoPK. It. XV.
The
104
THE LUSIAD.
Book IIL
The mailcoats, hauberks, and the harnefs fteel'd,
Bruis'd, hackt, and torn, lie fcatter'd o'er the field j
Beneath the Lufian fweepy force o'erthrown,
Cruih'd by their batter'd mails the wounded groan j
Burning with thirft they draw their panting breath,
And curfe their Prophet as they writhe in death.
Arms fever'd from the trunks flill grafp the ' fleel.
Heads gafping rowl j the fighting fquadrons reel ;
Fainty and weak with languid arms they clofe,
And ftaggering grapple with the ftaggering foes.
So when an oak falls headlong on the lake,
The troubled waters flowly fettling Ihake :
■■ There is a paffage in Xenophon, upon
which perhaps Camoens had his eye. Ettej
^i eXr,^eii ri ^xyjnt "zzrap^v IStlv, rr,y fj.h yyiv
*'i'u.«l» mitp'j^iJLivnv, &c. ** When the battle
was over one might behold, through the
whole extent of the field, the ground pur-
pled with blood, the bodies of friends and
enemies ftretched over each other, the
fhields pierced, the fpears broken, and the
drawn fwords, fome fcattered on the earth,
fome plunged in the bofoms of the flain,
and fome yet grafped in the hands of the
dead foldiers."
As it was neceflary in the preface to give
a charafter of the French tranflation of the
Lufiad, fome fupport of that charader is
neceflary in the notes. To point out every
inftance of the un poetical tafte of Caftera,
were to give his paraphrafe of every fine
paflhge in Camocns, His management of
this battle will give an idea of his manner,
it is therefore tranfcribed. " Le Portvgais
hettrte impetuejetnent hi fohlats d'' Ijmar, les
ren'verfe et leur owvre le feiii a coups dn lance ;
on fe rencontre., on fe cheque avic une fureur
qui ebranleroit le Jomvict de mont agues. Ln
terre tremble fous les pas des courjiers fou-
guettX", l^irnpitoyabk Erinnys 'vcit dcs blef-
Jures enot'fnes et de coups dignes d*elles : les
guerriers de Lufus brifent, coupentf taillenty
enfoJicent plajirons, armures, loucHers, cui-
rajjes et turbans ; la Par que etetid fes ailes
affreufes fur les Mauritains, Vun expire en
mordant la psuj/iere, P autre implore lefeceurs
de fon prophet e ; tetes jambes et bras 'volent
et bondijfcnt de toutes parts, PoeH n^appcr-
foit que 'vifages counjerts d'une paleur liijide,
que corps dechires et qiientrailles palpitantes.^'
Had Caftera. feriou fly intended to burlefque
his Author he could fcarcely have better fuc-
cecded. As tranflation cannot convey a per-
feft idea of an author's manner, it is there-
fore not attempted. 'Thj attack nvas ivith
Juchfury that it Jhook the tops of the moun-
tains : This bombaft, and the wretched an-
ticlimax ending with turbans, jire not in the
original ; from which indeed the whole is
extremely wide. Had he added any poeti-
cal image, any flower to the embroidery of
his Author, the increafe of the richnefs of
the tifliie would have rendered his work more
pleaflng. It was "therefore his intereft to do
fo. But it was not in the feelings of Caftera
to tranflate the Lufiad with the fpirit of Ca-
moens.
So
Book III;
THE
L U S I A D.
105
So faints the languid combat on the plain,
And fettling ftaggers o'er the heaps of flain.
Again the Lufian fury wakes its fires,
The terror of the Moors new flrength infpires :
The fcatter'd few in wild confufion fly,
And total rout refounds the yelling cry.
Defiled with one -wide fheet of reeking gore.
The verdure of the lawn appears no more :
In bubbling ftreams the lazy currents run,
And fhoot red flames beneath the evening fun.
With fpoils enrich'd, with glorious trophies * crown'd
The heaven-made Sovereign on the battle ground
' This memorable battle was fought in
the plains of Ouriqiie, in 1139. The en-
gagement lafted fix hours ; the Moors were
totally routed with incredible flaughter. On
the field of battle Alonzo was proclaimed
king of Portugal. The Portuguefe writers
have given many fabulous accounts of this
viftory. Some affirm, that the Moorilh
army amounted to 3 80,000, others, 480,000,
and others fwell it to 600,000, whereas Don
Alonzo's did not exceed 13,000. Miracles
mull alfo be added. Alonzo, they tell us,
being in great perplexity, fat down to com-
fort his mind by the perufal of the Holy
Scriptures. Having read the ftory of Gi-
tieon, he funk into a deep fleep, in which
he faw a very old man in a remarkable drefs
come into his tent, and aflure him of vic-
tory. His chamberlain coming in, waked
him, and told him there was an old man
very importunate to fpeak with him. Don
Alonzo ordered him to be brought in, and
nofooner faw him than he knew him to be
the old man whom he had feen in his dream.
This venerable perfon acquainted him, that
he was a fiiherman, and had led a life of
penance for fixty years on an adjacent rock,
where it had been revealed to him, that if
the Count marched his army the next morn-
ing, as foon as he heard a certain bell ring,
he fliould receive the ftrongeft aflurance of
viftory. Accordingly, at the ringing of
the bell, the Count put his army in motion,
and fuddenly beheld in the eaftern flcy, the
figure of the Crofs, and Chrill upon it, who
promifed him a complete vliStory, and com-
manded him to accept the title of King, if
it was offered him by the army. The fame
writers add, that as a Handing memorial of
this miraculous event, Don Alonzo changed
the arms which his father had given, of a
crofs azure in a field argent, for five efcut-
cheons, each charged with five bezants, in
memory of the wounds of Chrift. Others
aflert, that he gave in a field argent five ef-
cutcheons azure, in the form of a Crofs,
each charged with five bezants argent, placed
falterwife, with a point fable, In memory
of five wounds he himfelf received, and of
five Moorilh kings flain in the battle. There
is an old record, faid to be written by Don
Alonzo, in which the ftory of the vifion is
related upon his Majefty's oath. The Spanifti
Critics, however, have difcovered many in-
confiftencles In it. They find the language
intermixed with phrafes not then in ufe :
it bears the date of the year of our Lord,
at a time when that a:ra bad not been in-
P troduccd
io6 THE L U S I A D. Book IIL
Three days encampt, to reft his weary train,
Whofe dauntlefs valour drove the Moors from Spain.
And now in honour of the glorious day,
When five proud Monarchs fell his vanquifh'd prey.
On his broad buckler, unadorn'd before,
Placed as a Crofs, five azure fhields he ^ wore.
troduced into Spain ; and John, Bifliop of
Coimbra, figns as a witncfs before John,
Metrapolitan of Braja, which is contrary to
ecdefiaftical rule. Thefe circumftances,.
however, are not mentioned to prove the
falfehood of the vifion, but to vindicate the
charafter of Don Alonzo from any (hare in
the oath which pafTes under his name. The
truth is, the Portuguefe were always un-
willing to pay any homage to the King of
Caftile. They adorned the battle which
gave birth to their Monarchy, with mira-
cle, and the new Sovereignty with a
command from heaven, circumftances ex-
tremely agreeable both to the military
pride and the fuperftition of thefe times.
The reg?J dignity and conftitution of the
Monarchy, however, were not fettled till
about fix years after the battle of Ourique.
For mankind, fay the Univerfal Hiftorians,
were not then fo ignorant and barbarous,
as to fuffer a change of government to be
made without any farther ceremony, than a
tumultuous huzza. An account of the co-
ronation of the firft king of Portugal, and
the principles of liberty which then pre^
vailed in that kingdom, are worthy of our
attention. The arms of Don Alonzo having
been attended with glorious fucccefs, in
1 145 he called an affembly of the Prelates,
Nobility, and Commons, at Lamego. When
the affembly opened, he appeared, feated
on the throne, but without any other marks
of regal dignity. Laurence de Viegas then
demandedof the affembly, whether, accord-
ing to the eleftion on the field of battle at
Ourique, and the briefs of Pope Eugenius
III. they chufed to have Don Alonzo Enri-
f;uez. for their king .? To this they anfwercd
they were witling. He then demanded, if
they dcfired the Monarchy Hiould be elec-
tive or tcredkary. They declared their in-
tention to be, that the crown fliould def^
cend to the heirs male oi Alonzo. Laurence
de Viegas then aflced, " Is it your pleafure
that he be inverted with the enfigns of Roy-
alty.? He was anfwered in the affirmative,
and the Archlifliop of Braga placed the
crown upon his head, the king having
his fword drawn in his hand. As foon
as crowned Alonzo thus addrefled the af-
fembly ; *' Bleffed be God, who has al-
ways affifted me, and has enabled me, with
this fword, to deliver you from all your ene-
mies. I fhall ever wear it for your defence.
You have made me a king, and it is but
juft that you fhould fhare with me in taking
care of the ftate. I am your king, and as
fuch let us make laws to fecure the happi-
nefs of this kingdom." Eighteen fhort
ftatuteswere then framed and affentedto by
the people. Laurence de Viegas at length
propofed the great queftion, Whether it was
their pleafure that the king fhould go to Leouy
do homage and pay tribute to that prince,
or to any other. Upon which, every man
drawing his fword, cried with a loud voice,
" We are free, and our king is free ; we
owe our liberty to our courage. If the king
fhall at any time fubmit to fuch an aft, he
deferves death, and fhall 'not reign either
over us, or among us." The king rifing
up, approved this declaration, and declared,
that if any of his defcendents confented to
fuch a fubmifhon, he was unworthy to fuc-
ceed, and fhould be reputed incapable of
wearing the crown.
* Fanfhaw's tranflation of this is curious*
He is literal in the circumftances, but the
debafements marked in italic are his own :
In thefe five fhields he paints the reampence
(Os t tint a Dinheiros ; the thirty Denarii,
fays Camoens.)
For
Book III. THE L U S I A D. 107
In grateful memory of the heavenly fign,
The pledge of conqueft by the aid divine.
Nor long his faukhion in the fcabbard flept,
His warlike arm increaling laurels reapt :
From Leyra's walls the baffled Ifmar flies,
And ftrong Arroncha falls his conquered prize -,
That honoured town, through whofe Elyfian groves
Thy fmooth and limpid wave, O Tagus, roves.
Th' illuftrious Santarene confefl: his power.
And vanquifli'd Mafra yields her proudeft tower.
The Lunar mountains faw his troops difplay
Their marching banners and their brave array :
To him fubmits fair Cintra's cold domain,
The foothing refuge of the Nay ad train.
When Love's fweet fnares the pining Nymphs would fliun :
Alas, in vain from warmer climes they run :
The cooling ftiades awake the young delires.
And the cold fountains cherifli love's foft fires.
And thou, famed Lifbon, whofe embattled wall
Rofe by the hand that wrought proud Ilion's " fall ;
For which the Lord was fold, in various mA Accounting that which is the center, twice.
Meriting bit hi/lory, who did difpenfe Of the five cinques, which he doth place crofs-wife.
Such favour to him, mere then heart could think. „ rj.^^ tradition, that Lifbon was built by
(Writing the remembrance of him, by whom Ulyffes, and thence called 0/#/o^i, is as
he was favoured,in various colours. Camoens.) common as, and of equai authority with
that, which fays, that Brute landed a co-
in every of the five he paints five-pence lony of Trojans in England, and gave the
So fums the thirty ly a cinqui-f old cinque name of Britannia to the ifland.
P 2 Thou
loS THE L U S I A D. Book IIL
Thou queen of Cities, whom the feas obey,
Thy dreaded ramparts own'd the Hero's fway.
Far from the north a warlike navy bore
>From Elbe, from Rhine, and Albion's mifty "" fhore ^
To refcue Salem's long-polluted fhrine
Their forqe to great Alonzo's force they join :
Before UlyfTes' walls the navy rides^
^/, The joyful Tagus lav€s their pitchy fides.
Five times the Moon her em|)fy horns conceal'd,,
Five times her broad effulgence fhone reveal'd.
When, wrapt in clouds of duft, her mural pride
Falls thundering, — black the fmoaking breach yawns wide.
As when th' imprifon'd waters burft the mounds.
And roar, wide fweeping, o'er the cultured grounds 5
Nor cot nor fold withftand their furious courfe;
So headlong rufh'd along the Hero's force.
The third of vengeance the affailants fires.
The madnefs of defpair the Moors infpires j
'' The conqueft of Lifbon was of the ut- of it to a fleet of adventurers, who were go-
moft importance to the infant Monarchy. ing to the Holy Land, the greateft part of
It is one of the fineft ports in the world, which were Englilh. One U^a/ op RJjyst
and ere the invention of cannon, was of in his tour through Portugal, fays, that
great ftrength. The old Moorifh wall was Alonzo gave them Almada, on the fide of
flanked by feventy-feven towers, was about the Tagus oppofite ta Lifl)on, and that
fix miles in length, and fourteen in circum- Villa Franca was peopled by them, which
fercnce. When befeigcd by Don Alonzo, they called Cornualla, either in honour of
according to forae, it was garrifoned by an their native country, or from the richmea-
army of 200,000 men. This, not to fay dows in its neighbourhood, where immenfe
impoffible, is highly incredible. However, herds of cattle are kept, as in the Englifli
that it was ftrong and well garrifoned is cer- Cornwall,
tiinj as alCo that Alotvzoowed the conqueft
Each
Book III. THE L U S I A D. 109
Each lane, eacE ftreet refounds the conflid's roar,
And every threfhold reeks with tepid gore.
Thus fell the City, whofe unconquer'd " towers
Defy'd of old the banded Gothic powers j
Whofe harden'd nerves in rigorous climates train'd
The favage courage of their fouls fuftain'd :
Before whofe fword the fons of Ebro fled.
And Tagus trembled in his oozy bed -,
Aw'd by whofe arms the lawns of Betis fhore
The name Vandalia from the Vandals bore.
When Lifbon's towers before the Lufian fell.
What fort, what rampart might his arms repell !
Eftremadura's region owns him Lord,
And Torres-vedras bends beneath his fword ^
Obidos humbles, and Alamquer yields,
Alamquer famous for her verdant fields,
Whofe murmuring rivulets cheer the traveller's way,
As the chill waters o'er the pebbles flray.
Elva the green, and Moura's fertile dales.
Fair Serpa's tillage and Alcazar's vales
Not for himfelf the Moorilh peafant fows 3
For Lufian hands the yellow harvefl glows :
» Unconquer'd /cw^rj— This affertion of was by treachery that Herimeneric, the
Camoens is not without foundation, for it Goth, got poffeflion of Lilbon.
And
no THE L U S Ii A D. Book HI.
And you, faix^ lawns, beyond the Tagns' wave^
Your golden burdens for Alonzo fave j
Soon (hall his thundering might your wealth reclaim,
And your glad valleys hail their monarch's name.
Nor fleep his captains while the fovereign wars ;
The brave Giraldo's fword in conqueft fhares,
Evora's frowning walls, the caftled hold
Of that proud Roman chief, and rebel bold,
Sertorius dread, whofe labours ftill ^ remain ;
Two hundred arches, ftretch'd in length, fuflain
The marble du6l, where, gliftening to the fun,
Of filver hue the fhining waters run.
Evora's frowning walls now fhake with fear.
And yield obedient to Giraldo's fpear.
Nor reds the monarch while his fervants toil,
Around him ftill increaiing trophies fmile.
And deathlefs fame repays the haplefs fate
That gives to human life fo fhort a date.
Proud Beja's caftled walls his fury ftorms,
And one red flaughter every lane deforms. -
The ghofts, whofe mangled limbs, yet fcarcely cold,
Heapt fad Trancofo's ftreets in carnage roll'd,
Appeafed, the vengeance of their flaughter fee,
And hail th' indignant king's fevere decree.
* The aqueduft of Sertorius, here men- antiquity. It was repaired by John III. [of
tioned, is one of the grandcft remains of Portugal, about A. D. 1540.
Palmela
Book IIL THE L U S I A D. in
Palmela trembles on her mountain's height,
And fea-laved Zambra owns the hero's might.
Nor thefe alone confeft his happy ftar,
Their fated doom produced a noble war.
Badaja's king, an haughty Moor, beheld
His towns befieged, and hafVed to the field.
Four thoufand courfers in his army neigh'd,
Unnumber'd fpears his infantry difplay'd ;
Proudly they march'd, and glorious to behold.
In filver belts they fhone, and plates of gold.
Along a mountain's fide fecure they trod,
Steep on each hand, and rugged was the road j
When as a bull, whofe luflful veins betray
The mad'ning tumult of infpiring May ;
If, when his rage- with fiercefl ardour glows.
When in the fhade the fragrant heifer lows,
If then perchance his jealous burning eye
Behold a carelefs traveller wander by,.
With dreadful bellowing on the wretch he flies.
The wretch defencelefs torn and trampled dies.
So rufh'd Alonzo on the gaudy train.
And pour'd victorious o'er the mangled flain 5
The royal Moor precipitates in flight.
The mountain ecchoes with the wild affright
Of flying fquadrons, down their arms they throw,
And dafh from rock to rock to fhun the f;oe.
The
1^12 -T H E L U S I A D. Book-IIi:
The foe ! what wonders may not virtue dare !
But fixty horfemeh waged the conquering *war.
The warUke monarch flill his toil renews,
New conqueft flill each vidlory purfues.
To him Badaja's lofty gates expand,
And the wide region owns his dread command.
When now enraged proud Leon's king beheld
Thofe walls fubdued which faw his troops expell'd j
Enraged he faw them own the vi6lor's fway,
And hems them round with battalous array.
With generous ire the brave Alonzo glows,
By heaven unguarded, on the numerous foes
He rufhes, glorying in his wonted force.
And fpurs with headlong rage his furious hoi-fe ;
The combat burns, the fnorting courfer bounds,
And paws irnpetuous by the iron mounds :
O'er gafping foes and founding bucklers trod
vM/2 The raging fteed, and headlong as he rode
Dafh'd the fierce monarch on a rariipire bar
Low groveling in the dufl, the pride of war,
The great Alonzo lies. The captive^s fate
Succeeds, alas, the pomp of regal flate.
" Let iron dafh his limbs," his mother cried,
** And fleel revenge my chains :" fhe fpoke, and died j
• The hiftory of this tattle wants authenticity.
And
Book III. T H E L U S I A D. 113
And heaven afTented — Now the hour was come,
And the dire curfe was fallen Alonzo's ^ doom.
No more, O Pompey, of thy fate complain,
No more with forrow view thy glory's ftain ;
Though thy tall flandards tower'd with lordly pride
Where northern Phafis rolls his icy tide j
Though hot Syene, where the fun's fierce ray
Begets no fhadow, own'd thy conquering fway ;
Though from the tribes that fhiver in the gleam
Of cold Bootes' watery gliftening team ;
To thofe who parch'd beneath the burning line,
In fragrant (hades their feeble limbs recline,
The various languages proclaim'd thy fame,
And trembling own'd the terrors of thy name ^
Though rich Arabia and Sarmatia bold,
And Colchis, famous for the fleece of gold ;
Though Judah's land, whofe facred rites implored
The One true God, and, as he taught, adored j
'' As already obferved, there is no au- fraftured in the battle, was rertored, on
thentic proof that Don Alonzo ufed fuch condition that as foon as he was able to
feverity to his mother as to put her in mount on horfeback, he (hould Qome to
chains. Brandan fays it was reported that Leon, and in perfon do homage for his de-
Don Alonzo was born with both his legs minions. This condition, fo contrary to
growing together, and thgt he was cured his coronation agreement, he found means
by the prayers of his tutor Egas Nutiio. to avoid. He ever after afFefted to drive
Legendary as this may appear, tliis how- in a cpJafli, and would never mount on
ever is deduccable from it, that from his horfeback more. This his natural and af-
birth there was fomcthing amifs about his terwards political infirmity, the fuperfti-
legs. When he was prifoner to his fon in tious of thofe days afcribed to the curfes
law Don Fernando king of Leon, he re- of his mother,
covered his liberty er<? his leg, which was
Q^ Though
114 THE L U S I A D. Book III.
Though Cappadocia's realm thy mandate fway'd,
Aijd bafe Sophenia's fons thy nod obey'd 5
Though vext Cicilia's pirates wore thy bands.
And thofe who cultured fair Armenia's lands,-
Where from the facred mount two. rivei^ flow.
And what was Eden to the Pilgrim fhewi
Though from the vaft Atlantic's bounding wave
To where the northern tempeils howl and rave
Round Taurus' lofty brows : though vafl and wide
The various climes that bended to thy pride 5
No more with pining anguiih of regret
Bewail the horrors of Pharfalia's fate :
For great Alonzo, whofe fuperior name
Unequal'd victories confign to fame,
The great Alonzo fell — like thine his woe -,
From nuptial kindred came the fatal blow.
When now the hero, humbled in the duft.
His crime atoned, confeft that heaven was jufl.
Again in fplendor he the throne afcends :
Again his bow the Mooriili chieftain bends.
Wide round th' embattled gates of Santareen
Their fhining fpears and banner'd moons are feenJ
But holy rites the pious king preferr'd j
The Martyr's bones on Vincent's Cape interr'd,
(His
Book III. THE L U S I A D. 115
(His fainted name the Cape fhall ever " bear)
To Lilbon's walls he brought with votive care.
And now the monarch, old and feeble grown,
Refigns the faulchion to his valiant fon.
O'er Tagus' waves the youthful hero pail,
And bleeding hofts before him flirunk aghaft.
Choak'd with the flain, with Moorilh carnage dy'd,
Sevilia's river roU'd the purple tide.
Burning for vi6tory the warlike boy
Spares not a day to thoughtlefs reft or joy.
Nor long his wilh unfatisfied remains :
With the beliegers' gore he dies the plains
That circle Beja's wall : yet ftill untamed,
With all the fiercenefs of defpair inflamed.
The raging Moor colle<5ls his diftant might ;
Wide from the fhores of Atlas' ftarry height,
From Amphelufia's cape, and Tingia's bay.
Where ftern Antaeus held his brutal fway,
The Mauritanian trumpet founds to arms.
And Juba's realm returns the hoarfe alarms ;
The fwarthy tribes in burnifh'd armour fliine.
Their warlike march Abeyla's fliepherds join.
The great Miramolin on Tagus' fliores
Far o'er the coaft his banner'd thoufands pours 5
* Tu quoque littorihus nojiris, jEnela vtitrix,
jEternam moriens Jamaniy Cdieta dedijii.
ViRC, En. vir.
Q_2 Twelve
*
ii6 THE LUSIAD. Book Illi
Twelve kings and one beneath his enfigns ftand,
And wield their fabres at his dread command.
The plundering bands far round the region hafte^
The mournful region lies a naked wafte.
And now enclofed in Santareen's high towers
The brave Don Sanco fliuns th' unequal powers j
A thoufand arts the furious Moor pvirfues,
And ceafelefs ftill the fierce alTault renews.
Huge clefts of rock, from horrid engines whirl'd.
In fmouldering volleys on the town are hurl'dj
The brazen rams the lofty turrets fhake.
And mined beneath the deep foundations quake j
But brave Alonzo's fon, as danger grows.
His pride inflamed, with rifing courage glows ;.
Each coming ftorm of miffile darts he wards,
•Each nodding tiuTet, and each. port he guards.
In that fair city, round whofe verdant meads^
The branching river of Mondego fpreads.
Long worn with warlike toils, and bent with years
The king repofed, when Sanco's fate he hears.
His limbs forget the feeble fteps of age,
And the hoar warrior burns with youthful rage.
His daring Veterans, long to conqueft train'd.
He leads— the ground with Moorifli blood is ftain'd -^
Turbans
Book III. T H E L U S I A D. - 117
Turbans, and robes of various colours wrought,
And fhiver'd fpears in flreaming carnage float.
In harnefs gay lies many a weltering fteed,
And low in dull the groaning mafters bleed. SA^d
As proud Miramolin in horror ^ fled,
Don Sanco's javelin ilretch'd him with the dead.
In wild difmay, and torn with guihing wounds
The rout wide fcatter'd fly the Luflan bounds.
Their hands to heaven the joyful victors raife,
And every voice refounds the fong of praife y
" Nor was it ftumbling chance, nor human might,
" 'Twas guardian heaven," they fung, "that ruled the fight."
This blifsful day Alonzo's glories' crown'd ;
And pale difeafe foon gave the fecret wound -,
Her icy hand his feeble limbs invades.
And pining languor through his vitals fpreads.
The glorious monarch to the tomb defcends,
A nation's grief the funeral torch attends.
Each winding fliore for thee, Alonzo," mourns,
Alonzo's name each woful bay returns y
^ Miramolin, not the name of a perfon, ■ Ip/^e ie, Tityre, pinus,
but a title, quafi, Soldan. The Arabs call it Ipji tefontes, ipfa hac arbujia "jocabant.
Emir- Ahnoumini, the Empercr of the Faith- E c l . i .
ful. Eurjdicen 'vox ipfa et frigida lingua,
•^ In this poetical exclamation, expref- Ah miferam Eurydicen, anima fugient», vc-
five of the forrow of Portugal on the death cabat :
of Alonzo, Camoens has happily imitated Eurydicen toto referebant flumine rip^e.
fome paflages of Virgil. G. iv.
■ ' ■ littus, Hylqi Hjla, omne fonaret.
ECL. VI
For
ii8 THE LUSIAD. Book HI-
For thee the rivers figh their groves among,
And funeral murmurs wailing, roll along j
Their fwelling tears o'erflow the wide campaign -,
With floating heads, for thee, the yellow grain,
For thee the willow bowers and copfes weep,
As their tall boughs lie trembling on the deep ;
Adown the ftreams the tangled vine-leaves flow,
And all the landfcape wears the look of woe.
Thus o'er the wondering world thy glories fpread,
And thus thy mournful people bow the head -,
While fliill, at eve, each dale Alonzo fighs.
And, oh, Alonzo ! every hill replies ;
And fl:ill the mountain ecchoes trill the lay.
Till blufliing morn brings on the noifeful day.
The youthful Sanco to the throne fucceeds,
Already far renown'd for valorous deeds -,
Let Betis' tinged with blood his prowefs tell,
And Beja's lawns, where boaflful Afric fell.
Nor lefs when king his martial ardour glows.
Proud Sylves' royal walls his troops enclofe !
Fair Sylves' lawns the Moorifli peafant plough'd.
Her vineyards cultured, and her valleys fow'd;
But Lifbon's monarch reapt. The winds of ^ heaven
Roar'd high — and headlong by the tempefl: driven,
' The Portuguefe, in their wars with the Englifh and German crufades. In the pre-
Moors, were fcveral times aflifted by the fent inftance the fleet was moftly Englifh,
the
Book III. THE L U S I A D. 119
In Tagus' breaft a gallant navy fought
The fheltermg port, and glad afTiflance brought.
The warlike crew, by Frederic the Red,
To refcue Judah's proflrate land were led j
When Guido's troops, by burning thirft fubdued.
To Saladine the foe for mercy fued.
Their vows were holy, and the caufe the fame,
To blot from Europe's fliores the Moorifh name.
In Sanco's caufe the gallant navy joins,
And royal Sylves to their force refigns.
Thus fent by heaven a foreign naval band
Gave Liibon's ramparts to the Sire's command.
Nor Moorifli trophies did alone adorn
The Hero's name 5 in warlike camps though born.
Though fenced with mountains, Leon's martial race
Smile at the battle-fign, yet foul difgrace
To Leon's haughty fons his fword atchieved 5
Proud Tui's neck his fervile yoke received;
And far around falls many a wealthy town,
G valiant Sanco, humbled to thy frown.
While thus his laurels flourifh'd wide and fair
He dies : Alonzo reigns, his much-loved heir.
the troops of which nation were, according Silves. Nuniz cfe Lesn as crenicMS dot Rett
to agreement, rewarded with the plunder, de Port*
which was exceeding rich, of the city of
Alcazar
h20 THE L U S I A D. Book III.
Alcazar lately conquer'd from' the Moor,
Reconquer'd, flreams with the defenders' gore.
Alonzo dead, another Sanco reigns :
Alas, with many a figh the land complains !
Unlike his Sire, a vain unthinking boy,
His fervants now a jarring fway enjoy.
As his the power, his were the crime s of thofe
Whom to difpenfe that facred power he chofe.
By various counfels waver'd and confufed.
By feeming friends, by various arts abufed^
Long undetermined, blindly rafh at laft,
Enraged, unmann'd, untutored by the paft.
Yet not like Nero, cruel and unjuft.
The flave capricious of unnatural luft.
Nor had he fmiled had flames confumed his Troy 5
Nor could his people's groans afford him joy 3
Nor did his woes from female manners fpring.
Unlike the ^ Syrian, or Sicilia's king.
No hundred cooks his coflly meal prepared.
As heapt the board when Rome's proud tyrant ' fared.
Nor dared the artifl hope his ear to 'gain.
By new-form'd arts to point the flings of pain.
8 Unlike the Sylvian Saidinapalus. Heliogabalus, inFamous for his gluttony.
*• :• ■ ■ When Rome* s proud tyrant far^d,--- * Alluding to the hiHory of Phalaris.
But
Book III.
THE L U S I A D.
121
But proud and high the Lufian fpirit foar'd,
And afk'd a godlike hero for their Lord.
To none accuftom'd but an hero's fway.
Great mufl he be whom that bold race obey.
Complaint, loud murmur'd, every city fills.
Complaint, loud murmur'd, vibrates through the hills.
Alarm'd, Bolonia's warlike Earl * awakes.
And from his liftlefs brother's minions takes
The awful fceptre Soon was joy reflored.
And foon, by juft fucceflion, Lifbon's Lord,
Beloved, Alonzo named the bold, he reigns -,
Nor may the limits of his Sire's domains
* Camoens, who was quite an enthufiaft
for the honour of his country, has in this
inftance difguifed the truth of hiftory. Don
Sancho was by no means the weak Prince
here reprefented, nor did the miferies of his
reign proceed from himfelf. The clergy
'Were the fole authors of his and the public
calamities. The Roman See was then in
the height of its power, which it exerted in
the moft tyrannical manner. The eccle-
fiaftical courts had long claimed the fole
Jight to try an ecclefiaftic, and to prohibit
a Prieft to fay mafs for a twelvemonth, was
by the brethren his judges, efteemed a fuf-
iicient punilhment for murder, or any other
capital crime. Alonzo II. the father of
Don Sancho, attempted to eftablifli the au-
thority of the King's courts of juftice over
the offending Clergy. For this the Arch-
l}ifhop of Braga excommunicated Gcnzalo
Mendez.-, the Chancellor, and Honorius the
Pope excommunicated the King, and put
his dominions under an interdift. The ex-
terior offices of Religion were fufpended,
the vulgar fell into the utmoft diflblutenefs
of manners; Mahommedifm made great ad-
vances, and public confufion every where
prevailed. By this policy the Holy Church
conftrained the nobility to urge the King to
a full fubmiffion to the Papal chair. While
a negotiation for this purpofe was on foot
Alonzo died, and left his fon to ftruggle
with an enraged and powerful Clergy. Don
Sancho wasjuft, affable, brave, and an en-
amoured hulband. On this lail virtue fac-
tion firft fixed its envenomed fangs. The
Queen was accufed of arbitrary influence
over herhufband, and, according to the fu-
perllition of that age, fhe was believed to
have difturbed his fenfes .by an enchanted
draught. Such of the nobility as declared
in the King's favour were ftigmatized, and
rendered odious, as the creatures of the
Queen. The confufions which enfued were
fomented by Alonzo, Earl of Bolognc, the
King's brother, by whom the King was ac-
cufed as the author of them. In fhort, by
the affiltancc of the Clergy and Pope Inno-
eent IV. Sancho was depofed, and foon after
he died at Toledo. The beautiful Queen,
Donna Meiuia, was feized upon, and con-
veyed away by one Raymond Portocanerc,
and was never lieard of more. Such are the
triumphs of Faftion !
R
Confine
122
THE L U S I A D. Book III.
Confine his mounting fpirit. When he led
His fmiling Confort to the bridal bed,
Algarbia's realm, he faid, fhall prove thy dower^
7/| And foon Algarbia conquer'd own'd his power.
The vanquifli'd Moor with total rout expell'd,
All Lufus' fhores his might unrivall'd held.
And now brave Diniz reigns, whofe noble fire
Befpoke the genuine lineage- of his Sire.'
Now heavenly peace wide waved her olive bough.
Each vale difplay'd the labours of the plough
And fmiled with joy : the rocks on every Ihore
Refound the dafhing of the merchant-oar.
Wife laws are form'd, and conftitutions weigh'd,
And the deep-rooted bafe of Empire laid.
Not Ammon's fon with larger heart beftow'd.
Not fuch the grace to him the Mufes owed.
From Helicon the Mufes wing their way,
Mondego's flowery banks invite tlieir flay.
Now Coimbra fliines Minerva's proud abode ;,
And fired with joy, Parnaflus' bloomy God
Beholds another dear-loved Athens rife,
And fpread her laurels in indulgent Ikies ;
Her wreatli of laurels ever green he twines
With threads of gold, and Baccaris ^ adjoins.
^ The Baccntisy or Lady's glove, an «'■ . ■ ■ Batcarejrontem
herb to which the Druids and aacient Poets Cingite^ ne vati noceat mala lingua future.
aCcribed magical virtues. Vi.(iG. Ed. VII,
Here
Booic III. THE LUSIAD. 123
Here caftle walls in warlike grandeur lour,
Here cities fwell and lofty temples tower :
In wealth and grandeur each with other vies >
When old and loved the parent-monarch dies.
His fon, alas, remife in filial deeds.
But wife in peace and bold in fight, fucceeds,
The fourth Alonzo : Ever arm'd for war
He views the ftern Cafleel with watchful care.
Yet when the Lybian nations croft the main.
And fpread their thoufands o'er the fields of Spain,
The brave Alonzo drew his awful fteel
And fprung to battel for the proud CafteeL
When Babel's haughty Emprefs bared the fword.
And o'er Hydafpes' lawns her legions pour'd ;
When dreadful Attila, to whom was ' given
That fearful name, the Scourge of angry heaven.
The fields of trembling Italy o'erran
With many a Gothic tribe and northern clan 5
Not fuch unnumber'd banners then were feen.
As now in fair Tartefia's dales convene ;
Numidia's bow and Mauritania's fpeai*.
And all the might of Hagar's race was here j
' Attila, a king of the Huns, furnamed century. He may be reckoned among the
The Scourge of God. He lived in the fifth greateft conquerors.
R 2 Granada's
124 THE L U S I A D. Book IIL
Granada's mongrels join their numerous hoft.
To thofe who dared the feas from Lybia's coaft*
Awed by the fury of fuch ponderous force
The proud Caflilian tries each hoped refource ;
Yet not by terror for himfelf infpired,
For Spain he trembled, and for Spain was- fired^ •'
His much -loved bride his meflenger he " fends.
And to the hoflile Lufian lowly bends.
The much -loved daughter of the King implored,.
Now fues her father for her wedded Lord.
The beauteous dame approach'd the palace gate,
Where her great Sire was throned in regal flate :
On her fair face deep-fettled grief appears.
And her mild eyes were bathed in gliilening tears -^
Her carelefs ringlets, as a mourner's, flow
Adown her fhoulders and her breafta of fnow :;
A fecret tranfport through the father ran,
\V^hile thus, in llghs, the royal bride began :
And know'ft thou not, O warlike King, fhe cry'd.
That furious Afric pours her peopled tide j
Her barbarous nations o'er the fields of Spain ?
Morocco's Lord commands the dreadful train.
*" His much-loved bride The Prlncefs his miftreffcs, though he owed his crown to
Mary. She was a Lady of great beauty the affillance of his father-in-law, the king
and virtue, but was exceedingly ill ufed by of Portugal,
her hafijand, who was violently attached to
Ne'er
Book III. , THE L tU SI A D. 125
Ne'er fince the furges bathed the circling coaft,
Beneath one ftandard march'd fo dread an hofl :
Such the dire fiercenefs of their brutal rage.
Pale are our braveft youth as palfied age.
By night our father's fhades confefs their " fear,
Their fhrieks of terror from the tombs we hear :
To ftem the rage of thefe unnumber'd bands,
Alone, O Sire, my gallant hufband flands j
His little hofl alone their breafls^ oppofe
To the barb'd dart-s of Spain's innumerous foes :
Then hafte, O Monarch, thou whofe conquering fpear
Has chill'd Malucca's fultry waves with fear ;
Hafle to the refcue of diftrefs'd Calleel,
(Oh ! be that fmile thy dear afFeftion's feal \)
And fpeed, my father, ere my hufband's fate
Be fixt, and I, deprived of regal ftate.
Be left in captive folitude forlorn,
My fpoufe, my kingdom, and my birth to mourn.
In tears, and trembling, fpoke the filial queen.
So lofl in grief was lovely Venus ° feen,
^ "By night our fathers^ Jhacks confefs their fear i terrible an army. The French tranflator,
^r heir Jhrieks of terror fromthetornbs'we hear. contrary to the original, afcribes this terror
Camoens fays, " A mortos fa25 efpanto," to the ghoft of only one Prince, by which
to give this elegance in Engliih required a this ftroke of Camoens, in the fpirit of
paraphrafe. There is fomething wildly Shakefpeare, is reduced to a piece of unmean-
great, and agreeable to the fuperllition of ing frippery.
* Sec the firft ^^neid.
When
that age, to fuppofe that the dead were trou-
bled in their grave?, on \W: approach of fo
126 THE L U S I A D. Book IH.
When Jove, her Sire, the beauteous mourner pray'd
To grant her wandering fon the promifed aid.
Great Jove v^^as moved to hear the fair deplore, - -
Gave all fhe alk'd, and grieved Ihe alk'd no more. I
So grieved Alonzo's noble heart. And now
The warrior binds in fteel his awful brow ;
The glittering fquadrons march in proud array,
On burnifh'd fhields the trembling fun-beams play :
The blaze of arms the warlike rage infpires.
And wakes from flothful peace the hero's fires.
With trampling hoofs Evora's plains rebound,
And fprightly neighings eccho far around j
Far on each fide the clouds of dufl: arife,
K.^ f The drum's rough rattling rowls along the fkies ;
The trumpet's fhrilly clangor founds alarms.
And each heart burns, and ardent pants for arms.
Where their bright blaze the royal enfigns pour'd.
High o'er the reft the great Alonzo tower'd -,
High o'er the reft was his bold front admired,
And his keen eyes new warmth, new force infpired.
Proudly he march'd, and now in Tarif 's plain
The two Alonzoes join their martial train :
Right to the foe, in battle-rank updrawn.
They paufe — the mountain and the wide-fpread lawn
Afford not foot-room for the crowded foe :
Awed with the horrors of the lifted blow
Pale
Book III. THE L U S I A D. 127
Pale look'd our bravefl heroes. Swell'd with pride.
The foes already conquer'd Spain divide.
And lordly o'er the field the promifed vidlors ftride.
So flrode in Elah's vale the towering height
Of Gath's proud champion -, fo with pale affright
The Hebrews trembled, while with impious pride
The large-limb'd foe the fhepherd boy defy'd :
The valiant boy advancing fits the firing.
And round his head he whirls the founding fling ;
The monfler flaggers with the forceful wound.
And his huge bulk lies groaning on the ground.
Such impious fcorn the Moor's proud bofom fwell'd.
When our thin fquadrons took the battle-field -,
Unconfcious of the Power who led us on.
That Power whofe nod confounds th' infernal throne -,
Led by that Power, the brave Caflilian bared
The fhining blade, and proud Morocco dared ;
His conquering brand the Lufian hero drew,
And on Granada's fons refifllefs flew ;
The lances rattle and the fplinters fmg,
And the broad faulchions on the bucklers ring :
With piercing fhrieks the Moors their Prophet's name,
And ours their guardian Saint aloud acclaim.
Wounds gufh on wounds, and blows refound to blows,
A lake of blood the level plain o'erflows -,
The
128 THE L U S I A D. Book III.
The wounded gafping in the purple tide,
Now find the death the fword but half fupplied.
Though '^ wove and quilted by their Ladies' hands,
Vain were the mail-plates of Granada's bands.
With fuch dread force the Lufian rulh'd along,
Steep d in red carnage lay the boaftful throng.
Yet now difdainful of fo light a prize,
Sheer o'er the field the thundering hero flies j
And his bold arm the brave Caftilian joins
In dreadful confli6l with the Moorifh lines.
The parting Sun now pour'd the ruddy l)laze,
And twinkUng Veiper fhot his fiivery rays
Athwart the gloom, and clofed the glorious day, ' ') (} Q
When low in duft the flrength of Afric lay.
Such dreadful flaughter of the boaftful Moor
Never on battle-field was heap'd before ;
-Not he whofe childhood vow'd eternal hate
And defperate war againft the Roman ftate:
Though three ftrong Courfers bent beneath the weight
Of rings of gold, by many a Roman Knight,
s Though ivo've-'It may perhaps be ob- a participle in place of the harfh founding
jedled, that this is ungrammatical. But nvonjen, a word almoft incompatible with
--- the elegance of verfification. The more
Qucm panes arbitrium eft, et jus et norma loquendi. harmonious word ought therefore to to be
ufed ; and ufe will afcextain its definition in
and Dryden, Pope, &c. often ufe ivove as grammar.
Erewhile,
.Book III. THE L U S I A D.
Erewhile, the badge of rank diftinguifh'd, worn,
From their cold hands at Cannae's flaughter torn j
Not his dread fword befpread the reeking plain
With fuch wide ftreams of gore, and hills of flain;
Nor thine, O Titus, to the Stygian coaft,
From blood-flain'd Salem fent fo many a ghofl ;
Though ages ere fhe fell, the Prophets old
The dreadful fcene of, Salem's fall foretold,
In words that breathe wild horror : Nor the fhore.
When carnage choak'd the flream, fo fmoak'd with gore,
When Marius' fainting legions drank the flood.
Yet warm and purpled with Ambronian ''blood;
Not fuch the heaps as now the plains of Tarif ftrew'd.
While glory thus Alonzo's name adorn'd.
To Lifbon's fhores the happy Chief return'd.
In glorious peace and well-deferved repofe.
His courfe of fame, and honoured age to clofe.
When now, O king, a Damfel's fate ' fevere,
A fate which ever claims the woful tear,
izg
\
*! When the foldiers of Marius com-
plained of thirft, he pointed to a river near
the camp of the Ambrones; there, fays he,
you may drink, but it muft be purchafed
with blood. Lead us on, they replied, that
we may have fomething li<|uid, though it
be blood. The Romans forcing their way
to the river, the channel was filled with the
-dead bodies of the flain. Vid. Plut.
■■ This unfortunate lady, Donna I/jez de
-Cafirc, was tlie daughter of a Caftilian gen-
tleman, who had taken refuge in the court
X)f Portugal. Her beauty and accomplifhments
attrafted the regard of Don Pedro, the king's
'Cldeft fon, a prince of a brave and noble dif-
pofition. La Veuf'vlUe, Le Clede, and other
hiftorians, affert, that fhe was privately mar-
ried to the prince ere flie had any fliare in his
bed.Norwas his conjugal fidelity lefs remark-
lible than the ardour of his paffion. Afraid,
however, of his father's refentment, the fe-
verity of whofe temper he knew, his inter-
courfe with Donna Inez pafled at the court
as an intrigue of gallantry. Gn tiae acceffion
of Don Pedro the Cruel to the throne of
Cajiile, many of the difgufted nobility
were kindly received by Don Pedro, thro'
the intereft of his beloved Inez. The fa-
vour fliewn to thefe Callilians gave great
uneafinefs to the politicians. A thou-
S /and
130
THE LUSIAb. Book in.
Difgraced his honours On the Nymph's loin head '
Relentlefs rage its bitterefl rancour fhed :
Yet fuch the zeal her princely" lover bore^
Her breathlefs corfe the crown of li&on wore,
'Twas thou, O Love, whofe dreaded fhafts coritroul
The hind's rude heart, and tear the hero's foul 5
Thou ruthlefs power, with bloodlhed never cloyedj^
'Twas thou thy lovely votary deftroyed. '1 hfV'
Thy thiril ftill burning for a deeper woe.
In vain to thee the tears of beauty flow ;
The breaft that feels thy pureft flames divine,.
With fpouting gore mufl bathe thy cruel fhrine.
Such thy dire triumphs ! — Thou, O Nymph, the while.
Prophetic of the god's unpitying guile.
In tender fcenes by love-fick fancy wrought,
i
By fear oft fhifted as by fancy brought.
In fweet Mondego's ever-verdant bowers,
Languifh'd away the flow and lonely hours :
While now, as terror waked thy boding fears.
The confcious ftream received thy pearly tears j,
And now, as hope revived the brighter flame.
Each eccho figh'd thy princely lover's name.
Nor lefs could abfence from thy prince remove
The dear remembrance of his diftant love :
fand evils were forefeen from the Prince's Tnez, finding the king willing to liften,,
attachment to his CalHlian miftrefs : omitted no opportunity to increafe his re-
even the murder of his children by his fentment againfl the unfortunate, Iady.\ The
deceafed fpoufe, the princefs Conftantia^ prince was about his 28th year when his
was furmifed: .and the enemies of Donna amour with bis beloved. Incacommenced.
Thy
Book III. THE L U S I A D. 131
Thy looks, thy fmiles, ftill meet his ravifh'd eyes,
And all thy beauteous charms before him rife :
By night his {lumbers bring thee to his arms,
By day his thoughts ftill wander o'er thy charms :
By night, by day, each thought thy loves employ,
Each thought the memory or the hope of joy.
Though faireft princely dames invok'd his love.
No princely dame his conftant faith could move :
For thee alone his conftant paffion burn'd,
For thee the profFer'd royal maids he fcorn'd.
Ah, hope of blifs too high — the princely dames
Refufed, dread rage the father's breaft inflames ^
He, vv^ith an old man's wintery eye, furveys
The youth's fond love, and coldly with it weighs *
The peoples' murmurs of his fon's delay
To blefs the nation with his nuptial day.
(Alas, the nuptial day was paft unknown,
Which but when crown'd the prince could dare to own.)
And with the Fair One's blood the vengeful lire
Hefolves to quench his Pedro's faithful fire.
Oh, thou dread fword, oft ftain'd with heroes' gore,
Thou awful terror of the proftrate Moor,
What rage could aim thee at a female breaft,
Unarm'd, by foftnefs and by love poffeft !
Dragg'd from her bower by murderous ruffian hands,
Before the frowning king fair Inez ftandsj
S 2 Her
132 THE L U S I A D. Book III.
Her tears of artlefs innocence, her ak
So mild, fo lovely, and her face fo fair.
Moved the flern Monarch -, when with eager zeal
Her fierce Deftroyers urged the public weal^
Dread rage again the Tyrant's foul pofTeft,
And his dark brow his cruel thoughts confeft ;
O'er her fair face a fudden palenefs fpread.
Her throbbing heart with generous anguifh bled^
Anguifh to view her lover's hopelefs woes,
And all the mother in her bofom rofe..
Her beauteous eyes in trembling tear-drops drown'd^
To heaven fhe lifted, for her hands were ' bound y
Then on her infants turn'd the piteous glance,,
The look of bleeding woe j the babes advance,.
Smiling in innocence of infant age,
Unawed, unconfcious of their grandfire's rage ;;
To whom, as burfliag forrow gave the flow,.
The native heart-fprung eloquence of woe,
The lovely captive thus: — ■ O Monarch, hear,.
If e'er to thee the name of man was dear.
If prowling tygers, or the the wolf 's wild brood;,
Infpired by nature with the lull of blood,
Have yet been moved the weeping babe to fparjs^".
Nor left, but tended, with a nurfe's care.
* jiJ ccelumtendens ardentia luminafrufirai.
Lumina nam teneras arccbant vincula palmas,
ViRG, ^N. 2.
Book III. THE L U S I A D. 133
As Rome*s great founders to the world were given -,
Shalt thou, who wear'fl the facred (lamp of heaven.
The human form divine, fhalt thou deny-
That aid, that pity, which e'en beatls fupply !
Oh, that thy heart were, as thy looks declare,.
Of human mould, fuperfluous were my prayer ;,
Thou could'ft not then a helplefs damfel flay,
Whofe fole offence in fond afFe6lion lay.
In faith to him who firft his love confefl.
Who firfl to love allured her virgin breafl.
In thefe my babes fhalt thou thine image fee,,
And flill tremendous hurl thy rage on me ?
Me, for their fakesj if yet thou wilt not fpare,.
Oh, let thefe infants prove thy pious "care.L "
^ It has been obferved by fome critics, the attention of the world. Taflb and'
riiat Milton on every occafion is fond of Spenfer have copied from his Ifland of
exprelTing his admiration of mufic, particu- Blifs, and three tragedies have been formed
larly of the fong of the Nightingale, and from this Epifode of the unhappy Inez. One
the full woodland choir. If in the fame in Englifh, by Mr. Mallet — but of this
manner we are to judge of the favourite talle we need fay nothing : it is one of tlie many
of Homer, we Ihall find it of a lefs delicate neglefted unfufferable loads of unanimated
kind. He is continually defcribing the dulnefs, which, though honoured with the
feaft, the huge chine, the favoury viands approbation of Mr. Garrick, have difgraced
on the glowing coals, and the foaming the Englifh theatre, and rendered Modern
bowl. The ruling paffion of Camoens is Tragedy a name of contempt. The other
alfo ftrongly marked in his writings. One two are by M. de la Motte, and Luis Feiez
may venture to affirm, that there is no de Gue^iara, a Spaniard. How thefe dif-
poem of equal length that abounds with fo ferent writers have handled the fame fubjefl
many impaffioned encomiums on the fair is not unworthy of the attention of the critie. .
fex as the Lufiad. The genius of Camoens The tragedy of M. de la Mottr, from whicli
feems never fo pleafed as when he is paint- Mallet's Elvira is copied, is highly charac-
ing the variety of female charms, he feels all tcriilic of the French drama.. In the Lu-
the magic of their allurements, and riots in fiad the beautiful viftim exprefles the ftrong.
his defcriptions of the happinefs and mifc- emotions of genuine nature. She feels for
lies attendant on the paffion of love. As what her lover will feel for her ; the mother
he wrote from his feelings, thefe parts of his rifes in her breaft. fhe implores pity for hfer
works have been pardcularly honoured wi'Ji children ; flie feels the honors of death.
134 THE 1. U S I A D, Rook III,
Yet Pity's lenient current ever flows
From that brave breaft v^^here genuine valour glows ;
That thou art brave, let vanquirti'd Afris tell,
Then let thy pity o'er mine anguifh fwell j
Ah, let my woes, unconfcious of a crime.
Procure mine exile to fome barbarous clime :
and would be glad to wander an exile with
her babes, where her only folace would be
the remembrance of her faithful paffion.
This however, it appears, would not fuit the
tafte of a Paris audience. On the French
ftage the ftern Roman heroes mull be polite
Petit-Maitres, and the tender Inez a bluf-
tering amazon. Lee's Alexander cannot
talk in a higher rant. She not only wifhes
to die herfelf, but defires that her children
and her huiband Don Pedro may alfo be put
to deaths
He bien, feigncur, fuivez vos barbares maxiines,
On vous amcnc encor de nouvelles viflimes,
Immolez fans remords, et pour nous punir mieux,
Ces gages d'un Hymen fi coupable a vos yieux.
lis jgnorent le fang, dont Ic ciel lesa fit naitre,
Par Tarret de leur mort fakes les reconnaitre,
Confommez votre ouvrage, ct que Ics memes coups
Rejoignent les enfans, ct la femme, et repoux.
The Spaniard however has followed nature
and Camoens, and in point of poetical me-
rit his play is infinitely fuperior to that of
the Frenchman. Don Pedro talks in the
abfence of his miftrefs with the beautiful
fimplicity of an Arcadian lover, and Inez
implores the tyrant with the genuine ten-
dernefs of female affedlion and delicacy.
The reader, who is acquainted with the Spa-
nifh tongue will thank me for the following
extrad.
Ines. A mis hijos me quitais ?
Rey Don Alonfo, fenor,
Porque me quereis quitar
La vida de tantas vezes ?
Advertid, fenor mirad,
Que el cora9on a peda^os
Dividido me arancais
Rej, Llevaldos, Alvar Gonjalez.
Ines, Hijos mios, donde vals ?
Donde vais fm vueftra madre ?
Falta en los hombres piedad?
Adonde vais luzes mais ?
Como, que affi me dexais
En el mayor defconfuelo
En manos de la crueldad.
Kino Alfon. Confuelate madre mia,
Y a Dios te puedas quedar.
Que vamos con nueftro abuelo,
Y no querra hazernas mal.
Ines, Poflible es, fenor, Rey mio.
Padre, que anfi me cerreis
La puerta para el perdon ?
Aora, fenor, aora,
Aora es tiempo de monftrar
El mucho poder que tiene
Vueftra real Mageftad.
* * * *
Como, fenor ? vos os vais
Y a Alvar Gon9alez, y a Coello
Inhumanos me entregais ?
Hijos, hijos de mi vida,
Dexad me los abra9ar ;
Alonfo, mi vida hijo,
Dionis, a mores, tornad,
Tornad a ver vueftra madre :
Pedro mio, donde eftas
Que anfi te olvidas de mi ?
Poffiblc es que en tan to mal
Me falta tu vifta, efpofo ?
Quien te pudiera avifar
Del peligro en que afligida
Dona Ines tu efpofa cfta.
The drama, from which thefe extrafls are
taken, is entitled, Reynar dejpues de morn:
Give
Book IIL THE L U S I A D.
Give me to wander o'er the burning plains
Of Libya's defarts, or the wild domains
Of Scythia's fnow-clad rocks and frozen fliore.
There let me, hopelefs of return, deplore :
Where ghaftly horror fills the dreary vale.
Where fhrieks and bowlings die on every gale.
The lions roaring, and the tygers yell.
There with mine infant race, confign'd to dwells
There let me try that piety to find,
In vain by Me implored from human kind :
There in fome dreary cavern's rocky womb,
Amid the horrors of fepulchral gloom,.
For him whofe love I mourn, my love Ihall glow.
The figh fhall murmur, and the tear fhall flow :
All my fond wifb, and all my hope, to rear
Thefe infant pledges of a love fo dear,
Amidft my griefs a foothing glad employ,
Amidft my fears a woful, hopelefs joy.
In tears fhe utter'd — as the frozen fnow
Touch'd by the fp ring's mild ray, begins to flow.
So jufl: began to melt his fl:ubborn foul
As mild-ray'd Pity o'er the Tyrant ftole ,
But deftiny forbade : with eager zeal.
Again pretended for the public weal,.
i^S
Her
136 THE L U S IAD. Book III.
Her fierce accufers urged her fpeedy doom j
Again dark rage difFufed its horrid gloom
O'er ftern Alonzo's brow : fwift at the lign,
Their fwords unfheathed around her brandifli'd fhine.
O foul difgrace, of knighthood lafting ftain.
By men of arms an helplefs lady ' flain !
Thus Pyrrhus, burning with unmanly ire,
FulfiU'd the mandate of his furious fire ;
Difdainful of the frantic matron's prayer.
On fair Polyxena, her lafl fond care,
He rufh'd, his blade yet warm with Priam's gore,
And dafh'd the daughter on the facred floor 5
While mildly Ihe her raving mother eyed,
Refign'd her bofom to the fword, and died.
Thus Inez, while her eyes to heaven appeal,
Refigns her bofom to the murdering fteel :
' To give the charafter of Alphonfo IV.
will throw light on this inhuman tnanfaftion.
He was an undutiful fon, an unnatural bro-
ther, and a cruel father ; a great and for-
tunate warrior, diligent in the execution of
the laws, and a Macbanjilion politician.
That good might be attained by villainous
means, was his favourite maxim. When
the enemies of Inez had perfuaded him that
her death was neceffary to the welfare of the
ftate, he took a journey to Cnimbray that
he might fee the lady, when the prince his
fon was abfent on a hunting party. Donna
Jnez with her children threw herfelf at his
feet. The king was moved with the dif-
trefs of the beautiful fuppliant, when his
three counfellors, Al-varo Gonfalez, Dieg0
Lopez Pacheco, and Pedro Coello, reproach-
ing him for his disregard to the ftate, he
rclapfed to his former refolution. She was
dragged from his prefence. and brutally
murdered by the hands of his three counfel-
lors, who immediately returned to the king
with their daggers reeking with the inno-
cent blood of the princefs his daughter-in-
law. Alonzo, fays La Ncufruille, avowed
the horrid aflaffination, as if he had done
nothing for which he ought to be afhamed.
That
r-
Book IIL T H E L U S I A D. 3371
That fnowy neck, whofe matchlefs form fuftain'd
The loveliefl face where all the Graces reign'd,
Whofe charms fo long the gallant Prince inflamed.
That her pale corfe was Lifbon's queen proclamed,
That fnowy neck was ftain'd with fpouting gore.
Another fword her lovely bofom tore.
The flowers that gliften'd with her tears bedew'd,
Now flirunk and languifli'd with her blood imbrew'd.
As when a rofe, ere while of bloom fo gay,
Thrown from the careiefs virgin's breaft away,
Lies faded on the plain, the living red,
The fnowy white, and all its fragrance fled;
So from her cheeks the rofes dy'd away,
And pale in death the beauteous Inez lay:
With dreadful fmiles, and crimfon'd with her blood,
Round the wan vi(5tim the ftern murderers ftood,
Unmindful of the fure, though future hour,
Sacred to vengeance and her Lover's power.
O Suuj couldft thou fo foul a crime behold.
Nor veil thine head in darknefs, as of old ^
A fudden night unwonted horror caft
O'er that dire banquet, where the fire's repaft
The fon's torn limbs fupplied ! — Yet you, ye vales.!
Ye diftant forefts, and ye flowery dales!
T When
138
THE
L U S I A D.
Book III.
When pale and finking to the dreadful fall,
You heard her quivering lips dn Pedro call ;
Your faithful echoes caught the parting founds
And Pedro ! Pedro ' mournful, %h'd around.
Nor lefs the wood-nymphs of Mondego's groves
Bewail'd the memory of her haplefs loves :
Her griefs they wept, and to a plaintlive rill
Transformed their tears, which weeps and murmurs ftilL
To give immortal pity to her woe
They taught the rivlet Ithroligh 'jicr bdwers to flow,
Arid ftill through violet beds the fountain pourfe
Its " plaintive wailing, and is named Amours.
Nor long her blood for vengeance cry'd in vain :
Her gallant Lord begins his awful reign,
In vain her murderers for refuge fly,
Spain's wildeft hills no place of reft fupply.
The injur'd Lover's and the Monarch's ire,
And ftern-brow'd Juftice in their doom confpire :
In hiffing flames they die, and yield their fouls in ' fire.
■* At an old royal caftle near Mondego,
j^^e is a rivulet called the fcAmtain of
Amours. According to tradition, it was
here that Don Pedro refidcd with his beloved
Inez. The fiftion of Camoens, founded on
the popular name of the rivulet, is in the
fpirit of Homer.
* When the Prince was informed of the
death of his beloved Inez, he was tranf-
ported into the moi^ violent fury. He took
arms again ft his father. The country be-
tween the rivers Minho and Doura was laid
ilefolate ; but by die interpofition of the
Queen and the Archbifhop of Braga the
Prince releiited, and the further horrors of
a civil war were prevented. Don Alonzo
was not only reconciled to his fon, but la-
boured by every means to oblige him, and
to efface from his memory the injury and in-
fult he had received. The Prince, how-
ever, ftill continued to difcover the ftrongeft
marks of afFeftion and grief. When he
fucceeded to the crown, one of his firft afts
was a treaty with the King of Caftile, where-
by each Monarch engaged to give up fuch
malcontents, as fhould take refuge in each
other's
Book III. THE L j; S I A D.
Nor this alone his ftedfaft foul difplay'd :
Wide o'er the land he waved the awful blade
Of red-arm'd Juflice. From the fhades of night
He dragg'd the foul adulterer to light :
The robber from his dark retreat was led,
And he, who fpilt the blood of murder, bled.
^9
other''s dominions. In confequence of this,
Pei/ro Coello and Al'varo Gon/alez.^ who, on
the death of Alonzo, had fled to Caftile,
were fent prifoners to Don Pedro. Diego
Pecheco, the third murderer, made his ef-
cape. The other two were put to death
with the moft exquifite tortures, and moft
juftly merited, if exquifite torture is in any
inftance to be allowed. After this the King,
Don Pedro, fummoned an aflembly of the
ftates at Cantunedes. Here, in the prefence
of the Pope's nuncio, he folemnly fwore on
the holy Gofpels, that having obtained a
difpenfation from Romcy he had fecretly, at
Braganxa, efpoufed the Lady Inex de Cajiro.,
in the prefence of the Birfiop of Guarda,
and of his mailer of the wardrobe ; both of
whom confirmed the truth of the oath. The
Pope's Bull, containing the difpenfation,
was publiihed ; the body of Inez was lifted
from the grave, was placed on a magnifi-
cent throne, and with the proper Regalia,
crowned Queen of Portugal. The nobility
did homage to her flceleton, and kiflid the
bones of her hand. The corps was then
intered at the royal mo nailery of Alceba^a,
with a pomp before unknown in Portugal,
and with all the honours due to a Queen.
Her monument is Hill extant, where her
ilatue is adorned with the diadem and the
royal robe. This, with the legitimation of
her children, and the care he took of all
who had been in her fervice, confoled him
in fome degree, and rendered him more
converfable than he had hitherto been ; but
the cloud which the death of his Inez brought
over the natural cheerfulnefs of his temper,
was never totally difperfed. A circum-
ftance flrongly charafteriftic of the rage of
"his refentment muft not be omitted. When
the murderers were brought before him, he
was fo tranfported with indignation, that
' he ftruck Pedro Coello feveral blows on the
face with the- Ihaft of his whip. Some
grave writers have branded this a£lion as
unworthy of the Magiflrate and the Hero ;
thofe who will, may add, of the Philofophcr
too : Something greater however belongs to
Don Pedro : A regard which we do not feel
for any of the three, will, in fevcry bofom,
capable of genuine love, infpire a tender
fympathy for the agonies of his heart, when
the prefence of the inhuman murderers pre-
fented to his mind the horrid fcene of the
butchery of his beloved fpoufe.
The imprefTion left on the philofophic^
mind by thefe hiftorical fads, will naturally
fuggeil fome refledions on human nature.
Every man is proud of being thought ca-
pable of love ; and none more fo than thofe
who have the leall title to the name of Lover ;
thofe whom the French call Les hommes de
Galanterie, whofe only happinefs is in va-
riety, and to whom the greateft beauty and
mental accomplifhments lofe every charm
after a few months enjoyment. Their fa-
tiety they fcruple not to confefs, but are not
aware, that in doing fo, they alfo confefs,
that the principle which infpired their paf-
fion was grofs, and felfifh. To conftitute a
genuine Love, like that of Don Pedro, re-
quires a noblenefs and goodnefs of heart,
totally incompatible with an ungenerous
mind. The youthful fever of the veins
may, for a while, infpire an attachment to
a particular objedl ; but an afFeftion fo un-
changeable and £ncere as that of the Prince
of Portugal, can only fpring from a bofom
poflefred of the finell feelings and of every
virtue.
T 2
Unmoved
I40 THE L U S I A D. Book HL
Unmoved he heard the proudeft Noble plead,
Where Juftice aim'd her fword, with ftubborn fpeed
Fell the dire ftroke. Nor cruelty infpired,
Noblefl humanity his bofom firedi
The Caitiff, flarting at his thoughts, reprefl'
The feeds of murder fpringing in his breaft.
His outflretch'd arm the lurking thief withheld,^^
For fixt as fate he knew his doom was feal'd.
Safe in his Monarch's care the Ploughman toil'd; ;
And force and violence was far exiled^
Pedro ^ the juft the peopled towns proclaim,.
And every field refounds her Monarch's nam-e..
y Pedro theJuJi—-—Yl\^ory cannot afFord
an inftance of any Prince who has a more
eminent claim to the title of juft than Pedro
I. His diligence to correal every abufe was
indefatigable, and when guilt was proved
his juftice was inexorable. He was dread-
ful to the evil, and beloved by the good,
for he refpefted no perfons, and his inflex-
ible feverity never digrcfled from the line of
llridl juftice. An anecdote or two will throw
■feme light on his chara(Eler. A Prieft having
killed a Mafon, the king diflembled his
knowledge of the crime, and left the iflue
to the Ecclefiaftical Court, where the Prieft
was punifhed by one year's fufpenfion from
faying mafs. The king on this privately
</rdered the Mafon's fon to revenge the mur-
der of his father. The young man obeyed,
was apprehended, and condemned to death.
When his fentence was to be confirmed by
the king, Pedro enquired, what was the
young man's trade. He was anfwered, that
he followed his father's. Well then, faid
tl>e king, I {hall commute his punifhmens,
andinterdift him from meddling with ftone
or mortar for a twelvemonth. After this he
fully eftablilhed the authority of the king's
courts over the Clergy, whom he punifhed
with death when their crimes were capital.
When folicited to refer the caufes of fuch
criminals to a higher tribunal, he would an-
fwer very calmly. That is what I intend to
do : I will fend them to the higheft of
all tribunals, to that of their Maker and
mine. Againft Adulterers he was parti-
cularly fevere, often declaring it his opi-
nion, that conjugal infidelity was the fource
of the greateft evils, and that therefore
to reftrain it was the intereft and duty of
the Sovereign. Though the fate of his be-
loved Inez chagrined and foured his temper,
he was fo far from being naturally fullerr
or paffionate, that he was rather of a gay
and fprightly difpofiticn, aftable and eafy
of accefs ; delighted in mufic and dancing ;
a lover of learning, was hlmfelf a man of
letters, and an elegant Poet. Vide Le
Cledey Mariana y. Favia.
Of
Book III.
THE L U S I A D.
141
Of this brave Prince the foft degenerate fon,
Fernando the remifs^ afcends the throne.
With arm unnerved the liftlefs foldier lay
And own'd the influence of a nervelefs fway:
The ftern Caflilian drew the vengeful brandy
And ftrode proud vi6tor o'er the trembling land.
How terrible the hour, when heaven, in rage.
Thunders its vengeance on a guilty age !
Unmanly floth the King, the nation ftain'd ;
And lewdnefs fofter'd by the Monarch reign'd :
The Monarch own'd that firft of crimes unjufl.
The wanton revels of adulterous luft :
Such was his rage for beauteous ^ Leonore,
Her from her hufband's widow'd arms he tore : :
Then with unbleft, unhallow'd nuptials flaiii'd _
The facred altar, and its rites profaned.
Alas ! the Iplendor of a crown, how vain,
From heaven's dread eye to veil the dimmeft flain !
^ This lady, named Leincra de 7'elhzy
was the wife of Don Juan Lorenzo Acugna,
a nobleman of one of the molt diftin-
guilhed families in Portugal. y\fter a fham
procefs this marriage was difTolved, and the
king privately efpoufed to her, though at
this time he was publicly married by proxy
to Donna Leonora of Arragon. A danger-
ous infurreftion, headed by one FilaJ'quezy
a taylor, drove the king and his. adulterous
bride from Lifbon. Soon after he caufed
his marriage to be publickly celebrated m
the province between the Dot&o and Mitd'n.
Henry king of Cailile, being informed of
the- general difcontent that reigned in Por-
tugal, marched a formidable army into that
kingdom, to revenge the injury offered to
fbme of his fubje»!ls, whofe fhips had been
unjuftly feized at Lifbon. The defolation
hinted at by Camoens enfued. After the
fubjeds of both kingdoms had fevercly fuf-
fered, the two kings ended the war, much
to their mutual faiisfadion, by an iut;.r-
inarriiige of tlielj ixidurd >.lilklrin
To
142 THE L U S I A D. Book III.
To conquering Greece, to ruin'd Troy, what woes,
What illl^ on ills, from Helen's rape arofe !
Let Appius own, let banifh'd Tarquin tell
On their hot rage what heavy vengeance fell.
One female ravifh'd Gibeah's ftreets ' beheld,
O'er Gibeah's ftreets the blood of thoufands fwell'd
In vengeance of the crime ; and ftreams of blood
The guilt of Zion's facred bard ** purfued.
Yet Love full oft with wild delirium blinds,
And fans his bafeft fires in nobleft minds ;
The female garb the great Alcides wore,
And for his Omphale the diftaff ' bore.
For Cleopatra's fmiles the world was loft i
The Roman terror, and the Punic boaft,
Cannae's great vi6tor, for a harlot's fmile,*
Refign'd the harveft of his glorious toil.
And who can boaft. he never felt the fires,
The trembling throbbings of the young defires,
When he beheld the breathing rofes glow,
And the foft heavings of the living fnow ;
The waving ringlets of the auburn hair,
And all the rapturous graces of the Fair !
» Judges, chap. xix. attd xX. fliall never depart from thine houfe."
'' 2 Samuel, chap. iii. lo. ** The fword = Alcidem lanas mre coegit amor, Ovid.
Oh!
Book III.
THE LUSIAD.
H3
Oh ! what defence, if fixt on him, he fpy
The languid fweetnefs of the ftedfaft eye !
Ye who have felt the dear luxurious fmart.
When angel charms opprefs the powerlefs heart,
In pity here relent the brow fevere.
And o'er Fernando's weaknefs drop the tear.
To conclude the notes on this book, it
may not be unnecefTary to obferve, that Ca-
moens, in this Epifode, has happily ad-
hered to. a principal rule of the Epopea.
To paint the manners and charafters of the
age in which the aftion is placed, is as re-
quifite in the Epic Poem, as it is to preferve
the unity of the charafter of an Individual.
That gallantry of bravery and romantic caft
of the military adventures, which charac-
terifed the Spaniards and Portueuefe during
the Moorifh wars, is happily (upported by
Camoens in its moft juft and ftriking co-
lours, Jn hillory we find furprifing vic-
tories obtained over the Infidels : In the
Lufiad we find the heroes breathing that
enthufiafm which led them to conqueft, that
enthufiafm of military honours fo ftrongly
expreffed by Alonzo V. of Portugal, at the
feige of Jrz.ila. In ftorming the citadel,
the Count de Marialva, a brave old officer,
loft his life. The King leading his only
fon, the Prince Don Juan, to the body of
the Count, while the blood yet ftreamed
from his wounds ; " Behold, he cried,
that great man ! May God grant you, my
fon, to imitate his virtues. May your ho-
nour, like his, be complete !"
END OF THE THIRD BOOK.
THE
L U S I A D.
BOOK IV.
AS the toft veffel on the ocean rowls.
When dark the night, and loud the tempeft howls.
When the lorn mariner in every wave
That breaks and gleams, forbodes his watery grave ;
But when the dawn, all filent and ferene.
With foft-paced ray difpels the fhades obfcene.
With grateful tranfport fparkling in each eye,
The joyful crew the port of fafety fpy 5
Such darkling tempefts and portended fate,
While weak Fernando lived, appall'd the ftate j
Such when he dy'd, the peaceful morning rofe,
The dawn of joy, and footh'd the public woes.
U A«
146
THE
L U S I A D,
Book IV.
As blazing glorious o'er the fhades of night.
Bright in his eaft breaks forth the Lord of light.
So valiant John with dazzling blaze appears.
And from the duft his drooping nation rears.
Though fprung from youthful Paflion's wanton loves.
Great Pedro's fon in noble foul he proves ;
And' heaven announced him king by right divine,
A cradled infant gave the wondrous * lign.
Her tongue had never lifp'd the mother's name.
No word, no mimic found her lips could frame.
When heaven the miracle of fpeech infpired ;
She raifed her little hands, with- rapture fired.
Let Portugal, fhe cried, with joy proclaim
>
The brave Don John, and own her monarch's name,.
The burning fever of domeftic rage
Now wildly raved, and mark'd the barbarous age ;
^ j4 cradled infant ga've the lootidfous
Jtgn No circumftance has ever been more
ridiculed by the ancient and modern pe-
dants than Alexander's pretenfions to di-
vinity. Some of his courtiers expoftu-
lating with him one day on the abfur-
dity of fuch claim, he replied, " I know
" the truth of what you fay, but thefe,"
(pointing to a croud of Perfians) " thefe
" know no better." The report that the
Grecian army was commanded by a fon of
Jupiter fpread terror through the Eaft, and
freatly facilitated the operations of the
Conqueror. The miraculous fpeech of the
iifant, attefted by a few monks, was
adapted to the fupcrftition of the age of
John I. and as he was a baftard, was of in-
finite fervice to his caufe. The pretended
faft however is differently related. By fonte
thus : When Don John, then regent of
Portugal, was going to Coimbra, to af-
fift at an affenibly .of the ftates, at a
'little diftance from the city he was met by
a great number of children riding upon
flicks, who no fooner faw him than they
cried out, " Blcffed be Don John king of
" Portugal J the king is coming, Don
" John fliall be king." Whether this
was owing to art or accident, it had a
grciat efFed. At the aflembly the regent
.was clcfted king.
Through
Book IV. THE L U S I A D. 147
Through every rank the headlong fury ran.
And lirft red flaughter in the court began.
Of fpoufal vows and widow'd bed defiled.
Loud fame the beauteous Leanore reviled.
The adulterous noble in her prefence bled,
And torn with wounds his numerous friends lay dead.
No more thofe ghallly deathful nights amaze,
When Rome wept tears of blood in Sj^lla's days 3
More horrid deeds UlyfTes' towers beheld :
Each cruel breafl where rankling envy fwell'd,
Accufed his foe as minion of the queen -,
Accufed, and murder clofed the dreary fcene.
All holy ties the frantic tranfport braved.
Nor facred priefthood nor the altar faved.
Thrown from a tower, like He6tor's fon of yore,
The mitred " head was dafh'd with brains and gore.
Ghaflly with fcenes of death, and mangled limbs.
And black with clotted blood each pavement fwims.
With all the fiercenefs of the female ire.
When rage and grief to tear the breafl confpire,
^ The mitred head. Don Martin ^ bi- him, as of the queen's party. He waf
/hop of Lifbon, a man of an exemplary thrown from the tower of his own cathe-
life. He was by birth a Callilian, which dral, whither he had fled to avoid the po-
W3A efteemed a fufficient reafon to murder pular fury.
U 2 The
148 THE L U S I A D.
Tlie queen beheld her power, her hcmours " loft.
And ever when Die flept th' adulterer's ghofl,
All pale, and pointing at his hloody ihroud,
Seem'd ever for revenge to fcream aloud.
Book IV.
Cafteel's proud monarch to the nuptial bed
In happier days her royal daughter led.
To him the furious queen for vengeance cries,
Implores to vindicate his lawful prize,
' T'&e queen beheld her ponver, her honoun
loji — PofTefled of great beauty and great
abilities, this bad woman was a difgrace to
her fex, and a curfe to the age and country
which gave her birth. Her fifter, Donna
Maiia, a lady of unblemifhed virtue, had
been fecretly married to the infant Don
Juan, the king's brother, who was paffion-
ately attached to her. Donna Maria had
formerly endeavoured to difTuade her Mer
from the adulterous marriage with the
king. In revenge of this, the queen Leo-
nora perfuaded Don Juan that her fifter was
unfaithful to his bed. The enraged huf-
band hafted to his wife, and without en-
quiry or expoftulation, fays Mariana., dif-
patched her with two llrokes of his dagger.
He was afterwards convinced of her inno-
cence. Having facrificed her honour and
her firft hufband to a king, fays Faria,
Leonora foon facrificed that king to a
wicked gallant, a Caftilian nobleman,
named Don Juan Fernandez de Andeyro.
An unjufl war with Caftile, wherein the
the Portugaefe were defeated by fca and
lan^, was the firft fruits of the policy of
the new favourite. Andeyro one day being
\ in a great fweat by fome military excrcife,
the queen tore her veil, and publicly gave
it him to wipe his f;ice. The grand mafter
of A'vist the king's baftard brother, after-
wards John L and fome others, expoflu-
lated with her on the indecency of this be-
haviour. She diflcmbled her refentxnent,
but foon after they were fQi7.ed and commit'
ted to the cattle of E<vora, where a forged
order for their execution was fent ; but the
governor fufpe(?ting forae fraud, (hewed it
to the king. Yet fuch was her afcendency
over Fernando, that though convinced of
her guilt, he ordered his brother to kifs
the queen's hand, and thank her for his
life. Soon after Fernando died, but not
till he was fully convinced of the queen's
conjugal infidelity, and had given an order
for the affaffination of the gallant. Not
long after the death of the king, the favou-
rite Andeyro was ftabbed in the palace by
the grand matter of A--uis, and Don Ruy de
Pereyra. The queen expreffed all the tran-
fport of grief and rage, and declared Ihe
would undergo the triaJ ordeal in vindica-
tion of his and her innocence. But this
^t never performed : in her vows of re-
venge, however, fhe was more punftuaL
Don Juan king of Caftile, who had mar-
ried her only daughter and heirefs, at her
earneft entreaties invaded Portugal, and was
proclaimed king. Don John, grand matter
of A'visy was proclaimed by the people
proteftor and regent. A defperate war en-
iued. Queen Leonora, treated with indif-
ference by her daughter and fon-in-Iaw,
refolved on the murder of the latter, but
the plot was difcovered, and Ihe was fent
prifoner to Cattile. The regent was be-
fiegedin Litt3on, and the city reduced to the
utmott extremities, when an epidemical dif-
teniper broke out in the Caftilian army, and
made fuch devaftation that the king fud-
denly
Book IV,
THE LUSIAD.
J 49
The Lufian fceptre, his by fpoufal riglit ;
The proud Caflilian arms and dares the fight.
To join, his flandard as it waves along,
The vvarUke troops from various regions throng :
Thofe who poflefs the lands by Rodrick "^ given.
What time the Moor from Turia's banks was driven 3
That race who joyful fmile at war's alarms,
And fcorn each danger that attends on arms i
denly raifed the {lege, and abandoned his
views in Portugal. The happy inhabitants
afcribed their deliverance to the valour and
vigilance of the regent. The regent re-
proved their ardour, exhorted them to re-
pair to their churches, and return thanks
to God, to whofe interpofition he folely
afcribed their fafety. This behaviour in-
creafed the admiration of the people, the
nobility of the iirft rank joined the regent's
party, and many garrifons in the intereft of
the king of CalHlo opened their gates to
him. An affcmbly of the ftates met at
Coimbra, where it was propofed to invell
the regent with the regal dignity. This
he pretended to decline. Don John, fon
of Pedro the Juft, and the beautiful Inez
de Caftro, was by the people eftcemed their
lawful fovereign, but was, and had been
long detained a prifoner by the king of
Caftile. If the ftates would declare the
infant Don John their king, the regent
profcfTed his willingnefs to fwear allegiance
to him, that he would continue to expofe
himfelf to every danger, and adt as regent,
till providence reftored to Portugal her law-
ful fovereign. The ftates however faw the
necefhty that the nation Ihould have an
head. The regent was unanimoufly elefted
king, and fome articles in favour of liberty
were added to thofe agreed upon at the
coronation of Don Alonzo Enriquez, the
firft king of Portugal.
Don John I. one of the greateft of the
Portuguefe monarchs, was the natural fon
of Pedro the Juft, by Donna T'erefa Lorenza,
a Galician lady, and born fome years after
the death of Inez. At feven years of age
he was made grand mafter oi J'uis, wb*** eu^d'
he received an excellent education, which
joined to his great parts, produced him
early on the political theatre. He was a
brave commander, and a deep politician,
yet never forfeited the charafter of candour
and honour. To be humble to his friends,
and haughty to his enemies, was his leading
maxim. His prudence gained him the con-
fidence of the wife, his fteadinefs and gra-
titude the friendfhip of the brave ; his li-
berality the bulk of the people. He was in
the twenty-feventh year of his age when
declared proteftor, and in the twenty-eighth
when proclaimed king.
The following anecdote is much to the
honour of this prince when regent. A Caf-
tilian officer having fix Portuguefe gentle-
men prifoners, cut off their nofes and liands,
and fent them to Don John. Highly in-
cenfed, the protettor commanded fix Caf-
tilian gentlemen to be treated in the fame
manner. But before the officer, to whom
he gave the orders, had quitted the room,
he relented. " I have given enough to
" refentment, faid he, in giving fuch at
" command. It were infamous to put it
♦' in execution. See that the Caftilian pri-
" foners receive no harm."
'' tf RoJrick girucn — The Celebrated
hero of Corneille's tragedy of the Cid.
Whofe
ISO THE L U S I A D. Book IV.
Whofe crooked plough lliares Leon's uplands tear,
Now cafed in fteel in glittering arms appear,
Thofe arms erewhile fo dreadful to the Moor:
The Vandals glorying in their might of yore
March on ; their helms and moving lances gleam
Along the flowery vales of Betis' flream :
Nor (laid the Tyrian iflanders behind,
On whofe proud enfigns floating on the ** wind
Alcides' pillars tower'd : Nor wonted fear
Withheld the bafe Galician's fordid fpear j
Though ftill his crimfon feamy fears reveal
The fure-aim'd vengeance of the Lufian fteel.
Where tumbling down Cuenca's mountain fide
The murmuring Tagus rolls his foamy tide,
Along Toledo's lawns, the pride of Spain,
Toledo's warriors join the martial train :
Nor lefs the furious luft of war infpires
The Bifcayneer, and wakes his barbarous fires,
Which ever burn for vengeance, if the tongue
Of haplefs ftranger give the fancy'd wrong.
Nor bold Afturia, nor Guifpufcoa's fliore,
Famed for their fteely wealth, and iron ore,
Delay'd their vaunting fquadronsj o'er the dales
Cafed in their native fteel, and belted mails,
*• Cadiz ; of old a Phoenician colony.
Blue
Book IV. THE L U S I A D. 151
Blue gleaming from afar they march along,
And join with many a fpear the warlike throng.
And thus, wide fweeping o'er the trembling coaft,
The proud Gaflilian leads his numerous hoft ;
The valiant John for brave defence prepares,
And in himfelf colle6led greatly dares :
For fuch high valour in his bofom glow'd,
As Samfon's locks by miracle beftow'd;
Safe in himfelf refolved the hero ftands.
Yet calls the leaders of his anxious bands :
The council fummon'd, fome with prudent mien,
And words of grave advice their terrors fcreen. / f /I
By floth debafed, no more the ancient fire
Of patriot loyalty can now infpire ;
And each pale lip feem'd opening to declare
For tame fubmillion, and to fhun the wars
When glorious- Nunio, ftarting from his feat,
Claim'd every eye, and clofed the cold debate :
Singling his brothers from the daftard train,
His rowling looks, that flafh'd with ftern difdain,.
On them he fixt, then fnatch'd his hilt in ire,
While his bold fpeech bewray'd the foldier's fire^
Bold and unpolifh'd^ while his burning ^ eyes
Seem'd as he dared the ocean, earth, and Ikies,.
8 This fpeech in the original has been it is hoped, R'ill perceive that the Tranfla-
much admired by the foreign critics, as a tor has endeavoured to fupport the cha-
model of military eloquence. The critic, rader of the Speaker.
Heavens I
iSi • THE L U S I A D. Book IV.
Heavens ! fhall the Luftan nobles tamely yield !
Oh fhame ! and yield untry'd the martial field I
That land whofe genius, as the God of war,.
Was own'd, where'er approach'd her thundering car j
Shall now her fons their faith, their love deny.
And, while their country fmks, ignobly fly !
Ye timorous herd, are you the genuine line
Of thofe illuftrious fhades, whofe rage divine.
Beneath great Henry's flandards awed the foe,
For whom you tremble and would ftoop fo low 1
That foe, who, boaftful now, then bafely fled.
When your undaunted fires the hero led.
When feven bold Earls in chains the fpoil adorn'd.
And proud Cafteel through all her kindreds mourn'd,
Cafteel, your awful dread — yet, confcious, fay,
When Diniz reign'd, when his bold fon bore fway,
By whom were trodden: down the bravefl: bands
That ever march'd from proud Caftilia's lands t
'Twas your brave fires — and has one languid reign
Frx'd in your tainted fouls fo deep a flain^
That now degenerate from your noble fires,
The lafl dim fpark of Lufian flame expires ?
Though weak Fernando reign'd in war unfkill'd,
A godlike king now calls you to the field*
Oh ! could like his your mounting valour glow.
Vain were the threatnings of the vaunting foe.
Not
Book IV. THE L U S I A D. 155
Not proud Cafteel, oft by your fires o'erthrown,
But every land your dauntlefs rage (hould own.
Still if your hands benumb 'd by female fear,
Shun the bold war, hark ! on my fword I fwear,
Myfelf alone the dreadful war fhall wage,
Mine be the fight — and trembling with the rage
Of valorous fire, his hand half-drawn difplay'd
The awful terror of his fhining blade
I and my vafTals dare the dreadful fhock ;
My fhoulders never to a foreign yoke
Shall bend ; and by my Sovereign's wrath I vow.
And by that loyal faith renounced by you.
My native land unconquer'd fhall remain.
And all my Monarch's foes fhall heap the plain.
The hero paufed — 'Twas thus the youth of Rome, ,
The trembling few who Tcaped the bloody doom
That dy'd with flaughter Cannae's purple field,
AfTembled flood, and bow'd their necks to yield j
When nobly rifing with a like difdain
The young Cornelius raged, nor raged in " vain :
^ This was the famous P. Com. Scipio and drawing his fword, faid, Ifiuear that
Africanus. The faft, fomewhat differently / njjUltiot defert the Common<wealth of Rome ^
related by Livy, is this. After the defeat nor /offer any other citizen to do it. The
at Cannae, a confiderable body of Romans fame oath I require of ycuy C^cilius, and cf
fled toCanufium, and appointed Scipio and aU prefent ; njuhocver refufes, let him /know
Ap. Claudius their commanders. While that this fvjord is dranxn againft him. The
they remained there, it was told Scipio, Hiflorian adds, that they were as terrified by
that fome of his chief officers, at the head this, as if they had beheld the face of their
of whom was CaeciliusMetcllus, were taking conqueror Hannibal. They all fwore, and
meafures totranfport themfelvesoutof Italy. fubmitted themfelves to Scipio. Vid. Liv.
He went immediately to dieir affcmbly; B. 22. C. 53.
X On
156 , THE L U S I A D. Book IV.
On his dread fword his daunted peers he fwore,
(The reeking blade yet black with Punic gore)
While life remain'd their arms for Rome to wield,
And but with life their conquer'd ai'ms to yield.
Such martial rage brave Nunio's mien infpired>
Fear was no more : with rapturous ardour fired,
To horfe, to horfe, the gallant Lufians cry'd -,
Rattled the belted mails on every fide,.
The fpear-flaf& trembled j round their heads they waved
Their fhining faulchions, and in tranfport raved,
The King our guardian — loud their fhouts rebound.
And the fierce commons ecchoe back the found.
The mails that long in rufling peace had hung.
Now on the hammer'd anvils hoarfely rung :
Some foft with wool the plumy helmets line,
And fome the breaft-plate's fcaly belts entwine :
The gaudy mantles fome, and fcarfs prepare.
Where various lightfome colours gaily flare -,
And golden tilFue, with the warp en wove,
Difplays the emblems of their youthful love.
The valiant John, begirt with warlike ilate^
Now leads his bands from fair Abrantes' gate ;.
Whofe lawns of green the infant Tagus laves.
As from his fpring he rolls his cooly waves.
The
Book IV. THE L U S I A D. 157
The daring van in Nunio's care could boafl
A general worthy of th' unnumber'd hoft,
Whofe gaudy banners trembling Greece defy'd,
When boaftful Xerxes laflVd the Seftian tide :
Nunio, to proud Cafteel as dread a name,
As erft to Gaul and Italy the fame
Of Attila's impending rage. The right
Brave Roderic led,; a Chieftain train'd in fight :
Before the left the bold Almada rode,
And proudly waving o'er the center nod
The royal enfigns, glittering from afar,
^ Where godlike John infpires and leads the war.
'Twas now the time, when from the ftubbly plain
The labouring hinds had borne the yellow grain ;
The purple vintage heapt the foamy tun.
And fierce and red the fun of Augufl fhone;
When from the gate the fquadrons march along :
Crowds preft on crowds, the walls and ramparts throng :
Here the fad mother rends her hoary hair.
While hope's fond whifpers flruggle with defpair :
The weeping fpoufe to heaven extends her hands :
And cold with dread the modefl virgin Hands,
Her earned eyes, fufFufed with trembling dew,
Far o'er the plain the plighted youth purfue :
X 2 And
158 THE L U S I A D. Book IV.
And prayers and tears and all the female wail,
And holy vows the throne of heaven aflail.
Now each flern hoft full front to front appears.
And one joint fhoiit heaven's airy concave tears :
A dreadful paufe enfues, while confcious pride
Strives on each face the heart-felt doubt to hide.
Now wild and pale the boldefl face is feen ;
With mouth half open and difordered mien
Each warrior feels his creeping blood to freeze.
And languid weaknefs trembles in the knees.
And now the clangor of the trumpet founds.
And the rough rattling of the drum rebounds :
• The fife's fhrill whiflling cuts the gale, on high
The flourifh'd enfigns fliine with many a dye
Of blazing fplendor ; o'er the ground they wheel
And chufe their footing, when the proud Cafteel
Bids found the horrid charge -, loud burfls the found.
And loud^rtabro's rocky cliffs rebound :
The thundering roar rolls round on every fide,
And trembling finks Guidana's rapid tide;
The flow-paced Durius ruflies o'er the plain,
And fearful Tagus haflens to the main :
Such was the tempefl of the dread alarms.
The babes that prattled in their nurfes' arms
Shriek'd
Book IV. THE L U S I A D. 159
Shriek'd at the found ; with fudden cold imprefl,
The mothers ftrain'd their infants to the breafl,
And ihook with horror — now, far round, begin
The bow firings whizzing, and the brazen ^ din
Of arms on armour rattling j either van
Are mingled now, and man oppofed to man :
To guard his native fields the one infpires.
And one the raging luft of conqueft fires :
Now with fixt teeth, their writhing lips of blue,
Their eye-balls glaring of the purple hue.
Each arm ftrains fwiftefl to impell the blow j
Nor wounds they value now, nor fear they know.
Their only paffion to offend the foe.
In might and fury, like the warrior God,
Before his troops the glorious' Nunio rode :
That land, the proud invaders claim'd, he fows
With their fpilt blood, and with their corfes flrews 5
Their forceful volleys now the crofs bows pour.
The clouds are darken'd with the arrowy fhower;
The white foam reeking o'er their wavy mane.
The fnorting courfers rage and paw the plain 5
^ Homer and Virgil have, with great art. The circumftances preparatory to the en-
gradually heightened the fury of every bat- gagement are happily imagined, and fo-
tie, till the laft efforts of their genius were lemnlyconduaed, and the fury of the com-
lavifhcd in defcribmg the fuperior prowefs bat is fupported with a poetical heat, and a
of the Hero in the decifive engagement. variety of imagery, which, one need not
Camoens, in like manner, has bellowed his hefitate to affirm, would do honour to an
•tmoft attention on this his principal battle. ancient daffic.
Beat
i6o
THE
L U S I A D.
Book IV.
Beat by their iron hoofs, the plain rebounds,
As diftant thunder through the mountains founds :
The ponderous fpears crafh, fplintering far around ;
The horfe and horfemen flounder on the ground ;
The ground groans with the fudden weight oppreft.
And many a buckler rings on many a crefl.
Where wide around the raging Nunio's fword
With furious fway the bravefl fquadrons gored.
The raging foes in clofer ranks advance.
And his own brothers (hake the hoftile ' lance.
Oh ' horrid fight ! yet not the ties of blood.
Nor yearning memory his rage wkhftood 5
' And his oivn brothers Jhake the hojlile
lance — The joft indignation with which Ca-
moens treats the kindred of the brave Nunio
Al'varo de Pereyra, is condentned by the
French Tranflator. ** Bans U fond^ fays
he, les Pereyras ne meritoient aucune jietrif-
j'ure, &c.— The Pereyras deferve no ftain
on their memory for joining the king of
Caftile, whofe title to the crown of Portugal
was infinitely more juft and folid than that
of Don John." CaAera, however, is grofsly
miftaken. Don Alon%o Enrique^, the firft
king of Portugal, was elefted by the peo-
ple, who had recovered their liberties at the
glorious battle of Oufique. At the eleftion
the conftitution of the kingdom was fettled
in eighteen fhort ftatutes, wherein it is ex-
prefsly provided, that none but a Portuguefe
can be king of Portugal ; that if an In-
fanta marry a foreign Prince, he fhall not,
in her right, become king of Portugal, and
a new eleftion of a king, in cafe of the
failure of the male line, is by thefe ftatutes
f\ippofed legal. By the treaty of marriage
between the king of Caftile and Donna
Beatrix, the heirefs of Fernando of Portu-
gal, it was agreed, that only their children
fhould fucceed to the Portuguefe crown ;
and that, in cafe the throne became vacant
ere fuch children were born, the queen-
dowager Leonora fhould goverrti with the
title of Regent. Thus, neither by the ori-
ginal conftitution, nor the treaty of mar-
riage, could the king of Caftile fucceed to
the throne of Portugal. And any pretence
he might found on the marriage contradl was
already forfeited ; for he caufed himfelf and
his queen to be proclaimed, added Portugal to
his titles, coined Portuguefe money with his
buft, depofed the queen Regent, and after-
wards fent her prifoner to Caftile. The
lawful heir, Don Juan, the fon of Inez de
Caftro, was kept in prifon by his rival the
king of Caftile ; and as before obferved, a
new eledlion was, by the original ftatutes,
fuppofed legal in cafes of emergency.
Thefe fafts, added to the con fi deration of
the tyranny of the king of Caftile, and the
great fervices Don John had rendered his
country, upon whom its exiftencc, as a
kingdom, depended, fully vindicate the in-
dignation of Camoens againft the traiterous
Pereyras*
With
Book IV. THE L U S I A D. i6i
With proud dlfdain his honeil eyes behold
Who e'er the tray tor, who his king has fold.
Nor want there others in the hoflile band
Who draw their fwords againft their native land ;
And headlong driven, by impious rage accurft,
In rank were foremoft, and in fight the firft.
So fons and fathers, by each other (lain,
With horrid flaughter dyed Pharfalia's plain.
Ye dreary ghofts, who now for treafons foul,
Amidft the ^loom of Stygian darknefs howl ;
Thou Cataline, and, flern Sertorius, tell
Your brother fhades, and foothe the pains of hell ;
With triumph tell them, fome of Lufian race
Like you have earn'd the Traytor's foul difgrace.
As waves on waves, the foes encreafing weight
Bears down our foremoft ranks and ihakes the fight ;
Yet firm and undifmay'd great Nunio ftands.
And braves the tumult of furrounding bands.
So, from high Ceuta's rocky mountains ftray'd,
The ranging Lion braves the fhepherd's fiiade ;
The fhepherds haftening o'er the Tetuail plain.
With fhouts furround him, and with fpears reftrain :
He ftops, with grinning teeth his breath he draws,
Nor is it fear, but rage, that makes him paufe ;
His
\
i6i THE L U S' riA D, Book IV,
His threatening eyeballs burn with fparkling fire,
And his flern heart forbids him to retire :
Amidft the thicknefs of the fpears he flings.
So midft his foes the furious Nunio fprings :
The Lufian grafs with foreign gore diftain'd,
Difplays the carnage of the hero's hand.
" An ample fhield the brave Giraldo bore,
" Which from the vanquifh'd Perez' arm he tore j
" Pierced through that fhield, cold death invades his eye,
" And dying Perez faw his Vi£lor die.
" Edward and Pedro emulous of fame,
" The fame their friendfhip, and their youth the fame,
" Through the fierce Brigians hew'd their bloody " way,
** Till in a cold embrace the ftriplings lay.
•" Lopez and Vincent rufli'd on glorious death,
" And midft their flaughtered foes refign'd their breath.
" Alonzo glorying in his youthful might
" Spur'd his fierce courfer through the ftaggering fight :
** Shower'd from the dafhing hoofs the fpatter'd gore
" Flies round i but foon the Rider vaunts no more:
" Five Spanifh fwords the murmuring ghofts atone,
** Of five Caftilians by his arm o'erthrown.
"" Through the fierce Brigians The the Monkilh fabulifta call the grandfon ©f
Caftilians, fo called from one of their an- Noah,
cient kings, named Brix, or Brigus, whom
Transfix'd
Book IV. THE L U S I A D. 163.
y Transfixt with three Iberian fpears, the gay,
." The knightly lover young Hilario lay :
" Though, like a rofe, cut ofF in opening bloonij
" The Hero weeps not for his early doom ;
** Yet trembling in his fwimming eye appears
" The pearly drop, while his pale cheek he rears,
** To call his loved Antonia's name he tries,
." The name half utter'd, down he fmks, and " dies."^
"Now through his ftiatter'd ranks the Monarch ilrode.
And now before his rally'd fquadrons rode :
Brave Nunio's danger from afar he fpies,
And inflant to his aid impetuous flies.
So when returning from the plunder 'd folds.
The Lionefs her emptied den beholds,
Enraged fhe ftands, and liftening to the g-ale.
She hears her whelps low howling in the vale 5
The living fparkles flafliing from her eyes.
To the MafTylian fhepherd-tents flie ° flies ;
She groans, fhe roars, and ecchoing far around
The feven twin-mountains tremble at the found :
" Thefe lines marked in tJie tejtt with gil> was willing to preferve them with this
turned commas, arc not in the common acknowledgement; in this he he has fol-
editions of Camoens. They confift of three lov/cd the example of Caflera.
ftanzas in the Portugucfe, and arc faid to " MafTylia, a province in Numidia, great-
have been left out by the author himfelf in ly infefted with lions, particularly that part
his fecond edition. The tranflator, how- n( it cAlsd Os /efe mcntes irmaJs, the fe\'eH-
'«vcr, as they breathe the true fpirit of Vir- brother mountains.
Y So
id4
THE LUSIAD,
Book I¥.
So raged the king, and with a chofen train
He pours refiftlefs o'er ^t)^qv}ieaps of flain.
Oh bold companions 9^f:ni|f, toil?, hfjfrk^^
Our dear-loved freedom Qn,p»ur lanc-es %^f
Behold your friend, yovir Monarch leads the way^
And dares the thickeft pf the; iron fray.
Say, ihall the Lufian race forfake their king,
Where fp.ears environ, and vsfhere Javelins fing I
He fpoke y then four times round his head he v^hirFd^
His ponderous fpear, and midft the .foremoft hurl,'di - ,
Deep through the ranks the forceful weapon paft,.
And many a gafping warrior figh'd his ^ laft^..
P And many a gafping ivarrior JtgPd his
At/?— -This, which js almoll literal from.
Muitos lan^arao o ultimo fufpiro
and the preceding circumftance of Don
John's brapdilhing his lance fouF times
E fopefando a lan^a quutro vezes
are poetical, and in the fpirit of Homer.
They are omitted, however, by Caftera,
who fublHtutes the following in their
place, " // dit, et d^un bras. Sec. — He
faid, and with an arm whofe blows are
inevitable, he threw hi§ javelin againU the
fierce Maldonat. Death and the weapon
went together. Maldonat fell, pierced with
a large wound, and his horfe tumbled over
him." Befides Maldonat, Caftera has, in
this battle, introduced fcveral other names
which have no place in Camoens. Carrillo,
Kobledo, John of Lorca, Salazar of Seville
were killed, he tells us : And, " Ve-
lafques and Sanches, natives of Toledo,
Galbes, furnamed the Soldier without Fear,
Montanches,. Oropefa, and Mondonedo,
all fix of proved valou^r, fell by the hand of;
young Antony, qui parte dans le combat oui
plus d'adrej/i ou plus de honheur qu'eux, who,
brought to the fight either more addrefs or
better fortune than thefe." Not a word of
this is in the Portuguefe.
The fate of another hero fhall conclude the
fpecimens of the manner of Caftera. The
following is literally tranllatcd : " Guevar,
a vain m^an, nourilhed in indolence, ftained
his arms and face with the blood of the
dead whom he found ftretched on the duft. ,
Under the cover of this frivolous impofture,
he pretended to pafs himfelf for a formid-
able warrior. He publifhed, with a high
voice, the number of tire enemies he had
thrown to the ground. Don Pedro inter-
rupted, him with a blow of his fabre : Guevar
lolt his life ; his head, full of the fumes of
a ridiculous pride, bounded far away from
his body, which remained defiled with ita
own blood ; a juft and terrible punifliment
for the lies he had told." It is almoft un-
neceflary to add, that there is not one word
of this in the original.
>WitK
Book IV.
T H E L U ^ I A D.
165
With noble fhame infpired, and mounting rage.
His bands ruih on, and foot to foot engage ;
Thick burfting fparkles from the blows afpire 5
Such flafhes blaze, their fwords feem dipt in "^ fire j
The belts of fteel and plates of brafs are riven.
And wound for wound, and death for death is given.'
The firft in honour of Saint Jago's ' band,
A naked ghofl now fought the gloomy ftrand ;
And he, of Calatrave the fovereign knight,
■Girt with whole troops his arm had llain in fight,
Defcended murmuring to the fhades of night.
Blafpheming heaven, and gafh'd with many a wound
Brave Nunio's rebel kindred gnaw'd the ground.
And curft their fate, and dy'd. Ten thoufands more
Who held no title and no office bore.
And namelefs notles who, promifcuous fell,
Appeas'd that day the foaming dog of hell.
Now low the proud Caftilian flandard lies
Beneath the Lufian flag, a vanquifh'd prize.
!
*! Their fwords feem dipt in fire This
is as literal as the idiom of -the two lan-
.guages would allow. Dryden has a thought
like that of this couplet, but which is not
in his original :
Their bucklers clafh ; thick blows defcend from
liigli,
And flakes of fire from their liard helmets fly.
Dryd. Virg. En. XII.
^ Grand Matter of the order of St. James,
named Don Pedro Nunio. He was not
killed, however, in this battle, which was
foaght on the plains of j^ljuharofa, but
in that of Val^uerda, which irrtmediately
followed. The Reader may perhaps be fur-
prifed to find, that every foldier mentioned
in thefe notes is a Don, a Lord. The fol-
lowing piece of hillory will account for the
number of tlie Portugucfe nobles. Don
Alonzo Efiriquez, Count of Portugal, was
faluted king by his army at the battle of Ou~
riquei in return, his Majefty dignified every
man in his army with the rank of nobility.
Vid. the 9th of the Stat, oi Lamego.
5^0,
Y 2
With
i66
THE L U S I A D.
Book. IV,
With furious madnefs^ fired, and ftern difdain.
The fierce Iberians to the fight again
Rufh headlong -, groans and yellings of ' defpair
With horrid uproar rend the trembling air.
Hot boils the blood, thirft burns, and every breaft.
Pants, every limb with fainty v^reight opprefi
Slow now obeys the will's flern ire, and flow
From every fword defcends the feeble blow ;
Till rage grew languid, and tired flaughter found
No arm to combat, and no breaft to wound..
ISfiQW from the field Cafleel's proud'" monarch * flies.
In wild difmay he rowls his maddening eyes.
And leads the pale-lip t flight, who, wing'd with feao
As drifted fmoke at difliance difappear.
' The laft eiTdrta of rage and defpair are
thus defcribed in Pope's tranflation of the
fifth battle at the (hips. II. XV.
Tiioa •wouldjl have thought, Jo furious tvas their fire,
No force could tame them', and no toil could tire }
At if new -vigour from neiufghtt they ivon.
And the long battle lots hut then begun,
Greece yet unconqucrd kept alive the war,
Secure of death, confiding in defpair.
Troy in proud hopes already vieiu'd the main,.
Bright with the blaxe, and red tuith heroes Jlain ;
Like Jircngth is felt from hope and from dtffair,
And each contends as bis ivere all the ivar,
* This tyrapt, whofe unjuft pretenfions to
t)ie crown of Portugal laid his own and that
kingdom in blood, was on his final defeat
overwhelmed with all the frenzy of grief.
In the night after the decifive battle oi Alju-
barata, he fled upwards of thirty miles upoi>
a mule. 'QoxvLaurence, archbiniop oi Braga,
in a letter written, in old Portuguefe to Don
John, abbot of Alcobaza, gives this ac-
count of his behaviour. " O condejlrabre
** a me Jar fab ir ca o rey dg Cajiella/e viera
** a Santann como, homen trejsvaliado, qner>
** malde%iafeu 'vi'ver, e piixa'ua polas bar-
** bas ; e a bo fe, bom ami go, melhor e que
*' faga ca non fagermolo nos, ca homen f
** quem fuas barbas arrepela mao Iwvor fa-
*^ ria das alheas, !► e. The conflable has
" informed me that he faw the king of
** Caftile at Santaren, who behaved as a
** madman, curfing his exiftence, and
** tearing the hairs of his beard. And iit
*' good faith, my good friend, it is better
*' that he fhould do fo to himfelf than to
"us; the man who thus plucks his own
*♦ beard, would be much better pleafed to
•• do fo to others." The writer of this
letter, though a prelate, fought at the battle
of Aljubarota, where he received on the
faqe z, large wound from a fabre. Caftera
relates this anecdote of him. The flattery
of a fculptor had omitted the deep fear:
when the archbifhop faw the ftatuc, he laid
hold of an attendant's fword, with which
he disfigured the face. I have now, faidf
JiP> fupplied what it wanted, ,
Blafpheming^
Book IV.
THE L U S I A D.
*^7
Blafpheming fate, and curfing him who firft
Forged horrid arms, and led to wars accurft.
The feflive days by. heroes old * ordain'd
The glorious vi6tor on the field remain'd.
The funeral rites and holy vows he paid:
Yet not the while the reftlefs Nunio ftaid ;
O'er Tago's waves his gallant bands he led.
And humbled Spain in every province bled :
Sevilia's ftandard on< his fpear he bore.
And Andalufia's enfigns fteept in gore/.
Low in the dull diftreft Caftilia mourn'd,'
And bathed in tears each eye to heaven was turn'dj
The orphan's, widow's, and the hoary fire's -,
And heaven relenting quench'd the raging fires
Of mutual hate : from England's happy fhore
The peaceful feas two lovely fifters " bore..
* Tie fefiinie days hy heroes old ordain'd. .
As a certain proof of the viftory, it
was required, by the honour of thefe ages,
that the viftor fhould encamp three days on
the field of battle. By this knight-erran-
try, the advantages which ought to have
been purfued were frequently loft. Don
John, however, though he complied with
the reigning ideas of honour, fent Don
Nunio, with a proper army, to reap the
fruits of his vlftory.
" Caftera's note on this place is literally
thus : " They were the daughters of John
«* duke of Lancafter, fon of Edward IV. of
" England, both of great beauty : the eldeft,
" named Catharine, was married to the
" king of Caftile, the youngeft, Ifabel,
" to the king of Portugal." This is all
a miftake. John of Portugal, about a year
after the hzXtXcoi Aljubarota, married Phi-
lippa,. eldclt daughter of John of Cauat^^
dtike of Lancafter, fon of Edward III. wht>
affifted the king, his fon-in-law, in an
irruption into Caftile, and at the end of the
campaign promifed to return with more
numerous forces for the next. But this was
prevented by the marriage of his youngeft
daughter Catalina with Don Henry, eldeft
fon of the king of Caftile. The king of Por-
tugal on thisentered Galicia,and reduced the
cities of Tuy and Salvaterra. A truce fol-
lowed. While the tyrant of Caftile medi-
tated a new war, he was killed by a fall
from his horfe, and leaving no ifliie by
his queen Beatrix, the king of Portugal's
daughter, all pretenfions on that crown
ceaied. The truce was now prolonged for
fifteen years, and though not ftriclly kept,
yet at laft the influence of the Englifh queen -
Catalina prevailed, and a long peace, happy..
for both kingdoms, enfued.
The-
i68 THE L U S I A D. JBook lY,
The rival monarchs to the nuptial bed
In joyful hour the royal virgins led,
And holy peace alTum'd her blifsful reign.
Again the peafant joy'd, the landfcape fmiled again.
But John's brave breaft to vi^arlike cares innured.
With confcious fhame the floth of eafe endured.
When not a foe awaked his rage in Spain
The valiant Hero braved the foamy main ;
The firft, nor meaneft, of our kings who bore
The Lufian thunders to the Afric fhore. -A D (^
O'er the wild waves the vi6lor-banners flow'd.
Their fdver wings a thoufand eagles fliew'd ;
And proudly fwelling to the whiftling gales
The feas were whiten'd with a thoufand fails.
Beyond the columns by Alcides placed
To bound the world, the zealous warrior pad.
The (hrines of Hagar^s race, the flirines of luft.
And moon-crow n'd mofques lay fmoaking in the duft.
O'er Abyla's high fteep his lance he raifed.
On Ceuta's lofty towers his ftandard blazed ;
Ceuta, the refuge of the traitor train.
His vafTal now, enfures the peace of Spain.
But ah, how foon the blaze of glory ^ dies !
Jlluftrious John afcends his native Ikies.
■* The charaAer of this great prince comment on the enthufiafm of Camocns,
claims ? place in thefe notes, as it affords a who has made him the hero of his epifodc.
Hi»
Book IV.
T H E L U S I A D.
id^
His gallant offspring prove their genuine ftrain.
And added lands inereafe the Lufian reign.
Yet not the firft of heroes Edward fhone^.
His happieft days long hours of evil ov^^n.
He faw, fecluded from the chearful day.
His fainted brother pine his years av^ay.
O glorious youth in eaptive chains, to thee
What fuiting honours can thy land " decree 1
His birth,, excellent education, and mafterly
eonduft when regent, have already been
mentioned. The fame juftice, prudence,
and heroifm always accompanied him when
king. He had the art to join the moft
winning affability with all the manly dig-
nity of the fovereign. To thofe who were
his friends, when a private man, he was
particularly attentive. His nobility dined
at his table, he frequently made vifits to
them, and introduced among them the tafle
for, and the love of letters. As he felt the
advantages of education, he took the utmolt
care of that of his children. He had many
fons, and he liimfelf often inftrudted them
in folid and ufeful knowledge, and was.
amply repaid. He lived to fee them men,
men of parts and of aftion, whofe only emu-
lation was to Ihew affedion to his perfon,
and to fupport his adminiftration by their
great abilities.' One of his fons, Don
Henry ^ duke of ^//^o, was that great prince
whofe ardent paffion for maritime affairs
gave birth to all the modern improvements
in navigation. The clergy, who had dif-
turbcd almoft every other reign, were fo
convinced of the wifdom of his, that they
confeffed he ought to be fupported out of
the treafures of the church, and granted
him the church plate to be coined. When
the Pope ordered a rigorous enquiry to be
made in to his having brought ecclcflaftics be-
fore lay tribunals, the clergy had the fingular
Iioncfty to defert v.'hat was ftiled the church
immunities, and to own that jullice had
been impartially adminiflered. He died in
*fee fcveuty-fixth year of his age, and in the
forty-eighth of his reign. His affcclion to
his queen Philippa made him fond of thi3
Englifh, whofe friendfhip he cultivated, and
by whom he was frequently aflifted.
^ Camoens, in this inftance, has raifed
the charafter of one brother at the other's
expence, to give his poem an air of the-
old romance. The fiege of Tangier was
propofed. The king's brotliers differed irk.
their opinions : that of Don Fernand, tho'
a knight errant adventure, was approved of
by the young nobility. The infants Henry
and Fernand, at the head of 7000 men».
laid fiege to Tangier, and were furrounded
by a numerous army of Moors, fome writers
fay fix hundred thoufand. On condition
that the Portuguefe army rtiould be allowed
to return home, the infants promifed to
deliver Ceuta. The Moors gladly accepted-
ofthe terms, but demanded one of the in-
fants as an hoftagc. Fernand offered him-
felf, and was left. The king was willing,
to comply with the terms to relieve his
brother, but the court confidered the value
of Ceuta, and would not confent. The Pope
alfo interpofed his authority, that Ceuta
fliould be kept as a check on the infidels,
and propofed to raife a Crufade for the de-
livery of Fernand. In the meanwhile large
offers were made for his liberty. Thefe were
rejeded by the Moors, who would accept of
nothing but Ceuta, of whofe vail importance,
they were no Grangers. When negc tiation
failed, king Edward affembled a large army
to effeft his brother's releafe, but iuft as he
was fetting out, he was feized v.ith the
plague, and died, leaving orders with his
J7^
t H E L U S I AD.
Book IV.
Thy nation profFer'd, and the foe with joy
For Ceuta's towers prepared to yield the boy j
The princely hoftage nobly fpurns the thought
Of freedom and of life fo dearly bought :
The raging vengeance of the Moors defies,
<Tives to the clanking chains his limbs, and dies
A dreary prifon death. Let noify fame
=No more unequall'd hold her Codrus' name;
Her Regulus, her Curtius boaft no more.
Nor thofe the honour'd Decian name who bore.
The fplendor of a court, to them unknown,
Exchang'd for deathful Fate's moft awful frown
To diftant times through every land fhall blaze
The felf-devoted Lufian's nobler praife.
Kow to the tomb the haplefs king defcends,
His fon Alonzo brighter fate attends.
f^ueen to deliver up Ceuta for the releafe of
hh brother. This, however, was never
performed. Don Fcrnand remained with
the Moors till his death. The magnani-
mity of his behavieur gained him their
efteem and admiration, nor is there good
proof that he received any extraordinary
rigorous treatment; the contrary is rather
to be inferred from the romantic notions of
military honour which then prevailed among
the Moors. Some, however, whom Caftera
follows, make his fufFerings little inferior
^o thofe, without proof likewife, afcribed
to Regulus. Don Fernand is to this day
efteemed as a faint and martyr in Portugal,
and his memory is commemorated on the
>f ft'i of June. King Edward reigned only
4ve j^ears and a month. He was the moft
etoquent man in his dominions, fpoke and
wrote Latin elegantly, was author of fe-
veral books, one on horfemanfhip, in which
art he excelled. He was brave in the field,
aftive in bufmefs, and rendered his country
infinite fervice by reducing the laws to a
regular code. He was knight of the order
of the Garter, which honour was conferred
upon him by his coufin Henry V. of Eng-
land. In one inftance he gave great offence
to the fuperftitious populace. He defpifed
the advice of a Jew altrologer, who entreated
him to delay his coronation, becaufe the
liars that day were unfavourable. To this
the misfortune of Tangier was afcribed, and
the people were always on the alarm, as if
feme terrible difafter were impending over
them.
Alonzo3
Book IV. THE L U S I A D. 171
Alonzo ! dear to Lufus* race the name ;
Nor his the meaneft in the rolls of fame.
His might refifllefs proftrate Afric own'd.
Beneath his yoke the Mauritinians groan'd.
And ftill they groan beneath the Lufian fway.
'Twas his in vi(5lor-pomp to bear away
The golden apples from Hefperia's fhore,
Which but the fon of Jove had fnatch'd before. ,
The palm and laurel round his temples bound,
Difplay'd his triumphs on the Moorilh ground.
When proud Arzilla's ftrength, Alcazer's towers,
And Tingia, boaftful of her numerous powers, J C'
Beheld their adamantine walls o'erturn'd.
Their ramparts levell'd, and their temples burn'd.
Great was the day : the meaneft fword that fought
Beneath the Lufian flag fuch wonders wrought
As from the Mufe might challenge endlefs fame.
Though low their ftation, and without a name.
Now ftung with wild Ambition's madning fires.
To proud Caftilia's throne the king ^afpires.
The Lord of Arragon, from Cadiz' walls,
And hoar Pyrene's fides his legions calls j
y When Henry IV. of Caftile died, he the kingdom of Caftile, Don Alonzo, king
declared that the infanta Jeama was his of Portugal, obtained a difpenfation from
heirefs, in preference to his fiftcr, Donna the pope to marry his niece. Donna ^0^;///^.
Ifahella, married to Don Ferdinand, fon to After a bloody war, the ambitious views of
the king of Arragon. In hopes to attain Alonzo and his courtiers were defeated.
Z The
172 THE L U S I A D. Book IV.
The numerous legions to his ftandards throng,
And war, with horrid ftrides, now ftalks along.
With emulation fired, the * prince beheld
His warlike fire ambitious of the field ;
' Scornful of eafe, to aid his arms he fped.
Nor fped in vain : The raging combat bled i
Alonzo's ranks with carnage gored, Difmay
Spread her cold wings, and fhook his firm array.
To flight fhe hurried -, while with brow ferene
The martial boy beheld the deathful fcene.
With curving movement o'er the field he rode,
Th' oppofing troops his wheeling fquadrons mow'd :
The purple dawn and evening fun beheld
His tents encampt aflert the conquer'd field.
Thus when the ghofl of Julius hover'd o'er
Philippi's plain, appeafed with Roman gore,
0(5lavius' legions left the field in flight.
While happier Marcus triumph'd in the fight.
When endlefs night had feal'd his mortal eyes.
And brave Alonzo's fpirit fought the ikies.
The fecond of the name, the valiant John,
Our thirteenth monarch, now afcends the throne.
To feize immortal fame, his mighty mind.
What man had never dared before, defign'd ;
• The Prince of Portugal,
That
Book IV. THE LUSIAD. 173
That glorious labour which I now purfue,
Through fcas unfail'd to find the (hores that view
The day-liar, rifl?ig from his watery bed,
The firft grey Ijeams of infant morning fhed.
Sele6led mefTengers his will obey;
Through Spain and France they hold their vent'rous way.
Through Italy they reach the port that gave
The fair Parthenope an honour'd * grave j
That fhore which oft has felt the fervile chain,
But nov/ fmiles happy in the care of Spain.
Now from the port the brave advent'rers bore,
And cut the billows of the Rhodian fliore -,
Now reach the ftrand where noble Pompey * bled ;
And now, repair'd with reft, to Memphis fped j
And now, afcending by the vales of Nile,
Whofe waves pour fatnefs o'er the grateful foil, o ^ d
Through Ethiopia's peaceful dales they ftray'd.
Where their glad eyes Mefliah's rites " furvey'd :
And now they pafs the famed Arabian flood,
Whofe waves of old in wondrous ridges ftood.
While Ifrael's favour'd race the fable bottom trode :
Behind them gliijening to the morning Ikies,
The mountains named from Izmael's offspring ' rife^
^ Parthenope was one of the Syrens. » The coaft of Alexandria.
Enraged becaufe flie could not allure Ulyf- •> Among the Chriftians of Prefier John,
ks, fhe threw herfelf into the fea. Her or Abyflynia.
corps was thrown afhore, and buried where ' *= The Nabathean mountains ; fo named
Naples now ftands. from Nabaoth, the fon of Ifhmael.
Z 2 Now
174 THE L U S I A D. Book IV.
Now round their fteps the bleft Arabia fpreads
Her groves of odour, and her balmy meads.
And eveiy breaft, infpired with glee, inhales
The grateful fragrance of Sabaea's gales :
Now paft the Perfian gulph their rout afcends
Where Tygris wave with proud Euphrates blends ;
Illuftrious ftreams, where flill the native fhews
Where Babel's haughty tower unfinifh'd rofe :
From thence through climes unknown, their daring courfe
Beyond where Trajan forced his way, they 'force;
Carmanian hords, and Indian tribes they faw.
And many a barbarous rite, and many a ** law
Their fearch explored ; but to their native fhore,
Enrich'd with knowledge, they return'd no more.
The glad completion of the Fate's decree,
Kind heaven referved, Emmanuel, for thee.
The crown, and high ambition of thy • fires.
To thee defcending, waked thy latent fires.
And to command the fea from pole to pole.
With reftlefs wifh inflamed thy mighty foul.
Now frdm the Iky the facred light withdrawn,
O'er heaven's clear azure fhone the ftars of dawn,
= Beyond ivhert Trajan — The Emperor Arabia Fcelix. Vid. Dion. CafT. Eufeb.
Trajan extended the bounds of the Roman Chron. p. 206.
Empire in the Eaft, far beyond any of his pre- *• ^i mores homittum multa. um vUit. ■
dcceflbrs. His conquerts reached to the river Hor.
Tigris, near which Itood the city of Ctefi- " Emmanuel was coufin to the late king
phon, which he fubdued. The Roman Hif- John II. and grandfon to king Edward, fon
torians boaftcd that India was entirely con- of John I.
^uered by him j but they could only mean
Deep
Book IV. THE L U S I A p. 175
Deep Silence fpread her gloomy wings around,
And human griefs were wrapt in fleep profound.
The monarch flumber'd on his golden bed.
Yet anxious cares pofTeft his thoughtful head ;
His generous foul, intent on public good,
The glorious duties of his birth review'd.
When fent by heaven a facred dream infpired
His labouring mind, and with its radiance fired:
High to the clouds his towering head was rear'd.
New worlds, and nations fierce and ftrange appear'dj
The purple dawning o'er the mountains flow'd,
The foreft-boughs with yellow fplendor glow'd 3
High from the fteep two copious glafly flreams
Roll'd down, and glitter'd in the morning beams j
Here various monfters of the wild were feen,
And birds of plumage, azure, fcarlet, green :
Here various herbs, and flowers of various bloom ;
There black as night the forefl's horrid gloom,
Whofe fhaggy brakes, by human flep untrod,
Darken'd the glaring lion's dread abode.
Here as the monarch fix'd his wondering eyes, ^^S
Two hoary fathers from the flreams arife^
Their afpe6l ruftic, yet a reverend grace
Appeared majeftic on their wrinMed face :
Their tawny beards uncomb'd, and fweepy long,
Adown their knees in fhaggy ringlets hung j
From
ij6 THE L U S I A D. Book IV.
From every lock the chryflal drops diftill,
And bathe their limbs as in a trickling rill ;
Gay wreaths of flowers, of fruitage, and of boughs,
Namelefs in Europe, crown'd their furrow'd brows.
Bent o'er his ftaff, more filver'd o'er with years.
Worn with a longer way, the One appears ;
Who now flow beckoning with his wither'd hand,
As now advanced before the king they ftand j
O thou, whom worlds to Europe yet unknown.
Are doom'd to yield, and dignify thy crown j
To thee our golden fliores the Fates decree;
Our necks, unbow'd before, fliall bend to thee.
Wide thro' the world refounds our wealthy fame ;
Hafte, fpeed thy prows, that fated wealth to claim.
From Paradife my hallowed waters fpring j
The facred Ganges I, my brother king
Th' illuftrious author of the Indian name :
Yet toil fliall languifli, and the fight fliall flame ;
Our fairefl: lawns with fl:reaniing gore fliall fmoke,
Ere yet our flioulders bend beneath thy yoke ;
But thou flialt conquer : all thine eyes furvey.
With all our various tribes fliall own thy fway.
He fpoke; and melting in a fllveiy fliream
Both difappear'd ; when waking from his dream.
The
Book IV. THE L U S I A D. 177
The wondering monarch thrill'd with awe divine,
Weighs in his lofty thoughts the facred fign.
Now morning burfting from the eaftern fky
Spreads o'er the clouds the blufhing rofe's dye,
The nations wake, and at the fovereign's call
The Lufian nobles crowd the palace hall.
The vifion of his fleep the monarch tells -,
Each heaving breaft with joyful wonder fwells :
Fulfil, they cry, the facred fign obey.
And fpread the canvas for the Indian fea.
Inftant My looks with troubled ardour burn'd.
When keen on Me his eyes the monarch turn'd :
What he beheld I know not, but I know.
Big fwell'd my bofom with a prophet's glow :
And long my mind, with wondrous bodings fired.
Had to the glorious dreadful toil afpired :
Yet to the king, whate'er my looks betrayed.
My looks the omen of fuccefs difplayed.
When with that fweetnefs in his mien expreft,
Which unrefifted wins the generous breaft.
Great are the dangers, great the toils, he cried, 6 (^
Ere glorious honours crown the vigor's pride.
If in the glorious flrife the hero fall.
He proves no danger could his foul appall ;
fc And
4
j/B THE L U S I A D. Book IV.
And but to dare fo great a toil, fliall raife
Each age's wonder, and immortal praife.
For this dread toil new oceans to explore,
To fpread the fail where fail ne'er flow'd before, ^
For this dread labour, to your valour due.
From all your peers I chufe, O Vasco, you.
Dread as it is, yet light the talk fhall be
To you my Gama, as perform'd for Me.
My heart could bear no more Let fkies on fire.
Let frozen feas, let horrid war confpire,
I dare them all, I cried, and but repine
That one poor life is all I can refign.
Did to my lot Alcides' labours fall,
For you my joyful heart would dare them all j
The ghaflly realms of death could man invade
For you my fleps fhould trace the ghaflly fhade.
While thus with loyal zeal my bofom fwell'd.
That panting zeal my Prince with joy beheld :
Honour'd with gifts I flood, but honour'd more
By that efleem my joyful Sovereign bore.
That generous praife which fires the foul of worth.
And gives new virtues unexpe6led birth.
That praife even now my heaving bofom fires,
Liflames my courage, and each wifh infpires.
Moved
Book IV. THE L U S I A D. 179
Moved by afFe6lion, and allured by fame,
A gallant youth, who bore the deareft name,
Paulus my brother, boldly fued to fhare
My toils, my dangers, and my fate in war ;
And brave Coello urged the Hero's claim
To dare each hardlhip, and to join our fame :
For glory both with reftlefs ardour burn'd,
And filken eafe for horrid danger fpurn'd;
Alike renown'd in council or in field.
The fnare to baffle, or the fword to wield.
Through Lifbon's youth the kindling ardour ran.
And bold ambition thrill'd from man to man ;
And each the meaneft of the venturous band
With gifts flood honour'd by the Sovereign's hand.
Heavens ! what a fury fwell'd each warrior's breafl,
When each, in turn, the fmiling King addrefl !
Fired by his words the direfl toils they fcorn'd.
And with the horrid luft of danger fiercely burn'd.
With fuch bold rage the youth of Mynia glow'd.
When the firfl keel the Euxine furges plow'd ;
When bravely venturous for the golden fleece
Orac'lous Argo fail'd from wondering ' Greece.
' Orac'lous Argo — According to fable, their lives to the caprices of the waves have
the veflel of the Argonauts fpoke and pro- need of a penetrating forefight, that they
phecied. The ancients, I fuppofe, by this may not be furprifcd by fudden tempeft?.
meant to infmuate, that thofe who truft Cajhra.
A a Where
i8o THE L U S I A D. Book IV.
Where Tago's yellow ftream the harbour laves,
And flowly mingles with the ocean's waves,
In warlike pride my gallant navy rode,
And proudly o'er the beach my foldiers ftrode.
Sailors and land-men marfhall'd o'er the ftrand^
In garbs of various hue around me ftand j
Each earneft firft to plight the facred vow,
Oceans unknown and gulphs untry'd to plow :
Then turning to the fhips their fparkling eyes.
With joy they heard the breathing winds arife ;
Elate with joy beheld the flapping fail,
And purple ftandards floating on the gale :
While each prefaged that great as Argo's fame.
Our fleet fhould give fome flarry band a name.
Where foaming on the fhore the tide appears,
A facred fane its hoary arches rears :
Dim o'er the fea the evening fhades defcend.
And at the holy fhrine devout we bend :
There, while the tapers o'er the altar blaze.
Our prayers and earneft vows to heaven we raife.
" Safe through the deep, where every yawning wave
" Still to the Sailor's eye difplays his grave -,
" Through howling tempefls, and through gulphs untry'd,
" O ! mighty God I be thou our watchful guide."
While
Book IV.
THE tUSIAD.
iSi
While kneeling thus before the facred fhrine,
In Holy Faith's moil folemn rite we join ;
Our peace with heaven the bread of peace confirms,
And meek contrition every bofom warms :
Sudden the lights extinguifh'd, all around
Dread filence reigns, and midnight gloom profound :
A facred horror pants on every breath,
And each firm breaft devotes itfelf to death,
An ofFer'd facrifice, fworn to obey
My nod, and follow where I lead the way ;
Now proflrate round th^e hallow 'd fhrine we ^ lie,
Till rofy morn befpreads the eaftern fky ; .
Then, breathing fixt refolves, my daring mates
March to the (liips, while pour'd from Lifbon's gates,
Thoufands on thoufands crowding, prefs along,
A woeful, weeping, melancholy throng.
A thoufand white-robed priefls our iteps attend, ^
And prayers, and holy vows to heaven afcend j
A fcene fo folemn, and the tender woe
Of parting friends, conftrained my tears to flow.
8 This faft is according to hiftory : Abe-
rat Olyfippone prope littus quatuor pafTuum
raiUia templum fane rcligiofum et fanftum
ab Henrico in honorem fan£liffimae virginis
edificatum In id Gama pridie
illius diei, quo erat navem confcenfurus, fe
recepit, ut nodcni cum rcligiofis hominibus
qui in aedibus templo conjunftis •habitabant,
in precibus et votis confumeret. Sequenti
die cum multi non illius tantum gratia, fed
aliorum etiani, qui illi comites erant, con-
veniflent, fuit ab omnibus in fcaphis deduc-
tus. Ncque folum homines rcHgiofi, fed
reliqui omnes voce maxima cum lacrymis a
Deo precabantur, ut bene & profptre ilia
tarn periculofa navigatio omnibus eveniret,
& univerfi re bene gefta incolumes in pa-
triam redircnt.
A a 2
To
iS2 THE L U S I A D, Book IV.
i
To weigh our anchors from our native fhore
To dare new oceans never dared before
Perhaps to fee my native coaft no more
Forgive, O king, if as a man I feel,
I bear no bofom of obdurate fteel.
(The godlike hero here fupprefl the figh,
And wiped the tear-drop from his manly eye j "^ h
Then thus refuming — ) All the peopled fhore
An awful, filent look of anguifh wore j '
Affe6lion, friendfhip, all the kindred ties
Of fpoufe and parent languifh'd in their eyes :
As men they never fhould again behold,
Self-ofFer'd vi6lims to deftru6lion fold,
On us they fixt the €ager look of woe.
While tears o'er every cheek began to flow j
When thus aloud, Alas ! my fon, my fon.
An hoary Sire exclaims, oh ! whither run.
My heart's fole joy, my trembling age's ftay,
To yield thy limbs the dread fea-monfler's prey !
To feek thy burial in the raging wave.
And leave me cheerlefs linking to the grave !
Was it for this I watch'd thy tender years.
And bore each fever of a father's fears I
Alas ! my boy ! — His voice is heard no more,
The female fhriek refounds along the fhore:
With
Book IV. THE L U S I A D. 183
With hair diflievell'd, through the yielding crowd
A lovely bride fp rings on, and fcreams aloud ;
Oh ! where, my hufband, where to feas unknown,
Where would'fl thou fly me, and my love difown !
And wilt thou, cruel, to the deep confign
That valued life, the joy, the foul of mine:
And mufl our loves, and all our kindred train
Of rapt endearments, all expire in vain !
All the dear tranfports of the warm embrace.
When mutual love Lnfpired each raptured face i
Mud all, alas ! be fcatter'd in the wind.
Nor thou bellow one lingering look behind !
Such the lorn parents' and the fpoufes' woes.
Such o'er the ftrand the voice of wailing rofe ;
From breall to brcaft the foft contagion crept.
Moved by the woeful found the children w^ept ;
The mountain ecchoes catch the big-fwoln fighs,
And through the dales prolong the matron's cries ;
The yellow fands with tears are filver'd o'er.
Our fate the mountains and the beach deplore.
Yet firm we march, nor turn one glance afide
On hoary parent, or on lovely bride.
Though glory fired our hearts, too well we knew
What foft affecSlion and what love could do.
The
1^4 THE L U S I A D.
The lad embrace the braveft word can bear
The bitter yearnhigs of the parting tear
Sullen we fhun, unable to fuftain
The melting pafTion of fuch tender pain.
Book IV,
Now on the lofty decks prepared we ftand,
When towering o'er the crowd that veil'd the ftrand,
A reverend ^ figure fixt each wondering eye,
And beckoning thrice he waved his hand on high.
And thrice his hoary curls he fternly fhook.
While grief and anger mingled in his look j
m
^ By this old man is perfonified the po-
pulace of Portugal. The endeavours todif-
cover the Eaft-Indies by the Southern ocean,
for about eighty years had been the
favourite topic of complaint ; and never
ivas any meafure of government more un-
popular than the expedition of Gama. Em-
manuel's council were almoft unanimous
againft the attempt. Some dreaded the in-
troduction of wealth, and its attendants
luxury and eiFeminacy ; while others affirm-
ed, that no adequate advantages could arife
from fo perilous and remote a navigation.
Others, with a forefight peculiar to Politi-
cians, were alarmed, left the Egyptian
Sultan, who was powerful in the Eaft,
fhould fignify his difpleafure ; and others
forcfaw, that fuccefs would combine all the
Princes of Chriftendom in a league for the
deftruft ion of Portugal. In Ihort, if glory, in-
tereft, or the propagation of the gofpel, were
defired, Africa and Ethiopia, they faid, afford-
ed, both nearer and more advantageous fields.
The expreffions of the thoufands who croud-
ed the (hore when Gama gave his fails to
the wind, are thus exprefled by OJbrius,
from whom the above fadls are felefted. —
A multis tamen interim is fletus atque la-
mentatio fiebat, ut funus efferre viderentur.
Sic enim dicebant : En quo miferos mor-
tales provexit cupiditas et ambitio ? Potuit-
ne gravius fupplicium hominibus iftis con-
ftitui, fi in fe fceleflum aliquod facinus ad-
mififlent? Eft enim illis immenfi maris
longitudo peragranda, fiudlus immanes dif-
ficillima navigatione fuperandi, vita; difcri-
men in locis infinitis obeundum. Non fuit
multo tolerabilius, in terra quovis genere
mortis abfumi, quam tam procul a patria"
marinis fludlibus fepeliri. Ha;c et alia
multa in hanc fententiam dicebant, cum
omnia multo triftiora lingere prze metu co-
gerentur. The tender emotion and fixt
refolution of Gama, and the earneft paffion
of the multitudes on the fhore, are thus
added by the fame venerable hiftorian :
Gama tamen quamvis lacrymas fuorum de-
fiderio funderet, rei tamen bene gcrendae
fiducia confirmatus, alacriter in navem fauftis
ominibus confcendit .Qui in littore
confiftebant, non prius abfcedere voluerunt,
quam naves vento fecundo pleniffimis velia
ab omnium confpeftu remotas funt.
Then
Book IV. THE L U S I A D.
Then to its height his faultering voice he rear'd,
And through the fleet thefe awful words were heard :
O frantic thirft of honour and of fame,
The crowd's bHnd tribute, a fallacious name ;
What flings, what plagues, what fecret fcourges curft,
Torment thofe bofdms where thy pride is nurft !
What dangers threaten, and what deaths deflroy
The haplefs youth, whom thy vain gleams decoy !
By thee, dire Tyrant of the noble mind.
What dreadful woes are pour'd on human kind :
Kingdoms and Empires in confufion hurl'd.
What ftreams of gore have drench'd the haplefs world !
Thou dazzling meteor, vain as fleeting air.
What new-dread horror doft thou now prepare !
High founds thy voice of India's pearly fliore,
Of endlefs triumphs and of countlefs fl:ore :
Of other worlds fo tower'd thy fwelling boafl:.
Thy golden dreams when Paradife was lofl:.
When thy big promife fl:eep'd the world in gore.
And Ample innocence was known no more.
And fay, has fame fo dear, fo dazzling charms ?
Muft brutal fiercenefs and the trade of arms,
Conquefl:, and laurels dipt in blood, be prized,
While life is fcorn'd, and all its joys defpifed.
And fay, does zeal for holy faith infpire
To fpread its mandates, thy avow'd defire ?
18
Behold
i86 THE L U S I AD. Book IV.
Behold the Hagarene in armour Hands,
Treads on thy borders, and the foe demands :
A thoufand cities own his lordly fway,
A thoufand various fhores his nod obey.
Through all thefe regions, all thefe cities, fcorn'd
Is thy religion, and thine altars fprun'd.
A foe renown'd in arms the brave require ;
That high-plumed foe, renown'd for martial fire,
Before thy gates his fhining fpear difplays,
Whilft thou wouldll fondly dare the watery maze.
Enfeebled leave thy native land behind,
On fhores unknown a foe unknown to find.
Oh ! madnefs of ambition ! thus to dare
Dangers fo fruitlefs, fo remote a war !
That Fame's vain flattery may thy name adorn,
And thy proud titles on her flag be borne :
Thee, Lord of Perfia, thee, of India Lord,
O'er Ethiopia's vafl, and Araby adored !
Curfl: be the man who firft on floating wood,
Forfook the beach, and braved the treacherous flood !
Oh ! never, never may the facred Nine,
To crown his brows, the hallow'd wreath entwine -,
Nor may his name to future times refound.
Oblivion be his meed, and hell profound !
Curfl
Book IV. THE L U S I A D. 187
Curft be the wretch, the fire of heaven who ftole.
And with ambition firft debauch'd the foul!
What woes, Prometheus, walk the frighten'd earth !
To what dread flaughter has thy pride given birth !
On proud Ambition's pleafmg gales upborne.
One boafls to guide the chariot of the morn ;
And one on treacherous pinions foaring * high,
O'er ocean's v^aves would fail the liquid Iky :
Dafh'd from their height they mourn'd their blighted aim ;
One gives a river, one a fea the name !
Alas ! the poor reward of that gay meteor Fame !
Yet fuch the fury of the mortal race.
Though Fame's fair promife ends in foul difgrace,
Though conquefl flill the vi6lor's hope betrays.
The prize a fhadow, or a rainbow blaze.
Yet flill through fire and raging feas they run
To catch the gilded fhade, and fink undone !
' Alluding to the fables of Phaeton and that could poflibly tend to magnify the
Icarus. dangers and difficulties of the wanderings
of ^neas, in his long fearch for the pro-
The departure of the fleet from the Tagus, mifed Italy, is fet before us in the fulleft
In no circumflance does the judgment magnitude. But, however, this method of
-and art of Homer appear rnore con fpicuous, ennobling the Epic by paying the utmoll
than in the conftant attention he pays to his attention to give a grandeur to every cir-
propofed fubjefts, the wrath of Achilles, cumftance of the propofed fubjeft, may have
and the fufFerings of UlyfTes. He beftows been neglefted by Voltaire in his Heiiriade,
the utmoft care on every incident that could (where political declamation fcems to have
poflibly imprefs our minds with high ideas been his principal care,) and by fome other
of the determined rage of the injured hero, moderns, who have attempted the Epopea ; it
and cfihe invincible patience of the 7ro^^T^«; has not been omitted bv Camocns. The
^ro«'0^i.'<r^tv?.Virgil throughout the Eneid has Portuguefe Poet has, with great art, con-
followed the fame courfe. Every incident duded the voyage of Gama. Every cir-
^ b cumllancc
^ / ^^
i8R
THE
L U S I A D.
Book IV.
cumftance attending it is reprefented with
magnificence and dignity. John II. defigns
what had never been attempted before. Mef-
fengers are fent by land to difcover the
climate and riches of India. Their rout is
defcribed in the manner of Homer. The
palm of difcovery, however, is referved for
a fucceeding monarch. Emmanuel is warn-
ed by a dream, which affords another ftrik-
ing inftance of the fpirit of the Grecian
Bard. The enthufiafm which the king be-
holds . on the afpeft of Gama is a noble
ftroke of poetry ; the folemnity of the night
fpent in devotion ; the fuUen refolution of
the Adventurers when going aboard the
fleet ; the affefting grief of their friends
and fellow-citizens, who viewed them as
felf-devoted viflims, whom they were never
more to behold ; and the angry exclama-
tions of the venerable old man, give a dig-
nity and interefting pathos tp the departure
of the fleet of Gama, greatly fuperior to
that in the Encid, where the Trojans leave
a coljpjay of Invalids in Sicily. In the Odyf-
fey there is nothing which can be callgd
iimilar.
END OF THE FOURTH BOOK.
THE
L U S I A D-
BOOK V.
TT7HILE on the beach the hoary father flood
^ ^ And fpoke the murmurs of the multitude,
We fpread the canvas to the rifing gales.
The gentle winds diftend the fnowy fails.
As from our dear-loved native fhore v^e fly
Our votive fhouts, redoubled, rend the fky ;
" Succefs, fuccefs," far ecchoes o'er the tide,
While our broad hulks the foamy waves divide.
From Leo now, the lordly ftar of day,
Intenfely blazing, fhot his fierceft ray ;
When flowly gliding from our wifhful eyes.
The Lufian mountains mingled with the fkies;
B b 2 Tago's
190 THE L U S I A D. Book V.
Tago's loved ftream, and Syntra's mountains cold
Dim fading now, we now no more behold ;
And flill with yearning hearts our eyes explore,
Till one dim fpeck of land appears no more.
Our native foil now far behind, we ply
The lonely dreary wafte of feas and boundlefs iky ;
Through the wild deep our venturous navy bore.
Where but our Henry plough'd the wave * before :
The verdant iflands, firft by him defcry'd,
We paft 5 and now in profpe6l opening wide,
Far to the left, increafing on the view,
Rofe Mauritania's hills of paly blue :
Far to the right the reftlefs ocean roared,
Whofe bounding furges never keel explored j
If bounding fhore, as Reafon deems, divide
The vaft Atlantic from the Indian " tide.
Now from her woods, with fragrant bowers adorn'd.
From fair Madeira's purple coafl we " turn'd :
Cyprus and Paphos' vales the fmiling loves
Might leave with joy for fair Madeira's groves j
■ See the life of Don Henry, Prince of ' Called by the ancients In/ula Purpura-
Portugal, in the Preface. riee. Now Madeira and Porto SanBo. The
'' The difcovcry of fome of the Weft-Indian former was fo named by Juan Gonzales,
iflands by Columbus was made in 1 492 and and Triftan Vaz, from the Spanifh word
1493. His difcovery of the continent of Madera^ wood. Thefe difcoverers were
America was not till 1498. The fleet of fen t out by the great Don Henry.
,Gama failed from the Tagus in 1497.
A fhore
Book V. THE L U S I A D. J91
A fliore fo flowery, and fo fweet an air,
Venus might build her deareft temple there.
Onward we pafs Maflilia's barren ftrand,
A wafte of wither'd grafs and burning fand ; ^ ^
Where his thin herds the meagre native leads.
Where not a rivulet laves the doleful meads ;
Nor herbs nor fruitage deck the woodland maze 5
O'er the wild wafte the ftupid oftrich ftrays,
In devious fearch to pick her fcanty meal,
Whofe fierce digeftion gnaws the temper'd fteel.
From the green verge, where Tigitania ends.
To Ethiopia's line the dreary wild extends.
Now paft the limit, which his courfe divides,
When to the North the Sun's bright chariot rides,
We leave the winding bays and fwarthy fhores.
Where Senegal's black wave impetuous roars 3
A flood, whofe courfe a thoufand tribes furveys.
The tribes who blacken'd in the fiery blaze, ^^ A
When Phaeton, devious from the folar height.
Gave Afric's fons the fable hue of night.
And now from far the Lybian cape is feen.
Now by my mandate named the Cape of '^ Green -,
Where midft the billows of the ocean fmiles
A flowery fifter-train, the happy ifles,
* Called by Ptolemy Ca/>ut Afmarium.
Our
192
THE LUSIAD.
Book V,
Our onward prows the murmuring furges lave j
And now our veflels plough the gentle wave,
Where the blue iflands, named of Hefper old,
Their fruitful bofoms to the deep unfold.
Here changeful Nature (hews her various face,
And frolicks o'er the flopes with wildefl grace :
Here our bold fleet their ponderous anchors threw,
The lickly cherifh, and our ftores renew.
From him, the warlike guardian power of Spain,
Whofe fpear's dread lightning o'er th' embattled plain
Has oft o'erwhelm'd the Moors in dire difmay.
And fixt the fortune of the doubtful day j
From him we name our flation of repair,
And Jago's name that ifle fhall ever bear.
The northern winds now curl'd the blackening main,
Our fails unfurl'd we plough the tide again :
Round Afric's coaft our winding courfe we fleer,
Where bending to the Eafl the fhores appear.
Here Jalofo its wide e:xtent ' difplays.
And vafl Mandinga fhews its .numerous bays ;
* The province of Jalofo lies between the
two rivers, the Gambea and the Zanago.
The latter has other names in the feveral
countries through which it runs. In its
courfe it makes many iflands, inhabited only
by wild bcafts. It is navigable 150 leagues, *
at the end of which it is crofTed by a ftu-
pcndous ridge of perpendicular rocks, over
which the river ruflies with fuch violence,
that travellers pafs under it without any
other inconveniency than the prodigious
noife. The Gambea, or Rio Grande runs
1 80 leagues, but is not fo far navigable. It
carries more water, and runs with lefs noife
than the other, though filled with many
rivers which water the country of Mandinga.
Both rivers are branches ©f the Niger.
Their waters have this remarkable quality ;
when
Book V. THE L U S- I A D. 193
Whofe mountains' fides, though parch'd and barren, hold,
In copious ftore, the feeds of beamy ^ gold.
The Gambea here his ferpent journey takes,
And through the lawns a thoufand windings makes 5
A thoufand fwarthy tribes his current laves
Ere mix his waters with th' Atlantic waves.
The Gorgades we pafl, that hated ^ fliore,
Famed for its terrors by the bards of yore i
Where but one eye by Phorcus' daughters lliared.
The lorn beholders into marble ftared ;
Three dreadful fifters ! down whofe tenlples roll'd
Their hair of fnakes in many a hilling fold,
And fcattering horror o'er the dreary ftrand.
With fwarms of vipers fow'd the burning fand.
Still to the fouth our pointed keels we guide,.
And through the Auftral gulph ftill onward ride :
Her palmy forefts mingling with the Ikies,
Leona's rugged fleep behind us flies ;
when mixed together they operate as an E Contra hoc promontorium (Hefperion-
emetic, tut when feparate do not. They ceras) Gorgades infula; narrantur, Gorgo-
abound with great variety of fiHies, and their num quondam domus, bidui navigatione
banks are covered with horfes, crocodiles, diftantes a continente, ut tradit Xenophon
winged ferpents, elephants, ounces, wild Lampfacenus. Penetravit in eas Hanno Pce-
boars, with great numbers of others, won norum imperator, prodiditque hirta foemi-
derful for the variety of their nature and narum corpora vires pernicitate evafi/Te, dua-
diiFerent forms. Fana y Sou/a. rumque Gorgonum cutes argumenti et mira-
^ TombctUf the mart of Mand'nga gold, culi gratia in Junonis templo pofuit, fpec-
was greatly refortcd to by the merchants of tatas ufque ad Carthaginem captam. Plin.
Grand Cairo, Tunis, Oran, Tremifen, Hift. Nat. 1. 6. c. 31.
Fez, Morocco, &c.
, ' .• The
»
194
THE
L U S I A D.
Book V.
*?^J
A^/i^M
The cape of palms that jutting land we name,
Ah^eady confcious of our nation's ^ fame.
Where the vext waves againft our bulwarks roar,
And Lufian towers overlook the bending fhore :
Our fails wide fwelling to the conflant blaft,
Now by the ifle from Thomas named we pafl ;
And Congo's fpacious realm before us rofe.
Where copious Layra's limpid billow flows j
A flood by ancient hero never feen,
Where many a temple o'er the banks of ' green,
Rear'd by the Lufian heroes, through the night
Of Pagan darknefs, pours the mental light.
Behind us now the northern ocean fl:reams 5
Lower and lower ftill the Pole-flar gleams,
4.i.i CU^tCC'
U fl» r**^**^ ^ During the reign of John II. the Por-
tuguefe eredled feveral fcrts, and acquired
^ fn OU/V*- great power in the extenfive regions of Gui-
I -.^nea. Jzambuja, a Portuguefe captain,
f^Pf » j4/LXX*<J^ having obtained leave from Caraman/a, a
J . Negro Prince, to ereft a fort on' his terri-
L «* tories, an unlucky accident • had almoll
proved fatal to the difcoverers. A huge
r^ rock lay very commodious for a quarry ;
the workmen began on it ; but this rock,
as the Devil would have it, happened to be
a Negro God. The Portuguefe were driven
away by the enraged vvorfoippers, who were
afterwards with difficulty pacified by a pro-
fufion of fuch prefents as they moft efteemed.
' The Portuguefe having brought an Am-
bafTador from Congo to Lifbon fent him
back inftrudcd in the faith. By this means
the King, Queen, and about ioo,coo of
the people were baptized ; the idols Were
deftro'vcd and churclies built. Soon after
c^tnp
%o^y^
the Prince, who was then abfent at war,
was baptized by the name of Aicnzc. His tejg^
younger brother, Aquitimo, however, would ^[\f n J
not receive the faith, and the father, be- /Krl^flf lAjC/ri
caiife allowed only one wife, turned apof- 4fj %y%y%^
tate, and left the crown to his Pagan fon, t''^'^^ XXK^ '
who, with a great army, furrounded his
brother, when only attended by fome Por-
tuguefe and Chriftian Blacks, in all only
thirty-feven. By the bravery of thefe, how-
ever, Aquitimo Tvas defeated, taken, and
flain. One of Aquitimo^s officers declared,
they were not defeated by the thirty-feven
Chriftians, but by a glorious army who
fought under a fliining crofs. The idols
were again dellroyed, and Alonzo fent his
fons, grandfons, and nephews to Portugal
to fludy ; two of whom were aftervrards
bifhops in Congo. Extracted from Faria y
Sou/a. ^ / /f) /
^ht^ a €^ -k.
J(0^{O^
'X^t*Y^
fc-rci^
l^So^.
inruc
tct
W7
(i^MJ<CM^CUi^ l^^ '^ fpOfO |jitP (^ i^fl^
Book V. THE L U S I A D/ 195
Till pad the limit, where the car of day
RoU'd o'er our heads, and pour'd the downward ray :
We now beheld Califlo's ftar ^ retire
Beneath the waves; vinawed by Juno's ire. •
Here, while the ,$^n his polar journeys takes,
His vifit doubled, double feafons makes ^
Stern winter twice deforms the changeful year,
And twice the fpring's gay flowers their honours rear.
Now preffing onward, paft the burning zone.
Another heaven to ancient times unknown,
Its arch'd expanfe of -deeper azure fhews ;
Before us now another Pole Star glows :
Here gloomy night aflumes a darker reign.
And fewer ftars infpire the heavenly plain ;
Fewer than thofe that gild the northern pole.
And o'er our feas their glittering chariots roll :
Full to the fouth a fhining crofs ' appears.
Our heaving breafts the blifsful Omen cheers :
^ According to fable, Califto was a from the appearance of that figure formed by
nymph of Diana. Jupiter having afTumed feven ftars, four of which are particularly
the figure of that goddefs, completed his luminous. Dante, who wrote before the
amorous defires. On the difcovery of her difcovery of the fouthern hemifphere, has
pregnancy Diana drove her from her train. thefe remarkable lines in the firlt canto of
She fled to the woods, where i\\c was deli- his Purgatorio.
vered of a fon. Juno changedthem into r „i ^,,iji a mar, M.-a, e p^ft mnu
bears, and Jupiter placed them in heaven. All' airy pnk, e vidi quattn felli
where they form the COnftellation of Ur fa Non-vifle mai, fwr ch' alia prima genu.
major and minor. Juno ilill enraged, en- Voltaire fomewhereobferves, that this looked
treated Thetis never to fufFer Califto to bathe like a prophecy, when, in the fucceeding
in the fea. This is founded on the appear- age, thefe four ftars were known to be near
ance of the northern pole-ftar, to the inha- the Antartic pole. Dante, however, fpoke
bitants of our hemifphere : but when Gama allegorically of the four cardinal virtues,
approached the auftral pole, the northern. In the fouthern hemifphere, as Camoens
■ ofconfeqaence, difappearcd under the waves. obferves, the nights are darker than in the
' The COnftellation of the fouthern pole was northern, the fkies being adorned with much
called The Crojs by the Portuguefe failors, fewer ftars.
C c Seven
J96 THE LUSIAD. BookV.
Seven radiant ftars compofe the hallow'd fign
That rofe ftill higher o'er the wavy brine.
Beneath this fouthern axle of the world
Never, with daring fearch, was flag unfurl'd;
Nor pilot knows if bounding fhores are placed,
Or if one dreary fea overflow the lonely wafte.
While thus our keels ftill onward boldly ftray*d»
Now toft by tempefts, now by calms delay'd,
To tell the terrors of the deep untry'd.
What toils we fuffer'd, and what ftorms defy'd;
What rattling deluges the black clouds pour'd,
What dreary weeks of folid darknefs lour'd -,
What mountain furges mountain furges lafti'd,
What fudden hurricanes the canvas dafti'd j
What burfting lightnings, with inceflant flare,
Kindled in one wide flame the burning air ;
What roaring thunders bellow'd o'er our head,
And feem'd to fhake the reeling ocean's bed :
To tell each horror on the deep reveal'd.
Would alk an iron throat with tenfold vigour " fteel'd:
Thofe dreadful wonders of the deep I faw,
Which fill the failor's breaft with facred awe ^
No», mibi Ji lingua centum funty oraque cefitunty
ferrea voXf omnes fcelerum comprendere formas. En. VI.
And
Book V. THE LUSIAD. .ip7
And which the fages, of their learning vain,
Efteem the phantoms of the dreamful brain : //;:(}
That living fire, by fearmen held " divine.
Of heaven's own care in florms the holy %n,
Which midil the horrors of the tempeft plays,
And on the blaft's dark wings will gaily blaze 5
Thofe eyes diflinft have feen that living fire
Glide through the florm, and round my fails afpire'.
And oft, while wonder thrill'd my breafl, mine eyes
To heaven have f^en the watery columns rife.
Slender at firft the fubtle fume appears,
And writhing round and round its volume rears :
Thick as a maft the vapour fwells its fize,
A curling whirlwind lifts it to the fkies ;
The tube now flraitens, now in width extends.
And in a hovering claud its fummit ends : '
Still gulp on gulp it fucks the rifing tide.
And now the cloud, with cumbrous weight fupply'd,
" That linjing fire t by fea-men held di'vine In the expedition of the Golden Fleece,
———Is thus accounted for in natural hiflory. in a violent tempeft thefe fires were feen to
The fulphureous vapours of the air, after hover over the heads of Caftor and Pollux,
being violently agitated by a tempeft, unite, who were two of the Argonauts, and a
and when the humidity begins to fubfide, as calm immediately enfued. After the apo-
is the cafe when the ftorm is almoft ex- theofes of thefe heroes, the Grecian failors
Jiaufted, by the agitation of their atoms they invoked thefe fires by the names of Caftor
take fire, and are attracted by the mafts and Pollux, or the fans of Jupiter. The
and cordage of the fhip. Bemg thus na- Athenians called them Swt^^s?, Sa'viours ;
turally the pledges of the approaching calm, and Homer, in his hymn to Caftor and Pol-
it is no wonder that the fuperftition of lux, fays,
failors ftiould in all ages have efteemed them
divine, and Natural? cr^ftceTa itaXa iro¥ti c^»5"ii', o( ^g l^orrti
6f htavens »v)n care injiormt the baljjign, r»,9>}(rav, iru-vc-ctyra S oV^v^o»e irL»oio,
C c 2 Full-
^9^ THE L U S I A D. Book V.
Full-gorged, and blackening, fpreads, and moves, more flow,
And waving trembles to the waves below.
Thus when to fliun the fummer's fultry beam
The thirfty heifer feeks the cooling ftream,
The eager horfe-leech fixing on her lips,
Her blood with ardent throat infatiate fips.
Till the gorged glutton, fwell'd beyond her fize,
Drops from her wounded hold, and burfting dies.
So burfls the cloud, o'erloaded with its freight.
And the dafh'd ocean ftaggers with the weight.
But fay, ye fages, who can weigh the caufe.
And trace the fecret fprings of Nature's laws.
Say, why the wave, of bitter brine erewhile.
Should to the bofom of the deep recoil
Robb'd of its fait, and from the cloud diftill
Sweet as the waters of the limpid " rill ?
Ye fons of boaftful wifdom, famed of yore,
Whofe feet unwearied wander'd many a fhore.
From Nature's wonders to withdraw the veil.
Had you with me unfurl'd the daring fail.
" In this book, particularly in the defcrip- •vacatur et columna., cum fpijfatus humor rt-
tion of Maffilia, the Gorgades, the fires gen/que ipfe fe fujiijiet, et in longam 'veluti
called Caftor and Pollux, and the water- Jijliilam nuhes aqua?n trahit. When the vio-
ijpout, Careoens has happily imitated the lent heat attrafts the waters to rife in the
manner of Lucan. It is probable that Ca- form of a tube, the marine falts are left
moens, in his voyage t© the Eaft-Indies, was behind by the aftion of rarefafticn, being
an eye witnefs of the phenomena of the too grofs and fixed to afcend. It is thus,
fires and water-fpout. The latter is thus when the overloaded vapour burfts, that it
defcribed by Pliny, 1. 2. c. 51. Fit et ca- defcends
ligOy belluiV fimilis niibes dira nwvigantibus Sweet as tie -waters of the limpid riff.
Had
Book V. THE L U S I A D. 199
Had view'd the wondrous fcenes mine eyes furvey'd,
What feeming miracles the deep difplay'd,
What fecret virtues various Nature fhew'd,
Oh ! heaven 1 with what a fire your page had glow'd !
And now fince wandering o'er the foamy fpray,
Our brave Armada held her venturous way, '
Five times the changeful Emprefs of the night
Had fiU'd her fliining horns with filver light,
When fudden from the main-top's airy round
Land, land, is ecchoed — At the joyful found.
Swift to the crowded decks the bounding crew
On wings of hope and fluttering tranfport flew.
And each fl:rain'd eye with aching fight explores
The wide horizon of the eaftern fliores : /j /)
As thin blue clouds the mountain fummits rife.
And now the lawns falute our joyful eyes^
Loud through the fleet the ecchoing fliouts prevail,
We drop the anchor, and refl:rain the fail ;
And now defcending in a fpacious bay,
Wide o'er the coafl: the venturous foldiers ilray.
To fpy the wonders of the fpacious fliore.
Where ft:ranger*s foot had never trod before.
I and my pilots on the yellow fand
Explore beneath what fky the fliores expand.
That
200 1 H E L U S I A D. Book V.
That fage device, whofe wonderous ufe proclaims
Th' immortal honour of its authors' ^ names,
The Sun's height meafured, and my compafs fcann'd.
The painted globe of ocean and of land.
Here we perceived our venturous keels had paft
Unharm'd the v^intery tropick's howling blaft -,
And now approach'd dread Neptune's fecret reign.
Where the flern Power, as o'er the frozen plain
He rides, wide fcatters from the polar flar
Hail, ice, and fnow, and all the wintery war.
While thus attentive on the beach we flood,
My foldiers, haflening from the upland wood,
Right to the fhore a trembling Negro brought.
Whom on the foreft-height by force they caught,
As diflant wander'd from the call of . home,
He fuck'd the honey from the porous comb.
Horror glared in his look, and fear extreme
In mein more wild than brutal Polypheme :
No word of rich Arabia's tongue he knew.
Nor fign could anfwer, nor our gems would view :
From garments flriped with fhining gold he turn'd.
The flarry diamond and the filver fpurn'd.
P T/jat fage de'vice — The Aftrolabium, II. by two Jew Phyficians, named Roderic
an inftrument of infinite fervice in naviga- and Jofeph. It is aflerted by fome that they
tion, by which the altitude of the fun, and were affifted by Martin of Bohemia, a cele-
diftance of the ftars is taken. Jt was in- brated Mathematician. Partty from Caftera.
vented in Portugal during the reign of John Vid. Barros, Dec. i. I. 4. c. 2.
Strait
Book V. THE L U S I A D. 201
Strait at my nod are worthlefs trinkets brought ;
Round beads of chryftal as a bracelet wrought,
A cap of ^ red, and dangling on a firing
Some little bells of brafs before him ring :
A wide-mouth'd laugh confeft his barbarous joy.
And both his hands he raifed to grafp the toy.
Pleafed with thefe gifts we fet the favage free,
Homeward he fprings away, and bounds with glee.
Soon as the gleamy ftreaks of purple morn
The lofty foreft's topmoft boughs adorn,
Down the fteep mountain's fide, yet hoar with dew,
A naked crowd, and black as night their hue.
Come tripping to the fliore : Their wifhful eyes
Declare what tawdry trifles moft they prize :
Thefe to their hopes were given, and, void of fear.
Mild feem'd their manners, and their looks fincere,
A bold rafli youth, ambitious of the fame
Of brave adventurer, Velofe his name, f S
Through pathlefs brakes their homeward fleps attends.
And on his fmgle arm for help depends.
Long was his flay : my earnefl eyes explore.
When rufhing down the mountain to the fhore
I mark'd him i terror urged his rapid flrides.
And foon Coello's fkifF the wave divides.
Yet
202 THE L U S I A D. Book V.
Yet ere his friends advanced, the treacherous foe
Trod on his lateft fleps, and aim'd the blow.
Moved by the danger of a youth fo brave,
Myfelf now fnatch'd an oar, and fprung to fave :
When fudden, blackening down the mountain's height,
Another crowd purfued his panting flight ^
And foon an arrowy and a flinty fliower
Thick o'er our heads the fierce barbarians pour.
Nor pour'd in vain 5 a feather'd arrow fl:ood
Fix'd '^ in my leg, and drank the gufliing blood.
^ Camoens, in defcribing the adventure
of Fernando Vtlofo, by departing from the
truth of hiftory, has ihevvn his judgment as
a Poet. The Place where the Portuguefe
landed they named the Bay of St. Helen.
They caught one of two negroes, fays
Faria, who were bufied in gathering honey
on a mountain. Their behaviour to tlus
favage, whom they gratified with a red cap,
fome glafles and bells, induced him to bring
a number of his companions for the like
trifles. Though fome who accompanied
Gama were fkilled in the various Ethiopic
languages, not one of the natives could
underftand them. A commtrce however
was commenced by figns and geftures.
G.ama behaved to them with great -civility ;
the fleet was chearfully fapplied with frefli
provifions, for which the natives received
cloaths and trinkets. But this friendihip
was foon interrupted by a young rafti Por-
tuguefe. Having contrafled an intimacy
with fome of the negroes, he obtained leave
to penetrate into the country along with
them, to obferve their habitations and
fl.reno-th. They conducted him to their
huts with great good nature, and placed
before him, what they eileemed an elegant
repaft, a fea-calf drefll'd in the way of
their country. This fo much difgufled the
delicate Portuguefe, that he inftantlygot up
and abruptly leit them. Nor did they op-
polb his departure, but accompanied him
with the greateli: innocence. As fear, how-
ever is always jealous, he imagined they
were leading him as a vidim to flaughter.
^f^D fooner did he come near the ftiips, than
he called aloud for afliftance, Coello's boat
immediately fet off for hi^ refcue. The
Etliiopians fled to the woods ; and now
efl:eeming the Portuguefe as a band of lavv-
lefs plunderers, they provided themfelvcs
with arms, and lay in ambufli. Their
weapons were javelins, headed with ftiort
pieces of horn, which they throw with
great dexterity. Soon after, while Gama
and fome of his officers were on the fliore
taking the altitude of the fun by the aftrola-
bium, they v/ere fuddenly and with great
fury attacked by the ambufti from the woods.
Several were much wounded, muhos ctti'vul-
nerant, inter quosGamain pede 'vulnus accetity
and Gama received a wound in the foot.
Tiie Admiral made a fpeedy retreat to the
fleet, prudently chufing rather to leave the
negroes the honour of the vifiory, than to
rifque the life of one man in a quarrel fo
foreign to the defcination of his expedition,
and where, to imprefs the terror of his arms
could be of no fervice to his intereft. When
he came nearer to the Eaft-Indies he afted
in a dificrent manner. He then made him-
fclf dreaded whenever the treachery of the
natives provoked his refentment. Colleded
from Faria and Oforius,
engeance
Book V. THE L U S I A D. 203
Vengeance as fudden every wound repays,
Full on their fronts our flafhing lightnings blaze j
Their fhrieks of horror inftant pierce the fky,
And wing'd with fear at fulleft fpeed they fly.
Long tracks of gore their fcatter'd flight betray'd,
And now Velofo to the fleet convey'd,
His fportful mates his brave exploits demand,
And what the curious wonders of the land :
" Hard was the hill to climb, my valiant friend,
" But oh ! how fmooth and eafy to defcend !
" Well haft thou proved thy fwiftnefs for the chace,
" And fliewn thy matchlefs merit in the race !"
With look unmoved the gallant youth reply'd,
" For you, my friends, my fleeteft fpeed was try'd j
" 'Twas you the fierce barbarians meant to flay ;
" For you I fear'd the fortune of the day j
" Your danger great without mine aid 1 knew,
" And ' fwift as lightning to your refcue flew,"
' The critics, particularly the French, oyjlers, nor nvoiild the Jiorms frighten him.
have vehemently declaimed againft the leaft See honx) he dives from his chariot dcwn t»
mixture of the Comic, with the dignity of the fand ! What excellent di'vers are the
the Epic Poem. It is needlefs to enter into Trojans! Virgil, the moll judicious of all
any defence of this paflage of Camoens, Poets, dcfcends even to burlefque, where
farther than to obferve, that Homer, Virgil, the commander of a galley tumbles the
and Milton have offended the critics in the Pilot into the fea :
fame manner,^ and that this piece of raillery Segnemque Mer«ten
in the Lufiad is by much the politeft, and the I" mare fracifhcm puppi deturbat ab aha.
leaft reprehenfible of any thing of the kind ^' S''"'^'' utfundo -vix tandem reddhui imo ejt
in the four Poets. In Homer are feveral Jamfen.ormadjdaquefluens.n^efteMcn^t^^^
„ , r\ -11 Ti 11 • . .., . bumma petit Jcopulijiccaaue in rupe rcfedtt.
ftrokes of low raillery.PatrOCluS havmg killed ///„« etlabentem rLri, et riferenatamtm }
Hedor's charioteer, puns thus on his fud- Et falfoj rident revomentem peSfore fluaus.
den fall. *♦ // is a pity he is net nearer the And though the charadler of the fpeakers,
fea ! He nvoulJ foon catch abundance of the ingenious defence which has been of-
D d fered
204 THE L U S I A D. Book V.
He now the treafon of the foe relates,
How foon, as paft the mountain's upland ftraits,
They changed the colour of their friendly iliew,
And force forbade his ff eps to tread below :
How down the coverts of the fteepy brake
Their lurking ftand a treacherous ambufh take;.
On us, when fpeeding to defend his flight.
To rufh, and plunge us iii tlie fHades of night :
Nor while in friendfhip wouli theii' lips unfold
Where India's ocean laved the orient ihores of gold..
Now profp'rous gales the bending canvas fwell'd -,
From tliefe rude fhores our fearlefs courfe we held :
Beneath the gliftening wave the God of day
Had now five times withdrawn the parting ray,
When o'er the prow a fudden darknefs fpread.
And flowly floating o'er the mafl:'s tall head
A black cloud hover'd : nor appear'd from far
The moon's pale glimpfe, nor faintly twinkHng fl:ar ;
So deep a gloom the louring vapour cafl:,
Transfixt with awe the bravefl: fl:ood aghafl:.
fered for Milton, may, in fome meafure. As they would dance, yet for a dance they feem'd
vindicate the raillery which he puts into the Somewhat extravagant and wild, perhaps
mouths of Satan and Belial, the lownefs of l^'iZZtUut'^^^^^T^TT r
. . 1 • V .V . r o T° whom thus Belial, in like gamefome mood.
It, when compared with that ot Lainoens, Leader, the termi we fent were terms of weight,
muft IHU b© acknowledged. Talking of Of hard contents, and full offeree urg'd home,
the execution of the diabolical artillery a- Such as we might perceive amus'd them all,
nvong the good angels, they, fays Satan, And ftumbled many-—
° ° t> ' / » / ___ ji,j5 gifj ji^gy jjjyg befide, /j
Flew off, and into flrange vagaries fell They fliisw us when our f at w walk no: upright. sC^S
Meanwhile
BoqkV. T H E L U S I a D. 205
Meanwhile a hollow burfling roar refounds,
As when hoarfe furges lafh their rocky mounds ;
Nor had the blackening wave, nor frowning heaven
The wonted figns of gathering tempeft given.
Amazed we flood — O thou, our fortune's guide,
Avert this Omen, mighty God, ' — I cried -,
Or through forbidden climes adventrous ftray'd.
Have we the fecrets of the deep furvey'd,
Which thefe wide folitudes of feas and fky
"Were doom'd to hide from man's unhallow'd eye ?
Whate'er this prodigy, it threatens more
Than midnight tempefts and the mingled roar.
When fea and iky combine to rock the marble ihore.
I fpoke, when rifmg through the darken'd air,
Appall'd we faw an hideous Phantom glare ;
High and enormous o'er the flood he tower'd.
And thwart our way with fullen afpe6l lour'd ;
An earthy palenefs o'er his cheeks was fpread,
Ere6l uprofc his hairs of wither'd red j
Writhing to fpeak his fable lips difclofe.
Sharp and disjoin'd, his gnafliing teeth's blue rows ;
His haggard beard flow'd quivering on the wind,
Jlevenge and horror in his mien combined ;
His clouded front, by withering lightnings feared,
The inward anguifh of his :foul declared.
D d 2 His
206
THE L U S I A D.
Book V.
His red eyes glowing from their dufky caves
Shot livid fires : Far ecchoing o'er the waves
His voice refounded, as the cavern'd fhore
With hollow groan repeats thetempeft's roar.
Cold gliding horrors thrill'd each hero's breafl.
Our briftling hairs and tottering knees confeft
Wild dread, the while with vifage ghaftly wari,
His black lips trembling, thus the fiend began :
* The partiality of Tranflators and Editors
is become almoft proverbial. The admi-
ration of their author is fuppofed when they
undertake to introduce him to the public ;
that admiration therefore, may without a
blufh be confefled ; but if the reputation of
judgment is valued, all the jealoufy of cir-
cumfpeftion is neceffary, for the tranfition
from admiration to partiality and hypercri-
ticifm is not only eafy, but to onefelf often
imperceptible. Yet however guarded againft
this partiality of hypercriticifm the Tran-
flator of Camoens may deem himfelf, he is
aware that fome of his colder readers, may
perhaps, in the following inftance accufe
him of it. Regardlefs however of the /ang
froid of thofe who judge by authority and
not by their ov/n feelings, he will venture
to appeal to the few whofe tafte, though
formed by the claffics,is untainted with claf-
fical prejudices. To thefe he will appeal,
and to thefe he will venture the aJlertion,
that the fiftion of the apparition of the Cape
of Tempefls, in fublimity and awful gran-
deur of imagination, ftands unfurpafTed in
human compofition. Voltaire, and the
foreign Critics, have con feffed its merit. —
In the prodigy of the Harpies in the ^Eneid,
neither the
Virginei -volucrum -vuhus, fiedijjjmi ventris
Prc/u-uies, uncaque manus, ct pallida frmfer
Oi a fame I
Though Virgil, to heighten the defcription,
introduces it with
nic fax/tor ulla
f^h tt ira Deum Stygiisfeje extulit undis ;
Nor the prediftlons of the harpy Cel^enOt
can, in point of dignity, bear any com-
parifon with the fiftion of Camoens. The
noble and admired defcription of Fame, in
the fourth ^neid, may feem indeed to
challenge competition :
Fama, malum quojlon aliud "velodus ullum :
M.ohilitate "viget, •vittjque acquirit eundo :
Payva metu prim'b ; mox Jeje altollit in auras,
higrediturque folo, & caput inter nuhila condit t
Illam Terra parens, ira irritata Dectum,
Extrcmam ( ut perhtbent ) Cao Enceladoque fororem
Progenia t ; pedibui celerem ct pernicibus alls ;
Motijirum korrendum, ingens j cui quct funt ccrport
pluma.
Tot •uigiles oculi fubter (mirahik diBu)
Tot lingutx, tot idem ora fonant, tot fubrigit auret.
Node -volat coeli medio terraque, per umbram
Stridens, nee dulci declinat lumina Jomno :
Luce fcdtt cujioi, aut jummi culmine te£ii,
Turribus aut altis, et tnagnui territat urbes.
Fame, the great ill, from fmall beginnings grows;
Swift from ths firft, and every moment brings
New vigour to her flights, new pinions to her
wings
Soon grows the Pigmy to gigantic fize,
Her feet on earth, her forehead in the fkies r
Enraged againft the Cods, revengeful Earth
Produ.ed her lafV of the Titanian biith.
Swift in her walk, more fwiit her winged hafle,
A monftroub phantom, horiiMe and vaft j
As many plumes as raife her lofty flight.
So many piercing eyes enlarge her fight :
Millions of opening mouths to Fame belong.
And every mouth is furniln'd with a tongue.
And round with liftning ears the flying plague
is hung J
She fills the peaceful univerfe with cries.
No flumbers cvercloft her wakeful eyes :
By day from lofty towers her head fhe fliews. .
Dr YD.
The
\
Book V.
THE LUSIAD.
207
O you, the boldeft of the nations, fired
By daring pride, by luft of fame infpired,
Who fcornful of the bowers of fweet repofe.
Through thefe my waves advance your daring prows,
Regardlefs of the lengthening watery way,
And all the florms that own my fovereign fway,
Who mid furrounding rocks and fhelves explore
Where never hero braved my rage before;
Ye fons of Lufus, who with eyes profane
Have view'd the fecrets of my awful reign.
Have pafs'd the bounds which jealous Nature drew
To veil her fecret flirine from mortal view -,
The Mobilitate 'vigei, the Vires acquirit
euncfc, the Par^ua metu prima. Sec. the Ca-
put inter nubila condit, the pluma, oculi
lingua., ora, and aures, the Ncile 'vclaty the
Luce fedet cuftos, and the Magnas territat
urbes, are all very great, and finely ima-
gined. But the whole pifture is the ofF-
fpring of careful attention and judgment;
it is a noble difplay of the calm majefty of
Virgil, but it has not the enthufiafm of that
heat of fpontaneous conception, which the
ancients honoured with the name of infpi-
ration. The fidlion of Camoens, on the
contrary, is the genuine efFufion of the glow
©f }X)eticaI imagination. The defcription
of the fpeftre, the awfulnefs of the pre-
diftion, and the horror that breathes through
the whole, till the phantom is interrupted
by Gama, are in the true fpirit of the wild
and grand terrific of an Homer, or a Shake-
ipeare. But however Camoens may, in
this pafTage, have excelled Virgil, he him-
fclf is infinitely furpaflcd by two paffages of
Holy Writ. " j1 thing ivas fecreth brought
to W7I?," fays the Author of the book of Job,
*' and mine ear recei'ved a little thereof. In
though: s frcm the 'vijions of the night, nvhen
deep fleep falletb on men, fear cams upon mt
and trembling, luhich made all my bones to
fhake : then a fpirit paffed before my face %
the hair of my fiejh food up : It food fill,
but I could not dif em the form thereof: an
image ivas before mine eyes, there ivas flence,
and I heard a 'voice : Shall mortal man be
mure juji than God ! Jhall a man be more
pure than his Maker ! Behold he put no truji
in his fer'vants, and his angels he charged
ivith folly : hoijj much lefs them that d-ivell
in houjes of clay, ivhofe foundation is in the
duf, and nvho are crujhed before the moth !
This whole pafTage, particularly the indif-
tinguilhable form and the filence, are as fupe-
rior to Camoens in the inimitably wild terri-
fic, as the following, from the Apocalypfe, is
in grandeur of defcription. '■'^ And 1 faijj ano-
ther mighty angel corns doivn from heaven^
cloathedivith a cloud, andarainbcw-iuas upon
bis head, his face ivas as it nuere the fun, and
his feet as pillars of fire .... and he fet
bis right foot upon the fea, and his left foot
u^ on the earth, and cried ivith a loud toice,
as <ivhen a lion roareth and he lifted
up his hand to hea'ven, and fauare by Him
that li'veth for efver and evert ^^•^'^^
Time Jhould be no mo^t.
Hear
«o8 THE LUSIAD. Book V.
Hear from my lips what direful woes attend.
And burfling foon fhall o'er your race defcend.
With every bounding keel that dares my rage.
Eternal war my rocks and ftorms fhall wage.
The next proud fleet that through my drear 'domain.
With daring fearch fhall hoifl the flreaming vane.
That gallant navy by my whirlwinds tofl,
And raging feas fhall perifh on my coafl :
Then He who fiift my fecret reign defcried
A naked corfe wide floating o'er the tide
Shall drive Unlefs my heart's full raptures fail,
O Lufus ! oft fhalt thou thy children wail -,
Each year thy fliipwreck'd fons fhalt thou deplore,
Each year thy fheeted mafls fhall flrew my fhore.
With trophies plumed behold an Hero come ',
Ye dreary wilds, prepare his yawning, tomb.
' The next froud fieet. On the return tained feveral great viftories over the Mo-
of Gama to Portugal, a fleet of thirteen Jhammedans and Pagans. He was the firil
fail, under the command of Pedro Alvarez who conquered Quiloa and Mombafla or
Cabral, was fent out on the fecond voyage to Mombaze. On his return to Portugal he
India, where the adniiral with only fix Ihips put into the bay of Saldanna, near the
arrived. The reft were moftly deftroyed Cape of Good Hope, to take in water and
■by a terrible tempeft at the Cape of Good provifions. The rudenefs of one of his
Hope, which lafted twenty days. The fervants produced a quarrel with the Caf-
day-time, fays Faria, was fo dark that the fres, or Hottentots. His attendants, much
failors could fcarcely fee each other, or hear againft his will, forced him to march againft
what was faid for the horrid noife of the the blacks. " Ah, whither' (he exclaimed)
winds. Among thofe who perifhed was the " will you carry the infirm man of fixty
celebrated Bartholomew Diaz., who was the ** years." After plundering a miferable
firft modern difcoverer of the Cape of Good village, on the return to their Ihips they
Hope, which he named the Cape of Tem- were attacked by a fuperior number of
pefts. CafFres, who fought with fuch fury in ref-
' Beheld an hero come Don Francifco cue of their children, whom the Portuguefe
de Almeyda, He was the firft Portngucfe had feized, that the viceroy and fifty of his
viceroy of India, in which country he ob- attendants were flain.
Though
Book V.
THE L U S I A D.
209
Though fmiling. fortune blefl his youthful morn,
Though glory's rays his laurel'd brows adorn,
Full oft though he beheld with fparkling eye
The Turkifh moons in wild confufion fly,
While he, proud vi6lor, thunder'd in the rear.
All, all his mighty fame fhall vanifli here.
Quiloa's fons, and thine Mombaze, fhall fee
Their conqueror bend his laurel'd liead to me -,
While proudly mingling with the tempefl's found.
Their fhouts of joy from every clilS rebound.
The howling blall, ye flumbering fliorms prepare,
A youthful Lover and his beauteous Fair,
Triumphant fail from India's ravaged land ;
His evil angel leads him to my ftrand.
Through the torn hulk the dafliing waves fhall roar.
The fhatter'd wrecks fhall blacken all my fhore.
Themfelves efcaped, defpoil'd by favage hands.
Shall naked wander o'er the burning fands.
Spared by the waves far deeper woes to bear.
Woes even by me acknowledged with a tear.
Their infant race, the promifed heirs of joy.
Shall now no more an hundred hands employ ;
By cruel want, beneath the parents' eye.
In thefe wide wafles their infant race fhall die 5
Through dreary wilds where never Pilgrim trod.
Where caverns yawn and rocky fragments nod,
The
210
THE L U S I A D.
Book V.
The haplefs Lover and his Bride fhall ft ray.
By night unftielter'd, and forlorn by day.
In vain the Lover o'er the tracklefs plain
Shall dart his eyes, and cheer his fpoufe in vain.
Her tender limbs, and breaft of mountain fnow.
Where ne'er before intruding blaft might blow,
Parch'd by the fun, and fhrivell'd by the cold
Of dewy night, fhall he, fond man, behold.
Thus wand'ring wide, a thoufand ills o'erpaft.
In fond embraces they fhall fink at laft j
While pitying tears their dying eyes o'erflow.
And the laft figh fhall wail each other's " woe.
" -This poetical defcription of the mife-
rable cataftrophe of Don Emmanuel de
Souza, and his beautiful fpoufe Leonora de
Sa, is by no means exaggerated. He was
feveral years governor of Diu in India,
where he amaffed immenfe wealth. On
his return to his native country, the fhip in
which was his lady, all his riches, and
five hundred men, his failors and domellics,
was dafhed to pieces .on the rocks at the
Cape of Good Hope. Don Emmanuel,
his lady, and three children, with four
hundred of the crew efcaped, having only
faved a few arms and provificms. As they
marched through the wild uncultivated de-
ferts, fome died of famine, of thirft, and
fatigue ; others, wlio wandered from the
main body in fearch of water, were mur-
dered by the favages, or deftroyed by the
wild beafts. They arrived at laft at a vil-
lage inhabited by Ethiopian banditti. At
firft they were courteoufly received, but the
barbarians, having unexpeftedly feized their
arms, ftripped the whole company naked,
and left them deftifute to the mercy of the
defert. The wretchedncfs of the delicate
and expofed Leonora was encreafed by
the brutal infults of the negroes. Her
hufband, anable 'to relieve, beheld her
miferies. After having travelled about 300
leagues, her legs fwelled, her feet bleeding
at every ftep, and her ftrength exhaufted,
fhe funk down, and with the fand co-
vered herfelf to the neck, to conceal her
nakednefs. In this dreadful fituation, fhe
beheld twoof her children expire. Her own
death foon followed. Her hufband, who
had been long enamoured of her beauty,
received her laft breath in a diftraded em-
brace. Immediately he fnatched his third
child in his arms, and uttering the moft la-
mentable cries, he ran into the thickeft of
the wood, where the wild beafts were foon
heard to growl over their prey. Of the
whole four hundred who efcaped the waves,
only fix and twenty arrived at another
Ethiopian village, whofe inhabitants were
more civilized, and traded with the mer-
chants of the Red fea, from whence they
Yound a paflage to Europe, and brought
the tidings of the unhappy fate of their
companions. Jerome de Cortercal, a Por-
tuguefe poet, has written an afFeding poem
on the fhipwreck and deplorable cataftrophe
of Don Emmanuel and his beloved fpoufe.
Partly from Cajiera,
Some
Book V. T H E L U S I A a 211
Some few, the fad companions of their fate,
Shall yet furvive, protedled by my hate,
On Tagus' banks the difmal tale to tell
How blafled by my frown your heroes fell.
He paus'd, in a6l ftill farther to difclofe
A long, a dreary prophecy of woes :
When fpringing onward, loud my voice refounds,
And midfl his rage the threatening Shade confounds.
What art thou. Horrid Form, that ridell the air ?
By heaven's eternal light, ftern Fiend, declare.
His lips he writhes, his eyes far round he throws,
And from his breaft deep hollow groans arofe.
Sternly alkaunce he flood : with wounded pride
And anguifh torn. In me, behold, he cried,
While dark-red fparkles from his eyeballs roll'd,
In me the Spirit of the Cape behold.
That rock by you the Cape of Tempefts named, ^
By Neptune's rage in horrid earthquakes framed,
When Jove's red bolts o'er Titan's offspring flamed.
With wide-flretch'd piles I guard the pathlefs flrand.
And Afric's fouthern mound unmoved I fland :
Nor Roman prow, nor daring Tyrian oar
Ere dafh'd the white wave foaming to my fhore ;
Nor Greece nor Carthage ever fpread the fail
On thefe my feas to catch the trading gale.
E e You
222 THE L U S I A D. Book V.
You, you alone have dared to plough my main,
And with the human voice difturb my lonefome reign.
Sprung from th' embrace of Titan and of Earth,
The hundred-handed giant at a birth,
And Me the rock-ribb'd mother gave to fame,
Great Adamaftor then my dreaded name.
In my bold brothers' glorious hopes engaged,
Tremendous war againft the gods I waged :
Yet not to reach the throne of heaven I try,
With mountain piled on mountain to the fky -,
To me the conqueft of the feas befel.
In his green realm the fecond Jove to quell.
Nor did ambition all my pafTions hold,
'Twas love that prompted an attempt fo bold.
Ah me, one fummer in the cool of day
I faw the Nereids on the fandy bay
With lovely Thetis from the wave advance
In mirthful frolic, and the naked dance.
In all her charms reveal'd the goddefs trode.
With fierceft fires my ftruggling bofom glow'd -,
Yet, yet I feel them burning in my heart.
And hopelefs languifh with the raging fmart.
For her, each goddefs of the heavens I fcorn'd.
For her alone my fervent ardour burn'd.
In
Book v.
THE L U S I A D.
5t23
In vain I woo'd her to the lover's bed,
From my grim form with horror mute flie fled.
Madning with love, by force I ween to gain
The lilver goddefs of the blue domain :
To the hoar mother of the Nereid "^ band
I tell my purpofe, and her aid command:
By fear impell'd, old Doris tries to move.
And win the fpoufe of feleus to my love.
The (liver goddefs with a fmile replies,
What nymph can yield her charms a giant's prize !
Yet from the horrors af a war to fave,
And guard in peace our empire of the wave,
Whate'er with honour he may hope to gain,
That let him hope his wifh fhall foon attain.
The promifed grace infufed a bolder fire,
And fhook my mighty limbs with fierce defire.
But ah, what error fpreads its dreamful night.
What phantoms hover o'er the lover's fight !
The war rcfign'd, my fleps by Doris led,
While gentle eve her fhadowy mantle fpread,
Before my fteps the fnowy Thetis (hone
In all her charms, all naked, and alone.
'^ Doris, the fifter and fpoufe of Ne- Doris, the bittcrnefs or fait, tixe fiippofed
reus, and mother of the Nereides. By Ne- caufe of its prolific quality in the generation
reus, in the phyfical fcnfe of the fable, is of fifties,
underllood the water of the fea, and by
E e 2
Swift
214 THE L U S I A D. Book V.
Swift as the wind with open arms I fprung,
And round her waift with joy delirious clung :
In all the tranfpoAs of the warm embrace.
An hundred kilLs on her angel face,
On all its various charms my rage beftows,
And on her cheek my cheek enraptured glows.
When, oh, what anguifh while ;my fhame 1 tell!
What fixt defpair, what rage my bofom fwell !
Here was no goddefs here no heavenly charms,
A rugged mountain fill'd my eager arms,
Whofe rocky top o'erhung with matted brier,
Received the kifles of my amourous fire.
Waked from my dream cold horror freezed my blood ;
Fixt as a rock before the rock I flood -,
O f^ireft goddefs of the ocean train.
Behold the triumph of thy proud difdain ;
Yet why, I cried, with all I wifh'd decoy.
And when exulting in the dream of joy,
An horrid mountain to mine arms convey !
Madning I fpoke, and furious fprung away.
Far to the fouth I fought the world unknown,
Where I unheard, unfcorn'd, might wail alone,
My foul difhonour, and my tears to hide.
And fliun the triumph of the goddefs' pride.
My brothers now by Jove's red arm o'erthrown,
Beneath huge mountains piled on mountains groan j
And
<fiO
Book V. THE L U S I A D. 215
And I, who taught each eccho to deplore,
And tell my forrows to the defert fhore,
I felt the hand of Jove my crimes purfue,
My ilifFening flefh. to earthy ridges grew.
And my huge bones, no more by marrow warm'd,
To horrid piles and ribs of rock transform'd,
Yon dark-brow'd cape of monflrous fize became.
Where round me flill, in triumph o'er my fliame.
The filvery Thetis bids her furges roar,
And waft my groans along the dreary fhore.
He fpoke, and deep a lengthen'd figh he drew,
A doleful found, and vanifh'd from the view ; \
The frighten'd billows gave a rolling fwell,
And diftant far prolong'd the difmal yell ;
Faint and more faint the howling ecchoes die,
And the black cloud difperfuig leaves the " Iky.
" The circumftances ofthe difappearance fes the expedition, muft, of confequence, be
of the fpeftre are in the fame poetical fpirit meant the genius of Mohammedifm : and ac-
of the introdudlion. If we may be allowed cordingJy in the eighth book, the Evil Spirit
to allegorife the amour of Adamaftor, it and Bacchus are mentioned as the fame per-
will be found a neceffary part of the fidlion, fonage ; where, in the figure of Mohammed,
and, at any rate, to fuppofe the fpedlre the he appears in a dream to a Mohammedan
Spirit of that huge promontory the Cape of prieft. In like manner by Adamaftor, thegc-
Tempefts, which by night makes its aw- nius of Mohammedifm mull be fuppofed to
ful appearance to the fleet of Gama, be meant. The Moors, who profeffed that
while wandering in an unknown ocean, religion, till the arrival of Gama, were the
" is a noble flight of imagination ; nor fole navigators of the eaftern fcas, and by
need one fcruple to affirm, that the de- every exertion of force and fraud they endea-
ception of the lover, andthe metamorpho- vourcdto prevent the fettlements of the Chrif-
fis, are in the beft mannci- of. Ovid. As tians In the figure of the {pe£lre, the French
already obferved in tlie preface, the poem tranflatcr finds an cxaft defcription of the
of Crimoens is oft*n allegorical : Toeftab- perfon of Mohammed, his fierce demeanour
lifl) Chriftianity in the Eaft, is exprcfly faid and pale complexion, but he certainly ear-
in the Luiiad to be the great purpofe of the ries his unravehnent too far in fc^-eral in-
Hero. By Bacchus, the demon who oppo- ftanccs :
226 THE L U S I A D. Book V.
High to the angel hoft, whofe guardian care
Had ever round us watch'd, my hands I rear,
And heaven's dread king implore, As o'er our head
The fiend difTolved, an empty ihadow fled ;
So may his curfes by the winds of heaven
Far o'er the deep, their idle fport, be driven !
Now from the wave the chariot of the day
Whirl'd by the fiery courfers fprings away,
When full in view the giant Cape appears,
Wide fpreads its limbs, and high its fhoulders rears i
Behind us now it curves the bending fide,
And our bold vefTels plow the eaftern tide.
Nor long excurfive off at fea we ftand,
A cultured fhore invites us to the land.
Here their fweet fcenes the rural joys beflow,
And give our wearied minds a lively '' glow.
ftances : to mention only two ; *' Mohani- allegorife, one need not heiitate to affirm,
med (fays he) was affile prophet, fo is ^da- that the amour of Adamaflor is aa in-
maftor, who fays Emmanuel de Souza and ftan:e of it By Thetis is figured Renown,
his fpoufe fhall die in one another's arms, or true Glory, by the fierce paflion of the
whereas, the hufb.md was devoured by wild giant, the fierce rage of am'^itJon, and by
hearts in the wood. . . . By the metainor- the rugged mountain that filled his deluded
phofis of Adamaftor into an huge mafs of arms, the infamy acquired by the brutal
earth and rock, laved by the waves, is conqueror Mohammed. The hint of this
meant the death and tomb of Mohammed. lall circuraftance is adopted from Cajiera.
He died of a dropfy, behold the waters / And gi-~ue our ^^enricd minds a lively
which furround him ; 'voi a les ca'x qui glonv. — Variety is no lefs delightful to the
Vcntourent. — His tomb was exceeding high, reader than to the traveller, and the ima-
behold the height of the promontory." By gination of Camoens gave an abundant
fuch latitude of iiiterp relation, the allegory fupply. The infertion of this padoral land-
whioh was really intended by an auchor, fcape, between the terrific fcenes which
becomes fufptfted by the reader. As Ca- precede and follow, has a fine efFcd. "Va-
moens, however, has aflured us that he did " ricty," fays Pope, in one of his notes on
the
Book V.
THE
L U S I A D.
227
The tenants of the coafl, a feftive band,
With dances meet us on the yellow fand j
Their brides on flow-paced oxen rode behind ;
The fpreading horns with flowery garlands twined,
Befpoke the dew-lapt beeves their proudeft boaft,
Of all their beftial flore the valued moft.
By turns the hufbands and the brides prolong
The various meafures of the rural fong.
Now to the dance the ruftic reeds refound j
The dancers' heels light-quivering beat the ground,
And now the lambs around them bleating ftray,
Feed from their hands, or round them frifking play.
Methought I faw the fylvan reign of Pan,
And heard the mufic of the Mantuan fwan :
With fmiles we hail them, and with joy behold
The blifsful manners of the age of gold.
With that mild kindnefs, by their looks difplay'd,
Frefh (lores they bring, with cloth of red repay'd :
c^o
the Odyfley, ** gives life and delight ; and
" it is much more nerefTary in epij than in
•' comic or tragic poetry, fometimes to fliift
" the fcenes to diverlify and embelliih the
" ftory " The au'hority of another cele-
brated writer ofFeis itfelf : " Les Fortu^ais
" nanjiguant fur l* ocean Atlantique, decou-
*' 'vrirent la pninte le plus mhidicnale de
" V Ajrique ; ;// 'virem une iiajle mer ; elle
'* les porta aux Indes Orient ales ; I eurs perils
" Jur ittte mer, ct la deouverte de Moxam-
** hi que f de Melinde, tt de C <lecuty ont ete
** (ban is par le Cumo'tinSf dont le po'ime fait
^" fentir quelque chofe de charmes de POdjf '
" fee, et de la magnificence de PEne'ide.*' i. e.
The Portuguefe failing upon the Atlantic
ocean difcovcred the moll fouthern point
of Africa : here they fcuni an immenfe
fea, which carried them to the Eaft Indies.
The dangers they encountered in the voy-
age, the difcovery of Mjzambic, of Melin-
da, and of Calecut, have been fang by Ca-
moens, vvhofe poem recalls to our minds
the charms of the Odyfli-y, and the magni-
fi:ence of the Eneid. Montcfquieu, Spirit
of Laws, b. xxi. c. 21.
Yet
2i8 THE L U S I A D. Book V
Yet from their lips no word we knew could flow,
No fign of India's ftrand their hands beftow.
Fair blow the winds j again with fails unfurl'd
We dare the main, and feek the eaftern world.
Now round black Afric's coaft our navy veer'd,
And to the world's mid circle northward fteer'd :
The fouthern pole low to the wave declined.
We leave the ifle of Holy Crofs ' behind ;
That ifle where erfl: a Lufian, when he paft
The tempeft-beaten cape, his anchors cafl:,
An4 own'd his proud ambition to explore
The kingdoms of the morn could dare no more.
From thence, ftill on, our daring courfe we hold
Through tracklefs gulphs, whofe billows never roU'd
Around the veflTel's pitchy fldes before ;
Through tracklefs gulphs, where mountain furges roar.
For many a night, when not a fl:ar appear'd.
Nor infant moon's dim horns the darknefs cheer'd j
For many a dreary night, and cheerlefs day,
In calms now fetter'd, now the whirlwind's play.
By ardent hope ftill fired, we forced our dreadful way.
Now fmooth as glafs the fliining waters lie.
No cloud flow moving fails the azure flcy ;
• A fmall ifland, named Santa Cm:::, by five leagues further, to the river (fel Jnfante,
Bartholomew Diaz, who difcovercd it. Ac- which, till paft by Gama, was the utmoft
cording to Faria y Si.uja, he went twenty- extent of the Portuguefe difcoveries*
i
Slack
Book V. THE LUSIAD. 219
Slack from their height the fails unmoved decline,
The airy dreamers form the downward line ;
No gentle quiver owns the gentle gale,
Nor gentleft fwell diftends the ready fail >
Fixt as in ice the flumbering prows remain.
And filence wide extends her folemn reign.
Now to the waves the burfting clouds defcend,
And heaven and fea in meeting tempefts blend ;
The black-wing'd whirlwinds o'er the ocean fweep,
And from his bottom roars the ftaggering deep.
Driven by the yelling blaft's impetuous fway
Staggering we bound, yet onward bound away ;
And now efcaped the fury of the florm,
New danger threatens in a various form ;
Though frefh the breeze the fwelling canvas fwell'd,
A current's headlong fweep our prows withheld :
The rapid force impreft on every keel,
Backward, o'erpower'd, our rolling velTels reel :
When from their fouthern caves the winds, enraged
In horrid confli6l with the waves engaged j
Beneath the tempeft groans each loaded maft,
And o'er the rufliing tide our bounding navy ' pad.
^ It was the force of this rufhing current of a tempeft. The feafons, when thefe
which retarded the further difcoveries of feas are fafely navigable, are now perfeftly
Diaz. Gama got over it by the affiftance known.
F f Now
220 THE LUSIAD. Book V.
Now fhined the facred morn, when from the Eaft
Three kings the holy cradled Babe addreft,
And hail'd him Lord of heaven i that feftive day
We dropt our anchors in an opening bay -,
The river from the facred day we name,
And flores, the wandering feaman's right, we claim :
Stores we received ; our deareft hope in vain,
No word they utter'd could our ears retain ;
Nought to reward our fearch for India's found,
By word or fign our ardent wifhes " crown'd.
Behold, O King, how many a fhore we try'd !
How many a fierce barbarian's rage defy'd !
Yet ftill in vain for India's fhores we try.
The long-fought fhores our daring fearch defy.
Beneath new heavens, where not a ftar we knew,
Through changing climes, where poifon'd air we drew ;
Wandering new feas, in gulphs unknown, forlorn.
By labour weaken'd, and by famine worn;
Our food corrupted, pregnant with difeafe.
And peflilence on each expe6led breeze ;
= The frequent difappointments of the gens
Portuguefe, when they expedl to hear feme ^^'** ' ^'" " 'xitio fortuna refemat ?
account of India, is a judicious imitation of Sepumapoft 7roja excidium jam -vertitur aflat }
r 1 ^ c \r^ -^ 1. • ^u r l^um jreta, cum terras cmnes, tot itihofpita faxa
leveral parts or Virgil ; who, in the fame «?,v^X.„v, „^^/-^ /• ,„, j •n^vjyiia jaxa
^ -CLi-zi/r rt- ^"*"^''T" '"'fnj<e fertmur : dum per mare maptium
manner, magnifies the diftreircs of the haliamfequimur fugUntcm, et vok-mur undis.
Trojans in their fearch for the fated feat of ^^ y
Enjjpire :
Not
Book V. THE L U S I A D. 221
Not even a gleam of hope's delulive ray-
To lead us onward through the devious wayj
That kind delulion which full oft has cheer'd
The bravefl minds, till glad fuccefs appear'd
Worn as we were each night with hopelefs care,
Each day with danger that increafed defpair ;
Oh } Monarch, judge, what lefs than Lufian fire
Could ftill the daring fcorn of fate infpire !
What lefs, O King, than Lufian faith withfland.
When dire defpair and famine gave command
Their chief to murder, and with lawlefs power
Sweep Afric's feas, and every coafl devour !
What more than Men in wild defpair ftill bold !
Thefe more than Men in thefe my band behold !
Sacred to death, by death alone fubdued,
Thefe all the rage of fierce defpair ^ withftood;
^ It had been extremely Impolitic in every moment to be fwallowed up in the
Gama to mention the mutiny of his fol- deep. At every interval of the ftorm, they
lowers to the king Melinda. The boaft of came round Gama, aflerting the impoffibi-
their leyalty befides, has a good efFeft in lity to proceed further, and imploricg to
the poem, as it elevates the heroes, and return. This he refolutely refufcd. A con-
gives uniformity to the charafter of bravery, fpiracy againft his life was formed, but was
which the dignity of the Epopea required difcovered by his brother. He guarded
to be afcribed to them. Hiftory relates the againft it with the greateft courage and pru-
matter difterently. In ftanding for the Cape dence , he put all ihe pilots in chains, and
of Good Hope, Gama gave the higheft he himfelf, with fc«ne others, took the
proofs of his rcfolution, *' In illo am em management of the helms. At laft, after
curju 'valde Gavite 'virtut enituit." The having many days withftood the tcmpeft,
fleet feemed now tofTcd to the clouds, ut modo and a perfidious combination, in'viao animc,
nuhes contingere, and now funk to the loweft with an unconquered mind, a favourable
whirlpools of the abyfs. The winds were change of weather revived the fpirits of the
unfufFerably cold, and to the rage of the fleet, and allowed them to double the Cape
tempeft was added the horror of an almoft of Good Hope. Extr. from Ofor.
continual darknefs. The crew expedted
F f 2 ' Firm
222
THE
L U S I A D.
Firm to their faith, though fondeft hope no more
Could give the promife of their native fhore !
Book V.
Nove the fveeet v^aters of the ftream we leave,
And the fait waves our gliding fhips receive ;
Here to the left, between the bending fhores,
Torn by the winds the whirling billow roars j
And boiling raves againft the founding coaft,
Whofe mines of gold Sofala's merchants boafl :
Full to the gulph the fhowery fouth- winds howl,
Aflant againft the wind our vefTels rowl :
Far from the land, wide o'er the ocean driven.
Our helms refigning to the care of heaven,
By hope and fear's keen paflion toft, we roam.
When our glad eyes beheld the furges foam
Againft the beacons of a cultured bay.
Where floops and barges cut the watery way.
The river's opening breaft fome upward ply'd.
And fome came gliding down the fweepy tide.
Quick throbs of tranfport heaved in every heart
To view the knowledge of the feaman's art 5
For here we hoped our ardent wifh to gain,
To hear of India's ftrand, nor hoped in vain.
Though Ethiopia's fable hue they bore
No look of wild furprize the natives wore :
Wide
Book V,
THE
L U S I A D.
223
Wide o'er their heads the cotton turban fweird.
And cloth of blue the decent loins conceal'd.
Their fpeech, though rude and diflbnant of found.
Their fpeech a mixture of Arabian own'd.
Fernando, fkill'd in all the copious ftore
Of fair Arabia's fpeech and flowery lore.
In joyful converfe heard the pleafing tale,
That o'er thefe feas full oft the frequent fail.
And lordly vefTels, tall as ours, appear'd.
Which to the regions of the morning fteer'd.
And back returning to the fouthmoft land,
Convey'd the treafures of the Indian ftrand >
Whofe chearful crews, refembling ours, difplay
The kindred face and colour of the ' day.
Elate with joy we raife the glad acclaim,
And, ' River of good figns, the port we name :
Then, facred to the angel guide, who led
The young Tobiah to the fpoufal bed.
And fafe return'd' him through the perilous way,
We rear a column on the friendly ^ bay.
• When Gama amveJ in the Eaft, a con-
liderable commerce was carried on between
the Indies and the Red Sea by the Moerifh
traders, by whom the gold mines of Sofala,
and the riches of the oriental or Ethiopic
coaft of Africa were enjoyed. The traffic
of the Eaft was by land brought to Grand
Cairo, from whence Europe was fupplied
by the Venetian and Antwerpian merchant*.
* Rie tits bans Jinais ,
? It was the cuftom of the Portuguefe
navigators to ereft crofles on the fhores of
the new-difcovered countries. Gama car-
ried materials for pillars of ftone along with
him, and erefted fix of thefe croffes during
his expedition. They bore the name and
arms of the king of Portugal, and were in-
tended as proofs of the title which accrues
from the firft difcovery.
Our
224 THE L U S I A D. Book V.
Our keels, that now had fteer'd through many a cUme,
By fhell-fifh roughen'd, and incafed with flime.
Joyful we clean, while bleating from the field
The fleecy dams the fmiling natives yield :
But while each face an honeft welcome fhews,
And big with fprightly hope each bofom glows,
(Alas ! how vain the bloom of human joy !
How foon the blafts of woe that bloom deilroy !)
A dread difeafe its rankling horrors fhed.
And death's dire ravage through mine army fpread.
Never mine eyes fuch dreary fight beheld,
Ghaflly the mouth and gums enormous ^ fwell'd ;
And inflant, putrid like a dead man's wound,
Poifoned with foetid fleams the air around. j/tA^^^-
No fage phyfician's ever-watchful zeal.
No fkilful furgeon's gentle hand to heal.
Were found : each dreary mournful hour we gave
Some brave companion to a foreign grave.
A grave, the awful gift of every fhore !
Alas ! what weary toils with us they bore 1
Long, long endear'd by fellowfhip in woe.
O'er their cold dufl we give the tears to flow;
^ This poetical defcription of the Scurvy times really happens in the ceurfe of a long
is by no means exaggerated above what fome- voyage.
And
BookV, the L U S I a D. 225
And in their haplefs lot forbode our own,
A foreign burial, and a grave unknown !
Now deeply yearning o'er our deathful fate, ^ , . , ,
With joyful hope of India's fhore elate, '
We loofe the haulfers and the fail expand.
And upward coaft the Ethiopian ftrand.
What danger threaten'd at Quiloa's ifle,
Mozambic's treafon, and MombafTa's guile ;
What miracles kind heaven our guardian wrought,
Loud Fame already to thine ears has brought:
Kind heaven again that guardian care difplay'd.
And to thy port our weary fleet convey'd,
Where thou, O king, heaven's regent power below,
Bidfl thy full bounty and thy truth to flow ;
Health to the fick, and to the weary refl:.
And joyful hope revived in- every breafl:.
Proclaim thy gifts, with grateful joy repay'd.
The brave Man's, tribute for the brave Man's aid.
And now in honour of thy fond command,
The glorious annals of my native land;
And what the perils of a rout fo bold.
So dread as ours, my faithful lips have told.
Then judge, great Monarch, if the world before
Ere faw the prow fuch length of feas explore !
Nor
226 THE L U S I A D. Book V.
Nor fage UlyfTes, nor the Trojan pride
Such raging gulphs, fuch whirling ftorms defv'd j
Nor one poor tenth of my dread courfe explored,
Though by the Mufe as demigods adored.
O thou whofe breaft all Helicon inflamed,
Whofe birth feven vaunting cities proudly ckim'-d j -
And thou whofe mellow lute and rural fong,
In foftefl flow, led Mincio's waves along,
Whofe warlike numbers as a ftorm impell'd.
And Tyber's furges o'er his borders fwell'd ;
Let all Parnaflus lend creative fire,
And all the Nine with all their warmth infpire j
Your demigod's condu6l through every fcene
Cold fear can paint, or wildefl: fancy feign ;
The Syren's guileful lay, dire Circe's fpell.
And all the horrors of the Cyclop's cell ;
Bid Scylla's barking waves their mates o'erwhelm,
And hurl the guardian Pilot from the ' helm.
Give fails and oars to fly the purple fliore,
Where love of abfent friend awakes no ^ more,
* See En. V. 833. • (Thence call'd I.otophapO wh'ch whofo ta^ei,
^ The Lotophagi, fo named from the In'atiate n. is, m the (weet repafts,
plant Lotus, are thus defcribed by Ho- „*" "^^^ ^°T' ""'J'''" "^* ""'"*!*' , .
f_ - ^ But quit* his huufe. his country, and his friends:
The three we lent, fr.m off th' inchaning ground
Not prone to ill, nor ftrange to foreign gueft, We drae{;'d relutlant, and bj force we bound:
They eat they drink, and Nature gives the feaftj The rrlJ in harte (orfook the p'eafinp (hore.
The trees around them all their fruit produce} ^^t the cha/m tafted, had return'd no more.
Lotos the name ^ divine, neflareous juice j Popi, Cdyf. ix.
The
Book V. .(T H; E L U, S I A D. 227
In all their charrtis difplay Calypfo's fmiles.
Her flowery arbours and her. amorous wiles j
In fkins confined the bluflering winds \ controul,
Or o'er the feaft bid loathfome; harpies *" prowl ;
And lead your heroes through the dread abodes
Of tortured fpe6lres and infernal " gods j
Give every flower that decks Aonia's hill
To grace your fables with divineft Ikill j
Beneath the wonders of my tale they fall, /( f^} iJ
Where truth all unadorn'd and pure exceeds them all.
While thus illufl:rious Gama charm 'd their ears,
The look of wonder each Melindian Wears,
And pleafed attention! vi^thefs'd the command
Of every movement' of his lips or hand.
The king enraptured own'd the glorious fame
Of Lifbon's monarchs, and the Lufian name ;
The natural hiftory of the Lotos, how- His word alone the llft'ning ftorms obey,
ever, is very difFerent. There are various To firootti the deep, or fwell the foamy fea.
kinds of it. The Lybian Lotos i^ a ^ J*'^''* 1%"^^ ^!\"r '^rf '^'.r""'*" *'"''^'
„ , ,., , ,, / , . ,.1 , Securely fetter d by a filver thong :
Ihrubhke a bramble, the berries hke the But Zephyrus exempt, with triendiygalet 7
myrtle, but purple when ripe, and about. He^hai^'d to fill, and guide the fwelling falls : S-
thebignefs of an olive. Mixed with bread- Rare gift ! but oh, what gift to foolt avails. j
corn it was ufed as food for flaves. They;": i c'l ' : ; -- ;Pope, OdyfT. x^
alfo made an agreeable wine of it, but rj.^^ companions of Ulyffes imagined that
which would not keep above ten days. See .^j.^^^ bags contained fome valuable treafure,
Pope s note z« /<^fc. , ,, ^ . . , and opened them while their leader flept.
^^ /'"'^'^''A"/ c I t^"^^'''"^, ^y'""^' The tempefts burfting out drove the fleet
„„,,,«/_The gift of ^olus to UlylTes. ^ ^^^^ j^j^^^^^ ^^^-^^ ^^^ ^^^^ -^ ^,ght, and
Theadverfe wind sin leathern bags he br^«f'4;, ,was the caafe of a new train of miferies.
Comprefs'd their force, and lock'd each ftruggling m ggg ^j^g third Eneid.
^ y^*^ L • t. r r J /r 'J "See the fixth Eneid, and the eleventh
For him the mighty fire of gods aflign d, _ , ' '
The temper's lord, the tyiant of the wit\d j Udylley.
G g What
128 'the L U S I a D. BookV.
What warlike rage the vi^Stor-kingfe infph-ed t
Nor lefs their armies loyal faith admired.
Nor lefs his menial train, in wonder loft.
Repeat the gallant deeds that pleafe them moft.
Each to his mate, while fixed in fond amaze '. '
The Lufian features every eye furveys ;
While prefent to the view, by Fancy brought,
Arife the wonders by the Lufians wrought.
And each bold feature to their wondering fight
Difplays the raptured ardour of the fight.
Apollo now withdrew the chearful day.
And left the weftern fky to twilight grey ;
Beneath the wave he fought fair Thetis' bed.
And to the Ihore Melinda-5 Sovereign fped.
What boundlefs joys are thine, O juft Renown,
Thou hope of Virtue, and her nobleft crown ;
By thee the feeds of confcious worth are fired.
Hero by hero, fame by fame infpired :
Without thine aid how foon the hero dies 1
By thee upborne his name afcends the fkies.
This Ammon knew, and own'd his Homer's lyre
The nobleft glory of Pelides' ire.
This
Book V. THE L U S I A D.
229
This knew Auguftus, and from Mantua's fi^de
To courtly eafe the Roman bard convey'd;
And foon exulting flow'd the fong divine.
The nobleft glory of the Roman line.
Dear was the Mufe to Julius j ever dear
To gallant Scipio, though the vi6tor-fpear
One hand employed, yet on the martial field
The other knew th' immortal pen to wield.
Each glorious chief the vi6lor's palm who bore
In Greece, in Latium, or on barbarous ihore.
Each glorious name, e'er to the Mufe endear'd.
Or wooed the Mufes, or the Mufe revered.
Alas, on Tago's hapkfs fhores alone
The Mufe is flighted, and her charms unknown^
For this, no Virgil here attunes the lyre.
No Homer here awakes the hero's fire.
On Tago's fhores are Scipios, Caefars born.
And Alexanders Lifbon's clime adorn ^
But heaven has ftampt them in a rougher mould.
Nor gave the polifh to their genuine gold.
Garelefs and rude or to be known or know.
In vain to them the fweetefl numbers flow :
Unheard, in vain their native poet fings.
And cold negled weighs down the Mufe's wings,
G g 2 Even
23^-
THE L U S I A- t>;
BookVJJ
Even he whofe veins the blood of Oama warms,
Walks by, unconfcious of thcMtife's charmsi: '
For him no Mufe fliall leave her -golden loom,
No palm fhall bloflbm, and ho v^reath fhall bloom j
Yet fhall my labours and my cares be paid
By fame immortal, and: by Camay's fhade.:
Him fhall the fong on every fhore pi^ociaimi'7"^
The firft of heroes, firft of naval fame;
Rude and ungrateful though my country be,
This proud example fhall be taiight^ b^ ' Mey '
" Where'er the hero's 'wortTi demailds''the Ifeies,
" To crown that worth fome generous bard 4hall rife.T'oo,,
JriBfluT^
-Ci^ il;
Ariftotle has pronoance'd, that the worics
of Homer contain the perfeft model of the
epic poem. Homer fever gives us any
digreffive declamation fpoken in the perfon
of the poet, or interruptive of the thread
of his narration. For this reafon Milton's
beautiful complaint of his blindnefs has
been cenfured as a violation of the rules of
the Epopea. But it may be prefumed there
is an appeal beyond the writmgs of Homer,
an appeal to the reafon of thefe rules.
When Homer laid the plan of his works,
he felt that to write a poem like an hif-
tory, whofe parts had no neceflary de-
pendence and connexion with each other,
muft be uninterrelUng and "tirefonue to
the reader of real genius. The unity of
one aftion adorned with proper collateral
epifodes therefore prefcnted itfelf in its
progrefllve dependencies ■ of beginning,
middle, and end ; or in other words,
a defcription of certain circumftances, the
actions which thefe produce, and the cataf-
trophe. This unity of conduft, ,as moft
interefting, is indefpenfably neceflary to the
epic j)oem. But it does not follow, that
a declamation in the perfon of the poet.
at the' beginning or end of a book, is pro^^
perly, a breach of the unity of the conduft
of the adlion; therefore the dmiflion of fuch
declamations by Homer, as not founded
on the nature of the epic poem, is no argu-
ment againft the ufe of them. If this how-
ever will not be allowed by the critic, let
the critic remember, that Homer has many
digreffive hiftories, which have no depen-
dence on, or connexion with the adlion of
the poem. If the declamation of Camocns
in praife of Poetry muft be condemned,
what defence . can be offered for the long
ftory ot Maron's wine in the ninth Ody{^
{ey, to which even the numbers of a Pope
could give no dignity ! Yet however a
BcJTu or a Rapin may condemn the digref-
five exclamations of Camoens, the reader of
tafte, who judges from what he feels, would
certainly be unwilling to have them ex-
punged. The declamation with which he
concludes the feventh Lufiad, niuft pleafe,
muft touch every breaft. The feelings of a
great fpirit in the evening of an aftive and
military life, finking under the preflure of
negledl and dependence, yet the complaint
exprefTed with the moft manly refentment,
cannot
b
Book V.
THE LUSIAD.
231
cannot fail tointereftthe generous, and, if
adorned with the drefs of poetry, to plead
an excufe for its admiffion with the man of
tafte. The declamation which concludes
the prefent book, has alfo fome arguments
to offer in its defence. As the fleet of
Gama have now fafely conquered many
difficulties, and are promifed a pilot to
condudl them to India, it is a proper con trad
to the murraurings of the populace, expref-
fed by the old Man, at the end of the fourth
Lufiad, and is by no means an improper
conclufion to the epifode which fo highly
extols the military fame of the Lufian war«
riors.
In the works of Aaron Hilly Efq; there
is a loofe paraphrafe of the conclufion of
this book, in the elegiac or alternate mea-
fure.
END OF THE FIFTH BOOK.
THE
L U S IAD.
BOOK VI.
WITH heart lincere the royal Pagan joy'd,
And hofpitable rites each hour employ 'd.
For much the king the Lufian band admired,
And much their friendfhip and their aid delired j
Each hour the gay feftivity prolongs,
Melindian dances, and Arabian fongs j
Each hour in mirthful tranfport fteals away.
By night the banquet, and the chace by day j
And now the bofom of the deep invites.
And all the pride of Neptune's feftive rites ;
Their filken banners waving o'er the tide,
A jovial band, the painted galleys ride;
The
234 THE L U S I A D. Book VL
The net and angle various hands employ,
And Moorifh timbrels found the notes of joy.
Such was the pomp, when Egypt's beauteous * queen
Bade all the pride of naval fhew convene.
In pleafure's downy bofom, to beguile
Her love-fick warrior : o'er the breaft of Nile
Dazzling with gold the purple enfigns flow'd,
And to the lute the gilded barges row'd,
While from the wave, of many a fliining hue.
The anglers' lines the panting fifties drew.
Now from the Weft: the fovmding breezes blow.
And far the hoary flood was yet to plow :
The fountain and the field beft:ow'd their ftorc>
And friendly pilots from the, friendly ftiore,
Train'd in the Indian deep, were now aboard,
When Gama, parting with Melinda's lord.
The holy vows of laft:ing peace renew'd.
For ft:ill the king for laftiing friendftiip fued ;
* Every difplay of eaftern luxury and boafted to his miftrefs of his great dexterity
magnificence was lavifhed in the fifhing in angling. Cleopatra perceived his art,
parties on the Nile, with which Cleopatra and as gallantly outwitted him. Some other
amufed Mark Antony, when at any time he Divers received her orders, and in a little
Shewed fymptoms of uneafmefs, or feemed while Mark Antony's line brought up a
inclined to abandon the effeminate life fried fifh in place of a live one, to the vaft
which he led with his miftrefs. At one of entertainment of the queen and all the con-
thefe parties, Mark Antony having pro- vivial company. Oftavius was at this time
cured Divers to put fifhes upon his hooks on his march to decide who (hould be mafter
while under the water, he very gallantly of the world.
That
Book VL THE L U S I A D. 135
That Lufus' heroes in his port fupplied,
And tailed reft, he own'd his deareft pride,
And vow'd that ever while the feas they roam,
The Lufian fleets fhould find a bounteous home.
And ever from the generous fhore receive
Whate'er his port, whate'er his land could " give.
Nor lefs his joy the grateful Chief declared;
And now to feize the valued hours prepared.
Full to the wind the fwelling fails he gave.
And his red prows divide the foamy wave :
Full to the rifing fun the pilot fleers.
And far from fliore through middle ocean bears.
The vaulted flcy now widens o'er their heads.
Where firft the infant morn his radiance flieds.
And now with tranfport fparkling in his eyes
Keen to behold the Indian mountains rife.
High on the decks each Lufian heroe fmiles.
And proudly in his thoughts reviews his toils.
When the ftern Daemon^ burning with difdain.
Beheld the fleet triumphant plow the main :
The Powers of heaven, and heaven's dread Lord he knew,
Refolved in Lifljon glorious to renew
^ The friendlhip of the Portuguefe and and treated liim with the utmoft courtefy.
Melindians was of long continuance. Al- Their good offices were reciprocal. By the
varo Cabral, the fecond admiral who made information of the king of Mejinda, Ca-
the voyage to India, in an engagement with bral efcapcd the treachery of the king of
the Moors off the coaft of Zofala, took two Calicut. The kings of Mombaze and Qui-
ihips richly freighted from the mines of that loa, irritated at the alliance with Portugal,
country. On finding that Xeques Fonteyma, made feveral depredations on the fubjefts of
the commander, was uncle to the king of Melinda, who in return were efFedlually rp-
Melinda, he rcftored the valuable prize, venged by their European allies. '- '
H h The
2^6 THE LUSIAD. BdoK VL
TLe Roman honours — raging with defpair
From high Olympus* brow he cleaves the air,
On earth new hopes of vengeance to devife,
And fue that aid deny'd him in the fkies ;
Blafpheming heaven, he pierced the dread abode
Of ocean's Lord, and fought the ocean's God.
Deep where the bafes of the hills extend.
And earth's huge ribs of rock enormous bend,
Where roaring through the caverns rowl the waves
Refponfive as the aerial tempeft raves,
The Ocean's Monarch, by the Nereid train,
And watery Gods encircled, holds his reign.
Wide o'er the deep, which line could ne'er explore^
Shining with hoary fands of filver ore.
Extends the level, where tUt palace rears
Its chryftal towers, and emulates the fpheres j
5o itarry bright the lofty turrets blaze.
And vie in luftre with the diamond's rays.
Adorn'd with pillars and with roofs of gold,
The goMen gates their mafly leaves unfold :
Inwrought with pearl the lordly pillars fhinc.
The fculptured walls confefs an hand divine.
Here «^arious colours in confufion loft,
Old Chaos' face and troubled image boafL
Here rifmg from the mafs diHinft and clear
Apart the four fair Elements appear.
High
Book: VL THE L U S I A D. 237
High o'er the reft: afcends the blaze of fire,
Nor fed by matter did the rays afpire,
But glow'd setherial, as the living flame>
Which, ftolen from heaven, infpired the vital frame.
Next, all-embracing Air was fpread arounti.
Thin as the light, incapable of wound ;
The fubtle power the burning fouth pervades,
And penetrates the depth of polar fhades.
Here mother Earth, with mountains crown'd, is feen^.
Her trees in blofTom, and her lawns in green ;
The lowing beeves adc^-n the clover vales.
The fleecy dams befpread the floping dales j
Here land from land the filver ftreams divide >
The fportive fifties through the chryftal tide,
Bedropt with gold their ftiining fides difplay r
And here old Ocean rolk his billows gray :
Beneath the moon's pale orb his current flows,
And round the earth his giant arms- he throws.
Another fcene difplay'd the dread alarms
Of war in heaven, and mighty Jove in arms ;
Here Titan's race their fwelling nerves diftend
Like knotted oaks, and from their bafes rend
And tower the mountains to the thundering iky.
While round their heads the forky lightnings fly ;
Beneath huge Etna vanquifh'd Typhon lies.
And vomits fmoke and fire againft the darken'd Ikies.
H h 2 Here
238 THE L U S I A D. Hook VL
Here feems the pi6lured wall poffefs'd of ' life -,
Two Gods contending in the noble ftrife,
The choiccft boon to h-uman kind to give,
Their toils to lighten, or their wants relieve :
While Pallas here appears to w.ave her '' hand.
The peaceful olive's golden boughs expand :
Here, while the Ocean's God indignant frown'd,
And raifed his trident from tlie wounded ground.
As yet intangled in the earth appears
The warrior horfe, his ample cheft he rears.
His wide red noilrils fmoke, his eye-balls glare.
And his fore-hoofs, high pawiiig, lafh the air.
Though " wide and various o'er the fculptured ftonc
The feats of Gods, and godlike heroes iOione ;
= Touo Goi/s contending According to . hand As Neptune flruck the earth vvltk
fable, Neptune and Minerva difputed the his trident, Minerva, fays the fable, ftruck
honour of giving a name to the city of the earth with her lance. That ihe waved
Athens. They agreed to determine the her hand while the olive boughs fpread, is
conteft by a difplay of their wifdom and a fine poetical attitude, and varies the pic-
power, in conferring the moft beneficial ture from that of Neptane, which follaws.
gift on mankind" Neptune flruck the earth ^ Though 'wide and aiariotis o'er the fculp-
with his trident and produced the horfe, t-ured :Jione The defcription of palaces
whofe bounding motions are emblematical is a favourite topic fevcral times touched
of the agitation of the fea. Minerva com- upon by the two great mailers of Epic
■manded the olive tree, the fymbol of peace Poetry, in which they have been happily
:and of riches, to fpring forth. The viftory imitated by their three greateft difcijjLes
was adjudged to the goddefs, from \Vhom among the moderns, "Camocns, TafTo, and
thecity was named Athens. As the Egyp- Milton. The defcription of the palace .of
tians and Mexicans wrote their hiftory in Neptune has great merit. Nothing can be
hieroglyphics, the tafle of the ancient more in place than the pidure of Choas
•Grecians cloathed almoft every occurrence and the four. Elements. The war of the
in mythological allegory. The founders of Gods, and the conteft of Neptune and Mi-
Athens, it is moll probable, difputed whe- nerva are touched with the true boldnefs of
:ther their new city Ihould be named from poetical colouring. But perhaps it deferves
the fertility of the foil or from the marine jcenfure thus to point out what every Reader
fituation of Attica. The Former opinion of tafte muft perceive. To (hew to the
prevailed, and. the town received its name ' mere Engliih Reader .that the Portuguefe
.in hoiKJur of the goddefs of the olive tree. Poet is, in his manner, truly claffical, is the
• A IVhile Pallas here appears ti 'wave her, intention of many of thefc notes.
- The
Book VL THE L U S I A D. 239
On fpeed the vengeful Daemon views no more :
Forward he rufhes through the golden door,
Where Ocean's king, enclofed with nymphs divine, '^,- •
In regal ftate receives the king of Wine.:
O Neptune ! inflant as he came, he cries.
Here let my prefence breed no cold furprife,
A friend I come, 3^our friendship to implore
Againfl the Fates unjufl, and Fortune's powers
Beneath whofe fhafts the great Celeiiials bow.
Yet ere I more, if more you wifh to know,
The watery Gods in awful fenate call.
For all fhould hear the wrong that touches all
Keptune alarm'd, with inflant fpeed commands
From every fhore to call the watery bands :
Triton, who boafts his high Neptunian race,
Sprung from the God by Salace's embrace^
Attendant on his fire the taimpet founds.
Or through the yielding w^ves, his herald, bounds •:
Huge is his bulk deform'd, and dark his hue 5
His bufhy beard and hairs that n^ver knew
The fmoothing comb, of fea-weed rank and long.
Around his breaft and fhoulders dangling hung.
And on the matted locks black muffels clung j
A ' fhell of purple on his head he bore,
Around his loins no tangling garb he wore.
1
* A Jhell 0/ purple on his head he bore-^ ffa cabi^a for gtrra tinba pofta
'in the Portuguef^, Jj.^rna mui grande cafes de lagojij.
trhus
^4-^
THE LUSIAD.
Book Yt
But all wa& cover'd with the flimy brood,
The fnaily offspring of the unctuous flood 5
And now' obedient to his dreadful fire,
High o'er the wave his^ brawny arms afpire j
To his black mouth his crooked fhell applied^
The blaft rebeHows o'er the ocean wide :
Wide o'er their fhores, where'er their waters flow.
The watery powers the awful fummons know ^
And inftant darting to the palace hall.
Attend the founder of the Dardan ^ wall 5
Old father Ocean, with his numerous race
Of daughters and of fons, was firft in place.
Nereus and Doris, from whofe nuptials fprung
The lovely Nereid train for ever young.
Thus rendcfed by Fanfhaw,
He Iiad (for a * Montera) on his crown
The ftiell of a red lobftei- overgrown.
TKe defcription of Triton, who, as Fan-
fhaw fays.
Was a great nafty clown
is in the ftyle of the claflics. His parentage
is differently related. Hefiod makes him
the fon of Neptune and Amphitrite. By
Triton, in the phyfical fenfe of the fable,
is meant the noife, and by Salace, the mo-
ther by fome afcribed to him, the fait of
the ocean. The origin of the fable of
Triton, it is probable, was founded on the
appearance of a fea animal, which, accord-
ing to fome ancient and modern Naturalifts,
tn the upward parts refembles the human
figure. Paufanias relates a wonderful ftory
of a monftroafly large one, which often
• Montera, the Spani/h word for a huntfman'*
cap.
came alhore on the meadows^ of Boetia.-
Over his head was a kind of finny carti-
lage, which, at a diftance, appeared like
hair , the body covered with brown fcales -^
the nofe and ears like the human, the mouth
of a dreadful width, jagged with the teeth
of a Panther ; the eyes of a greenifli hue ^
the hands divided into fingers, the nails of
which were crooked, and of a fhclly fub-
ftance. This monfter, whofe extremities
ended in a tail like a dolphin's, devoured
both men and beafts as they chanced irt his
way. The citizens of Tanagra, at laft,
contrived his deftruftion. They fet a large
veffel full of wine on the fea fliore. Triton
got drunk with it, and fell into a profound
rteep, in which condition the Tanagrians
beheaded him, and afterwards, with great
propriety, hung up his body in the temple
of Bacchus ; where, fays Paafanias, it con-
tinued a long time.
« Neptune.
Whp
Book. VI.
THE L V S i A D.
24t
Who people every fea on every ftrand
Appear'd, attended with their filial band ;,
And changeful Proteus, whofe prophetic ^ mind
The fecret caufe of Bacchus' rage divined.
Attending, left the flocks, his fcaly charge.
To graze the bitter weedy foam at large.
In charms of power the raging waves to tame.
The lovely fpoufe of Ocean's fovereign *iCame.
From Heaven and Vefta fprung the birth divine.
Her fnowy limbs bright througli the veftments fhin«*
Here with the dolphin, who perfuafiye '' led
Her modeft fteps to Neptune's fpoufal bed.
Fair Amphitrite moved, more fweet, more gay
Than vernal fragrance and the flowers of May;
Together with her After fpoufe fhe came.
The fame their wedded Lord, their love the fame ;
The fame the brightnefs of their fparkling eyes.
Bright as the fun and azure as the fkies.
She who the rage of Athamas to * fliuii
Plunged in the billows with her infant fon j
'' j/nJ changefal Proteus^ nxAofe pr$p'bet'ic
mind -The fulleft and beft account of the
fable -of Proteus is in the fourth Odyfley.
i Thetis.
'' Here ivith the Dolphin -Caftcra has
.-a sndft abfirrd note on this paflage.
Neptune, iays he, is the vivifying iiMrit,
and Amphitrite the humidity of the fea,
which the Dolphin, the Divine Intelligence,
UTiites for the generation and nouriflimcnt
«f Mies, Who, fays he, xannoi but be
ibuck with adnwration to find how confo-
nant x\i\% is to the facred Scripture ; Spiri/uj
Domini feriur Jtiptr aquas; Thi fpirit of
<God mo'ved upon tie face »f the -vjaters.
' ^he ivho the rage of Athamas tojhun-^
Ino, -the daughter of Cadmus and Her-
mione, and fecond fpoufe of Athamas^
Jcing of Thebes. The fables of her fate
are various. That which Camoens follows
is the moft common. Athamas feized with
inadnefs imagined that his ijpoufc was a
lionefs.
t4«
THE L U S I A DV
Book VI.
A Goddcfs now, a God the fmiling boy
Together fped j and Glaucus loft to *" joy,
Curft in his love by vengeful Circe's hate,
Attending wept his Scylla's haplefs fate.
And now aflembled in the hall divine.
The ocean Gods in folemn council join y
The GoddefTes on pearl embroidery fate,
The Gods on fparkling chryftal chairs of ft ate,
And proudly honour'd on the regal throne,
Befide the ocean's Lord, Thyoneus " fhone.
High from the roof the living amber ° glows,
High from the roof the ftream of glory flows,.
And richer fragrance far around exhales
Than that which breathes on fair Arabia's galef^.
Attention now in liftening filence waits r
The Power, whofe bofom raged againft the Fates>
llonefs, and her two fons young liofes. In
this frenzy he flew Learchus, and drove the
mother and h^r other fon Melicertus into .
the fea. The corpfe of the mother was
thrown afhore on Megaria, and that of the
fon at Corinth. They were afterwards dei-
fied, the one as a fea Goddefs, the other as
the God of harbours.
"• ' afti^ Glaiicui loft to joy-' A
fifherman, fays the fable, who, on eating
a certain herb, was turned into a fea God.
•Circe was enamoured of him, and in re-
venge of her flighted love, poifoned the
•fountain where his miftrefs ufually bathed.
By the force of the enchantment the fa-
voured Scylla was changed into a hideous
in«nfter, whofe loins were furrounded with
the ever barking heads of dogs and wolves.
Scylla, on this, threw herfelf into the fea,
and was metamorphofed into the rock whi(;h
bears her name. The rock Scylla at a
diftance appears like the ftatue of a wo-
man : The furious dafliing of the waves in
the cavities which are level with 'the
water, refembles the barking of wolves
and dogs. Hence the fable.
" Thyoneus, a name of Bacchus.
" High from the rcof the living amber
glcws
■ From the arched roof.
Pendent by Aibtle magic, many a row
Of ftarry lamps, and blazing crefTets, fed
With naphtha and afphaltus, yielded lipht
As from a fky. Mit.TON.
Rifing,
Book VI. THE L U S I A D. 24,3
Rifing, cafls round his vengeful eyes, while rage
Spread o'er his brows the wrinkled feams of age;
O thou, he cries, whofe birthright fovereign fway,
From pole to pole, the raging waves obeyj
Of human race 'tis thine to fix the bounds,
And fence the nations with thy watery mounds :
And thou, dread Power, O father Ocean, hear, ?/^ fl
Thou, whofe wide arms embrace the world's wide fphere,
'Tis thine the haughtiefl vi6lor to reftrain,
And bind each nation in its own domain :
And you, ye Gods, to whom the feas are given,
Your juft partition with the Gods of heaven ;
You who, of old unpunifh'd never bore
The daring trefpafs of a foreign oar ;
You who beheld, when Earth's dread offspring ftrove
To fcale the vaulted Iky, the feat of Jove :
Indignant Jove deep to the nether world
The rebel band in blazing thunders hurl'd.
Alas ! the great monition loft on you.
Supine you {lumber, while a roving crew.
With impious fearch, explore the watery way.
And unrefifted through your empire ftray :
To feize the facred treafures of the main
Their fearlefs prows your ancient laws difdain :
Where far from mortal fight his hoary head
Old Ocean hides, their daring fails they fpread,
I i And
244 THE L U S I A D. Book VI.
And their glad fhouts are ecchoed where the roar
Of mounting billows only howl'd before.
In wonder, filent, ready Boreas fees
Your pafTive languor, and negledful eafe ;
Ready with force auxiliar to reftrain
The bold intruders on your awful reign ;
Prepared to burft his tempefts, as of old,
When his black whirlwinds o'er the ocean roll'd.
And rent the Mynian ^ fails, whofe impious pride
Firft braved their fury, and your power defied.
Nor deem that fraudful I my hope deny j
My darken'd glory fped me from the Iky.
How high my honours on the Indian fhore !
How foon thefe honours muft avail no more !
Unlefs thefe rovers, who with doubled fhame
To ftain my conquefts, bear my vaflal's '^ name,
Unlefs they perifh on the billowy way — —
Then roufe, ye Gods, and vindicate your fway.
The Powers of heaven in vengeful anguifh fee
The Tyrant of the ikies, and Fate's decree ',
The dread decree, that to the Lulian train
Configns, betrays your empire of the main :
Say, fliall your wrong alarm the high abodes.
And men exalted to the rank of gods,
P Jttd rent the Mynian fails— The fails '' See the firft note on the firft book of
of the Argonauts, inhabitants of Mynia. the Lufiad.
O'er
Book VL THE L U S I A D.
245
O'er you exalted, while in carelefs eafe
You yield the wrefted trident of the feas,
Ufurp'd your monarchy, your honours ftained.
Your birth-right ravifh'd, and your waves profaned I
Alike the daring wrong to me, to you,
And fhall my lips in vain your vengeance fue 1
This, this to fue from high Olympus bore J. SO
More he attempts, but rage permits no more.
Fierce burfling wrath the watery gods infpires,
And their red eye-balls burn with livid fires :
Heaving and panting ftruggles every breaft.
With the fierce billows of hot ire oppreft.
Twice from his feat divining Proteus rofe.
And twice he fhook enraged his fedgy brows :
In vain ; the mandate was already given.
From Neptune fent, to loofe the winds of heaven :
In vain; though prophecy his lips infpired.
The ocean's queen his filent lips required.
Nor lefs the florm of headlong rage denies.
Or council to debate, or thought to rife.
And now the God of Tempefls fwift unbinds
From their dark caves the various rufhing winds :
High o'er the ilorm the Power impetuous rides.
His howling voice the roaring tempefl guides -,
Right to the dauntlefs fleet their rage he pours.
And firfl their headlong outrage tears the fhores :
I i 2 And
249 THE L U S I A D. Book VL
A deeper night involves the darken'd air,
And livid flafhes through the mountains glare :
Up-rooted oaks, w^ith all their leafy pride,
Rowl thundering down the groaning mountains' fide j
And men and herds in clamorous uproar run,
The rocking towers and cralhing woods to fhun.
While thus the council of the watery ftate
Enraged decreed the Lulian heroes' fate.
The weary fleet before the gentle gale
With joyful hope difplayed the fleady fail ;
Thro' the fmooth deep they plough'd the lengthening way j
Beneath the wave the purple car of day
To fable night the eaftern fky refign'd.
And o'er the decks cold breath'd the midnight wind.
All but the watch in warm pavilion* flept,
The fecond watch the wonted vigils kept ;
Supine their limbs, the mafl fupports the head.
And the broad yard fail o'er their fhouldcrs fpread
A grateful cover from the chilly gale,
And fleep's foft dews their heavy eyes aflail.
Languid againft the languid Power they ftrive,
And fweet difcourfe preferves their thoughts alive.
When Leonardo, whofe enamoured thought
In every dream the plighted fair-one fought.
The
Book VL
THE LUSIAD.
247
The dews of fleep what better to remove
Than the foft, woful, pleafing tales of love ?
Ill timed, alas, the brave Veloso cries.
The tales of love, that melt the heart and eyes.
The dear enchantments of the fair I know.
The fearful tranfport and the rapturous woe :
But with our ftate ill fuits the grief or joyj
Let war, let gallant war our thoughts employ :
With dangers threaten'd, let the tale infpire
The fcorn of danger, and the hero's fire.
His mates with joy the brave Veloso hear.
And on the youth the fpeaker's toil confer.
The brave Veloso takes the word with joy.
And truth, he cries, fhall thefe flow hours decoy.
The warlike tale adorns our nation's fame>
The twelve of England give the noble theme.
/I
)00
When Pedro's gallant heir, the valiant John,
Cave war's full fpiendor to the Lufian throne,
In haughty England, where the winter fpreads
His fnowy mantle o'er the fhining meads ',
' In haughty England ivhere the 'winter
fpreads
His fnonvy mantle o^er the Jhining meads.
In die original.
La na rande Inglaterra^ que de neve
Boreal Jempre ahunda
That is, " In illuftrious England, always
■** covered with northern fnow." Though
Jthe tranflator was willing to retain the
manner of Homer, he thought it proper to
corred the error in natural hiftory fallen
into by Camoens. Fanfhaw feems to have
been fenfible of the miftake of his author,
and has given the following, uncountenanced
by the Portuguefe, in place of the eternal
fnows afcribed to his country.
In merry Enj;land, which (fom cliffs that ftand
Like hills of fnow) once Albion'* name did git.
The
248 THE L U S I A D. Book VI-
The feeds of Jftiife the fierce Erynnis fows 5
The baleful ftrife from court difFention rofe.
With every charm adorn'd, and every grace,
That fpreads its magic o'er the female face,
Tvirelve ladies fhined the courtly train among,
The firft, the faireft of the courtly throng,
But Envy's breath reviled their injured name,
And ftain'd the honour of their virgin fame.
Twelve youthful barons o.wn'd the foul report,
The charge at firft, perhaps, a tale of fport.
Ah, bafe the fport that lightly dares defame
The facred honour of a lady's name !
What "■ knighthood afks the proud accufers yield.
And dare the damfels' champions to the field.
•■ What knighthood ajks tBe proud accufers Alvaro Gonfalez de Coutlgno, furnamed
yield, Magricio. The names of the Englilh
^ncl dare the dam/eh' champions to the field. champions and of the ladies, he confefles
The tranflator, either by his own re- are unknown, nor does hiftory pofitively ex-
fearches, or by his application to fome gen- plain the injury of which the dames com-
tlemen who were moft likely to inform him, plained. It muft however, he adds, have
has not been able to difcover the flighteft been fuch as required the atonement of
vcftige of this chivalrous adventure in any blood; // falloit qit'elle fut fanglante, fmce
memoirs of the Engliih hiftory. It is pro- two fovereigns allowed to determine it by
bable, nevcrthelefs, that however adorned the fword. " Some critics, fays Caftera,
with romantic ornament, it is not entirely *• may perhaps condemn this epifode of
without foundation in truth. Caftera, who " Camoens ; but for my part (he continues)
unhappily does not cite his authority, gives " I think the adventure of Olindo and So-
the names of the twelve Porcuguefe cham- " phronia, in Taflb, is much more to be
pions ; Alvaro Vaz d'Almada, afterwards " blamed. The epifode of the Italian
count d'Avranches in Normandy ; another •' poet is totally exuberant, e/i tout-a-fait
Alvaro d'Almada, furnamed the Jufter, " poftiche, whereas that of the Portuguefe
from his dexterity at that warlike exercife ; " has a direft relation to his propofed
Lopez Fernando Pacheco ; Pedro Homen " fubjcd ; the wars of his country, a vaft
D'Acofta ; Juan Auguftin Pereyra ; Luis " field, in which he has admirably fuc-
Gonfalez de Malafay ; the two brothers «' ceeded, without prejudice to the firft rule
Alvaro and Rodrigo Mendez de Cerveyra ; ** of the epopea, the unity of the aftion."
Ruy Gomex de Sylva ; Soueyro d'Acofta, To this may be added the fuftrage of Vol-
who gave his name to the river Acofta in taire, who acknowledges that Camoens art-
Africa j Martin Lopez d'Azevedo; and fully interweaves the hiftory of Portugal.
And
249
BookVI. the LUSIAD.
" There let the caufe, as honour wills, be tried,
" And let the lance and ruthlefs fword decide."
The lovely dames implore the courtly train.
With tears implore them, but implore in vain.
So famed, fo dreaded tower'd each boallful knight.
The damfels' lovers fliunn'd the profFer'd fight.
Of arm unable to repel the ftrong,
The heart's each feeling confcious of the wrong.
When robb'd of all the female breaft holds dear.
Ah heaven, how bitter flows the female tear !
To Lancafter's bold duke the damfels fue ;
Adown their cheeks, now paler than the hue
Of fnowdrops trembling to the chilly gale.
The flow-paced chryflal tears their wrongs bewail.
When down the beauteous face the dew-drop flows,
What manly bofom can its force oppofe !
And the fevereft critic muft allow that the is better adapted to the circumftances of the
epifode related by Velofo, is happily intro- fpeaker and his audience, than almoft any
duced. To one who has ever been at fea, of the long hiftorics which on all occafions,
the fcene muft be particularly pleafmg. The and fometimes in the heat of battle, the
fleet is under fail, they plough the fmooth heroes of the Iliad relate to each other,
deep, Pope has been already cited, as giving his
And o'er the decks cold breath'd the midnight fanftion to the fine eiFeft of variety in the
wind. epic poem. The prefent inftance, which
All but the fecond watch are afleep in their has a peculiar advantage, in agreeably fu-
warm pavilions ; the fecond watch fit by fpending the mind of the reader after the
the mart (heltered from the chilly gale by a ftorm is raifed by the machinations ol Bac-
broad fail-cloth ; fleep begins to overpower chus, may be cited as a confirmation of the
them, and they tell ftories to entertain one opinion of that judicious poet. Yet how-
another. For beautiful pidlurefque fimpli- ever defenfible this epifode of Camoens may
city there is no fea-fccne equal to this in appear to the tranflator, he can by no means
the Odyffey or Eneid. And even the pre- agree with Caftera that the adventure of
judice of a Scaliger muft have confcfl'ed, Olindo and Sophronia, in Taflb, is totally
that the romantic chivalrous narrative of exuberant. Like the epifode of Velofo,
Velofo, it is intimately connected with the fubjedi
With dangers threatened, let the tale infpire »"'! aftion of the poem. Se<t the fecond
The kern of danger, and the hero's Ate. book of the Gierujakmmt Liberata.
- His
250 THE L U S I A D. Book VI.
His hoary curls th' indignant hero fhakes.
And all his youthful rage reftored awakes :
Though loth, he cries, to plunge my bold compeers
In civil difcord, yet appeafe your tears :
From Lufitania — for on Lufian ground
Brave Lancafler had ftrode v^ith lawrel crown'd ;
Had mark'd hov^ bold the Lulian heroes fhone,
What ' time he claim'd the proud Caftilian throne,
How matchlefs pour'd the tempeft of their might,
When thundering at his fide they ruled the fight :
Nor lefs their ardent paffion for the fair,
Generous and brave, he view'd with wondering care,
When crown'd with rofes to the nuptial bed
The warlike John his lovely daughter led ■ —
From Lufitania's clime, the hero cries,
The gallant champions of your fame fhall rife.
Their hearts will burn, for well their hearts I know,
To pour your vengeance on the guilty foe.
Let courtly phrafe the heroes' worth admire.
And for your injured names that worth require :
Let all the foft endearments of the fair.
And words that weep your wrongs, your wrongs declare.
Myfelf the heralds to the chiefs will fend.
And to the king my valiant fon commend.
^ V. hat time he claitrtd ths proudCaflilian tered Galicia, and was proclaimed king of
throne. Johyi of Gaunt, duke of Lan- Caftileat the city of St. Jago de Compoftella.
caller, claimed the crown of Caftile in the He afterwards relinquifhed his pretenfions
rj^ht of his Vv-ife, Donna Cow/?<7«/?V7, daugh- on the marriage of his daughter C«M//«a
ter of Don Pedro, the late king. Affifted by with the infant Don Henry of Caftile. See
his fon-in-law, John I. of Portugal, he en- the fecond note, p. 167.
He
.^ /N
BookVL the L U S I a a zsi
He fpoke -, and twelve of Lufian race he names.
All noble youths, the champions of the dames.
The dames by lot their gallant champions ' chufe.
And each her hero's name exulting views.
Each in a various letter hails her chief.
And earneft for his aid relates her grief :
Each to the king her courtly homage fends.
And valiant Lancafter their caufe commends*
Soon as to Tagus* fhores the heralds came.
Swift through the palace pours the fprightly flame
Of high-foul'd chivalry , the monarch glows
Firft on the lifted field to dare the foes ;
But regal ftate withheld. Alike their fires
Each courtly noble to the toil afpires :
High on his helm, the envy of his peers,
Each chofen knight the plume of combat wears.
In that proud port half circled by the ° wave,
Which Portugallia to the nation gave,
A deathlefs name, a fpeedy floop receives
The fculptured bucklers, and the clafping greaves.
The fwords of Ebro, fpears of lofty fize.
And breaft-plates flaming with a thoufand dyes,
* T'he dames by lot their gallant champions " In that proud port half circled ly the
chufe. — The ten champions, who in the fifth iva've,
book of the Jerufalem are fent by Godfrey Which Portugallia to the nation gaue^
for the affiftance of Armida, are chofen by A deathlefs name Oporto, called by
lot. Taflb, who had read the Lufiad, and the Romans Calli^ Hence PortugaK
-admired its author, undoubtedly had the
Portuguefe poet in his eye.
K k Helmets
i^« THE L IT S I A D, Book VI,
Helmets high plumed, and, pawing for the fight,
Bold fteeds, whofe harnefs ihone with filvery light
Dazzling the, day. And now the rifing gale
Invites the heroes, and demands the failj
When brave Magricio thus his peers addreft.
Oh, friends in arms, of equal powers confeft.
Long have I hoped through foreign climes to ftray.
Where other flreams than Douro wind their way j
To note what various fhares of blifs and woe*
From various laws and various cuftoms flow j
Nor deem that artful I the fight decline j
England fliall know the combat fhall be mine.
By land I fpeed, and fhould dark fate prevent.
For death alone fhall blight my firm intent.
Small may the forrow for my abfence be,
For yours were conqueft, though unfhared by me.
- Yet fomething more than human warms my " breaft.
And fudden whifpers. In our fortunes bleft,
Nor envious chance, nor rocks, nor whelmy tide.
Shall our glad meeting at the lift divide.
He faid ; and now the rites of parting friends
Sufficed, through Leon and Cafteel he bends.
* Tet fomething mtre than human nuarms Literally, " But if my fpirit truly divine.**
my breajiy Thus rendered by Fanihaw,
''"L^^Xn'^sr~ -»"' '■' -•' ""^'"".f '" ' "'' '"' >^-
Matfe a verdadt o effirilt me adtvhhtu
On
Book VI. THE L U S I A D. 253
On many a field enrapt the hero flood.
And the proud fcenes of Lufian conqueft viewed.
Navar he paft, and pafl the dreary wild.
Where rocks on rocks o'er yawning glyns are piled ;
The wolfs dread range, where to the evening fkies
In clouds involved the cold Pyrenians rife.
Through Gallia's flowery vales and wheaten plains
He flrays, and Belgia now his fleps detains.
There, as forgetful of his vow'd intent,
In various cares the fleeting days he fpent :
His peers the while dire6t to England's flrand.
Plough the chill northern wave -, and now at land,
Adorn'd in armour, and embroidery gay,
To lordly London hold the crowded way :
Bold Lancafler receives the knights with joy,
The feaft and warlike fong each hour employ.
The beauteous dames attending wake their fire.
With tears enrage them, and with fmiles infpire.
And now with doubtful blufhes rofe the day.
Decreed the rites of wounded fame to pay.
The Englifh monarch gives the lifted bounds.
And, fixt in rank, with fhining fpears furrounds.
Before their dames the gallant knights advance.
Each like a Mars, and fhake the beamy lance :
The dames, adorn'd in filk and gold, difplay
A thoufand colours glittering to the day j
K k 2 Alone
254 THE L U S I A D Boqk VI.
Alone in tears, and doleful mourning, came,
Unhonour'd by her knight, Magricio's dame.
Fear not our prowefs, cry the bold Eleven,
In numbers, not in might, we fland uneven.
More could we fpare, fecure of dauntlefs might.
When for the injured female name we fights
Beneath a canopy, of regal ftate,
High on a throne the Englifh monarch fate.
All round the ladies and the barons bold.
Shining in proud array their flations hold.
Now o'er the theatre the champions pour.
And facing three to three, and four to four,
Flourifh their arms in prelude. From the bay
Where flows the Tagus to the Indian fea.
The fun beholds not in his annual race
A twelve more fightly, more of manly grace
Than tower'd the Englifh knights. With froathing jaws
Furious each fleed the bit reftri6live gnaws.
And rearing to approach the rearing foe.
Their wavy manes are dafh'd with foamy fnow ;
Crofs-darting to the fun a thoufand rays
The champions' helmets as the chryftal blaze.
Ah now, the trembling ladies' cheeks how wan !
Cold crept their bloody when through the tumult ran
A ihout
Book VI. THE L U S I A D. 255
A fhout loud gathering -, turn'd was every eye
Where rofe the fhout, the fudden caufe to fpy.
And lo, in fhining arms a warrior rode.
With confcious pride his fnorting courfer trodj
Low to the monarch and the dames he bends.
And now the great' Magricio joins his friends^
With looks that glowed, exulting rofe the fair,
Whofe wounded honour claim'd J;he hero's care,
Afide the doleful weeds of mourning thrown,
In dazzling purple and in gold fhe ihone.
Now loud the iignal of the fight rebounds
Quivering the air, the meeting fhock refounds
Hoarfe uproar -, bucklers dafhed on bucklers ring>.
The fplintered lances round their helmets fmg.
Their fwords ftafh lightning, darkly reeking o'er
The fhining mail-plates flows the purple gore.
Torn by the fpur, the loofened reins at large.
Furious the fleeds in thundering plunges charge ;
Trembles beneath their hoofs the folid ground.
And thick the fiery fparkles flafli around,
A dreadful blaze ! with pleafing horror thrill'd:
The croud behold the terrors of the field.
Here flunn'd and flaggering with the forceful blow,
A bending champion grafps the faddle-bow ;
Here backward bent a falling knight reclines.
His plumes difhonour'd lafh the courfer's loins.
So
256 THE L U S I A D, Book VL
So tired and flagger'd toil'd the doubtful fight.
When great Magricio kindling all his might
Gave all his rage to burn : with headlong force,
Confcious of victory, his bounding horfe
Wheels round and round the foe -, the hero's fpear
Now on the front, now flaming on the rear.
Mows down their firmeft battle j groans the ground.
The fplinter'd fhields and clo/en helms refound I^- C(^n*£^ .
Beneath his courfer -, torn the harnefs gay-
Here from the mafter fprings the fteed away ;
Obfcene with duft and gore, flow from the ground
Rifing, the mafl:er rowls his eyes around.
Pale as a fpe(ftre on the Stygian coafl:, ^00
In all the rage of fhame confufcd and loft :
Here low on earth, and o'er the riders thrown.
The wallowing courfers and the riders groan :
Before their glimmering viflon dies the light.
And deep defcends the gloom of death's eternal night.
They now who boafted, " Let the fword decide,"
Alone in flight's ignoble aid confide :
Loud to the flvies the fhout of joy proclaims
The fpotlefs honour of the ladies' names.
In painted halls of ftate and rofy bowers.
The twelve brave Lufians crown the feflive hours.
Bold
Book VI. THE L U S I AD. 25^
Bold Lancafter the princely feafl beflows.
The goblet circles, and the mufic flows j
And every care, the tranfport of their joy.
To tend the knights the lovely dames employ ;
The green-boughed forefts by the lawns of Thames
Behold the viclor-champions and the dames
Roufe the tall roe-buck o'er the dews of morn.
While through the dales of Kent refounds the bugle-horn*
The fultry noon the princely banquet owns^
The minflrel's fong of war the banquet crowns 5
And when the fliades of gentle evening fall.
Loud with the dance refounds the lordly hall :
The golden roofs, while Vefper fhines, prolong
The meafured cadence, and accomp'nied fong^
Thus pafl: the days on England's happy ftrand.
Till the dear memory of their natal land
Sigh'd for the banks of Tagus. Yet the breafl
Of brave Magricio fpurns the thoughts of reft.
In Gaul's proud court he fought the lifted plain^
In arms an injured lady's knight again.
As Rome's Corvinus o'er the field he ^ ftrode.
And on the foe's huge cuirafs proudly trod.
y As Rome's Cor'vinus — Valerius Maxi- pecked his face and hand, and fometlme*
mus, a Roman tribune, who fought and blinded him with the flapping of his wings,
flew a Gaul of enormous ftature, in fingle The viftor was thence named Corvinus.
combat. During the duel a raven perched Vid. Liv. 1. 7. c. 26.
on the helm of his antagonifl, fometimes
No
258
THE L'U S I A D.
Book VI.
No more by Tyranny's proud tongue reviled.
The Flandrian countefs on her hero ^ fmiled.
The Rhine another paft, and proved his '' might,
A fraudful German dared him to the fight.
Strain'd in his grafp the fraudful boafter fell
Here fudden ftopt the youth j the diftant yell
Of gathering tempeft founded in his ears.
Unheard, unheeded by his liftening peers.
Earneft at full they urge him to relate
Magricio's combat, and the German'5 fate:.
^ T'he Flatidrian countefs on her hero fmiled.
—The princefs, for whom Magricio figna-
lized his valour, was Ifabella of Portugal,
and fpoufe to Philip the Good, duke of
Burgundy, and earl of Flanders. Some
Spanifti chronicles relate, that Charles VII.
of France, having afTembled the ftates of
his kingdom, cited Philip to appear with
his other vaflals. Ifabella, who was prefent,
folemnly protefted that the earls of Flan-
ders were not obliged to do homage. A
difpute arofe, on which fhe offered, accord-
ing to the cuftom of that age, to appeal $0
the fate of arms. The propofal was accep-
ted, and Magricio the champion of Ifabella
vanquifhed a French chevalier, appointed
by Charles. Though our authors do not
mention this adventure, and though Em-
manuel de Faria, and the beft Poituguefe
writers treat it with doubt, nothing to the
' difadvantage of Camoens is thence to be
inferred. A poet is not obliged always to
follow the truth of hiftory.
* The Rhine another pafl, and pro'v'd his
might — This was Alvaro Vaz d'Almada.
The chronicle of Garibay relates, that at
Bafil he received from a German a cha-
leuge to meafure fwords, on condition that
each fhould fight with the right fide un-
armed ; the German by this hoping to be
viftorious, for he was left-handed. The
Portuguefe, fufpefting no fraud, accepted.
When the combat began he perceived the
inequality. His right fide unarmed was
expofed to the enemy, whofe left fide,
which was neareft to him, was defended
with half a cuirafs. Notwithftanding all
this, the brave Alvaro obtained the vic-
tory. He fprung upon the German, feized
him, and grafping him forcibly in his
arms, ftifled and cruflied him to death ;
imitating the conduft of Hercules, who in
the fame manner flew the cruel Anteus.
Here we ought to remark the addrefs of
■our author ; he defcribes at length the in-
jury and grief of the Englifla ladies, the
voyage of the twelve champions to Eng-
land, and the prowefs they there difplayed.
When Velofo relates thefe, the fea is calm ;
but no fooner docs it begin to be troubled,
than the foldier abridges his recital : we
fee him follow by degrees the preludes of
the ftorm, we perceive the anxiety of his
mind on the view of the approaching dan-
ger, haftening his narration to an end.
Voilh ce que s^appeile c'es coups de maitre.
Behold the ftrokes of a mafter. This note,
and the one preceding, are from Caftera.
Joam Franco Barreto, whofe fliort nom en -
clater is printed as an index to the Portu-
guefe editions of the Lufiad, informs us, that
Magricio was fon of the marifchal Conjalo
Coutjnho, and brother to Don Vafco Cou-
tinho, the firft count de Marialva.
When
Book VI. THE L U S I A D. 259
When fhrilly whiftling through the decks refounds
The mafter's call, and loud his voice rebounds :
Inftant from converfe and from (lumber ftart
Both bands, and inftant to their toils they dart.
Aloft, oh fpeed, down, down the topfails, cries
The Mafter, fudden from my earneft eyes
Vanifh'd the ftars, flow rowls the hollow figh, J
The ftorm's dread herald. — To the topfails fly
The bounding youths, and o'er the yard-arms whirl
The whizzing ropes, and fwift the canvas furl ;
When from their grafp the burfting tempefts bore
The fheets half-gathered, and in fragments tore.
Strike, ftrike the mainfail, loud again he rears
His ecchoing voice j when roaring in their ears.
As if the ftarry vault by thunders riven,
Rufti'd downward to the deep the walls of heaven,
With headlong weight a fiercer blaft defcends.
And with fharp whirring crafh the main-fail rends ;
Loud fhrieks of horror through the fleet refound,
Burfts the torn cordage, rattle far around
The fplinter'd yard-arms ; from each bending maft,
In many a ftired, far ftreaming on the blaft
The canvas floats ; low fmks the leeward fide.
O'er the broad vefTels rolls the fwelling tide ;
O ftrain each nerve, the frantic Pilot cries,
ph now — and inftant every nerve applies,
L 1 Tugging
26o THE L U S I A D. Book VI.
Tugging what cumbrous lay with ftrainful force ;
Dafh'd by the ponderous Ibads the furges hoarfe
Roar in new whirls : the dauntlefs foldiers ran
To pump, yet ere the groaning piimp began
The wave to vomit, o'er the decks o'erthrowh
In groveling heaps the ftagger d foldiers groan :
So rowls the vefTel, not the boldeft Three,
Of arm robuftefl, and of firmeft knee.
Can guide the flarting rudder j from their hands
The helm burfls ; fcarce a cable's llrength commands
The ftaggcriiig fury of its ftarting' boUnds,
While to the forceful beating fufge refounds
The hollow crazing hulk : with kindling rage
The adverfe winds the adverfe winds engage.
As from its bafe of rock their banded power
Strove in the duft to flrew fome lordly tov/er,
Whofe dented battlements in middle Iky
*Frown on the tempefl and its rage defy 5
So roar'd the winds : high o'er the reft upborne
On the wide mountain-wave's flant ridge forlorn,.
At times difcover'd by the lightnings blue.
Hangs Gama's lofty vefTel, 'to the view
Small as her boat 3 o'er Paulus' fhatter'd prore
Falls the tall main-maft prone with crafhing roar ;
Their hands, yet grafping their uprooted hair,
The failors lift to heaven in wild defpair,
The
Fok VI. THE L U S I A D; z6i
The Saviour God each yelling voice implores,
Nor lefs from brave CocUo's war-fhip pours
The fhriek fhrill rolHng on the tempeft's wings :
Dire as the bird of death at midnight lings
His dreary bowlings in the fick man's ear, loOO
The anfwering fhriek from fhip to fhip they hear.
Now on the mountain-billows upward driven.
The navy mingles with the clouds of heaven ;
Now rulhing downward with the fmking waves.
Bare they behold old Ocean's vaulty caves.
The eaftern blaft againft the weflern pours,
Againft the fouthern florm the northern roars :
From pole to pole the flafhy lightnings glare.
One pale blue twinkling fheet enwraps the air.
In fwift fucceflion now the volleys fly
Darted in pointed curvings o'er the Iky -,
And through the horrors of the dreadful night,
O'er the' torn waves they fhed a ghaftly light >
The breaking furges flame with burning red.
Wider and louder fl:ill the thunders fpread.
As if the folid heavens together crufh'd, ,
Expiring worlds on worlds expiring rufli'd,
And dim-brow'd Chaos flruggled to regain
The wild confufion of his ancient reign.
Not fuch the volley when the arm of Jove
From heaven's high gates the rebel Titans drove j
L 1 2 Not
262
THE
L U S I A D.
BaoK VL
Not fuch fierce lightnings blazed athwart the flood.
When, faved by heaven, Deucalion's velTel rode
High o'er the deluged hills. Along the fhore
The Halcyons, mindful of their fate, * deplore ;
As beating round on trembling wings they fly,
Shrill through the ftorm their woeful clamours die.
So from the tomb, when midnight veils the plains,
With *■ fhrill, faint voice, th' untimely ghoft complains.-
The amorous dolphins to their deepefl caves
In vain retreat to fly the furious waves -„
* The Halcyons y mindful of their fate, de-
plore Ceyx, king of Trachinia, fon of
Lucifer, married Alcyone, the daughter of
Eolus. On a voyage to confult the Delphic
Oracle he was fhipwrecked. His corpfe
was thrown afhore in the view of his fpeufe,
who in the agonies of her love and defpair,
threw herfelf into the fea. The Gods^ in
pity of her pious fidelity, metamorphofed
them into the birds which bear her name.
The Halcyon is a little bird about the fize
of a thrufh, its plumage of a beautiful flcy
blue, mixed with fome traits of white and
carnation. It is vulgarly called the King, or
Martin Fifher. The Halcyons very feldom
appear but in the fineft weather, whence
they are fabled to build their nefts on the
waves. The female is no lefs remarkable
than the turtle, for her conjugal afteftion.
She nourifhes and attends the male when
fick, and furvives his death but a. few days.
When the Halcyons are furprifed in a tem-
peft, they fly about as in the utmoil terror,^
with the moll lamentable and doleful cries.
To introduce them therefore in the piclure
of a ftorm, is a proof both of the taite and
judgment of Camoens.
^ With jhrill faint nioice th"* untimely ghofl
complains It may not perhaps be unen-
tertaining to cite Madam Dacier, and Mr.
Pope on the voices of the dead. It will, at
leaft, afford a critical obfervation, which
appears to have efcaped them both. " The
fliades of the fuitors, (obferves Dacier) wheiv
they are fummoned by Mercury out of the "
palace of Ulyjfes, emit a feeble, plaintive,
inarticulate'/ound, T^i^acri, ftrident . whereas
Jgamemnon, and the fhades that have been
long in the ftate of the dead, fpeak articu-
lately. I doubt not but Homer intended to
fhew, by the former defcription, that whent
the foul is feparated from the organs of the
body, it ceafes to aft after the fame man- '
ner as while it was joined to it ; but how
the dead recover their voices afterwards is.
not eafy to underftand. In other refpedls
Virgil paints after Homer :
Fan teller e vocem
Exiguam : inceptui clamor frujiratur hiantet,"
To this Mr. ^o/^ replies, "But whyfhould'
we fuppofe with Dacier, that thefe fhades-
of the fuitors {of Penelope) have loft the
faculty of fpeaking ; I r.ither imagine that
the founds they uttered were figns of com-
plaint and difcontent, and proceeded notr
from an inability to fpeak. After Patro-
clus was flain, he appears to Achilles, and
fpeaks very articulately to him ; yet to ex-
prefs his forrow at his departure, he afts .
like thefe fuitors : for Achilles
Like a thin fn^oke beholds the fpirit fly,
And hears a feeble, lamentable cry.
Daciir conjedlures, that the power of fpeech.
ceafes in the dead, till they are admitted
into a ftate of reft j but Patrodus is an in-
ftance
Book VL
THE LUSIAD.
263
High o'er the mountain-capes the ocean flows,
And tears the aged forefts from their brows :
The pine and oak's huge linewy roots uptorn.
And from their beds the dufky fands, upborne
On the rude whirlings of the billowy fweep,
Imbrown the furface of the boiling deep.
High to the poop the valiant Gam a fprings, ,
And all the rage of grief his bofom wrings^
Grief to behold, the while fond hope enjoy'd.
The meed of all his toils, that hope deftroy'd.
In awful horror loft the hero ftands,
And rowls his eyes to heaven, and fpreads his hands,
While to the clouds his vefTel rides the fwell.
And now her black keel ftrikes the gates of hell -,
fiance to the contrary in- the IliaJ, and
Elpenor in the Odyjfey, for they both fpeak
before their funereal rites are performed, and
confequently before they enter into a ftate
of repofe amongft the fhades of the happy."
The Critic, in hi* fearch for diftant proofs,*
often omits the moll material one imme-
diately at hand. . Had Madam. Dacier at-
tended to the epifode of the fouls of the
fuitors, the world had never feen her in-
genuity in thefe mythological conjedlures ;
nor had Mr. Bbpe any need to bring tha
cafe of Patroclus or Elpenor to overthrow
her fyftem. Jmphimedon, one of the fuitors^
in the vtry epifode which gave birth to Da-
cier's conjefture, tells his ftory very articu-
lately to the fhade of Agamemnon, though'
he had not received the funereal rites :
Our mangled bodiet now deform'd with gore,
Cfild aad ncgleded fpread the marble fli>or :
No friend to bathe our wounds! or tears to fhed
O'er the pale corfc ! the honours of the dead.
Odyss. XXIV.
On the whole, the defence of Pope is almoft
as idle as the conjedlures oi Dacier. The plain
truth is, Poetry delights in Perfonification ;
every thing in it, as Arijlotle fays of the
IJiad,- has- manners ; poetry muft therefore
perfonify according to our ideas. Thus in
Milton :
Tears, fuch as angels weep, burft forth
And thus in Homers while the fuitors arc
conduced to hell ;
Trembling the fpeftres glide, and plaintive vent
Thin, hollow fcreams, along the deep defcent s
and, unfettered with mythological diftinc-
tions, either fhriek or articulately talk, ac-
cording to the moft poetical view of theit;
fuppofed circumftances.
Oh
V
264 THE L U S I A D. Book VI.
Oh thou, he cries, whom trembhng heaven obeys,
Whofe will the tempefl's furious madnefs fways,
Who, through the wild waves, led'ft thy chofen race.
While the high billows flood like walls of brafs :
Oh thou, while ocean burfting o'er the world
Roar'd o'er the hills, and from the Iky down hurl'd
Rufh'd other headlong oceans j oh, as then '
The fecond father of the race of men
Safe in thy care the dreadful billows rode,
Oh ! fave us now, be now the faviour God I
Safe in thy care, what dangers have we paft !
And fhalt thou leave us, leave us now at lafl
To perifli here — our dangers and our toils
To fpread thy laws unworthy of thy fmiles ;
Our vows unheard — Heavy with all thy weight.
Oh horror, come ! and come, eternal night \
He paufed -, — then round his eyes and arms he threw
In gellure wild, and thus ; Oh happy you !
You, who in Afric fought for holy faith.
And, pierced with Moorifh fpears, in glorious death
Beheld the fmiling heavens your toils reward,
By your brave mates beheld the conqueft fhared j
Oh happy you, on every fhore renown'd !
Your vows refpe6led and your wifhes crown'd.
He
BookVI. the L U S I a D. 265
He fpoke -, redoubled raged the mingled blafts j
Through the torn cordage and the fliatter'd mafls
The winds loud whittled, fiercer lighnings blazed.
And louder roars the doubled thunders raifed.
The Iky and ocean blending, each on fire,
Seem'd as all Nature ftruggled to expire.
When now the filver ftar of Love appear'd.
Bright in her eaft her radiant front fhe rear'd;
Fair through the horrid florm the gentle ray-
Announced the promife of the cheerful day ;
From her bright throne Celeftial Love beheld
The tempefl burn, and blaft on blafl impell'd :
And muft the furious Daemon ftill, fhe cries.
Still urge his rage, "nor all the paft fuffice !
Yet as the paft, fhall all his rage be vain
She fpoke, and darted to the roaring main ;
Her lovely nymphs (he calls, the nymphs obey.
Her nymphs the Virtues who confefs her fway ;.
Round every brow fhe bids the rofe-buds twine.
And every flower adown the locks to fhine,
The fnow-white lily and the laurel green.
And pink and yellow as at ftrife be feen.
Inftant amidft their golden ringlets ftrove
Each flowret planted by the hand of Love -,
At ftrife, who firft th' enamour'd Powers to gain,
Who rule the tempefts and the waves reftrain :
Bright
266
THE LUSIAD.
Book VI.
Bright as a ftarry band the Nereids fhone,
Inftant old Eolus' fons their prefence = own ;
The winds die faintly, and in fofteft fighs
Each at his Fair one's feet defponding lies.
The bright Orithia, threatening, fternly chides
The furious Boreas, and his faith derides -,
The furious Boreas owns her powerful bands :
Fair Galatea, with a fmile commands
The raging Notus, for his love, how true.
His fervent pallion and his faith fhe knew.
Thus every nymph her various Lover chides j
The filent winds are fetter'd by their brides ;
And to the Goddefs of Celeftial loves.
Mild as her look, and gentle as her doves
In flowery bands are brought. Their amorous flame
The Queen approves, and ever burn the fame.
She cries, and joyful on the Nymphs' fair hands,
Th' Eolian race receive the Queen's commands.
And vow, that henceforth her Armada's fails
Should gently fwell with fair propitious '' gales.
•= For the fable of Eolus fee the tenth
Odyfley.
*" jind voiju, that henceforth her Armada's
fails
Should gently fnvell nuith fair propitious gales.
— In innumerable inftances Camoens difco-
vers himfelf a judicious imitator of the an-
cients. In the two great mafters of the Epic
are feveral prophecies oracular of the fate
of different heroes, which give an air of fo-
lemn importance to the Poem. The fate of
the Armada thus obfcurely anticipated, rc-
fembles in particular the prophecy of the
fafe return of UlyfFes to Ithaca, foretold
by the fhade of Tirejias, which was af-
terwards fulfilled by the Phaeacians. It
remains now to make fome obfervations on
the machinery ufed by Camoens in this
book. The neceflity of machinery in the
Epopea, and the perhaps infurmountable
difficulty of finding one unexceptionably
adapted to a Poem where the heroes are
Chriftians,
ooK VL
. T HE L U S I A D.
267
Now morn larofe ferene In dappled g'rey.
Pale gleamed the wave beneath the golden ray ;
Blue o'er the filver flood the mountain^ rofe.
Where, crown'd with palnx, the murmuring Ganges flows -,
The failors ou the main-top's airy round.
With waving hand. Land, land, aloud refound ;
Aloud the Pilot of Melinda cries.
Behold, O Chief, the Ihores of India rife I
Elate the joyful crew on tip-toe trod.
And every breaft with fwelling raptures glow'd j
Gama's great foul confefl: the rufliing fwell.
Prone on his manly knees the Hero fell.
Chriftians, or, in other words, to a Poem
whofe fubjeft is modern, have already been
obferved in the Preface. The machinery
of Camoens has alfo been proved, in every
refpeft, to be lefs exceptionable than that of
Taflb in his Jerufalem, or that of Voltaire
In his Henriade. To imitate the manners
of the ancients, was the reigning tafte at
the revival of letters. If therefore we ex-
cufe Camoens for writing in the tafte of his
age, the executive part of his machinery, it
is prefumed, will require no apology. The
defcent of Bacchus to the palace of Nep-
tune in the depths of the fea, and his ad-
drefs to the watery Gods are noble imita-
tions of Virgil's Juno in the firft Eneid.
The defcription of the ftorm is alfo mafter-
ly. In both inftances the conduft of the
Eneid is joined with the defcriptive exu-
berance of the Odyfley, The appearance
of the flar of Venus through the ftorm
is finely imagined, the influence of the
nymphs of that Goddefs over the winds,
and their fubfequcnt nuptials, are in the
Spirit of the promife of Juno to Eolus ;
Sunt miii iisfeptem prajlanti corjjore tiynibha :
Sluarum, qua forma pukbtrrima, D.'wpeiam
Connubio jungam Jlabili, prcpriamque dicaho :
Omnes ut tecum mcritis pro tiilibm annos ■
ExigiXt, & pulchrafjciat tf prole parentem.
And the fiftion itfelf is an allegory exadi
in the manner of Homer. Orithia, th
daughter of Eredleus, and queen of th
Amazons, was raviflied and carried awa
by Boreas. Her name derived from 0^0
bound or limits and 9:;«, 'violence, implic
that ftie moderated the rage of her huftsanc
In the fame manner, Galatea, derived fror
yot-Xoi, milk, and ©sa, a Goddefs, fignifit
the Goddefs of candour or innocence.
" If one would fpeak poetically, fa}
BoJJti, he muft imitate Homer. Homer wi
not fay that fait has the virtue to preferv
dead bodies, or that the fea prefentei
Achilles a remedy to preferve the corps e
Patroclus from putrcfaftion : He makes th>
fea a Goddefs, and tells us that Thetis, tc
comfort Achilles, promifed to perfume the
body with an Ambrolia, which ftiould keep
it a whole year from corruption. — All this
is told us poetically, the whole is reduced
into adlion. the fea is made a perfon who
fpeaks and afts, and this proftpopaia is ac-
companied with paflion, tendemefs, and
affeaion."
It has been obferved by the critics, that
Homer, in the battle of the Gods, has,
with great propriety, divided their auxiliary
forces. On the fide of the Greeks he places
all the Gods who prefide over the arts, and
Mm feiences.
268
THE LUSIAD.
Book VL
Oh bounteous heaven, he cries, and fpreads his hands
To bounteous heavenj, while bound lefs joy commands
No farther word to flow. In wonder loll.
As one in horrid dreams through whirlpools toft.
Now fnatch'd by Daemons rides the flaming air.
And howls, and hears the bowlings of defpair';
Awaked, amazed, confufed with tranfport glows,..
And, trembling ftill, with troubled joy o'erflows ;,
So yet affedled with the iickly weight
Left by the horrors of the dreadful night,.
The Hero wakes in raptures to behold
The Indian fhores before his prows unfold :
Bounding he rifes, and with eyes on fire
Surveys the limits of his proud defire.
fciences. Mars and Venus favour tlie adul-
tery of Paris, and Apollo is for the Tro-
jans, as their ftrength confifted chiefly in
the ufe of the bow. Talking of the bat-
tle, *' With what art, fays Eujiathius, as
cited by Pope, does the Poet engage the
Gods in this conflift ! Neptune oppofes
Apolloy which implies, that things moifl
and dry are in continual difcord. Pallas
fights with Marsy which fignifies that ralh-
nefs and wifdom always difagree : Juno is
againft Diana, that is, nothing more dif-
fers from a marriage flate than celibacy :
Vulcan engages Xanthus, that is, fire and
water are in perpetual variance. Thus we
have a fine allegory concealed under the
veil of excellent poetry, and the Reader
conceives a double fatisfaftion at the fame
time, from the beautiful verfes and an in-
ftruftive moral." And again, *♦ The com-
bat of Mars and Pallas is plainly allegori-
cal. Juftice and Wifdom demanded, that
an end ihould be put to this terrible war :
the God of war oppofes this, but isworffedi
No fooner has our reafon fubdued one
temptation, but another fucceeds to re-in-
force it, thus Fenus fuccours Mars. — Pallas
retreated from Mars in order to conquer
him ; this fhews us that the beft way to
fubdue a temptation is to retreat from it."
Thefe explications of the marmer of
Homer ought, in juftice, to be applied to
hi& imitator ; nor is the moral part of the
allegory of Camoens lefs exaft than the my-
thological. In the prefent inftances, his
allegory is peculiarly happy. The rage and
endeavours of the* evil Dsmon to prevent
the interefts of Chriftianity are ftrongly
marked. The ftorm which he raifes is the
tumult of the human paffions ; thefe are
moft effeftually fubdued by the influence of
the virtues, which more immediately depend
upon Celeftial Love ; and the union which:
Ihe confirms between the virtues and paf-
fions, is the fureft pledge of future tran-
quillity.
O glorious
Book VI. THE L U S I A D. 269
O glorious cliief, while florms and oceans raved,
What hopelefs toils thy dauntlefs valour braved I
By toils like thine the brave aicend to heaven.
By toils like thine immortal fame is given.
Not he, w^ho daily moves in ermine gown.
Who nightly flumbers on the couch of down ;
Who proudly boafts through heroes old to trace
The lordly lineage of his titled race ;
Proud of the fmiles of every courtier lord, ^j u U
A welcome gueft at every courtier's board ;
Not he, the feeble fon of eafe, may claim
Thy wreathe, O Gama, or may hope thy fame.
'Tis he, who nurtured on the tented field.
From whofe brown cheek each tint of fear expell'd.
With manly face unmoved, fecure, ferene,
Amidll the thunders of the deathful fcene.
From horror's mouth dares fnatch the warrior's crown.
His own his honours, all his fame his own :
Who proudly juft to honour's ftern commands.
The dogftar's rage on Afric's burning fands.
Or the keen air of midnight polar fkies,
Long watchful by the helm, alike defies :
Who on his front, the trophies of the wars.
Bears his proud knighthood's badge, his honeft fears ;
Who cloath'd in fleel, by thirft, by famine worn.
Through paging feas by bold ambition borne,
, M m 2 Scornful
270 T H E L U S I A D.
Scornful of gold, by nobleft ardour fired.
Each vvifh by mental dignity infpired.
Prepared each ill to fufFer'o'r to dare.
To blefs mankind, his great, his only care -,
Him whom her fon mature Experience owns.
Him, him alone Heroic Glory crowns.
Book VI.
Once more the tranflator is tempted to
confefs his opinion, that the contrary prac-
tice of Homer and Virgil affords in reality
no rcafonable objeftion againfl the excla-
matory exuberances of Camoens. Homer,"
though the father of the epic poem, has his
exuberances, as has been obferved in the pre-
face, which violently trefpafs againfl: the ^
firfl: rule of the Epopea, the unity of the ac-
tion. A rule which, ftriftly fpeaking, is
not outraged by the digreflive exclamations
of Camoens. The one now before us, as
the feverefl; critic muA allow, is happily
adapted to the fubjeft of the book. The
great dangers which the hero had hitherto
encountered, are particularly defcribed. He
is afterwards brought in fafety to the Indian
fhore, the objedl of his ambition, and of
aU his toils. The exclamation therefore on
the grand hinge of the poem, has its pro
jwiety, and difcovers the warmth of its au-
thor's genius. It mult alfo pleafe, as it is
ftrongly charafteriftical of the temper of
our military poet. The manly contempt
with which he fpeaks of the luxurious in-
adlive courtier, and the delight and honour
with which he talks of the toilsof the fol-
dier, prefent his own ^ftive life to the reader
of fenfilxlity. His campaigns in Africa,
where in a gallant attack he lofl: an eye, his
dangerous life at fea, and the military fa-
tigues and the battles in which he bore an-
honourable Ihare in India, rife to our idea,
and poflefs us with an efteem and admira-
tion of our martial poet, who thus could
look back with a gallant enthufiafm, though
his modefty does not mention himfelf, on all
the hardfliips he had endured : who thus
could bravely efl:eem the dangers to which
he had been expofed, and by which he had
feverely fuffered, as the moll defireable oc-
currences of his life, and the ornament of
his name.
END OF THE SIXTH BOOK.
THE
L U S I A D.
BOOK VII.
HAIL glorious Chief ! where never chief before
Forced his bold way, all hail on India's fhore !
And hail, ye Lufian heroes, fair and wide
What groves of palm, to haughty Rome deny'd.
For you by Ganges' lengthening banks unfold]
What laurel forefts on the fhores of gold
For you their honours ever verdant rear.
Proud with their leaves to twine the Lufian fpear J
Ah hea\-en I what fury Europe's fons controuls I
What felf-confuming difcord iires their fouls !
''Gainft her own breaft her fword Xjermania turns.
Through all her ilates fraternal rancour burns;
Some
-L
272 THE L U S I A D, BookVIL
Some blindly wandering holy Faith ' difclaim.
And fierce through all wild rages civil flame.
High found the titles of the Englifli crown,
^; King of Jerufalem, his own *" renown !
Alas, delighted with an airy name.
The thin dim fhadow of departed fame,
England's flern Monarch, funk in foft repofe.
Luxurious riots mid his northern fnows :
Or if the ftarting burfl of rage fucceed.
His brethren are his foes, and Chriftians bleed ;
While Hagar's brutal race his titles ftain.
In weeping Salem wimolefted reign..
And with their rites impure her holy fhrines profane.
And thou, O Gaul, with gaudy trophies plumed,
Moft Chriftian named J alas, in vain afTumed !
What impious lufl of empire fteels thy ' breaft
From their juft Lords the Chriftian lands to wreftj
* Some hlindly •wandering holy Faith dif- hope of afcending the throne of England,
eJaim^-The conftitution of Germany, ob- which attempt was defeated. Regnier, Count
ferves PufFendorf, may be faid to verify the d'Anjou, father of Margaret, queen of
fable of the Hydra, with this difference, Henry VI. was flattered with the mock
that the heads of the German ftate bite and royalty of Naples, Cyprus, and Jerufalem,
devour each other. At the time when Ca- his armorial bearing for the latter, Luna, a
moens wrote, the German empire was crofs potent, between four crofles Sol. Hen.
plunged into all the miferies of a religious VIII. filled the throne of England when
war, the Catholics ufmg every endeavour to our author wrote: his gothic luxury and
rivet the chains of Popery, the adherents of conjugal brutality amply deferved the cen-
Luther as ftrenuoufly endeavouring to fhake iiwe of the honeft Poet,
them off. ' What impious luji of empire fieeU thy
^ High found the titles oftheEngliJh ercivny Ireafl The French Tranflator very cor-
King 0/ jferu/alem—— This is a millake. dially agrees with the Portuguefe Poet in the
The title of King of Jerufalem was nevw ftri£lures upon Germany, England, and
affumed by the Kings of England. Robert, Italy. But when his own country is touched
Duke of Normandy, fon •f William the upon, **Malgre l'ejiitne,{a.yshe, ^uej'ai pour
Conqueror, was eledled King of Jerufalem man auteur,Je ne craindrai pas de dire quUl
by the army in Syria, but declined it ia tombe id dans une grande injujlice: For alJ
the
Book VII.
THE LUSIAD.
273
While Holy Faith's hereditary foes
Poflefs the treafures where Cynifio ^ flows ;
And all fecure, behold their harvefts fmile
In waving gold along the banks of Nile.
And thou, O loft to glory, loft to fame.
Thou dark oblivion of thy ancient name, |
By every vicious luxury dcbafed.
Each noble paffion from thy breaft erafed,
Nervelefs in floth, enfeebling arts thy boaft.
Oh ! Italy, how fallen, how low, how ' loft !
.9
the regard I have for my Author, I will not
hefitate to fay, that here he has committed
an enormous injuftice." All Europe befides
however will witnefs the truth of the affer-
tion, which fligmatizes the French politics
with the luft of extending their monarchy.
<• • ' where Cynifio fio'ws A river in
Africa.
* Oh ! Italy ^ honv fallen, how lonu, hoiu
lofi ! — However thefe (cwcre refleftions on
modern Italy may difpleafe the admirers of
Italian manners, the pidlure on the whole is
top juft to admit of confutation. Never
did the hiftoryof any court afford fuch in-
ftances of villainy and all the bafenefs of
intrigue as that of the Popes. The faith
and honour of gentlemen banifhed from
the politics of the Vatican » every public
virtue mull of confequence decline among
the higher ranks, while the lower, broken
by opprefllon, funk into the deepeft poverty,
and its attendant vices of meannefs and pu-
fillanimity. That this view of the lower
ranks in the Rope's dominions is juft, we
fiave the indubitable teilimony of an Ad-
difon, confirmed by the miferable depopu-
lation of a province, which was once the
fineft and moft populous of the Roman em-
pire. It has long been the policy of the
court of Spain, to encourage the luxury and
effeminate dilCpation of the Neapolitan no-
bility ; and thofc of modern Venice refem-
ble their warlike ancettors only^ in name.
That Italy can boaft many individuals of a
different charadler, will by no means over-
throw thefe general obfervations founded on
the teftimony of the moft authentic Writers.
Our Poet is befides juftifiable, in his
cenfures, for he only follows the fevere re-
iledtions of the greateft of the Italian Poets.
It were eafy to give fifty inftances, two-
or three however fhall fuifice. Dante
in his fixth Canto, del Purg.
Abifferva Italia, di dolore ojitllo,
Navejenxa nocchiero in gran teptfeflay
Non donna di provincie, ma bordello—'
** Ah, flavifh Italy, the Inn of dolour, a
fhip without a pilot in a horrid tempeft,,
not the miftrefs of provinces, but a brothel.'*
Arioft©, Canto 17.
d'ogni 'vitio fetida ftntina
Dormi Italia imbriac
" O inebriated Italy, thou fleepeft the fink,
of every filthy vice."
And Petrarch ;.
Del' empia Babilonia, ond^efuggita
Ogni vergogna, ond' ogni bene i fuori^ .
Jilbergo di dolor, madre d'errori
Sonfuggii to per allungar la vita,
** From the impious Babylon (the Papal
court J from whence all fhame and all good'
are fled, the Inn of dolour, the mother of
errors, have I* haftened away to prolong
my life.'»
A mucK
274
the: l u s I a d.
Book VK,
. .
In vain to thee the call of glory founds.
Thy fword alone thy own foft bofom wounds.
Qi Ah, Europe's fons, ye brother-powers, in you
The fables old of Cadmus now are ^ true :
Fierce rofe the brothers from the dragon teeth.
And each fell crimfon'd with a brother's death.
So fall the bravefl of the Chriftian ^ name.
While dogs unclean Meffiah's lore blafpheme.
A much admired Sonnet from the fame
Author fhall clofe thefe citations.
SONNETTO.
La gola, elfonno, e T otiofe piume
Uanno del mondo ogni -virtti Jbandita ;
Ond' e dal corfe Juo quaji fmarrita
Nojira imtura •vinta dal lojiumt ;
Ed eji Jpento ogni benigno lumt
Del del, per cut iinjorma bumana vita
Cbt per cofa mirabile iaddita
Chi njuolfar d'Helicona nafcer fume
^ual vagbexxa di lauro, qual di mirto ?
Po-vera e nuda vai Filofofia,
Dice la turba al uil guadagno intefa.
Pcchi compagni ha-vrai per Falta -via J
Tofito tipregc piu } gentile fpirto,
Non lajfar la magnanima tud imprefa.
Though this elegant little Poem is gene*
ral, yet as the Author and the friend to
whom he addrefles it, were Italians, that he
had a particular regard to the ftate of their
own country muft be allowed. I have thus
attempted it in Englilh.
SONNET.
Ah ! how, my friend, has foul-gorged Luxurie,
And bloated flumbers on the flothful down.
From the dull world all manly virtue thiown,
And llaved the age to cuftom's tyrannic !
The bleffed lights io loll in darknefs be,
Thofe lights by heaven to guide our minds beAown,
MaJ were he deem'd who brought from lielicon
The hallowed water or the laurel tree,
Fhilofophy, ah ! thou art cold and poor.
Exclaim the crowd, on fordid gain intent j
Few will attend thee on thy lofty road ;
Yet I, my friend, would fire thy zeal the more ;
Ah, gentle fpirlr, labour on unfpent.
Crown thy fair toils, «nd win the fmile of Cod,
It is fuppofed that this was addrefled to a
friend, engaged in fome literary undertaking
of importance and novelty.
^ The fables old of Cadmus Cadmus
having flain the dragon which guarded the
fountain of Dirce in Boeotia, fowed the
teeth of the monfter. A number of armed
men immediately fprung up, and furround-
ed Cadmus in order to kill him. By the
counfel of Minerva he threw a precious
ftone among them, in ftriving for which
they fleiv one another. Only five furvived,
who afterwards affifted him to build the city
of Thebes. Vid. Ovid. Met. IV.
The foundation of this fable appears to
be thus : Cadmus having flain a famous
Freebooter, who infefted Boeotia, a number
of his Banditti, not improperly called his
teeth, attempted to revenge his death, but
quarrelling about the prefents which Cad-
mus fent them to diflribute among them-
felves, they fell by the fwords of each
other.
7errigena pcreunt per mutua "vulnera frotrcs,
• 8 So fall the brauejl of the Chriflian name^
While dogs unclean — Imitated from this fine
paflage in Lucan :
■ i^mfurir, Ci-ves I qua tantalicentia ferri,
Getitibui invijii IjHtiuni J>ra'bere criierem ("
Cumque fuperba farct V>:\hy\on fpdianda trophaii
Aufoniis, umbraque erraret CralTuS ir.ulta,
Bclligeri placuit nullos habit ura triumpkos ?
lieu, quantum potuit terra pelagique parari
• Hoc, quemci'vilti haujcrunt, janguice, dcxtrx !
And
Book VII. THE L U S I A D. 275
And howl their curfes o'er the holy tomb.
As to the fword the Chriftian race they doom.
From age to age, from fhore to diftant fhore.
By various princes led, their legions pour;.
United all in one determined aim.
From every land to blot the Chriftian name.
Then wake, ye brother-powers, combined awake,.
And from the foe the great example take.
If empire tempt ye, lo, the eaft expands.
Fair and immenfe her fumraer-garden lands :
Here boaftful wealth difplays her radiant ftore,
Padlol and Hermus' ftreanv o'er golden. ore,
Rowl their long way ; but not for you they flow>
Their treafures blaze on the ftern Soldan's brow :
For him Aflyria plies the loom of gold.
And Afric's fons their deepeft mines unfold
To give his throne to blaze — Ye weftern powers.
To throw the mimic bolt of Jove is yours.
Yours all the art to wield the arms of fire.
Then bid the thunders of the dreadful tire
Againft the walls of dread Byzantium roar, ' --
Till headlong driven from Europe's ravifh'd fhore
To their cold Scythian wilds, and dreary dens.
By Cafpian mountains, and uncultured fens.
Their fathers' feats beyond the Wolgian Make,,
The barbarous race of Saracen betake. .
h Beyond the IVolgian lake — The Cafpian fea, fo called from the large river Volga or
Wolga, which empties itfelf into it
N n, And
/ 1
276 THE L U S I A D. Book VI,
And hark, to you the woeful Greek exclaims ;
The Georgian fathers and th' Armenian dames.
Their fairefl offspring from their bofoms torn^
A dreadful tribute, loud imploring ' mourn.
Alas, in vain ! their offspring captive led.
In Hagar's fons unhallow'd temples bred.
To rapine trained, arife a brutal hojft.
The Chriflian terror, and the Turkifh boail.
/ Yet fleep, ye powers of Europe, carelefs lleep.
To you in vain your eaftern brethren weep ;
Yet not in vain their woe-wrung tears fhall fue.
Though fmall the Lufian realms, her legions few.
The guardian oft by heaven ordain'd before.
The Lufian race fhall guard MefHah's lore.
When heaven decreed to crufh the Moorifh foe
Heaven gave the Lufian fpear to flrike the blow.
When heaven's own laws o'er Afric's fhores were heard.
The facred fhrines the Lufian heroes ^ rear'd ;
Nor fhall their zeal in Afia's bounds expire,
Afia fubdued fhall fume with hallowed fire.
When the red fun the Lufian fhore forfakes.
And on the lap of deepefl wefl ' awakes,
' Their fair eft offspring from their bofoms *' nature) taken in their childhood from
torn, " their miferable parents by a levy made
A dreadful tribute ! By this barbarous "every five years, or oftener or feldomer,
policy the tyranny of the Ottomans has been " as occafion requireth."
infantry and cavalry, known by the name The facred Jhrines the Lufian heroes rear'd —
of Janizaries and Spahis, are thus fupported ; See the note on page 194.
and the fcribes in office called Mufti, fays ' of deepeji ^veft 'Alludes to the
Sandys, " are the fons of Chriftians (and difcov.ej^ and ccnqueit of the Brazils by the
O'
Book VII.
THE LUSIAD,
277
O'er the wild plains, beneath unincenfed fkies
The fun fhall view the Lufian altars rife.
And could new worlds by human ftep be trod,
Thofe worlds fhould tremble at the Luiian " nod.
* If our former defences of the exube-
rant declamations of Camoens are allowed
by the critic, we doubt not but the digref-
fion, now concluded, will appear with pe-
culiar propriety. The poet having brought
his heroes to the fhore of India, indulges
himfelf with a review of the ftate of the
weftern and eaftern worlds ; the latter of
which is now, by the labour of his heroes,
rendered acceffible to the former. The pur-
pofe of his poem is alfo ftriftly kept in
view. The Weft and the Eaft he confiders
as two great empires, the one of the true
religion, the other of a falfe. The profef-
fors of the true, difunited and deftroying
one another ; the profefTors of the falfe one
all combined to extirpate the other. He
upbraids the profeffors of the true religion
for their vices, particularly for their difunion
and for deferting the interefts of holy faith.
His countrymen, however, he boafts, have
been its defenders and planters, and, with-
out the aiTiftance of their brother powers,
will plant it in Afia. This, as it is the pur-
pofe of his hero, is diredlly to the fubjeft of
the poem, and the honour, which heaven he
fays vouchfafed to his countrymen, in chuf-
ing them to defend and propagate its laws,
is in the genuine fpirit of that religious en-
thufiafm which breathes through the two
great epic poems of Greece and Rome, and
which gives an air of the moft folemn im-
portance to the Gierufalemme of TafTo.
Yet whatever liberties a poet may be al-
lowed t« cake when he treats of the fabulous
ages, any abfurdity of opinion, where aa-
riientic hiftory, and the ftate of modern na-
tions iiftbrd the topic, muft to the intelligent
reader appear ridiculous, and therefore a
blemifh in a folemn poem. There are many,
the tranflator is aware, to whom a ferious
and warm exhortation to a general crufade
will appear as an abfurdity, and a blemifti
of this kind. " The crufaders," according
to what M. Voltaire calls their true charac-
ter, des hrigands Ihues pour 'venir, Stc,
*' were a band of vagabond thieves,
" who had agreed to ramble from the heart
" of Europe in order to defolate a country
'• they had no right to, and maffacre, in
" cold blood, a venerable prince more than
" fourfcore years old, and his whole peo-
*' pie, againft whom they had no pretence
*' of complaint."
Yet however confidently Voltaire and
others may pleafe to talk, it will be no
difficult matter to prove that the crufades
were neither fo unjuftifiable, fo impolitical,
nor fo unhappy in their confequences as the
fuperficial readers of hiftory are habituated
to view them.
Were the Aborigines of all America to
form one general confederacy againft the
defcendants of thofe Europeans, who under
that brutal conqueror Fernando Cortez, maf-
facred upwards of forty millions of Mexi-
cans, and other American natives, and were
the confederates totally to difpoflefs the pre-
fent poflefTors of an empire fo unjuftly ac-
quired, no man, it is prefumed, would
pronounce that their combination and hofti-
lities were againft the law of nature or na-
tions. Yet, whatever Voltaire may pleafe
to affert, this fuppofition is by no means
unapplicable to the confederacy of the crofs.
A party of wandering Arabs are joined by
the Turks or Turcomans, who inhabited
the frozen wilds of mount Caucafus, and
whofe name fignifies wanderers ; thefe, in-
corporated with other banditti, from the
deferts of Scythia, now called Tartary, over-
run the regions of Syria, to which they had
no title, whofe inhabitants had given them
no offence. They profefs that they are
commiffioned by heaven to eftablifti the re-
ligion of Mohammed by violence and the
fword. In a few ages they fubdue the fineft
countries around the Euphrates, and the
Chriftian inhabitants, the rightful poflef-
fors, are treated with the brutal policy and
N n 2 cruelty.
Ik
278 THE L U S I A D.
And now their enfigns blazing o'er the tide
On India's Ihore the Lufian heroes ride.
, -High to the fleecy clouds refplendant far
Book VII.
Appear the regal towers of Malabar,
cruelty of a Cortez. Bound by their creed
to make war on the Chriftians, their ambi-
tion neglefts no opportunity to extend their
conquefts ; and already poffefled of immenfe
territory, their acknowledged purpofe and
their power threaten deftrudion to the Chrif-
tian empire of the Greeks.
Having conquered and profelited Africa,
from the Nile to the Straits of Gibraltar,
the princes of that country, their tributaries
and allies, combining in the great defign to
extirpate Chriftianity, turn their arms againft
Europe, and are fuccefsful : they eftablifli
kingdoms in Spain and Portugal; and
France, Italy, and the weftern iflands of the
mediterranean, fuffer by their excurfions ;
while Hungary, Bohemia, Poland, and Italy
itfelf, ftom its vicinage to Dalmatia, are
immediately concerned in the impending
fate of the Grecian empire. To thefe con-
fiderations let it be added, that feveral eaf-
tern Chriftians fled to Europe, and begging
as pilgrims from country to country, im-
plored the affiftance of the Chriftian powers
to difpofTefs the cruel and unjult ufurpers
of their lands. At this period the crufades
commence. To fuppofe that the princes of
Europe were fo infenfible to the danger
which threatened them, as fome modem wri-
ters who have touched upon that fubjeft, ap-
pear »o be, is to afcribe a degree of itupidity
to them by no means applicable to their
military charafter. Though fuperftition in-
flamed the multitude, we may be affured
however, that feveral princes found it their
political intereft to fan the flames of that
fuperftition ; and accordingly we find that
the princes of Spain and Portugal often
greatly availed themfelvcs of it. The im-
menfe refources which the Turks received
from Egypt, and the neighbouring coun-
tries, which had not been attempted by
Godfrey and the firft crufaders, determined
their fucceflbrs to alter the plan of their
operations. They began their hoftilities in
Spain and Portugal, and proceeded through
Barbary to Egypt. By this new route of
the croflTes, the Spaniards and Portuguefe
were * enabled not only to drive the Moors
from Europe, but to give a fatal blow to
their power in Africa. Nor was the fafety
of the Greek empire lefs neceflary to Italy
and the eaftern kingdoms of Europe. Inju-
ries, however, offered by the crufaders, who
even feized the throne of Conftantinople,
upon which they placed an earl of Flanders,
excited the refentment of the Greeks ; and
their averfion f to the papal fupremacy ren-
dered them fo jealous of the crufaders, that
the fucceflbrs of Godfrey, for want of auxi-
liary fupport, after about ninety years pof-
feflion, were totally driven from their new-
erefted kingdom in the Holy Land. By
the fall of the Greek empire, an event
which followed, and which had been long
forcfeen, the Venetians, the Auftrians, the
Poles, and the Ruffians became the natural
enemies of the Turks ; and many defperate
wars, attended with various fuccefs, have
been continued to the prcfent time. Not
much above fifty years ago, their formidable
efforts to poffefs themfelves of the Venetian
dominions alarmed all the Chriftian powers ;
and had it not been for the repeated defeats
they received from prince Eugene, a great
part of the Auftrian territories muft have
yielded to their yoke. However overlooked,
it requires but little political philofophy (o
perceive the fecurity which would refult to
Europe were there a powerful and warlike
kingdom on the eaftern fide of th** TurkiCi
empire. The weftern conquefts of that
* Li/bon itfelf was taken from the Moors, by the afliAanceofan Enjlifh fe^tofcrufacer;. fe; the noie,
p. rc8.
\ A Patriarch of Coi.flantinople declared publickly to the P pc's 'egate. " That he" wcu.'d much rather
" behold the tuibao than the trip'e crown upon the great altai uf CoiiAaaiinofie.,"
V ficr.e
Book VIL
THE
L U S I A D.
2'79
Imperial Calicut, the lordly feat
Of the firft monarch of the Indian ilate.
Right to the port the valiant Gama bends.
With joyful fhouts a fleet of boats attends :
fierce warrior Bajazet I. were interrupted
by Tamerlane, and by the enemy they found
in Kouli Khan, the enraged Porte was pre-
vented from revenging the triumphs of Eu-
gene. A few years ago we beheld them tram-
ple onthelavv of nations, fend an ambaflador
to prifon,and command the Ruffian emprefs
to defert her allies. A war, which now
continues, enfued. And however the fore-
fight of the narrow politician may dread
the rifmg power of the Rufs, it is to be
wilhed that the arms of Mufcovy may fix
fuch barriers to the Turkifh empire as will
for ever prevent their long meditated and
often attempted defign to pofTefs themfelves
of the Venetian dominions, or to extend
their conquefts on the Weft, conquefts which
would render them the moft dangerous
power to the peace of Europe.
In a word, thecrufades, a combination
which tended to fupport the Greek empire
for the fecurity of the eaftern, and to drive
the enemy from the fouthern parts of Eu-
rope, can by no means deferve to be called a
moft fingular monument of human folly,
whatever the fuperftition of its promoters
and conduftors might be. And however the
inutility and abfurdity of their profefled aim,
to refcue the tomb of Chrift, may excite the
ridicule of the modern philofopher, it was a
motive admirably adapted to the fuperftition
of that age ; and where it is neceflary that
an enemy ftiould be reftrained, an able poli-
tician will avail himfelf of the moft powerful
of all incitements to hoftility, the fuperfti-
tious or religious fervour of his army.
Having entered fo far into the hlftory of
the crufades, it may not be improper to take
a view of the happy confequences which
flowed from them. " To thefe wild expe-
" ditions," fays Robertfon, " the effe£t of
" fuperftition or folly, we owe the firft
" gleams of light which tended to difpel
♦• barbarity and ignorance, and introduce
" any change in government or manners."
Conftantinople, at that time the feat of ele-
gance, of arts and commerce, was the prin-.
cipal rendezvous of the European armies.
The Greek writers of that age fpeak of the
Latins as the moft ignorant barbarians ;
the Latins, on the other hand, talk with
aftonifament of the grandeur, elegance, and
commerce of Conftantinople. The moft
ftupid barbarians, when they have the op-
portunity of comparifon, are fenfible of the
fuperiority of civilized nations, and by an
acquaintance with them begin to refemble
their manners, and emulate their advan-
tages. The fleets which attended the
croftes introduced commerce, and the free-
dom of commercial cities into their mo-
ther countries. This, as Robertfon obferves,
proved deftrudlive to the feudal fyftem,
which had now degenerated into the moft
gloomy oppreffion, and introduced the plahs
of regular government. *' This acquifition
" of liberty," fays the fame moft inge-
nious hiftorian, ** made fuch a happy change
•* in the condition of all the members of
" communities as roufed them from that
" ftupidity and inaftion into which they
** had been funk by the wretchednefs of
" their former ftate. The fpirit of induftry
•♦ revived, commerce became an objedl of
" attention, and began to flourifti. Popu-
" lationincreafed. Independence was eftab-
" liftied, and wealth flowed into cities
" which had long been the feat of poverty
*< and oppreffion."
Upon the whole it will be found, that the
Portuguefc poet talks of the political reafons
of a crufade, with an accuracy in the philo-
fophy of hiftory, as fuperior to that of Vol-
taire as the poetical merit of the Lufiad fur-
pafles that of the Henriade. And the critic
in poetry nmft allow, that to fuppofe the
difcovery of Gama the completion of all
the endeavours to overthrow the great ene-
mies of the true religion gives a dignity to
the poem, and an importance to the hero,
fimilar to that which Voltaire, on the fame
fuppofition, allows to the fubjcd of the Jeru-
falem of Taflb.
joyful
i8o THE L U S I A D. Book Vll
Joyful their nets they leave and finny prey.
And crouding round the Lufians, point the way,
A herald now, by Vasco's high command
Sent to the monarch, treads the Indian ftrand ;
The facred ftafF he bears, in gold he fhines.
And tells his office by majeftic figns.
As to and fro, recumbent to the gale.
The harvefl: waves along the yellow dale,
y} So round the herald prefs the w ondering throng.
Recumbent waving as they pour along.
And much his manly port and ftrange attire.
And much his fair and ruddy hue admire :
When fpeeding through the crowd with eager hafte.
And honejR: fmiles, a fon of Afric prefl :
Enrapt with joy the wondering herald hears
Caftilia's manly tongue falute his " ears.
^ f;- What friendly angel from thy Tago^s fhore
Has led thee hither ? cries the joyful Moor.
Then hand in hand, the pledge of faith, conjoin'd,
O joy beyond the dream of hope to find,
• '' ' To hear a kindred voice, the Lufian cried.
Beyond unmeafured gulphs and feas untry'd j
^ :^
^ the herald hears Tunis, who, according to Oforias, had been
Cajiilia^s manly tongue falute his ears. — — the chief perfon with whom king Ferdinand
This is according to the truth of hiftory. had formerly contradled for military ftores.
While the meflenger fent alhore by Gama He proved himfelf an honeft agent, and of
was borne here and there, and carried off infinite fervice to Gama, with whom he
his feet by the throng, who underftood not returned to Portugal, where, according to
a word of his language, he was accofted in Faria, he died in the Chriftian communion.
Spanilh by a Moorifti merchant, a native of He waa named Monzaida.
Untry'd
Book VII.
THE LUSIAD.
281
Untry'd before our daring keels explored
Our fearlefs way — Oh heaven, what tempefts roared.
While round the vail of Afric's fouthmoft land
Our eaftward bowfprits fought the Indian flrand.
Amazed, o'erpower'd, the friendly flranger flood -,
A pafTage open'd through the boundlefs flood.
The hope of ages, and the dread defpair,
Accomplifh'd now, and conquer'd — ilifF his hair Q
Rofe thrilling, while his labouring thoughts purfued
I'he dreadful courfe by Gama's fate fubdued.
Homeward, with generous warmth o'erflow'd, he leads
The Lufian guefl, and fwift the feafl fucceeds ;
The purple grape and golden fruitage fmile ;
And each choice viand of the Indian foil
Heapt o'er the board, the mailer's zeal declare s
The focial feafl the guefl and mailer fhare : ^
The facred pledge ofeaflern faith ° approved, ^^
By wratln unalter'd, and by wrong unmoved.
Now to the fleet the joyful herald bends.
With earnefl pace the heaven-fent friend attends :
U
* The facred pledge of eafern faith. — To
eat together was in the eaft looked upon as
the inviolable pledge of proteftion. As a
Perfian nobleman was one day walking in
his garden, a wretch in the utmoft terror
proftrated himfelf before him, and implored
to be protefted from the»rage of a multitude
who were in purfuit of him, to take his
life. The nobleman took a peach, eat part
of it, and gave the reft to the fugitive, af-
furing him of fafety. As they approached
the houfe, they met a crowd who carried
the murdered corfe of the nobleman's belo-
ved fon. The incenfed populace demanded
the murderer, who ftood befxde him, to be
delivered to their fury. The father, though
overwhelmed with grief and anger, replied,
** Wc have eaten together, and I will not
*' betray him." He protected the murderer
of his fon from the fury of his domeftics
and neighbours, and in the night facilitated
his efcape.
Now
<Zq
282 THE L U S I A D. Book VIL
Now down the river*s fweepy ftream they glide,
And now their pinnace cuts the briny tide :
The Moor, with tranfport fparkling in his eyes.
The well-known make of Gama's navy fpies.
The bending bowfprit, and the mafi: fo tall.
The fides black frowning as a caftle wall.
The high-tower'd ftern, the lordly nodding prore.
And the broad ftandard flowly waving o'er
The anchor's moony fangs. The fkifFhe leaves.
Brave Gama's deck his bounding flep receives ;
And, Hail, he cries : in tranfport Gam a fprung.
And round his neck with friendly welcome hung ;
Enrapt fo diftant o'er the dreadful main
To hear the mufic of the tongue of Spain.
And now beneath a painted fhade of ftate
Befide the Ammiral the flranger fate.
Of India's clime, the natives, and the laws.
What monarch fways them, what religion awes ?
Why from the tombs devoted to his fires
The fon fo far ? the valiant Chief enquires.
In adl to fpeak the ftranger waves his hand.
The joyful crew in filent wonder ftand.
Each gently preffing on with greedy ear.
As erft the bending forefts ftoopt to hear
In Rhodope, when Orpheus' heavenly ftrain.
Deplored his loft Eurydice in •* vain ;
f In Rhodope — The well-known fable of cond lofs of his wife, is thus explained,
the defcent of Orpheus to hell, and the fc- Aedoneus, king of Thefprotia, whofe cruelty
procured
Book VII. THE LUSIAD^ 283
While with a mien that generous friendfhip won
From every heart, the Stranger thus begun :
Your glorious deeds, ye Lulians, well I know, j (j
To neighbouring earth the vital air I owe ',
Yet though my faith the Koran's lore revere ;
So taught my fires -, my birth at proud Tangier,
An hoftile clime to Lifbon's awful name,
I glow enraptured o^er the Lufian fame ;
Proud though your nation's warlike glories fhane,
Thefe proudeft honours yield, O Chief, to thine ;
Beneath thy dread atchievements low they fall.
And India's fhore, difcovered, crowns them all.
Won by your fame, by fond aiFedlion fway'd,
A friend I come, and offer friendfhip's aid.
As on my lip^ Cafliiia's language glows,
5o from my tongue the fpeech of India flows:
Mozaide my name, in India's jcourt beloved.
For honeft deeds, but time fhall {peak, approved.
When India's Monarch greets his court again^
For now the banquet on the tented ^ plain
procured him the name of Pluto, tyrant of ^ For mtv the banquet on the tented plahi,
hell, having feized Eurydic^, as fhe fled And fyl<van chace his <arelefs hours employ —
from his friend Ariftaeus, detained her as a The Great Mogui and other caftem fove-
■captive- Orpheus having charmed the tyrant reigns, attended with their courtiers, fpend
with his mufic, his' wife was reftored, on annually feme months of the fineft feafon
condition that he "(hould not -ieok upon her, in encampments in the field, in hunting
ti^l he had condufted her out of Thefprotia. parties, and military amufcment*.
►Orpheus, on his journey, forfeited the con-
.diuon, and irrecoverably loH his fpoufe.
O o And
«84 THE LUSIAD. Book VII-
And fylvan chace his carelefs hours employ ;
When India's Lord (hall hail, with wondering joy.
Your glad arrival on the fpacious fhore
Through oceans never plough'd by keel before,
Myfelf fhall glad Interpreter attend, ^ /) /}
Mine every office of the faithful friend.
Ah ! but a ftream, the labour of the oar.
Divides my birth-place from your native fhore ;
• On fhores unknown, in diftant worlds, how fweet^
The kindred tongue the kindred face to greet }
Such now my joy ; and fuch, O heaven, be yours !
Yes, bounteous heaven, your glad fuccefs fecures.
^ Till now impervious, heaven alone fubdued
The various horrors of the tracklefs flood ;
Heaven fent you here for fome great work divine.
And heaven infpires my breaft your facred toils to join.
Vaft are the fhores of India's wealthful foil ,•
Southward fea-girt fhe forms a demi-ille :
His cavern'd cliffs with dark-brow'd forefls crown*d,
Hemodian Taurus frowns her northern bound :
From Cafpia's lake th' enormous mountain ' fpreads.
And bending eaftward rears a thoufand heads -,
' — th^ enormous mountitin — Properly an ParopamifTus, Orontes, Imaus, &c. and
immenfe chain of mountains, known by from Imaus extended through Tartary to
various names, Caucafus, Taurus, Hemodus, the fea of Kamchatka.
Far
Book VII.
THE LUSIAD.
285
Far to extremeft fea the ridges thrown.
By various names through various tribes are kncrwn
Here down the wafte of Taurus* rocky fide
Two infant rivers pour the chryflal tide,
Indus the one, and one the Ganges named,
Darkly of old through diftant nations famed :
One eaftward curving holds his crooked way.
One to the weft gives his fwoln tide to ftray :
Declining fouthward many a land they lave.
And widely fwelling roll the fea-like wave.
Till the twin offspring of the mountain lire
Both in the Indian deep ingulph'd expire :
Between thefe ftreams, fair fmiling to the day.
The Indian lands their wide domains difplay.
And many a league, far to the fouth they bend.
From the broad region where the rivers end.
Till where the fhores to Ceylon's ifle ' oppofe.
In conic form the Indian regions clofe.
To various laws the various tribes incline.
And various are the rites efteem'd divine :
» — to Ceylon's ijlt — One Captain Knox,
who publilhed an account of Ceylon, in
l68i, has the following curious paiTage.
** This for certain, fays he, I can affirm,
that oftentimes the Devil doth cry with an
audible voice in the night : It is very fhrill,
almoft like the barking of a dog. This I
have often heard myfelf, but never heard
that he did any body any harm. Only this
obfervation the inhabitants of the land have
made of this voice, and I have made it alfo,
that either juft before, or very fuddenly
after this voice, the king always cots off
people. To believe that this is the voice
of the Devil thefe reafons urge ; becaufe
there is no creature known to the inhabi-
tants that cries like it, and becaufe it will
on a fudden depart from one place, and
make a noife in another, quicker than
any fowl can fly, and becaufe the very
dogs will tremble when they hear it ; and
it is fo counted by all the people." — Knox,
Hill. Ceyl. p. 78.
O O 2
Some
286 THE L U S I A D. BookVIL
Some as from heaven receive the Koran's lore.
Some the dread monflers of the wild adore ;
Some bend to wood and ftone the proftrate head,
And rear unhallow'd altars to the dead.
By Ganges' banks, as wild traditions ' tell.
Of old the tribes lived healthful by the fmell ;
No food they knew, fuch fragrant vapours rofe
Rich from the flowery lawns where Ganges flows :
Here now the Delhian, and the fierce Patan
Feed their fair flocks ; and here, an heathen clan,
Stern Decam's fons the fertile valleys till,
A clan, whofe hope to fhun eternal ill,
Whofe trufl: from every ftain of guilt to fave.
Is fondly placed in Ganges' holy " wave ;
If to the ftream the breathlefs corpfe be given
They deem the fpirit wings her way to heaven.
Here by the mouths, where hallowed Ganges ends,
Bengala's beauteous Eden wide extends,
Unrivall'd fmile her fair luxurious vales :
And here Cambaya fpreads her palmy "^ dales ;
' as iviU traditions tell — —Pliny, ablutions are a grofs imitation of that bap-
impofed upon by fome Greeks, who pre- tifm, which he publiflied. Cajiera.
tended to have been in India, relates this ^^ And here Cambaya — Now called Gaza-
fable. Vid. Nat. Hift. Lib. 12. ti^tt. The inhabitants are ingenious, culti-
" Is fondly placed in Ganges' hnly nva've — vate letters, and are faid to be particularly
Almoft all the Indian nations attribute to happy in the agreeable Romance. Accord-
the Ganges, the virtue of cleanfmg the ing to ancient tradition, Porus was fovereign
foul from the ftains of fm. They have fuch of this country. His memory is ftill pre-
veneration for this river, that if any one in ferved with an eclat, worthy of that valour
their prefence were to throw any filth into and generofity which attrafted the efteem
the ftream, an inllant death would punifh of the great Alexander. Cajlera. This
his audacity. As St. Thomas preached the country was known to the ancients by the
faith in the eaft, it is probable that thefe name of Gedrofia.
A warlike
Book VI.
THE L U S I A D.
287
A warlike realm, where ftill the martial race
From Porus famed of yore their lineage trace.
Narlinga " here difplays her fpacious line,
In native gold her fons and ruby fliine :
Alas, how vain ! thefe gaudy fons of fear,.
Trembling, bow down before each hoflil-e fpear.
* Narjtnga — The laws of Narfinga oblige
the women to throw themfelves into the
funeral pile, to be burnt with their deceafed
hufbands. An infallible fecret to prevent
the defire of widowhood, C after a from
Barros, Dec. 4.
There are many accounts in different tra-
vellers of the performance of this moft bar-
barous ceremony. The following one is
felefted as the moft pifturefque of any in
the knowledge of the tranflator.
"At this time (17 lo) died the Prince of
Marata, aged above eighty years. The ce-
remony of his funeral, where his forty-feven
wives were burned with his corpie, was
thus : A deep circular pit was digged in
a field without the town ; in the middle of
the trench was erefted a pile of wood, on
the top of which, on a couch richly orna-
mented, lay the body of the deceafed Prince
in his lineft robes. After numberlefs rituals
performed by the Bramins, the pile was fet
on fire, and immediately the unhappy Ladies
appeared, fparkling with jewels and adorned
with flowers. Thefe viftims of this diabo-
lical facrifice walked feveral times about the
burning pile, the heat whereof was felt at
a confiderable diftance. The principal Lady
then, holding the dagger of her late huf-
band, thus addreffed herfelf to the Prince
his fucceffor : Here, faid ihe, is the dagger
which the King made ufe of, to triumph
over his enemies : beware never to employ
it to other purpofe, never to embrue it with
the blood of your fubjefts. Govern them
as a father, as he has done, and you fhall
live long and happy, as he did. Since he
is no more, nothing can keep me longer in
the world; all that remains for me is to
follow him. With thefe words, fhe refigned
the dagger into the Prince's hands, who
took it from her without flicwing the leaft
fign of grief or compaffion. The Princefs
now appeared agitated. One of her do-
meftics, a Chriftian woman, had frequently
talked with her on religion, and though fhe
never renounced her idols, had made fome
impreffions on her mind. Perhaps thefe
impreffions now revived. With a moft ex-
prefFive look fhe exclaimed, Alas ! what is
the end of human happinefs ! I know I fhall
plunge myfelf headlong into hell. On thefe
words, a horror was vifible on every coun-
tenance ; when refuming her courage, fhe
boldly turned her face to the burning pile,
and calling upon her gods, flung herfelf into
the midft of the flames. The fecond Lady
was the fifter of a Prince of the blood, who
was prefent, and affifted at the deteftable
facrifice. She advanced to her brother,
and' gave him the jewels, wherewith fhe
was adorned. His paffion gave way, he
burft into tears, and fell upon her neck in
the moft tender embraces. She, howerer,
remained unmoved, and, with a refolute
countenance, fometimes viewed the pile, and
fometimes the affiftants. Then loudly ex-
claiming, Chi^a, Chi'va, the name of one
of her idols, fhe precipitated herfelf into
the flames, as the former had done. The
other Ladies foon followed after, fome de-
cently compofed, and fome with the moft
bewildered, down-caft, forrowful looks.
One of them, fhocked above the reft, ran
to a Chriftian foldier, whom fhe beheld
among the guards, and hanging about his
neck, implored him to fave her. The new
convert, Itunned with furprize, pufhcd the
unfortunate Lady from him ; and fhrieking
alomd flie fell into the fiery trench. The fol-
dier, all fhivering with terror, immediately
retired, and a delirious fever ended his life in
the following night. Though many of the
unhappy vidlims, difcovered at firft the ut-
moft
288 T H E L U S I A D. Book VII.
And now behold ; — and while he fpoke he rofe.
Now with extended arm the profped: fhews,—
Behold thefe mountain-tops of various iize
Blend their dim ridges with the fleecy fkies ;
Nature's rude wall, againft the fierce Canar
They guard the fertile lawns of Malabar.
Here from the mountain to the furgy main.
Fair as a garden fpreads the fmiling plain :
And lo, the Emprefs of the Indian powers,
There lofty Calicut refplendent towers ;
Her's every fragrance of the fpicy fhore,
Her's every gem of India's countlefs ftore :
^^ Great Samoreem, her Lord's imperial ftyle.
The mighty Lord of India's utmoft foil :
To him the kings their duteous tribute pay.
And at his feet confefs their borrowed fway.
Yet higher tower'd the monarchs ancient '' boaft.
Of old one fovereign ruled the fpacious coaft,
moft intrepidity, yet no fooner did they feel the relations, who efteem themfelves highly
the flames, than they roared out in the moft difgraced, leave no means untried to oblige
dreadful manner ; and, weltering over each them to it. Princeffes, and Concubines of
other, ftrove to gain tlie brim of the pit ; Princes, however, are the only perfons from
but in vain : the afliftants forced them back whom this fpecics of fuicide is expefted.
with their poles, and heaped new fuel upon When women of inferior rank fubmit to
them. The next day the Bramins gathered this abominable cuftom, they are only urged
the bones, and threw them into the fea. to it by the impulfe of a barbarous pride
The pit v/as levelled, a temple built on the and vanity of oftentation." Extrafted from
fpot, and the deceafed Prince and his wives a letter from Father Martin, on the miflion
were reckoned among the Deities. To of Coromandel, to Father de Villete, of tke
conclude, this deteftable cruelty has the ap- Society of J efus, publiflied at Paris, in J 7 19.
pearance of the free choice of the women. ^ Of old one Jo^vereign ruled the J.-acicus
But that freedom is only fpecious ; it is coa/l Whatever Monzaida relates of the
alraoft impoflible to avoid it. If they do, people and their manners, is confirmed by
they mult lie under perpetual infamy, and the hiftories of India, according to Barros,
^?.
Book VII. THE L U S I A D. iBg
A votive train, who brought the Koran's lore.
What time great Perimal the fceptre bore.
From bleft Arabia's groves to India came ;
Life were their words, their eloquence a flame
Of holy zeal : fired by the powerful ftrain
The lofty monarch joins the faithful train.
And vows, at fair Medina's fhrine, to clofe
His life's mild eve in prayer and fweet repofe.
Gifts he prepares to deck the Prophet's tomb,
The glowing labours of the Indian loom,
Orixa's fpices and Golconda's gems j
Yet, ere the fleet th' Arabian ocean ftems.
His final care his potent regions claim.
Nor his the tranfport of a father's name ;
His fervants now the regal purple wear.
And high enthroned the golden fceptres bear.
Proud Cochim one, and one fair Chale fways,
The fpicy Ifle another Lord obeys ;
Coulam and Cananoor's luxurious fields.
And Cranganore to various Lords he yields.
While thefe and others thus the monarch graced,
A noble youth his care unmindful paft :
Save Calicut, a city poor and fmall, ^ r—
Though lordly now, no more remain'd 'to fall :
Caftaneda, MaiFeus, and Don Oforius. Our duce any curious cullom or veftige of anti-
Author, in this, imitates Homer and Virgil, quity. Camera.
who are fond of every opportunity to intro- ,
Grieved
3^
2^x> THE L U S I A D. Eook VIL
Grieved to behold fuch merit thus repay'd.
The fapient youth the king of kings he made.
And honour'd with the name, great Samoreem,
The lordly titled boafl of power fupreme.
And now great Perimal refigns his reign.
The blifsful bowers of Paradife to gain :
Before the gale his gaudy navy flies.
And India finks for ever from his eyes.
And foon to Calicut's commodious port
The fleets, deep-edging with the wave, refort :
Wide o'er the ihore extend the warlike piles.
And all the landfcape round luxurious fmiles.
And now her flag to every gale unfurl'd.
She towers the Emprefs of the eaftern world :
Such are the bleflings fapient kings beflow.
And from thy fl:ream fuch gifts, O Commerce, flow.
From that fage youth, who firfl: reign'd king of Mngs,
He now who fways the tribes of India fprings.
Various the tribes, all led by fahles vain.
Their rites the dotage of the dreamful brain.
All, fave where Nature whifpers modefl: care.
Naked, they blacken in the fdltry air^
The haughty nobles and the vulgar race
^fiver mufljoin the conjugal embrace j
Nor
Book VII.
THE LUSIAD.
291
%
?^
Nor may the ftrlpling, nor the blooming maid.
Oh loft to joy, by cruel rites betray'd !
To fpoufe of other than their father's art.
At Love's connubial ihrine unite the heart :
Nor may their fons, the genius and the view
Confined and fetter'd, other art purfue.
Vile were the ftain, and deep the foul difgrace,
Should other tribe touch one of noble race ,
A thoufand rites, and walhings o'er and o'er.
Can fcarce his tainted purity reftore.
Poleas the labouring lower clans are named :
By the proud Nayres the noble rank is claimed -,
The toils of culture, and of art they fcorn.
The warrior's plumes their haughty brows adorn j
The fhining faulchion brandifh'd in the right.
Their left arm wields the target in the fight -,
Of danger fcornful, ever arm'd they ftand
Around the king, a flern barbarian band.
Whate'er in India holds the facred name
Of piety or lore, the Brahmins claim : Ji^'
In wildeft rituals, vain and painfull loft,
Brahma their founder as a God they boaft- *.
' Brahma their founder as a god they boajl,
m< Antiquity has talked much, but knew
little with certainty of the Brahmins, and
their philofophy. Porphyry and others
efteem them the fame as the Gymnofophills
of the Greeks, and divide them into feveral
fefts, the Samana^i, the Germanes, the Pram-
nae, the Gymncta^, &c. Their terrible pe-
nances are often mentioned by heathen au-
thors, and by the earlieft of the Chriftian fa-
thers. The ftory of Calanus, who burnt
himfelf in the camp of "Alexander, is well
known. The Brahmin Mandanis, however,
deferves more honour : he rejedled with fcorn
the gifts of the conqueror, and ridiculed his
pretenfions to divinity. Several ambaffadors
were fent by a king of India, a king of
fix hundred kings, to Auguftus Cajfar. (Sue-
ton, c. 21.) One of thefe, a Brahmin philo-
fopher, burned himfelf at Athens. His life
P p had
izg2
THE L U S I A D,
Book VL
/.
To crown their meal no meanefl: life expiree,
Pulfe, fruitj and herbs alone their board requires :
Alone in lewdnefs riotous and free.
y ^ No ipoufal ties with-hold, and no degree :
Ihadbeen extremely profperous, and he took
;!his method, he faid, to prevent a reverfe
of fortune. Amid a great concourfe of peo-
ple he entered the fire, naked, anointed, and
laughing. The epitaph which he defired
might beinfcribed on his tomb, was, " Here
refts Zarmanochagas., the Indian of Bargofa,
-wTxo, according to the cuftom of his country,
made himfelf immortal." On the approach
©f age or dif^afe, according to antiquity, they
had recoarfe to this means, and it was on
the advances of a diftemper that Calanus
amufed Alexander with this exhibition of
Indian philofophy. The cuftom of the wife
being burned with the corpfe of her deceafed
hufband is alfo very antient. It is men-
tioned by Hierome, (Adv. Jov. 1. i.) and
feveral others. PofltUus (de Orig. c 1 3.
£t 1.5.) fancies that the Brahmins are
defcended of Abraham by Keturahj and
named Crachmanes, quafi Abrahmancu
Pliny, 1. vii. c. 2. relates, that the In-
dian philofophers called Gymnetzs, from
the fun rifing to his fetting, by way of divi-
nation, kept their eyes unalterably .fixed on
the orb of that luminary. Eefides thefe re-
lations, which correfpond with later ac-
(£0unts, the antients had innumerable fables.
•Pliny talks of Jnen in India with dogs heads;
lOthers with only one leg, yet AchilUses for
fwiftnefs of foot ; of a nation of pigmies % of
ifome, (as already obferved in thefe notes)
who lived by the fmell ; of tribes who had
only one eye in their forehead ; and of
ibme whofe ears hung down to the ground.
Others talked of fountains, in India, of li-
quid gold. But enough. Though Pliny,
no doubt, had his admirers, thefe ftories were
•ridiculed by fome, and Horace genteelj
ilaughs at them in a fingle exprelfion.
•—^te locafabuh/us
iLambit Hyduj]>es..
^From the earlieft times the Indians have
'been divided into diflindl tribes. The four
j)rincipjil ones ar?, .the Brahmins, (who like
the Levites among the Hebrews, are heredi-
tary priefts) the foldiers, the mechanics, and
the labourers. As thefe tribes never inter-
marry, India may properly be faid to contain
four different nations They will neither eat
together, nor drink out of the fame veffel.
If they trefpafs in thefe or in many other
fimilar points, they are held as polluted, re-
jected from their tribe, and are obliged to
herd with a defpifed crew, called the Hal-
lachores, who are thft loweft of the commu-
TOty, the rabble of India. Among thefe
only, fays Scrafton, the popifli miffionaries
have had any fuccefs, Urbano Cerri, in his
account of the Catholic religion, mentions
a Jefuit named Robertus de Nobilij who
preached that every one ought to remain in
his own tribe, and by tbat means made
many converts. He alfo propofed to ereft
a feminary of Chriftian Brahmins. But the
Holy See difapproved of this rational defign,
and defeated his labours. Jealoufy of the
fecular arts of the Portuguefe, was alfo a
powerful preventive of the labours of their
priefts. A Spaniard being afked by an
Indian king, ■how his Spanifh majcily was
able to fubdue fuch immenfe countries as
they boafted to belong to him : The Don
^loneftly anfwered, " that he firft fent priefts
to convert the people, and having thus
gained a party of the natives, he fent fleets
and foldiers, who v/ith the afiiftance of the
new profelites fubdued the rtft." The truth
of this confeffion, which has been often
proved, wDl never be forgotten in the EaiL
But if the bigotted adherence of the Indians
to the rites of their tribes, and other caufes,
;have been a bar to the propagation of Qirif^
titmity among them, the fame reafons have
alfo prevented the fuccefs. of Mohammedifm,
a religion much more palatable to the luxu-
rious and ignorant. Though the Mogul,
and almoll all the princes of India, have
thefe many centuries profeffcd the religion of
the Koran, Mr. OriTtc computes that all the
Mohammedant jof Hiadoftan do not exceed
stqo
Book VII. THE L U S I A D.
Loft to the heart-tics, to his neighbour's arms 4^1
The willing hufband yields his fpoufe's charms :
In unendear'd embraces free they blend ;
Yet but the hufband's kindred may afcend
29.
/f14 iCttn^ -^ ten ihukifunil ; whereas the Indians, he fays,
amount to about an hundred millions.
Almoft innumerable, and fometimes as
whimfically abfurd as the Arabian Nights*
Entertainments, are the holy legends of In-
dia. The accounts of the god Brahma, or
firimha, are more various than thofe of any
fable in the Grecian mythology. According
to Father Bohours, in his life of Xa'vier, the
_ Brahmins hold, that the Great God having
a defire to become vifible, became man. In
this ftate he produced three fons, Mayfo,
Vifnu, and Brahma ; the firfl, born of his
mouth, the fecond, of his breaft, the third, of
his belly. Being about to return to his in-
vifibility, he affigned various departments to
his three fons. To Brahma he gave the
third heaven, with the fuperintendence of the
rites of religion. Brahma having a defire
for children, begot the Brahmins, who are
thepriefts of India, and who are believed
by the other tribes to be a race of demi-gods,
who have the blood of heaven running in
their veins. Other accounts fay, that Brah-
ma produced the priefts from his head, the
more ignoble tribes from his breaft, thighs,
and feet.
According to the learned Kircher's account
of the theology of the Brahmins, the fole
and fupreme god Villnou, formed the fecon-
dary god Brahma, out of a flower that
floated on the furface of the great deep before
the creation. And afterwards, in reward of
the virtue, fidelity, and gratitude pf Brahma,
gave him power to create the univerfe.
According to the Danifli miflionaries*, the
Firft Being, fay the Brahmins, begat Eter-
nity, Eternity begat T/chiien, Tfchinen
begat Tfchaddy, Tfchaddy begat Putady,
or the elementary world, Futady begat
Sound, Sound begat Nature, Nature begat
the great god Tjcbaiatfchimny from whom
Brahma was the fourth in a like defcent.
Brahma produced the foul, the foul produced
the vifible heaven, the heaven produced the
air, the air the fire, the fire the water, and
the water the earth. A legend fomething
fimilar to this appears in Mr. Dow's Difler-
tation on the Brahmins, prefixed to his in-
genious hiftory of Hindofl;an.
This genealogical nonfenfe, however, is
not confined to India. Hefiod's genealogy
of the gods, though refined upon by the
fchools of Plato, is of the fame clafs. The
Jewifli fables, foolifti queftions and genea-
logies, reproved by faint Paul, {epift. Tit.)
were probably of this kind, for the Talmu*
dical legends were not then fprung up. Bi-
nahy or Underftanding, faid the cabalifti,
begat Cochmah, or Wifdom, &c. till at lalt
comes Milcah,x!wQ Kingdom, who begat She-
kinah, the Divine Prefence. In the fame
manner the Chriftian Gnoftics, of the feft
of Valentinus, held their Uxii^wixx^ and their
thirty ages. Ampfiu and Auraan, they tell
us, i. e. Profundity and Silence, begat Ba^
cua and Tharthuu, Mind and Truth ; thefe
begat Ubucua and Tbardeadie, Word and
Life, and thefe Merexa and Jtarbarba,
Man and Church. The other conjundlions
of their thirty uEones are of fimilar ingenuity.
The prevalence of the fame fpirit of mytho-
logical allegory in fuch different nations,
aftbrds the philofopher a worthy field of fpe-
culation.
Almoft as innumerable as their legends are
the dreadful penances to which the reli-
gionifts of India fubmit thcmfelves for the
expiation of fins. Some hoU the tranfmi-
gration of fouls, and of confequence abftain
from all animal food J. Yet however auftere
in other refpedls, they freely abandon them-
* See Phillips's Collcftior ->f their Letters publiflied at LonJon in 17 17.
J Though from the fxtra.*s given by Mr. Dow, the philofopher Goutam appejrs to Iiave been a very
Duiii Scotas or Aquinas in metaphyfics, the Pythagorean teaUn why the Brahm.ns abftain froni animal
food, is a convincing proof of their ignorance in natural philofjphy. Scire will let vermin over-run thtm ;
feme of the nanians covsr their mouth with a cloth, leaft they ftiiuld fuck in a gnat with their breath; and
fotne carefully fwsep the floor ere they tread upon it, left they diflodge thfffoul of an i ife£l. And yet they
do nut know that in the water they drink, and in every failad tl«ey cat, they caufc the death of innutr.erable
living cieatutes.
P p 2 felvc»
294
THE
L U S I A D.
Book VII.
The nuptial couch : alas, too bleft, they know
Nor jealoufy's fufpence, nor burning woe;
The bitter drops which oft from dear affedlion flow.
!
felves to every fpecies of letchery, fome of
them efteeming the moft unnatural abo-
minations as the privilege of their fanc-
tity. The cow they venerate as facred. If
a dying man can lay hold of a cow's tail J,
and expire with it in his hands, his foul is
fure to be purified, and perhaps will enjoy
the fignal favour to tranfmigrate into the
body of one of thofe animals. The tem-
ples of India, which are numerous, are filled
with innumerable idols of the moft horrid
figures. Brahma, in particular, appears in
many forms : in one as a fat old man, fitting
crofs-legged, with four faces, and four hands.
A fpecies of the antient manicheeifm of
Perfia is mixed with their religion, and
the Deftroyer, or the Frightful Demon, is
worfhipped by the authority of their facred
books. The firft thing they meet in the
morning, be it afs, hog, or dog, they wor-
fhip during the courfe of the day. Scarcely
more ftupid were the Pelufians : Crepitus
'ventris injiati, fays Hierome, Pelujiaca religio
eft. The Brahmins are allowed to eat nothing
but what is cooked by themfelves. Aftrology
is their principal ftudy ; yet, though they are
moftly a defpicable fet of fortune-tellers, fome
of them are excellent moralifts, and particu-
larly inculcate the comprehenfive virtue of
humanity, which is enforced by the opinion,
that Divine Beings often aflume the habit of
mendicants, in order to diftinguifh the cha-
ritable from the inhuman. The Malabriahs
have feveral traditions of the virtuous on
thefe happy trials being tranflated into hea-
ven ; the beft defigned incitement to virtue,
perhaps, which their religion contains. Befides
the Brahmins, the principal fedl of that vaft
region called India, there are feveral others,
who are divided and fubdivided, according
to innumerable variations in every province.
In Cambaya, the Banians, a feft who ftriftly
abftain from all animal food, are numerous.
Such are the general accounts of the Indian
opinions, which till lately have been re-
ceived in Europe. Accounts much more to
the honour of the Indian philofophy have
within thefe few years been laid before the
public, by fome gentlemen, who, by con-
verfing with fome eminent Brahmins, have
enjoyed the beft opportunities of informa-
tion. Yet thefe gentlemen do not agree
among themfelves. Colonel Dow con-
fefles, that he finds himfelf obliged to
differ from Mr. Holwell almoft in every
particular concerning the religion of the Hin-
doos " The Bedang or Shatter, the facred
" book of the Brahmins, fays Dow, con-
" tains various accounts of the creation,
" one philofophlcal, the others allegorical.
*< Thefe latter, fays he, have afforded ample
" field for the invention of the Brahmins.
" From the many allegorical fyftems of
*' creation contained in the Shatters, many
*' different accounts of the cofmogony of the
<* Hindoos have been promulgated in Eu-
" rope, fome travellers adopting one fyftem,
** fome another." From this confeffion we
are led to infer, that the different accounts
given by our modern travellers, arife from
their having converfed with different Brah-
mins ; a circumftance by no means favour-
able to the opinion of the confiftency of the
moral and philofophically religious fyftem,
which we have been told is contained in the
facred books of India. If we cannot be fo
warm in our admiration of the religious phi-
lofophy of the Hindoos, as fome late writers
have been, fome circumftances of that philo-
fophy, as delivered by themfelves, it is
hoped, will exculpate our coolnefs.
• The facred books of the Hindoos are
written in a dead language, the Sanfcrita,
which none but the Brahmins are allowed to
ftudy. So ftrift in this are they, fays Mr.
Dow, that only one Muffelman was ever in-
ftrufted in it, and his knowledge was ob-
tained by fraud. Mahummud AkbarJ, em-
peror of India, though bred a Mohammedan,
. ftudied feveral r(?!igions. In the chriftian
he was inftrufted by a Portuguefe. But
finding that of the Hindoos inacceffible, he
\*r^i
J Bohours.
• Tills Akbar chofe, as his^aft.and beftreligion, to worfliip the fun. While he performed his pvablic
devoirs to that bright deity, he himfelf, by his own order, was worfliipped by the crowd beJow. See
Crimftont,
had
Book VII.
THE L U S" I A D.
295
But /hould my lips *each wond'rous fcene unfold.
Which your glad eyes will foon amazed behold.
Oh, long before the various tale could run.
Deep in the weft would fmk yon eaflern fun.
had recourfe to art. A boy of parts, named
Feizi, was, as the orphan of a Brahmin,
put under the care of one of the moft emi-
nent of thefe philofophers, and obtained
full knowledge of their hidden religion. But
the fraud being difcovered, he was laid un-
der the reftraint of an oath, and it does not
appear that he ever communicated the know-
ledge thus acquired.
True or falfe, this ftory, which is firmly
believed in Hindoftan, fufficiently fliews
the great care with which they conceal their
tenets, of which even the Mohammedans,
their mafters, have little or no knowledge.
Different from every other fed:, the Brah-
mins admit of no profelites, a circumftance
of unparallelled policy. Some may vene-
rate, on this account, the wifdom and fa-
crednefs of their doftrines. For our part
we cannot help being led, by this very cue,
to fufpeft that there is fomething extremely
abfurd, frivolous, and childifh, in what is
thus religioufly enveloped in the veil of
darknefs. Were analogy allowed us in
proof, our fufpicion would amount to an
aflertion. The facred books, or Shatters,
are divided into four Bedas ; the firft con-
tains principally the fcience of divination,
the fecond treats of religious and moral du-
ties, the third the rites of religion, facrifices,
penances, &c. and the fourth, the know-
ledge of the Good Being; and contains,
fays our author,' the whole fcience of theo-
logy and metaphyfical philofophy.
Thus, according to Mr. Dow, the Brah-
mins avow, and their facred book contains,
that moft defpicable of all pretenfions to
learning, judicial aftrology ; that mother of
fuperftition in every country, that engine of
villany, by which the priefts of India, and
the gypfiies of England, impofe on the cre-
dulous and ignorant. Nor can we pafs un-
"obferved the rejeflion of the fourth Beda.
By its fubjeft it feems to be the moft valu-
able of the whole, except the fecond. Yet
the Brahmins, fays Mr. Dow, have long
rejefted it, becaufe the Mohammedan reli-
gion, they fay, is borrowed from it. On
the fuppofition, which they pretend, that
their facred books were didlated by divine
authority, the rejeftion of any part is as un-
warrantable as the reafon for rejecting the
fourth Beda is fubmiffive and ridiculous.
Another fhrewd fufpicion from this alfo
arifes. The Brahmins rejeft a fourth part of
their facred canon, and they have ever kept
the whole moft carefully concealed from the
eyes of every enquirer. Who, that confiders
thefe circumftances, can heartily believe the
pretended antiquity or the unadulterated text
of the facred records of India ?
A philofopher, named Goutam, who lived
about 4000 years ago, is acknowledged to
have written many of the treatifes which are
held facred by the Neadirfen feft ; a fedl,
whofe doftrines are profeffed by the gene-
rality of the Brahmins of Bengal, and of the
northern provinces. " This philofopher, fays
" Mr. Dow, fuppofes that the Deity never
'* exerts the power of a providence, but that
" he remains in eternal reft, taking no con-
" cern neither in human affairs, nor in the
" courfe of the operations of Nature." This
may be called philofophy, but this article in
the creed of Goutam is incompatible with
the idea of religion, the philofophical de-
finition of which is certainly thus, A depen-
dence on the Creator, Jimilar to that of a
Child on his Father.
" The learned Brahmins^ fays the Colo-
*' nel, with one voice, deny the exiftence
" of inferior divinities. Their polytheifm
** is only a fymbolical worfliip of the divine
" attributes, and it is much to be doubted,
" whether the want of revelation and phi-
" lofophy, thofe neceftary purifiers of re-
" ligion, ever involved any nation in grofs
" idolatry, as many ignorant zealots have
" pretended." *' Under the name of
** Brimha, they worfhip the wifdom andcrc-
" ative powerof God ; under the appellation
" ofBiflien, his providential and preferving
" quality; and under that of Shibah, -that
" attribute which tends to deftroy."
" Shibah, fays the fame author, among
" many others, is known by the names of
" MahoifTur,
.^6
a66
THE
L U S I A D.
Book VII.
In few, all wealth from China to the Nile,
All balfams, fruit, and gold on India's bofom fmile.
/ C While thus the Moor his faithful tale reveal'd,
^ Wide o'er the coaft the voice of Rumour fwell'd;
" Mahoiflur, the Great Demon ; Bamdebo,
" the Frightful Spirit; and Mohilla, the
" Deftroyer."
. The fame authority alfo informs us, that
they eredi: temples to Granefh, or Policy,
whom they worfhip at the commencement
of any defign, reprefented with the head of
an elephant with only one tooth. That they
worfhip Kartic, or Fame; Cohere, or Wealth;
Soorage, or the fun ; Chunder, or the moon ;
the deities of water, fire, &c. bcfides an innu-
merable herd of local divinities *. In ano-
ther place, our author confeffes that the vul-
gar revere all the elements, and receive as
an article of belief every holy legend.
An account of the celebrated feft of the
Brahmins, and an enquiry into their philo-
fophy, are undoubtedly requifite in the
notes of a Poem which celebrates the difco-
very of the Eaftern World ; of a poem
where their rites and opinions are necefla-
rily mentioned. To fet the fubjeft in the
cleareft and moft juft view, as far as his
abilities will ferve him, is the intention of
the tranflator. The admirers of the Hindoos
philofophy will therefore excufe him, fhould
he venture to give his opinion againft the
apology for the polytheifm of the Brah-
mins. To call it only a fymbolical worfliip
of the Divine Attributes, is only to pre-
fent to us a fpecious fliadow, which will
vaniihon the flighteft touch of examination".
That the polytheifm of Egypt, the
worfhip of dogs, crocodiles, and onions,
was only a fymbolical worfhip of the divine
attributes, has been often faid, and with
equal juflice. For our part we can diflin-
guifh no difference between the worfhip of
Janus with two faces, or of Brahma with
four. The philofophers of Rome v/ere as
able to allegorife as thofe of India. The
apology for the idolatry of the Brahmins
is applicable to that of every nation, and,
as an argument, falls nothing fhort of that
of a learned Arab, who about the eleventh
century wrote a treatife to prove that there
never was fuch a thing as idolatry in the
world, for that every man intended to wor-
fhip fome attribute of the divinity, which
he believed to refide in his idol.
Nor is a fentiment of Mr. Dow inappli-
cable to this : " Let us refl afTured, fays he,
" that whatever the external ceremonies of
" religion may be, the felf fame infinite
" Being is the objeft of univerfal adora-
** tion." Yet whatever the metaphyfician
may think of this ingenious refinement, the
moral philofopher will be little pleafed with
it, when he confiders that the vulgar, that
is ninety-nine of every hundred, are utterly
incapable of praftifing their idolatry, ac-
cording to this philofophical definition.
* Perimal, who, according to fome of their holy legends, was the fon of a cow, was worrtiipped as a god
in the kingdom of Narfinga. Near the city of Prefeti was a wood full of apes efteemed of a divine race,
and of thehouftiold of Perimal, in whom fome thoufands of the gods had taken refuge. In the city of Ci-
dambaram was a ftately temple erefled to one of thefe apes, named Hanimant. Being threatened
with fome danger, Hanimant put himfelf at the head of many thoufand of his brother gods, and led
them to the fsa fide ; where finding no (hip, he took a leip into the ocean, and an ifland immediately
rofe under his feet. At every leap the miracle was repeated, and in this manner he brought his divine
brotherhood all fafe to the illand of Ceylon. A tooth of Hanimant was kept there as a facred relick, and
many pilgrimages were made to vifit it. In 1554, the Portuguefe made a defcent on that ifland, and
among other things fcjzed the holy tooth. The Indian princes (fays Linfchonn, c. 44.) offered 700,000
ducats in ranfom, but by the pcrfuafion of the archbiftiop, the Portuguefe viceroy burned it in the pre-
fence of the Indian ambafTadors, A Banian, however, had the art to peifuade his countrymen that he
was invifibly prefent when the Portuguefe burnt the tooth, that he had fecreted the holy one, and put
another in its place, which was the one committed to the flames. His ftory was believed, fays our au-
thor, and the king of Bifnagar gave him a great fum for a tooth which he produced as the facred relick.
The ftriking refemblance which this fable of the apes bears to the Egyptian mythology, which tells us
that their gods had taken refuge in dogs, crocodiles, onions, frog*, and even in e/eacii, is worthy of
obfervation, _
That
Book VIL THE LUSIAD.
As firft fome upland vapour feems to float
Small as the fmoke of lonely fhepherd cot,
5oon o'er the -dales the rolling darknefs fpreads.
And wraps in hazy clouds the mountain heads.
297
*rhat the learned Brahmins with one voice
-affert there is but one Supreme God, has
been acknowledged by a^molt all modern
travellers. Xavier himfelf confeffes this,
and tells us from the authority of a Brahmin,
that the ten commandments made a part of
their hidden religion. But be their hidden
religion what it will, the Brahmins, in pub-
lic, worihip and teach the worfnip of idols.
To give an account both of the popular and
what is called the philofophical religion of
■India, is the purpofe of this efTay. To ab-
;ftraS our view therefore from the popular
practice of the country, and to indulge the
fpirit of encomium on the enlarged tenets of
the learned few, is not here to be ,expe£l:ed.
To follow this method, a traveller may tell
us there is no popery at Rome, or that the
.divine miffion of Mohammed is denied at
Conftantinople, becaufe at the one he con-
verfed with a deiftical Bifhop, orat the other
with a philofophical Mufti. However pleafed
^therefore the metaphyfician may be with in-
genious refinement, the moralift will con-
sider, that the queflion is not, how the
philofopher may refine upon any fyftem,
rbat how the people will, of confequence,
praftife under its influence. And on this
view alone, he will pronounce it repre-
henfible or commendable. That the re-
ligion of the Brahmins is highly reprehen-
fible every moralift mull: allow, when he
confiders, that the moll unworthy ideas of
the Divinity, ideas deflruclive of morality,
naturally arife from idol worfhip ; and the
vulgar, it is every wheje confeflcd, cannot
avoid the abufe. What can he think of the
piety of a poor fuperftitious Indian, when he
•worlhips the Great Dsmon, the Deftroyer,
and Frightful Spirit? Does he love what
he worihip^ ? And.can piety exift where the
olgedl of adoration is hated ? What can the
moralift think of the Indian, who, upon re-
ligious principles, drowns himfelf in the
Ganges, or throws himfelf under the wheels
of his pagod's chariot, to be crufhed to death
by the holy load? The duties we owe to our
relatives in particular, and to fociety in ge-
neral, the Author of Nature has impofed
upon us by an indifpenfible canon. Yet
thefe duties by the pious fuicide are refufed
on the principles of the weakeft fuperftition.
Nor can the moralift view the dreadful aufte-
rities to which the Brahmin philofophers
fubmit themfelves in any other light. He who
fixes his eyes on his nofe till he can fee in
no other dire£lion ; he who clenches his fift
till the nails grow out at the back of his
hand ; and he who twifts his neck about,
till his face is fixed unalterably backward ;
(three modes of penance mentioned by Mr^
Dow) and he who drowns himfelf at once,
equally incapacitate themfelves for the duties
of fociety Nor ought other parts of the
Brahmin fuperftition, in our examination of
their tenets and praftifes, to be here omittedj.
From the concurrent accounts of many tra-
vellers who underftood their language, and
converfed with the * Brahmins, among many
other mort abfurd rites, we are informed thait
they pay a fuperftitious regard, and afcrlbe
great holincfs to the afiies of burned cow-
dung ; that they perfuade the people that
their idola eat and drink, and for this purpofe
extort contributions from the multitude ; and
for this purpofe too, proftitution.is.cnjoyned,
and the price of it received from the hands of
poor women. Jf all this is not grofs ido-
latry, nothing ever tranfadled on earth can
defcrve the name.
If we may be allowed to digrefs a little
from the lubjedl of the Brahmins, the futl-
•• AHrahitn Rce;r, in partic-i!ar. He lived fifteen yeirs amon? the Brjhniin"!, anfi was in intima^i- friend-
fliip with one ot' rhem, lum-d Padminfiba. H- roturnetl to H ill and in 1647, where he pub ifhed his
vwitings, which piavt him to hife^been -a learned man, and 3 dihgefxt CiKjoirer. Of bis good fenfe let nnt
fcatiment fceir teftimony. " Can we believe, fays he, that thcfC is a gcneroos fpirit reCdin^ in a peuple
•" will) for tyvJ or three t'loufaad years have pUced the greateft degree of fajiOity and ptudsnce' in half
■*' ftarving themfelver, and in depriving themfelves of the lawful eonveniencics of life? JTet fu<-h ^jifj^ytiy
*** .<nfiit tte chiefeniplqyoieuti of >tLe anciejit Br.achtnanttt «od ai.e pow of tbe .saodern Hrjurtinet,^'*
298
T H E
L U S I A D.
Book VII.
The leaflefs foreft and the utmoft lea ;
And wide its black wings hover o'er the fea :
The tear-dropt bough hangs weeping in the vale.
And diftant navies rear the mift-wet fail.
lity of our refined apology for idolatry will
ftill appear in a ftronger light. What will
the definition avail in the ballance of mora-
lity, when all the inhuman, impure, and
immoral rites of idolatry are laid in the other
fcale ? Paleftine, Tyre, and Carthage made
their children " pafs through the fire unto
" Moloch ;" and human facrifices have
prevailed at one time or other in every land.
No philofophers ever entertained fublimer
ideas of the Divinity, and of the human
foul, than the antient Druids.' Yet what
Ihall we think of the Wicker Man ! A gi-
gantic figure ! the body, each leg and arm
was a mail, to which an hundred or more
human viftims were bound with wicker.
When there was a deficiency of malefaftors
or prifoners of war, the innocent helplefs
were feized, that the horrid facrifice might
be complete. When all the rites were perform-
ed, the fublime Druids gave the hecatomb to
the flames, as an offering grateful to their
gods, as the affurance of proteftion*. In
the moft poliflied ages of antient Greece
and Rome, the rites of religion were often
highly immoral, bafely impure. To men-
tion any particular would be an infult to the
fcholar. Impurities which make the blood
recoil, which, like Swift, make one deteft
the Yahoo fpecies, are a part of the religious
externals of many barbarous tribes. A cita-
tion from Jaumgarten's travels, as quoted
by Mr. Locke, here offers itfelf. " In-
" fuper fanftum ilium, quern eo loco \in
*' £^j/?] vidimus, publicitus apprime com-
" mendari, eum t.^c hominem fandlum,
*' divinum a integritate pra?cipuum ; eo
" quod, nee fceminarum unquam efTet,
*' nee puerorum, fed tantummodo afela-
*' rum cuncubitor atque mularum." De-
cency will allow no tranflation of this. In
a word, where idolatry is pradlifed, whether
in the churches of Rome, or in the temples of
Brahma, the confequences are felt, and a
remedy is wanted : the vulgar are grofs ido-
lators ; the wifer part fee the cheat, and
bedome almoft indifferent to every tie of re-
ligion.
To all this let it be added, that as Mr.
Holwell's and Mr. Dow's Brahmins did not
give the fame accounts of their hidden reli-
gion to thefe gentlemen ; fo it is an obfer-
vation founded on experience, that the zea-
lot of any feft, in giving an account of his
religion to one who knows nothing about it,
will give every circumflance the beft glofs,
and ilrain every feature, as much as poffible,
to a conformity to the ideas of his intelligent
friend. In this manner Jofephas, a man of
great abilities, wrote his hiftory of the Jews.
He has altered, fuppreffed, gloffed, and
falfified, on purpofe to adopt the manners
and opinions of his countrymen, as much as
poffible, to the tafte of the Greek and Ro-
man philofophers. In the fame manner,
we believe, it may be alTerted, that every
;3efuit behaves, when he defends popery in
converfation with an intelligent difTenter
from the church of Rome, who has the art
to appear ignorant of the dodlrines of the
papacy, and of the writers of that commu-
nion. One may often meet with a fenfible
papift, who either from ignorance of the
hiftory of his own religion, or from prejudice
in its favour, will very confidently deny the
horrid cruelties, fuperflitions, and villanous
aits of Holy Church ; thofe intrigues and
tranfadlions which form the principal part
of the hiftory of Europe during fix or feven
monkifh centuries. Yet what wife man
will upon fuch evidence rejeft the teftimony
of ages. The allufion is apt, and the inference
is the fame. Every one, who is acquainted with
the hiftory of the human mind, knows what
an alteration in the manners of that moft
bigotted people the Jews, was introduced by
the Babylonian captivity. Before that pe-
riod amazingly dull and ftupid, after their
return from Affyria they began to philo-
fophize. The fuperftition and idolatry of
* To have reprefented the Devil on a neighbouring mountain, delighted with the yells and fteam of
this facrifice, would hare been an incident worthy of the Paradife Loft, and micht have come in excel-
lent place, had the great author continued the vifjons of the eleventh, in place of the far inferior narrative
of the twelfth book.
the
BockVIL the L U S I a D. 299
So Fame increafing, loud and louder grew,
And to the fylvan camp refounding. flew ;
A lordly band, {he cries, of warlike mien,
Of face and garb in India never feen,
the modem Brahmins have certainly, in Indians, is fairly accounted for by Mr.
the fame manner, received great improve- Dow; by whom alfo, as juft cited, every
ment of features from the converfation of charge of fuperftition is virtually confirmed.
Europeans, whofe example, however other- Two cardinal points of the philofophy of
wife vicious, could not fail to convince them the Brahmins remain to be mentioned. They
of the abfurdity of fuch mental weaknefs. hold that diflblutions of the univerfe, and
The horrible cuftom of burning the wives jiew creations, at certain periods, ihall fuc-
with the corpfe of the deceafed hufband, is ceed one another to all eternity t. Of the
now, fays Mr. Dow, in difufe. From human foul they fay, that after various tranf-
whence the late alteration ? Not furely from migrations and purifications, it fhall be ab-
any text of their hidden facred canon, which forbed in the Deity and confcioufnefs loft in
they pretend to have enjoyed fo many thou- blifs. By this unintelligible fublimity, we
fand years *. are put in mind of fome of the reveries of a
By the light of all thefe confiderations it Shaftelbury or a Malebranche ; but wild ima-
will appear, that the accounts of the fu- ginations are the growth of every country,
perftition and idolatry of the Brahmins, Nor muft the religious fe6t of the Fakier
which, till lately were received, were by be omitted. Thefe, according to Mr. Dow,
no means without foundation. And in- are a fet of fturdy beggars, who admit any
deed it were an unparallelled circumftance, ruffian of good parts, to join them ; and,
were the concurrent teftimony of the moft underpretenceof religious pilgrimages, ram-
authentic writers and intelligent travellers ble about in armies of ten or twelve thoufand
of the 1 6th and 17th centuries, to deferve men. The country people fly before them,
no credit. The difference of the religious leaving their goods and their wives, (who
legends, by thefe writers afcribed to the efteem it a holinefs to be embraced by a
» Nay, a text of the facred Shafter plainly encourages the horrid pra£lic«. " The woman who diet
" with her hufband, ftiall enjoy life eternal with him in heaven." Feeble minds, fays Mr. Dow, mif-
interpreted this into a precept. To thofe however who afe unlkilled in cafuiftry, no admonition can
be more obvious.
J According to Joannes Oranus, the Brahmins of Agra fay, that the vrorld fhall laft four ages or
werlds, three whereof are part. The firfl continued one million f-ven hundred and twenty-eight
thoufand years. Men in that world lived ten thoufand years, were of enormous ftature, and of great
integrity. Tlirice in that period did God vifibly appear upon the earth. Firft in the form of a fifli, that
be might recover the book of Brahma (for almojl the fame legend, fee Dow) which one Caufacar had thrown
into the fea. The fecond time in the form of a fnail, (See Dozut account of the fymbolical reprefentations of
Brahma) that he might make the earth dry and folid. The other time like a hog, to deftroy one who
called himfclf God, or as others fay, to recover the earth from the fea, which had fwallowed it. The
fecond world larted one million ninety-two thoufand and fix years, in which period men were as tall as
before, but only lived a thoufand years. In this, God appeared four times, once as a monftrous lion,
with the lower parts of a woman, to reprefs the wickednefs of a pretender to deity. Secondly, like a
poor Brahmin, to punilh the impiety of a king who had invented a method to fly to heaven. Thirdly,
he came in the likcnefs of a man called Parcaram, to revenge the death of a poor religious man. And
laflly in the likentfs of one Ram, who flew Parcaram. The third continued ejght hundred and four
thoufand years, in which time God appeared twice. The fourth world fhall endure four hundred thoufand
years, whereof only four thoufand fix hundred and ninety-two are elapfed. In this period God is to
appear once, and fome hold that he has already appeared in the pcrfon of the emperor Ecbcbar, the
fame Mahummud Akbar already mentioned. The wifcr part of the Brahmins, fays Oranus, decry the
abfurdity of thefe fables, yet fupport them before the multitude, lefl their influence, their wealth ard
fuperftition, (hould vanifli together. That thefe fables are very antient, we have the authority of Strabo,
who tells us that Calanus told Oneficritus of a golden world, where the fountains ftreamed with milk,
honey, wine, and oil, and where the wheat was as plentiful as duft ; that God had in puni/hment of
human wickedn«fs altered it, and impofed a life of labour on men. Oneficritus was willing to hear
farther, but one of the Brahmin penances being enjoyned as the condition, the Gretk philof^pher was
contented with vhat he had heard.
Q^q Fakier J
/
300 THE LUSIAD. Book VIL
Of tongue unknown, through gulphs undared before.
Unknown their aim, have reach'd the Indian fhore.
To hail their Chief the Indian Lord prepares^.
And to the fleet he fends his banner'd Nayres :
As to the bay the nobles prefs along.
The wondering city pours th'unnumber'd throngs
And now brave GaxMA and his fplendid train,.
Himfelf adorn'd in all the pride of Spain,,
In gilded barges flowly bend to fhore,
While to the lute the gently-falling oar
Now breaks the furges of the briny tide^,
y a And now the ftrokes the cold frefh ftrcam divide.
Pleafed with the fplendour of the Lulian band.
On every bank the crowded thoufands ftand.
Begirt with high-plumed nobles, by the flood
The firft great Minifter of India ftood,
Fakier) to the mercy and luft of thefe villains. are performed before them . The moft bea*-
The prayers of a Fakier are highly efteemed, tiful women, whether virgins or wives, are
and often implored, in cafes of fterility. fubmitted to their embraces. OpiniuntuK
The wife and the Fakier retire together to enim miferiy Ji illos placatos habuerint, omnia
prayer, a fignal is left that the Flakier is Jibi feliciter e<ventura ; for thefe wretched ^
with the lady, and a found drubbing is the ignorants believe, that if they can pleafe '
reward fhould the hufband dare to interrupt thefe men, every thing will happen well to
their devotions. them."
We cannot finifli this note, long as it To conclude : The writers who have
is, without obferving the vaft fimilarity treated of the million of Xavier, relate, that
which obtains among all barbarous na- there is extant in India the writings of a
tions. When the Portuguefe admiral, Pe- Malabar poet, who wrote nine hundred epi-
dro de Cabral, difcovered the Brazils, he grams, each confifling of eight verfes, in
found a fed of religionifts called Pages, ridicule of the worfhip of the Brahmins,
who were venerated in the fame man- whom he treats with great afperity and Con-
ner as the Fakiers of India. " Hi quo- tempt. Would any of our diligent enquirers
eunque veniunt, faysOforius, fummo omnium after oriental learning favour the Public with
plaufu recipiuntur, &c. Wherever thefe an authentic account of the works of this
come, they are received with the kiudeft poet of Malabar, he would undoubtedly
acclamations, the ways are crowded, verfes confer a fingular favour on the republic of
fung to the mufic of the country, and dances letters.
The
/ v/
Book VIL THE L U S I A D. 301
The Catual his name in India's tongue :
To Gam A fwift the lordly Regent fprung ;
His open arms the valiant Chief enfold.
And now he lands him on the fhore of gold :
With pomp unwonted India's nobles greet
I jj The fearlefs heroes of the warlike fleet.
iy A couch on fhoulders borne, in India's mode>
With gold the canopy and purple glow'd,
Receives the Lufian captain ', equal rides
The lordly Catual, and onward guides.
While Gama's train, and thoufands of the throng
Of India's fons, encircling pour along.
To hold difcourfe in various tongues they try ;
In vain ; the accents unremembered die
Inftant as utter'd. Thus on Babel's plain
^^ Each builder heard his mate, and heard in vain.
Gama the while, and India's fecond Lord,
Hold glad dialogues, as the various word
The faithful Moor unfolds. The city gate
They paft, and onward, towered in fumptuous flate.
Before them now the facred temple rofe ;
The portals wide the fculptured fhrines difclofe.
The Chiefs advance, and, .entered now, behold
The gods of wood, cold ftone, and fhining gold ;
Various of figure, and of various face.
As the foul Demon will'd the likenefs bafe.
Q^q a Taught
/
D/)
302
THIE 1.^8 IAD.
Book VH.
^7
jjS
Taught to behold the rajrs of godhead fhine
Pair imaged in the human faee divine,
^With iacred horror thrrll'd, the Lufians viewed
"IThe monger forms, 'Ghimera-Iike, and "' rude.
IHere fpreading horns an %uman vi'fage bore ;
-5o frown'd flern Jove in 'Lybia's fane of yore.
•^One body here two various faces rear'd ;
;'So ancient Janus o'erTiis jfhxine appeared.
An hundred arms another brandifh'd wide;
So Titan's fbn.the race of 'heaven * defy'd.
And here a dog his fnarling tufks dffplay'd;
. Anubis thus in Memphis' hallowed fliade
'iGrinn'd horrible. W/ith vile proftrations low
■Before thefe fhrines the Winded Indians ""'bow.
And now again the fpl^ndid pomp proceeds -,
To India's Lord • the haughty Regent leadsc
^ The monjier 'forms, X!himera-Ukf, and
■ rude. Chimera, a monfter flain Ijy Bellero-
^phon.
Firft, d re Chimera's conqueft was enjoyn'd,
A mingled monf'.er of no mortal kind j
Behind a dragons iiery tail was fpr«ad,
A goat's rough body boie a iion''s head j
Her pitchy noftriJs flaky flamts expire,
• Her gaping threat emits infernal fire.
Pope's II. vi.
'^ -So Titan's foa-. — Brkreus.
^ Before thefe Jhrines the blinded Indians
lonu.—Axi this iDllance,.;Camoens has with
; great art deviated from the truth of hiftory.
As it was the great pu^-pofe of his hero to
propagate the law of heaven in the Eaft» it
• would have been highly abfurd to Jiave jreprc-
: fented Gama and his attendants as on their
."knees in a Pagan temple. .This, however,
V was the cafe. " Gama, who had been told,
\ fayv<-Oforius, that there were many Chriftians
tin'IiMlia, conjedurcd that the templt, ..to
which the Catual led him,- was a Chriflraa
church. At their entrance they were met by
four priells, who feemed to make crofTesoa
their foreheads. The walls were painted
with many images. In the middle was Sl
little round chapel, in the wall of whicb^
oppofite to the entrance, flood an image
••which could hardly be difcovered ; Erat enim
locus ita ah omni folis radio fsclufus, ut vix
. aliquis maligiKt luds fplendcr in tumpenetraret.
The four priefls afcending, fome entered tlie
; chapel by,a:little.brafs door, andjiointing
to the benighted image, cried aloud, Mary^
. Mary. The Gatual and his atterldants pros-
trated themfelves on the ground, while the
Xufians on their bended knees adored the
blefled virgin. Virginemqtie Dei mat rem more
■nojlris ufitato 'venerantur." Thus Olbrius,
Anotherv/riter fays, -that a Portuguefe hav-
iingjfome doubt exclaimed^ If this be the
' Devil's image, I-hawcver vvorfhip God.
Xo
\
IBooK VII. THE L U S I A E>. 303
'To view the gloriaus Leader of .the fleet
Increafing thoufands fwell o'er every ftreet ;
Higli o'er the roofs the ftruggling youths afcend,, .
The hoary fathers o'er the portals bend, "^^
The windows fparkle with the female blaze
Of eyes,, of rubies, and the diamond- s .ray^
And now the train .with folemn itate and flow,
J^pproach the royal gate^ through many a row j ;
^Of fragrant wood walks, and of balmy bowers, v ^
Radiant with fruitage, ever gay with flowersL.
-Spacious the dome its pillar'd grandcair fpread.
Nor to the burning day high tower'd the head,;
The citron groves around the windows glow'd.
And branching palms their grateful ihade befl;ow'd j
'The mellow light a pleafing radiance cafl:.;
The marble walls Daedalian fculpture graced. ^ /
:Here India's fate, from darkefl: ximcs of ' old.
The wondrous arlift on the fl:one inroU'dj
« Here India's fate— The 4efGription of 0\A Saturn, with his crooked fey the on bilhj
-the palace of the Zamorim, frtoated among ^"^ ^'^^^'\ '^^' ^''^ ''?'= /^"'""y^, ,
^ . . J. ^^^n ° And ancient [anus With his double face,
.aromatic groves, is according to hlftory ; And bunch of keys, the porter of the place,
the embelliflament of the walls is in imita- There flood SabLJnus, planter of the vjncs, I
tion of Virgil's defcriptijan of the palace, of On a (hort pruning hook his head reclines ; '}t
king Latinus : And rtudiouflyfurveys his generous wines. *
° Then warlike kings who for their country fought,
TtSium auguftum, ingent, untvmjuilime columnii. And honourable wounds frombattle brought.
Vrbe fuit futmna, &c, Around the ports hung helmets, darts, and fpears j
And captive chariots.
The palace built by Picus, vaft and proud, -1 And broken beaks
Supported by a hundred pillatc Aood .:r wars.
And round encoippafs'd with a rifing wood. ' Above the reft, as chief of all the band i
The pile o'erlook'i the town, and drew the fight. Was Picus placed, a buckler in his hand ^ i
r-.Surprifed at once with reverence and delight. . . < . His other waved a long divining wand. ,J
i^bove the portal, carved in cedar wood, Girt in his Cabin gown the hero fate
rPlaced in their links tfiicir godlJks Btan^UJrM flood. JJayo. En. vii.
ing helmets, darts, and Ipears j ."1
s, ;)xes, /hields, and bars ; I
of fhips, the trqphies of their T
'^ere
f?
f2
304 THE L U S I A D. BookVIL
Here o'er the meadows, by Hydafpes* ftream.
In fair array the marfliall'd legions feem :
A youth of gleeful eye the fquadrons led.
Smooth was his cheek, and glow'd with pureft red -,
Around his fpear the curling vine-leaves waved ;
And by a flreamlet of the river laved.
Behind her founder Nyfa's walls were rear'd ' ;
So breathing life the ruddy god appear'd.
Had ^ Semele beheld the fmiling boy.
The mother's heart had proudly heav'd with joy.
yy Unnumber'd here were feen th'AlTyrian throng.
That drank whole rivers as they march'd along :
Each eye feem'd earneft on their warrior queen.
High was her port, and furious was her mien j
Her valour only equall'd by her luft ;
Faft by her fide her courfer paw'd the duft,
Her fon's ^ vile rival -, reeking to the plain
Fell the hot fweat-drops as he champt the rein.
And here difplay'd, moft glorious to behold.
The Grecian banners opening many a fold
« Behind her founder Ny/a^s walls 'were « Her fan's vile rival— —-Th.t infkmous
reared paflion of Semiramis for a horfe, has all the
at dijianctfar air of a fable invented by the Greeks to fignify
/"■■- V ...
The Ganges laved the nvide-extended war— the extreme libidiny of that queen. Her in
This is m the perfpeftive manner of the ceftuous paflion for her fon Nynias, however,
beautiful defcriptions of the figures on the is confirmed by the teftimony of the bed au-
fl.ield of Achilles. II. xviii. thors. Shocked at fuch an horrid amour,
^ Had Semele beheld the fmiling hoy Nynias ordered her to be put to death. Caf*
The Theban Bacchus, to whom the Greek tera.
fabulifts afcribed the Indian expedition of
8#foftris or Ofiris king of Egypt. '
Seem'd
^
Book VII. THE LUSIAD.
Seem'd trembling on the gale -, at diftance far
The Ganges laved the wide-extended war.
Here the blue marble gives the helmets* gleam.
Here from the cuiras fhoots the golden beam.
A proud-ey'd youth, with palms unnumbered gay.
Of the bold veterans led the brown array -,
Seornful of mortal birth enlhrin'd he rode,
Call'd Jove his father '', and affumed the god.
305
^} While dauntlefs Gam a and his train furvey'd
The fculptured walls, the lofty Regent faid ;
For nobler wars than thefe you wondering fee
That ample fpace th' eternal fates decree :
Sacred to thefe th' unpidlured wall remains,
Unconfcious yet of vanquilh'd India's chains.
Affured we know the awful day fhall come.
Big with tremendous fate, and India's doom..
The fons of Brahma, by the god their fire
Taught to illume the dread divining fire.
From the drear manfions of the dark abodes
Awake the dead, or call th' infernal gods ;
Then round the flame, while glimmering ghaftly bhie„
Behold the future fcene arife to view.
The fons of Brahma in the magic hour
Beheld the foreign foe tremendous lour ;
^ Caird Jove his father.— T)\t bon mot *' This hot-headed youth, forfooth, cannot
©f Olympias on this pretenfion of her fon " be at reft unlefs he embroil me in a quarrel
Alexander, was admired by the ancients. ** with Jono." Quikt. C^trt.
Unknown
3o6 THE L U S I A E>. Book VIL
Unknown their tongue, their face, and ftrange attire.
And their bold eye-balls burn'd with warlike ire :■
They faw the chief o*er proflrate India rear
The glittering terrors of his awful fpear.
But fwift behind thefe wintery days of woe
A fpring of joy arofe in livelieft glow>^
Such gentle manners leagued with wifdom reign'd
In the dread vidlors, and their rage reflrain'd.
Beneath their fway majeftic, wife, and mild.
Proud of her vidors' laws thrice happier India fmiled.
So to the prophets of the Magi train
The vifions rofe, that never rofe in vain.
The Regent ceafed -, and now with folemn pace
The Chiefs approach the regal hall of grace.
The tapflried walls with gold were pidured " o'er,.
And flowery velvet fpread the marble floor.
In all the grandeur of the Indian flate
High on a blazing couch the Monarch fate,
With ftarry gems the purple curtains fhined.
And ruby flowers and golden foliage twined
Around the filver pillars : High o'er head
The golden canopy its radiance fhed :
Of cloth of gold the fovereign's mantle flione.
And his high turban flamed with precious ftone.
^ The tapfiriek lualls luith gold nvere piBured o*er,
Andfiowerj velvet fpread the marble floor* -—-—According to Oforiu*.
Sublime
Book VII. THE L U S I A D. 307
Sublime and awful was his fapient mien.
Lordly his pofture, and his brow ferene.
An hoary fire fubmifs on bended knee,
^ (Low bow'd his head,) in India's luxury,
\^ A leaf, all fragrance to the glowing tafte, ^Hn/H^ (/C^ ^iM^t»^
Before the king each little while replaced. if^iB^^i
The patriarch Brahmin, foft and flow he rofe.
Advancing now to lordly Gam a bows.
And leads him to the throne ; in filent ftate
The Monarch's nod affigns the Captain's feat ;
The Lufian train in humbler diftance ftand :
Silent the Monarch eyes the foreign band
With awful mien ; when valiant Gam a broke
The folemn paufe, and thus majeftic fpoke ;
A. From where the crimfon fun of evening laves
His blazing chariot in the weftern waves,
I come, the herald of a mighty King,
And holy vows of lafting friendfhip bring
To thee, O Monarch, for refounding Fame
Far to the weft has borne thy princely name.
All India's fovereign thou ! Nor deem I fue.
Great as thou art, the humble fuppliant's due.
Whate'er from weftern Tagus to the Nile,
Infpires the monarch's wifti, the merchants' toil,
1 J Uaf, The Betel.
R r From
6f.
308 THE L U S I A D. Book VII.
From where the north-ftar gleams o'er feas of froft.
To Ethiopia's utmoft burning coaft,
Whate'er the fea, whatever the land beflows.
In my great Monarch's realm unbounded flows.
Pleafed thy high grandeur and renown to hear,
My Sovereign offers friendfhip's bands fincere ;
Mutual he afks them, naked of difguife.
Then every bounty of the fmiling {\des
Showered on his fhore and thine, in mutual flow.
Shall joyful Commerce on each fhore beflow.
Our might in war, what vanquifh'd nations fell.
Beneath our fpear, let trembling Afric tell ;
Survey my floating towers, and let thine ear.
Dread as it roars, our battle thunder hear.
If friendfhip then thy honeft wifh explore.
That dreadful thunder on thy foes fhall roar.
Our banners o'er the crimfon field fhall fweep.
And our tall navies ride the foamy deep.
Till not a foe againfl thy land fhall rear
Th* invading bowfprit, or the hoflile fpear ;
My King, thy brother, thus thy wars fhall join.
The glory his, the gainful harveft thine.
f p. / Brave Gam a fpake : the Pagan King replies,
T~ From lands which now behold the morning rife.
While
t>
Book VII. THE L U S I A D. 309
While eve's dim clouds the Indian iky enfold.
Glorious to us an ofFer'd league we hold.
Yet fliall our will in filence reft unknown.
Till what your laud, and who the King you own.
Our Council deeply weigh. Let joy the while.
And the glad feaft the fleeting hours beguile.
Ah ! to the wearied mariner, long toft
O'er briny waves, how fweet the long-fought coaft !
The night now darkens ; on the friendly fhore
^ Let foft repofe your wearied ftrength reftore,
Aflured an anfwer from our lips to bear.
Which, not difpleafed, your Sovereign Lord jQiall hear.
More ' now we add not — From the hall of ftate
(9 i
Withdrawn, they now approach the Regent's gate ,
The fumptuous banquet glows -, all India's pride
Heap'd on the board the rOyal feaft fupplied.
Now o'er the dew-drops of the eaftern lawn
Gleamed the pale radiance of the ftar of dawn,
The valiant Gama on his couch repofed.
And balmy reft each Luiian eye-lid clofed y
When the high Catual, watchful to fulfill
The cautious mandates of his Sovereign's will.
In fecret converfe with the Moor retires.
And, earneft, much of Lufus' fons enquires -,
' More nonv nve add not — The tenor of and Gama, 15 according to the truth of
this firft converfation between the Zamorim hiftory.
R r 2 What
310 THE LUSIAD. BookVII/
What laws, what holy rites, what monarch fway'd
The warlike race ? When thus the jufl Mozaide j
The land from whence thefe warriors well I know,
(To neighbouring earth my haplefs birth I owe)
Illuftrious Spain, along whofe weftern fhores
Grey-dappled eve the dying twilight pours.— ^
A wondrous prophet gave their holy lore.
The godlike Seer a virgin-mother bore,
^ Th* Eternal Spirit on the human race,
• So be they taught, beftow'd fuch awful grace.
In war unmatch'd they rear the trophied creft :
What " terrors oft have thrill'd my infant breaft.
When their brave deeds my wondering fathers told ;
How from the lawns, where, chryftalline and cold,
// The Guadiana rowls his murmuring tide.
And thofe where purple by the Tago's fide.
The lengthening vineyards gliften o'er the field.
Their warlike fires my routed fires expell'd :
Nor paufed their rage ^ the furious feas they braved,
Nof loftieft walls, nor cafliled mountains faved ^
Round Afric's thoufand bays their navies rode.
And their proud armies o'er our armies trod.
** What terrors eft have ihrilPd my in/ant Heatienfetitytu here for fimt great work divine,
Ireaft—TYit enthufiafm with which Mon- And bta-ven injpirn my breaft your jaaed uiU to join.
zaida, a Moor, talks of the Portuguefe, And that this Moor did conceive a great affec-
may perhaps to fome appear unnatural. tion to Gama, whofe religion he embraced,
Camoens feems to be aware of this by and to whom he proved of the utmoft fer-
giving a reafon for that enthufiafm in the vice, is according to the truth of hiftory.
^rft ipecch of Mozaida to Gama j
Nor
1-f
Book VII. THE L U S I A EK 311
Nor lefs, let Spain through all her kingdoms own.
O'er other foes their dauntlefs valour fhone :
Let Gaul confefs, her mountain ramparts wild.
Nature in ^'ain the hoar Pyrenians piled.,
J^o foreign lance could e'er their rage reftrain*
Unconquer'd ftill the warrior race remain.
More would you hear,, fecure your care may truft
The anfv/er of their lips, fo nobly juft,
Confcious of inward worth, of manners plain*
Their manly fouls the gilded lye difdain.
Then let thine eyes their lordly might admire^
And mark the thunder of their arms of fire :
The fhore with trembling hears the dreadful found.
And rampired walls lie fmoaking on the ground.,
^ Speed to the fleet ; their arts, their prudence weigh.
How wife in peace, in war how dread, furvey.
With keen defire the craftful Pagan burn'd 1
r^^ Soon as the morn in orient blaze return'd,
/ J To view the fleet his fplendid train prepares ;
And now attended by the lordly Nayres,
The {hore they cover, now the oarfmen fweep
The foamy furface of the azure deep :
And now brave Paulus gives the friendly hand.
And high on Gama's lofty deck they ftand.
Bright
312
THE
L U S I A D.
Book VII.
y^
Bright to the day the purple fail-cloaths glow,
AVide to the gale the filken enfigns flow;
The pidured flags difplay the warlike ftrife;
Bold feem'the heroes as infpired by life.
Here arm to arm the Angle combat ftrains.
Here burns the combat on the tented plains
General and fierce -, the meeting lances thrufl:.
And the black blood feems fmoaking on the dufl;.
With earnefl: eyes the wondering Regent views
The pictured warriors, and their hifl;ory fues.
But now the ruddy juice, by Noah " found.
In foaming goblets circled fwiftly round.
And o'er the deck fwift rofe the fefl:ive board ;
Yet, fmiling oft, refrains the Indian Lord :
His faith forbade with other tribe to join
The facred meal, efleem'd a rite ° divine.
" — — — the ruddy juice by Noah found-
Gen, ix. 20. j^/id Noah began to be an huf-
handtnan, and he planted a •vineyard, and he
drank of the nvine, &C.
" His faith for bade iviih other tribe to join
The facred meal, efleem^ d a rite divine, •
The opinion of the facrednefs of the table
is very ancient in the Eaft. It is plainly to
be difcovered in the hiftory of Abraham.
When Melchlzedek, a king and prieft,
blefTed Abraham, it is faid, Jnd he brought
forth bread and nvine and he hleffed him.
Gen. xiv. 18. The Patriarchs only drank
wine, fays Dr. Stukely, on their more fo-
lemn feftivals, when they were faid to rejoice
before the Lord. Other cuftoms of the In-
dians are mentioned by Camoens in this
book. If a noble fhould touch a perfon of
another another tribe.
A thoufand rites, and nvajhings o^er and o'er
Can Jcarce his tainted purity rejiore.
Nothing, fays Oforius, but the death of the
unhappy commoner can wipe off the pol-
lution. Yet we arc told by the fame aurhor,
that Indian nobility cannot be forfeited, or
even tarnilhed by the bafeft and greateft of
crimes ; nor can one of mean birth become
great or noble by the moft illuftrious aftions.
Ihc noblemen, fays the fame writer, adopt
the children of their fillers, cfteeming there
can be no other certainty of the relationfhip
of their heirs. But what above all may be
called the charafleriftic of the Indian, is his
total infeniibility to the paflion of Love ;
Lojl to the heart-ties, to his neighbour's arms
'J he 'wiUing hujhand yields hisfpouje's charms.
To
B6i)K VII. THE L U S I A D.
In bold vibrations, thrilling on the ear.
The battle founds the Lufian trumpets rear; ^ A
Loud burft the thunders of the arms of fire.
Slow round the fails the clouds of fmoke afpire.
And rolling their dark volumes o'er the day
The Lufian war, in dreadful pomp, difplay.
In deepell: thought the careful Regent weighed
The pomp and power at Gama's nod bewray'd^
Yet feem'd alone in wonder to behold
The glorious heroes and the wars half told
313
To fome perhaps the feeblenefs of the con-
ftitutions of the Gentoos may account for
this apothy ; and to feveral circumftances may
their feeblenefs be attributed. The men mar-
ry before fourteen and the women at about
ten or eleven. Rice, their principal food, af-
fords but little nourifhment, and they are
extremely averfe to any manly exercife. It
is better to fit than to walk, they fay, to lie
down than to fit, to fleep thah to wake,
and death is better than all. The unparal-
lelled puiillanimity with which they have
long fubmitted to the oppreffions of a few
Arabs, their Mohammedan mailers, like-
wife, fhews their deadnefs to every manly
refentment. Yet, notwithftanding all this,
though incapable of the paffion of love,
they prove the pofition, (for which phyfi-
cians can eafily account) that debility and
letchery go hand in hand. Montefquieu,
in enumerating his reafons why Chriftianity
will never prevail in the Eaft, advances,
as one, the prohibition of polygamy, which
he mentions as the appointment of nature,
and necefiary in thefe climates. Triftram
Shandy tells us, that his father was a moft
excellent fy Item-builder, was fure to make
his Theory look well, though no man ever
crucified the truth at fuch an unmerciful
rate. With all due deference to the great
genius of Montefquieu, his blunder here is
rather ludicrous. In every country the births
of males and females are nearly propor-
tioned to each other. " Polygamy, fays
Mr. Dow, is permitted in Hindoftan, but
fcldom praftifed ; for they very rationally
think, that one wife is fufficient for one
man." If in any country polygamy is the
appointment of nature, the more athletic na-
tion s of Europe have the beft claim. But the
warlike independent fpirit of the northern
tribes, who viewed their princes as their
companions in war^ would never allow their
leaders to appropriate eight hundred or a
thoufand of the finell women, each for his
own particular luxury. Their natural ideas
of liberty forbade it ; while on the other
hand the flavifli Afiatics, who viewed their
mafters as beings of a fuperior rank, fub-
mitted to the lull: of thefe mafters, whofe
debility prompted the defire of unbounded
variety. This hiftory of polygamy will be
found to be juft. It is not the child of na-
ture, it is the offspring of tyranny, and is
only to be found where the moft abfolute
tyranny fubfifts. Neither to the genial vigour
of paflion, but to raging, irritated debility,
both the philofopher and phyfician will at-
tribute the unbluftiing prevalence of fome
crimes, crimes which difgrace human na-
ture, and which particularly charadlerife the
depraved manners of the enfeebled Eaft..
In
314 THE L U S r A D. Book'VIL
In iilent poefy Swift from the board
High crown'd with wine, uprofe the Indian Lord ;
Both the bold Gamas, and their generous Peer, 7 T7
The brave Coello, rofe, prepared to hear
With meet attendance, or the meet reply :
Fixt and enquiring was the Regent's eye :
The warlike image of an hoary lire,
Whofe name fhall live till earth and time expire.
His wonder fixt ; and more than human glow'd
The hero's look ; hi5 robes of Grecian mode ;
A bough, his enfign, in his right he waved, ^
A leafy hough But I, fond man depraved ! 7^^
Where would I fpeed, as mad'ning in a dream.
Without your aid, ye Nymphs of Tago's ftream !
Or yours, ye Dryads of Mondego's bowers !
Without your aid how vain my wearied powers !
Long yet and various lies my arduous way
Through louring tempefls and a boundlefs fea.
Oh then, propitious hear your fon implore.
And guide my vefTel to the happy fliore.
Ah ! fee how long what per'lous days, what woes
On many a foreign coaft around mc rofe.
As dragg'd by Fortune's chariot wheels along
I footh'd my forrows with the warlike * fong ;
• the ivarlihe fong Though the ocean, while in Africa, and in India.
Camoens began his Lufiad in Portugal, ^ee his Life,
almo^ the whole of it was written while on
Wide
FqqJcVIL T he L U S I A. D. 315
Wide ocean's horrors- lengthening now around,
A-nd now wy footfteps trod the hoftile ground 5
Yet midll each danger of tumultuous war
Your Lufian heroes ever claim'd my care ;
As Canace of old, c^^.^' jfelf-cieflroy'd.
One hand the pen, and one the fword employ'd.
Degraded now, by poverty abhorr'd.
The gucft dependent at the Lordling's board :
Now blefl with all the wealth fond hope could crave,
Soon I beheld that wealth beneath the "^ wave
For ever loft ; myfelf efcaped alone.
On the wild.fhore all friendlefs, hopelefs, thrown j
My life, like Judah's heaven-doom'd king of ' yore,
By miracle prolong'd -, yet not the more
To end my forrows : woes fucceeding woes
Belied my earneft hopes of fweet repofe :
in place of bays around my brows to fhed
Their facred honours, o'er my deftined head
Foul Calumny proclaim'd the fraudful tale, ■
And left me mourning in a dreary 'jail.
P Js CflHa^f— Daughter of Eolus. Her ■■ Mji life, like Juda^s heaven-doom' d
father having thrown her inceftuous child ^/wf o/\_yor<?— Hczekiah. See Ifaiah xxxviii.
to the dogs, fent her a fword, with which s J^j Jeft me mourning in a dreary jail— -
ftie flew herfelf. In Ovid fhe writes an This, and the whole paragraph from
epiftle to her hufliand- brother, \vhere fhe r. / j / . z; »^
tLs defcribes herfelf ; /).^r..^.^ «.av, by poverty ahhorr d-
, - „ , /. Alludes to his fortunes in India. The latter
Dextra tend calamum, firtitum tenet ailera ferrunt. • n 1 ^ ..• i i .. ^u l r
^ ■^ circumllance relates particularly to the bafe
■J Soon J beheld, that ^wealth beneath the and inhuman treatment he received on his
viave return to Goa, after his unhappy fhip-
Tor evtr loft See the Life of Camoens. wreck. See his Life.
S f Such
B'h
Your fmiles, ye Mufes of Mondego's fiiade.
Be flill my deareft joy your happy aid !
y«j ^nd hear my vow ; Nor king, nor Joftieft peer
d , Shall e'er from Me the fong of flattery hear -,
Nor crafty tyrant, who in office reigns,
C> "^ Smiles on his king, and binds the land in chains ;
/^/ His king's worft foe : Nor he whofe raging ire.
And raging wants, to fhape his courfe, confpire ;
True to the clamours of the blinded crowd,
) Their changeful Proteus, infolent and loud :
Nor he whofe honeft mien fecures applaufe.
Grave though he feem, and father of the laws.
Who, but half-patriot, niggardly denies
Each other's merit, and witholds the prize :
u
\
316 T H E L U S I A D. Book VII.
Such was the meed, alas ! on me beftow'd,
Beftow'd by thofe for whom my numbers glow'd.
By thofe who to my toils their laurel honours owed.
Go Ye gentle Nymphs of Tago's rofy bowers.
Ah, fee what letter'd Patron-Lords are yours !
Dull as the herds that graze their flowery dales.
To them in vain the injured Mufe bewails :
No fofl:ering care their barb'rous hands befl:ow.
Though to the Mufe their fairefl: fame they owe.
Ah, cold may prove the future Priefl: of Fame
Taught by my fate : yet will I not difclaim
Who
Book VII. THE LUSIAD.
Who ^ fpurns the Mufe, nor feels the raptured flrain,
Ufelefs by him efteem'd, and idly vain :
For him, for thefe, no wreath my hand fliall twine ;
On other brows th' immortal rays fliall fliine :
31?
P Who fpurns the Mufe Similarity of
condition has produced iimilarity of fenti-
ment in Camoens and Spenfer. Each was
the ornament of his country and of his age,
and each was cruelly neglefted by the Men
of Power, who, in truth, were incapable to
judge of their merit, or to rclifh their writ-
ings. We have feen feveral of the ftridlyres
of Camoens on the barbarous Nobility of
Portugal. The fimilar complaints of Spenfer
will fhew that negleft of Genius, however,
was not confined to the court of Lilbon.
O Grief of griefs! O Gall of all good hearts!
To fee that Virtue (hould defpifed be
Of fuch as fii ft were raifed for Virtue's parts,
And now broad fpreading like an aged tree.
Let none fhoot up that nigh them planted be.
O let not thofe of whom the Mufe is fcorned.
Alive or dead be by the Mufe adorned.
Kuins of Time.
It is thought Lord Burleigh, who with-
held the bounty intended by Queen Elifa-
beth, is here meant. But he is more
clearly ftigmatizcd in thefe remarkable lines,
where the mifery of dependence on Court-
favour is painted in colours which mull re-
cal feveral ftrokes of the Luiiad to the mind
of the Reader.
Full little kroweft thou that haft not tried,
What hell it is, in fiiinglong to bide ;
To lole good days, t'.iat might be bttttr fpcnt,
To wafte long nights in penfive difcoiitent ;
To fpeeil to-day, to be put back to- morrow.
To feed on hope, to pine with fear and fotiow j
To have thy Pi incefs' grace, yet want her peers j
To have thy alking, yet wait many years ;
To fret thy foul with crofTes an J with cares,
To eat thy heart thro* comfortlefs dtfpairs ;
To fiwn, to crowch, to wait, to ride, to run,
To fpend, to give, to want, to be undone.
Mother Hubberds Tale.
Thefe lines exafperated ftill more the in-
elegant, the illiberal Burleigh. So true is
the obfervation of Mr. Hughes, that, " even
the fighs of a miferable man are fometimes
refented as an aflront by him that is the oc-
fion of them."
The arri'val of Gam a in India — In feveral
parts of the Lufiad the Portuguefe Poet ha«
given ample proof that he could catch the
genuine fpirit of Homer and Virgil. The
feventh Lufiad throughout bears a ftriking
refemblance to the feventh and eighth
iEneid. Much of the adion is naturally
the fame ; ^neas lands it Italy, and Gama
in India ; but the condudl of Camoens, ia
his mafterly imitation of his great mafter,
particularly demands obfervation. Had Sta-
tius or Ovid defcribed the landing or recep-
tion of ^Eneas, we ftiould undoubtedly have
been prefented with pidures different from
thofe of the pencil of Virgil. We (hould
have feen much buftle and fire, and perhaps
much fmoke and falfe dignity. Yet if we
may judge from the Odyfley, Homer, had
he written the yEneid, would have written
as the Roman Poet wrote, would have pre-
fented us with a calm majeftic narrative,
till every circumftance was explained, and
then would have given the concluding book*
of hurry and fire. In this manner has Vir-
gil written, and in this manner has Camoens
followed him, as far as the different nature
of his fubjed would allow. In Virgil, king
Latinus is informed by prodigies and prophe-
cy of the fate of his kingdom, and of the new-
landed ftrangers. iEneas enters Latium. The
dinner on the grafs, and the prophecy of
famine turned into a jell. He fends ambaf-
fadors to Latinus, whofe palace is defcribed.
The embaffy is received in a friendly man-
ner. Juno, enraged, calls the affiftance of
the Fiends, and the truce is broken. ^Eneas,
admonifiied in a dream, feeks the aid of
Evandcr. The voyage up the Tyber, the
court of Evandcr, and the facrifices in which
he was employed are particularly defiribed.
In all this there is no blaze of fire, no earneft
hurry. Thefe are judicioufly refervcd for
their after and proper place. ' In the fame
manner Camoens lands his hero in India, ^
and though in fome circumftanccs the re-
femblance to Virgil is evident, yet he has
followed him as a free imitator, v.ho was
^ i i ccnicious
3i8
THE
L U S I A D.
Book VH.
He who the path of honour ever trod.
True to his King, his Country, and his God,
On his bleft head my hands fhall fix the crown
Wove of the deathlefs laurels of Renown.
confdous of his own ftrength, and not as a
Copyift. He has not deferved that fhrewd
fatire which Mr. Pope, not unjuftly, throws
on Virgil himfelf. *' Had the galley of
Sergejius been broken, fays he, if the cha-
riot of Eumclus had not been demoli(hed ?
Or Mnejlheus been call from the helm, had
not the other been thrown from his feat ?"
In a word, that calm dignity of poetical
narrative which breathes through the feventh
and eighth ^neid, is judicioufly copied, as
moft proper for the fubjeft ; and with the
hand of a mafter charadleriftically fuftained
throughout the feventh book of the Poem
which celebrates the difcovery of the Eallera
World.
END OF THE Seventh BOOK.
THE
L U S I A D
BOOK VIII.
T T T I T H eye unmoved the filent Catual view'd
^ ^ The pictured fire with feeming life endued j
A verdant vine-bough waving in his right.
Smooth flowed his fweepy beard of gloiTy white,
When thus, as fwift the Moor unfolds the word.
The valiant Paulus to the Indian Lord ;
Bold though thefe figures frown, yet bolder far
Thefe godlike heroes (hined in ancient war.
In that hoar fire, of mien ferene, augufl,
Lufus behold, no robber-chief unjuftj
His
320 THE L U S I A D. Book VIIL
His clufter'd bough, the fame which Bacchus bore %
He waves, the emblem of his care of yore -,
The friend of favage man, to Bacchus dear,
The.fon of Bacchus, or the bold compeer.
What time his yellow locks with vine-leaves curl'd.
The youthful god fubdued the favage world,
Bade vineyards gliften o'er the dreary wafte.
And humanized the nations as he paft.
Lufus, the loved companion of the god.
In Spain's fair bofom fixt his lafl abode.
Our kingdom founded, and illuftrious relgn'd
In thofe fair lawns, the bleft Elyfium " feign'd.
' His cluj}er''d houghj the fame ivhich Bac-
chus bore. Camoens immediately before,
and in the former bsok, calls the enfign of
Lufus a bough ; here he calls it the green
thyrfus of Bacchus,
O 'verde Tyrfo foi de Bacco tifado.
The thyrfus however was a javelin twilled
with ivy-leavcs, ufed in the facrifices of
Bacchus.
*" In thofe fair la^vns the blefl Elyfum
feigned In this aflertion our author has
the authority of Strabo, a foundation fuffi-
cicnt for a poet. Nor are there wanting
fevcral Spanifli writers, particularly Barbrfa,
v/ho feriouHy afiirm that Homer drew the
fine defcription of Elyfium, in his fourth
OdyfTey, from the beautiful valleys of Spain,
where in one of his voyages, they fay, he
arrived. Egypt, however, feems to have
a better title to this honour. The fable of
Charon, and the judges of the poetical hell,
are evidently borrowed from the Egyptian
rites of burial, and are older than Homer.
After a ferryman had conveyed the corpfe
over a lake, certain judges examined the life
of the deceafed, particularly his claim to the
virtue of loyalty, and, according to the re-
port, decreed or refufed the honours of fe-
pulture. The place of the Catacombs, ac-
cording to Diodorus Siculus, was furroundcd
with deep canals, beautiful meadows, and a.
wildernefs of groves. And it is univerfally
known the greateft part of the Grecian fa-
bles were fabricated from the cufloms and
opinions of Egypt. Several other nations
have alfo claimed the honour of affording
the idea of the fields of the BlefTed. Even
the Scotch challenge it. Many Grecian fa-
bles, fays an author of that country, are
evidently founded on the reports of the Phce-
nician failors. That thefenavicators traded
to the coafts of Britain is certain. In the
middle of fummer, the feafon whpn the an-
cients performed their voyages, for about fi:c
weeks there is no night over the Orkney
iflands ; the difk of the fun during that
time f:arcely fmking below the horizon.
This appearance, together with the calm
which uiually- prevails at that feafon, and
the beautiful" verdure of the iflands, could
not fail to excite the admiration of the
Tyrians ; and their accounts of the place
' naturally afforded the idea that thefe iflands
were inhabited by the fpirits of the Jull.
This, fays our author, is countenanced by
Homer, who places his iflands of the Happy
at the extremity of the ocean. That the
fables of Scylla, the Gorgades, and fcveral
Others, were founded on the accounts of na-
vigators, feems probable ; and on this fuppo-
fition the Infulic Foitunatx, and Purpura-
Book VIII. THE L U S I A D.
Where winding oft the Guadiana roves.
And Douro murmurs through the flowery groves.
Here with his. bones he left his deathlefs fame.
And Lufitania's clime fhall ever bear his name.
That other chief th'embroider'd filk difplays.
Toft o'er the deep whole years of weary days
On Tago's banks at laft his vows he paid :
To Wifdom's godlike power, the Jove-born Maid,
Who fired his Jips with eloquence divine.
On Tago's banks he reared the hallowed fhrinc.
Ulyfles he, though fated to deflroy
On Afian ground the heaven-built towers of " Troy,
On Europe's ftrand, more grateful to the fkies.
He bade th' eternal walls of Lifbon '' rife.
321
But who that godlike terror of the plain.
Who ftrews the fmoaking field with heaps of flain ?
nise, now the Canary and Madeira iflands,
alio claim the honour of giving colours to the
defcription of El) fium. The truth however
appears to be this ; That a place of happi-
nefs is referved for the fpirits of the Good is
the natural fuggeftion of that anxiety and
hope concerning the future, which animates
the human breaft. All the barbarous nations
of Africa and America agree In placing their
heaven in beautiful iflands at an immenfe
diftance over the ocean. The idea is uni-
verfal, and is natural to every nation in the
Hate of barbarous fimplicity.
"^ — The heaven-huilt toivers of Troy
Alluding to the fable of Neptune, Apollo,
aftd, Laomedon.
^ On Europe^s Jirand, more grateful to the
fkies.
He hade th^ eternal 'vsalh of Lifbon rife. •
For fome account of this tradition fee the
note p. IC7. Anlient traditions, however
fabulous, have a good efFcd in poetry. Vir-
gil has r>ot fcxupled to infert one, which re-
quired an apology.
Prifca fides facie, fed fama perennis.
Spenfer has given us the hiftory of Brute and
his defcendants at full length in the Faerie
S>ueene ; and Milton, it is known, was fo
fond of that abfurd legend, that he intended
to write a poem on the fubjeft ; and by
this fondncfs was induced to mention it as a
tru in his introduftion to the hillory of
England.
What
32a THE L U S I A D, BaoKiVIII.
What numerous legions fly in dire difmay,
Whofe flandards wide the eagle's wings difplay ?
The Pagan asks^ the brother " Chief replies,
Unconquer'd deem'd, proud Rome's dread ftandard flies.
His crook thrown by, fired by his nation's woes.
The hero fhepherd Viriatus rofe j
His country faved proclaim'd his warlike fame.
And Rome's wide empire trembled at his name.
That generous pride which Rome to Pyrrhus bore ^
To him they fhew'd not j for they fear'd him more.
Not on the field o'ercome by manly force.
Peaceful he flept, and now a murdered corfe
By treafon flain he lay. How ftern, behold.
That other hero, firm, ered, and bold :
The power by which he boafled he devined,
Befide him pidur'd ilands, the milk-white hind :
Injured by Rome, the ilern Sertorius fled
To Tago's fhore, and Lufus' offspring led j
Their worth he knew ; in fcatter'd flight he drove
The flandards painted with the birds of Jove.
And lo, the flag whofe ihining colours own
The glorious Founder of the Lufian throne!
* — the brother C^i^-f-Paulas de Gama. famous aflaflination of Viriatus, that the Ro-
^ That generous pride ivhich Rome to Pyr- man fenate did him great honour; ut 'vidt'
rhus bore. When Pyrrhus king of Epirus retur aliter njinci non potuijfe ; it was a con-
was at war with the Romans, his phyfician feflion that they could nototherwife conquer
offered to poifon him. The fenate rejedled him. Vid. Flor. 1. 17. For a fuller account
the propofal, and acquainted Pyrrhus of the of this great man, fee the note on p. 13.
defigned treafon. Florus remarks on the in-
Som,
Book VIII. THE L U S I A D. 323
Some deem the warrior of Hungarian ^ race,
Some from Loralne the godlike hero trace.
From Tagus' banks the haughty Moor expell'd,
Galicia's fons, and Leon's warriors quell'd,
To weeping Salem's ever-hallowed meads.
His warlike bands the holy Henry leads.
By holy war to fan(Sify his crown.
And to his lateft race aufpicious waft it down.
And who this awful Chief ? aloud exclaims
The wondering Regent, o'er the field he flames
In dazzling fteel, wheree'r he bends his courfe
The battle fmks beneath his headlong force ;
Againft his troops, though few, the numerous foes
In vain their fpears and towery walls oppofe.
With fmoaking blood his armour fprinkled o'er.
High to the knees his courfer paws in gore ;
O'er crowns and blood-flain'd enfigns fcatter'd round
He rides ', his courfer's brazen hoofs refound.
In that great chief, the fecond Gama cries.
The firfl: " Alonzo flrikes thy wondering eyes.
From Lufus' realm the Pagan Moors he drove -,
Heaven, whom he loved, beflow'd on him fuch love.
s Some deem the hero of Hungarian race^^ ^ The firji Alonxo'-^^'^mg of PortugaL
See the note on p. 95. Sec p. 96, &c.
T t Beneath
324 THE L U S I A D. Book VllL
Beneath him, bleeding of its mortal wound.
The Moorifh ftrength lay proftrate on the ground.
Nor Ammon's fon, nor greater Julius dared
With troops fo few, with hofts fo numerous warr'd :
Fame faw his godlike deeds, and folemn fwore.
To boaft unmatch'd the Roman name no more.
Nor lefs fhall Fame the fubjedt heroes own :
Behold that hoary warrior's rageful frown !
On his young pupil's flight his burning ' eyes
He darts, and. Turn thy flying hofl:, he cries,
Back to the field The Veteran and the Boy
Back to the field exult with furious joy :
Their ranks mow'd down, the boafl:ful foe recedesr
The vanquifli'd triumph, and the vi(5lor bleeds.
Again, that mirror of unfhaken faith,
Egaz behold, a chief felf-doom'd to ^ death.
Beneath Caftilia's fword his monarch lay ;
Homage he vow'd his helplefs king fhould pay ;
His haughty king relieved, the treaty fpurns.
With confcious pride the noble Egaz burns i
' On his young pupifs Jliyht. "Some, ^ Egaz behold, a chief felf-doom'd to death.
indeed, moft writers fay, that the queen See the fame ftory, p. 99. Though
{of nvhom fee p. 96.) advancing with her hiftory affords no authentic document of
army towards Guimaraez, the king, with- this tranfadion, tradition, the Poet's autho-
cut waiting till his governor joined him, rity, is not filent. And the monument of
engaged them and was routed : but that Egaz in the monaftery of Pa90 de Souza
afterwards the remains of his army being gives it countenance. Egaz and his family
joined by the troops under the command of are there reprefented, in has relief, in the
Egaz Munitz, engaged the army of the attitude and garb, fays Caftera, as defcribed
queen a fecond time, and gained a complete by Camoens.
vi«ory." Univ. Hift.
His
Book VIIIj THE L U S I A D.
His comely fpoufe and infant race he leads,
Himfelf the fame, in fentenced felons' weeds.
Around their necks the knotted halters bound,
With naked feet they tread the flinty ground j
And proilrate now before Caftilia's throne
Their offer'd lives their monarch's pride atone.
Ah ! Rome no more thy generous conful ' boaft,
Whofe lorn fubmiffion faved his ruin'd hoft :
No father's woes aflaird his fledfaft mind i
The deareft ties the Lufian chief refign'd.
325
There, by the ilream, a Town befleged behold,
The Moorifli tents the fhatter'd walls infold.
Fierce as the lion from the covert fprings.
When hunger gives his rage the whirlwind's wings ;
From ambuih, lo, the valiant Fuaz pours,
And whelms in fudden rout th' aftonifh'd Moors.
The Moorifh king in captive chains he " fends ;
And low at Lifbon's throne the royal captive bends.
Fuaz again the artifl's fkill difplays ',
Far o'er the ocean ihine his enfign's rays :
' ^ Rome! no more thy generous eonful
hoaji— — Sc. Pofthumus, who, overpowered
by the Samnites, fubmitted to the indignity
of pafling under the yoke or gallows.
■" The Moorijh king The Aleaydes, or
tributary Governors under the Miramolin
or Emperor of Morocco, are often by the
Spanifh and Portuguefe writers ftiled kings.
He wjio was furprized and taken prifoner by
Don Fuaz Roupinho was named Gamt,
Fuaz, after having gained the firft naval
viftory of the Portuguefe, alfo experienced
their firft defeat. With one and twenty fail
he attacked fifty-four large gallies of the
Moors. The fea, fays Brandan, which
had lately furniflied him with trophies, now
fupplied him with a tomb.
Tt 2
In
326 THE L U S I A D. Book VIIL
In crackling flames the Moorifli galleys fly.
And the red blaze afcends the blufhing fky :
O'er Avila's high fleep the flames afpire,
And wrap the forefl:s in a fheet of fire :
There feem the waves beneath the prows to boil ;
And diftant far around for many a mile
The glafly deep refleds the ruddy blaze ;
Far on the edge the yellow light decays.
And blends with hovering blacknefs. Great and dread
Thus {hone the day when firfl the combat bled,
The firfl: our heroes battled on the main.
The glorious prelude of our naval reign.
Which now the waves beyond the burning zone.
And northern Greenland's frofl:-bound billows own.
Again behold brave Fuaz dares the fight ! .
O'erpower'd he finks beneath the Moorifli might;
Smiling in death the martyr-hero lies.
And lo, his foul triumphant mounts the flcies.
Here now behold, in warlike pomp pourtray'd,
A foreign navy brings the pious " aid.
Lo, marching from the decks the fquadrons fpread.
Strange their attire, their afped: firm and dread.
The holy Crofs their enfigns bold difplay.
To Salem's aid they plough'd the watery way;
» A foreign navy brings the pious aid-^k navy of crufaders, moftly Englifli. See p. lo^.
Yet
Book VIII. T H E L U S I A D. 327
Yet firft, the caule the fame, on Tago's fhore
They dye their maiden fwords in Pagan gore.
Proud flood the Moor on Lifbon's warlike towers.
From Lifbon's walls they drive the Moorifh powers : ' / ^ (}
Amid the thickeft of the glorious fight,
Lo, Henry falls, a gallant German knight,
A martyr falls : That holy tomb behold.
There waves the blofTom'd palm the boughs of gold :
O'er Henry's grave the facred plant arofe.
And from the leaves, heaven's gift, gay health redundant ° flows.-
Aloft, unfurl j the valiant Paulus cries,
Inflant new wars on new-fpread enfigns rife.
In robes of white behold a priefl ^ advance !
His fword in fplinters fmites the Moorifh lance :
Arronchez won revenges Lira's fall :
And lo, on fair Savilia's batter'd wall.
How boldly calm amid the crafhing fpears.
That hero-form the Lufian flandard rears.
There bleeds the war on fair Vandalia's plain :
Lo, rufhing through the Moors o'er hills of flain
" JnJ from the haves This Legend ftill to be fecn In the Monaftery of St.
is mentioned by fome ancient Portuguefe Vincent, but without the palm,
chronicles. Homer would have availed him- p In robes ofivhite behold a priejl ad'vance>
felf, as Camoens has done, of a tradition — Theotonius, prior of the regulars of St.
fo enthufiaftical, and charaftcriftic of the Auguftine of Conymbra. Some ancient
age. Henry was a native of Bonneville Chronicles relate this circumftance as men-
near Cologn. His tomb, fays Caftera, is tioned by Camoens. Modern writers aflert,
that he never quitted his breviary. Cafiera.
The
328 THE LUSIAD, Book VIII.
The hero rides, and proves by genuine claim
The fon of Egas % and his worth the fame.
Pierced by his dart the ftandard-bearer dies i
Beneath his feet the Moorifh flandard lies :
High o'er the field, behold the glorious blaze !
The vidor-youth the Lufian flag difplays.
Lo, while the moon through midnight azure rides,
From the high wall adown his fpear-ftafF glides
The dauntlefs Gerrald : in his left he ' bears
Two watchmen's h^ads, his right the faulchion rears ;
The gate he opens, fwift from ambufh rife
His ready bands, the city falls his prize :
Evora ftill the grateful honour pays.
Her banner'd flag the mighty deed difplays :
There frowns the hero'^ in his left he bears
The two cold heads, his right thef faulchion reara.
Wrong'd by his king, and burning for * revenge.
Behold his arms that proud Gaflilian change ;
s The fon of Egas — Hc was named Mem who foon became mafters of the place. Thi«
Moniz, and was fon of Egas Moniz, cele- expdoit had its defired effeft. The king
brated for the furrender of himfelf and fa- pardoned Gerrald, and made him governor
mily to the king of Caftile, as already of Evora. A knight with a fword in one
mentioned. hand, and two heads in the other, from
' The dauntlefs Gerrald— *' He was a man that time became the armorial bearing of
o£ rank, who, in order to avoid the legal the city." Cafiera.
punifhment to which feveral crimes rendered ' Wronged hy his iingm^Don Pedro Fer-
him obnoxious, put himfelf at the head of nando de Caftro, injured by the family of
a party of Freebooters. Tiring however Lara, and denied redrefs by the king of
of that life, he refolved to reconcile himfelf Caftile, took the infamous revenge of bear-
to his fovercign by fbme noble a(^ion. Pull jng arms againft his native country. At
bf this idea, one evening he entered Evora, the head of a Moorifli army he committed
which then belonged to the Moors, In the feveral outrages in Spain ; but was totally
night he killed the centinels of one of the defeated in Portugal,
gates, which he opened to his companions.
The
Book VIIl. THE LUSIAD.
329
The Moorifh buckler on his breaft he bears.
And leads the fiercefl of the Pagan fpears.
Abrantes falls beneath his raging force.
And now to Tagus bends his furious courfe.
Another fate he met on Tagus' fliore,
Brave Lopez from his brows the laurels tore -,
His bleeding army ftrew'd the thirfty ground.
And captive chains the rageful Leader bound.
Refplendant far that holy chief behold !
Afide he throws the facred ftaff of gold
And wields the fpear of fteel. How bold advance
The numerous Moors, and with the refted lance
Hem round the trembling Lufians. Calm and bold
Still towers the prieft, and lo, the ikies * unfold :
Cheer'd by the vifion brighter than the day
The Lufians trample down the dread array 7 /I n
Of Hagar's legions : on the reeking plain
Low with their Haves four haughty kings lie llain.
In vain Alcazar rears her brazen walls.
Before his rufhing hoft Alcazar falls.
There, by his altar, now the hero fhines.
And with the warrior's palm his mitre twines.
« anJlc, thejhies unfold—^'' Accord- fly, when, at the prayers of the Bifliop, a
ing to feme ancient Portuguefe hiftories, venerable old man, cloathed in white, with
Pen Matthew, Bifhop of Lifbon, in the a red crofs on his breaft, appeared in the -
reign of Alonzo I. attempted to reduce AI- air. The miracle difpelled the fears of the
cazar, then in pofTeffion of the Moors. Hi$ Portuguefe ; the Moors were defeated, and
troops being fuddenly furrounded by a nu- the conqueft of Alcazar crowned the vic-
merous party of the enemy, were ready to tory." Cajiera.
That
310 THE LUSIAD. Book VIII.
That chief behold : though proud Caftilia's hofl
He leads, his birth fhall Tagus ever boaft.
As a pent flood burils headlong o'er the ftrand
So pours his fury o'er Algarbia's land ;
Nor rampired town, nor callled rock afford
The refuge of defence from Payo's fword.
By night-veil'd art proud Sylves falls his prey.
And Tavila's high walls at middle day
Fearlefs he fcales : her ftreets in blood deplore
The feven brave hunters murder'd by the " Moor.
Thefe three bold knights how dread ! Thro* Spain and "" France
At juft and tournay with the tilted lance
Vidtors they rode : Caflilia's court beheld
Her peers o'erthrown -, the peers with rancour fwell'd :
The bravefl of the Three their fwords furround ;
Brave Ribeir ftrews them vanquifh'd o'er the ground.
Now let thy thoughts, all wonder and on fire.
That darling fon of warlike Fame admire.
her jlrtets in blood deplore
^hefe'ven bra've hunters murder'' d by the Moor
<* During a truce with the Moors, fix
cavaliers of the order of St. James were,
while on a hunting party, furrounded and
killed by a numerous body of the Moors.
During the fight, in which the gentlemen
fold their lives dear, a common carter,
named Garcias Rodrigo, who chanced to
pafs that way, came gencroufly to their af-
fiftance, ^nd loft his life along with them.
The Poet, in giving all feven the fame title,
{hews us that virtue conftitutes true nobility.
Don Payo de Correa, grand mafter of the
order of St. James, revenged the death of
thefe brave unfortunates, by the fack -of
Tavila, where his juft rage put the garrifoh
to the fword." Cajiera.
^ Thefe Three hold knights hoiu dread f~—
Nothing can give us a ftronger pifture of
the romantic charafter of their age, than
the manners of thefe champions, who were
gentlemen of birth ; and who, in the true
{pirit of knight-errantry, went about from
court to court in queft of adventures. Their
names were, Gon9alo Ribeiro ; Ferdando
Martinez de Santarcne ; and Vafco Anez,
fofter- brother to Mary, queen of Caftile,
daughter of Alonzo IV. of Portugal.
Prollrate
331
BookVIU^ the LUSIAD.
Projftrate at proud Caftilla*s monarch's feet
His land lies trembling : lo, the nobles meet :
Softly they feem to breathe, and forward bend
The fervile neck ; each eye diftrufts his friend ;
Fearful each tongue to fpeak ; each bofom cold ;
When colour'd with ftcrn rage, eredl and bold
The hero rifes ; Here no foreign throne
fliall fix its bafe ; my native king alone
Shall reign Then rufhing to the fight he leads;
Low vanquifh'd in the duft Caftilia bleeds.
Where proudefl hope might deem it vain to dare,
God led him on, and crown'd the glorious war.
Though fierce as numerous are the hofts that dwell
By Betis' flream, thefe hofls before him fell.
The fight behold : while abfent from his bands,
Preft on the ftep of flight his army ilands.
To call the chief an herald fpeeds away :
Low on his knees the gallant chief furvey !
He pours his foul, with lifted hands implores, ^
And heaven's aflifting arm, inipired, adores.
Panting and pale the herald urges fpeed ;
With holy truft of vidory decreed,
Carelefs he anfwers. Nothing urgent calls :
And foon the bleeding foe before him falls*
To Numa thus the pale Patricians fled ;
The hoftile fquadrons o'er the kingdom fpread,
U u They
332
THE L U S I A I>.
Book: VIIL
They cry; unmoved the holy king replies.
And I, behold, am offering * facrifice !.
Earneft I fee thy wondering eyes enquire
Who this illuftrious chief, his country's fire ?
The Lufian Scipio well might fpeak his ^ fame.
But nobler Nunio fhines a greater name :
On earth's green bofom, or on ocean grey,
A greater never fhall the Sun furvey.
Known by the filver crofs and fable " fliield
Two knights of Malta there command the field;
From Tago's banks they drive the fleecy prey.
And the tired ox lows on his weary way :
When, as the falcon through the forefl: glade
Darts on the leyeret, from the brown-wood fhade
Darts Roderic on their rear ; in fcatter'd flight
They leave the goodly herds the victor's right. ,
* ^nd 1, behold, am offering facrijice —
This line, the fimplicity of which, I think,
contains great dignity, is adopted from
Fan (haw.
And I, ye fee, am offering facrifice.—
who has here catched the fpirit of the ori-
ginal :
A quern Ihe a dura noija ej}a<ua dando.
Pots eu refponde ejlou facrificando.
i. e. To whom when they told the dreadful
tidings, *' And I, he replies, am facrificing."
The piety of Numa was crowned with vic-
tory. Vid. Plut. in vit. Num.
y The Lufian Scipio 'well might fpeak his
fame.
But nobler Nunio Jhines a greater name ■ ■
Caftera juftly obfervcs the happinefs with
which Camoens introduces the name of this
truly great man. // -va, fays he, ie nommer
tout a Vheure a'vec unc udrejfi et une magnifi-
cence digne d^un fit beau fujet. .
^ 7ayo knights of Malta — Thefe knights
were firft named knights Hofpitallars of
St. John of Jerufalem, afterwards knights
of Rhodes, from whence they were driven
to Meflina, ere Malta was affigned to tliem,
where they now remain. By their oath of
knighthood they are bound to proteft th*
Holy Sepulchre from the profanation of In-
fidels ; and immediately on taking this oath^
they retire to their colleges, where they live on
their revenues in all the idlenefs of monkilh
luxury. Their original habit was black
with a white crofs ; their arms Giiles,. a
Crofs, Argent. ^ •
Again
Book VIIL T H E L U S I A D.
Again, behold, in gore he bathes his fword;
His captive friend, to liberty ' reflor'd.
Glows to review the caufe that wrought his woe.
The caufe, his loyalty as taintlefs fnow.
Here Treafon's well-earn'd meed allures thine eyes,
Low groveling in the duft the Traytor dies ;
Great Elvas gave the blow : Again, " behold.
Chariot and fteed in purple llaughter roll'd :
Great Elvas triumphs ; wide o'er Xeres' plain
Around him reeks the nobleft blood of Spain.
Here Lifbon's fpacious harbour meets the view ;
How vaft the foe's, the Lufian fleet how few !
Cafteel's proud war-fhips, circling round, enclofe
The Lufian galleys ; through their thundering rows.
Fierce preffing on, Pereira fearlefs rides.
His hooked irons grafp the Amm'-ral's fides :
Confufion maddens j on the dreadlefs knight
Caftilia's navy pours its gathered might :
333
* His captit'e friend— Before John I.
mounted the throne of Portugal, one Vafco
Porcallo was governor of Villaviciofa. Ro-
deric de Lnndroal and his friend Alvarez
Cuytado, having difcovered that he was in
the intereft of the king of Callile, drove
him from his town and fcrtrefs. On the
eftablifliment of king John, Porcallo had
the art to obt^iin the favour of that prince,
but no fooner was he re-inflated in the gar-
rifon, than he delivered it up to the Cafli-
lians ; and plundered the hoafe of Cuytado,
whom, with his wife, he made prifoner ;
and under a numerous parry, ordered to be
fcnt to Oliven^i. RoJeric de Landroal
hearing of this, attacked and defeated the
cfcort, and fet his friend at liberty. Cajhra.
^ Heft tieafoni moell-earii'd meed allures
Uu
thine eyes — While the kin^om of Portugal
was divided, fome holding with John the
newly elefted king, and others with the
king of Caftile, P>.oderic Maria, governor
of Campo-Major, declnred for the latter.
Fernando d'Elvas endeavoured to gain him
to the intereft of his native prince, and a
conference, with the ufual afflirances of
fafety, was agreed ta. Marin, at this meet-
ing, fcized upon Elvas, and fent him pri-
foner to his caftle. Elvas having recovered
his liberty, a few days after met his enemy
in the field, whom in his turn he made cap-
tive ; and the traiterous Marin, notwiih-
llanding the endeavours of their captain to
fave his lif?, met the reward of his trcafon
from the foIJicrs of Elvas. Purtly from
Cajfera.
2 Pereira
3^4^ THE L U S I A D. Bop^ VUL
Pereira dies, their felf-devoted prey.
And fafe the Lufian galleys fpe^d ' away.
Lo, where the lemon- trees from yon green hilt *
Throw their cool jfhadows o'er the chryftal rill ;
There twice two hundred fierce Caftilian foes
Twice eight, forlorn, of Lufian race enclofe :
Forlorn they feem j but taintlefs flow'd their blood
From thofc three hundred who of old withftood,
Withflood, and from a thoufand Romans tore
The viftor- wreath, what time the ** fhepherd bore
The leader's ftaff of Lufus : equal * flame
Infpired thefe few, their vidiory the fame.
Though twenty lances brave each fingle fpear.
Never the foes fuperior might to fear
Is our inheritance, our native right.
Well tried, well proved in many a dreadful fight.
That dauntlefs earl behold; on Libya's coafi:.
Far from the fuccour of the Lufian ^ hofi:.
• And fafe the Lufian galleys fpeed anuay.
—A numerous fleet of the Caftilians being
on their way to lay fiege to Lifbon, Ruy
Pereyra, the Portugufe commander, feeing
no poffibility of victory, boldly attacked the
Spanifli admiral. The fury of his onfet put
the Caftilians in diforder, and allowed the
Portuguefe galleys a fafe efcape. In this
brave piece of fervice the gallant Pereyra
loft his life. Cajiera.
** — — the fhepherd — Viriatus.
* equal flame infpired thefe fenv
The Caftilians having laid fiege to Almada,
a fortrefs on a mountain near Lifbon, the
garrifon, in the utmoft diftrefs for water,
were obliged at times to make fallies to the
bottom of the hill in queft of it. Seventeen
Portuguefe thus employed, were one day at-
tacked by four hundred of the enemy. They
made a brave defence and happy retreat into
their fortrefs. Cajiera.
' Far from the fuccour of the Lufian hofi —
When Alonzo V. took Ceuta, Don Pedro de
Menezes, w'as the only officer in the army
who was willing to become governor of that
fortrefs ; which, on account of the uncer-
tainty of fuccour from Portugal, and the
earneft deiire of the Moors to regain it,
was deemed untenable. He gallantly de-
fended his poft in two fevere fieges.
Twice
Book VIII.
THE L U S r A D.
335
Twice hard befieged he hoMs the Ceutan towers
Againft the banded might of Afric's powers.
That * other earl j — behold the port he bore.
So trod flern Mars on Thracia's hills of yore.
What groves of fpears Alcazar's gates furround I
There Afric's nations blacken, o'er the ground.
A thoufand enfigns glittering to the day
The waining moon's flant filver horns difplay.
In vain their rage ; no gate, no turret falls.
The brave De Vian guards Alcazar's walls.
In hopelefs conflid; loft, his king appears ;
Amid the thickeft of the Moorifh fpears
Plunges bold Vian : in the glorious ftrife
He dies, and dying faves his fovereign's life.
Illuftrious, lo, two brother-heroes fhine.
Their birth, their deeds, adorn the royal line;
To every king of princely Europe known ^
In every court the gallant Pedro fhone.
The glorious ^ Henry — kindling at his name
Behold my failors' eyes all fparkle flame !
•■ T^at other earl He was the natural
fon of Don Pedro de Menezes. Alonzo V.
one day having rode out from Ceuta with a
few attendants was attacked by a numerous
party of the Moors, when De Vian, and
fome others under him, at the expence of
their own livee, purchafed the fafe retreat
of their fovereign.
^ tiv9 brother-heroes Jhine The
fons of John I. Don Pedro was called the
Ulyffes of his age, on account both of his
eloquence and his voyages. He viiited al-
moft every court of Europe, but he princi-
pally diftinguifhed himfelf in Germany,
where, under the ftandards of the emperor
Sigifmond, he fignalifed his valour in the
war againft the Turks. Cajlera.
£ 7be glorious Henry In purfuance of
the reafon> affigned in the preface, the tran-
slator has here tiken the liberty to make a
tranfpofition in the order of his author.
In Camoens, Don Pedro de Menezes, and
his fon De Vian, conclude the defcription of
the pidured enfigns. Don Henry, the greateft
man
33^
THE C U S I
a^-d;
Book VIII.
Henry the chief, who firft, by heaven infpired.
To deeds unknown before,, the failor fired.
The confcious failor left the fight of fhore.
And dared new oceans never ploughed i>efore.
man perhaps that ever Portugal produced,
has certainly the beft title to clofe this pro-
ceffion of the Lufian heroes. And as he was
the father of navigation, particularly of the
voyage of Gania, to fum up the narrative
with his encomium, it may be hoped has
even fome critical propriety. It remains
now to make a few obfervations on this
feeming epifode of Camoens. The ihiehi
of Achilles has had many imitators, fome
in one degree, others in another. The imi-
tation of Ariofto, in the xxxiii canto of his
Orlando Furiofo, is moft fancifully ingenious ;
and on this undoubtedly the Portuguefe poet
had his eye. Pharamond king of France,
having rcfolved to conquer Italy, defires the
friendfhip of Arthur king of Britain. Ar-
thur fends Merlin the magician to affift him
•with advice. Merlin by his fupernatural
art raifes a fumptuous hall, on the fides of
which all the future wars, unfortunate to
the French in their invafions of Italy, are
painted in colours exceeding the pencils
of the greatefl mailers. A defcription of
thefe piftures, an epifode much longer than
this of Camoens, is given to the heroine
Bralamant, by the knight who kept the
callle of Sir Triftram, the place where the
inchanted hall remained. But "though the
poetry be pleafing, the whole fiftion, unlefs
to aniufe the warlike lady, has nothing to
do with the aftion of the poem. Unity of
defign however, is neither claimed by Arioflo
in the exordium of his work, nor attempted
in the execution. An examination therefore
of the condu<^ of Homer and Virgil will be
more applicable to Camoens. To give a
landfcape of the face of the country which
is the fcene of aiSiion, or to defcribe the
heroes and their armour, are the becoming
ornaments of an epic poem. Milton's beau-
tiful defcription of Eden, and the admirable
painting of the fliicld of Achilles, are like
the embroidery cf a fuit of cloaths, a part
of the fubjed, and injure not the graceful-
nefs of the make ; or in other v/ords, dcftroy
"BOt the unity of the adion. Yet iet it be
obferved, that admfrable as they are, the
piAures on the ihield of Achilles, confidered
by themfelves, have no relation to theaflion
of the Iliad. If fix of the apartments may
be faid to roufe the hero to war, the other
fix may with equal jullice be called an ob-
vious admonition or a charge to turn huf-
bandman. In that part of the Eneid where
Virgil greatly improves upon his mailer, in
the viiions of his future race which Anchifes
gives to Eneas in Elyfium, the bulinefs of
the poem is admirably fuftained, and the
hero is infpired to encounter every danger on
the view of fo great a reward. The de-
fcription of the fhield of Eneas however is
lefs conneded with the condu£l of the fable.
Virgil indeed intended that his poem ihould
contain all the honours of his country, and
has therefore charged the fliield of his hero
with what parts of the Roman hiflory were
omitted in the vifion of Elyfium. But fo
foreign are thefe piftures to the war with
Turnus, that the poet himfelf tells us Eneas
was ignorant of the hiftory wliith they con-
tained.
T'aUa, per clypeum Vulcanic dona parentis
Miratur: rerumque igtiurui imagine gaudef,
Thefe obfervations, which the tranflator
believes have efcaped the critics, were fug-
gefled to him by the conduft of Camoens,
whofe defign, like that of Virgil, was to write
a poem which might contain all the triumphs
of his country. As the fliield of Eneas fup-
plies what could not be introduced in the
vifion of Elyfium, fo the enfigns of Gama
complete the purpofc of the third and fourth
Lufiads. The uie of that long epifode, the
converfation with the king of Melinda, and
its conneftion with the fubjefl, have been
already obferved. The feeming epifode of
the pidlures, while it fulfils the promife,
And all my country'' s tvars the fcng adorn—
is alfo admirably connedled wiih the condud
of the poem. The Indians naturally dcfire
to be informed of the country, the hiflory,
and
Book VIII.
THE LUSIAD.
337
The various wealth of every diflant land
He bade his fleets explore, his fleets command.
The ocean's great Difcoverer he fhines ^
Nor lefs his honours in the martial lines :
The painted flag the cloud-wrapt fiege difplays,.
There Ceuta's rocking wall its trufl: betrays.
Black yawns the breach ; the point of many a fpear
Gleams through the fmoke -, loud fhouts aftound the ear,
Whofe flep firfl: trod the dreadful pafs ? whofe fword
Hcw'd its dark way, firfl: with the foe begored ?
'Twas thine, O glorious Henry, firfl to dare
The dreadful pafs, and thine to clofe the war.
and power of their foreign vifitors, and Pau-
]us fets it before their eyes. In every pro-
greffion of the fcenery the bufinefs of the
poem advances. The regent and his atten-
dants are ftruck with the warlike grandeur
and power of the ftrangers, and to accept of
their friendfliip, or to prevent the forerun-
ners of fo martial a nation to carry home
the tidings of the difcovery of India, becomes
die great oHjedl of their confideration. And
from the paflions of the Indians and Moors,
thus agitated, the great cataftrophe of the
Lufiad is both naturally and artfully pro-
duced.
As every reader is not a critic in poetry,
to fome perhaps the expreffions
And the tired ox lows on his weary way — —
. loud /houts aftound the ear
And the abrupt fpeech of an enraged war-
rior, afcribed to a pi£lure,
■■■ Here no foreign tbrone
Sliall fix its bafe, m) native king alone
Shall reign
may appear as unwarrantable. This how-
ever, kt them be aflured, is the language of
the genuine fpirit of poetry, when the pro-
duAions of the filler mufe are the objed of
defcription. Let one very bold inftance of
this appear in the picture of the dance of the
youths and maidens on the fhield of Achilles*
thus faithfully rendered by Mr. Pope ;
Now all at once they rife, at once defcend,
With well-taught feet : now Ihape, in oblique
ways,
Confus'dly regular, the moving maze :
Now forth at once, too fwift for fight they fpring.
And undiftinguifh'd blend the flying ring :
So whirls a wheel, in giddy circles toft.
And rapid as it runs, the fingle fpokes are loft.
The gazing multitudes admire around :
Two a6live tumblers in the center bound ;
Now high, now low, their pliant limbs they
bend :
And gen'ral longs the fprightly revel end.
II. xviir.
Sometimes when defcribing a pidlure, poetry
will fay, the figures /eem to move, to trem-
ble, or to fmg. Homer has once or twice,
on the Ihield of his hero, given this hint how
to underftand him. But often to repeat the
qualification were quite oppofite to the
bold and free fpirit of poefy, which de-
lights in perfonification, and in giving life
and paflion to every thing it dcfcribes. It is
owing to the fuperior force of this fpirit,
together with the more beautiful colouring
of its lanJfcape-views, that the Ihield of
Achilles, in poetical merit, fo greatly excels
the buckler of Eneas, though the divine work-
man of the latter, had the former as a pattern,
before him.
Taught.
33^ THE L U S I A D. Book VIIL
Taught by his might, and humMed in her gore
The boaftful pride of Afric tower'd no more.
Numerous though thefe, more numerous warriors (hinc
Th' illuflrious glory of the Lufian line.
But ah, forlorn, what fhame to barbarous '' pride t
Friendlefs the mafter of the pencil died ;
Immortal fame his deathlefs labours gave -,
Poor man. He funk negle<5led to the grave !
The gallant Paulus faithful thus explain'd
The various deeds the pidured flags contain'd.
Still o'er and o'er, and ftill again untired.
The wondering Regent of the wars enquired ;
Still wondering heard the various plealing tale,
Till o'er the decks cold lighed the evening gale :
The falling darkncfs dimm'd the eaftern fliore.
And twilight hover'd o'er the billows hoar
Far to the weft, when with his noble band
The thoughtful Regent fought his native' ftrand.
*• Bui ah, forlorn, luhat fiame to barbarous ginary painter, the Lufian poet gives us the
pride In the original, pifture of his own, and refentment wrung
Mas faltamlhes pittcel, faltamlhes cores, ^^^ impropriety from him. The fplrit of
Honra,premio, favor, que as aries criao. the complaint however is preferved in the
** But the pencil was wanting, colours were tranflation. The couplet,
*' wanting, honour, reward, favour, the Immortal fame his deathlefs labours gave ;
" nourilhers of the arts." This feemed to ^0°'' "^3"' He funk ncgleaed to the grave !
the tranflator as an impropriety, and con- is not in the original. It is the figh of in-
trary to the purpofe of the whole fpeech of dignadon over the unworthy fate of the un-
Paulus, which was to give the Catual a high happy Camoens.
idea of Portugal. In the fate of the ima-
O'er
BooKVm. .CIT H IS 'I.V S'l'A'b.
589
O'er the tall mountain-foreft's waving boughs
Aflant the new moon's llender horns arofe;
Near her pale chariot Ihone a twinkling ftar.
And, fave the murmuring of the wave afar.
Deep-brooding lilence reign'd ; each labour clofed.
In fleep's foft arms the fons of toil repofed.
And now no more the moon her glimpfes fhed,
A fudden black-wing'd cloud the iky o'erfpread,
A fullen murmur through the woodland groan'd,
In woe-fwoln fighs the hollow winds bemoan*d ;
Borne on the plaintive gale a pattering fhower,
Increafed the horrors of the evil hour.
Thus when the great Earthfhaker rocks the ground.
He gives the prelude in a dreary found ;
O'er Nature's face a horrid gloom he throws, /
With difmal note the cock unufual crows,
A fhrill-voiced howling trembles thro' the air
As paffing ghofts were weeping in defpair ;
In difmal yells the dogs confefs their fear.
And fliivering own fome dreadful prefence near.
So lower'd the night, the fullen howl the fame.
And mid the black-wing'd gloom ftern Bacchus came ;
The form and garb of Hagar's fon he took.
The ghoft-like afped:, and the threatening ^ look.
' The ghofi-like afp'tQ and (he threatening trux a/peSlus et -vox terrililis, of a fierce
iooi. — Mohammed, by all hiftorians, is de- threatening afpeft, voice, and demeanour,
fcribed as of a pale livid complexion, and^
X X Then
340 THE L U S 1 A p. Book VIII.
Then o'er the pillow of a furious prieft,
Whofe burning zeal the Koran's lore profeft.
Revealed he ftood confpicuous in a dream.
His femblance fliining as the moon's pale gleam :
And guard, he cries, my fon, O timely guard.
Timely defeat the dreadful fnare prepar'd : . <
And canfl thou carelefs unaffeded fleep.
While thefe ftern lawlefs rovers of the deep
Fix on thy native (hore a foreign throne.
Before w^hofe fleps thy lateft race fhall groan !
He fpoke ; cold horror fhook the Moorifli prieft ;
He wakes, but foon reclines in wonted reft :
An airy phantom of the flumbering brain
He deem'd the vifion ; when the Fiend again,
With fterner mien and fiercer accent fpoke ;
Oh faithlefs ! worthy of the foreign yoke !
And knoweft thou not thy prophet fent by heaven.
By whom the Koran's facred lore was given,
God's chiefeft gift to men : And muft I leave
The bowers of Paradife, for you to grieve.
For you to watch, while thoughtlefs of your woe
Ye fleep, the carelefs vidims of the foe ;
The foe, whofe rage will foon with cruel joy,
If unoppofed, my facred fhrines deftroy.
Then while kind heaven th' aufpicious hour beftows,
L^t every nerve their infant ftrength oppofe.
Wheiv
Book VIII.
THE L U S I A D.
34r
When foftly ufhered by the milky ^ dawn
The fun firft rifes o'er the daified lawn
His filver luftre, as the (hining dew
Of radiance mild, unhurt the eye may view :
But when on high the noon-tide flaming rays
Give all the force of living fire to blaze,
A giddy darknefs ftrikes the conquer'd fight, -
That dares in all his glow the Lord of light.
Such, if on India's foil the tender (hoot
Of thefe proud cedars fix the ftubborn root.
Such fhall your power before them fink decay'd.
And India's ftrength fhall wither in their fhade.
He fpoke ; and inflant from his vot'ry's bed
Together with repofe, the daemon fled ;
^ When foftly ujher'd by the milky daiun
The fun firft rifes. " I deceive myfclf
greatly, fays Caftera, if this fimile is not the
moft noble and the moll natural that can be
found in any poem. It has been imitated
by the Spanilh comedian, the illuftrious Lo-
pez de Vega, in his comedy of Orpheus and
Eurydice, Aft I. Scene I.
Comci mirar puede fer
El fol al amanecer,
J quando fe enciende, no.'
Caftera adds a very loofe tranflatlon of
thefe Spanilh lines in French verfe. The
literal Englifh is, Js the fun may he beheld
at its rifingt but nuhen ilujirioufly kindled,
cannot. Naked however as this is, the
imitation of Camoens is evident. As Caf-
tera is fo very bold in his encomium of this
fine fimile of the fun, it is but juftice to add
Ms tranflation of it, together with the origi-
nal Portuguefe, and the tranflation of Fan-
Ihaw. Thus the French tranflator.
Les yeux pewvent foutenir la clnrte dufoleil
naiffanty mais lorfqu'il iejl avar.ce dans fa
X X
carrier e lumineufe, \£ que fes rayons repandent
les ardeurs du midi, on tacherait en vain de
V envifager ', un prompt aveuglement feroit le
prix de cette audace.
Thus elegantly in the original ;
Em quanto he fraca a for5a defta gente,
Ordena como em tudo fc refifta,
Porque quando o Sol fae, facilmente
Se podc nelle per a aguda vifta :
Porem depois que fobe claro, & ardente,
Se a agudeza dos ollios o conquifta
Tao cega fica, quando ficareis,
Se raizes criar Ihe nao tolheis.
And thus humbled by Fanfhaw ;
Now whilft this people's ftrength is not yet
knit,
Think how ye may refift them by all ways.
For when the 5"ttn is in his nonage yit,
Upon his morning beauty Men may gaze ;
But let him once up to his zenith git,
He ftrikes them blind wUh bis meridian rays }
So blind will ye be, if ye look not too't.
If ye permit thefe ced^in to take root.
Again
34:2 THE 1/ U S I A D. Book VIII.
Again cold horror fhook the zealot's framej
And all his hatred of Meffiah's name
Burn'd in his venom'd heart, while vcilfd ia night
Right to the palace fped. the daemon's; flight.
Sleeplefs the king he found in dubious thought ;
His confcious fraud a thoufand terrors brought :
All gloomy as the ho.ur, around him ftand
With haggard looks the hoary magi ' band ;
To trace what fates on India's wide domain
Attend the rovers from unheard of Spain,
Prepared in dark futurity to prove
The hell-taught rituals of infernal Jove :
Muttering their charms and fpells of dreary found.
With naked feet they beat the hollow ground ;
Blue gleams the altar's flame along the walls,
With difmal hollow groans the victim falls -,
With earnefl: eyes the prieftly band explore
The entrails throbbing in the living gore.
And lo, permitted by the power divine.
The hovering ;43^niori gives the dreadful " fign.
1 .i_____. Around him Jl a id The Brahmins are never among niodeni
With haggard locks the hoary magi hand— Ox writers called Magi.
the Brahmins, the diviners of India Am- "* The hovering damon gi'ves the dreadful
mianus Marcellinus, 1. 23, fays, that the Jtgn. — This has an allufion to the truth of
Perfian Magi derived their knowledge from hiftory. Barros relates, that an Augur being
the Brachmanes of India. And Arrianus, brought before the Zamorim, " Em hum
1. 7. exprefly gives the Brahmins the name njafo de agua Vhe mojirara bunas naos, que
of Maoi. The Magi of India, fays he, told "vin ham de muy longe para a India, e que a
Alexander on his pretenfions to divinity, that gente d'ellas feria total defruii;am dos Mou-
v.\ every thing he was like other men, except ros de aquelUs partes. In a veflel of water
that he took lefs left, and did more mifchief. he fhcwed him fomc fliips which from a
great
Book VIII.
THE L U S I A D.
343
Here furious War her gleamy faulchibn draws.
Here lean ribb'd Famine writhes her falling jaws j
Dire as the fiery peftilential ftar
Darting his eyes, high on his trophied car
Stern Tyranny fweeps wide o'er India's ground.
On vulture wings fierce Rapine hovers round ;
Ills after ills, and India's fetter'd might,
'Th' eternal yoke loud fhrieking at the " fight
The fl:arting wizards from the altar fly.
And filent horror glares in every eye :
Pale fi:ands the Monarch, loft in cold difmay.
And now impatient waits the lingering day.
^J
'9
With gloomy afpedl rofe the lingering dawn.
And dropping tears flow'd flowly o'er the lawn ;
The Moorifh Prieft with fear and vengeance fraught.
Soon as the light appear'd his kindred fought ;
great diflance came to India, the people of
which would efFeft the utter fubverfion of the
Moors." Camoens has certainly chofen a
more poetical method of defcribing this
divination, a method in the fpirit of Virgil ;
nor in this is he inferior to his great maf-
ter. The fupernatural flame which feizes
on Lavinia, while aflilling at the facrifice,
alone excepted, every other part of the
augury of Latinus, and his dream in the
Albunean foreft, whither he went to confult
his anceftor the god Faui^us, in dignity and
poetical colouring, cannot come in com-
parifon with the divination of the Magi,
and the appearance of the Dxmon in the
dream of the Moorifli prieft.
" Th* eternal yoke — This piflure, it may
perhaps be faid^ is but a bad compliment to
the heroes of the Lufiad, and the fruits of
their difcovery. A little confideration how-
ever will vindicate Camoens. It is the
Dasmon and the enemies of the Portuguefe
who procure this divination ; every thing in.
it is dreadful, on purpofe to determine the
Zamorim to deftroy the fleet of Gama.
In a former prophecy of the conqucft of
India, (when the Catual defcribes the fculp-
ture of the royal palace) our poet has been
careful to afcribe the happieft effefts to the
difcovery of his heroes :
Beneath their fway majeftic, wife, and mild,
Froud of her vi£toii' laws thrice happier India fmiled.
Would to God this may come to pafs ! But
the prophecy of the Devil has hitherto, alas,
bcea the true one.
Appall'd
344 THE L U S I A D. Book V III.
AppaU'd and trembling with ungenerous fear.
In fecret council met, his tale they hear -,
As check'd by terror or impell'd by hate
Of various means they ponder and debate,
Againft the Lufian train what arts employ,
By force to flaughter, or by fraud deftroy ;
Now black, now pale, their bearded cheeks appear,
As boiling rage prevail'd, or boding fear ;
Beneath their fhady brov/s their eye-balls roll.
Nor one foft gleam befpeaks the generous foul ;
Through quivering lips they draw their panting breath,
While their dark fraud decrees the works of death ',
Nor unrefolvcd the power of gold to try
Swift to the lordly Catual's gate they hie
Ah, what the wifdom, what the fleeplefs care
Efficient to avoid the traytor's fnare !
What human power can give a king to know
The fmiling afpedl of the lurking foe !
So let the tyrant ' plead the patriot king
Knows men, knows whence the patriot virtues fpring;
From inward worth, from confcience iirm and bold.
Not from the man whofe honeft name is fold,
" So let the tyrant plea^i — In this ftiort Lured was the Regent nuith the Moarijh goU,
declamation, a feemine excrefcence, the bu- . , ., . , , , , , i .
fmefs of the poem in reality is carried on. " happily introduced by the manly deda-
The Zamorim, and his prime minifter, the "^^^iT reflexions which immediately pre-
Catual, are artfully charaderifed in it ; and ^ ^^'
the aflertion
He
Book VIII.
THE
L U S I A D.
345
He hopes that virtue, whofe unaltered weight
Stands iixt, unveering with the ftorms of ftate.
Lured was the Regent with the Mooriih gold.
And now agreed their fraudful courfe to hold.
Swift to the king the Regent's fteps they tread ;
The king they found o'erwhelm'd in facred dread.
The word they take, their ancient deeds relate.
Their ever faithful fervice of the ^ ftate ;
For ages long, from fhore to diftant fliore
For thee our ready keels the traffic bore :
P The Moors ■^•^-^thcir ancient deeds
relate,
Their e'ver faithful fervice of the /late — An
explanation of the word Moor is here necef-
fary. When the Eaft afforded no more field
for the fword of the conqueror, the Sara-
cens, aflifted by the Moors, who had em-
braced their religion, laid the finell coun-
tries in Europe in blood and defolation. As
their various embarkations were from the
empire of Morocco, the Europeans gave
the name of Moors to all the profefTors of
the Mohammedan religion. In the fame
manner the eaftern nations blended all the
armies of the Crufaders under one appella-
tion, and the Franks, of whom the army
of Godfrey was moftly compofed, became
their common name for all the inhabitants
of the Weft. The appellation even reached
China. When the Portuguefe firft arrived
in that Empire, the Chinefe foftening the
r into 1, called both them and their can-
non, by the name of F.iUnks, a name
which is ftill retained at Canton, and
other parts of the Chinefe dominions.
Before the arrival of Gama, as already ob-
ferved, all the traffic of the Eaft, from the
Ethiopian fide of Africa to China, was in
the hands of Arabian Mohammedans, who,
without incorporating with the pagan na-
tives, had their colonies eftabliftied in every
country commodious for commerce. Theie
the Portuguefe called Moors ; and at prefeat
the Mohammedans of India, are called the
Moors of Hindoftan by the lateft of our
Englifh writers. The intelligence thefe Moors
gave to one another, relative to the aftions
of Gama, the general terror with which
they beheld the appearance of Europeans,
whofe rivalfhip they dreaded ss the deftruc-
tion of their power ; the various frauds and
arts they employed to prevent the return of
one man of Gama's fleet to Europe, and their
threat to withdraw from the dominions of
the Zamorim, are all according to the truth
of hiftory. The fpeeches of the Zamorim-
and of Gama, which follow, are alfo founded
in truth. They are only poetical paraphrafes
of the fpeeches afcribed by Oforius, to the
Indian fovereign and the Portuguefe ad-
miral. Where the fubjcft was fo happily
adapted to the epic Mufe, to negleft it would
have been reprehenfible : and Camoens, not
unjuftly, thought, that the reality of his
hero's adventures gave a dignity to his poem.
When Gama, in his difcourfe with the king
of Melinda, finifhes the defcription of his
voyage, he makes a fpirited apoftrophe to
Homer and Virgil j and afferts, that the
adventures which he had aAually expe-
rienced, greatly exceeded all the wonders of
their fables. Camoens alfo, in other parts
of the poem, avails himfelf of the fame
affertion.
For
346 THE L U S I A D. Book VIII.
For thee we dared each horror of the wave;
Whate'er thy treafures boaft our labours gave.
And wilt thou now confer our long-earn'd due.
Confer thy favour on a lawlefs crew ?
The race they boaft, as tygers of the wold
Bear their proud fway by juftice uncontroull'd.
Yet for their crimes, expell'd that bloody home,
Thefe, o'er the deep, rapacious plunderers roam.
Their deeds we know ; round Afric's fhores they came
And fpread, where'er they paft, devouring flame -,
Mozambic's towers, enroll'd in fheets of fire.
Blazed to the fky, her own funereal pyre.
Imperial Calicut fhall feel the fame,
And thefe proud ftate-rooms feed the funeral flame 5
While many a league far round, their joyful eyes
Shall mark old ocean reddening to the fkies.
Such dreadful fates, o'er thee, O king, depend.
Yet with thy fall our fate fliall never blend :
5ce o'er the eaft arife the fecond dawn
Our fleets, our nation from thy land withdrawn.
In other climes, beneath a kinder reign
Shall fix their port : yet-may the threat be vain !
If wifer thou with us thy powers employ
Soon fhall our powers the robber-crew deflroy.
By their own arts and fecret deeds o'ercome
Here fhall they meet the fate efcaped at home.
While
Book VIIL THE L U S I A D. 347
While thus the Prieft detain'd the Monarch's ear.
His cheeks confeft the quivering pulfe of fear.
Unconfcious of the worth that fires the brave.
In ftate a monarch, but in heart a Have,
He view^'d brave Vasco aad his generous train.
As his own paffions ftamp'd the confcious ftain :
Nor lefs his rage the fraudful Regent fired ;
And valiant Gama's fate was now confpired.
AmbalTadors from India Gam a fought.
And oaths of peace, for oaths of friendfhip brought ;
The glorious tale, 'twas all he wifli'd, to tell ;
So Ilion's fate was feaFd when Hedor fell.
Again convoked before the Indian throne.
The Monarch meets him with a rageful frown ;
And own, he cries, the naked truth reveal.
Then fhall my bounteous grace thy pardon feal.
Feign'd is the treaty thou pretend'ft to bring.
No country owns thee, and thou own'ft no king.
Thy life, long roving o'er the deep, I know,
A lawlefs robber, every man thy foe.
And think'ft thou credit to thy tale to gain ?
Mad were the fovereign, and the hope were vain.
Through ways unknown, from utmoft weilern fhorc.
To bid his fleets the utmoft eaft explore,
Y y Great
348 THE L U S I A D. Book VIIl.
Great is thy monarch, £o thy words declare ;
But fumptuous gifts the proof of greatnefs bear :
Kings thus to kings their empire's grandeur fhew ;
Thus prove thy truth, thus we thy truth allow.
If not, what credence will the wife afford ?
What monarch trufl the wandering feaman's word ?
No fumptuous gift Thou "^ bring'ft — Yet, though fome crime
Has thrown thee banifh'd. from thy native clime,
(Such oft of old the hero's fate has been)
Here end thy toils, nor tempt new fates unfeen :
Each land the brave man nobly calls his home :.
Or if, bold pyrates, o'er the deep you roam,
Skill'd the dread florm to brave, O welcome here L
Fearlefs of death or fhame confefs fincere :
My Name fhall then thy dread protetflion be.
My captain Thou, unrivaU'd ori the fea.
Oh now, ye Mufes, ling what goddefs fired
Gama's proud bofom, and his lips infpired*
^ No fumptuBus gift 7'hou hrin^ft—^^'^ As value ourfelvea. The king of Mellnda had
the Portuguefc did not expeft to find any the generofity to be contented with the pre-
people but favages beyond the Cape of fent which Gama made ; but the Zamorim^
Good Hope, they only brought with them with a difdainful eye, beheld the gifts whick
fome preferves and confeftioas, with trinkets were offered to him. The prefent was thus :
of coral, of glafs, and other trifles. This Four mantles of fcarlet, fix hats adorned
opinion however deceived them. In Me- with feathers, four chaplets of coral beads,
linda and in Calicut they found civilized twelve Turky carpets, feven drinking cup*
nations, where the arts flourifhed j who of brafs, a cheft of fugar, two barrels of
wanted nothing; who were poflefled of all cil, and two of honey." Cajlera^
<;he re^aements aud delicacies on whicl) we
Fair
Book VIII. THE L U S I A D, 349
Fair Ac id alia. Love's celeflial ' queen,
The goddefs of the fearlefs, graceful mien.
Her graceful freedom on his look beilow'd.
And all colledled in his bofom glow'd.
Sovereign, he cries, oft witnefs'd, well I know
The rageful falfhood of the Moorilli foe.
Their fraudful tales, from hatred bred, believed.
Thine ear is poifon'd, and thine eye deceived.
What light, what fhade the courtier's mirrour gives,
That light, that fhade the guarded king receives.
Me haft thou view'd in colours not mine own.
Yet bold I promife /hall my truth be known.
If o'er the feas a lawlefs peft I roam,
A blood-flain'd exile from my native home.
How many a fertile fhore and beauteous ille.
Where Nature's gifts unclaim'd, unbounded fmile.
Mad have I left, to dare the burning zone.
And all the horrors of the gulphs unknown
That roar beneath the axle of the world.
Where ne'er before was daring fail unfurl'd \
And have I left thefe beauteous fhores behind.
And have I dared the rage of every wind.
That now breathed fire, and now came wing'd with froft,
Lured by the plunder of an unknown coaft ?
' Fair JcUalia, Love's celejiial queen— ftraint. Acidalia, is one of the Names •£
Caftcra derives Acidalia from <ix»)^»>?, which, Vemis, in Vitgil ; derived from Acidalus,
he hyir implies to adt without fear or re- a fountain facred to her in Boeotian
Y y 2 Not
350 THE L U S I A D. Book VIII.
Not thus the robber leaves his certain prey
For the gay promife of a namelefs day.
Dread and flupendous, more than dcath-doom'd man
Might hope to compas, more than "wifdom plan.
To thee my toils, to thee my dangers rife :
Ah ! Lifbon's kings behold with other eyes.
Where virtue calls, where glory leads the way
No dangers move them, and no toils difmay^
Long have the kings of Lufus' daring race
Refolved the limits of the deep to trace.
Beneath the morn to ride the fartheft waves.
And pierce the fartheft fhore old Ocean laves.
Sprung from the * Prince, before whofe matchlefs power
The ftrength of Afric wither'd as a flower
Never to bloom again, great Henry fhone.
Each gift of nature and of art his own ;
Bold as his fire, by toils on toils untired.
To find the Indian fhore his pride afpired.
Beneath the ftars that round the Hydra fhine.
And where fam*d Argo hangs the heavenly fign.
Where thirft and fever burn on every gale
The dauntlefs Henry rear'd the Luiian fail.
»
Embolden'd by the meed that crown'd his toils.
Beyond the wide-fpread {hores and numerous ifles,
• Bf rung from tht Princ e John I.
Whcwi
Book VHI. T A E L U S I A D, 351
Where both the tropics pour the burning day.
Succeeding heroes forced th* exploring way ;
That race which n^ver view'd the Pleiad's car.
That barbarous race beneath the fouthern ftar.
Their eyes beheld — Dread roar'd the WkH — the wave
Boils to the fky, the meeting whirlwinds rave
O'er the torn heavens ; loud on their awe-ftruck car
Great Nature feem'd to call, Approach not here— —
At Lisbon's court they told their dread efcape.
And from her raging tempefts, named the * Cape.
** Thou fouthmoft point," the joyful king exclaimed,
** Cape of Good Hope, be thou for ever named !
** Onward my fleets fhall dare the dreadful way,
** And find the regions of the infant day."
In vain the dark and ever-howling blafl
Proclaimed, This ocean never fhall be pafl ;
Through that dread ocean, and the tempefts* roar,.
MyJcing commanded^ and my courfe I bore.
The pillar thus of deathlefs " fame, begun
By other chiefs, beneath the rifing fun
' And from her ragivg tempefts named the led by the account, and witTi inexpreflible
Cape. — Bartholomew Diaz, was the firft who joy, fays the fame author, he immediately
difcovered the fouthmoft point of Africa. named it the Cape of Good Hope.
He was driven back by the ftorms, which on " The pillar thus of deathlefs fame, begun
thefe feas were thought always to continue. By other chiefs, 8cc.
and which the learned of former ages, fays Till 1 now ending what thofe did begin,
Oforius, thought impaflable. Diaz, when The furthtft pillar in thy realm advance j
he related his voyage to John II. called the - Breaking the element of molten tin,
fouthmoft point the Cape of Tempefts. The Through horrid florms I lead to thw the dam«^^^
cxpeilation of the king, however, was kind-
la
352 THE LUSIAD. Book VIIL
In thy great realm now to the fkies I raife.
The deathlefs pillar of my nation's praife.
Through thefe wild feas no coflly gift I brought;
Thy fhore alone and friendly peace I fought.
And yet to thee the noblefl gift I bring
The world can boaft, the friendihip of my King.
And mark the word, his greatnefs Ihall appear
When next my courfe to India's flrand 1 fleer.
Such proofs I'll bring as never man before
In deeds of ftrife or peaceful friendfhip bore.
Weigh now my words, my truth demands the light.
For truth fhall ever boaft, at lafl, refilllefs might.
Boldly the Hero fpake with brow fevere.
Of fraud alike unconfcious as of fear :
His noble confidence with truth impreil
Sunk deep, tinwelcome, in the Monarch's bread:.
Nor wanting charms his avarice to gain
Appear'd the commerce of illuftrious Spain.
Yet as the fick man loaths the bitter draught.
Though rich with health he knows the cup comes fraught -,
His health without it, felf-deceiv'd, he weighs.
Now haftes to quaff the drug, and now delays ;
Reludant thus as wavering pafTion veer'd.
The Indian Lord the dauntlefs Gama heard :
The
Book VIII. THE L U S I A D. 353
The Moorifh threats yet founding in his ear.
He adts with caution, and is led by fear.
With folemn pomp he bids his lords prepare
The friendly banquet, to the Regent's care
Commends brave Gama, and with pomp retires :
The Regent's hearths awake the fecial fires ;
Wide o'er the board the royal feaft is fpread-.
And fair embroidered ihines De Gama's bed.
The Regent's palace high o'erlook'd the bay
Where Gama's bkck-ribb'd fleet at anchor "" lay«
Ah, why the voice of ire and bitter woe
O'er Tago's banks, ye nymphs of Tagus, ihewr
The flowery garlands from your ringlets torn.
Why wandering wild with trembling fleps forlorn I'
The Daemon's rage you faw, and markt his flight
To the dark manfions of eternal night :
You faw how howling through the fhades beneath
He waked new horrors in the realms of death.
What trembling tempefls fhook the thrones of hell^
And groan'd along her caves, ye Mufes, telL
The rage of baffled fraud, and all the fire
Of powerlefs hate, with tenfold flames confpire ;
^ 7%t Regent's palace high o*erJook^d the — The reftmblance of this couplet to many
hay, paflages in Homer, muft be obvious to the,
Hubert Gonads black-ribh*d fleet at anchor lay. intelligent critic.
From;
354 THE L U- S I A Di Book VIIL
From every eye the tawney lightnings glare.
And hell, illumined by the ghaftly flare,
A drear blue gleam, in tenfold horror fhews
Her darkling caverns ; from his dungeon rofe
Stern Mahomet, pale w^as his earthy hue.
And from his eye-balls fla(h*d the lightnings blue ;
Convulfed vs^ith rage the dreadful Shade demands
The laft aflillance of th* infernal bands.
As vt^hen the whirlwinds, fudden burfting, bear
Th' autumnal, leaves high floating through the air;
So rofe the legions of th' infernal fl:ate.
Dark Fraud, bafe Art, fierce Rage, and burning Hate :
Wing'd by the Furies to the Indian flrand
They bend -, the Daemon leads the dreadful band.
And in the bofoms of the raging Moors^
All their colle(3:ed living fl:rength he pours.
One breafl alone againfl: his rage was fteel'd.
Secure in fpotlefs Truth's celeflial fhield.
One evening pall, another evening clofed.
The Regent fliill brave Gama's fuit oppofcd;
The Lufian Chief his guarded guefl: detain'd>,
With arts on arts, and vows of friendship feign'd.
His fraudful art, though veil'd in deep difguife,
Shoja^ bright. to. Gama's manner-piercing eyes.
As
Book VIII.
THE L U S I A D.
355
As in the fun's bright * beam the gamefome boy
Plays with the fhining fleel or chryftal toy.
Swift and irregular, by fudden ftarts.
The living ray with viewlefs motion darts.
Swift o'er the wall, the floor, the roof, by turns
The fun-beam dances, and the radiance burns.
In quick fucceffion thus a thoufand views
The fapient Lufian's lively thought purfues;
Quick as the lightning every view revolves.
And, weighing all, fixt are his dread refolves.
O'er India's fhore the fable night defcends.
And Gam A, now, fecluded from his friends,
^ As in the fun's bright beam Imitated
from Virgil, who, by the fame fimilie, de-
fcribes the fludluation of the thoughts of
Eneas, on the eve of the Latian war :
-Laomedonlius heros
Cun(!ila videns, magno curarum fluftuat xftii,
Atque animum nxmc hue celerem, nunc dividit
illuc.
In partefque rapit variais, pcrqvie omnia verfat.
Sicut aq'J3e tremuliim labiis iibi lumen ahenis
■Sole repeiculTum, aut radiantis imagine Lunae,
Omnia pervolitat late loca : jamque fub auras
Erigitur, fummiqiie ferit laquearia tc6ti.
This "ivay and. that he turns his anxious mind.
Thinks, and rejc<Ss the counfels he defign'd j
Explores himfelf in vain, in eveiy part,
And gives no reft to his diftraited heart:
So when the fun by day or moon by night
Strike on the polifh'd brafs their trembling light.
The glittering fpecies here and there divide,
And caft their dubious beams from fide to fide ;
Now on the walls, now on the pavement p'.ay,
And to the cieling flafh the glaring day.
Ariofto has aUV adoptod.this .ijruilj^ iji
the eighth book of his Orlando Furiofo :
Qual d'acqua chiara il tremolante lume
Pal Sol percofla, o da' notturni rai.
Per gli ampli tetti va con lungo falto
A dedra, ed a fmiilra, c balTo, ed alto.
~So from a water clear, the trembling light
of Phoebus, or the filver ray of night.
Along the fpacious rooms with fplendor plays.
Now high, now low, and fliifts a thoufand ways.
HOOLE.
But the happleft circumftance belongs to
Camoens. The velocity and various fhift-
ings of the fun-beam, reflefted from a piece
of chryftal or polifhed fteel in the hand of
a boy, give a much ftronger idea of the
violent agitation and fudden fhiftings of
thought, than the image of the trembling
light of the fun or moon reflefted from a
veffel of water. The brazen veffel how-
ever, and not the water, is only mentioned
by Dryden. Nor muft another inaccuracy
pafs unobferved. That the refieflicn of the
moon Jiajhed the glaring day is not coun-
tenanced by the original, The critic how-
ever, who, from the mention of thefe.'will
infer any difrefpeft to the name of Dryden,
is, as critics often are, ignorant of the
writer's meaning. A very different infe-
rence is jntervdcd : If fo great a mailer as
Dryden has erred, let the critic remember,
that other tranflators are liable to fail, and
that a few inu'.curacies ought, by no means,
to be produced as the fpccimens of any
compofition.
Z 2
Detain'd
IS^
THE L U S I A a
Book VIIL
Dctain'd a captive in the room of fl:at€.
Anticipates in thought to-morrow's fatc^
For jufl: Mozaide no generous care delays,
And Vasco's truft with friendly toils repays.
We have already fcen the warm enco-
mium paid by TafTo to his cotemporary,
Camoens. That great poet, the ornament
of Italy, has alfo teftified his approbation
by feveral imitations of the Luliad. Virgil,
in no inftance, has more clofely copied Ho-
mer, than TafTo has imitated the appear-,
ance of Bacchus, or the evil Daemon, in
the dream of the Moorish prieft. The en-
chanter Ifmeno thus appears to the fleeping
Solyman :
Soliman' Solimano, i tuoi filcnti
jRipofi a miglior tempo homai rifcrva :
Che fotto il giogo de ftraniere genti,
X<a patria, ove cegnafVi, ancor' e ferva.
In quefta terra dormi, e non rammenti>.
Ch' infepolte de' tuoi Tofla conferva ?
Ove fi gran' veftigio e del tuo fcorno,
Tu neghittofo afpetti il novo giorno ?
Thus eregantly tranftated by Mr. Hoolc,.
Oh ! Solyman, rcgardlefs Chief, awake !
In happier hom's thy grateful flumber take :
Beneath a foreign yoke thy fubjefts bend,
And ftrangers o'er thy land their rule extend ::
Here doft thou fleep ? here clofc thy carelefs eyes,,
While uninterr'd each lov'd affociatc lies ?
Here where thy fame has felt the hoftile fcorn,.
Cauft thou, unthinking, wait the rifir^g mow.??
END OF THE Eighth BOOK.
MMMMHiiaWtli
THE
L U S I A D:
BOOK IX.
T) E D rofe the dawn -, roll'd o'er the low'ring iky,
■** ^ The fcattering clouds of tawny purple fly.
While yet the day-fpring ftruggled with the gloom,
The Indian Monarch fought the Regent's dome.
In all the luxury of Alian ftate
High on a ftar-gemm'd couch the Monarch fate ;
Then on th' illuftrious Captive, bending down
His eyes. Hern darken'd with a threatening frown,
Thy truthlefs tale, he cries, thy art appears,
Confeft inglorious by thy cautious fears.
Yet ftill if friendship, honeft, thou implore.
Yet now con^ttiand thy veflels to the fhore :
Z z 2 Generous
358 THE L U S I A D. Book IX.
Generous as to thy friends thy fails refign.
My will commands it, and the power is mine :
In vain thy art, in vain thy^mi^ht ^jithftands.
Thy fails, and rudders too, my will * demands :
Such be the teft, thy boafted truth to try,
Each<4C^er teft d^ifed, I fiTt deny. r> y t T"
And' has my Regent fued two days ini^ain ! "' ^
In vain my mandate, and the captive chain !
Yet not in vain, proud Chief, Ourfelf fhall fue
From thee the llbnoufto -my frifcWdthip dnc^r
Ere force compel thee, let the grace be thine,.
Our grace permits it, freely to refign.
Freely to truft ouriTiendfhip,_;v| re V^P lat«
Our injured honour fix thy dreadful fate.
While thus he,fpiike his changeful look declared, ^
In his proud bre^ what'^ftarting palTions war/d;
No feature mov'd ©n Gam a's face was feen.
Stern he replies, with bold yet anxious mien.
In me my Sovereign ^reprefented fee.
His flate is wounded, and he fpeaks in me 1
Unawed by threats, by dangers uncontroul'd.
The laws of nations bid my tongue be bold.
No more thy juftice holds the rigliteous fcale,
The arts of falfhood and the Moors prevail ;
* Thy fails, and rudders m, my 'will dimands According to Hiftory. See the life
of Gama in the Preface. ^ r
I fee
Book IX. THE L U S I A D. 359
I fee the doom my favoured foes decree.
Yet, though in chains I ftand, my fieet is free.
The bitter taunts of fcorn the brave difdain ;
Few be my words, your arts, your threats are vain^
My Sovereign's fleet I yield not to your ^ fway -,
Safe fhall my fleet to Lifboa's ilrand convey
The glorious tale of all the toils I bore,
Afric furrounded, and the Indian fhore
Difcovered Thefe I pledged my life to gain,
Thefe to my country fhall my life maintain.
One wiih alone my earneil heart defires.
The fole impaffion'd hope my breaft refpires ;
My finifh'd labours may my Sovereign hear !
Befides that wifh, nor hope I know, nor fear.
And To, the vidlim of your rage I *" ftand.
And bare my bofom to the murderer's hand.
With lofty mien he fpake. In ftern difdain.
My threats, the Monarch cries, were never vain r
Swift give the fign— Swift as he fpake, appear'd
The dancing ftreamer o'er the palace reared ;
Inilant another enfign diftant rofe.
Where, jutting through the flood, the mountain throws
* My Sovereign's fleet I yield not to yew Tbe Malabar protefts that he (hall rot
hoay The circumftance of Gama's re- In prifon, if he fend not for the yA»>j.
fufmg to put his fleet into the power of the {ff (f^^'/f"'. «"'» ^"'' "f 1*= ""&'' '^^0
Zamorin,, is thus rendered by Fanlhaw j «'* '^^"S'")' '^''^'' ^^'^'^ ^^^ "^ '^'^ '^'P^'
A ridge
360 THE L U S I A D. Book IX*
A ridge enormous, and on either fide
Defends the harbours from the furious tide.
Proud on his couch th' indignant Monarch fate,
And awful ijilence fill'd the room of flate.
With fecret joy the Moors, exulting, glow'd.
And bent their eyes where Gama's navy rode.
Then, proudly heaved with panting hope, explore
The wood-crown'd upland of the bending fhore.
Soon o'er the palms a mall's tall pendant flows.
Bright to the fun the purple radiance glows ;
In martial pomp, far ftreaming to the ikies.
Vanes after vanes in fwift fucce.flion rife.
And through the opening foreft-boughs of green
The fails' white luftre moving on is feen ;
When fudden rufliing by the point of land
The bowfprits nod, and wide the fails expand ;
Full pouring on the fight, in warlike pride.
Extending ftill the rifing fquadrons ride :
O'er every deck, beneath the morning rays.
Like melted gold the brazen fpear-points blaze }
Each prore furrounded with an hundred oars.
Old Ocean boils around the crowded prores :
And five times now in number Gama's might.
Proudly their boaftful fhouts provoke the fight ;
Far round the (hore the ecchoing peal rebounds.
Behind the hill an anfwering fliout refounds :
Still
BookIX: the L U S I A D. 362
Still by the point new-fpreading fails appear.
Till feven times Gama's fleet concludes the rcar»
Again the fliout triumphant fhakes the bay ;
Form'd as a crefcent, wedg'd in firm array.
Their fleet's wide horns the Lufian fhips inclafp,.
Prepared to crufh them in their iron grafp.
Shouts eccho fhouts -with ftern difdainful eyes.
The Indian King to manly Gam a cries.
Not one of thine on Lifboa*s fhore fhall tell
The glorious tale, how bold thy heroes felk
With alter'd vifage, for his eyes flafh'd fire,.
God fent me here, and God's avengeful ire
Shall fmite thy perfidy, great Vasco cried.
And humble in the dufl thy withered pride.
A prophet's glow infpired his panting breafl.
Indignant fmiles the Monarch's fcorn confefl^
Again deep filence fills the room of flate.
And the proud Moors, fecure, exulting wait :
And now inclafping Gama's in a ring.
Their fleet nods on loud whizzing from the firing
The black-wing'd arrows float along the iky,.
And rifing clouds the falling clouds fupply.
The lofty crowding fpears that briftling flood;
Wide o'er the galleys as an upright wood.
Bend fudden, levell'd for the clofing fight.
The points wide-waving fhed a gleamy light.
Elate
362 THE L U S I A D. Book IX.
Elate with joy the king his afpedt rears.
And valiant Gama, thrill'd with tranfport, hears
His drums' bold rattling raife the battle found;
Eccho deep-toned hoarfe vibrates far around ;
The fhivering trumpets tear the fhrill-voiced air.
Quivering the gale, the flafhing lightnings flare.
The fmoke rolls wide, and fudden burfts the roar.
The lifted waves fall trembling, deep the fhore
Groans ; quick and quicker blaze embraces blaze
In flafhing arms ; louder the thunders raife
Their roarings rolling o'er the bended ikies
The burfl: inceflfant -, awe-ftruck Eccho dies
Faultering and deafen'd ; from the brazen throats.
Cloud after cloud, inroU'd in darknefs, floats.
Curling their fulphrous folds of fiery blue.
Till their huge volumes take the fleecy hue.
And rowl wide o'er the fky ; wide as the fight
Can meafure heaven, flow rowls the cloudy white :
Beneath, the fmoky blacknefs fpreads afar
Its hovering wings, and veils the dreadful war
Deep in its horrid breafl: -, the fierce red glare
'Chequering the rifted darknefs, fires the air.
Each moment lofl: and kindled, while around.
The mingling thunders fwell the lengthen'd found.
When piercing fudden through the dreadful roar
The yelling fhrieks of thoufands fl:rike the fhore :
Prcfaging
Book IX. THE L U S I A D. 363
Prefaging horror through the Monarch's breaft
Crept cold, and gloomy o'er the diftant eaft,
Through Gata's hills the whirling temped '' figh'd.
And weftward fweeping to the blacken'd tide,
Howl'd o'er the trembling palace as it paft.
And o'er the gilded walls a gloomy twilight caft ;
Then, furious rufhing to the darken'd ' bay,
Refifllefs fwept the black-wing'd night away.
With all the clouds that hover'd o'er the fight.
And o'er the weary combat pour'd the light.
As by an Alpine mountain's pathlefs fide
Some traveller flrays, unfriended of a guide -,
If o'er the hills the fable night defcend.
And gathering tempefl with the darknefs blend.
Deep from the cavern'd rocks beneath, aghafl
He hears the howling of the whirlwind's blafl j
Above, refounds the crafh, and down the fleep
Some rolling weight groans on with foundering fweep ;
Aghafl he flands amid the fhades of night,
And all his foul implores the friendly light :
^ Through Gata^s hills The hills of " Then furious riijhing to the darkened bay
Gata or Gate, mountains which form a na- ——For the circumflances of the battle,
tural barrier on the eaftern fide of the king- and the tempeft which then happened, fee
dom of Malabar. the life of Gama.
Nature's rude wall, againft the fierce Canar
They guard th« fertile lawns of Malabar.
LUSIAD, VII.
A a a - Dire
3^4 *r H E L U S I A £). 600 k IX.
Dire fhines the ray, tibe lighthi^g^s quiverihg bla^e
The yawning depth beneath Ms ^p fefet^ay^.
But one half fcotAep Jrii'thf\Jr¥6 th^'treid |
Torn from the rock, the fragriieiit b'^r his head
Nods crafhing —loft in horror at'Ithe fight.
His knees no more fupport their fickly weight,
Powerlefs he finks, no more his heart-blood flows;
So funk the Monarch, and his heart-blood froze 5
So funk he down, when o'er the clouded bay
The rufhing whirlwind pour'd the fudden day :
Difafter's giant arm in one wide fweep
Appear'd, and ruin blacken'd o'er the deep ;
The fheeted mafts drove floatirtg o*er the tid^.
And the torn hulks rowl'd tumbling on the fide ;
Some fhatter'd plank each heaving billow toft.
And by the hand of heaven dafh'd on the coaft
Groan'd prores ingulph'd, the lafhing furges rave
O'er the black keels upturn'd, the fwelling wave
KifTes the lofty maft's reclining head ;
And far at fea fome few torn galleys fled.
Amid the dreadful fcene triumphant rode
The Lufian war-ftiips, and their aid beftow'd :
Their fpeedy boats far round afUfting ply'd.
Where plunging, ftruggling, in the rolling tide^
Grafping the fliatter'd wrecks, the vanquifh'd foes
Rear'd o'er the dafhing waves their haggard brows.
No
Book IX. THE L U S I A D. 365
No word of fcorn the lofty Gama fpoke.
Nor India's King the dreadful filence broke.
Slow paft the hour, when to the trembling jGhorc
In awful pomp the vidtor-navy bore :
Terrific, nodding on, the bowfprits bend.
And the red ftreamers other war portend :
Soon burfts the roar -, the bombs tremendous rife.
And trail their blackening rainbows o'er the fkies 5
O'er Calicut's proud domes their rage they pour.
And wrap her temples in a fulphrous fhower.
*Tis o'er In threatening filence rides the fleet :
Wild rage and horrdr yell in every flreet ;
Ten thoufands pouring round the palace ^ gate,
In clamorous uproar wail their wretched fate :
While round the dome with lifted hands they kneel'd.
Give juflice, juftice to the Grangers yield—— ,
Our friends, our hufbands, fons, and fathers flain 1
Happier, alas, than thefe that yet remain
Curft be the counfels, and the arts unjufl —
Our friends in chains our city in the dufl
Yet, yet prevent
- The filent Vasco faw
The weight of horror and o'erpowering awe
^ Ten thoufands pouring round the palace gate.
In (lamorous uproar* • • See the hiftory in the life of Gama.
A a a 2 That
366 THE L U S I A D. Book IX.
That fhook the Moors, that fhook the Regent's knees.
And funk the Monarch down By fwift degrees
The popular clamour rifes. Loft, unmann'd,
Around the King the trembling Council ftand -^
While wildly glaring on each other's eyes
Each lip in vain the tremblimg accent tries ,-
With anguifh ficken'd, and of ftrength bereft,,
Earneft each look enquires. What hope is left ?
In all the rage of fhame and grief aghaft.
The Monarch, faultering, takes the word at laft :
By whom, great Chief, are thefe proud war-fhips fway'd.
Are there thy mandates honour'd and obey'd ?
Foi:give, great Chief, let gifts of price reftrain
Thy juft revenge — Shall India's gifts be vain! .
Oh fpare my people and their doom'd abodes «
Prayers, vows, and gifts appeafe the injured gods :
Shall man deny — — Swift are the brave to fpare :
The weak, the innocent confefs their care . .
Helplefs as innocent of guile to thee.
Behold thefe thoufands bend the fuppliant knee — —
Thy navy's thundering fides black to the land
Difplay their terrors — yet mayft thou command ^
O'erpower'd he paufed. Majeftic and ferene
Great Vasco rofe, then pointing to the fcene
Where
Book IX. THE L U S I A D. 367
Where bled the war. Thy fleet, proud King, behold
O'er ocean and the flrand in carnage roll'd !
So fhall this palace fmoking in the duft.
And yon proud city weep thy arts unjuft.
The Moors I knew, and for their fraud prepared^
I left my fixt command my navy's ^ guard :
Whate'er from fliore my name or feal convey 'd
Of other weight, that fixt command forbade ;
Thus, ere its birth deftroy'd, prevented fell
What fraud might didate, or what force compel.
This morn the facrifice of Fraud I flood.
But hark, there lives the brother of my blood.
And lives the friend, whofe cares conjoin'd controul:
Thefe floating towers, both brothers of my foul.
If thrice, I faid, arife the golden morn.
Ere to my fleet you mark my glad return,
Dark Fraud with all her Moorifh arts withflands,,
Aod force or death withholds me from my bands :
Thus judge, and fwift unfurl the homeward fail,
Catch the firfl breathing of the eaflern gale.
Unmindful of my fate on India's '' fhore :
Let but my Monarch know, I wifh no more ■
Each, panting while I fpoke, impatient cries,.
The tear-drop burfling in their manly eyes,
t I left my fixt command my navy's guari : ' This moft magnanimous refolution, to fa-
•m.. — See the life of Gama. erifice his own fafety or his life for the fafe
return of the fleet, is llriftly true. See the-
* Unmindful of my fait on India' t Jhort-^ life of Gama.
In.
368 THE L U S I A D. Book IX.
In all but one thy mandates we obey.
In one we yield not to thy generous fway :
Without thee never Ihall our fails return ;
India fhall bleed, and Calicut fliall burn ;•
Thrice fhall the morn arife ; a flight of bombs
Shall then fpeak vengeance to their guilty domes :
Till noon we paufe -, then fhall our thunders roar.
And defolation fweep the treacherous fliore '
Behold, proud King, their fignal in the fky.
Near his meridian tower the Sun rides high.
O'er Calicut no more the evening fhade
Shall fpread her peaceful wings, my wrath unflaid ;
Dire through the night her fmoking dufl fliall gleam.
Dire thro' the night fhall fhriek the female fcream-
Thy worth, great Chief, the pale-lipt Regent cries.
Thy worth we own -, Oh, may thefe woes fuffice !
To thee each proof of India's wealth we fend ;
AmbafTadors, of noblefl race, attend >
Slow as he faultcr'd. Gam a catch'd the word.
On terms I talk not, and no truce afford :
Captives enough fhall reach the Lufian fhore :
Once you deceived me, and I treat no more.
Even now my faithful failors, pale with rage.
Gnaw their blue lips, impatient to engage ;
Ranged
Book IX. THE L U S I A D. 369
Ranged by their brazen tubes, the thundering band
Watch the firft movement of my brother's hand ;
E'en now, impatient, o'er the dreadful tire
They wave their eager canes betipt with fire ;
Methinks my brother's angtiifh'd look I fee.
The panting noftril and the trembling knee.
While keen he eyes the Sun : On hafty flrides.
Hurried along the deck, Coello chides
His cold flow lingering, and impatient cries.
Oh, give the fign, illume the facrifice,
A brother's vengeance for a brother's blood — -
He fpake -, and flern the dreadful warrior flood 1
So feem'd the terrors of his awful nod.
The Monarch trembled as before a God ;. '^/J /l]
The treacherous Moors funk down in faint difmay.
And fpeechlefs at his feet the Council lay :
Abrupt, with outftretch'd arms, the Monarch ^ cries,.
What yet but dared not meet the Hero's eyes.
What yet may fave ! — Great Vasco flern rejoins.
Swift, undifputing, give th' appointed figns :
High o'er thy loftiefl tower my flag difplay.
Me and my train fwift to my fleet convey :
*• Abrupt — the Monarch cries — What yet fary effcft in the conduft of the poem.
may fave -Gama's declaration, that no They haften the cataftrophe, and give a ve-
meflage from him to the fleet could alter rifimilitude to the abrupt and full fubmif-
the orders he had already left, and his re- fion of the Zamorim.
jedlion of any farther treaty, have a necef-
' Inflaat
370 THE L U S 1 A D. Book IX.
Inftant command — behold the Sun rides high
He fpake, and rapture glow'd in every eye ;
The Lufian ftandard o'er the palace flow'd.
Swift o'er the bay the royal barges row'd.
A dreary gloom a fudden whirlwind threw.
Amid the howling blail, enraged, withdrew
The vanquifh'd Daemon — Soon in luftre mild,
As April fmiles, the Sun aufpicious fmiled :
Elate with joy, the fhouting thoufands trod.
And Gam A to his fleet triumphant rode.
Soft came the eaftern gale on balmy wings :
Each joyful failor to his labour fprings ;
Some o'er the bars their breafts robuft recline.
And with firm tugs the * rollers from the brine.
Reluctant dragg'd, the flime-brown'd anchors raife ;
Each gliding rope fome nimble hand obeys ;
Some bending o'er the yard-arm's length on high
With nimble hands the canvas wings untye.
The flapping fails their widening folds diflend.
And meafured ecchoing fhouts their fweaty toils attend.
^ the rollers' The capftones. verfification of this paffage in the original
— The capftone is a cylindrical windlafs, affords a moft noble example of imitative
worked with bars, which are moved from harmony :
hole to hole as it turns round. It is ufed to tv/t • u , ,, ,
. , . , ./. n. e rr>v M^s la nas naos os bons traba hadores
weigh the anchors rai^^ mafts, &c. The Volvem o cabreftante, & repartidos
name roller defcribes both the machmc Pdlo trabalho, buns puxao pella amarra,
and Its ufe, and it may be prefumed, is a Outros quebrao co pcito dure a barra.
more poetical word than capftone. The
Nor
Book IX. THE L U S I A D.
Nor had the captives loft the Leader's care>
Some to the fliore fhe Indian barges bear ;
The nobleft few the Chief detains to own
His glorious deeds before the Lufian throne ;
To own the conqueft of the Indian fhore :
Nor wanted every proof of India's ftore.
What fruits in Ceylon's fragrant woods abound)
With woods of cinnamon her hills are crown'd :
Dry'd in its flower the nut of Banda's grove,
The burning pepper and the fable clove ;
The clove, whofe odour on the breathing gale
Far to the fea Malucco's plains exhale ;
All thefe provided by the faithful Moor,
All thefe, and India's gems, the navy bore !
The Moor attends, Mozaide, whofe zealous care
To Gama's eyes unveil'd each treachrous * fnare:
So burn'd his breaft with heaven-illumined flame>
And holy reverence of Mefliah's name.
Oh, favour'd African, by heaven's own light
Call'd from the dreary fhades of error's night ;
What man may dare his feeming ills arraign.
Or what the grace of heaven's defigns explain !
3f7^
* " ' MozaUey 'whc/e zealous care rior, the unexpefled friend of Gama, bears
To GamtCs eyes renjeaV d each treachrous fnare a much more confiderable part in the aftion
—Had this been mentioned focner, the iu- of the Lufiad, than the faithful Achates, the
tereft of the cataftrojphe of the poem muft friend of the hero, bears in the bufinefs
have languilhed. Though he is not a war- of the Eneid.
Bbb Far
372
THE LUSIAD.
Book IX.
Far didfl thou from thy friends a ftranger roam,
There waft thou call'd to thy celeftial ^ home.
Now fwell'd on every fide the fteady fail ;
The lofty mafts reclining to the gale
On full fpread wings the navy fprings away.
And far behind them foams the Ocean grey :
Afar the lefTening hills of Gata fly.
And mix their dim blue fummits with the iky :
Beneath the wave low finks the fpicy fhore.
And roaring through the tide each nodding prore
Points to the Cape, Great Nature's fouthmoft bound,
The Cape of Tempefts, now of Hope renown'd.
Their glorious tale on Lifboa's fhore to tell
Infpires each bofom with a rapt'rous fwell ;
Now through their breafts the chilly tremors glide.
To dare once more the dangers dearly try'd -r-— r.r
^ There nuaji thou calPd to thy celejiial
home This exclamatory addrefs to the
Moor Monzaida, however it may appear
digreflive, has a double propriety. The
converfion of the Eaftern world is th« great
purpofe of the expedition of Gama, and
Monzaida is the firll fruits of that conver-
fion. The good charafters of the viftorious
heroes, however neglefted by the great ge-
nius of Homer, have a fine effeft in making
an Epic Poem intereft us and pleafe. It
might have been /aid, that Monzaida was
a traitor to his friends, and who crowned
his villany with apoftacy. Camoens has
therefore wifely drawn him with other fea-
tures, worthy of the friendfhip of Gama.
Had this been negleded, the hero of the
Lufiad might have (hared the fate of the
wife Ulyfles of the Iliad, againft whom, as
Voltaire jullly obferves, every reader bears
a fecret ill will. Nor is the poetical cha-
rafter of Monzaida unfupported by hiftory.
He was not an Arab Moor, fo he did not
defert his countrymen. By force thefe
Moors had determined on the deftruftion
of Gama : Monzaida admired and efteem-
ed him, and therefore generoufly revealpd
to him his danger. By his attachment to
Gama he loft all his effefts in India, a
circumftance which his prudence and know-
ledge of affairs muft have certainly forefeen.
By the known dangers he encountered, by'
the lofs he thus voluntarily fuftained, and"
by his after conftancy, his fmcerity is un-
doubtedly proved.
Soon
Book IX. THE L U S I A D. 373
Soon to the winds are thefe cold fears refign'd.
And all their country ruflies on the mind 5
How fweet to view their native land, how fweet
The father, brother, and the bride to greet !
While liflening round the hoary parent's board
The wondering kindred glow at every word.
How fweet to tell what woes, what toils they bore.
The tribes and wonders of each various fhore !
Thefe thoughts, the traveller's loved reward, employ,
And fwell each bofom with unutter'd ' joy.
The Queen of Love, by Heaven's eternal grace.
The guardian goddefs of the Lufian race -,
The Queen of Love, elate with joy, furveys
Her heroes, happy, plow the watry maze :
Their dreary toils revolving in her thought.
And all the woes by vengeful Bacchus wrought ;
^ The joy of the fleet on the homenvard ^e- tical conduA, Aough not in an imitation
farture from India We are now come of circumftances, exactly refembles the lat-
to that part of the Lufiad, which, in the ter part of the Iliad. The games at the
conduit of the poem, is parallel to the funeral of Patroclus, and the redemption of
great cataftrophe of the Iliad, when on the body of Hedlor, are the completion of
the death of Hedlor, Achilles thus addreffes the rage of Achilles. In the fame manner,
the Grecian army, the reward of the heroes, and the confe-
.... quences of their expedition, complete the
rr^l V ^o"!,°f Greece, m triumph bnng ^^ ^f the Lufiad. I cannot fay it appears
The corple or Hector, and your /'rf«'«/ fins: : ..i / n/i-i.. j u .. /A. u
•n *\ .-o ,k» r„ (\r. • » ' 1 .u nf that Milton ever read our Poet ; (though
Ue this the long, flow mo vine; tow rd the ihore, r-. n . n • i i-n i • i •
«' Hcaor is dead, and llion is no more." Fanfhaw s tranflation was publilhed in his
time) yet no inllance can be given of a
Our Portuguefe Poet, who in his machinery, more ftriking refemblance of plan and
and many other inftances, has followed the condud, than may be produced in two
manner of Virgil, now forfakes him. In principal parts of the poem of Camoens,
a very bold and mafcerly fpirit he now and of the Paradife I,oft. Of this however
models his poem by the Heps of Homer. hereafter in its proper place.
W^at of the Lufiad yet remains, in poe-
B b b 2 Thefe -
374 THE L U S I A D. Book IX,
Thefe toils, thefe woes, her yearning cares employ.
To bathe, to balfom in th^ flreams of joy.
Amid the bofom of the watry wafle.
Near where the bowers of Paradiic were " placed*
An ille, array'd in all the pride of flowers.
Of fruits, of fountains, and of fragrant bowers.
She means to offer to their homeward prows.
The place of glad repaft and fweet repofe ;
And there before their raptured view to raife
The heaven-topt column of their deathlefs praife*
The Goddefs now afcends her filver car.
Bright was its hue as Love's tranflucent ftar ^
Beneath the reins the ftately birds, that iing
Their fweet-toned death-fong, fpread the fnowy wingjg
The gentle winds beneath her chariot iigh,,
And virgin bluihes purple o'er the iky :
On milk white pinions borne, her cooing doves
Form playful circles round her as (he moves ;
And now their beaks in fondling kiifes join.
In amorous nods their fondling necks entwine
O'er fair Idalia's bowers the goddefs rode.
And by her altars fought Idalia's god :
* Near •where the hoiMtrs <^ faraM/e vare fIacei^—-^-BctvfCQn the mouths of the Ganges^
aiiid Euphrates.
The
Book IX.
THE L U S I A D.
375
The youthful bowyer of the heart was there ;
His falling kingdom claim'd his earneft " care.
His bands he mufters, through the myrtle groves
On buxom wings he trains the little Loves.
Againft the world, rebellious and aftray.
He means to lead them, and refume his fway :
For bafe-born paffions, at his llirine 'twas told.
Each nobler tranfport of the breaft controul'd.
A young Adlason, fcornful of his ° lore.
Morn after morn purfues the foamy boar.
" His falling kingdom claimed his earneft
tare— — This fiftion, in poetical conduft,
bears a ftriking refemblance to the digreiTive
hiftories, with which Homer enriches and
adorns his poems, particularly to the beau-
tiful defcription of the feaft of the Gods
with the blamelefs Ethiopians. It alfo con-
tains a mafterly commentary on the ma-
chinery of the Lufiad, The Divine Love
conducts Gama to India. The fame Divine
Love is reprefented as preparing to reform
the corrupted world, when its attention is
particularly called to bellow a foretafte of
immortality on the heroes of the expedition
which difcovered the Eaftern World. Nor
do the wild phantaftic loves, mentioned in
this little epifode, afford any objedtion
againft this explanation, an explanation
which is exprefsly given in the epifode it-
feif. Thefe wild phantaftic amours figni-
fy, in the allegory, the wild fe£ts of dif-
ferent enthufiafts, which fpring up under
the wings of the beft and moft rational in-
ftitutions ; and which, however contrary to
each other, all agree in deriving their au-
thority from the lame fource.
° A you7tg ASi(ton The French tranf-
lator has the following charafteriftical note :
*' This pafTage is an eternal monument of
the freedoms taken by Camoens, and at
the fame time a proof of the imprudence
of Poets; an authentic proof of that pre-
judice which fometimes blinds them, not-
withftanding all the light of their genius.
The modern Aftseon, of whom he fpeaks,.
was king Sebaftian. He loved the chace ;,
but that pleafure, which is one of the moft
innocent, and one of the moft noble we
cao poffibly tafte, did not at all interrupt
his attention to the affairs of flate, and did
not render him favage as eur author pre-
tends. On this point the Hiftorians are ra-
ther to be believed. And what would the
lot of princes be, were they allowed no
relaxation from their toils, while they al-
low that privilege to their people } Sub-
jeds as we are, let us venerate the amufe-
ments of our Sovereigns; let us believe that
the auguft cares for our good, which em-
ploy them, follow them often even to tlit
very bofom of their pleafures/'
Many are the ftrokes in the Lafiad which
muft endear the character of Camoens to
every reader of fcnfibility. The noble free-
dom and manly indignation with which he
mentions the foible of his prince, and the
flatterers of his court, would do honour to
the greateft names of Greece or Rome.
While the Ihadow of freedom remained in
Portugal, the greateft men of that nation,
in the days of Lufian heroifm, thought and
condudted themfelves in the fpirit of Ca-
moens. A noble anecdote of this brave
fpirit offers itfelf. Alonzo IV. furnamtd
the BranjCf afcended the throne of Portugal
in the vigour of his age. The plcafures of
the chace engroffed all his attention. Hit
confidents and favourites encouraged, and
aliur(.4'
L U S I A D.
376 THE
In defart wilds devoted to the chace ;
Each dear enchantment of the female face
Spurn'd and negledled : Him enraged he fees,
And fweet, and dread his punifhment decrees.
Before his ravifh'd fight, in fweet furprife.
Naked in all her charms fhall Dian rife -,
With love's fierce flames his frozen heart fhall ^ burn.
Coldly his fuit, the nymph, unmoved, Ihall fpurn.
Book IX.
allured him to It. His time was fpent in
the forefts of Cintra, while the affairs of
government were negledled, or executed bv
thofe whofe intereft it was to keep their fo-
vereign in ignorance. His prefence, at
laft, being neceffary at Lifbon, he entered
the council with all the brifk impetuofity
of a young fportfman, and with great famili-
arity and gaiety entertained his nobles with
the hillory of a whole month fpent in hunt-
ing, in fifliing, and iliooting. When he
had finifhed his narrative, a nobleman of
the firft rank rofe up : Courts and camps,
faid he, were allotted for kings, not woods
and deferts. Even the affairs of private
men fuffer when recreation is preferred to
bufinefs. But when the whims of pleafure
engrofs the thoughts of a king, a whole
nation is configned to ruin. We came here
for other purpofes than to hear the exploits
of the chace, exploits which are only intel-
ligible to grooms and falconers. \^ your
majelly will attend to tlie wants, and re-
move the grievances of your people, you
will find them obedient fubjefts ; if not
The king, ftartirig with rage, inter-
rr-pted him. If not, what If not, re-
fumed the nobleman, in a firm tone, they
will look for another and a better king.
Alonzo, in the highcll tranfport of paflion,
expreffed his refentment, and hafted out of
the room. In a little while however he re-
turned, calm and reconciled ; I perceive,
faid he, the truth of what you fay. He
who will not execute the duties of a king,
cannot long have good fubjedls. Remem-
ber, from this day, you have nothing more
to do with Alonzo the fportfman, but with
Alonzo the king of Portugal. His majefly
was as good as his promife, and became as
a warriour and politician, one of the greateft
of the Portuguefe monarchs.
P With lore's fierce flames his fr oxen heart
pall burn — " It is faid, that upon the faith
of a portrait Don Sebaftian fell in love with
Margaret of France, daughter of Henry II.
and demanded her in marriage, but was
refufed. The Spaniards treated him no
lefs unfavourably, for they alfo rejefted his
propofals for one of the daughters of Phi-
lip 11. Our author confiders thefe refufals
as the punifhment of Don Sebaflian's ex-
ceffive attachment to the chace ; but this is
only a confequence of the prejudice with
which he viewed the amufements of his
prince. The truth is, thefe princeffes were
refufed for political reafons, and not with
any regard to the manner in which he filled
up his moments of leifure."
Thus Caftera, who, with the fame fpirit
of fagacity, ilarts and anfwers the follow-
ing objeftions : " But here is a difficulty :
Camoens wrote during the life of Don Se-
baftian, but the circumflance he relates (the
return of Ga^na) happened feveral years
before, under the reign of Emmanuel. How
therefore could he fay that Cupid then faw
Don Sebaftian at the chace, when that
prince was not then born ? The anfwer is
eafy : Cupid, in the allegory of this work,
reprefents the love of God, the Holy Spirit,
who is God himfelf. Now the Divinity
admits of no diftindlion of time ; one glance
of his eye beholds the paft, the prefent,
and the future ; every thing is prefent be-
fore him."
This
Book IX,
THE L U S I A D.
377
Of thefe loved dogs that now his paffions fway,
Ah, may he never fall the haplefs prey !
Enraged he fees a venal herd, the ' fhamc
Of human racey-ailume the titled. name;
And each, for fome bafe intereft of his own.
With Flattery's manna'd lips aifail the throne.
He fees the men, whom holieft fandions bind
To poverty, and love of human kind -,
This defence of the fiflion of Aflacon, is
not more abfurd than ufelefs. The free and
bold fpirit of poetry, and in particular the
nature of allegory, defend it. The poet
might eafily have fjid, that CuTpid/hrf/aiv ;
but had he faid fo his fatire had been much
lefs genteel. As the fentiments of Caftera
on this paffage are extremely charafterifti-
cal of the French ideas, another note from
him will perhaps be agreeable. " Several
Portuguefe writers have remarked, fays he,
that the wifh
of thefe loved dogs that now liis paflions fway.
Ah ! may he never fall the haplefs prey !
Had in ft an air of prophecy ; and Fate in
efFeft, feemed careful to accomplilh it, in
making the prefaged woes to fall upon Don
Sebaftian. If he did not fall a prey to his
pack of hounds, we may however fay that
he was devoured by his favourites, who
mlfled his youth and his great foul. But
at any rate our poet has carried the llmili-
tude too far. It was certainly injurious to
Don Sebaftian, who never thelefs had the
bounty not only not to punifh this audacity,
but to reward the juft elogies which the au-'
thor had beftowed on him in other places.
As much as the indifcretion of Camoens
ought to furprife us, as much ought we to
admire the generoiity of his mafter.'; j •,
This foppery, this flavery in thinking,
cannot fail to roufe the indignation of every
manly breaft, when the fafts are fairly
ftated. Don Sebaftian, who afccnded the
throne when a child, was a prince of great
abilities and great fpirit, but hij youth was
poifoned with the moft romantic ideas of
military glory. The affairs of ftate were
left to his minifters, f/dr nvhofe character
fee the tiext note) his other ftudies were ne-
glefted, and military exercifes, of which
he not unjuftly efteeraed the chace a
principal, were almoft his fole employ,
Camoens beheld this romantic turn, and in
a genteel allegorical fatire foreboded its
confequences. The wifli, that his prince
might not fall the prey of his favourite paf-
fion, was in vain. In a rafh, ill-concerted
expedition into Africa, Don Sebaftian loft
his crown in his twenty-fifth year, an event
which foon after produced the fall of the
Portuguefe empire. Had the nobility pof-
fcfied the fpirit of Camoens, had they,
like him, endeavoured to check the Quix-
otifm of a young generous prince, that
prince might have reigned long and happy,
and Portugal might have efcaped the Spa-
nifh yoke, which foon followed his defeat
at Alcazar ; a yoke which funk Portugal
into an abys of mifery, from which, in all
probability, Ihe will never emerge in her
former fplendor.
1 Enraged he fees a 'venal herd, the Jhame
Of human race, affume the titled name. —
*' After having ridiculed all the pleafures
of Don Sebaftian, the author now proceeds
to his courtiers, to whom he has done no
injuftice. Thofe who are acquainted with
the Portuguefe hiftory, will readily acknow-
ledge this." Cafera,
Whik
37^ THE L U S I A D. Book IX.
While foft as drop the dews of balmy May,
Their words preach virtue and l>er charms difplay.
He fees with luft of gold their eyes on fire,
And every wifh to lordly flate afpire ;
He fees them trim the lamp at night's mid hour.
To plan new laws to arm the regal power ;
Sleeplefs at night's mid hour to raze the laws.
The facred bulwarks of the peoples* caufe,
Framed ere the blood of hard-earn'd vidlory
On their brave fathers' helm-hackt fwords was dry^
Nor thefe alone, each rank, debafed and rude.
Mean objeds, worthlefs of their love, purfued :
Their paffions thus rebellious to his lore.
The God decrees to punifli and reftore.
I'he little loves, light hovering in the air.
Twang their filk bow-ftrings, and their aims prepare :
Some on th' immortal anvils point the dart.
With power refiftlefs to inflame the heart j
Their arrow heads they tip with foft dcfires.
And all the warmth of love's celeftial fires ;
Some fprlnkle o'er the fliafts the "tears of woe.
Some ftore the quiver, fome relax the bow ;
Each chanting as he works the tuneful ftrain
Of love's dear joys, of love's luxurious pain ;
Charm'd
Book IX. THE L U S I A D. 379
Charm'd was the lay to conquer and refine.
Divine the melody, the fong divine.
Already now began the vengeful war.
The witnefs of the God's benignant care ;
On the hard bofoms of the ftubborn ' crowd
An arrowy (hower the bowyer train beftow'd ;
Pierced by the whizzing fhafts deep fighs the air.
And anfwering fighs the wounds of love declare.
Though various featured and of various hue.
Each nymph feems loveHeft in her lover's view;
Fired by the darts, by novice archers fped.
Ten thoufand wild fantaftic loves are bred :
In wildefl dreams the ruftic hind afpires,
Ajid haughtieil lords confefs the humblefl fires.
The fnowy fwans of Love's celeftial Queen
Now land her chariot on the fhoie of green ;
One knee difplay'd fhe treads the flowery ftrand,
The gather'd robe falls loofely from her hand ;
Half-feen her bofom heaves the living fnow.
And on her fmiles the living rofes ^low.
"■ On the hard hofoms of the Jiuhhorn cronvJ There is an elegance in the original
of this line, which the Englilh language will not admit ;
Nos duros cora9oens de plebe dura.
In the hard hearts of the hard vulgar.
C c c The
380 THE L U S I A D. Book IX.
The bowyer God whofe fubtle fhafts ne'er fly
Mifaim'd, in vain, in vain on earth or iky.
With rofy fmiles the Mother Power receives ;
Around her climbing, thick as ivy leaves,
The vafTal Loves in fond contention join
Who firft and moil fhall kifs her hand divine*
Swift in her arms fhe caught her wanton Boy,
And, Oh, my fon, fhe cries, my pride, my joy,.
Againil thy might the dreadful Typhon fail'd,
Againil thy ihaft nor heaven, nor Jove prevail'd ;
Unlefs thine arraw wake the young deiires.
My ilrength, my power, in vain each charm expires :
My fon, my hope, I claim thy powerful aid.
Nor be the boon, thy mother fues, delay'd :
Where-e'er, fo will th' Eternal Fates, where-e'er
The Luiian race the vidlor ilandards rear.
There (hall my hymns refound, my altars flame.
And heavenly Love her joyful lore proclaim.
My Lufian heroes, as my Romans, brave.
Long toft, long hopelefs on the ftorm-torn wave.
Wearied and weak, at laft'on India's ihore
Arrived, new toils, repofe denied, they bore j
For Bacchus there with tenfold rage purfued
My dauntlefs fons, but now his might fubdued.
Amid thefe raging feas, the fcene of woes, ^
Theirs fhall be now the balm of fweet repofe ;
Theirs
Book IX, THE L U S I A D. 381
Theirs every joy the nobleft heroes claim.
The raptured foretafte of immortal fame.
Then bend thy bow and wound the Nereid train.
The lovely daughters of the azure main ;
And lead them, while they pant with amorous fire.
Right to the ifle which all my fmiles infpire :
Soon fhall my care that beauteous ifle fupply.
Where Zephyr breathing love, on Flora's lap fhall figh.
There let the nymphs the gallant heroes meet.
And flrew the pink and rofe beneath their feet :
In chryftal halls the feafl divine prolong.
With wine neftareous and immortal fong :
Let every nymph the fnow white bed prepare.
And, fairer far, refign her bofom there ;
There to the greedy riotous embrace
Refign each hidden charm with deareft grace.
Thus from my native waves a hero line
Shall rife, and o'er the Bail illuflrious * fhine ;
Thus fhall the rebel world thy prowefs know.
And what the boundlefs joys our friendly powers beflow.
She faid ; and fmiling view'd her mighty Boy ;
Swift to the chariot fprings the god of joy;
* Thus from my nati've nva'vfs a htro line ■ reids, is to be underftood the other Porfu-
Shall riff, nnd o'er the Eaft iUuJirious Jhine — guefe, who, following the fteps of Gama,-
** By the line of hcro«s to be produced by cllablilhed illuftrious colonies in India."—
the union of the Portuguefe with the Nc- Cajhra.
C c c 2 His
i82 THE L U S I A D. Fook IX.
His ivory bow, and arrows tipt with gold,
Blaz'd to the fun-beam as the chariot roll'd :
Their filver harnefs fhining to the day
The fvvans on milk-white pinions fpring away.
Smooth gliding o'er the clouds of lovely blue;
And Fame, ' fo will'd the God, before them flew::.
A giant goddefs, whofe ungovern'd tongue
With equal zeal proclaims or right or wrong -,
Oft had her lips the god of love blafphem'd^.
And oft with tenfold praife his conquefts nam'd :
An hundred eyes {he rolls with ceafelefs care,
A thoufand tongues what thefe behold declare :
Fleet is her flight, the lightning's wing ifhe rides-.
And though fhe fliifts her colours fwift as glides
The April rainbow, flill the croud fhe guides.
And now aloft her wondering voice fhe rais'd.
And with a thoufand glowing tongues iTie prais'd
The bold Difcoverers of the eaflern world ■
In gentle fwells the liflening furges curl'd^
And murmur'd to the founds of plaintive love
Along the grottoes where the Nereids rove.
The drowfy Power on whofe fmooth eafy mein
The fmiles of wonder and delight are feen,
• And Fame' ■ a gianttgoddefs -This imitations, copies after Homer. He adopts
paflage affords a ftriking inftance of the fome circqmftances, but by adding others,
judgment of Camoens. Virgil's celebrated he makes a new picture, which juftly may
defcription of Fame, (fee p. 206.) is in his be called his OWHi
eve J but he copies it, as Virgil, in his beft
Whofe
Book IX. THE L U S I A D. 183
Whofe glofTy fimpering eye befpeaks her name.
Credulity, attends the goddefs Fame.
Fired by the heroes' praife, the watery gods %
With ardent fpeed forfake their deep abodes j
Their rage by vengeful Bacchus rais'd of late, ^
Now flung remorfe, and love fucceeds to hate. ,
Ah, where remorfe in female bofom bleeds,.
The tendered love in all its glow fucceeds.
When fancy glows, how ftrong, O Love, thy power !
Nor flipt the eager God the happy hour ;
Swift fly his arrows o'er the billowy main,
Wing'd with his fires, nor fi-ies a fhaft in vain :
Thus, ere the face the lover's breaft infpires.
The voice of fame awakes the foft defires.
While from the bow-firing flart the fhafts divine.
His ivory moon's wide horns inceifant join.
Swift twinkling to the view ; and wide he pours
Omnipotent in love his arrowy fhowers.
E'en Thetis' felf confefl the tender fmart.
And pour'd the murmurs of the wounded heart ;
" — — The nvatery. gods - To mention however is clafllcal, and therefore retaineti.
the gods in the mafculine gender, and im- Virgil ufes it, where Eneas is condudled by
mediately to apply to them, Venus through the flames of Troy ;
O peito feminil, que Icemente Defcendo, ac ducente Deo, flamniam inter ct
JMuda qvayfquer propoiitos tornados. — • holies
Expedior 1 ■«
The cafe with which the female breaft
changes its refolutions, may to the hyper- This is in the manner of the Greek Poets,
Cfitic appear reprehenftble. The expreffion who ufe the word ©lo? for God or Goddefa.
Soft
THE L tJ S I A D. Book XL
Soft o'er the billows pants the amourous figh 5
With wifhful langour melting on each eye
The love-fick nymphs explore the tardy fails
That waft the heroes on the lingering gales.
Give way, ye lofty billows, low fubfide.
Smooth as the level plain, your fwelling pride,
Lo, Venus comes ! Oh, foft, ye furges, fleep.
Smooth be the bofom of the azure deep,
Lo, Venus comes ! and in her vigorous train
She brings the healing balm of love-fick pain.
White as her fwans*, and ftately as they rear
Their fnowy crefls when o'er the lake they fleer.
Slow moving on, behold, the fleet appears.
And o'er the diftant billaw onward fteers.
The beauteous Nereids flufh'd in all their charms
Surround the Goddefs of the foft alarms :
Right to the ifle fhe leads the fmiling train.
And all her arts her balmy lips explain ;
The fearful langour of the aiking eye.
The Ipvely blufli of yielding modefty,
The grieving look, the figh, the favouring frnile.
And all th' endearments of the open wile.
'' White as he*- /wans A diftant fleet the original. It is adopted from an uncom-*
compared to fwans on a lake is certainly an raon liberty taken by Fanlhaw ;
happy thought. The allufion to the pomp The pregnantyisry/fion Neptune's fuiface creep,
of V^enus, whofs agency is immediately Like her own Swans, in ^ate, out-chej}, and
concerned, gives it bcfides a peculiar pro- fetkcr,
priety. This fimilie however is not ia
She
Book IX. .THE L U S I A D. 385
She taught the nymphs in willing breafts that, heaved
To hear her lore, her lore the nymphs received.
As now triumphant to their native fliore
Through the wide deep the joyful navy bore,,
Earneft the pilot's eyes fought cape or bay.
For long was yet the various watery way ;
Sought cape or ifle from whence their boats might bring
The healthful bounty of the chryftal fpring :
When fudden, all in nature's pride array'd.
The Ifle of Love its glowing breaft difplay'd.
O'er the green bofom of the dewy lawn
Soft blazing flow'd the filver of the dawn.
The gentle waves the glowing luftre fhare,
Arabia's balm was fprinkled o'er the air.
Before the fleet, to catch the heroes' view, .„»
The floating ifle fair Acidalia drew :
Soon as the floating verdure caught their " fight,
She fixt, unmov'd, the ifland of delight.
So when in child-birth of her Jove-fprung load.
The fylvan goddefs and the bowyer god,
^ Soon as the foating njerJure caught their Venus. " The fiftlons of Camoens, fays
jlgyt As the departure of Gama from he, font J^autant plus mn-veilleu/esy quelles
India was abrupt (fee his life) he put into ont toutes hur fondement dans Vhijioire^ are
one of the beautiful iflands of Anchediva the more marvellous, becaufe they are all
for frefh water. While he was here careen- founded in hiftory. It is not difficult to find
ing his (hips, fays Faria, a pirate named why he makes his ifland of Anchediva to
Timoja, attacked him with eight fmall vef- wander on the waves; it is in allufion to a
fels, fo linked together and covered with fmgular event related by Barros." He then
boughs, that they formed the appearance of proceeds to the llory of Timoja, as if the
a floating ifland. This, fays Caftera, af- genius of Camoens flood in need of fo weak
forded the fidion of the floating ifland of an alliflance.
In
3'S6 THE L U S I A D. Book IX.
In friendly pity of Latona's woes^.
Amid the waves. the Delian ifle arofe.
And now led fmoothly o'er the furrow'd tide,
Right to the ifle of joy the veflels glide:
The bay they enter, where on every hand.
Around them clafps the flower-enamell'd landj
A fafe retreat, where not a blafl may fhake
Its fluttering pinions o'er the ftilly lake.
With purple fliells, transfus'd as marble veins,
Theiyellow fands celeftial Venus flains.
With graceful pride three hills of fofteft green
Rear their fair bofoms o'er the fylvan fcene;
Their fides embroider'd boaft the rich array
Of flowery fhrubs in all the pride of May ;
The purple lotos and the fnowy thorn,
And yellow pod-flo'^ers every flope adorn.
From the green fummits of the leafy hills
Defcend with murmuring lapfe three limpid rills ^
Beneath the rofe-trees loitering ilow they glide.
Now tumbles t)*er feme rock their chrj'flal pride ;
Sonorous now they roll adown the glade.
Now plaintive-tinkle in the fecret fhade.
Now from the darkling grove, beneath the beam
Of ruddy morn, like melted filver flream,
y In frienMy pity cf Latona's nvoes diftrefs, raifed the ifiand of Delos for her
Latona, in pregnancy by Jupiter, was perfe- refuge, where fhe was delivered of Apollo
cutcd by Juao, who fent the ferpent Python and Diana. Ovid. Met.
in purfuit of her. Neptune, in pity of her
Edging
Book. IX THE L U S I A D. 387
Edging the painted margins of the bowers.
And breathing liquid freflmefs on the flowers.
Where bright reflected in the pool below
The vermil apples tremble on the bough ;
Where o'er the yellow fands the waters lleep
The primrofed banks, inverted, dew drops weep ;
Where murmuring o'er the pebbles purls the ftream
The filver trouts in playful curvings gleam.
Long thus and various every riv'let fbrays.
Till doling now their long meandring maze.
Where in a fmiling vale the mountains end,
Form'd in a chryftal lake the waters blend ^ : *
Fring'd was the border with a woodland fhade.
In every leaf of various green array'd.
Each yellow-ting'd, each mingling tint between
The dark afh-verdure and the filvery green.
The trees now bending forward flowly fhake
Their lofty honours o'er the chryftal lake;
Now from the flood the graceful boughs retire ^ f: /
With coy referve, and now again admire
Their various liveries by the fummer dreft,
Smooth-glofs'd and foftened in the mirror's breaft.
2 FcrnCd in a chryfial lake the ivaters In 1 505 Don Francifco Almeyda built a
llend. — Caftera alfo attributes this to hif- fort in this ifland. In digging among fome
tory. " The Portuguefc aftually found in ancient ruins he found many crucirixes of
this ifland, fays he, a fine piece of water black and red colour, from whence the Por-
ornamcnted with hewn ftones and magnifi- tuguefe conjedured, fays Oforius, that the
cent aquedufts; an ancient and fuperb work, Anchedivian iflandshad in former ages been
of which no body knew the author." inhabited by Chrillians. Md. Ofor. L. iv.
D d d So
388 T H :E: L U S I a D. Book DC.
So by her glafs the wifhful virgin flays,
And oft retiring fteals the lingering gaze.
A thoufand boughs aloft to heaven difplay
Their fragrant apples fliining to the day;
The orange here perfumes the buxom * air.
And boafls the golden hue of Daphne's hair.
Near to the ground each fpreading bough defcends^.
Beneath Her yellow load the citron bends ;
The fragrant lemon fcents the cooly grove ;
Fair as v^hen ripening for the days of love
The virgin's breafts the gentle fwell avow.
So the twin fruitage fvvell on every bough.
Wild foreft trees the mountain fides array *d
With curling foliage and romantic fhade :
Here fpreads the poplar, to Alcides dear ;,
And dear to Phoebus, ever verdant here,.
" 7'ke orange here perfumes th: buxom air,.
And bcajls the gclden hue of Daphm^s hair. — ■
Frequent allufions to the fables of the an-
tients form a charafteriftical feature of the
poetry of the i6th and 17th centuries. A
profufion of it is pedantry ; a moderate ufe
of it however in a poem of thefe times
pleafes, becaufe it difcovers the ftages of
compofition, and has in itfelf a fine efFedl,
as it illuflrates its fubjeft by prefenting the
claffical reader with fome little landfcapes of
that country through which he has travelled.
The defcription of forefts is a favourite
topic in poetry. Chaucer, TafTo, and
Spenfer, have been happy in it, but both
have copied an admired paflage in Statius j
Cadit ardua fagus,
Chaoniiunque nemus, brumaeque illaefa cupref-
fus ;
Piocumbunt piceae, flammis aliraenta I'uprerais,
Ornique, iliceasqiie trabes, metiiandaque fulco.
Taxiis, & infandos belli potura cruores
Fraxinus, atque fitu non expugnnbile robur :
Hinc audax abies, & odoro vulnere pinus
Sctnditur, acclinant intonfa cacumina terrae
Alnus arnica fretis, nee inhofpita vitibus ulmus.
In rural defcriptions three things are necef-
fary to render them poetical ; the happinefs
of epithet, of pidurefque arrangement, and
of little landfcape views. Without thefe^
all the names of trees and flowers, though
ftrung together in tolerable numbers, con-
tain no more poetry than a nurferyman or a
florift's catalogue. In Statius, in Taflb and
Spenfer's admired forefts, (Gier. Liber. C.
3. St. 75, 76, and F. Queen, B. 1. C. i.
St. 8, 9.) the poetry coniifts entirely in the
happinefs of the epithets. In Camoens, all
the three requifites are admiiably attained,
and blended together.
The
Book IX, THE L U S I A D. 389
The laurel joins the bowers for ever green.
The myrtle bowers belov'd of beauty's queen.
To Jove the oak his wide fpread branches rears }
And high to heaven the fragrant cedar bears -,
Where through the glades appear the cavern'd rocks,
The lofty pine-tree waves her fable locks j
Sacred to Cybele the whifpering pine
Loves the wild grottoes where the white cliffs {bine 5
Here towers the cyprefs, preacher to the wife,
Lefs'ning from earth her fpiral honours rife.
Till, as a fpear-point rear'd, the topmofi: fpray
Points to the Eden of eternal day.
Here round her foftering elm the fmiling vine
In fond embraces gives her arms to twine.
The numerous clufters pendant from the boughs.
The green here gliftcns, here the purple glows ;
For here the genial feafons of the year
Danc'd hand in hand, no place for winter here ;
His grifly vifage from the fhore expell'd.
United fway the fmiling feafons held.
Around the fwelling fruits of deepening red.
Their fnowy hues the fragrant bloffoms fpread j
Between the burfting buds of lucid green
The apple's ripe vermillion blufh is feen ;
For here each gift Pomona's hand beftows
In cultur'd garden, free, uncultur'd flows,
D d d 2 The
390 THE L U S I A D. Eook IX.
The flavour fweeter, and the hue more fair.
Than e'er was fofter'd by the hand of care.
The cherry here in flbining crimfon glows ;
And ftain'd with lover's blood ^ in pendant rows.
The bending boughs the mulberries o'erload -^
The bending boughs carefs' d by Zephyr nod.
The generous peach, that flrengthens in exile
Far from his native earth, the Perlian foil,.
The velvet peach of fofefl: glofly blue
Hangs by the pomgranate of orange hue,
Whofe open heart a brighter red difplays
Than that which fparkles in the ruby's, blaze.
Here, trembling with their weight, the branches bear,
Delicious as profufe, the tapering pear.
For thee, fair fruit, the fongfters of the grove
With hungry bills from bower to arbour rove.
Ah, if ambitious thou wilt own the care - oitKi •
To grace the feaft of heroes and the fair.
Soft let the leaves with grateful umbrage hide
The green-ting'd orange of thy mellow fide.
A thoufand flowers of gold, of white and red
Far o'er the ihadowy " vale their carpets fpread.
*• And fiairtd 'with Lover's blaod, - Py- Signa tene csedis : pullofque et ]uf\ibns apto"?
ramus and Thilbe : Semper habe foetus gemijii momimenta cruoris.
Arboiei foetus afpergine caedis in atram OviD. Met.
Vertuntur faciem : madcfaftaque fanguine radix n-'i /j i i t • i
Puniceotingitpendentia mora colore ^ Ibe padonvy 'vale Literal
At lu quo ramis arbor miferabile corpus fro^l the original, O fombrio ^alky
NujJC tegis unius, raox es teftura duorum } which Fanfhaw however has tranflated, " the
gloomy
Book IX.
THE. L U S I A D.
391
Of fairer tapeftry, and of richer bloom.
Than ever glow'd in Perfia's boafted loom :
As glittering rainbows o'er the verdure throw^n.
O'er every woodland walk th' embroidery {hone.
Here o'er the watery mirror's lucid bed.
NarcilTus, felf-enamour'd, hangs the head ;,
And here, bedevy'd with love's celeftial tears.
The woe-markt flower of flain Adonis ^ rears
Its purple head, prophetic of the reign.
When loft Adonis fhall revive again.
At ftrife appear the lawns and purpled ikies.
Which from each other flole the beauteous ' dyes :
gloomy valley," and thus has given us a
funereal, where the author intended a fef-
tive landfcape. It mufl be confefled how-
ever, that the defcription of the illand of
Venus, is infinitely the beft part allof Fan-
fliaw's tranflation. And indeed the duJlefl
profe tranflation might obfcure, but could
not poffibly throw a total eclipfe over fo ad-
mirable an original.
'' T^e nvoe-markt Jionuer ofjlain Adonis—
nuater'ii hy the tears of lo've. The Aene-
mone. ** This, fays Caftera, is applicable
to the celeftial Venus, for according to my-
thology, her amour with Adonis had nothing
in it impure, but was only the love which
nature bears to the fun." The fables of an-
tiquity have generally a threefold interpre-
tation, an hiftorical allufion, a phyfical and
a metaphyfical allegory. In the latter view,
the fable of Adonis is only applicable to the
celeftial Venus. A divine youth is outrage-
ouily flain, but fliall revive again at the re-
ftoration of the golden age. Several na-
tions, it is well known, under different
names, celebrated the mylteries, or the death
and rcfurreftign of Adonis j among whom
were the Britifli Druids, as we are told hy
Dr. Stukely. In the fame manner CupidV
in the fable of Phyche, is interpreted by
mythologifls, to fjgnify the divine love
weeping over the degeneracy of human nature.
^ At ftrife appear the la^wns and purpled
Jkies, ivbo from each ether fiole the beauteous
dyes. — On this paffage Cailera has the fol-
lowing fenfible though turgid note ; "This
•* thought, fays he, is taken from the idyl-
*' lium of Aufonius on the rofe j
" Ambigeres raperetne rofis Axirora ruborcm,
" An daret, & flores tingere torta dies.
*' Camoens who had a genius rich of itfelf,
*' ilill farther enriched it at the expence of
" the ancients. Behold what makes great
" authors! Thofe who pretend to give us.
" nothing but the fruits of their own
" growth, foon fail, like the little rivulets
*' which dry up in the fummer, very dif-
" ferent from the floods, who receive in
" their courfe the tribute of an hundred and
'• an hundred rivers, and which sAen in
" the dog-days carry their waves triumphant
*« to the ocean,"
The
392 THE L U S J A D. Book IX,
The lawn in all Aurora's luflre glows,
Aurora fteals the blufhes of the rofe.
The rofe difplays the blufhes that adorn
The fpotlefs virgin on the nuptial morn.
Zephyr and Flora emulous confpire
To breathe their graces o'er the field's attire ;
The one gives healthful frefhneft, one the hue,
Fairer than e'er creative pencil drew.
Pale as the love-fick hopelefs maid they dye
The modeft violet ; from the curious eye
The modeft violet turns her gentle head.
And by the thorn weeps o'er her lowly bed.
Bending beneath the tears of pearly dawn
The fnow white lilly glitters o'er the lawn ;
Low from the bough reclines the damafk rofe.
And o'er the lilly 's milk white bofom glows.
Frelh in the dew far o'er the painted dales.
Each fragrant herb her fweeteft fcent exhales.
The hyacinth bewrays the doleful Ai \
And calls the tribute of Apollo's figh ;
Still on it's bloom the mournful flower retains
The lovely blue that dy'd the ftripling's veins,
f The hyacinth be-ivrays the doleful AI.— Purpureiis color hnic, nrgenteus efTct in Illls.
Hyacinthus, a youth beloved of Apollo, by ^°" ,J"j';^^|;°' ^'^'^^^ '^= '' '"'"' ^"'' '"^'*'',
whom he was accidentally flain, and after- ^^^^ frsTemitus foliis infcribit; & Ai, Ai, .
wards turned into a hower : pj^g h^bet infcriptura : funeltaque littera dua'a
■ Tyrioque nitentior oftro ^^^^
Flos oritur, formamque capit, quam lilia. : fi OviD. Met.
non,
Pomona
Book IX. THE L U S I A D.
Pomona fir'd with rival envy views
The glaring pride of Flora's darling hues ;
Where Flora bids the purple iris fpread.
She hangs the wilding's bloflbm white and red -,
Where wild thyme purples, where the daify fnows
The curving Hopes, the melon's pride fhe throws;
Where by the flream the lilly of the vale,
Primrofe, and cowilip meek, perfume the gale.
Beneath the lilly and the cowflip's bell
The fcarlet ftrawberries luxurious fwell.
Nor thefe alone the teeming Eden yields.
Each harmlefs beftial crops the flowery fields ;
And birds of every note and every wing
Their loves refponfive thro* the branches fing :
In fweet vibrations thrilling o'er the ikies,
High pois'd in air the lark his warbling tries ;
The fwan flow failing o'er the chryflial lake
Tunes his melodious note ; from every brake
The glowing fl^rain the nightingale returns.
And in the bowers of love the turtle mourns*
Pleas'd to behold his branching horns appear.
O'er the bright fountain bends the fearlefs deer;
The hare fl:arts trembling from the bufhy fliade>
And fwiftly circling, crofl^es oft the glade.
Where from the rocks the bubbling founts difl:il.
The milk-white lambs come bleating down the hill ;
393
The
3-94
T' H E L U S 1 At'D.
Book IX*
The dappled heifer feeks the vales beloW,
And from the thicket fprihgs the bounding doe.
To his lov*d neft, on fondly fluttering wings.
In chirping bill, the little fongfter 'brings
The food untafled ; tranfport thrills his breaft^
'Tis nature's touch, 'tis inflind's heav'n-like feafl.
Thus bower and lawn were deckt with Eden's flowers.
And fong and joy imparadifed the bowers.
And foon the fleet their ready anchors threw:
Lifted on eager tip-toe at the view.
On nimble feet that bounded to the ftrand
The fecond Argonauts ^ elance to land.
Wide o'er the beauteous ifle ** the lovely Fair
Stray througlf the diflant glades, devoid of care.
s I'he fecoti^. Argonauts. The expedi-
tion of the Golden Fleece was efteemed in
ancient poetry, one of the moll: daring ad-
ventures, the fuccefs of which was accounted
miraculous. The allufions of Camoens to
this voyage, though in the fpirit of his age,
are by no means improper.
^ Wide o'lr the beauteous'ifie the lo<vely Fair.
We now come to the paflage con-
demned by Voltaire as fo Ip'fcivious, that no
ration in Europe, except the Portuguefe and
Italians could bear it. But the author of
the deteftable poem La Pucelle d''OrJeafis,
talks of the ifland of Venus with that fame
/knowledge of his fubjedl with which he
made Camoens, who was not then born, a
companion to Gama in the expedition which
difcovered the route to India. Though Vol-
taire's cavils, I truft, are in general fully an-
fwered in the preface, a particular exa-
mination of the charge of indecency may
not be unnpceffary ere the reader enter
opon the pafTage itfelf. No painter then,
let it be remembered, was ever blamed for
drawing the graces unveiled or naked. In
fculpture, in painting, and poetry, it is not
nakednefs, it is the expreflion or manner
only that offends decency. It is this v.'hicli
conftitutes the difference between a Venus
de Medicis and the lafcivious paintings in
the apartments of a Tiberius. The fate of
Camoens has hitherto been very peculiar.
The mixture of Pagan and Chiiilian mytho-
logy in his machinery has been anathema-
tiled, and his iiland of Love rcprefented as
a brothel. Yet both accufatlons are the
arrogant affertions of the mofl fuperficial ac-
quaintance with his works, a Hear/ay, ecchoed
from critic to critic. His poem itfelf, and
a comparifon of its pjfrts with the firailar
conduft of the greateft modern poets, will
clearly evince, that in both inltances no
modern Epic Writer of note has given lefs
ofl^ence to true criticifm.
Not to mention Ariofto, whofe defcriptions
will often admit of no paliation, TafTo,
Spenfer,
Book IX.
THE L U S I A D.
395
From lowly valley and from mountain grove
The lovely nymphs renew the ftrains of love.
Spenfer, and Milton, have always been ef-
teemed among the chafteft of poets, yet in
that delicacy of warm defcription, which
Milton has fo finely exemplified in the nup-
tials of our firft parents, none of them can
boaft the continued uniformity of the Por-
"tuguefe Poet. Though there is a warmth
in the colouring of Camoens which even the
genius of TafTo has not reached ; and though
the ifland of Armida is evidently copied
'fiTom the Lufiad, yet thofe who are poflefled
of the finer feelings, will eafily difcover an
eflential difference between the love-fcenes
of the two poets, a difference greatly in
favour of the delicacy of the former. Though
the nymphs in Camoens are deteded naked
^£n the woods and in the ftream, and though
defirous to captivate, ftill their behaviour is
that of the virgin who hopes to be the
fpoufe. They aft the part of offended mo-
•.defty ; exen when they yield they are filent,
and behave in every refpeft like Milton's
.Eve.in'the ftate of innocence, who
I I What was honour knew ■
(And who dilplayed
'Her virtue, and the confcience of her worth.
That would be wooed, and not unfought be won.
"To fum up all, the nuptial fanftity draws its
'hallowed curtains, and a mafterly allegory
fhuts up the love-fcenes of Camoens.
How different from all this is the ifland of
Armida in Taffo, and its tranflation, the
bower of Acrafia, in Spenfer ! In thefe
virtue is feduced ; the fcene therefore is lefs
tlelicate. The nymphs, while they are
bathing, in place of the modefty of the bride
as in Camoens, employ all the arts of the
lafcivious wanton. They flay not to be
• wooed ; but, as Spenfer gives it.
The amorous fiueet fpoils to greedy.ejes reveal.
One ftanza from our Englifli poet, which
however is rather fuller than the original,
Ihall here fuffice-.
Withal (he laughed and Hie blufli'd withal.
That bhifhlng to her laughter gave more grace.
And laughter to her blufbing, as di<i fail.
Now when they fpy'd the knight to flack his pace.
Them to behold, and in his fparkling face
The fecret figns of kindled lufl appear.
Their wanton merriments they did encreafe,
And to him bccken'd to approach more near,
And fbenud him many fights^ that courage cold
<ould rear.
This and other defcriptions.
Upon a bed of rofes fhe was laid
As faint through heat, or dight to pleafant {In'»i
prefent every idea of lafcivious voluptu-
oufnefs. The allurements of fpeech are
alfo added. Songs, which breathe every per-
fuafive, are heard ; and the nymphs boldly
call to the beholder ;
E" dolce campo di battaglia il letto
Fiaviy e I'herbetta morbida de' prati.—
Tasso.
Our field of battle is the downy bed,
Or flowery turf amid the fmiling mead.— -
HOOLE.
Thefe, and the whole fcenes in the domains
of Armida and Acrafia, are in a turn of
manner the reverfe of the ifland of Venus.
In thefe the expreffion and idea are me-
retricious. In Camoens, though the co-
louring is even warmer, yet the modefty of
the Venus de Medicis is ftill preferred. In
every thing he defcribes there is ftill fome-
thing ftrongly fimilar to the modeft attitude
of the arms of that celebrated ftatue. Though
prudery, that ufual mafk of the impurefl
mi»}ds, may condemn him, yet thofe of the
mofl: chafle, though lefs gloomy turn, will
allow, that in comparifbn with others, he
might fay, — Virginibus puerijque canto.
Spenfer alfo, where he does not follow Taflb,
is often grofs ; and even in fome inftances,
where the expreffion is moft delicate, the
pifture is neverthelefs indecently lafcivious.
The third and fourth of the five concluding
ftanzas, which in his fecond edition he add-
ed to the third book of the Faerie Queene,
afford a ftriking example. The virgin Bri-
tomart, the pattern of chaftity, ftands by,
while Sir Scudamcre and Amorety
• With fweet countervaile
Each other of love's bitter fruit defpoile—
But this fhall not here be cited ; only.
That Brlfomart, half envying their blefs.
Was much emnaffion'd in her gentle fprite.
And to herlilt oft wifl\\l like happinefs ;
In vain flie wi(h\l, that fate n'ould let her
yet poffefs.
e e Nor
39^
THE LUSIAD,
Book IX.
Here from the bowers that crov/n the plaintive rill
The folemn harp's melodious warbliiigs thrill -,
Here from the fhadows of the upland grott
The mellow lute renews the fwelling note.
As fair Diana and her virgin train
Some gayly ramble o'er the flowery plain,
Nor is Spenfcr's wife of Malbecco more in-
delicate than feme lines of the Paradife Loll.
The reply of the Angel to Adam's defcrip-
tion of his nuptials, contains fome ftrokes
intolerably difguftful. And the firft effcdl
of the forbidden fruit offers a remarkable
contrail to that delicacy of expreffion which
adorns the firft loves of Adam and Eve. If
there is propriety however in thus repre-
fenting the amours of guilty intoxication,
by which figure Milton calls it, fome of
the terms of expreffion are ftill indefenfibly
•indelicate.
Nor may Thomfon, the man
who never wrote
One line v/hich, dying, he would wifli to blot-
plead a greater delicacy of defcription than
Camoens. Indeed one can fcarcely call the
adventure of Damon, v.'hen he fees his
millrefs ftrip and bathe, fo handfomely ma-
naged as the fimilar fcenes in the ifland of
Venus :
defperate youth,
Hew durft thou rifque the foul diftrafting view—
And,
Damon drew
Such madning draughts of beauty to the foul,
As for a while o'erwhelm'd his raptur'd thought
With luxury too daring
not only feem to want fome of that dignity
which lifts defcription above the ludicrous,
but feem alfo to have a Je ne f^ai quoi of
perturbation not quite delicate. The heroes
of the Lufiad indeed do not kifs the trees or
write bilhts deux when they fee the nymphs
naked before them. But though Thomfou
with great propriety has made his lovers fly
from each other, in modefl awe, after hav-
ing left the means of difcovery,
But fi/ft thcfe lines
Traced by his ready pencil, on the bank
With tiembling hand he threvv
Which {he fnatched up, and anfwcred on the
fpreading beech,
■ She with the fylvan pen
of rural lovers this confeflion carv'd,
Which foon her Damon kifs'd with weeping
joy
******* be ftiil as now
Difcreet ; the time may come you need not fly.
Yet this difi'erence of conduft in the two
poets, affords no objection agninft either.
In-each circumllance propriety is preferved.
In a word, fo unjuft is the cenfure of Vol-
taire, a cenfure which never arofe from a
comparifon of Camoens with other poets,
fo ill grounded is the charge againft him,
that we cannot but admire his fuperior deli-^
cacy ; a delicacy not even undcrllood in
England in his age, when the grofleft imagery
often found a place in the pulpits of the
moft pious divines ; when in the old li-
turgy itfelf it was elleemed no indelicacy of
expreffion to enjoin the wife to he huxom hi
ted and at board We know what liberties
were taken by the politcfc v.'riters of the
Auguftan age ; and fuih is the change of
manners, that Shakefpeare and Spenfer
might with juftice appeal from the judgment
of the prcfent, when it condemns them
for indecency. Camoens, however, may
appeal to the moft poliflied age ; let him be
heard for himfelf, let him be compared with
others of the firft name, and his vvarmell
defcriptions need not dread the decifion.
In
Book IX. T H E L U S I A D, 397
In felgn'd purfuit of hare or bounding roe.
Their graceful mein and beauteous limbs to fhew j
Now feeming carelefs, fearful now and coy,
So taught the goddefs of unutter'd joy.
And gliding through the diftant glades difplay
Each limb, each movement, naked as the day.
Some light with glee in carelefs freedom take
Their playful revels in the chryftal lake ;
One trembling ftands no deeper than the knee
To plunge reluctant, while in fportful glee
Another o'er her fudden laves the tide ;
In pearly drops the wifhful waters glide,
Reludant dropping from her breafls of fnow ;
Beneath the wave another feems to glow ;
The amorous waves her bofom fondly kifs'd.
And rofe and fell, as panting^ on her breaft.
Another fwims along with graceful pride.
Her filver arms the gliftening waves divide.
Her fhining fides the fondling waters lave.
Her glowing cheeks are brighten'd by the wave.
Her hair, of mildeft yellow, flows from fide
To fide, as o'er it plays the wanton tide.
And carelefs as Ihe turns, her thighs of fnow
Their tapering rounds in deeper luftre fhew.
E e e 2 Where
^93 THE L U S I A D, Hook IX.
Where fome bold Luiians fought the woodland prey^
And thro' the thickets forc'd the pathlefs way -,
Where ibme in {hades impervious to the beam^
Supinely liften'd to the murmuring ftream :
Bright fudden through the boughs the various dyes
Of pink, of fcarlet, and of azure rife.
Swift from the verdant banks the loiterers fpringy
Down drops the arrow from the half drawn firing :
Soon they behold 'twas not the rofe's hue.
The jonquil's yellow, nor the panfie's blue :
Dazzling the fliades the nymphs appear the zone
And flowing fcarf in gold and azure ihone.
Naked as Venus flood in Ida's bower.
Some trufl the dazzling charms of native power ;
Through the green boughs and darkling fhades they fliew
The fhining luflre of their native fnow.
And every tapering, every rounded fwell
Of thigh, of bofom, as they glide, reveaL
As vifions cloath'd in dazzling white they rife.
Then fleal unnoted from the flurried eyes :
Again apparent, and again withdrawn.
They fhine and wanton o'er the fmiling lawn.
Amazed and lofl in rapture of furprizc.
All joy, my friends, the brave Veloso cries,
Whate'er of goddeflTes old fable told.
Or poet fung of facred groves, behold*
Sacred
FooK IX. THE L U S I A D. 599
Sacred to goddefles divinely bright
Thefe beauteous forellsown their guardian might.
From eyes profane,, from every age conceal'd.
To us, behold, all. Paradife revjcal'dl
Swift let us try if phantoms of the air,
Gr living charms appear, divinely fair !
Swift at the word the gallant Lufians bound.
Their rapid footfteps icarcely touch the ground^
Through copfe, through brake, impatient of their prey,.
Swift as the wounded deer they fpring away :
Fleet through the winding fhades in. rapid flight
The nymphs as wing'd with terror fly their fight ;
Fleet though they fled the mild reverted eye.
And dimpling fmile their feeming fear deny.
Fleet through the fhades in parted rout they glide :
If winding path the ehofen pairs divide^.
Another path by fweet miftake betrays.
And throws the lover on the lover's gaze :-
If dark-brow'd bower conceal the lovely fair,.
The laugh, the fhriek, confefs the charmer there.
Luxurious here the wanton zephyrs toy,
Aad every fondling favouring art employ.
Fleet as the Fair Ones fpeed, the bufy gale
In wanton frolic lifts the trembling veil j
White
40^ THE X U S I A D. Book IX.
White though the veil, in fairer brighter glow,
The lifted robe difplays. the living fnow :
Quick fluttering on the gale the robe conceals.
Then inftant to the glance each charm reveals j
Reveals, and covers from the eyes on fire.
Reveals, and v^^ith the fhade inflames defire*
One as her breathlefs lover hafliens on.
With vrily flumble fudden lies overthrown ;
Confus'd, fhe rifes with a blufliing fmile;
The lover falls the captive of her guile :
Tript by the Fair he tumbles on the mead.
The joyful vidim of his eager fpeed.
Afar, where fport the wantons in the lakct
Another band of gallant youths betake;
The laugh, the fhriek, the revel and the toy,
Befpeak the innocence of youthful joy.
The laugh, the fliriek, the gallant Lufians heat-
As through tlie forefl: glades tliey chace the deer;
For arm'd to chace the bounding roe they came,
'Unhop'd the tranfport of a nobler game.
The naked wantons, as the youths appear.
Shrill throus:h the woods refound the fhriek of fear*
Some feign fuch terror of the forced embrace.
Their virgin modefl:y to this giVes place.
Naked
Book IX. THE L U S I A D. 401
Naked they fpring to land and fpeed away
To deepefl fhades unpierc'd by glaring day ;
Thus yielding freely to the amorous eyes
What to the amorous hands their fear denies.
Some well afTume Diana's virgin fhame.
When on her naked fports the hunter ^ came
Unwelcome plunging in the chryflal tide^
In vain they ftrive their beauteous limbs to hide ;
The lucid waves, 'twas all they could, beflow
A milder luftre and a fofter glow.
As loft in earnefl care of future need.
Some to the banks to fnatch their mantles fpeed.
Of prefent view regardlefs ; every wile
Was yet, and every net of amorous guile.
Whate'er the terror of the feign'd alarm,
Difplay'd, in various force, was every charm.
Nor idle flood the gallant youth ; the wing
Of rapture lifts them, to the Fair they fpring ;
Some to the copfe purfue their lovely prey ;
Some cloath'd and fhod, impatient of delay.
Impatient of the ilings of fierce defire,
Plunge headlong in the tide to quench their fire.
So when the fowler to his cheek uprears
The hollow ileel, and on the mallard bears.
His eager dog, ere burfts the flafhing roar,
Fierce for the prey fprings headlong from the fhore,
* Th hunter. " A6tcon.
And
402 THE L U S I A D. BookIX,
And barking cuts the wave with furious joy :
So mid the billow fprings each eager boy.
Springs to .the nymph -whofe eyes from all the reft
By.fingling him her fecret wifh confeft.
A fon of Mars was there, of generous race.
His every elegance of manly grace ;
.Amorous and brave, ;the bloom of April youth
Glow'd on his cheek, his eye fpoke limpleft truths
Yet love, capricious to th' accomplifh-d boy.
Had ever turn'd to gall each promis'd joy.
Had ever fpurn'd his vows ; yet ftill his heart
'Would hope, and nourifh ftill the tender fmart.:
The pureft delicacy fann'd his fires.
And proudefl honour nurs'd his fond defires^.
Not on the firfl that fair before him glow'd,
'Not on the firft the youth his love beflow'd.
In all her charm-c the fair Ephyre came,
A.nd Leonardo's heart was all on flame.
A-ffecftion's melting tranfport o'er him ftole,
.And Love's all generous glow intranced his foul ;
>0£ felfifli joy unconfcious, every thought
On fweet delirium's ocean ftreamed afloat.
Pattern of beauty did Ephyre fhine.
Nor lefs fhe wilh'd thefe beauties to refign :
More
Book IX. THE L U S I A D. 403;
More than her fifters long'd her heart to yield.
Yet fwifter fled Ihe o'er the fmiling field.
The youth now panting with the hopelefs chace.
Oh turn, he cries. Oh turn thy angel face :
Falfe to themfelves can charms like thefe conceal
The hateful rigour of relentlefs fleel ;
And did the ftream deceive me when I flood
Amid my peers refle<5led in the flood ?
The eafiefl port aild fairefl, bloom I bore— —
Falfe was the flream while I in vain deplore.
My peers are happy ; lo, in every fliade.
In every bower, their love with love repaid !
I, I alone through brakes, through thorns purfue
A cruel Fair Ah, flill my fate proves true.
True to its rigour who, fair nymph, to thee
Reveal'd, 'twas I that fued ! unhappy me !
Born to be fpurn'd though honefly infpire— —
Alas, I faint, my languid finews tire ;
Oh flay thee — r— powerlefs to fuflain their weight
My knees fink down, I fink beneath my fate !
He fpoke ; a ruflling urges thro' the trees,
Inflant new vigour firings his adlive knees.
Wildly he glares around, and raging cries.
And mufl another fnatch my lovely prize !
In favage grafp thy beauteous limbs conflrain !
I feel, I madden while I feel the pain !
Fff Oh
404 THE L U S I A* D. Book IX.
Oh loft, thou fly*ft the fafety of my arms.
My hand fhall guard thee, foftly feize thy charms>
No brutal rage inflames me, yet I burn I
Die fliall thy ravifher Oh goddefs, turn>
And fmiling view the error of my fear i
No brutal force, no raviflier is near ;
A harmlefs roebuck gave the ruftling founds,
Lo, from the thicket fwift as thee he bounds I
Ah, vain the hope to tire thee in the chace i
I faint, yet hear, yet turn thy lovely face.
Vain are thy fears ; were ev'n thy will to yield
The harveft of my hope, that harveft field
My fate would guard, and walls of brafs would rear
Between my fickle and the golden ear.
Yet fly me not ; fo may thy youthful prime
Ne'er fly thy cheek on the grey wings of time.
Yet hear, the lafl: my panting breath can fay.
Nor proudeft kings, nor mightieft hofiis can fway
Fate's dread decrees ; yet thou, O nymph, divine,.
Yet thou canfl: more, yet thou can ft conquer mine.
Unmoved each other yielding nymph I fee ;
Joy to their lovers, for they touch not thee !
But thee- Oh, every tranfport of defire.
That melts to mingle with its kindred fire.
For thee refpiresr—— alone I feel for thee
The dear wild rage of longing extacy :
By
Book IX.
THE LUSIAD.
4^5
By all the flames of fympathy divine
To thee united, thou by right art mine.
From thee, from thee the hallowed tranfport flows
That fevered rages, and for union glows ;
Heaven owns the claim — Hah, did the lightning glare ;
Yes, I beheld my rival, though the air
Orew dim ; even now I heard him fofty tread.
Oh rage, he waits thee on the flowery bed !
I fee, I fee thee rufhing to his arms.
And fmking on his bofom, all thy charms
To him refigning in an eager kifs.
All I implor'd, the whelming tide of blifs !
And fhall I fee him riot on thy charms,
DiflTolved in joy exulting in thine arms
Oh burfl, ye lightnings, round my defl:in'd head.
Oh pour your flaflies madning ' as he faid.
Amid the windings of the bowery wood
His trembling footfleps fliill the nymph purfued.
' MaJmng as he faid — At the end
of his Homer Mr. Pope has given an index
of the inftances of imitative and fentimental
harmony contained in his tranflations. He
has alfo often in his notes pointed out the
adoption of found to fenfe. The Tranflator
of the Lufiad hopes he may for once fay,
that he has not been inattentive to this great
elTential of good verfi fi cation ; how he has
fucceeded the judicious only moft determine.
The fpeech of Leonard to -the curfory reader
may perhaps fometimes appear carelc(s, and
fometimes turgid and fliff. That fpeech,
however, is an attempt at the imitative and
fentimental harmony, and witli the judicious
he refts its fate. As the tranllation iii this
inftance exceeds the original in length, the
objeftion of a foreign critic requires atten-
tion. An old purfy Abbe, (and Critics are
apt to judge by themfelves) may indeed be
furprized that a man out of breath with
running fhould be able to talk fo long. But
had he confulted the experience of others,
he would have found it was no wonderful
matter for a ftout and young Cavalier to talk
twice as much, though fatigued with the
chace of a couple of miles, provided the
fuppofition is allowed, that he treads on the
lall fteps of his Hying millrefs.
Fff a
Wooed
4o6 THE L U S I A D. Book XI.
Wooed to the flight fhe wiiig'd her fpeed to hear
His amorous accents melting on her ear.
And now fhe turns the wild walk's ferpent maze ;
A rofeate bower its velvet couch difplays ;
The thickefl mofs its fofteft verdure fpread.
Crocus and mingling panfie fring'd the bed.
The woodbine dropt its honey from above.
And various rofes crown'd the fweet alcove.
Here as flie haftens, on the hopelefs boy
She turns her face all bathed in fmiles of joy;
Then, flnking down, her eyes, fufficed with love
Glowing on his, one moment loft reprove.
Here was no rival, all he wiih'd his own -,
Lock'd in her arms foft fmks the ftripling down
Ah, what foft murmurs panting thro' the bowers
Sigh'd to the raptures of the paramours ;
The wifhful figh and melting fmile confpire.
Devouring kifles fan the fiercer fire >
Sweet violence w^ith dreareft grace alTails,
Soft o'er the purpofed frown the fmile prevails.
The purpofed frown betrays its own deceit.
In well-pleas'd laughter ends the rifing threat ;
The coy delay glides off in yielding love.
And tranfport murmurs thro' the facred grove.
The joy of pleafing adds its facred zeft.
And all is love, embracing and embraced.
The
Book IX. THE LUSIAD. ^f
The golden morn beheld the fcenes of joy ;
Nor, fultry noon, may ft thou the bowers annoy ;
The fultiy noon-beam ihines the lover's aid.
And fends him glowing to the fecret fhade.
O'er every fhade and every nuptial bower
The love-fick ftrain the virgin turtles pour ;
For nuptial faith and holy rites combin'd.
The Lufian heroes and the nymphs conjoined.
With flowery wreaths, and laurel chaplets, bound
With du(5tile gold, the nymphs the heroes crown'd :
By every fpoufal holy ritual ty'd.
No chance they vow (hall e^cr their hands divide.
In life, in death attendant as their fame 5
X Such was the oath of ocean's fovereign Dame :
'The Dame, (from Heaven and holy Vefta fprung.
For ever beauteous and for evef young,)
' .Enraptured views the Chief whofe deathlefs name
The wondering world and conquer'd feas plrotlaim.
With ftately pomp fhe holds the Hero's hand.
And gives her empire to his dread command.
By fpoufal ties confirm'd j nor paft untold
What Fate's unalter'd page had will'd of old :
The world's vaft globe in radiant fphere fhe fliew'd.
The (hores immenfe, and feas unknown, unplow'd ,•
The feas, the jfhores, due to the Lufian keel
And Lufian fword, fhe haftens to reveal.
The
4o8 THE L U S I A D. BoaK IX,
The glorious Leader by the hand Ihe takes.
And dim below the flowery bowers forfake%.
High on a mountain's flarry top divine
Her palace walls of living chryftal fhine ;
Of gold and chryftal blaze the lofty towers ;
Here bathed in joy they pafs the blifsful hours ;
Ingulph'd in tides on tides of joy, the day
On downy pinions glides unknown away.
While thus the fovereigns in the palace reign>
Like tranfport, riots o'er the humbler, plain.
Where each in generous triumph o'er his peers
His lovely bride to every bride prefers.
Henccy ye "profane- the fong melodious rofe.
By mildeft zephyrs wafted through the boughs,
Unfeen the warblers of the holy itrain ■
Far from thefe facred bowers, ye leud profane !
Hence each unhallowed eye, each vulgar ear j
Chafte and divine are all the raptures here.
The nymphs of ocean, and the ocean's Queen.
The ifle angelic, every raptured fcene
•" Hence, ye profane "" W e have already a delicacy unknown to other moderns ; but
obferved, that in every other poet the love- by the fidion of the fpoufal rites, the alle-
fcenes are generally defcribed as thofe of gory and machinery of the poem are moft
guilt and remorfe. The contrary charafter happily conduced. See the Introdudion.
of thofe of Camoens, not only gives them
The
Book IX. t H E L U S I A D. %og
The charms of honour and its meed confefs,
Thefe are the raptures, thefe the wedded blifs :
The glorious triumph and the laurel crown^
The ever bloiTom'd palms of fair renown.
By time unwither'd and untaught to cloy f
Thefe are the tranfports of the Ifle of Joy^
Such was Olympus and the bright abodes ;
Renown was heaven, and heroes were the gods.
Thus ancient times,, to virtue ever juft^
To arts and valour reard the worfhipp'd buft.
High, fteep and rugged, painful to be trod.
With toils on toils immenfe is virtue's road j
But fmooth at laft the walks umbrageous fmile.
Smooth as our lawns, and cheerful as our ifle.
Up the rough road Alcides, Hermes, flrovey
All men like you, Apollo, Mars, and Jove ;
Like you to blefs mankind Minerva toil'd >
Diana bound the tyrants of the wild ;
O'er the wafte defert Bacchus fpread the vine j
And Ceres taught the harvefl field to Ihine.
Fame rear'd her trumpet ; to the bleft abodes
She raifed, and hail'd them gods and fprung of gods.
The love of Fame, by heaven's own hand impreft.
The firft and nobleft paflion of the breaft.
May
410 THE L U S I A D. . Book IX.
May yet mifiead Oh guard, ye hero train.
No harlot robes of honours falfe and vain,
No tinfel yours, be yours all native gold,
Well-earn'd each honour, each refped: you hold :
To your loved King return a guardian band.
Return the guardians of your native land ;
To tyrant power be dreadful ; from the jaws
Of fierce oppreffion guard the peafant's caufe.
If youthful fury pant for fhining arms.
Spread o'er the Eaftern World the dread " alarms ;
There bends the Saracen the hoftilc bow.
The Saracen thy faith, thy nation's foe ;
There from his cruel gripe tear empire's reins.
And break his tyrant fceptre o'er his chains.
On adamantine pillars thus fliall ftand
The throne, the glory of your native land.
And Lufian heroes, an immortal line.
Shall ever with us fl:jare our Ifle Divine-
* spread D*er the Eafiern World thi dread poet, and which on every occafion wn*
alarms. — This admonition places the whole avowed by their Kings, the Portuguefe
defign of the poem before us. To extir- made immenfe conquefts in the Ealh
pate Mohammedifm and propagate ChrilH- Yet, let it be remembered, to the honour
anity were profefTed as the principal purpofe of Gama , and the firft commanders who
of the difcoveries of Prince Henry and King followed his route, that the plots of the
Emmanuel. In the beginning of the Seventh Moors, and their various breaches of treaty,
Lufiad, the nations of Europe are upbraid- gave rife to the firft wars which the Portu-
ed for permitting the Saracens to eredl and guefe waged in Afia. On finding that all
pofTeCs an empire, whofe power alike the colonies of the Moors were combined
threatened Europe and Chriftianity. The for their deftrufticn, the Portuguefe declared
Portuguefe, however, the patriot poet con- war againft the eallern Moors and their allies
dudes, will thcmfelves overthrow their* nor- wherever they found them. The coujrfe
mous power: an event which is the pro- of human things however foon took place,
pofed fubjeft of the Lufiad, and which is and the fword of vidtory and power foon be-
reprefented fts, in efFedt, compleated in the came the fword of tyranny aijd rapine.
lail book. On this fyftem, adopted by the
DISSERTATION
( 411 )
DISSERTATION on the Fiction of the Island of Venus.
FROM the eariieft ages, and in the moft
diftant nations, palaces, forefts and gar-
dens, have been the favourite themes of
poets. And though, as in Homer's ifland of
E-hadamanthus, the defcription is fometimes
only curfory ; at other times they have la-
vished all their powers, and have vied with
each other in adorning their edifices and
landfcapes. The gardens of Alcinous in
the Odyfley, and the Elyfium in the Eneid,
have excited the ambition of many imita-
tors. Many inftances of thefe occur in the
later writers. Thefe fubjedls however, it
muft be owned, are fo natural to the genius
of poetry, that it is fcarcely fair to attribute
to an imitation of the claffics, the innumer-
able defcriptions of this kind, which abound
in the old Romances. In thefe, under dif-
ferent allegorical names, every paflion, every
virtue and vice, had its palace, its inchanted
bower, or its dreary cave. Among the
Italians, on the revival of letters, Pulci,
Boyardo, and others, borrowed thefe fiftions
from the Gothic Romancers ; Ariofto bor-
rowed from them, and Spenfer has copied,
Ariofto and Taflb. In the fixth and feventh
books of the Orlando Furiofo, there is a
fine defcription of the ifland and palace of
Alcina or Vice ; and in the tenth book, but
inferior to the other in poetical colouring,
we have a viev/ of the country of Logiftilla
or Virtue. The pafTage, of this kind, how-
ever, where Ariollo has difplayed the richell
poetical painting, is in the xxxiv. book, in
the defcription of Paradife, whither he fends
Aftolpho the Englifh Duke, to aflc the help
of St. John to recover the wits of Orlando.
The whole is moft admirably fanciful. Af-
tolpho mounts the clouds on the winged
horfe, fees Paradife, and, accompanied by
the Evangelift, vifits the moon ; the adven-
tures in which orb are almoft literally
tranilatcd in Milton's I,imbo. I>ut the paf-
fage which may be faid to bear the neareft
resemblance to the dcfcrlptive part of the
ifland of Venus, is the landfcape of Para-
dife, of which the ingenious Mr. Hoole, to
vvhof^ many afts of friend fliip I am proud
to acknowledge myfelf indebted, has obliged
me with his tranflation, though only ten
books of his Ariofto arc yet publiflxed.
G gg
O'er the glad earth the bllfsful feafon pour*
The vernal beauties of a thoufand flowers
In vary'd tints : there fliew'd the ruby's hue>
The yellow topaz, and the fapphire blue.
The mead appears one intermingled blaze
Where pearls and diamonds dart their trem-^
bling rays.
Not emerald here fo bright a verdure yields
As the fair turf of thofe celeftial fields.
On every tree the leaves unfading grow,
The fruitage ripens and the flowrets blow !
The frolic birds, gay-plum'd, of various wing
Amid the boughs their notes melodious fing :
Still lakes, and murmuring ftreams, with wa-'
ters clear,
Charm the fix'd eye, and lull the liftening ear.
A foftcning genial air, that ever feems
in even tenor, cools the folar beams
"With fanning breeze } while from th' enameU'd
field,
Whate'er the fruits, the plants, the bloflbma
yield
Of giateful fcent, the ftealing gales difpenfe -
The blended fweets to feed th' immortal fenfe.
Amid the plain a palace dazzling bright,
Like living flame emits a ftrcamy light,
' And wrapt in fplendor of refulgent day
Oulfliines the ftrength of every mortal ray.
Aftolpho gently now directs his fpeed
To where the fpacious pile enfolds the mead
In circuit wide, and views with eager eyes
Eacli nameiefs charm that happy foil fupplies.
With this compared he deems the world below
A dreary delart and a feat of woe !
By Heaven and Nature, in their wrath beftow'di
In evil hour for man's unbleft abode.
Near and more near the ftately walls he drew.
In ftedfaft gaze tranfported at the view :
They fccm'd one gem entire, of purer red
Than deepening gleams tranfparent rubies
flicd.
Stupendous work ! by art Daedalian rais'd,
Tranfcending all, by feeble mortals prais'd !
No more henceforth let boalting tongues proclaim
Thofe wonders of the world, fo chronicled by
fame !
Camocns read and admired Ariofto ; but
it by no means follows that he borrowed
the hint of his ifland of Venus from that
poet. The luxury of flowery defcription is
as common in poetry as are the tales of love.
The heroes of Ariofto raeet beautiful women
in the palace of Alcina:
Before
412
THE L U S I A D.
Book IX.
Before the threfhold wanton damfels wait.
Or Iport between the pillars of the gate :
But beauty more had brighten'd in their face
Had modefty attemper'd every grace ;
Jn veftures green each dainfel fweptthe ground,
Their temples fair with leafy garlands crown \1.
Thefe, with a courteous welcome, led the knight
To this fweet Paradife of foft delight
Enamour'd youths and tender damfels feem
To chant their loves befide a purling ftream.
Some by a branching tree or mountain's fliade
In fports and dances prefs the downy glade,
While one difclofes to his friend, apart,
The feciet tranfports of his amorous heart.
B. VI.
But thefe defcriptions alfo, which bring the
heroes of knight errantry into the way of
beautiful wantons, are as common in the
old romances as the ufe of the alphabet ;
and indeed the greateft part of thefe love
adventures are evidently borrowed from thp
fable of Circe. Aftolpho, who was tranf-
formed into a myrtle by Alcina, thus in-
forms Rogero ;
Her former lovers flie efteem'd no nvjre.
For many lovers (he poffel's'd before j
I "was her joy ___— .
Too late, alas, I found her wavering mind
In love inconftant as the changing wind !
Scarce had I held two months the Fairy's grace.
When a new youth was taken to my place :
Rejefted then I join'd the banifli'd herd
That loft her love, as others were preferif'd. . .
Some here, fome there, her potent charms retain.
In diverfe forms imprifon'd to remain ;
In beeches,»o!ives, palms, or cedars clos'd,
t)r fuch as me you here behold expjs'd ;
In fountains fome, and fome in bealts confin'd,
As fuits the wayward Fairy's cruel mind.
Hoole, Ar. B. VI.
"When incidents, charafter and conduft
confefs the refemblance, we may with cer-
tainty pronounce from whence the copy is
taken. Where only a iimilar ftroke of paf-
lion or defcription occurs, it belongs alone
to the arrogance of dulnefs, to tell us on
what pafTage the poet had his eye. Every
great poet has been pcrfecuted in this man-
mer ; Milton in particular. His commen-
tators have not left him a flower of his own
growth. Yet like the creed of the Athieft,
their fyllem is involved in the dcepcft ab-
furdity. It is eafy to fuppofe, that men of
poetical feelings, in defcribing the fame thin^,
ihould give us the fame pidture. But that
the P.iradife Loll, which forms one animated
whole of the nobkH poetry, is a lacre ccato,
compiled from innumerable authors, ancient
and modern, is a fuppoiition which gives
Milton a caft of talents infinitely more ex-
traordinary and inexplicable, than the great-
efi: poetical genius. When Gafper Foujjin
painted clouds and trees in his landfcapes,
he did not borrow the green and the blue
of the leaf and the fky from Claud Lorain.
Neither did Camoens, when he painted his
ifland of Venus, fpend the half of his life
in colleding his colours from all hi-s pre-
deceffors, who had dcfcribed the beaoties of
the vernal year or the flages of paffion. Ca-
moens knew how others had painted the
flowery bowers of love ; thefe formed his-
talle and correfted his judgment. He view-
ed the beauties of nature with poetical eyes»
from thence he drew his landlcapes ; he had.
felt all the allurements of love, and from-
thence he defcribes the agitations of that
paffion.
Nor is the defcription of fairy bowers and.
palaces, though moil favourite topij:s, pe-
culiar to the romances of chivalry. The
poetry of the Orientals alfo abounds with
them, yet with fome charafleriftical dif-
ferences. Like the conHitutions and drefs
of the Afiatics, the landlcapes of the eaftenv
Mufe are warm and feeble, brilliant and
flight, and, like the manners of the peo-
ple, wear an eternal famenefs. The vvellem
Mufe, on the contrary, is nervous- as her
heroes, fometimes flowery as her Italian or
Englifh fields, Ibmetimes majeflically great
as her Runic fbreils of oak and pine ; and
always various as the charafter of her in-
habitants. Yet with all thefe dificrences of
feature, feveral Oriental fiftions greatly re-
femble the ifland of Circe and the flowery
dominions of Alcina. In particular, the ad-
ventures of Prince Agib^ or the third Ca-
lander, in the Arabian Tales, afford a
llriking likenefs of painting and catafl:rophe.
If Arioilo hovi/ever feem to refemble any
eaflern fiftion, the Ifland of Venus in Ca-
moens bears a more llriking refemblance to
a pafTage in Chaucer. The following beau-
tiful piece of poetical painting occurs in the
Affembly of the Fowles :
The bildir Oak, and eke the hardie Artie,
The pillir Elme, the cofHr unto caraine.
The Boxe pipetre, the Holme to whipjiis lasfhe.
The failing Firrt, the Cypres deth to plaine.
The fliortir Ewe, the Afpe for (haftis plaine.
The Olive of pece, and eke thedronkin Vine,
The viftor PaJme, the Lauiix to Divine.
A gard^in
Book IX.
THE LUSIAD.
4^3
A gaidein fawe I full of blofomed bowis.
Upon a River, in a grene Mede
^^here as fwetenefs evirmoie inoxigh I5,
With floiiris white, and blewe, yelowe, and
rede,
And colde and clere Welleftremis, nothing dede.
That fwommin full of fmale fifliis light.
With finnis rede, and fcalis filver bright.
On every bough the birdls herd I fyng
With voice of angell, in ther harmonie
That bufied 'hem, ther birdis forthe to bryng,-
And little pretie conies to ther plaie gan hie ;
And furthir all about I gan efpie
The dredful roe, the buck, tlie hart and hind,
Squirils, and beltis fmal of gentle kind.
Of inftrumentes of ftringis, in accorde
Herd I fo plaie a ravifhyng fwetnefle,
That God, that makir is of all and Lorde,
Ne herd nevir a better, as I gefle.
There with a winde, unfteth it might be lefle,
Made in the levis grene a noifefoft
Accordant to the foulis fong on loft.
The aire of the place fo attenopre was.
That ner was there grevaunce of hot ne cold—
Under a tre befide a well I f?ye
Cupid our lorde his arrowes forge and file.
And at his fete his bowe all redie laye,
And well his doughtir temprid all the while
The heddis in the well, and with her wile
fihe couchid 'hem aftir as thei fliould ferve.
Some for to flea, and fonae to wound and carve.
And upon pillirs grete of Jafpir long
I faw a temple of £raflb ifoundid ftrong.
And about the temple datincid alwaie
Women inow, of which fome there ywere
Faire of "hemfclf, and fome of 'hem were gaie,
In kirtils all deflieveled went thei there.
That was ther office er from yere to yere.
And on the temple fawe I white and faire
Of dovis fittyng many a thoufande paire.
Here we have Cupid forging his arrows,
the woodland, the ilreams, the mufic of in-
ilrumcnts and birds, the frolicks of deer
and other animals ; and ivomen inoiv. In
a word, the Ifland of Venus is here fketchcd
out, yet Chaucer was never tranflated into
Latin or any language of the Continent,
nor did Camoens underftand a line of Eng-
lifh. The fubjcft was common, and the
fame poetical feelings in Chaucer and Ca-
moens, pointed out to each what were the
beauties of landfcapes and of bowers de-
voted to pleafure.
Yet, though the fiflion of bowers, of
iflands, and palaces, was no novelty in
poetry, much however remains to be attri-
buted to the poetical powers and invention
of Camoens. The ifland of Venus con-
tains, of all others, by much the compleateft
gradation, and fulleft aflemblage of that
fpecies of luxuriant painting. Nothing ia
the older writers is equal to it in fuUnefs.
Nor can the ifland of Armida in Taflb be
compared to it, in poetical embroidery or
paffionate expreffion ; though Taflb as un-
doubtedly built upon the model of Camoens,
as Spenfer appropriated the imagery of
Taflb, when he defcribed the bower of
Acrafla, part of which he has literally tranf-
lated from the Italian poet. The beautiful
fidions of Armida and Acrafla however are
much too long to be here inferted, and they
are well known to every reader of tafle.
But tlie chief praife of our Poet is yet
un mentioned. The iutrodudlion of fo beau-
tiful a fiftion, as an efl"ential part of the
conduft and machinery of an Epic Poem, dots
the greatefl: honour to the invention of Ca-
moens. The machinery of the former part
of the poem not. only acquires dignity but
is compleated by it. And the conduft of
Homer and Virgil, has in this not only re-
ceived a fine imitation, but a mailtrly con-
trafl:. In the fineft allegory the heroes of
the Lufiad receive their reward ; and by
means of this allegory our Poet gives a noble
imitation of the nobleft part of the Eneid.
In the tenth Lufiad, Gama and his heroes
hear the nymphs in the divine palace of
Thetis fing the triumphs of their country-
men in the conqueft of India : after this the
Goddefs fliews Gama a view of the Eallern
World, from the Cape of Good Hope to
the fur theft iflands of Japan. She poetically
defcribes every region and the principal
iflands, and concludes, yill thefe r.re gi'-jsn
to the Wejlern World by You. It is impof-
fible any poem can be fummed up with
greater fublimity. The Fall of Troy is
nothing to this. Nor is this all : the moft
maflerly fiftion, fineft compliment, and ul-
timate purpofe of the Eneid, is not only
nobly imitated, but the conduft of Ho-
mer, in concluding the Iliad, as already
obferved, is paralleled, without one cir-
cumftance being borrowed. Poetical conduct
cannot poflibly bear a ftronger refcmblance,
than the reward of the heroes of the Lufiad,
the prophetic fong, ajid tlie vilion fhewn
P>
SS 9
414
THE
L U S I A D.
Book IX.
to Gama, bear to the games at the funeral of
Patrochis and the redemption of the body of
Heftor, confidered as the completion of the
anger of Achilles, the fubjedl of the Iliad.
Nor is it a greater honour to refemble a
Homer and a Virgil, than it is to be re-
fembled by a Milton. Milton certainly
heard of Fanlhaw's tranflation of the Lufiad,
though he might never have feen the origi-
nal, for it was publifhed fourteen years be-
fore he gave his Paradife I/oft to the world.
But whatever he knew of it, had the laft
book of the Lufiad been two thoufand years
known to the learned, every one would have
owned that the two laft books of the Paradife
Loft were evidently formed upon it. But
whether Milton borrowed any hint from Ca-
moens, is of little confequence. That the
genius of the great Milton fuggefted the
conclufion of his immortal Pcem in the
manner and machinery of the Lufiad, is
enough. It is enough that the part of
Michael and Adam in the two laft books of
the Paradife Loft, are in point of condu£t
exaftly the fame with the part of Thetis
and Gama in the conclufion of the Lufiad.
Yet this difterence muft be obferved ; in
the narrative of his laft book, Milton has
flagged, as Addifon calls it, and fallen in-
finitely fhort of the untired fpirit of the
Portuguefe Poet.
END OF THE Ninth BOOK.
:>» i!7-''.' "
THE
L U S I A D.
BOOK
X.
"TT* A R o'er the weflern ocean's diftant bed
-■- Apollo now his fiery courfers fped.
Far o'er the filver lake of Mexic "^ roll'd
His rapid chariot wheels of burning gold :
* Far o'er the fHver lake ef Mexic, '
The city of Mexico is environed with an
extenfive lake ; or, according to Cortez, in
his fecond narration to Charles V. with
two lakes, one of frefh, the other of fait
water, in circuit about fifty leagues. This
fituation, faid the Mexicans, was appointed
by their God Vitz.ilipufz.li, who, according
to the explanation of their pidure-hiftories,
led their fore-fathers a journey of fonrfcore
years, in fearch of the promifed land ; the
apifh Devil, fay fome Spanifh writers, in
this imitating the journies of the Ifraelites.
Four of the principal priefts carried the
Idol in a coffer of reeds. Whenever they
halted they built a tabernacle for their God
in the midft of their camp, where they
placed the coffer and the altar. They then
lowed the land, and their ftay or departure,
without regard to the harvefl, was dircded
by the orders received from their idol, till
at laft by his contunand they fixed their
abode on the fite of Mexico. The origin
of the Mexicans is reprefented by men
coming out of caves, and their different
journies and erKrampments are pourtrayed in
their pidlure-hiftories ; one of which was
fent to Charles V. and is faid to be ftill
extant in the Efcurial. According to the
reigns of their kings, their firft emigration
was about A.D. 720. Vide Botcrus, Gomara,
Acofta, and other Spanilh writers.
The
4i6 THE L U S I A D. Book Xi
The eaftern fky was left to dufky grey.
And o'er the lafl hot breath of parting day.
Cool o'er the fultry noon's remaining flame.
On gentle gales the grateful twilight came.
Dimpling the lucid pools the fragrant breeze
Sighs o'er the lawns and whifpers thro' the tre^s i
Refrefh*d the lilly rears the filver head.
And opening jefmines o'er the arbours fpread.
Fair o'er the wave that gleam'd like diftant fnow.
Graceful arofe the moon, ferenely flow ;
Not yet full orb'd, in clouded fplendor dreft.
Her married arms embrace her pregnant breaft.
Sweet to his mate, recumbent o'er his young.
The nightingale hi^ fpoufal anthem fung ;
From every bower the holy chorus rofs.
From every bower the rival anthem flows.
Tranflucent twinkling through the upland grove
In all her luftre fliines the ftar of love ;
Led by the facred ray from every bower,
A joyful train, the wedded lovers pour :
Each with the youth above the refl: approved,
Each with the nymph above the refl: beloved, '
They feek the palace of the fovereign dame ;
High on a mountain glow'd the wondrous frame :
Of gold the towers, of gold the pillars flione.
The walls were chryftal flarr'd with precious fl:one.
Amid
iooK X. * H E L IJ S I A O: ^17
Amid the hall arofe the feftive board
With nature's choiceft gifts promircuous ftor'd :
So wiird the Goddefs to renew the fmile
Of vital ftrength, long worn by days of toil.
On chryftal chairs that fliined as lambent flam«
Each gallant youth attends his lovely dame ;
Beneath a purple canopy of ftate
The beauteous goddefs and the leader fate :
The banquet glows — -Not Xuch the feaft, when all
The pride of luxury in Egypt's hall
Before the love-fick " Roman fpread the boall
Of every teeming fea and fertile coaft.
Sacred to nobleft wotth and Virtue'<s ear.
Divine as genial was the banquet here ;
The wine, the fong, by fweet returns infpire.
Now wake the lover's, now the hero's fire.
On gold and iilver from th' Atlantic main.
The fumptuous tribute of the fea's wide reign.
Of various favour was the banquet piled ;
Amid the fruitage mingling rofes fmiled. ^/)
In cups of gold that fhed a yellow light.
In filver fhining as the moon of night.
Amid the banquet flow'd the fparkling wine.
Nor gave Falernia's fields the parent vine :
Falernia's vintage nor the fabled power
Of Jove's ambrofia in th' Olympian bower
* £f/ert tb4 hiii-Jick Rematt'.^-^^Mixk Anthony.
To
4i8: THE L U S I A D; gooK X*
To this compare not -, wild nor frantic fires,
Divineft tranfport this alone infpires.
The beverage foaming o'er the goblet's breafl
The chryftal fountain s cooling aid " confeft -,
The while, as circling flow'd the cheerful bowl.
Sapient difcourfe, the banquet of the foul.
Of richefl: argument and brighteft glow.
Array 'd in dimpling :fmiles, in eafieft flow
Pour'd all iVs graces : nor in filence ftood
The powers of mufic, fuch as erft fubdued
The horrid frown of Hell's profound - domains.
And footh'd the tortur'd ghofts to ilumber on thieir chains •
To mufic's fweeteft chords in loftieft vein.
An angel Syren joins the vocal ftrain ;
The filver roofs refound the living fong.
The harp and organ's- lofty mood prolong
The hallowed warblings 5 Uftening Silence rides
The fky, and o'er the bridled winds prefides ;
' The beverage the fountain's cooling before tlie Paradife Loft. Thefe lines of
aid confejl. It was a cuftom of the an- Milton,
cients in warm climates to mix the cQoleft ^^^^^ .^^^^^^^
fpring water with their wine, immediately ^,,^.^. ^-^^ ^^^^ ^;,^ ,,^^ ,,3^,^,^,^^. »
before drmking ; not, we may luppofe, to Sufpendci Hell, andtcok with ravinunent
render it lefs intoxicating, but on .account 'y\^^ thiono-in"- audience———
of the cooling flavour it thereby received.
Homer tells us that the wine which Ulyifes bear a refcrablance to thefe of Fanlhaw,
pave to Polypheme would bear twenty mea- -ki, r ^ • n. . ,■ r 1
? c ^ T\/t J ^ u r i.{i- Mufic.il inftrmnents not NvaiUiug, luch
lures of water Modern uxury has fubfti- ^^ ^ ^^^ j^^^^j ^ j, .^, ^^^^ ^^^ ^,,-,
tuted preferved icc, m place of the more j„ ji,^ j.^^,, ^^^^^^ ^f ^^g infernal Hall.—
ancient mixture,
'' Mu/c, fuch as erft fubdued the horrid To ftumber amid their punifhment, though
fronun of Hell, &c. — Alluding to the fable omitted by Fanfhaw, is literal,
of Orpheus. Fanlhaw's tranflation, as al-
ready obfervcd, was publiflied fourteen years ^'"""^ defcanjar da eterna pena
In
Book X.
THE L U S I A D.
419
In fofteft murmurs flows the glafly deep.
And each, luU'd in his fhade, the beftials fleep.
The lofty fong afccnds the thrilling fkies.
The fong of godlike heroes yet to rife -,
Jove gave the dream, w^hofe glow the Syren fired.
And prefent Jove the prophecy infpired.
Not he, the bard of love-fick Dido's board.
Nor he the minftrel of Phaeacia's lord.
Though fam*d in fong, could touch the warbling fl:ring>
Or with a voice fo fweet, melodious flng.
And thou, my Mufe, O faireft of the train.
Calliope, infpire my doling flrain.
1^0 more the fummer of my life " remains.
My autumn's lengthening evenings chill my veins ;
Down the bleak flream of years by woes on woes
Wing'd on, I haften to the tomb's repofe,
The port whofe deep dark bottom fhall detain
My anchor never to be weigh'd again.
Never on other fea of life to fteer
The human courfe Yet thou, O goddefs, hear.
•^ No more the fummer of my life remains.
'It is not certain when Camoens wrote
this. It feems however not long to precede
the publication of his poem, at which time
he was in Jiis fifty-fifth year. This apof-
trophe to his Mufe may perhaps by fome be
blamed as another digrelTion ; but fo little
does it require defence, that one need not
hcfitate to afHrm, that had Homer, who
often talks to his Mufe, introduced, on thefe
favourable opportunities, any little pifture
or hiftory of himfclf, thefe digreffions would
have been the moft interefting parts of his
works. Had any fuch little hiftory of
Homer complained like this of Camoens,
it would have been bedewed with the tears
of ages.
H h h
Yet
42a THE L U S I A: D. Book X-
Yet let me live, though round my filver'd head
Misfortune's bittereft rage unpitying flied
Her coldeft florms ; yet let me live to crown
The fong that boafls my nation's proud renown*
Of godlike heroes fung the nymph divine.
Heroes whofe deeds on Gama's creft fhall fliine t /
Who through the feas by Gama firft explor'd
Shall bear the Lulian standard and the fword,
Till every coaft where roars the orient main,.
Blefl: in its fway, fliall own the Lufian reign j.
Till every Pagan king his neck fhall yield.
Or vanquiih'd gnaw the duft on battle fields
High Priefl of Malabar, the goddefs. fung,.
Thy faith repent not, nor lament thy ' wrong 5
Though for thy faith to Lufus' generous race
The raging Zamoreem thy fields deface :
From Tagus, lo, the great Pacheco fails.
To India wafted on aufpicious gales.
Soon as his crooked prow the tide fhall prefs>
A new Achilles fhall the tide confefs ;
' ^hy faith repent not, nor lament thy armies to dethrone him. His fidelity to the
turong. P. Alvarez Cabral, the fecond Portuguefe was unalterable, though his af-
Fortuguefe commander who failed to India, fairs were brought to the loweft ebb. For
entered into a treaty of alliance with Tri- an account of this war, and the almoft incre-
mumpara king of Cochin and high prieft of dible atchlevements of Pacheco, fee the
Malabar. The Zaraorim raifed powerful hiftory in the preface.
His
Book X.
THE L U S I A D.
421
His fhip's flrong fides fliall groan beneath his ^ weight.
And deeper waves receive the facred freight.
Soon as on India's ftrand he fhakes his fpear.
The burning Eafl fliall tremble, chill'd with fear;
Reeking with noble blood Cambalao's ftream
Shall blaze impurpled to the evening beam ;
Urged on by raging fhame the Monarch brings.
Banded with all their powers, his vafTal kings :
Narfinga's rocks their cruel thoufands pour,
Bipur's flern king attends, and thine, Tanore :
To guard proud Calicut's imperial pride
All the wide North fweeps down its peopled tide :
E His Jhtp' s Jlrofig Jides P>all groan beneath
their njo eighty And deeper ivaues receive the
Jacred freight. Thus Virgil j
fimul accipit alveo
Ingentem ^neam. Gemuit fub pundere cymba
Siuilis, & raultam accepit rimofa pahidem.
That the vifionary boat of Charon groaned
•under the weight of Eneas is a fine poetical
ftroke ; but that the crazy rents let in the
water is certainly lowering the image. The
thought however, as managed in Camoens,
is much grander than in Virgil, and aftbrds
a happy inftance, where the hyperbole is
truly poetical.
Poetical allufions to, or abridgements of
hiftorical events, are either extremely in-
iipid and obfcure, or particularly pleafing to
the reader. To be pleafmg, a previous ac-
quaintance with the hiftory is neceflary, and
for this reafon the poems of Homer and
Virgil were peculiarly relifhed by their
countrymen. When a known circumftance
is placed in an animated poetical view, and
cloathed with the graces of poetical lan-
guage, a fenfible mind muft feel the eifed.
But when the circumftance is unknown, no-
thing but the moft lively imagery and finefl:
colouring can prevent it from being tircfome.
The Lufiad affords many inftances which
muil be highly pleafing to the Portuguefe,
but dry to thofe who are unacquainted with
their hiftory. Nor need one hefitate to
aflert, that were we not acquainted with the
Roman hiftory from our childhood, a great
part of the Eneid would appear to us in-
toUerably uninterefting. Senfible of this
difadvantage which every verfion of hiftori-
cal poetry muft fufFer, the Tranflator has
not only in the notes added every incident
which might elucidate the fubjeft, but has
alfo, all along, in the epifode in the third
and fourth books, in the defcription of the
painted enfigns in the eighth, and in the al-
lufions in tbe prefent book, endeavoured to
throw every hiftorical incident into that uni-
verfal language, the pidlurefque of poetry.
The circumftances unfufceptible of imagery
are haftened over, and thofe which can beil
receive it, prefented to the view. When
Heflor ftorms the Grecian camp, when
Achilles marches to battle, ever)' reader undcr-
ftands and is afFefted with the bold painting.
But when Neftor talks of his exploits at the
funereal games oi Amaryncrs, (Iliad, xxiii.)
the critics themfelves cannot comprehend
him, and have vied with each other in in-'
venting explanations.
Hhh 3
Join'd
422 THE L U S I A D. Book X.
Join'd are the feds that never touch'd before.
By land the Pagan, and by fea the Moor.
O'er land, o'er fea the great Pacheco ftrews
The proflrate fpearmen, and the founder'd ^ proas.
Submis and filent, palfied with amaze
Proud Malabar th' unnumbered flain furveys :
Yet burns the Monarch ; to his fhrlne he fpeeds ;
Dire howl the priefls, the groaning vidim bleeds ;
The ground they flamp, and from the dark abodes
With tears and vows they call th' infernal gods*
Enrag'd with dog-like madnefs to behold
His temples and his towns in flames enroll'd.
Secure of promifed vidory, again
He fires the war, the lawns are heapt with flain.
With fl:ern reproach he brands his routed Nayres,
And for the dreadful field Himfelf prepares ;
His harnefs'd thoufands to the fight he leads.
And rides exulting where the combat bleeds :
Amid his pomp his robes are fprinkled o'er,
And his proud face dafli'd with his ^ menials' gore :
From his high couch he leaps, and fpeeds to flight
On foot inglorious, in his army's fight.
Hell then he calls, and all the powers of hell.
The fecre.t poifon, and the chanted fpell ;
_ ^ Proas— or paraos, Indian veflels which ' h's roles are fprlnUed u''er,
iie low on the water, are worked with oars, And his proud face dajh^d ivith his menials*
and carry loo men and upwards apiece. |<>/-^,_See the hiftory in the preface.
Vain
Book X.
THE LUSIAD.
423
Vain as the fpell the poifon's rage is flied.
For Heaven defends the hero's facred head.
Still fiercer from each wound the Tyrant burns.
Still to the field with heavier force returns ;
The feventh dread war he kindles ; high in air
The hills diihonour'd lift their fhoulders bare ;
Their woods roll'd down now flrew the river's fide,
Now rife in mountain turrets o'er the tide ;
Mountains of fire and fpires of bickering. flame.
While either bank refounds the proud acclaim.
Come floating down, . round Lufas' fleet to pour
Their fulphrous entrails in a burning ^ fhower.
Oh vain the hope Let Rome her boafl refign ;
Her palms, Pacheco, never bloom'd like thine -,
Nor Tyber's bridge, nor Marathon's ^ red field.
Nor thine, Thermopylae, fuch deeds beheld i
Nor Fabius' arts fuch rufhing florms repell'd.
Swift as repulfed the famifhed wolf returns
Fierce to the fold, and, wounded, fiercer burns ;
So fwift, £g fierce, feven times, all India's might
Returns unnumber'd to the dreadful fight ;
!
^ ■ round Lufus* fleet to pour their
fulphrous entraih. How Pacheco avoid-
ed this formidable danger, fee the hiilory in
the preface.
' Nor Tyher^s bridge.— -—^hzn Porfenna
befieged Rome, Horatius Codes defended
the pafs of a bridge till the Romans de-
ftroyed it behind him. Having thus faved
the pafs, heavy armed as he was, he fwimmed
acrofs the river to his companions. The
Roman hiflory, however, at this period, h
often mixt with fable. Miltiades obtained
a great viftory over Darius at Marathon.
The ftand of Leonidas is well known. The
battles of Pacheco were in defence of tha
fords by which the city of Cochin could
only be entered. The numbers he withllood
by land and fea, and the viftories he ob-
taiued, are much, more aftonifbing than th«
ftand at Thermopyl*. See the preface.
One
424 THE LUSIAP, Book X.
One hundred fpears, fcveri times in dreadful flower.
Strews in the dufl all India's raging power.
The lofty fong, for palenefs o*er her fpread.
The nymph fufjpends, and bows the languid head ;
Her faultering words are breath'd on plaintive fighs.
Ah, Belifarius, injured Chief, fhe cries.
Ah, wipe thy tears ; in war thy rival fee.
Injured Pacheco falls defpoil'd like thee ;
In him, in thee difhonour'd virtue bleeds.
And valour weeps to view her fairefl deeds.
Weeps o'er Pacheco, where, forlorn he lies
Low on an alms-houfe "* bed, and friendlefs dies.
Yet fhall the Mufes plume his humble bier.
And ever o'er him pour th' immortal tear ;
Though by thy king, alone to thee unjuft.
Thy head, great Chief, was humbled in the dull.
Loud fhall the Mufe indignant found thy praife,
** Thou gavefl thy Monarch's throne its proudefl blaze.'*
While round the world the fun's bright car fliall ride.
So bright fhall fhine thy name's illuftrious pride ;
Thy Monarch's glory, as the moon's pale beam,
Eclipfed by thine, ihall fhed a fickjy gleam.
Such meed attends when foothing flattery fways.
And blinded State its facred trufl betrays !
• Low on an alms-houfe bed. ' ■■Seg the hillory in the preface.
• ' ^ Again
Book X, THE L U S I A D» 425
Again the Nymph exalts her brow, again
Her fwelling voice refounds the lofty ftrain r
Almeyda comes, the kingly name he bears,.
Deputed royalty his flandard rears :
In all the generous rage of youthful fire
The warlike ion attends the warlike fire, - U
Quiloa's blood-fi:ain'd tyrant now fhall feel
The righteous vengeance of the Lufian fi:eel.
Another prince, by Lilbon's throne beloved.
Shall blefs the land, for faithful deeds approved*
Mombaze fhall now her treafon's meed behold.
When curling flames her proudeft domes enfold :
^Involved in finoak, loud crafhing, low fhall fall
The mounded temple and the caflled wall.
O'er India's feas the young' Almeyda pours.
Scorching the wither'd air, his iron fhowers ;
Torn mafts and rudders, hulks and canvas riven.
Month after month before his prows are driven;
But Heaven's dread will, where clouds of darknefs refl.
That awful will, which knows alone the befl.
Now blunts his fpear : Cambaya's fquadrons joined
With Egypt's fleets, in pagan rage combined,
Engrafp him round ^ red boils the flaggering flood,
Purpled with volleying flames and hot with blood :
Whirl'd by an iron thunder bolt, his thigh
In fhivers torn flies hifllng o*er the fky :
■ Bound
426 THE L U S I A D. Book X.
Bound to the mail the godlike hero ° ilands.
Waves his proud fword and cheers his woeful bands*
Though winds and feas their wonted aid deny.
To yield he knows not, but he knows to die :
.Another thunder tears his manly breaft :
Oh fly, blefl fpirit, to thy heavenly reft
Hark, rolling on the groaning florm I hear,
Refiftlefs vengeance thundering on the rear !
I fee the tranfports of the furious fire.
As o'er the mangled corfe his eyes flafh fire.
Swift to the fight, wdth ftern though weeping eyes,
Fixt rage fierce burning in his breafl, he flies s
Pierce as the bull that fees his rival rove
Free with the heifers through the mounded grove.
On oak or beech his madning fury pours ;
So pours Almeyda's rage on Dabul's towers*
His vanes wide waving o'er the Indian fky.
Before his prows the fleets of India " fly ;
" Bound to the maji the godlike hero J! ands. Almeyda attacked flie combined fleets oF
——The Englifh hiftory affords an inftance Egypt, Cambaya, and the Zamorim, in
cf fimilar rcfolutiou in Admiral Bembo, the entrance and harbour of Diu, or Dib.
V^ho was fupported in a wooden frame, and The fleet of the Zamorim almoft imii:tdi-
continued the engagement after his legs and ately fled. That of Melique Yaz, Lord of
thighs were fliivered in fplinters. Contrary Diu, fuffered.much ; but the greateft flaugh-
to the advice of his officers the young Al- ter fell upon the Egyptians and Turks, com-
ineyda refufcd to bear off, though almoft manded by Mir-Hocem, who had defeated
certain to be overpowered, and though both and killed the young Almeyda. Of 800
wind and tide were critically againft him. Mamulucks or Turks, who fought under
His father had ftiarply upbraided him for a Mir-Hocem, only 22, fays 0/orius, furvived
former retreat, where viftory was thought this engagement. Melique Yaz, fays /'ar/Vi
impoflibk. He now fell the viftim of his j Sou/a, was born in flavcry, and defcended
father's ideas of military glory. See the of the Chriftians of Roxia. The road to pre-
preface. ferment is often a dirty one ; but Melique's
• . the fleets of India fly. ^—kh^r was much Icfs fo than that of many. As the
luving cleared the Indian feas, the Viceroy king of Cambaya was one day riding in
0ate^
Book X, THE L U S I A D, 427
On Egypt's chief his mortars* dreadful tire
Shall vomit all the rage of prifon'd fire :
Heads, limbs and trunks fhall choak the flruggling tide,
Till every furge with reeking crimfon dyed.
Around the young Almeyda's haplefs urn
His conquerors' naked ghofls fhall howl and mourn.
As meteors flafliing through the darken'd air
I fee the vidtors' whirling faulchions glare ;
Dark rolls the fulphrous fmoke o'er Dio's ikies.
And fhrieks of death and fliouts of conqueft rife.
In one wide tumult blended : The rough roar
Shakes the brown tents on Ganges' trembling fhore;
The waves of Indus from the banks recoil ;
And matrons howling on the ftrand of Nile,
By the pale moon their abfent fons deplore ;
Long fhall they wail ', their fons return no more.
Ah, ftrike the notes of woe, the Syren cries,
A dreary vifion fv/ims before my eyes.
To Tagus' fhore triumphant as he bends.
Low in the duft the Hero's glory ends :
Though bended bow, nor thundering engine's hail.
Nor Egypt's fword, nor India's fpear prevail,
ftate, an unlucky kite dunged upon his royal the ground. For the noerit of this eminent
head. His majefty in great wrath fvvore he fervice he was made Lord of Diu, or Dio, a
would give all he was worth to have the confiderable city, the ftrongeft and moft im-
ofFender killed. M^'lique, who was an ex- portant fortrefs at that time in all India,
pert archer, immediately difpatched an ar- See Farias L, 2. C, 2.
fpW| which brought the audacious hawk to
I i i Fall
428 THE L U S I A D. Book X.
Fall fhall the ^ Chief before a naked foe.
Rough clubs and rude hurl'd ftones fhall flrike the blow;
The Cape of Tempefls Ihall his tomb fupply.
And in the defert fands his bones iliall lie,
No boaftful trophy o'er his afhes rear'd :
Such Heaven's dread will, and be that will rever'd !
But lo, refplendent fliines another ftar.
Loud (he refounds, in all the blaze of war !
Great ^ Cunia guards Melinda's friendly fhore.
And dyes her feas with Oja's hoftile gore;
Lamo and Brava's towers his vengeance tell :
Green Madagafcar's flowery dales fliall fwell
His ecchoed fame, till ocean's fouthmoft bound
On illes and fhores unknown his name refound.
Another blaze, behold, of fire and arms !
Great Albuquerk awakes the dread alarms :
O'er Ormuz' walls his thundering flames he pours.
While Heaven, the Hero's guide, indignant ' fhowers
Their arrows backward on the Perfian foe.
Tearing the breafl:s and arms that twang'd the bow.
P Fall Jhall the Chief.—-— Stt the note on arrows of the enemy backward upon their
page zo8. own ranks. Oforius fays, that many of the
'i Great Cunia. Triftan de Cunha, or dead Pcrfians and Moors were found to have
d'Acugna. See the hiftory in the preface. died by arrows. But as that weapon was
"■ Heaven indignant Jho-ivers their arrovjs not ufed by the Portuguefc, he conjedlures,
hacknuard. Sec the note on page d^. that in their defpair of viftory many of the
Some writers relate, that when Albuquerque enemy had thus killed themfelves, rather
befieged Ormuz, a violent wind drove the than furvive the defeat.
Mountains
BookX. the L U S I a a 429
Mountains of fait and fragrant gums in vain
Were fpent untainted to embalm the flain.
Such heaps (hall ftrew the feas and faithlefs ftrand
Of Gerum, Mazcate, and Calayat's land.
Till faithlefs Ormuz own the Lufian fway.
And Barem's pearls her yearly fafety pay.
What glorious palms on Goa's ' ifle I fee.
Their bloflbms fpread, great Albuquerk, for thee I
Through caftled walls the Hero breaks his way.
And opens with his fword the dread array
Of Moors and Pagans ; through their depth he rides.
Through fpears and fhowering fire the battle guides.
As bulls enraged, or lions fmear'd with gore.
His bands fweep wide o'er Goa's purpled fhore.
Nor eaflward far though fair Malacca * lie.
Her groves embofom'd in the morning fky ;
Though with her amorous fons the valiant line
Of Java's ifle in battle rank combine,
• What glorious palms on Goa's ijle I fee. the prize of the vigors. When Albuquerqoe
^ This important place was made an was on the way to Malacca, he attacked a
Archbiflioprick, the capital of the Portu- large ftiip, but juft as his men were going to
guefe empire in the Eafl:, and the feat of board her, flie fuddenly appeared all in
their Viceroys ; for which purpofes it is ad- flames, which obliged the Portuguefe to
vantageoufly fituated on the cpaft of Decan. bear oiF. Three days afterward the fame
It ftill remains in the poireffion of the For- veflel fenta boat to Albuquerque, offering an
tuguefe. alliance, which was accepted. The flames,
' Malacca. The conquefl: of this place fays Oforius, were only artificial, and did
was one of the grfcateft aftions of Albuquer- not the Icaft damage. Another wonderful
que. It became the chief port of the eaftern adventure immediately happened. The ad-
part of Portuguefe India, and fecond only to miral foon aft^r fent his long boats to attack
Goa. Befides a great many pieces of ord- a fhip commanded by one NehoadaBeeguca.
nance which were carried away by the Moors The enemy made an obftinate refiftance. Ne-
who efcaped, 3000 large cannon remained hoadahimlclf was pierced with feveral mortal
I i i 2 wounds,
/
430
THE L U S I A D.
Book X.
Though poiron'd fhafts their ponderous quivers ftore -,
Malacca's fpicy groves and golden ore.
Great Albuquerk, thy dauntlefs toils fhall crown !
Yet art thou " flain'd Here with a fighful frown
The Goddefs paufed, for much remain'd unfung,.
But blotted with an humble foldier's wrong.
.^^z?
wounds, but loft not one drop of blood, till
a bracelet was taken off his arm, when im-
mediately the blood gufhed out. Accord-
ing to Oforius, this was faid to be occafioned
by the virtue of a ftone in the bracelet taken
out of an animal called Cabrifia, which
when worn on the body could prevent the
effufion of blood from the moft grievous
wounds.
" Tet artthoujiain^d. A detail of all
the great aftions of Albuquerque would have
been tedious and unpoetical. Camoens has
chofen the moft brilliant, and has happily
fupprefled the reft by a difplay of indigna-
tion. The French tranflator has the follow-
ing note on this pafTage, " Behold another
*' inftance of our Author's prejudice ! The
*' aftion which he condemns had nothing in
** it blameable : but as he was of a moft
" amorous conftitution, he thought every
•• fault which could plead an amour in its
*' excufe ought to be pardoned ; but true
*' heroes, fuch as Albuquerque, follow other
*' maxims. This great man had in his
*' palace a beautiful Indian flave. He view-
** ed her with the eyes of a father, and the
** care of her education was his pleafure.
" A Portuguefe foldier, named Ruy Diaz,
•' had the boldnefs to enter the General's
*' apartment, where he fucceeded fo well
•* with the girl, that he obtained his defire.
*' When Albuquerque heard of it, he im-
*• mediately ordered him to the gallows."
Camoens, however, was no fuch undif-
tinguiftiing libertine as this would reprefent
him. In a few pages we find him praifing
the continence of Don Henry de Menefes,
whofe viftory over his paffions he calls the
higheft excellence of youth. Nor does it
appear by what authority the Frenchman
aftures us of the chafte paternal afFe£lion
which Albuquerque bore to this Indian girl.
It was the great uimof Albuquerque to efta-
blifti colonies in India, and for that purpofe
he encouraged his foldiers to marry with the
natives. The moft fightly girls were felcft-
ed, and educated in the religion and houfe-
hold arts of Portugal, and portioned at the
expence of the General. Thefe he called
his daughters, and with great pleafure he
ufed to attend their weddings, feveral
couples being ufually joined together at one
time. At one of thefe nuptials, fays Faria^
the feftivity having continued late, and the
brides being mixed together, feveral of the
bridegrooms committed a blunder. The
miftakes of the night however, as they were
all equal in point of honour, were mutually
forgiven in the morning, and each man took
his proper wife whom he had received at
the altar. This delicate anecdote of Albu-
querque's fons and daughters, is as bad a
commentary on the note of Caftera, as it is
on the feverity which the commander ftiew-
ed to poor Diaz, Nor does Camoens ftand
alone in the condemnation of the General.
The Hiftorian agrees with the Poet. Men-
tioning the death of D. Antonio Noronha,
This gentleman, fays Faria, ufed to
moderate the violent temper of his uncle
Albuquerque, which fcon after fhewed
itfelf in rigid feverity. He ordered a
foldier to be hanged for an amour with
one of the flaves whom be called daugh-
ters, and whom he ufed to give in mar-
riage. When fome of his officers afked
him what authority he had to take the
poor man's life, he drew his fvvord, told
them that was his commiflion, and in-
ftantly broke them." To marry his
foldiers with the natives was the plan of
Albuquerque, his feverity therefore feems
unaccountable, unlefs we admit the perhaps
of Camoens, cu dc ciofo^ perhaps it was
jealoufy. But whatover incenfed the
General, the execution of the foldier was
contrary
Book X»
THE L U S I A D;
\zi
Alas, fhe cries, when war's dread horrors reign,
And thundering batteries rock the fiery plain.
When ghaflly famine on a hoilile foil.
When pale difeafe attends on weary toil.
When patient under all the foldier ftands,
Detefted be the rage which then demands
The humble foldier's blood, his only crime
The amorous frailty of the youthful prime I
Incefl's cold horror here no glow reftained.
Nor facred nuptial bed was here prophaned.
Nor here unwelcome force the virgin feized ;
A flave lafcivious, in his fondling pleafed,
Refigns her breafl Ah, ftain to Lufian fame !
('Twas luft of blood, perhaps 'twas jealous flame ;)
The Leader's rage, unworthy of the brave,
Configns the youthful foldier to the grave.
Not Ammon thus Apelles' love * repaid,
Great Ammon's bed reflgn'd the lovely maid -,
contrary to the laws of every nation* ; and
the honeft indignation of Camoens againft
one of the greateft of his countrymen, one
who was the grand architedl of the Portu-
guefe empire in the Eaft, affords a noble
inftance of that manly freedom of fentiment
which knows no right by which king or
peer may do injuftice to the meanefl fubjeft.
Nor can we omit the obfervation, that the
above note of Caftera is of a piece with
the French devotion wc have already feen
him pay to the name of king, a devotion
tvhich breathes the true fpirit of the bleffed
advice given by Father Paul to the republic of
Venice : " When a nobleman commits an of-
** fence againft a fubjeft, fays the Jefuit, let
" every means be tried to juftify him. But
" if a fubjed has offended a nobleman, let
*' him be punilhed with the utmoft feverity."
" Net Ammon. Campafpe, the moft
beautiful concubine of Alexander, was given
by that monarch to Apelles, whom he per-
ceived in love with her. Arafpas had ftrift
charge of the fair captive Panthea. His at-
tempt on her virtue was forgiven by Cyrus.
* ororim relate! the affair of Diaz with fome other circumihncci \ but with no diifereace tbat affcAi
tbii kiTeitioii.
Nor
432 THE L U S I A D.
Nor Cyrus thus reproved Arafpas' fire ;
Nor haughtier Carlo thus afTumed the fire.
Though iron Baldwin to his daughter's bower.
An ill-match'd lover, fiiole in fecret hour :
With nobler rage the lofty monarch glow*d.
And Flandria's ^ earldom on the knight befi:ow'd.
Book X.
Again the nymph the fong of fame refounds j
Lo, fweeping wide o'er Ethiopia's bounds.
Wide o'er Arabia's purple fhore on high
The Lufian enfigns blaze along the iky :
Mecca, aghaft, beholds the ftandards fhine.
And midnight horror fhakes Medina's "" fhrine ;
■^ Jfjii Flandria's earldom on the knight
hejio-uj'd. " Baldwin, furnamed Iron-
«' arm, Grand B'orefter of Flanders, being
** in love with Judith, the daughter of
*' Charles the Bald and widow of Ethel-
«* wolfe, king of England, obtained his
** defire by force. Charles, though at firft
*' he highly refented, afterwards pardoned
" his crime, and confented to his marriage
•' with the Princefs." ^^^^^^_
This digreflion in the fong of the nymph
bears, in manner, a ftriking refemblance to
the hiftories which often, even in the heat
of battle, the heroes of Homer relate to
each other. That thefe little epifodes have
their beauty and propriety in an Epic poem,
will ftrongly appear from a view of M . de
la Motte's tranflation of the Iliad into
French verfe. The four and twenty books of
Homer he has con trafted in to twelve , and thefe
contain no more lines than about four books
of the original. A thoufand embeliihments
which the warm poetical feelings of Homer
fuggefted to him, are thus thrown out by the
Frenchman. But what is the confequence of
this improvement r The work of la Mottc
is unread, even by his own countrymen, and
defpifed by every Foreigner who has the
leaft relifh for poetry and Homer.
^ And midnight horror Jkakes Medina't
prin^. Medina, the city where Moham-
med is buried. About fix years after Gama's
difcovery of India, the Sultan of Egypt
fent Maurus, the abbot of the monks at
Jerufalem, who inhabit Mount Sion, on an
embafly to Pope Julius II. The Sultan, with
fevere threats to the ChrilHans of the
Eaft in cafe of refufal, in treated the Pope
to defire Emmanuel king of Portugal to
fend no more fleets to the Indian feas. The
Pope fent Maurus to Emmanuel, who re-
turned a very fpiritcd anfwer to his Holi-
nefs, afluring him that no threats, no dan-
gers could make him alter his refolutions,
and lamenting that it had not yet been in
his power to fulfil his purpofe of demoljfh-
ing the fepulchre and era/ing the memorials
of Mohammed from the earth. This, he
fays, was the firft purpofe of fending his
fleets to India. Nobis enim, cum iter in
Indiam clajjibus nojlris aperire^ iff regiones
majorihus twjlris incognitas explorare dtcre'vi-
mus, hoc propojitum fuit^ ut ipfum Alahume-
tantg
Book X. THE L U S I A D. 433
Th' unhallowed altar bodes th' approaching foe,
Foredoom'd in duft its prophet's tomb to ftrew.
Nor Ceylon's ifle, brave Soarez, fhall with-hold
Its incenfe, precious as the burnifli'd gold.
What time o'er proud Columbo's loftieft fpire
Thy flag fli all blaze : Nor fhall th' immortal lyre
Forget thy praife, Sequeyra ! To the ihore
Where Sheba's fapient queen the ^ fceptre bore.
Braving the Red Sea's dangers Ihalt thou force
To Abyflinia's realm thy novel courfe ^
And illes, by jealous nature long conceal'd.
Shall to the w^ondering world be now reveal'd.
Great Menez next the Lufian fword fliall bear^
Menez, the dread of Afric, high fhall rear
His vid:or fword, till deep fhall Ormuz groan.
And tribute doubled her revolt atone.
Now fhines thy glory in meridian height.
And loud her voice fhe raifed ; O matchlefs Knight,
Thou, thou, illuflrious Gama, thou flialt bring
The olive bough of peace, deputed King !
tatti^ feEliC caput extingueremus ^ Where Sheha^s fapient queen the fceptre
It is with great art that Camoens fo often bore. The Abyffinians contend that
reminds us of the grand defign of the expe- their country is the Sheba mentioned in the
dition of his heroes, to fubvert Moham- fcripture, and that the queen who vifited
medifm and found a Chriftian empire in the Solomon bore a fon to that monarch, from
Eaft. But the dignity which this gives his whom their royal family, to the prefent
poem is already obferved in the preface. time, is defcended.
The
434 THE L U S I A D, Book X-
The lands by Thee difcover'd {hall obey
Thy fcepter'd power, and blefs thy regal fway.
But India's crimes, outrageous to the ikies,
A length of thefe Saturnian days denies :
Snatch'd from thy golden throne the heavens (hall claim
Thy deathlefs foul, the world thy deathlefs [ name.
Now o'er the coaft of faithlefs Malabar
Vidorious Henry "" pours the rage of war ;
Nor lefs the youth a nobler llirife Ihall wage.
Great vi(5tor of himfelf though green in age ;
No reftlefs flave of wanton amorous fire.
No luft of gold fhall taint his generous ire.
While youth's bold pulfe beats high, how brave the boy
Whom harlot fmiles nor pride of power decoy !
Immortal be his name ! Nor lefs thy praife.
Great ' Mafcarene, {hall future ages raife :
y Snatcydfrum thy golden throne. — Gama *' the feaft and the fong continue. If I am
only reigned three months Viceroy of India. ** not deceived, this is truly great."
During his fecond voyage, the third which ^ Fiiiorious Henry. Don Henry de
the Portuguefe made to India, he gave the Menezes. He was only twenty-eight when
Zamorim fome confiderable defeats by fea, appointed to the government of India. He
be/ides his viftories over the Moors. Thefe, died in his thirtieth year, a noble example
however, are judicioufly omitted by Ca- of the moft difmterefted heroifm. See the
moens, as the lefs ftriking part of his cha- preface
rafter. * Great M a/car ene. Pedro de Mafca-
The French Tranflator is highly pleafed renhas. The injuftice done to this brave
with the prediftion of Gama's death, de- officer, and the ufurpation of his govern-
livered to himfelf at the feaft. " The Syren, mentfhip by Lopez Vaz de Sampayo, afford
■•* fays he, pcrfuaded that Gama is a hero one of the moft interefting periods of the
*' exempt from weaknefs, does not hefitate hiftory of the Portuguefe in India. See the
** to mention the end of his life. Gama preface.
f* Jiftens without any mark of emotion.;
Though
BookX. the L U S I a D. 435
Though power, unjuft, wlth-hold the fplendid ray
That dignifies the creft of fovereign fway.
Thy deeds, great Chief, on Bintam's humbled fhore.
Deeds fuch as Afia never view*d before.
Shall give thy honell fame a brighter blaze
Than tyrant pomp in golden robes difplays.
Though bold in war the fierce Ufurper fhine.
Though Cutial's potent navy o'er the brine
Drive vanquifh'd ; though the Lufian He(flor's fword
For him reap conqueft, and confirm him Lord ;
Thy deeds, great Peer, the wonder of thy foes.
Thy glorious chains unjuft, and generous woes.
Shall dim the fierce Sampayo's faireft fame.
And o'er his honours thine aloud proclaim.
Thy generous woes ! Ah gallant injured Chief, .
Not thy own forrows give the fharpeft grief.
Thou feefl: the Lufian name her honours jftain.
And luft of gold her heroes' breafts profane j
Thou feefl ambition lift the impious head.
Nor God's red arm, nor lingering jufi:ice dread;
O'er India's bounds thou feeft thefe vultures prowl.
Full gorged with blood, and dreadlefs of controul ;
Thou feeft and weepft thy country's blotted name.
The generous forrow thine, but not the fhame.
Nor long the Lufian enfigns ftain'd remain ;
Great Nunio ** comes, and razes every ftain.
*» Great Ar««/V.-— -Nunio de Cunha, one of the moll worthy of the Portuguefe governors.
See the preface.
Kkk Though
436 THE L U S I A D. . Book X.
/ /I /■
Though lofty Cale's warlike towers he rear ; -/ '' '
Though haughty Melic groan beneath his fpear ;
Though Dio owe her fafety to his name,
Thefe are the tinfel of his nobler fame.
Far haughtier foes of Lufian race he braves ;
The awful fword of juftice high he waves :
Before his bar the injured Indian flands^
And juftice boldly on his foe demands.
The Lufian foe ; in wonder loft the Moor
Beholds proud Rapine's vulture gripe reflore ;
Beholds the Lufian hands in fetters bound
By Lufian hands, and wound repay'd for wound.
Oh, more fhall thus by NunioVworth be won>
Than conqueft reaps from high plumed hofls o'erthrown.
Long fhall the generous Nunio's blifsful fway
Command fupreme. In Dio's hopelefs day
The fovereign toil the brave Noronha takes ;
Awed by his fame the fierce-foul'd Rumien ^ fhakes,
/And Dio's open'd walls in fudden flight forfakes.
A fon of thine, O Gama, now fhall ** hold
The helm of empire, prudent, wife and bold :
•^ Aived hy his fame. That brave Coje Zofar, one of the general officers of
generous fpirit, which prompted Camoens the aflaillants. The delays of Noronha
to condemn the great Albuquerque for in- were as highly blameable, as his treatment
juftice to a common foldier, has here de- of his predeceffor, the excellent Nunio, was
ferted him. In place of poetical compli- unworthy of a gentleman. See the hiftory
rnent, on the terrors of his name, Noronha of the Portuguefe Commanders in India, in
deferved infamy. The fiege of Dio, it is the preface.
true, was raifed on the report of his ap- '' J Jon of thine^ O Gama. Stephen
preach, but that report -was the ftratagem of de Gama. See the preface.
Malacca
!
Book X. THE L U S I A D. 437
Malacca faved and flrengthen'd by his arms.
The banks of Tor fliall eccho his alarms ;
His worth fhall blefs the kingdoms of the morn.
For all thy virtues fhall his foul adorn.
When fate refigns thy hero to the ikies,
A Veteran, famed on Brazil's fhore, fhall " rife : ^
The wide Atlantic and the Indian main.
By turns fhall own the terrors of his reign.
His aid the proud Cambayan king implores.
His potent aid Cambaya's king reflores.
The dread Mogul with all his thoufands flies.
And Dio's towers are Souza's well-earn'd prize.
Nor lefs the Zamorim o'er blood-flain'd ' ground
Shall fpeed his legions, torn with many a wound.
In headlong rout. Nor fhall the boaflful pride
Of India's navy, though the fhaded tide
Around the fquadron'd mafts appear the down
Of fome wide forefl, other fate renown.
Loud rattling through the hills of Cape Camore ^
I hear the tempefl of the battle roar !
Clung to the fplinter'd mafls I fee the dead
Badala's fhore with horrid wreck befpread ;
* A Veteran fam^d on Bra'z'tVs Jhore.—— allow de fangue c^'fl—— which Fan-
Martin Alonzo de Souza. He was celc- Ihaw has thus punned,
brated for clearing the coaft of Brazil of • v. r i i r
feveral pirates, who were formidable to that „ a- — I- T ^■\''wl^r..r
' c ^ ■\ Sending him home again by ^«/>/«^-Croy}.——
' o'er blood-Jiain^d ground. — — a place near Banbury in Oxfordihire.
This is as near the original as elegance will
K k k 2 Baticala
438 THE L U S I A D. Book X.
Baticala inflamed by treachrous hate, .
Provokes the horrors of Badala's fate :
Her feas in blood, her fkies enwrapt in fire
Confefs the fweeping ftorm of Souza's ire.
No hoflile fpear now rear'd on fea or ftrand^
The awful fceptre graces Souza's hand ;
Peaceful he reigns, in counfel jufl: and wife j
And glorious Caftro now his throne fupplies t
Caftro, the boafl of generous fame, afar
From Dio's flrand fhall fway the glorious war.
Madning with rage to view the Lufian band,
A troop fo few, proud Dio's towers command.
The cruel Ethiop Moor to heaven complains.
And the ftern Perfian foe his peers arraigns.
The Rumien fierce, who boafls the name of ^ Rome,
With thefe confpires, and vows the Lufians' doom.
A thoufand barbarous nations join their powers
To bathe with Lufian blood the Dion towers.
Dark rolling fheets forth belch'd from brazen wombs.
Bored, as the fhowering cloud, with hailing bombs.
K The Rumien fierce who loafis the name the fame figure among the Eaflerns, as that
cfRome. When the viftories of the Por- of the fabulous or heroic ages, does with us>
tuguefe began to overfpread the Eaft, feveral with this difference, it was better believed.
Indian princes, by the counfels of the Moors, The Turks of Romania pretended to be the
applied for afliftance to the Sultan of Egypt defcendants of the Roman Conquerors, and
and the Grand Signior. The troops of the Indians gave them and their auxiliaries
thefe Mohammedan princes were in the the name of Rumes, or Romans. In the fame
higheft reputation for bravery, and though manner the fame of Godfrey in the Eaft
compofed of many different nations, were conferred the name of Franks on all the
known among the orientals by one common weftern Chriflians, who on their part gave
name. Ignorance delights in the marvel- the name of Moors to all the Mohamme-
Jous. The hillory of OBcient Rome made dans of the Eaft.
O'er
Book X.
THE L U S I A D.
^29
O'er Dio's iky fpread the black fhades of death.
The mine's dread earthquakes fhake the ground beneath.
No hope, bold ^ Mafcarene, mayft thou refpire,
A glorious fall alone, thy jufl: defire.
When lo, his gallant fon brave Caflro fends —
Ah heaven, w^hat fate the haplefs youth attends I
In vain the terrors of his faulchion glare ;
The cavern'd mine burils, high in pitchy air
Rampire and fquadron vv^hirl'd convulfive, borne
To heaven, the hero dies in fragments torn.
His loftiell: bough though fall'n, the generous lire
His living hope devotes with Roman ire.
On wings of fury flies the brave Alvar
Through oceans howling with the wintery war.
Through ikies of fnow his brother's vengeance bears ;
And foon in arms the valiant fire appears :
Before him vi6lory fpreads her eagle-wing
Wide fweeping o'er Cambaya's haughty king.
In vain his thundering courfers fhake the ground,
Cambaya bleeding of his might's laft wound
Sinks pale in dufl : Fierce Hydal-Kan * in vain
Wakes war on war ; he bites his iron chain.
•' No hope, hold Mafcarene. • The
commander of Dia, or Dio, during this
fiege, one of the moll memorable in the
Portuguefe hiftory.
* Fierce Hydal Kan. The title of the
Lords or Princes of Decan, who in their
wars with the Portuguefe have fometimes
brought 400,000 men into the field. The
prince here mentioned, after many revolt*,
was at laft finally fubdued by Don John de
Callro, the fourth Viceroy of India, with
whofe reign our Poet judicioufly ends the
prophetic fong. Albuquerque laid the plan,
and Caflro compleatd the fyflem of the Por-
tuguefe empire in the Eafl. (For an account
0/ 'whUki Jet the preface.) It is with pro-
priety
4A-0 THE LUSIAD. Book X.
O'er Indus* banks, o'er Ganges' fmiling vales
No more the hind his plunder'd field bewails : .
O'er every field, O Peace, thy bloffoms glover.
The golden blolToms of thy olive bough ;
Firm bafed on wifeft lav^s great Caftro crow^ns.
And the v^^ide Eaft the Lufian Empire owns.
Thefe warlike Chiefs, the fons of thy renown.
And thoufands more, O Vasco, doom'd to crown
Thy glorious toils, Aall through thefe feas unfold
Their vidor-flandards blazed with Indian gold ;
And in the bofom of our flowery ifle,
Embathed in joy {hall o'er their labours fmile.
Their nymphs like your's, their feaft divine the fame.
The raptured foretafle of immortal fame.
So fung the Goddefs, while the fifter train
With joyful anthem clofe the facred ftrain ;
Though Fortune from her whirling fphere beftow
Her gifts capricious in unconftant flow,
friety therefore that the prophecy given to contempt of Camoens does him true honour.
Gama is here fummed up. Nor is the dif- In this hiftorical fong, as already hinted,
cretion of Camoens in this inftance inferior the Tranflator has been attentive, as much
to his judgment. He is now within a few as he could, to throw it into thefe univerfal
years of his own times, when he himfelf languages, the pifturefque and charafterifUc.
was upon the fcene in India, But whatever To convey the fublimeftinftruftion to princes,
he had faid of his cotemporaries would have is, according to Arillotle, the peculiar pro-
been liable to mifconftruftion, and every vince of the Epic Mufe. The ftriking
fentence would have been branded with the points of view, in which the different cha-
epithets of flattery or malice. A little Poet raders of the Governors of India are here
•vould have been happy in fuch an oppor- placed, are in the moft happy conformity to
^«uty to refent his wrongs. But the fileat this ingenious canon of the Stageryte.
Yet
Book X. THE LUSIAD. 441
Yet laurel'd honour and immortal fame
Shall ever conflant grace the Lufian name.
So fung the joyful chorus, while around
The filver roofs the lofty notes refound.
The fong prophetic, and the facred feaft.
Now fhed the glow of ftrength through every breaft.
When with the grace and majefty divine.
Which round immortals when enamour'd fhine.
To crown the banquet of their deathlefs fame.
To happy Gam A thus the fovereign Dame :
O loved of heaven, what never man before.
What wandering fcience never might explore.
By heaven's high will, with mortal eyes to fee
Great Nature's face unveil'd, is given to Thee.
Thou and thy warriors follow where I lead :
Firm be your fteps, for arduous to the tread
Through matted brakes of thorn and brier, beftrew*d
With fplinter'd flint, winds the fteep flippery road.
She fpake, and fmiling caught the hero's hand.
And on the mountain's fummit foon they fland ;
A beauteous lawn with pearl enamell'd o'er.
Emerald and ruby, as the gods of yore
Had fported here. Here in the fragrant air
A wondrous globe, appear'd, divinely fair !
Through every part the light tranfparent flow'd.
And in the centre as the furface glow'd.
The
443 THE L U S I A t). Book X.
The frame etherial various orbs compofe.
In whirling ^ circles now they fell, now rofe ;
Yet never rofe nor fell, for ftill the fame
Was every movement of the wondrous frame;
Each movement ftill beginning, ilill compleat.
It's Author's type, felf-poifed, perfedion's feat.
Great Vasco thrill'd with reverential awe.
And rapt with keen defire, the wonder faw.
The Goddefs markt the language •of his eyes.
And here, ihe cried, thy largeft wifli fuffice.
Great Nature's fabric thou dofl here behold,
Th' etherial pure, and elemental mould
In pattern fhewn complete, as Nature's God
Ordain'd the world's great frame, his dread abode 5
For every part the power divine pervades.
The fun's bright radiance and the central ihades -,
Yet let not haughty reafon's bounded line
Explore the boundlefs God, or where define,
* /« nvhirling circles noiu they fell, noiu our earth ihe centre of the Unlverfe, is th«
rofe, — Tet never rofe nor fel l • The mo- fyftem adopted by Camoens, a happinefs,
tions of the heavenly bodies, in every fyf- in the opinion of the Tranflator, to the
tern, bear, at all times, the fame uniform Englifh Lufiad. The new fyftem is fo well
relation to each other; thefe expreflions, known, that a poetical defcription of it
therefore, are ftriftly jufl:. The firlt relates would have been no novelty to the Englifh
to the appearance, the fecond to the reality. reader. The other has not only that ad-
Thus while to us the fun appears to go vantage in its favour ; but this defcription is
down, to more weftern inhabitants of the perhaps the fineft and fulleft that ever was
^lobe he appears to rife, and while he rifes given of it in poetry, that of Lucretius,
to us, he is going down to the more-eaftern ; 1. v. being chiefly argumentative, and
the difference being entirely relative to the therefore lefs pifturefque.
various parts of the earth. And in this Our Author ft:udicd at the univerfity of
the expreflions of our Poet are equally ap- Coimbra, where the ancient fyftem and
plicable to the Ptolemaic and Copernican other doftrines of the Ariftotelians then,
fyftcraa. The ancient hypothefis which made and long afterward, prevailed.
Where
Book X. THE L U S I A D. 443
Where in Himfelf in uncreated light,
(While all his worlds around feem wrapt in night,)
He holds his loftieft ^ ftate. By primal laws
Impofed on Nature's birth, Himfelf the caufe.
By her own miniftry through every maze
Nature in all her walks unfeen he fways.
Thefe fpheres " behold ; the firft in wide embrace
Surrounds the leiTer orbs of various face ;
The Empyrean this, the holieft heaven.
To the pure fpirits of the Bleil is given :
No mortal ey-e its fplendid rays may bear.
No mortal bofom feel the raptures there.
The earth in all her fummer pride array 'd
To this might feem a drear fepulchral (hade.
Unmoved it ftands : within its fhining frame.
In motion fwifter than the lightning's flame.
Swifter than fight the moving parts may fpy.
Another fphere whirls round its rapid fky.
Hence Motion ' darts its force, impulfive draws.
And on the other orbs imprefles laws ;
The Sun's bright car attentive to its force
•Gives night and day, and fhapes his yearly courfe ;
^ He hclds his loftieji fiate.' Called by In their accounts of this firft mentioned,
the old philofophers and fchool divines the but Eleventh Sphere, which they called the
■Sen/orium of the Deity. Empyrean or heaven of the Blcft, the
'' The/e fpheres heboid. According to difciples of Ariftotle, and the Arab Moors,
the Peripatetics the univerfe confifted of gave a loofc to all the warmth of imagina-
Eleven Spheres inclofed within each other, tion. And feveral of the Chriftian Fathers
as Fanfaav/ has familiurly exprcfled it by a applied to it the defcriptions of heaven which
. fimilie wiii(;h he has lent our Author. The are found in the Holy Scripture,
tfirft of thefe fpheres, he fays,
doth (as in a neft ^ l^'"" ^"^J"" '^"^^^ '" /'''"^•.TT:/ ^'^"
Of bQxes) all the other oibs comprize ^^^ Tenth Sphere, the Pnmum Mobile of the
L I I ancient
444
THE L U S I A D. Book X.
Its force flupendous afks a pondrous fpher«
To poife its fury and its weight to bear :
Slow moves that pondrous orb ; the ftiff, flow pace
One ftep fcarce gains, while wide his annual race
Two hundred times the fun triumphant rides -,
The Chryftal Heaven is this, whofe rigour guides
And binds the ftarry "" fpbere : That fphere behold.
With diamonds fpangled, and emblazed with gold j
What radiant orbs that azure flcy adorn.
Fair o'er the night in rapid motion borne !
Swift as they trace the heaven's wide circling line,
Whirl'd on their proper axles bright they fhine.
ancient fyftem. To acc'..«nt for the appear-
ances of the heavens, the Peripatetics afcribed
double motion to it. While its influence
drew the other orbs from eaft to weft, they
fuppofed it had a motion of its own from
weft to eaft. To efFeft this, the ponderous
weight and intcrpofition of the Ninth Sphero,
or Chryftalline Heaven, was neceflary. The
ancient Aftronomers obferved that the
ftars ftiifted their places. This they called
the motion of the Chryftalline Heaven,
expreffed by our Poet at the rate of one
pace during two hundred folar years. The
famous Arab aftronomer Abulhafan, in his
Meadows of Gold, calculates the revolution
of this fphere to confift of 49,000 of our
years. But modern difcoveries have not
only correfted the calculation*, but have
alfo afcertained the reafon of the apparent
motion of the fixt ftars. The earth is not
a perfeft fphere ; the quantity of matter is
greater at the equator ; hence the earth turns
on her axis in a rocking motion, revolving
round the axis of the ecliptic, which is
called the proceflion of the equinoxes, and
jnakes the ftars feem to ftiift their places at
about the rate of a degree in 7 2 years ; ac-
cording to which all the ftars feem to per-
form one revolution in the fpace of 25,920
years, after which they return exadly to
the fame fttuation as at the beginning of
this period. However imperfcft in their
calculations, the Chaldaic aftronomers per-
ceived that the motions of the heavens com-
pofed one great revolution. This they
called the Jnuus Magnus, which thofe wlio
did not underft^and them miftook for a re-
ftoration of all things to their firft originals,
and that the world was at that period to
begin anew in every refpeft. Hence the old
Egyptian notion, that everyone was at the
end of thirty-nine thoufand years to refume
every circumftance of his prefent life, to be
exaftly the fame in every contingency. And
hence alfo the Legends of the Bramins and
Mandarins, their periods of fifty thoufand
years, and the worlds which they tell us are al-
ready paft and eternally to fucceed each other.
"' jind hinds the ftarry fphere, This
was called the Firmament or Eighth Heaven.
Saturn, Jupiter. Mars, Apollo, Venus,
M,ercury, and Diana, were tlie planets
which gave name to, and whofe orbits com-
pofed the other fpheres or heavens.
• However deficient the aflronomy of Abulhafan may he, it is nothing to the calculation of his Prophet
Mohammed, who tells hii difciples, that the flau w«; each about the bignefs of an houfe, and hung from the
'&Y oa chains of Kold. ''
Wide
Book X.
THE LUSIAD.
445
Wide o'er this heaven a golden belt difplays
Twelve various forms ; behold the glittering blaze !
Through thefe the fun in annual journey towers.
And o'er each clime their various tempers pours 3
In gold and filver of celeftial mine
How rich far round the conflellations fhine !
Lo, bright emerging o'er the polar tides
In fliining froil: the northern ' chariot rides ;
Mid treafured fnows here gleams the grifly bear.
And icy flakes incruft his fhaggy hair.
Here fair Andromeda of heaven beloved.
Her vengeful fire, and by the gods reproved
Beauteous Caffiope. Here fierce and red
Portending dorms Orion lifts his head ;
And here the dogs their raging fury fhed.
The fwan, fweet melodift, in death he iings.
The milder fwan here fpreads his filver wings.
i
' I» Jhining frojl the northern Chariot
rides. Commonly called Charlefwain.
Of Califto, or the Bear, fee the note on
page 195. Andromeda was the daughter
of Cepheus, king of Ethiopia, and of
Caffiope. Caffiope boafted that flie and her
daughter were more beautiful than Juno
and the Nereids. Andromeda, to appeafe
the goddefs, was, at her father's command,
chained to a rock to be devoured by a fea-
jnonfter, but was faved by Perfcus, who
obtained of Jupiter that all the family
fhould be placed among the ftars. Orion
was a hunter, who, for an attempt oa
Diana, was flung to death by a ferpent.
The ftar of his name portends tempefls.
The Dogs; Fable gives this honour to thofe
of differcQt hunters. The faithful dog of
Erigone, however, that died mad with grief
for the death of his miftrefs, has the beft
title to prefide over the dog-days. The
Swan ; that whofe form Jupiter borrowed to
enjoy Leda. The Hare, when purfued by
Orion, was faved by Mercury, and placed
in heaven, to fignify that Mercury prefides
over melancholy difpofitions. The Lyre,
with which Orpheus charmed Pluto. The
Dragon which guarded the golden apples of
the Hefperides, and the fhip Argo, com-
pleat the number of the conflellations men-
tioned by Camoens. If our Author has
blended the appearances of heaven with
thofe of the painted aftificial fphere, it is
in the manner of the claffics. Ovid, in
particular, thus defcribes the heavens, in th^
fecond book of his Metamorphofes.
L 1 1 z
Here
446
THE LUSIAD.
.Book X.
Here Orpheus' lyre, the melancholy hare.
And here the watchful dragon's eye-balls glare ;
And Thefeus' fliip. Oh, lefs renown'd than thine.
Shall ever o'er thefe ikies illuflrious ihine.
Beneath this radiant firmament behold
The various Planets in their orbits roll'd ;
Here in cold twilight hoary Saturn rides.
Here Jove ihines mild, here fiery Mars prefides,
Apollo her6 enthroned in light appears
The eye of heaven, emblazer of the fpheres ;
Beneath him beauteous glows the Queen of Love,
The proudefh hearts her facred influence prove -,
Here -Hermes famed for eloquence divine.
And here Diana's various faces fhine ;
Loweft fhe rides, and through the fhadowy night
Pours on the gliftening earth her filver light.
Thefe various orbs, behold, in various fpeed
Purfue the journeys at their birth decreed.
Now from the centre far impell'd they fly.
Now nearer earth they fail a lower fky,
A fhorten'd courfe : Such are their laws impreffc
By God's dread Will, that Will *" forever befl.
^ Such are their lanvs impreft by GocTs
dread nvill Though a modern narrative
of bawdy-houfe adventures by no means
requires the fuppofition of a particular Pro-
vidence, that fuppofition, however, is ab-
folutely neceflary to the grandeur of an
Epic Poem. The great examples of Homer
and Virgil prove it ; and Camoens under-
ilood and felt its force* While his fleet
combat all the horrors of unplowed oceans,
we do not view his heroes as idle wanderers ;
the care of heaven gives their voyage the
greateft importance. When Gama falls on
his knees and fpreads his hands to heaven on
the difcovery of India, we are prefented
with a figure infinitely more noble than that
of the moll fuccefsful Conqueror, who is
fuppofed to ad under the influence of fa-
talifm
Book X.
THE L U S I A D,
447
The yellow earth, the centre of the whole.
There lordly refts fullain'd on either pole.
talifm or chance. The human mind is con-
fcious of its own weaknefs. It expeds an
elevation in poetry, and demands a degree
of importance fuperior to the caprices of
unmeaning accident. The poetical reader
cannot admire the hero who is fubjeft to
fuch blind fortuity. He appears to us with
an abjeft uninterefting littlenefs. Our po-
etical ideas of permanent greatnefs demand
a Gama, a hero whofe enterprifes and whofe
perfon intereft the care of heaven and the
happinefs of his people. Nor muft this
fuppofition be conlined merely to the ma-
chinery. The reafon why it pleafes alfo
requires that ,the fuppofition fhould be uni-
form throughout the whole poem. Virgil,
by difmifling Eneas through the ivory gate
of Elyfium, lias hinted that all his pidlures
of a future ftate were merely dreams, and
has thus deftroyed the higheft merit of the
compliment to his patron Augurtus. But
Camoens has certainly been more happy.
A fair opportunity offered itfelf to indulge
the opinions of Lucretius and the Academic
Grove ; but Camoens, in afcribing the go-
vernment of the Univerfe to the Will of
God, has not only preferved the philofophy
of his poem perfeftly uniform, but has alfo
ihewn that the Peripatetic fyftem is, in
this inftance, exaftly conformable to the
Newtonian. But this leads us from, one de-
fence of our Author to another. We have
feen that the fuppofition of a Providence is
certainly allowable in a Poet : nor can we
think it is highly to be blamed even in a
phllofopher. The Principia of Newton
offer, what fome perhaps may efleem, a
demonflration of the truth of this opinion.
Matter appeared to Sir Ifaac as poffefTed of
no property but one, the •vis inert ia, or
dead inadivity. Motion, the centripetal and
centrifugal force, appeared therefore to that
great man, as added by the agency of fome-
thing diftindl from matter, by a Being of
other properties. And from the infinite com-
binations of the univerfe united in one great
defign, he inferred the omnipotence and
omnifcience of that primary Being.
If we admit, and who can poffibly deny it,
that man has an idea of right and wrong,
$nd a power of agency in both, he is then
a moral, or in other words, a reafonable
agent ; a Being placed in circumflance;,
where his agency is infallibly attended with
degrees of happinefs or mifery in finitely mof»
real and durable than any animal fenfation.
Now to fuppofe that the Being who has
provided for every want of animal nature,
who has placed even the meaneft infeft ia
its proper line, and has rendered every pur-
pofe of its agency or exillcnce complete, to
fuppofe that he has placed the infinitely
fuperior intelledual nature of man in an
agency of infinitely greater confequence,
but an agency of which he takes no fuper-
intendance to fuppofe this, is only to
fuppofe that the Author of Nature is a very
imperfeft Being. For no proportion can
be more felf-evident, than that an attention
to the mereft comparative trifles, attended
with a negle£l of infinitely greater concerns,
implies an intelleftual imperfedion. Yet
fome philofophers, who tell us there never
was an Athieft, fome who are not only in
raptures with the great machinery of the
univerfe, but are lofl in admiration at the
admirable adaption of an oyfler-fhell to the
wants of the animal ; fome of thefe phi-
lofophers, with the utmoft contempt of the
contrary opinion, make no fcruple to ex-
clude the care of the Deity from any con-
cern in the moral world. Dazzled, perhaps,
by the mathematics, the cafe of manv a
feeble intelledl ; or bewildered and benight-
ed in metaphyfics, the cafe of many an
ingenious philofopher ; they ereft a ftandard
of truth in their own minds, and utterly
forgetting that this flandard mufl be founded
on partial views, with the utmofl afTurance
they rejeft whatever does not agree with the
infallibility of their beloved tell. There is
another call of philofophers no lefs in-
genious, whofe minds, abforbcd in the in-
numerable wonders of natural enquiry, can
perceive nothing but a God of cockle-fhclls,
and of grubs turned into butterflies. With
all the arrogance of fuperior knowledge
thefe virtuofi fniile at the opinion which
interefls the Deity in the moral happinefs or
mifery of man. Nay, they will gravely
tell you, that fuch mifery or happinefs does
not exifl. At cafe themfelves in their elbow
chairs, they cannot conceive there is fuch a
thing in the world as opprelled innocence
feeling.
44^
THE L U S I A D:
Book X»
The limpid air enfolds in foft embrace
The ponderous orb, and brightens o'er her face.
Here foftly floating o'er th' aerial blue.
Fringed with the purple and the golden hue.
The fleecy clouds their fweHing fides difplay ;
From whence fermented by the fulphrous ray
The lightnings blaze, and heat fpreads wide and rare 5
And now in fierce embrace with frozen air.
Their wombs ccmprefl foon feel parturient throws.
And white wing'd gales hear wide the teeming fnows.
feeling its only confolation in an appeal to
heaven, and its only hope, a trull in its
care. Though the Author of Nature has
placed man in a ftate of moral agency, and
made his happinefs and mifery to depend
upon it, and though every page of human
hiftory is ftained with the tears of injured
innocence and the triumphs of guilt, with
miferies which muft afFeft a moral or think-
ing being, yet we have been told, that God
perceiveth it not, and that what mortals
call moral evil vanifhcs from before his
more perfe£l fight. Thus the appeal of in-
jured innocence, and the tear of bleeding
virtue fall unregarded, unworthy of the at-
tention of the Deity f. Yet with what rap-
tures do thefe enlarged virtuofi behold the
infinite wifdom and care of their Beelzebub,
their god of flies, in the admirable and
various provifion he has made for the pre-
fervation of the eggs of vermin, and the
generation of maggots.*
Much more might be faid in proof that
our Poet's philofophy does not altogether
dcferve ridicule. And thofe who allow a
general, but deny a particular Providence,
will, it is hoped, excufe Camoens, on the
confideration, that if we eftimate a general
moral providence by analogy of that pro-
vidence which prefides over vegetable and
animal nature, a more particular one cannot
poffibly be wanted. If a particular provi-
dence, however, is ftill denied, another
confideration obtrudes itfelf ; if one pang
of a moral agent is unregarded, one tear of
injured innocence left to fall unpitied by the
Deity, if Ludit in humanis Divina potentia
rebus., the confequence is, that the human
conception can form an idea of a much
better God : And it may modeftly be pre-
fumed we may hazard the laugh of the
wifeft philofopher, and without fcruple
afiert, that it i* impoffible that a created mind
fliould conceive an idea of perfeftion, fu-
perior to that which is poflTefled by the Cre-
ator and Author of exillence.
■\ Perhaps, like Lucretius, fome philofophers think this 'would be too much trouble to the Deity.
But the idea of trouble to the Divine Nature, it much the fame as andther argument of the fame philofo-
pher, who bavins; aflcrted, that before ihe creation the gods could not know what feed would produce,
from thence wifely concludes, that the world was made by chance.
• Ray, in his wifdom of God in the creation, (though he did not deny the moral providence) ha»
cariied this extravagance to the highert pitch. " To give life, fays he, is the intention of the creation 5 and
how wonderful does the goodnefs of God appear in this, that the death and pufrefaiSion ol one ani-
mal is the life of thoufands," So the mifery of a family on the death of a parent is nothing, for ten
ttit ufsnd maggots are made happy by it. 1 m Oh, Pliilofophy, wheo w^lt thou forget the dreams of thy
flumbcrs in Bedlam 1
Thus
Book X. THE L U S T A D. 449
Thus cold and heat their warring empires hold,
Averfe yet mingling, each by each controul'd.
The higheft air and ocean's bed they pierce.
And earth's dark centre feels their ftruggles fierce.
The feat of Man, the Earth's fair breaft, behold ;
Here wood-crown'd iflands wave their locks of gold.
Here fpread wide continents their bofoms green.
And hoary ocean heaves his breaft between.
A
Yet not th' inconftant ocean's furious tide /'= ^ j
May fix the dreadful bounds of human pride.
What madning feas between thefe nations roar!
Yet Lufus' race ihall vifit every fhore.
What thoufand tribes whom various cuiloms fvvay.
And various rites, thefe countlefs fhores difplay !
Queen of the world fupreme in fhining arms,
Hcr's every art, and her's all wifdom's charms.
Each nation's tribute round her foot-ilool fpread.
Here Chriflian Europe ° lifts the regal head.
Afric * behold, alas, what alter'd view !
Her lands uncultured, and her fons untrue;
Ungraced with all that fweetens human life.
Savage and fierce they roam in brutal ftrife ;
" Here Chrijiian Europe. Ves Europa pifturefque defcrlption of Africa is finely.
Cbriflan. As Europe is already defcribed contrafted with the charadler of Europe.
in the Third Lufiad, this fliort account of It contains alfo a mafterly compliment to
it has as great propriety, as the manner of the expedition of Gama, which is all along
it contains dignity. reprcfented as the harbinger and diffufer of
" AfriQ iiix/I^.-^ThU juft and ftrongly the bleflings of civilixfttion.
Eager
4p THE LUSIAD. Book X.
Eager they grafp the gifts which culture yields.
Yet naked roam their own negle(5ted fields.
Lo, here enrich'd with hills of golden ore,
Monomotapa'5 empire hems the fhore.
Where round the Cape, great Afric's dreadful bound
Array'd in florms, by You firft compafs'd round j
Unnumber'd tribes as beftial grazers ilray, ^
By laws unformM, unform'd by reafon's fway :
Far inward ftretch the mournful fteril dales.
Where on the parch'd hill fide pale Famine wails.
On gold in vain the naked favage treads ;
Low clay built huts, behold, and reedy fheds.
Their dreary towns. Gonfalo's ^ zeal fhall glow
To thefe dark minds the path of light to fhew :
His toils to humanize the barbarous mind
Shall with the martyr's palms his holy temples bind.
Great Naya ^ too fhall glorious here difplay
His God's dread might : Behold, in black array.
Numerous and thick as when in evil hour.
The feathered race whole harveft fields devour.
So thick, fo numerous round Sofala's towers
Her barbarous hords remoteft Afric pours,
P Gonfal6*s xeal Jhall _f/ow.— — Gonfalo the kingdom of Sofala, which is fubjed to
de Sylveyra, a Portugucfe Jefuir, in 1555 Monomotapa. Six thoufand Moors and
iailed from Lifljon on a miffion to Moru)- Cafres laid feige to this garrifon, which he
motapa. His labours were at flrll fuccefs* defended with only thirty-five men. After
ful ; but ere he efFefted any regular efta- having feveral times fuifered by unexpefted
blilhment he was murdered by the Barbarians. fallies, the Barbarians fled, exclaiming to
Cajlera abridged. their king that he had led them to fight
<i Great l^aya too. " Don Pedro de againft Ciod." Cajlera abridged.
Naya In 1505 he ereded a fort .in
In
Book X. THE L U S I A D. . 451
In vain ; Heaven's vengeance on their fouls impreft.
They fly, wide fcatter'd as the driving mift.
Lo, Quama there, and there the fertile NUe,
Curft with that gorging fiend the chrocodile.
Wind their long way : The parent lake behold.
Great Nilus' fount, unfeen, unknown of old.
From whence diffuling plenty as he glides.
Wide Abyflinia's realm the flream divides.
In Abyffinia ' heaven's own altars blaze,
'. And hallowed anthems chant MefTiah's pralfe.
In Nile's wide breaft the ifle of Meroe fee !
Near thefe rude fhores an Hero fprung from thee.
Thy fon, * brave Gama, fliall his lineage fhew
In glorious triumphs o'er the Turkifh foe.
There by the rapid Ob, her friendly breaft y ft a
Melinda fpreads, thy place of grateful reft.
"■ In Abyffinia hen'ven's oivn altars blaze. of Sheba, and ehcreafcd with all thofe
— — Chriitianity was planted here in the writings, of which we have either poflcffion,
firft century, but mixed with many jewifli or only the names. The works of Noah,
rites unufed by other Chriftians of the Eaft. and the leftures on the mathematics which
This appears to give fome countenance to Abraham read in the plains of Mamre, are
the pretenfions of their Emperors, who here. And fo many are the volumes, that
claim their defcent from Solomon and the 200 monks are employed as librarians. ,It
queen of Sheba, and at leart reminds us of is needlefs to add, that Father Urreta is a
Ads 8.27. where wc are told, ■ that the fecond Sir John Mandevylle.
Treafurtr of the queen of Ethiopia came to * Thy fofi, bra^ueGuma. When Don
worfliip atjerufalcm. Innumerable nionaf- Stephen de Gama was governor of India,
teries, we are told, are in this country. But the ChrilHan Emperor and Emprefs-mother
the clergy are very ignorant, and the laity of Ethiopia, folicited the afliltance of the
grofs barbarians. Much has been faid of Portuguefe againft the ufurpations of the
the hill Amara, Pag;m king of Zeyla. Don Stephen fent
his brother Doa Chrifloval with 500 men.
Wnere Abymn hmgs their ^^^.^t guard q^^^ prodigies of their valour allonilhed the
True P.?ndire, under the Ethiop line ?'^'?'l"'-^ ^"^ ^^^^^ *^'^V"S , twice de-
By Nilu. hcu.l, inclofcd witli fliiniiir rock, ^'"'^'^'^ 'he Tyrant, and reduced his great
A wliolfc day's journey high Milton. ^^'^y *« the lalt extremity, Don Chnaoval,
urged. too far by the impetuofity of his
and where, according to Urreta, a Spanifli youthful valour, was taken prifoner. He
Jefuit, is the library founded by the quern was brought before the Ufurpcr, and put to
M Qi m death
452
THE L U S I A D.
Book X»
Cape Aromata there the gulph defends.
Where by the Red Sea wave great Afric ends,
Illuftrious Suez, feat of heroes old.
Famed Hierapolis, high-tower'd, behold.
Here Egypt's (helter'd fleets at anchor ride.
And hence in fquadrons fweep the eaftern tide.
And lo, the waves that aw'd by Mofes' rod.
While the dry bottom Ifrael's armies trod.
On either hand roU'd back their frothy might.
And ftood like hoary rocks in cloudy height.
Here Alia, rich in every precious mine.
In realms immenfe, begins her weftern line.
Sinai behold, whofe trembling cliffs of yore
In fire and darknefs, deep pavilion'd, bore
The Hebrews' God, while day with awful brow
Gleam'd pale on Ifrael's wandering tents below.
The pilgrim now the lonely hill afcends.
And when the evening raven homeward bends.
Before the Virgin-Martyr's ^ tomb he pays
His mournful vefpers and his vows of praife.
death in the moft cruel manner. Waxed
threads were twilled with his beard and after-
wards fet on fire. He was then dipped in
boiling wax, and at laft beheaded by the
hand of the Tyrant. The Portuguefe efteem
him a martyr, and fay that his torments and
death were infli<5led becaufe he would not
renounce the Faith. See Faria y Sou/a.
' Before the Virgin-Martyr' s tomb. He
jnuft be a dull Reader indeed who cannot
perceive and relifli the amazing variety which
prevails in our poet. In every page it ap-
j>ear5, in the billorical narrative of wars.
where it is mofl neceflary, yet from the
famenefs of the fubjeft, moll: difficult to
attain, our author always attains it with
the moft graceful eafe. In the defcription
of countries he not only follows the manner
of Homer and Virgil, not only diftinguilhes
each region by its moft ftriking charac-
teriftic, but he alfo diverfifics his geography
with other incidents introduced by the
mention of the place. St. Catherine, Vir-
gin and Martyr, according to Romilh hif-
tories, was buried on Sinai, and a chapel
crcdlcd over her grare.
Gidda
Book X. THE LUSIAD. 453
Gidda behold, and Aden's parch'd domain
Girt by Arzira*s rock, where never rain
Yet fell from heaven j where never from the dale
The chryflal rivulet murmured to the vale.
The three Arabias here their breafts unfold,
Here breathing incenfe, here a rocky wold ;
O'er Dofar's plain the richefl incenfe breathes.
That round the facred fhrine its vapour wreathes j
Here the proud war-fteed glories in his force.
As fleeter than the gale he holds the courfe.
Here, with his fpoufe and houfhold lodged in wains.
The Arab's camp fhifts wandering o'er the plains.
The merchant's dread, what time from eaftern foil
His burthen'd camels feek the land of Nile.
Here Rofalgate and Farthac ftretch their arms.
And point to Ormuz, famed for war's alarms ;
Ormuz, decreed full oft to quake with dread
Beneath the Luflan heroes* hoflile tread.
Shall fee the Turkifh moons with ilaughter gor'd
Shrink from the lightning of De Branco's ' fword
There on the gulph that laves the Perfian fliore.
Far through the furges bends Cape Afabore.
There Barem's * ifle ; her rocks with diamonds blaze.
And emulate Aurora's glittering rays.
" De Branco's f-^vcrd. — Don Pedro "*■ Here Barem's iJU ■ • ■» The ifland of
de Caftel-Branco. He obtained a great Barem is fuuatcd in the Periian gulph, near
vidlory, near Ormuj, over the combined the influx of the Euphrates and Tygris. It
ficcii of the Moors, Turks, and Perfians. is celebrated for the plenty, variety and
finenefe of its diamonds.
M m m 2 From
454 THE L U S I. A Dr Book X»
From Barem's (hore Euphrates' flood is (cQn, ?
And Tygris' waters, through the waves of green
In yellowy currents many a league extend.
As with the darker waves averfe they blend.
Lo, Periia there her empire v/ide unfolds. !
In tented camp his flate the monarch holds :
Her warrior fons difdain the arms of ^ fire.
And with the pointed, fteel to fame afpire -,
Their fpringy ilioulders ftretching to the blow.
Their fweepy fabres hew the flirieking foe.
There Gerum's ifle the hoary ruin * wears
Where Time has trod : there Ihall the dreadful fpears
Of Soufa and Menezes ftrew the fhore
With Perfian fabres, and embathe with gore.
Carpella's cape, and fad Carmania's ftrand.
There parch'd and bare their dreary waftes expand.
A fairer landfcape here delights the view ;
From thefe green hills beneath the clouds of blue.
The Indus and the Ganges roll the wave.
And many a fmiling field propitious lave.
y Her nvarricr fons difdain the arms of tage afforded by Invulnerable hides, and
Jire. This was the charadler of the Per- inchanted armour.
fians when Gama arrived in the Eail. Yet "" There Gerutri's ife the hoary ruin ivears,
though they thought it dilhonourable to ufe Where Time has trod. Prefuming on the
the mufket, they efteemed it no difgrace to ruins which arc found on this ifland, the
rufh from a thicket on an unarmed foe. natives pretend that the Armuzia of Pliny
This reminds one of the fpirit of the old and Strabo was here fituated. But this is a
romance. Orlando having taken the firft miftake, for that city Hood on the' conti-
invented cannon from the king of Friza, nent. The Moors, however, have built a
throws it into the fea with the moll heroic city in this ifle, which they call by the
execrations. Yet the heroes of chivalry ancient name,
tbi^jk it no difgrace to tak« every adraa
Luxurious
Book X. THE LUSIAD. 45/
Luxurious here Ulcinda's harvefts fmile.
And here, difdainful of the feaman's toil, .
The whirling tides of Jaquet furious roar;
Alike their rage when fwelling to the fhore.
Or tiimbling backward to the deep, they force
The boiling fury of their gulphy courfe :
Againft their headlong rage nor oars nor fails.
The ftemming prow alone, hard toiled, prevails.
Cambaya here begins her wide domain ;
A thoufand cities here fhall own the reign
Of Lilboats monarchs : He who firft fhall crown
Thy ** labours. Gam A, here fliall boaft his own.
The lengthening fea that waflies India's ilrand
And laves the cape that points l:o Ceylon's land,
(The Taprobanian ifle, renown'd of yore)
Shall fee his enfigns blaze from fliore to fhore.
Behold hov/ many a realm array'd in green
The Ganges' fhore and Indus' bank between !
Here tribes unnumber'd and of various lore
With woeful penance fiend-like fhapes adore ;
Some Macon's ^ orgies, all confefs the fway
Of rites that fliun, like trembling ghofts, the day.
Narlinga's fair domain behold ', of yore
Here fhone the gilded towers of Meliapore.
^ He nvho firji Jhall crDi.un ihy labours^ ' Some Macon's orgies. — Macon, ft nfltnc
Gama. Pedro de Cabral, of whcm fee of Mecca, tlie birth place of Mohammed.
Here
45^
THE LUSIAD,
Book Xv
Here India's angels weeping o'er '' the tomb
Where Thomas lleeps, . implore the day to come.
i ,., /jl,g to^mb nuhere Thvntas Jleeps,
'There are, to talk in the Indian ftyle,
a caji of gentleman, whofe hearts are all
impartiality and candour to every religion,
except one, the moft moral one which ever
the world heard. A tale of a Bramin or a
prieft of Jupiter would to them appear
worthy of poetry. But to introduce aa
Apoftle ——Common fenfe, however, will
prevail ; and the epifode of St, Thomas
will appear to the true Critic equal in dig;-
nity and propriety. In propriety^ few-
To renew and compleat l3ie labours of
the Apoftle, the meflenger of heaven, is
the great defign oS the hero of the poem,
and of the future miflions in confequcnce of
the difcoveries which are the fubjeS of it.
The Chriftians of St. Thomas, found in
Malabar on the arrival of Gam a, we have
already mentioned, p. 49. but fome farther
account of the fubjefit will certainly be
agreeable to the curioue. Tlie Jefuit mif-
fionaries have given moft pompous accounts
of the Chriftian aatiqaities of India and
China. When the Portuguefe arrived in
India, the head ctf the Malabar Chriftians,
named Jacob, Hiled himfclf Metrapolitan
of India and China. And a Chaldaic bre-
viary • of the Indian Chriftians offers praife
to God for fending St. Thomas to India
and China. In 1625, in digging for a
foundation near Siganfu, metropolis of the
province of Xenf,^ was found a ftone with a
crofs on it, full of Chinefe, and fome Syriac
charafters, containing the names of biftiops,
and an account of the Chriftian religion,
*• that it was brought from Judca ; that
** having been weakened, it was renewed
•' under the reign of the great Tarn," (cir.
A. D. 630.) But the Chriftians, fay the
Jefuits, fiding with the Tartars, cir. A. D.
1 200, were extirpated by the Chinefe. In
154.3, Fcrnand Pinto ^ obferving fome ruins
near Peking, was told by the people, that
200 years before, a holy man, who worftiip-
ed Jefus Chrift, born of a Virgin, lived
thei-e ; and being murdered, was thrown
into a river, but his body would not fink ;
and foon after the city was deftroyed by
earthquake. The fame Jefuit found people
at Caminam who knew the doftrines of
Chriftianity, which they faid was preached
to their fathers by John the difciple of
Thomas. In 1635, fome heathens by night
pafling through a village in the province of
Fokien faw fome ftones which emitted light,
under which were found the figure of
croftes. From China St. Thomas returned
to Meliapore in Malabar, at a time when
a prodigious beam of timber floated on the
fea near the coaft. The king endeavoured
to bring it afhore, but all the force of men
and elephants was in vain. St. Thomas
defired leave to build a church with it, and
immediately dragged it to ftiore with a
fingle thread. A church was built, and
the king baptized. This enraged the Bra-
mins, the chief of whom killed his owa
fon, and accufed Thomas of the murder. But
the Saint, by reftoring the youth to life,
difcovered the wickednefs of his enemies.
He was afterwards killed by a lance while
kneeling at the altar ; after, according to
tradition, he had built 3300 ftately churches,
many of which were rebuilt, cir. 800, by
an Armenian, named Thomas Cananeus.
In 1523, the body of the Apoftle, with
the head of the lance befide him, was found
in his church by D. Duarte de Mcnefes ;
and in 1558 was by D. Conftantine de Bra-
ganza removed to Goa. To thefe accounts,
felefted from Faria y Sou/a, let two from
Oforius be added. When Martin Alonzo
de Souza was viceroy, fome brazen tables .
were brought to him, infcribed with un-
ufual charaders, which were explained by a
learned Jew, and imported that St. Thomas
had built a church in Meliapore. And by
an account fent to Cardinal Henrico, by the
Bp. of Cochin, in 1562, when the Portu-
giiefe repaired the ancient chapel of St.
Thomas, f there was found a ftone crofs with
feveral charaAers .on it, which the beft an-
tiquarians could not interpret, till at latt a
Bramin
* The cKJftence of this breviary is a certain faft,
language.
, f Thi? was a very ancient building, in the ver>' firft flyk of Quifti m «hurch»»,
'sow disfigured it 'with their repairs and new buildings.
Thefe Chriftians had the Scripture alfo in the Chaldaic
The Portuguefe hare
bookX, the lusiad:
The day foretold when India's utmoft fhore
Again fliall hear MefTiah's blifsful lore.
By Indus' banks the holy Prophet trod.
And Ganges heard him preach the Saviour-God i
Where pale difeafe erewhile the cheek confumed.
Health at his word in ruddy fragrance bloom'd j
The grave's dark womb his awful voice obey'd.
And to the cheerful day reftored the dead ;
By heavenly jx>^wer he rear'd the facred (hrine.
And gain'd the nations by his life divine.
The priefts af Brahma's hidden rites beheld,.
And envy's bittereft gall their bofoms fwell'd,
A thoufand deathful fnares in vain they fpread ;
When now tlie Chief that wore the Triple * Thread,
457
D
Bramin tranflated it, ** That in the reignr
of Sagam, Thomas was fent by the Son of
God, whofe difciple he was, to teach the law
of heaven in India ; that he built a churchy
and was killed by a Bramin at the altar."
A view of Portuguefe Afia,. which muft
include the labours of the Jefuits, forms a
neceflary part in the comment on the Lufiad t
This note, therefore, and fome obrious re-
flections- upon it, are in place. It is as eafy
to bury an infcription and find it again, as
it is to invent a filly tale ; but though fuf-
picion of fraud on the one hand, and filly
abfurdity on the other, lead us to defpife
the authority of the Jefuits, yet one faA
remains indifputable. Chriilianity had
been much better known in the Eaft, feveral
centuries before, than it was at the arrival
of Gama. Where the name was unknown,
and where the Jefuits were unconcerned,
crofTes were found. The long exiftence of
the Chriftians of St. Thomas in the midft
of a vail Pagan empire, proves that the
learned of that empire mull have fome
knowledge of their dodrines. And thefc
fafts give countenance to fome materia!
conjedures concerning the religion of the
Bramihs. For thefe we ihall give fcope
immediately.
^ When noixj the Chief luho luore the Triple
Thread.'— —Oi this, thus Oforius ; *^' Terna
Jila ab humero dexttro in latus finijlrum ge~
runt, ut dejigmnt trinam in natura di'vina
mtionem" They {the Bramins) wear three
threads, which reach from the right
fhoulder to the left fide, as fignilicant of
the trinal diftindlion in the Divine Nature,**
That fome fedls of the Bramins wear a fym-
bolical Teflera of three threads, is acknow-
ledged on all hands ; but from whatever
the cullom arofe, it is not to be fuppofed
that the Bramins, Who have thoufands of
ridiculous contradiiElory legends, fliould a-
gree in their accounts or explanations of it.
Faria fays, that according to the facred
books of the Malabrians, the religion of
the Bramins proceeded from filhermen, who
left the charge of the temples to their fuc-
cefibrs, on condition they Ihould wear fome
threads of their nets,^ ia remembranceuof
their
45S
T H E L U S I A D ■
Book X»
Fired by the rage that gnaws the confcious breaft
Of holy fraud, when worth fhines forth confeft.
their original. They have various accounts
of a Divine Perfon having alTumed human
nature. And the God Brahma, as obferved
by Cudworth, is generally mentioned as
united in the government of the univerfe
with two others, fometimes of different
names. They have alfo images with three
heads rifmg out of one body, which they
fayreprefent the Divine Nature*. But are
there any traces of thefe opinions in the
accounts which the Greek and Roman writers
have given us of the Bramins f And will the
wife pay any credit to the authority of thofe
books which the public nevsr {s.\v, and
which, by the obligation of their keepers,
they are never to fee ? and fonic of which,
by the confeffion of their keepers, fince the
appearance of Mohammed, hzvc been re-
jetted ? The Platonic idea of a trinity of
divine attributes was well known to the
ancients, yet perhaps the Athanafian con-
troverfy offers a fairer field to the conjec-
turift. That controTerfy for federal ages
engroffed the converfation of the Eaft. 7\11
the fubtiJty of the Greeks was called forth,
and no fpeculative cont^ft w*s ever more
univerfally or warmly difputed ; fo warmly,
that it is a certain fah that Mohammed, by
inferting into his Koran fome declarations
in favour of the Arians, gained innumerable
profelytes to his new religion. Abyffmia,
Egypt, Syria, Pcrfia, ana Armenia, were
perplexed with this unhappy difputc, and from
the earlieft times thefe countries have had a
commercial intercourfe with India. The
ntmbcr, blafphemy, and abfurdity of the
Jewilh legends of the Talmuds and Tar-
gums, bear a flriklng rcfemblance to the
holy legends of the Bramins. The Jews
alfo affert the great antiquity of their Tal-
muclical legends. Adam, Enoch and Noah
are named among th^jir authors ; but we
know their date ; Jcrufalem, ere their birth,
was dellroyed by Titus. We alfo know that
the accounts which the Greek writers give
of the Bramins fall infinitely fhort of thofe
extravagancies which are confeffed even by
their modern admirers. ' And Mohamme-
difm is not more different from Chrillianity,
than the account which even thefe gentle-
men give, is from that of Porphyry. That
laborious philofopher, though poffeffed of
all the knowledge of his age, though he
mentions their mctempficofis and penances,
has not a word of any of their idols, or the
legends of Brahma or his brothers. On
the contrary he rcprefents their worlhip as
extremely pure and fimplc. Strabo's ac-
count of them is fimilar. And Eufebias
has afilired us they worlhipped no images f .
Yet on the arrival of the modern Europeans
in India, innumerable were their idols, and-
all the fuperll;ition of ancient Egypt in the
adoration of animals and vegetables, feemed
more than revived by the Bramins. Who
that confiders this ftriking alteration in their
features, can withhold his contempt when
he is told of the religious care with which
thefe philofophers have thefe four thoufand
years preferved their facred rites : An ab-
furdity only equal to that of thcfs who tell
us that God inftrufted Adam in the myf-
teries of free mafonry, and that Noah every
n«w moon held amafon's lodge in th; ark.
Ignorant or unmindful of what the Greeks
and Romans have related of the Bramins,
and unacquainted with the refpeftable au-
thorities of many modern travellers, fome
gcutlemen hav* lately affumcd to themfelves
the only l^nowledge of. the true doctrines of
the Eaft. Other Enquirers, and their
means of intelligence, have been com-
pared to an Indian receiving his know-
ledge of Chrillianity from a London car-
man. Yet alas, duped by the converfation of
a learned Bramin, an adept in Jefuitifm,
who is fure to give an intelligent ftranger
the molt glofling account, and not only thus
duped
• To fhefe undoubted fafls the author will not add the authority of a X:ivier, wlio tells us, that he prevailed
■pon a Bramiii ti> txplain to liim [iime part of their hidden religion 5 when to his fur^;rize, t))e Indian, in a low
voice, rep»aifd the Trn Commandments.
yofAUt
i.u>, bTf <portCv7if, OYTE 50AMA 5;EB0NTAI
Eufeb. Prep. Evan. Lib. 6. c. 10. p. 275. Ed. Parif. 1628.
Book X. THE L U S I A D.
Hell he invokes, nor hell in vain he fues ;
His fon*s life-gore his wither'd hands imbrews j
Then bold afluming the vindictive ire.
And all the paflions of the woful fire.
459
ignorant iand duped, but alfo ftrongly tinc-
tured with the zeal of enthufiafm for their
belored refearches, more than one of thefe
gentlemen have contradiAcd each other,
and have gravely pronounced, that every
account of the Bramins, prior to his,
was grofsly erroneous, and that he himfelf
has enjoyed the only means of knowledge,
the friendfhip and inftruftion of an Indian
philofopher— — But let thefe gentlemen
read, and be modeft ; let them learn to
excufe thofe who cannot fo warmly admire
the wifdom of India ; and let them confider
liow complete is the ridicule, when, on pub-
lilliing their difcoveries in England, they
are obliged to confefs that they entirely
difagree with each other, though each con-
fidently boafts the infallibility of his learned
and honeil Bramin But the whole of
the matter appears plainly to be this ;
The philofophy and mythology of the
Bramins form fuch a boundlefs chaos of
confufion and contradidions, that no two of
thefe philofophers, unacquainted with each
other, can poffibly give the fame or a con-
fiftent account of tlieir tenets : And when-
ever one of fuperior ingenuity vamps up a
fine philofophical theory out of the original
mafs, another, perhaps equally ingenious,
puts one in mind of the fpider in Swift's
battle of the books, when the bee had de-
ftroyed her web. '* A plague fplit you,
(quoth the fpider) for a giddy whorefon, is
it you, with a vengeance, have made all
this litter and do you think I have
nothing elfe to do, in the devil's name, but
to mend and repair after your a ?" In
this ftrain, verily, may the Bramins of fome
modern difcoverers exclaim to each other.
In the differtation on the religion of the
Bramins, (Lufiad VII.) feveral fpecimens
of their legends are aheady given. The
Tranflator, however, is tempted to add
another, from P'aria's account of the facred
books of the Malabrians. They hold an
eternal fucceflion of worlds, each to take
place after an Annus Magnus. Every thing
at the end of thefe periods is deftroyed,
except Ixoreta or the Deity, which is then
reduced to the fize of a dew drop ; when,
having chirped like a cricket, the divine
fubftance in itfelf produces the five ele«.
ment, (for what they call the heavenly
matter they efteem the fifth) and then di-
viding itfelf, the heavens and the earth
are formed. In terra, fimulac formats
eft, apparet mons argenteus, cujus in ver-
tice confpiciuntur ra, aiJora, quse verum
Ixoreta five Numen appellant, et caufam
caufarum. Turn deus Ixora pene fuo, in-
figni magnittidine, terrarum orbem in fep-
tem maria, feptemque terras arando dividit.
Lirae montes funt, fulci vero valles ac flu-
Miina. Exoritur e tergo dei Ixora femina
Chati, verbis quibufdam magicis evocata.
Hi duo coire concupiunt, fed obftat longi-
tudo membri dei Ixora ; ille vero abfcindit
partes oftodecim, ex quibus arma fada funt,
nimirum hafta, arcus, enfis, &c. Deinde
nimis arftam in femina Chati digito aperit
viam, et fanguinem vulneris in palma re-
ceptum, in aerem difpergit, ex quo Sol,
luna, ftellas, rofaj, herba: odoriferaj, et an-
gues, (quod genus animalium apud eos
facrum ell) protinus formantur } et impe-
dimento omni jam fublato, coeunt Ixora
et Chati, procreantque ad terram incolen-
dam homines, bruta, et da;moines maliji-
cos ; in czelo autem gencrant animarum>
33,000,000. Befidcs this, almoft infinits
are the abfurd legends of the god Ixora,
and his brothers Villnu and Brama. Gna
other fhall only be added. Viftnu, having
metamorphofed himfelf into his younger
brother Siri Chriltna, overcame the ferpent
Caliga, pf nine leagues in length, which
lived in a lake made by its own venom.
This, and the origin of Chati, afford
fome obvious hints to the iavcftigators of
mythology.
N n n
Weeping
^6o THE L U S IAD. Book X.
Weeping he bends before the Indian thrpnp.
Arraigns the holy man, and wails his fpn :
A band of hoary priefts atteft the deed.
And India's king condemns the S^er to bj^ed.
Infpired by heaven the holy vidim ftands,
Apd o'er tl;e murder'd corfe extends his haAds^
In God's dread pov^er, thou flaughter'd youth, arife.
And name thy murderer ; aloud he cries.
When, dread to view, the deep wounds inftant clofe.
And frefh in life the flaughter'd youth arofe.
And named his treachrous fire : The confcious air
Quiver'd, and awful horror raifed the hair
On every head. From Thomas India's king
The holy fprinkling of the living fpring
Receives, and wide o'er all his regal bounds
The God of Thomas every tongue refounds.
Long taught the holy Seer the words of life ;
The priells of Brahma ftill to deeds of ftrife.
So boiled their ire, the blinded herd impell'd.
And high to deathful rage their rancour fwell'd,
'Twas on a day, when melting on his tongue
Heaven's offer'd mercies glow'd, the impious throng
Riiing in madning tempefl: round him fhower'd
The fplinter'd flint -, in vain the flint was pour'd ;
But heaven had now his finifli'd labours feal'd j
His angel guards withdraw th* etherial fhield -,
A Bramin's
Book X. THE L U S I A D. 461
A Bramin's javelin tears his holy breafl
Ah heaven, what woes the widowed land exprefl ?
Thee, Thomas, * thee, the plaintive Ganges mourn'd.
And Indus' banks the murmuring moan return'd ;
O'er every valley where thy footftep ftray'd.
The hollow winds the gliding lighs convey'd.
What woes the mournful face of India wore,
TJiefe woes in living pangs hi's people bore.
His fons, to w-hofe illumined minds he gave
To view the ray that fhines beyond the grave.
His pailoral fons bedew'd his corfe with tears.
While high triumphant through the heavenly fpheresj
With fongs of joy the fmiling angels wing /^ /) 6
His raptured fpirit to th' eternal Ring.
O you, the followers of the holy Seer,
Foredoom'd the fhrines of heavens own lore to rear.
You fent by heaven his labours to fehew-.
Like him, ye Lufians, fimpleft Truth ^ purfue.
'^ Thee, '7'homas, thee, the plaintive Ganges wher^ they pretended to propagate the
mourned. — The verfificatiori of the original gofpe!. Sometimes we find an indi-
is here exceedingly fine. Even thofe who vidoal fmcere and pious, but the great prin-
are unacquainted with thfe Portugqefe may ciple which always adtuated them as an
perceive it. mii ted body was the hift of power and fc-
cular emolument, the pofiefTion of which
Choraraote Thom6, o Gange, o Indo, ^y^y thought could not be better fecured,
Choroute toda a terra, que p.faltc ; ^^^ , rendering themfelves of the utmoft
Mas mais te cnorao as altnas, que veftmdo . , -^ l o r « t
Se hiao da Sauta Fe, que 1 he enfinafte t importance to the See of Rome. In con-
Mas o9 BBJos do ceo- cainando, U riudo, ftquenceof thefe prmciples, where ever they
Te recebem na gloria — camej their firft care was to find what were
the great objedls of the fear and adoration
' Like him, ye Lufians, fimplefl truth pur- of the people. If the Sun was elleemed
fue. ''It is nOw the time to fum up what the giver of life, Jefus Chrill was the fon
has been faid of the labours of the jefuits. of that luminary, and they were his younger
Diametrically oppofite to this advice brethren, fent to inftruft the ignorant. If
was their condu^ in every Afiitic country the-barbarians wefe irt dread of evil fpirits,
* . N n n e Jefus
462
THE I^USIAD. Book X.
Vain is the impious toil with borrow'd grace,
To deck one feature of her angel face j
Jefus Chrifl: came on purpofe to banifh them
from the world, had driven them from Eu-
rope*, and the Jefuits were fent to the
Eaft to complete his unfinifhed miffion. If
the Indian converts ftill retained a veneration
for the powder of burned cow-dung, the
Jefuits made the fign of the crofs over it,
and the Indian befmeared himfelf with it
as ufual. Heaven, or univerfal matter, they
told the Chinefe, was the God of the
Chriftians, and the facrifices of Confucius
were folemnized in the churches of the
Jefuits. This worfhip of Confucius, Vol-
taire (Gen. Hift.) with his wonted accuracy
denies. But he ought to have known, that
this, with the worfhip of Tisn or Heaven,
had been long complained of at the court of
Rome, (fee Dupin) and that after the
ftrifteft fcrutiny the charge was fully proved,
and Clement XL in 1703, fent Cardinal
Tournon to the fmall remains of the Jefuits
in the Eaft with a papal decree to reform
thefe abufes. But the Cardinal, foon after his
arrival, was poifoned in Siam by the holy
fathers. Xavier, and the other Jefuits who
fucceeded him, by the dextrous ufe of the
great maxims of their mafter Loyala, Om-
nibus omnia, et omnia munda mundis, gained
innumerable profelytes. They contradifted
none of the favourite opinions of their con-
verts, they only baptized, and gave them
crucifixes to worfhip, and all was well.
But their zeal in uniting to the See of Rome
the Chriftians found in the Eaft defcended
to the minuteft particulars. And the na-
tive Chriftians of Malabar were fo violently
perfecuted as fchifmatics, that the heathen
princes took arms in their defence in 1570,
(fee Geddes, Hift. of Malab.)and the Por-
tiiguefe were almoft driven from India.
Abyffinia, by the fame arts, was fteeped in
blood, and two or three emperors loft their
lives in endeavouring to eftablifti the Pope's
fupremacy. An order at laft was given
from the throne, to hang every miflionary
without trial, wherever appreliended, the
Emperorlilmfelf complaining that he could
not enjoy a day in quiet for the intrigues of
the Romifti friars. In China alfo they foon
rendered themfelves infufferable. Their
ikill in mathematics and the dependent arts
introduced them to great favour at court,
but all their cunning could not conceal their
villainy. Their unwillingnefs to ordain the
natives raifed fufpicions againft a profefTion
thus monopolized by ftrangers ; their earneft
zeal in amafling riches> and their inter-
ference with, and deep defigns on fecular
power, the fatal rock on which they have
fo often been fhipwrecked, appeared, and
their churches were levelled with the ground.
About 90000 of the new converts, together
with their teachers, were maflacred, and
their religion was prohibited. In Japan
the rage of government even exceeded that
of China, and in allufion to their chief
objeft of adoration, the crofs, feveral of the
Jefuit fathers were crucified by the Japonefe,
and t^e revival of the Chriftian name was
interdifted by the fevereft laws. Thus,
in a great meafure, ended in the Eaft the
labours of the fociety of Ignatius Loyala, a
fociety which might have diiFufed the greateft
blcffings to mankind, could honefty have been
added to their great learning and abilities.
Had that zeal which laboured to promote the
interefts of their own brotherhood and the
Roman See, had that indefatigable zeal
been employed in the real interefts of hu».
manity and civilization, the great defign of
difitifing the law of heaven, challenged by
its author as the purpofe of the Lufiad»
would have been amply compleated, and
the remoteft hords of Tartary and Africa
ere now had been happily civilized. But
though the Jefuits have failed, they have
afforded a noble leffon to mankind.
Though fortified with all the braztn mounds
That ait can rear, and watch'd by eagle eyes.
Still will fome rotten part betray the ftrufture
That is not bafed on fimple honefty.
• This tjick, It is faid, has been played in America within thefe twenty years, where the notion of evil"
fjjirits gives the poor Indians their greateft mifery. The French Jefuits told the fix nations, that Jefiis Chrill
was a Frenchman, and had driven all evil daemons from France; that he had a great love for the Indians^
whom be intended alio to 4cli>er, but raking England in lus way, he was crucified by the wicked Londoners.
Behind
Book X. THE L U S I A D. 463
Behind the veil's broad glare fhe glides away.
And leaves a rotten form of lifelefs painted clajf.
Much have you viewr'd of future Lufian reign ;
Broad empires yet and kingdoms v^ide remain.
Scenes of your future toils and glorious fway— —
And lo, how wide expands the Gangic bay.
Narfinga here in numerous legions bold.
And here Oryxa boafts her cloth of gold.
The Ganges here in many a ftream divides,
DiiFufing plenty from his fattening tides.
As through Bengala's ripening vales he glides ;
Nor may the fleeted hawk, untired, explore
Where end the ricey groves that crown the fhore.
There view what woes demand your pious aid !
On beds and litters o'er the margin laid
The dying lift their hollow eyes, and crave
Some pitying hand to hurl them in the ^ wave.
Thus heaven they deem, though vileft guilt they bore
Unwept, unchanged, will view that guilt no more.
There, eaftward, Arracan her line extends ;
And Pegu's mighty empire fouthward bends :
!
p The dying The innumerable fuper- tioned are literally true. And it is no un-
ftitions performed on the banks of this river, common fcene for the Englifh fhips to be
afford a pityablc pifture of the weaknefs of furrounded with the corpfes which come
humanity. Thefe circumllances here men- floating down this hallowed ftream.
— Pegu,
4^4
THE LUSIAD.
Book X.
Pegu, whofe fons, fb held old ^ faith, confeft
A dog their fire ; their deeds th^ tale atteft.
A pious queen their horrid * rage reftrain'd ;
Yet ftill their fury Nature's God arraign'd.
Ah, mark the thunders rolling o'er the iky !
Yes, bathed iij gore fhall rank pollution lie.
Where to the morn the towers of Tava fhine.
Begins great Siam*s empire's far ftretch'd lin6.
On Queda's fields the genial rays infpire
The richefl gufl of fpicery's fragrant fire.
Malacca's caftled harbour here furvey.
The vvealthful feat foredoom'd of Lufian fway.
^ Pegu, nvbo/e/ortSf/d heU old faith, confejt,
A dog their Jire. The tradition of this
country boafted this infamous and impoflible
original. While other nations pretend to
be defcended of demi-gods, the Pegufians
were contented to trace their pedigree from
a Chinefe woman and a dog, the only living
creatures which furvived a fhipwreck on their
coaft. SeeFaria. This infamy, however, they
could not deferve. Animals of a different
fpecies may generate together^ but nature im-
mediately difplays her abhorrence, in un-
variably depriving the unnatural produd^ion
of the power of procreation.
* A pious queen their horrid rage rejirain'd,
Thus in the original :
Aqui foanfc arame no inftrumento
Da gera^ao coftuniao, o que iilarao
For manha da Raynha, que inventando
Tal ufo, deitou fora o error nefando.
ReJatam-eft de Regina quadam terrae Pegu-
en^s, quod ad coercendum crimen turpifli-
vsMm fubditorum. fuorum, legem tulit, ut
univeifi mares orbiculam vel orbiculos quof-
dam ^ratos in penem illatos gererent. Ita
kt : Cultro penis cuticulam dividunt, earn-
que in orbiculos hofce fuperinducunt : ftatim
a prima feptimana vulnus conglutinatur.
Inferuntur plerumque tres orbiculi : magni-
tudine infimus ad modumjuglandis, primus
ferme ad tcnerioris gallinas ovi modum extat.
Trium liberorum parens ad libitum onus
excutiat. Si honim aliquis a rege dono
detur, ut gemma quantivis pretii aellimatur.
To this let the teftimony of G. Arthus,
(Hift. Ind. Orient, p. 313.) be added,
Virginesin hoc regno omnino nullasreperi-
re licet: Puellae enim omnes ftatim a pueri-
tia foa medicamentum quoddam ufurpant,
quo muliebria diftenduntur & aperta con-
tinentur : idque propter globulos quos in
virgis viri geftant ; illis enim admittendis
virgines arftiores nullo msdo fufficerent.
According to Balby, and Caefar Frederic,
the empire of Pegu, which the year before
fent armies of two millions to the field,
was in 1598, by famine and the arms of
the neighbouring princes of Ava, Brama»
and Siam, reduced to the moft miferable
ftate of defolation, the few natives who fur-
vived having left their country an habitation
for wild beaiis.
Here
Book X.
THE LUSIAD.
46s
Here to their port the Lufian fleets fhall fleer.
From every fliore far round afTembling here
The fragrant treafures of the eaftern world ;
Here from the fhore by rolling earthquakes hurl'd.
Through waves all foam, Sumatra*s ifle was riven.
And mid white whirlpools down the ^ ocean driven.
To this fair ifle, the golden Cherfonefe,
Some deem the fapient Monarch plow*d the feas,
Ophir ' its Tyrian name. In whirling roars
How fierce the tide boils down thefe clafping fliores !
High from the ftrait the lengthening coafl: afar.
Its moon-like curve points to the northern ftar.
Opening its bofom to the filver ray
When fair Aurora pours the infant day.
Patane and Pam, and namelefs nations more.
Who rear their tents on Menam's winding fliore.
Their vaflfal tribute yield to Siam's throne ;
And thoufands " more, of laws, of names unknown.
That vafl: of land inhabit. Proud and bold.
Proud of their numbers here the Laos hold
JSO
^ And mid 'white ivhirlpools dovon the ocean
driven. See the fame account of Sicily.
Virg. En. III.
' Ophir its Tyrian name. Sumatra has
been by fome efteemed the Ophir of the
Holy Scriptures ; but the fuperior finencfs
of the gold of Sofala, and its fituation,
favour the claim of that Ethiopian ifle. See
Bochart. Geog. Sacr.
"' And thoufands more. The extenfive
countries between India and China, where
Ptolemy places his man- caters, and where
Mandevylle found men without heads, who
faw andfpoke through holes in their breafts,.
continues ftill very imperfeAly known. The
Jefuits have told many extravagant lies of
the wealth of thefe provinces. By the moll
authentic accounts they feem to have been
peopled by colonies from China. The re-
ligion and manufaftures of the Siamefe, in
particular, confefs the refemblance. In fome ^
diftrifts, however, they have greatly degene-
rated from the civilization of the mother
country.
The
466 THE L U S I A D.
The far fpread lawns 5 the ikirting hills obey
The barbarous Avas and the Bramas* fway.
Lo, diftant far another mountain chain
Rears its rude cliffs, the Guios' dread domain ;
Here brutalized the human form is feen.
The manners fiend-like as the brutal mein :
With frothing jaws they fuck the human blood
And gnaw the reeking ' limbs, their fweetefl food ;
Book X.
^ ^nd gnan» the reeking ///w^/.— — Much
has been faid on this fubjeft, fome denying
and others aflerting the exiftence of An-
thropophagi or man-eaters. Porphyry,
(de Abftin. I. 4. § 21.*) fays that the
Maflagetaj and Derbices (people of north-
eaftern Afia) efteeming thofe moft mifer-
able who died of ficknefs, when their pa-
rents and relations grew old, killed and eat
them, holding it more honourable thus to
confume them, than that they Ihould be de-
ftroyed by vermin. Hieronymus has adopted
this word for word, and has added to it an
authority of his own. Quid loquar, fays
he, (Adv. Jov. 1. 2. c. 6.) de cajteris natio-
nibus ; cum ipfe adolefcentulus in Gallia
viderim Scotos, gen tern Britannicam, hu-
manis vefci carnibus, et cum per fylvas por-
corum greges & armentorum, pecudumque
reperiant, paftorum nates, et fsminarum
papillas folere abfcindere, & has folas ci-
borum delicias arbitrari ? Maudevylle ought
next to be cited. " Aftirvvarde men gon
be many yles be fee unto a yle that men
clepen Milhe : there is a full curfed peple :
thei delyten in ne thing more than to fighten
and to lie men, and to drynken gladlyeft
mannes blood, which they clepen Dieu."
p. 235. Yet whatever abfurdity may ap-
pear on the face of thefe tales ; and what
can be more abfurd, than to fuppofe that a
few wild Scots or Iriih (for the name was
then proper to Ireland) fhould fo lord it In
Gaul, as to eat the breafts of the women and
the hips of the (hepherds ? Yet whatever
abfurdities our Mandevylles may have ob-
truded on the public, the evidence of the
fa£l is not thereby wholly deftroyed.
Though Dampier and other vifiters of bar-
barous nations have alTured us that they
never met with any man-eaters, and though
Voltaire has ridiculed the opinion, yet one
may venture the affertion of their exiftence,
without partaking of a credulity fimilar to
that of thofe foreigners, who believed that
the men of Kent were laorn with tails like
fheep, (fee Lambert's Peramb.) the punifh-
ment inflidled upon them for the murder of
Thomas a Becket. Many are the credible
accounts, that different barbaf^ous nations"
ufed to eat their prifoners of war. Ac-
cording to the authentic teftimony of the
beft Portuguefe writers, the natives of Bra-
zil, on their high feftivals, brought forth
their captives, and after many barbarous
ceremonies, at laft roafted and greedily de-
voured their mangled limbs. During his
torture, the unhappy viftim prided himfelf
in his manly courage, upbraiding their want
of ikill in the art of tormenting, and tell-
ing his murderers that his belly had been
the grare of many of their relations. Thus
the fad was certain, long before a late voyage
difcovered the horrid practice in New Zea-
laad.
Book X.
THE LUSIAD.
467.
Horrid with figured feams of burning fteel
Their wolf-like frowns their ruthlefs luft reveal.
Cambaya there the blue-tinged Mecon laves,
Mecon the eaftern Nile, whofe fwelling waves.
Captain of rivers named, o'er many a clime
In annual period pour their fattening flime.
The fimple natives of thefe lawns believe
That other worlds the fouls of beafts "" receive ;
land. To drink human blood has been
more common. The Gauls and other an-
cient nations pradtifed it. When Magal-
haens propofed ChriRianity to the King of
Subo, a north eaftern Aiiatic ifland, and
wheiv Francis de Caftro difcovered Santi-
gana and other iflands, an hundred leagues
north of the Maluccos, the converfion of
their kings was confirmed by each party
drinking of the blood of the other. Our
poet Spenfer tells us, in his View of the State
of Ireland, that he has fcen the Irifh drink
human blood, particularly he adds, " at
the execution of a notable traitor at Lim-
merick, called Murrogh O'Brien, I faw an
old woman, who was his fofter-mother, take
up his head whilft he was quartering, and
fuck up all the blood that run thereout,
faying, that the earth was not worthy to
drink it, and therewith alfo fteeped her
face and breaft and tore her hair, crying out
and fhrieking moft terribly." It is worthy
of regard that the cuftom of marking
themfelves with hot irons, and tattooing, is
the chara6Veriftic both of the Guios of Ca-
moens and of the prefont inhabitants of
New Zealand. And if, as its animals in-
dicate, the ifland of Otaheite was firfl peo»
pled by a fhipwreck, the friendihlp exifting
m a fmall fociety might eafily obliterate the
memory of one cuftom, while the lefs un-
friendly one of tattooing was handed down,
a memorial tliat they owed their origin to
the north eaftern parts of Afja, where that
c>iftom particularly prevails.
"' — — other <worl(ls the fouls of beafls re-
cei've. That queen Elizabeth reigned in
England, is not more certain than that the
ipoil ignorant nations in all ages have had
the idea of a ftate after death. The fame
fijculty which is confcious of cxiftence, whif-
pers the wifti for it ; and fo little acquainted
with the deduftions of reafoning have fome
tribes been, that not only their animals, but
even the ghofts of their domeftic utenfils
have been believed to accompany them in
the iflands of the Blefled. Long ere the
voice of philofophy was heard, the opinion
of an after ftate was popular in Greece.
The works of Homer bear inconteftible
evidence of this. And there is not a fea-
ture in the hiftory of the human mind
better afcertained, than that no fooner did
fpeculation feize upon the topic, than be-
lief declined, and as the great Bacon ob-
fcrves, tlie moft learned became the moft
atheiftical ages. The rcafon of this is ob-
vious. While the human mind is all fim-
plicity, popular opinion is cordially receiv-
ed ; but when reafoning begins, proof Ls
expedted, and deficiency of demonftration
being perceived, doubt and diibelief nitij-
rally follow. Yet ftrange as it may appear,
if the writer's memory does not greatly de-
ceive him, thefe certain fadls were denied
by Hobbes. If he is not greatly miftaken,
that gentleman, who gave a wretched, a
moft unpoetical tranflation of Homer, has
fo grofsly mifundcrftood his author, as to
aflert that his mention of a future ftate was
not in conformity to the popular opinion of
his age, but only his own poetical fidlicm.
He might as well have afllired us, that the
facrificcs of Homer had never any exiftcnce
in Greece. But as no abfurdity is too grofs
for fome geniufes, our murderer of Homer,
our Hobbes, has likewife alTerted, that the
belief of tiie immortality of the human mind
was the child of pride and fpeculation, un-
known in Greece till long after the ap-
pearance of the Iliad.
Go
Where
468
T HE L U SI A D.
Book X,
Where the fierce murderer wolf) to pains decreed>
Sees the mild lamb enjoy the heavenly mead..
Oh gentle Mecon, on thy friendly fhore
Long fliall the Mufe her fweeteft offerings pour I
When tyrant ire chaff'd by the blended luft
Of Pride outrageous, and Revenge unjuft.
Shall on the guiltlefs Exile burft their rage.
And madning tempefts on their fide engage,
Preferved by heaven the fong of Lufian fame,
The fong, O Vasco, facred to thy name,.
Wet from the whelming furge fliall triumph o'er
The fate of fhipwreck on the Mecon's " fliore,
Here reft fecure as on the Mufe's breaft !
Happy the deathlefs fong, the Bard, alas, unbleft f
Chiampa there her fragrant coaft extends.
There Cochinchina's cultured land afcends :
From Ainam bay begins the ancient reign
Of China's beauteous art-adorn'd domain ;
Wide from the burning to the frozen ikies
O'erflovv'd with wealth the potent empire lies.
Here ere the cannon's rage in Europe ° roar'd.
The cannon's thunder on the foe was pour'd :
O^ gentle Mecon.
-It was on the
mouth of this river that Camoens fufFered the
unhappy fhipwreck which rendered him the
fport of fortune during the remainder of
his life. Our Poet metions himfelf and the
faving of his Lufiads with the greateft mo-
delly. But though this indifference has its
beauty in the original, it is certainly the
part of a Tranflator to add a warmth of
colouring to a pafFage of this nature. For
the literal tranflation of this place and far-
ther particulars, fee the Life of Camoens.
° Here ere the <annon^s rage in Europe
roar'd According to Le Comte'% me-
moirs of China, and thofe of other travel-
lers, the mariner's compafs, fire-arms, and
printing
^OOK X.
THE L U S r A D.
469
And here the trembling needle fought the north,
-Ere Time in Europe brought the wonder forth.
/cJCiO
printing were known in that empire, long
ere the invention of thefe arts in Europe.
But the accounts of Du Halde, Le Compte,
and the other Jefuits, are by no means to
be depended on. It was their intereft, in
order to gain credit in Europe and at the
voavt of Rome, to magnify the fplendor of
the empire where their miffion lay, and
they have magnified it into Romance itfelf.
It IS pretended that the Chinefe ufed fire-
arms in their wars with Zenghis Khan, and
Tamerlane ; but it is alfo faid that the Sog-
dianians ufed cannon againfl; Alexander.
The mention of any fulphurous compofition
in an old writer is with fome immediately
converted into a regular tire of artillery.
The Chinefe, indeed, on the firft arrival
of Europeans, had a kind of mortars, which
they called fire-pans, but they were utter
ftrangers to the fmaller fire-arms, Verbieft,
a fefuit, was the firft who taught them to
make brafs cannon fet upon wheels. And
«ven fo late as the hoftile menance which
Anfon gave them, they knew not how to
level or manage their ordnance to any ad-
vantage. Their printing is indeed much
more ancient than that of Europe, but it
does not deferve the fame name, the blocks
of wood with which they ttamp their Iheets
being as inferior to the ufe of, as different
from the moveable types of Europe, The
Chinefe have no idea of the graces of fine
writing ; here moil probably the f lult exifts
in their language ; buc the total want of
nature in-^their painting and of fymetry in
their architedure, in both of which they
have fo long been experienced, afford a
^eavy accufation againlt their genius. But
in planning gardens, and in the arts of
beautifying the face of their country, they
are un.-cjmlled. Yet even in their boatted
gardening their gc:'nius itandi accufcd. The
ttrt of ingrafting, (0 long known to Europe,
is Hill unknown to them. And hence their
fruits are vallly inferior in flavour to thofe
of the wellern world. The amazing vv.all
qH defence againllthe Tartars, though 1500
miles in extent, is a labour inferior to the
canals, lined on the fides with hewn ftone,
which every where enrich and adorn their
voMDtry J fum-i of which roach looo mite-s,
O Q
and are of depth to carry vefTels of- burthen.
Thefe grand remains of antiquity prove
there was a time when the Chinefe were a
much more accomplifhed people than at
prefent. Though their prmces for thefe
many centuries have difcovered no fuch ef-
forts of genius as thefe, the induflry of the
people ftill remains, in which they rival and
refemble the Dutch. In every other refpeil
they are the moll unamiable of mankind :
Amazingly uninventive, for, though pof-
feffed of them, the arts have made no pro-
grefs among the Chinefe thefe many cen-
turies : Even what they were taught by the
Jefuits is almoil loft : So falfe in their deal-
ings, they boaft that none but a Chinefe can
cheat a Chinefe: The crime which difgraces
human nature, is in this nation of athiefts
and the moft ftupid of all idolaters, common
as tbat chartered libertine, the Air, Defti-
tute even in idea of that elevation of foul,
which is expreffed by the beft fenfe of the
word piety, in the time of calamity whole
provinces are defolated by felf-murder j an
end, as Hume fays of fome of the ad-
mired names of antiquity, not unworthy of
fo deteftable a charafter ; And, as it is al-
ways found congenial to bafenefs of heart,
the moft dailardly cowardice com pleats the
defcription of that of the Chinefe.
Unimproved as their arts is their learn-
ing. Though their language confifts of
few words, it is almoil impofljble for a
ftranger to attain the art of fpeaking it.
And what an European learns ere he is
feven years old, to read, is the labour of the
life of a Chinefe. In place of our 24 let-
ters, they have more than 60,000 marks,
which compofa their writings ; and their
paucity of worJs, all of which may be at-
tained in a few hours, requires fuch an in-
finite variety of tone and aftion, that the
flighteft miftake in modulation renders the
fpeaker unintelligible. And in addrelling
a great man, in place of my Lord, you
may call him a hraj}, the word being the,
fame, all the difference confifting in the
tune of it. A language like this muft ever
be a bar to the progrefs and accomplifh-
ments of literature, Of medicine they
ire very ignorant. The ginfeng» whkh
i they
470
THE L U S I A D.
Book X.
No more let Egypt boaft her mountain pyres -, ■
To prouder fame yon bounding wall afpires>
they pretended was an univerfal remedy, is
found to be a root of no fingular virtue.
Their books confill of odes without poetry,
and of moral maxims, excellent in them-
felves, but without invelHgation or realon-
ing. For to philofophical difcuffion and the
metaphyfics they feem utterly Ilrangtrs, and
when taught the mathematics by the Jefuits,
their greateft men were loft in allonilhment.
Whatever their political wifuom has been,
at prefent it is narrow and barbarous.
Jealous leaft ftrangers ileal their arts, arts
which are excelled at Drcfden and other
parts of Europe, they preclude themfelves
from the great advantages which arife from
an intercourfe with civilized nations. Yet
in the laws which they impofe on every
foreign Ihip which enters their pcjrts for
traffic, they even exceed the cunning and
avarice of the Hollanders. In their inter-
nal policy the military government of Rome
under the emperors is revived with accu-
mulated barbarifm. In every city and pro-
vince the military are the conltables and
peace officers. What a pidture is this !
Nothing but Chinefe or Dutch induftry
could preferve the traffic and population of
a country under the controul of armed ruf-
fians. But hence the emperor has leifure
to cultivate his gardens, and to write def-
picable odes to his concubines.
Whatever was their moll ancient doftrine,
certain it is that the legifiators who formed
the prefent fyflem of China prefented to
their people no other objeft of worfhip than
Tien Kcunti, the material heavens and their
influencing power ; by which an intelligent
principle is excluded. Yet finding that the
human mind in the rudelt brealls is con-
fcious of its vveaknefs, and prone to believe
the occurrences of life under the power of
lucky or unlucky obfervances, they permitted
their people the ufe of facriiices to thefe
Lucretian Gods of fuperflitious fear. Nor
was the principle of devotion imprinted by
heaven in the human heart alone perverted ;
another unextinguilhable paffion was alfo
milled. On tables, in every family, are
■written the names of the laft three of their
anceflors, added to each, Htre rejis his foul \
and before thefe tables they burn incenle and
pay adoration. Confucius, who, according
to their hillories, had been in the Weft about
5 CO years before the Chriftian ?era, appears
to be only the confirmer of their old opi-
nions ; but the accounts of him and his
dodrine arc involved in uncertainty. In
their places of worfliip however, boaj'ds are
fet up, infcribed. This is the feat of the foul
of Confuciusy and to thefe and their an-
ceftors they celebrate folemn facrifices, with-
out feeming to poftefs any idea of the in-
tellectual exiilenoe of the departed mind.
The Jefuit Ricci, and his brethren of the
Chinefe million, 'very honejlly told their
converts, shat Hen was the God of the
Chriftians, and that the label of Confucius
was the term by which they exprelfed his
divine majefty. But after a long and fevere
fcrutiny at the Court of Rome, Tien was
found to fignify nothing more than hea-
•venh or univerfal matter^ and the Jefuits
of China were ordered to renounce this
herefy. Among all the fefts who worfhip
different idols in China, there is only one
who have any tolerable idea of the immor-
tality of the foul ; and among thefe, fays
Leland, Chriftianity at prefent obtains fome
footing. But the moft ipterefting particular
of China yet remains to be mentioned.
Confcious of the obvious tendency, Voltaire
and others have triumphed in the great anti-
quity of the Chinefe, and in the diftant period
they afcribe to the creation. But the bubble
cannot bear the toucl^. If fome Chinefe
accounts fix the a;ra of preation 40000 years
ago, others are contented with no lef;, than
884.953. But who knows not that every na-
tion has its Gccffry of Monmouth ? And we
have already obferved the legends which took
their rife from the Annus Magnus of the
Chaldean and Egyptian aftronomers, an ap-
parent revolution of the ftars, which in
reality has no exiftence. To the fancyful,
who held this Annus Magnus, it feemed
hard to fuppofe that our world was in its
firft revolution of the great year, and to
fuppofe that many were paft was eafy. And
that this was the cafe we have abfolute
proof in the dodrines of the Bramins, (fee
the riote on the VII. Lufiad) who, though
they talk of hundreds of thoufands of years
whick
Book X.
THE LUSIAD,
47^
A prouder boafl: pf regal power difpkys
Than all the world beheld in ancient days.
which are part, yet confefs, that this, the
fourth world, has not yet attained its 6000th.
year. And much within this compafs are
all the credible proofs of t^hinefe antiquity
comprehended. To three heads all thefe
proofs are reduceable. Their form of go-
vernment, which, till the conquell of the
Tartars in 1644., t>ore the marks of the
highefl antiquity ; ;heir agronomical ob-
fervations, and their hillory.
Simply and purely patriarchal every fa-
ther was the magillrate in his own family,
and the emperor, who afled by his I'ubfti-
tutes the Mandarines, was venerated and
obeyed as the father of afl. The moft paf-
five fubmillion to authority thus branched
out was inculcated by Confucius and their
other philofophers as the greatell duty of
morality. But if there is an age in facred
or prophane hiftory, where the manners of
mankind are thus delineated, no fuperior
antiquity is proved by the form of Chinefe
government. Their ignorance of the very
ancient art of ingrafting fruit-trees, and
the Hate of their language, fo like the
Hebrew in its paucity of words, a paucity
charafteriilical of the ages when the ideas
of men required few fyllables to clothe
them, prove nothing farther than the early
reparation of the Chinefe colony * from
the reft of mankind. Nothing farther,
except that they have continued till very
lately without any rriaterial intercoufe with
the other nations of the world.
A continued fucceliion of aftronomical
obfervations, for 4C00 years, was claimed
by the Chinefe, when they were firft vifited
by the Europeans. Voltaire, that Jon of
truth, has often with great triumph men-
tioned the undubitable proofs of Chinefe
antiquity ; but at thefe tiroes he mull have
received his information from the fame
dream which told him that Camoens ac-
companied his friend Gama in the voyage
which difcovered the Eaft Indies. If Vol-
taire and his difciples will talk of Chinefe
allronomy and the 4000 years antiquity of
its perfection. Jet them enjoy every confe-
quence which may poflibly refult from it.
But let them allow the fame liberty to
others. Let them allow others to draw
their inferences from a few ftubborn fafts,
fadls which demonftrate the ignorance of
the Chinefe in aftronomy. The earth,
they imagined, was a great plain, of which
their country was the midft ; and fo igno-
rant were they of the caufe of ecHpfes, that
they believed the fun and moon were af-
faulted, and in danger of being devoured
by a huge dragon. The ftars were confider-
ed as the direftors of human afTairs, and
thus their boafted aftronomy ends in that filly
impofition, judicial aftrology. Thcugh they
had made fome obfervations on the revolu-
tions of the planets, and though in the em-
peror's palace there was an obfervatory, the
firft apparatus of proper inftruments ever
known in China was introduced by father
Verbieft. After this it need fcarcely be add-
ed, that their aftronomical obfervations which
pretend
* The Chinefe Colony ! Yes, let philofophy fmile; let her talk of the different fpecies of men wliicJj are
found in every country, let her brand a.s abfurd the opinion of Montel'quieu, which derives all the human
race from one famiij'. I,et lier enjoy her triumph. Peace to her inlblence, peace to iier dreams and
her reveries. But let common fcnfe be contented with the dcmonllration (See Whillon, Bentley, &c.) that
a Oeation in every country is not wanted, and that one family is fufficient in every reipett for the purpole.
]f ))hi!ofophy will talk of black and white men as dirt'trent in fpecies, kt common fcni'e afk her for a de-
monftration, that climate and manner of life cannot produce tliis difference, and let her add, that there
is theftrojiijeft prefumptive experimental proof, tliat the difference thus happens. If philo/bphy draw her
inferences from the ilifTerent paffions of different tribes ; let common feufe reply, that Itiipt of every
accident of brutalization and urbanity, the human mind in all its faculties, all its nioiives, hopes and ftai«,
is moft v\onderfulIy tiie fame in every age and countiy. If pliilol'ophy talk of the impoflibility of peo-
pling diltant iflands and continents from one family, kt common fenle tell her to read Bryant's Mythology.
Jf philofophy aflcrt that the Celts where ever they came found /^borifiBcs, kt common fenfe reply, there
were tyrants enough almoft 2000 years before their emigrations, to drive the wretched furvivers oi llaugh-
tered horts to the remotcfts wilds. She may alfo add, tiiat many illands have been found which Ijore not
one trace of mankind, and that even Otahcite bears the evident marks of reciiving its inhal)itants from ■«,
ihipwreck, its only animals being tlie hog, the dog, and tlie rat. In a word, kt common lenfe lay tti
philofuphy, " I open my egg with a peu-kiiifc, but youopcH yours with the blow of a Hedge hammer,"
472^
THE LUSIAD,
Book X,
Not built, created feems the frowning niound j
O'er loftiefl mountain tops and vales profound
Extends the wondrous length, with warlike caftles crown
Immenfe the northern waftes their horrors ^fpreadi
In froft and fnow the feas and fhorcs are clad,
Thefe fhores forfake, to future ages due::
A world of illands claims thy happier view.
Where lavifh Nature all her bounty pours.
And flowers and fruits of every fragrance (howers.
Japan behold ; beneath the globe's broad face
Northward (he finks, tlie nether feas embrace
J
pretend an antiquity of 4000 years, are as
falfe as a Welch genealogy, and that the
Chinefe themfelves, when inftrufted by the
Jefuits, were obliged to own that their calcu-
lations were erroneous and impoflible. The
great credit and admiration which their af-
tronomical and mathematical knowledge
procured to the Jefuits, afford an indubi-
table confirmation of thefe fafts.
Ridiculous as their aftronomical, are their
hiftorical antiquities. After all Voltaire has
faid of it, the oldeft date to which their
hiftory pretends is not much above 4000
years. During this period 236 kings have
reigned, of 22 different families. The firfl
king reigned 100 years, then we have the
names of feme others, but without any de-
tail of aftions, ox that concatenation of
events which diftinguifhes authentic hiftory.
That mark of truth does not begin to ap-
pear for upwards of 2000 years of the Chi-
nefe legends. Liule more than the names
jof kings, and thefe often interrupted with
wide chafms, compofe all the annals of
China, till about the period of the Chriftian
eera. Something like a hiftory then com-
mences, but that is again interrupted by a
wide chafm, which the Chinefe know not
how to fill up otheruife, than by afferting
th;ct a century or two elapfed in the time, and
that at fuch a periotl a new family mounted
the throne. Such is the hiftory of China,
full brother in every family feature to thofc
Monkifh tales, which fent a daughter of
Pharoah to be queen of Scotland, which
fent Brutus to England, and a grandfon of
Noah to teach fchool among the mountains
in Wales.
P Immenfe the northern nvajles their horrors
fpread. Tartary, Siberia, Samoyada,
Kamchatki, &c. A fhort account of the
Grand Lama of Thibet Tartary fhall com^
plete our view of the fuperftitions of the
Ealt. While the other Pagans of Afia
worfhip the moft ugly monftrous idols, the
Tartars of Thibet adore a real living God,
He fits crofs-legged on his throne in flio
great Temple, adorned with gold and dia-
monds. He never fpeaks, but fometjmfs
elevates his hand in token that he approves
of the prayers of his worfliippers. He is
a ruddy well looking young; man, about 25
or 2^, and is the moil miferable wretch on
earth, being tlie mere puppet of his priefls,
wTio difpatch him whenever age or ficknefs
make any alteration in his features; and ano-
ther, inilruded to a^t his parr, is put in hi»
place. Princes of very diflant provinces
fend tribyte to this Deity and implore his
bleffing, and as Voltaire has merrily told
us, think themfelves fecure of benedi(!:^ion,
if favoured with fomething from hisGodfliip,
elleemed more facred than the hallowed
cow-dung of the Bramins.
liec
.Book X. THE L U S I A D.
Her eaftern bounds ; what glorious fruitage there,
Illuftrious Gama, fhall thy labours bear!
How bright a {ilver mine ! whfcn heaven's own "^ lore
From Pagan drofs fhall purify her ore.
473
Beneath the purple wings of fpreading morn.
Behold what ifles thefe gliftening feas adorn !
Mid hundreds yet unnamed, Ternate behold !
By day her hills in pitchy clouds. inroU'd,
By night like rolling waves the fheets of fire
Blaze o'er the feas, and high to heaven afpire.
For Lufian hands here blooms the fragrant clove.
But Lufian blood fhall fprinkle every grove.
The golden birds that ever fail the ikies
Here to the fun difplay their fhining dyes.
Each want fupplied on air they ever foar j
The ground they touch not till they breathe no ' more.
Here Banda's ifles their fair embroidery fpread
Of various fruitage, azure, white^ and red ;
^ Ho7v in'g/jf a Jtl-ver mine. By this
beautiful metaphor, omitted by Cailera,
Camoens alludes to the great fuccefs, which
in his time attended the Jefuit miffion arias
in Japan. James I. fent an embafly to the
fovcreign, and opened a trade with this
country, but it was foon fufFered to decline.
The Dutch are the only Europeans who now
traffic with the Japonefe, which it is faid
they obtain by trampling on the crofs and
by abjuring the ChrilHan name. In re-
ligion the Japonefe are much the fame as
their neighbours of China. And in the
frequency of felf-murder, fays Voltaire,
they vie with their brother iflanders of
England.
•■ The ground they touch not. ' Thefe
are commonly called the birds of Paradifc.
It was the old erroneous opinion that they
always foared in the air, and that the
female hatched her young on the back
of the male. Their feathers bear a-
mixture of the moft beautiful azure, purple
and golden colours, which have a fine cf-
feft in the rays of the fun.
And
474 THE L U S I A D, Book X,
And birds of every beauteous plume difplay
Their glittering radiance, as from fpray to ipray.
From bower to bower on bufy wings they rove.
To feize the tribute of the fpicy grove.
Borneo here expands her ample breaft.
By Nature*s hand in woods of camphire dreft ;
I'he precious liquid weeping from the trees
Glows warm with health, the balfom of difeafe.
Fair are Timora's dales with groves array'd.
Each rivulet murmurs in the fragrant fliade.
And in its chryflal breaft difplays the bowers
Of Sanders, bleft with health-reftoring powers.
Where to the fouth the world's broad furface bends,
Lo, Sunda's realm her fpreading arms extends.
From hence the pilgrim brings the wondrous * tale,
A river groaning through a dreary dale,
For all is' ftone around, converts to ftone
Whate'er of verdtare In its bread is thrown.
Lo, gleaming blue o'er fair Sumatra's fkies
Another 4Tiountain's trembling flames arife;
Here from the trees the gum all fragrance fwelk.
And foftefl ' oil a wondrous fountain wells.
' From hence the pilgrim brings the moon- channel, harden into ftone and incrufl the
drous tale— Streams of this kind are original retainers.
common in many countries. Caftera at- ' Here from the trees the gum Benja-
tributes this quality to the exceflive cold of min, a fpecies of frankinccnfe. The oil
tjie waters, but this is a niillake. The wa- mentioned in the next line, is that called
ters of fome (prinos are impregnated with the rock oil, a black fa^tid mineral oleum,
fparry particles, which adhering to the her- good for bruifcs and fprains.
bagc or the clay on the banks of their
Nor
Book X, THE L U S I A D. 475
Nor thefe alone the happy ifle beftows.
Fine is her gold, her filk refplendent glows.
Wide forefts there beneath Maldivia's " tide
From withering air their wondrous fruitage hide.
The green-hair'd Nereids tend the bowery dells,
Whofe wondrous fruitage poifon's rage expells.
In Ceylon, lo, how high yon mountain's brows I
The failing clouds its middle height enclofe.
Holy the hill is deem'd, the hallowed " tread
Of fainted footftep marks its rocky head.
Laved by the Red-fea gulph Socotra's bowers
There bbaft the tardy aloe's beauteous flowers.
On Afric's flrand foredoom'd to Lufian fway
Behold thefe ifles, and rocks of dufky gray -,
From cells unknown here bounteous ocean pours
The fragrant amber on the fandy ihores.
And lo, the Ifland of the " Moon difplays
Her vernal lawns, and numerous peaceful bays ;
" Wide forejls there beneath Maldi'via's This tale fccms to be Jewifll or Mohamme-
tide, A fea plant, refembling the palm, dan, for the natives, according to Capt.
grows in great abundance in the bays about Knox, who was twenty years a captive in
the Maldivian iflands. The boughs rife to Ceylon, pretend the impreffion was made
the top of the water, and bear a kind of by the God Buddoiv, when he afcended to
apple, called the coco of Maldivia, which heaven, .after having for the falvation of
is elteemed an antidote againft poifon. mankind, appeared on the earth. His
* ' the tread of Jointed foot /hp —■^-^ priefts beg charity for the fake of BuddoiM^
The imprint of a human foot is found whofe worfhip they perform among groves
on the high mountain, called the Pic of of the Bogabah-tree, under which, when
Adam. Legendary tradition fays, that on earth, they fay he ufually fat and taught.
Adam, after he was expelled from Paradife, * And lo, the IJland of the Moon.-^—^
did penance 300 years on this hill, on Madagafcar is thus named by the natives. .
which he left the pint of his footftep.
Ppp The
476 THE L U S I A D. BookX.
The halcyons hovering o'er the bays are fcen,
And lowing herds adorn the vales of green.
Thus from the cape where fail was ne'er unfurl'd
Till thine aufpicious fought the Eallern World,
To utmoft wave where iirft the morning ftar
Sheds the pale luftre of her filver car, . ,
Thine eyes have view'd the empires and the ifles.
The world immenfe that crowns thy glorious toils.
That world where every boon is fhower'd from heaven.
Now to the Weft, by Thee, Great Chief, is ^ given.
And ftill, oh Bleft, thy peerlefs honours grow.
New opening views the fmiling Fates beftow.
With alter'd face' the moving globe behold ;
There ruddy evening fheds her beams of gold.
While now on Afric's bofom faintly die
The laft pale glimpfes of the twilight iky.
Bright o'er the wide Atlantic rides the morn.
And dawning rays another world adorn :
To fartheft north that world enormous bends.
And cold beneath the fouthern pok-ftar ends.
Near either ' pole the barbarous hunter dreft '
In ikins of bears explores the frozen wafte :
^'^'Nciv it the IVeJi^ hy Thee^ Great Chiefs Hoftter has concluded the Iliad.
is'givftj The fublimity of this eulogy ^ Near either pole We are now pre-
on the expedition of the Lufiad has been fented with a beautifiil view of the Ame-
already obferved. What follows is a natu- rican world. Columbus difcovered the Weft
ral completion of the whole ; and, the di- Indies before, but not the Continent till
grelTive exclamation at the end excepted, is 1498, the year after Gama failed from
exaftly iimilar to tl).e manner in wliich Ldfbon.
Where
Book X. THE L U S I A D. 477
Where fmiles the genial fun with kinder rays, r
Proud cities tower, and gold-roofed temples blaze.
This golden empire, by the heaven*s decree.
Is due, Cafteel, O favour'd Power, to Thee I
Even now Columbus o'er the hoary tide
Purfues the evening fun, his navy*s guide.
Yet fhall the kindred Lufian fhare the reign.
What time this world fliall own the yoke of Spain.
The firft bold ' hero who to India's fhores
Through vanquifli'd waves thy open'd path explores.
Driven by the winds of heaven from Afric's flrand
Shall fix the Holy Crofs on yon fair land.
That mighty realm for purple wood renown'd.
Shall ftretch the Lufian empire's weftern bound.
Fired by thy fame, and with his king in ire.
To match thy deeds fliall Magalhaens " afpire.
* The firji hold hero Cabral, the firft defervedly, Juftice to tke name of this great
lifter Gama who failed to India, was driven man requires an examination of the charge,
by Tempeft to the Brazils, a proof that Ere he entered into the fervice of the king
more ancient voyagers might have met with of Spain by a folomn adl he unnaturalized
the fame fate. He named the country Santa himfelf. Oforius is very fevere againft
Cruz, or Holy Crofs ; it was afterward this unavailing rite, and argues that no in-
named Brazil, from the colour of the wood, jury which a prince may poflibly give, can
with which it abounds. It is one of the authorize afubjeft to adl the part of a tray-
fineft countries in the new world, and ftill tor againft his native country. This is cer-
remains fubjeft to the crown of Portugal. tainly true, but it is not ftriAly applicable
'' To match thy deeds Jhall Magalhaens a/- to the cafe of Magalhaens. Many eminent
fire Camocns, though he boafts of the fervices performed in Africa and India cn-
adtions of Magalhaens as an honour to titled him to a certain allowance, which,
Portugal, yet condemns his defeftion to the though inconfiderable in itfelf, was efteem-
king of Spain, and calls him ed as the reward of diftinguifhed merit, and
O Magalhaens, no feito com -verdade therefore highly valued. For this Magal-
Portuguez, porern nao na kaldade. "»«P* petitioned m vain. He found, lays
Faria, that the malicious accufations of
•• In dcedg truly a Portugucfe, but not in fome men had more weight with his fove-
loyalty." And others have beftowed upon reign than all his fervices. After this un-
him the name of Traytor, but perhaps un- worthy repulfe, what patronage at the court
P p P 2 of
"47S
THE L U SI A D.
Book X.
In all, but loyalty, of Lufian foul.
No fear, no danger fliall his toils contraul.
of Lifbon could he hope ? And though no
injury can vindicate the man who draws his
(word againft his native country, yet no
moral duty requires that he who has fome
important difcovery in meditation fliould
ftifle his defign, if uncountenanced by his
native prince. It has been alledged, that
he embroiled his country in difputes with
Spain. But neither is this ftriftly appli-
cable to the neglefted Magalhaens. The
courts of Spain and Portugal had folemnly
fettled the limits within which they were to
make difcoveries and fettlements, and with-
in thefe did Magalhaens and the court of
Spain propofe that his difcoveries fliould
terminate. And allowing that his calcula-
tions might miflead him beyond the bounds
prefcribed to the Spaniards, ftill his apology
is clear, for it would have been injiirious to
each court, had he fuppofed that the faith
of the boundary treaty would be trampled
upon by either power. If it is faid that he
aggrandifed the enemies of his coontr)', the
Spaniards, and introduced them to a dan-
gerous rivallhip with the Portuguefc fettle-
ments ; let the fentence of Faria on this
fubjeft be remembered, *' let princes be-
ware, fays he, how by negleft or injuftice
they force into defperute aflions the men
who have merited rewards." As to rival-
:ihip, the cafe of Mr. Law, a North Briton,
is appofite. This ggntleman wrote an ex-
cellent treatife on the improvement of the
trade and fifheries of his native country,
but his propofals were totally negledted by
the commillioners, whofe office and duty it
was to have patronifed him. Was Law,
therefore, to fit down in obfcurity on a
barren field, to ftifle his genius, left a foreign
power, who might one day be at war with
Great Britain, fhould be aggrandifed by his
efforts in commercial policy ? No, furely.
Deprived of the power of raifing himfelf
at home, Mr. Law went to France, where
be became the founder of the Mififlippi and
other important fchemes of commerce; yet
Law was never branded with the name of
traytor. The reafon is obvious. The go-
vernment of Great Britain was carelefs of
what they loft in Mr. Law, but tke Portu-
guefe perceived their lofs in Magalhaens,
and their anger was vented in reproaches.
In the end of the i 5 th and beginning of
the 1 6th centuries, the fpirit of difcovery
broke forth in its greateft vigour. The ealt
and the weft had been vifited by Gama and
Columbus ; and the bold idea of failing to
the eaft by the weft was revived by Magal-
haens. Revived, for mifled by Strabo and
Pliny, who place India near to the weft of
Spain, Columbus expefting to fxnd the India
of the ancients when he landed on Hif-
paniola, thought he had difcovered the
Ophir of Solomon. And hence the name
of Indies was given to that and the neigh-
bouring iilands. Though America and the
Moluccas were now found to be at a great
diftance, the genius of Magalhaens ftill
fuggefted the poflibility of a wefterri pafr
fage. And accordingly, poflefTed of his
great defign, and hegleded Vvith contempt
at home, he offered his fervice to the court
of Spain, and was accepted. With five
fhips and 250 men he failed from Spain in
September 1519, and after many difficulties,
occafioned by mutiny and the extreme cold,
he entered the great Pacific Ocean or South
Seas by thofe ftraits which bear his Spanifh
name Magellan. From thcfe ftraits, in
the 52^ degree of fouthern latitude, he
traverfed that great ocean, till in the loth
degree of North latitude he landed on the
ifland of Subo or Marten. The king of
this country was then at war with a neigh-
bouring prince, and Magalhaens, on con-
dition of his converfion to chriftianity, be-
came his auxiliary. In two battles the
Spaniards were vidorious, but in the third,
Magalhaens, together with one Martinho, a
judicial aftrologer, whom he ufually con-
fulted, was unfortunately killed. Chagrin-
ed with the difappointment of promifed
vidory, the new baptized king of Subo
made peace with his enemies, and having
invited to an entertainment the Spaniards
on fliore, he treacheroufly poifoned them
all. The wretched remains of the fleet ar-
rived at the Portuguefe fettlements in the
ifles of Banda and Ternate, where they
were received, fays Faria, as friends, and
not
Book X. T HE L U S I A D. 479
Along thefe regions from the burning zone
To deepeft.foiith he dares the course unknown. . v
While to the kingdoms of the riling day.
To rival Thee he holds the weftern way,
A land of *" giants .fhall his eyesi behold,
Of camel ftrength,- furpafilng human mould : : •
And onward ftill, thy fame his proud heart's guide
Haunting him unappeafed, the dreary tide
Beneath the fouthern ilar's cold gleam he braves.
And ftems the whirls. of land-furrounded waves. . "
Forever facred to the hero's fame
Thefe foaming ftraits fhall bear his deathlefs name.
Through thefe dread jaws of rock he prefTes on.
Another ocean's breaft, immenfe, unknown.
Beneath the fouth's cold wings, unmeafured, wide.
Receives his veffels j through the dreary tide
not as intruding Grangers ; a proof that the which is at the mercy of Great Britain,
boundary treaty was efteemed fufficiently while her minifters are wife enough to pre-
facred. Several of the adventurers were ferve her great naval fuperiority. A Gi-
fent to India, and from thence to Spain, in braltar in the South Seas is only wanting.
Portuguefe (hips, one Ihip only being in a But when this is mentioned, who can with-
condition to return to Europe by the Cape hold his eyes from the illhmus of Darien ?
of Good Hope. This veffel, named the the rendezvous appointed by nature for the
Vidloria, however, had the honour to be fleets which may one day give law to the
the firft which ever furrouiided the globe ; Pacific and Atlantic Oceans : A fettle-
an honour by fome ignorantly attributed to ment which to-day might have owned fub-
the (hip of Sir Francis Drake. I'hus un- jeftion to Great Britain, if juftice and honour
happily ended, fays Oforius, the expedition had always prefided in the cabinet of Wil-
of Magalhacns. But the good Biihop v.as liam the Third.
miftalcen, for a few years after he wrote, ' A land of giants — The Patagonians^
and fomewhat upwards of fifty after the Various are the fables of navigators con-
return of the Vicloria, Philip II. of Spain cerning thefe people. The Spaniards who
availed himfelf of the difcovcries of Ma- went with Magalhaens affirmed they were
galhaens. And the navigation of the South about ten feet in height, fmce which voyage
Seas between Spanifh America and the Afian they have rifcn and fallen in thcii flature.
Archipelago, at this day forms the bafis of according to the diiFeient humours of our
the power of Spain. A bafis, however, fea wits.
In
48a THE L U S I A D. Book X.
In darkling fhades, where never man before
Heard the waves howl, he dares the namelefs ihore.
Thus far, O favoured Lulians, bounteous heaven
Your nation's glories to your view has given.
What enfigns, blazing to the morn, purfue
The path of heroes, open'd firft by You i
Still be it your's the firft in fame to ihine :
Thus Ihall your brides new chaplets ftill entwine.
With laurels ever new your brows enfold.
And braid your wavy locks with radiant gold.
How calm the waves, how mild the balmy gale 1
The halcyons call, ye Lulians, fpread the fail !
Old ocean now appeafed Ihall rage no more,
Hafte, point the bowfprit to your native fhore :
Soon ihall the tranfports of the natal foil
O'erwhelm in bounding joy the thoughts of every toil.
: .'IThe Goddefs ^ fpake ; and Vasco waved his hand.
And foon the joyful heroes crowd the ftrand.
* The Giddefs /pake '^'^^'^ W e are nmv of Love. They are led to the palace of
come to the conclufion of the'fiftion of the Thetis, where, during a divine feaft, they
ifland of Venus, a fiflion which is divided hear the glorious vidories and conquefts of
into three principal parts. In each of thefe the heroes who are to fucceed them in their
the poetical merit is obvious, nor need we Indian expedition, fung by a Syren ; and the
fear to afl'ert that the happinefs of our au- faceof the globe itfelf,defcribed by the God-
thor, in uniting all thefe parts together in defs, difcovers the univerfe, and particular-
one great cpifode, would have excited the ]y the extent of the Eallern World, now
admiration of Longinus. The heroes of given to Europe by the fuccefs of Gama.
the Lufud receive their reward in the ifland Neither in grandeur nor in happinefs of
completion
Book X.
THE LUSIAD.
481
The lofty fliips with deepen'd burthens prove
The various bounties of the Iflc of L6ve.
completion may the Eneid or Otlyfley be
mentioned in comparifon. The Iliad alone,
in Epic condudt (as already obferved) bears
a ftrong refemblr.nce. But however great
in other views of poetical merit, the games
at the funeral of Patrodas aiul the redenlp-
tion of the body of Hedtor, confidered as
the interefting conclufion of a great whole,
can never in propriety and grandeur be
brought into competition with the admirable
epifode which concludes the Poem on the
Difcovery of India.
Soon after the appearance of die Lufiad,
the language of Spain was alfo enriched
with an heroic poem. The author of which
has often imitated the Portuguefe poet, par-
ticularly in the fiftion of the globe of the
world, which is (hewed to Gama. In the
Araucana, a globe furrounded with a radiant
fphere, is alfo miraculoully fupported in the
air ; and on this an enchanter ihcws to the
Spaniards the extent of their dominions in
the new world. But Don Alonzo d'Arcilla
is in this, as in every other part of his
poem, greatly inferior to the poetical fpirit
©f Camoens. Milton, whofe poetical con-
duft in concluding the adtion of his Para-
dife Loft, as already pointed out, feems
formed upon the Lufiad, appears to have
had this paflage particularly in his eye.
For though the machinery of a vificnary
fphere was rather improper for the fituation
of his perfonages, he has neverthelefs,
though at tlie expence of an impoffible fup-
pofrtiori, given Adam a view of the ter-
reftial globe. Michael fets tlie father of
mankind on a moantain.
. . ■ — — From whofe top
The hemirphcre of earth in cleaieft ken
Stietch'd out to th' ampleit reach of pio(j)«;ft
lay
His eye might there command wherever flood
City of old or moilein fame, the feat
Of mightleft empire, from the deftined walls
Of C.-imbalu , ice.
On Europe thence and where Rome was to fway
Th6 world
And even the mention of America feems
copied by Milton,
I In fpirit perhaps he alfo faw
Rich Mexico, tlie feat of Montezume,
And Cufco in Peru, the richer feat
of Atabalipa, and yet unfpolled
Guiana, whofe great city Geryon's fons
Call El Dorado
It muft alfo be owned by the warmeft ad-
mirer of the Paradife Loft, that the de-
fcription of America in Caraoens,
Vedes a grande terra, que contina
Vai de Califto ao feu contrario polo.
To farthcft north that world enormoire bends,
And cold beneath the foiuhern pole-ftar ends— •
Conveys a bolder and a grander idea than
all the names enumerated by Milton.
Some fhort account of the Writers,
■whole authorities have been adduced in
the courfe of thefe notes, may not now
be improper. Fernando Lopez de CaC*
tagneda went to India on purpofc to do
honour to his countrymen, by enabling him-
felf to record their aftions and conquefts Ib
the Eart. As he was one of the firft writers;
on that fubjeft, his geography is often im^
perfedl. This defeft is remedied in the
writings of John de Barros, who was par-
ticularly attentive to this head. But the
two moft eminent, as well as fulleft, writers
on the tranfaftions of the Portuguefe in
the Eaft, are Manuel de Faria y Soufa,
knight of the order of Chrift, and Hiero-
nhnus Oforius, bilhop of Sylves. Faria,
who wrote in Spanilh, was a laborious en-
quirer, and is very full and circumftantial.
With honeft indignation he reprehends the.
rapine of commanders and the enters and
unworthy refcntments of kings. Bat he i»
often fo dryly particular, that he may rather
be called a joumalift than an hiftorian.
And by 'this uninterciting minutcnefs, his
ftyle for the greatelt part is rendered in-
elegant. The Biftiop of Sylves, however,
claims a different charafter. His latin is
elegant, and his manly and fentimental
manner entitles him to tlie name of Hif-
torian, even where a Livy, or a Tacitus,
arc mentioned. But a fentence from
himfclf, unexpcfted in a Father of the
communion of Rome, will charafterife the
liberality of his mind. Talking of the
edift of king Emmanuel, which compelled
the Jews to embrace ChriiUanity, under
feverc
482 THE L U S I A D. Book X.
Nor leave the youths their lovely brides behind, -" U
In wedded bands, while time glides on, conjoin'd;
Fair as immortal fame in fmiles array'd.
In bridal fmiles, attends each lovely maid.
P*er India's Sea, wing'd on by balmy gales
That whifper'd peace, foft fwell'd the fteady fails :
Smooth as on wing unmoved the eagle flies.
When to his eyrie cliff he fails the ikies.
Swift o'er the gentle billows of the tide.
So fmooth, fo foft, the prows of Gama glide ;
An'd now their native fields, for ever dear.
In all their wild tr^nfporting charms appear ;
And Tago's bofom, while his banks repeat
The founding peals of joy, receives the fleet.
With orient titles and immortal fame
The hero band adorn their Monarch's name ;
Sceptres and crowns beneath |iis feet they lay.
And the wide Eafl: is doorii'd 'to Ltifiah " fway.
fevere perfecutionj Nee ex lege, nee ex ILgious perfecution, made no impreffion oa
religione fadum * tibi a/Tumas, the mind of that bigotted Princefs ! . .
Jfays he, ut libertatcm voluntatis impedias, ^ And the ividc Eaji is doomed to Lujian
et vincala mentibus efFrcnatis injicias ? At fnvay — Thus in all the force of ancient fun-
id neque fieri potell, neque Chrii^i fandtifli- plicity, and the true fublime ends the Poem
mum numen approbat. V^^oluntariutn enim of Ca^oens. What follows, is one of
facrificium non vi malo coai^lum ab homi- thofe exuberances we have already' endea-
nibus expetit : Neque vim mentibus infcrri, voured to defend in our Author, nor in the
fed voluntates ad lludium veras religionis ftrideft fenfe is this concluding one without
allici & invitari jubqt. propriety. A part of th6 propofition of
It is faid, in the preface to Oforius, that the Poem is artfully addreflfed to King Scr
his writings were highly efteemed by Queen baftian, and he is now called upon in an
Mary of England, wife of Philip II. What addrcfs, which is an artful fecond part to
a pity is it, that this manly indignation 9f the former, to behold and preferv^ the
xhe good Biihop againft the impiety of re- glories of his throne.
Enough,
Book X. THE L U S I A D, 483
Enough, my Mufe, thy wearied wing no more
Muft to the feat of Jove triumphant foar.
Chiird by my nation's cold negleft, thy fires
Glow bold no more, and all thy rage expires.
Yet thou, Sebaftian, thou, my king, attend s
Behold what glories on thy throne defcend !
Shall haughty Gaul or fterner Albion boaft
That all the Lufian fame in Thee is loft!
Oh, be it thine thefe glories to renew.
And John's bold path and Pedro's courfe " purfue ;
Snatch from the tyrant Noble's hand the fword.
And be the rights of human-kind reftored.
The ftatefman prelate, to his vows confine.
Alone aufpicious at the holy fhrine 5
The prieft, in whofe meek heart heaven pours its fires.
Alone to heaven, not earth's vain pomp, afpires.
Nor let the Mufe, great King, on Tago's (hore,
In dying notes the barbarous age deplore^
The king or hero to the Mufe unjuft
Sinks as the namelefs flave, extindt in duft.
But fuch the deeds thy radiant morn portends,
Aw'd by thy frown ev'n now old Atlas bends
His hoary head, and Ampeluza's fields
Exped thy founding fteeds and rattling fhields.
• And John s BoU path and Pedro* s courfe purfuf,' John I. and Pedro the Juft, two of
the greateft of the Portuguefe monarchs.
Q^q q And
484 THE L U S I A D.
And fliall thefe deeds unfung, unknown, expire !
Oh, would thy fmiles relume my fainting ire I
I, then infpired, the wondering world fliould fee
Great Ammon's warlike fon revived in Thee ;
Revived, ^ unenvious of the Mufe*s_ flame
That o'er the world refounds Pelides' name.
Book X.
' Re'vinj'dy unettvious Thus imitated,
or rather tranflated into Italian by Guarini. ~
Con fi fublime ftiP forfe cantato
Havrei del niio Signor Tarmi e rhonori,
Ch' or non havria de la Meonia troniba
Da invidiar Achllle— — —
Similarity of condition, we have already
obferved, produced fimilarity of complaint
and fentiment in Spenfer and Camoens.
Each was unworthily neglefted by the Gothic
grandees of his age, yet both their names
will live, when the remembrance of the
courtiers who fpurncd them lhally5«^ beneath
their mount ain tombs. Three beautiful ftan-
7,as from Phinehas Fletcher on the memory
of Spenfer, may alfo ferve as an epitaph
for Camoens. I'he unworthy negleft, which
was the lot of the Portuguefe Bard, but
too well appropriates to him the elegy of
Spenfer. And every Reader of tafte, who
has perufed the Lufiad, will think of the
Cardinal Henrico, and feel the indignation
of thcfe manly lines.
Witnefle our CoUn *, whom tho' all the Graces
And all the Mufes nurft; whofe well taught fong^
Parnuflus felf and Glorian \ embraces,
And all the learn'd and all the fliepherds throng ;
Yet all his hopes were croft, all fuits deni'd ;
Difcourag'd, fcorn'd, his writings vilifi'd :
Poorly (poor man) he liv'd; poorly (poor man) he
di'd.
And had not that great hart (whofe honour'd |[ head
Ah lies full low) piti'd thy woful plight.
There hadft thou lien unwept, unburied,
Unbleft, nor grac'd with any common rite ;
Yet flialt thou live, when thy great foe f (hall fink
Beneath his mountain tombe, whole fame fhali ftink ;
And time his blacker name Ihall blurre with blacked
ink.
O let th' Iambic Muie revenge that wrong
Which cannot flumber in thy ftieets of lead;
Let thy abufed honour crie as long
As there be quills to write, or eyes to reade :
On his rank name let thine own votes be turn'd,
Oh may that man that hath the Afufes fcorn'd,
Alivcy mr dead, he ever of a Mufc adorn' d.
* Colin Clout, Spenfer.
I Glorian, Elizabeth in the Faerie Queen,
-f Lord gurieigh,
The Earl of Eflex,
THE END.
WILLIAM QEORGK 8 SONS LTD.
noOKSBLLBKS
89 PAKK 8TRKRT. BHISTOI.
