Os Lusiadas (The Lusiads)

Englished by Richard Francis Burton:

(Edited by His Wife, Isabel Burton).

In Two Volumes - Vol. II.

London: Bernard Quaritch, 15 Piccadilly, W. 1880. All Rights Reserved.

Wyman and Sons, Printers, Great Queen Street, Lincoln’s-Inn Fields, London, W.C.

Os Lusiadas

(The Lusiads).

Canto VII.

Argument of the Seventh Canto.

On the occasion of the famous Discovery of India, a notable and poetic Exhortation is addrest to the Princes of Christendom, arousing them to like Enterprizes: Description of the Reign of Malabar wherein lieth the Empire of Calecut, at whose Port the Armada anchoreth: Appeareth the Moor Monsaydé who giveth information to the Gama and eke instructeth him concerning the natives of the land: The Catual, or Governor of Calecut, fareth to see the Fleet.

Another Argument.

Dá fundo a frota a Calecut chegada; Manda-se mensageiro ao Rei potente; Chega Monçaide a ver a Lusa armada, E da Provincia informa largamente: Faz Gama ao Samori sua embaixada; He recebido bem da Indica gente: Co’o Regedor o Mouro ao mar se torna, Que de toldos e flammulas se adorna.

Canto VII.

And now th’ Armada near’d the Morning-land,1 many so much desirèd to have seen, Reigns by those Indic currents moated, and by Gange who dwelleth in the sky terrene. Up Braves! and at them, an your valiant hand, to snatch victorious Palms determined bene Here ends your warfare; here before you lies the realm of riches and your rightful prize. To you, O race from Lusus sprung! I say,2 to whom such puny part of Earth is dole’d nay, what say I of Earth, but of His sway who ruleth all the rounded skies enfold? You, whom ne dangers dure ne dire dismay from conqu’ering brutal Heathenesse withhold, but eke no greed of gain may wean from love of Mother-essence[1] throned the Heavens above. [Pg 256] Ye, Portingalls! as forceful as ye’re few,3 who e’er disdain to weigh your weakly weight; ye, who at cost of various deaths be true the Laws of Life Eternal to dilate: Cast by the heav’enly lots your lot ye drew, however poor or mean your mundane state, great deeds for Holy Christendom to show: So high, O Christ! exaltest Thou the low!

See them, those Germans, stiff-neckt, herd-like horde4 who browse the pastures of such wide extent, to him rebellious who hath Peter’s ward, choose a new Shepherd, a new Sect invent: See them absorbed in ugly wars abhor’d (nor yet with blinded errant ways content!) fight, not the haught tyrannick Othoman, but th’ apostolick yoke they fain unspan. See the hard Englander[2] proclaim his right5 of that old Sacred City King to be, where reigns and rules the base-born Ishmaelite (Honour of Truth so nude who e’er did see!); ’mid Boreal snows he taketh sad delight to mould new mode of old Christianity: For those of Christ he bares the ready brand, not to rethrone Lord Christ in Holy Land. [Pg 257] Holds for himself meanwhile a faithless Roy,[3]6 Jerus’alem City, the terrestrial; who holds not holy law, but dares defy Jerus’alem City, the celestial. Then what of thee, vile Gaul[4] what need say I? who wouldst thy vaunting self “Most Christian” call, not that such title wouldest ward and guard, but that the name thro’ thee be smircht and mar’d!

Thy claim to conquer Christian lands beseems7 one who so much and such fair land doth claim? why seek not Cinyps[5] and the Nilus, streams which ever hate that ántique Holy Name? There should they feel of steel the hard extremes, who would the Church’s truthful song defame: Of Charles, of Louis,[6] name thou didst inherit and lands;—why not of justest wars the merit? What shall I say of those who ’mid delights,8 which vilest Idlesse bare for manhood’s bane, spend life and love to waste the gold that blights, and clean forget their antient valiant strain? Tyrannick best to hostile act incites, which virile races view as foulest stain: To thee I speak, O It’aly! sunk by curse of thousand sins, who dost thyself adverse. [Pg 258] Ah, wretched Christians, who such cross incur,9 be you perchance the teeth by Cadmus sown, that waste of brother-blood ye thus prefer when all by self-same mother-womb are grown? How durst you see yon Holy Sepulture owned by the bandogs who such feuds disown, who come to hold and have your antient ground, their warlike prowess making them renown’d?

Ye know ’tis now their usance and decree,10 whereof they are observantists entire, to levy restless hosts of Heathenry, and harm the hearts that dear Christ’s love desire: While fierce Alecto ’mid your chivalry for ever soweth tares of wrath and ire: Look! an your eyes to risks like these ye close, how they and you to you be deadliest foes. If lust of lucre and of lordship led11 your course to conquer far and foreign lands, see you not Hermus and Pactólus shed adown their fertile valleys aureate sands? Assyria, Lydia, spin the golden thread, lurk veins of sheeny ore in Africk strand: Let these rich treasures sluggish sprites arouse since rouse you not the rights of Holy House. [Pg 259] Those fierce projectiles, of our days the work,12 murtherous engines, dire artilleries, against Byzantine walls, where dwells the Turk, should long before have belcht their batteries. Oh, hurl it back in forest-caves to lurk where Caspian crests and steppes of Scythia freeze, that Turkish ogre-prog’eny multiplied by op’ulent Europe’s policy and pride.[7]

Georgians, Armenians, Grecians, hapless Thrace13 cry on your name to quell th’ unspeakable horde that dooms parforce their darlings to embrace Alcoran’s precepts (tax of blood abhor’d!): Prove, when you punish yon inhuman race, the Sage’s spirit and the Soldier’s sword; nor covet arr’ogant praise and vainest boast of vaunting valour o’er a brother-host. But while ye blindly thirst to drink the blood14 of your own veins, Oh hapless Race insane! never hath failèd Christian hardihood in this our little household Lusitane: Her seats are set by Africk’s salty flood; she holds in Asian realms the largest Reign; She sows and ears o’er all the Fourth new-found; and there would hasten had but Earth more ground. [Pg 260] Meanwhile behold we what new chance befel15 the seld-seen Voyagers who Fame would earn, Since gentle Venus deigned the gale to quell, and futile furies of fierce winds to spurn; when they the large-spread Land’s appearance hail, of stubborn obst’inate toil the bound and bourne, and where the Saviour’s seed they wend to sow,

enthrone new lords, new lights, new laws bestow. Soon as along the stranger-shores they lay,16 a fragile fleet that fishing people bare they found, and by such guidance learnt the way to Calecut, whose denizens they were: Thither inclined the Prores without delay; for ’twas the City fairest ’mid the fair in land of Malabar and where abode the King, whose orders all that Region owe’d. Outside of Indus, inside Ganges, lies17 a wide-spread country famed enough of yore; northward the peaks of caved Emódus[8] rise, and southward Ocean doth confine the shore: She bears the yoke of various sovranties and various eke her creeds: While these adore vicious Mafóma, those to stock and stone bow down, and eke to brutes among them grown. [Pg 261] There, deep i’ the mighty Range, that doth divide18 the land, and cutteth Asian continent, whose crests are known by names diversified, of ev’ry country where its trend is bent; outburst the fountains, which commingling glide in pow’erful streams, that die when travel-spent in Indic Ocean, and the arms of these

convert the country to a Chersonèse: Twixt either river from this breadth of base19 puts forth the spacious land a long thin horn, quasi-pyramidal, which in th’ embrace of Ocean lies with Isle Ceylón toforn: And, near the source that shows the natal place of Gange, if olden Fame of Truth be born, the happy Peoples of th’ adjacent bowers, feed on the fragrance of the finest flowers; But now of many usance, mode and name20 are all the tribes who have and hold the ground; Pathans and Delhis urge the proudest claim to land and numbers, for they most abound: Deccanis, Oriás, who both misclaim salvation in the sounding flood is found by Ganges rolled; and here the land Bengal is rich in sort her wealth exceedeth all. [Pg 262] The sovranty of bellicose Cambay,21 (men say ’twas puissant Porus’ olden reign); Narsinga’s Kingdom, with her rich display of gold and gems but poor in martial vein: Here seen yonside where wavy waters play a range of mountains skirts the murmuring Main, serving the Malabar for mighty mure, who thus from him of Canará dwells secure.

The country-people call this range the Ghaut,22 and from its foot-hills scanty breadth there be whose seaward-sloping coast-plain long hath fought ’gainst Ocean’s natural ferocity: Here o’er her neighbour Cities, sans a doubt, Calecut claimeth highest dignity, crown of the kingdom fair and flourishing: Here he entitled “Samorim”[9] is King. Arrived the Squadron off that wealthy land,23 she sent a Portingall to make report, so mote the Géntoo monarch understand who hath arrivèd in his distant port: A stream the Herald struck which, leaving land entereth Ocean; and his novel sort, his hue, his strange attire, his stranger-ways made all the lieges gather round to gaze. [Pg 263] Amid the swarming rout that thronged to view,24 cometh a Moslem, who was born and bred in distant Barb’ary ’mid her barbarous crew, there, where in antient day Antæus sway’d: Right well the Lusitanian realm he knew, or by the scanty distance thither led, or ’signèd by the Sword and Fortune’s brand, to long-drawn exile in a foreign land. With jocund mien our Messenger to sound,25

for-that he speaketh well the speech of Spain, he thus:—“Who brought thee to this new world’s bound, far from thy Fatherland, the Lusitan?” “Op’ening,” respondeth he, “the seas profound which never openèd the race of man; for Indus’ mighty flood we hither bore, to win for Holy Faith one triumph more.” By the long voyage sore astonied stood26 the Moor Monsaydé, thus his name was known; when told the Lusian how the terr’ible flood had all the temper of a tyrant shown: But, as that errand’s drift, he understood, concern’d the Ruler of the Land alone, he tells the stranger how the Monarch lay outside the city at a little way: [Pg 264] And that while travelled to the royal ear27 news of that advent strange, if judged he meet, repairing to his humble dwelling near, ’twere well refreshment of the land to eat; whence by short rest restorèd and good cheer, the twain together might regain the Fleet; for life has nothing like the joy and glee wherewith near neighbours meet in far countrie. The Portingall, accepting not ingrate28

what glad Monsaydé for his guest deviseth; as though their friendship were of olden date, eats, drinks, and does whate’er the host adviseth: Now from the City wend they, making straight towards the Squadron which the Moor agniseth; and scale the Flagship’s flank, where all the crew with kindly glances Moor Monsaydé view. Embraceth him our Chief, whom hugely please29 the well-remembered accents of Castile; seateth him near, and asketh him at ease anent the land and folk therein that dwell. Even as flockt on Rhodopé the trees, to hear the Lover of the Damosel Eurydice, his lyre of gold resound, the Folk to hearken flockt the Moor around. [Pg 265] Then he: “O Nation! who by Nature’s hand30 was ’stablished neighbour to my natal nide, what mighty Chance, what Destiny’s command upon such voyage drave you far and wide? Not causeless, no; though darkly, deeply plan’d from unknown Minho, distant Tagus-tide, your course o’er Oceans aye by keel unplow’d to Reigns such distance and such dangers shroud. “God bringeth you, pardie! for He intendeth31

some special service which your works await: For this alone He guideth and defendeth from en’emies, Ocean and the winds’ wild hate. Know, that ye look on Inde wherein extendeth a world of nations, rich and fortunate in lucent gold, and gems of princely price, and odorif’erous fumes and biting spice. “This Province, in whose Port your ships have tane32 refuge, the Malabar by name is known; its ántique rite adoreth idols vain, Idol-religion being broadest sown: Of divers Kings it is; but ’twas the Reign, as olden legend saith, of only one, hight the last King was Sarmá Perimal,[10] who ’neath one sceptre held the Kingdom all. [Pg 266] “But as this region there and then was sought33 by other races from the Arab Bight, who Mahometic worship with them brought,— the same my parents planted in my sprite,— it hapt their wisdom and their pray’ers so wrought upon the Perimal; and lit such light that to the Faith convert with fervour high, he only hoped a Saint in it to die. “He mans his ships and loads with merchandise34 and many an offering curious, rare and rich,

and there religious life to lead he hies where lies our Prophet who our Law did preach: But ere abandon’d home, his satrapies, that lackèd lawful heir, he parts to each and all he lovèd: Hence his intimates he from want made wealthy, and from serfdom free. “To this Cochim, to that falls Cananor,35 one hath Chalé, another th’ Isle Piment, a third Coulam, a fourth takes Cranganor, the rest is theirs with whom he rests content. Only one Youth, for whom warm love he bore, when all was parted, did himself present: Nothing save Calecut for him remainèd, which, by her traffick, wealth and rank had gainèd. [Pg 267] “On him the title par’amount he bestows36 of Emperor, with sway o’er ev’ery state; and, made this partage, there he dil’igent goes, where, after Santon-life, he met his fate: Thus ’twas the name of Samorim arose,— of all this region proudest potentate,— borne by the Youth, and by his heirs from whom this who now wields imperial pow’er is come. “The Law that holds the people, high and low,37 is fraught with false phantastick tales long past:

they go unclothèd, but a wrap they throw for decent purpose round the loins and waist: Two modes of men are known; the nobles know the name of Nayrs, who call the lower caste Poléas, whom their haughty laws contain from intermingling with the higher strain: “For men who aye had office in one guise38 with mates of other office ne’er may wive; nor may the son the calling exercise save sire’s and foresires’ long as he shall live. These Nayrs as sin and shame, forsooth, despise the touch of outcasts, and they fain believe that, peradventure, if the touch occur, a thousand rites must wash their bodies pure. [Pg 268] “In sim’ilar form the Júdæan folk of old39 touch’d not the peoples of Samaria-reign: But strangenesses far stranger than I’ve told of varied usages shall meet your eyne. None save the Nayrs affront the manifold chances of war, who like stone-wall sustain their King from enemies, arms aye in hand, in left the target, and in right the brand. “Entitled Brahmins are their ghostly race,40 time-honour’d title of high eminence:

His far-famed precepts, eke, they still embrace who first to Science lent a modest sense:[11] A living thing to kill they hold as base, such be from ev’ery flesh their abstinence: Only in joys venereal their delight hath more of licence and a laxer rite. “Common the women are, although confine’d41 to those belonging to their husbands’ blood: Happy condition! happy humankind, who over jealous wrongs may never brood! These and more customs various shall ye find among the Mal’abar men still holding good: Great is the country, rich in ev’ery style of goods from China sent by sea to Nyle.” [Pg 269] Thus spake the Moorman: Now on vagueing wing42 about the city Rumour wildly flew with bruit of foreign comers; when the King sent out his servants seeking tidings true: Then through the streets begirt by mighty ring of ev’ery age and sex that flockt to view, came the Grandees who by the King were bade to bring the Captain of the strange Armade. But he by royal leave allow’d for land43 to change his floating home, accompanied by his stout Portingalls, a chosen band

in richest robes to meet the Monarch hied: The beauteous contrasts of the hues command the crowd’s approval, who with wonder eyed: Smiteth the cadence’d oar with cooly gleam now the salt ocean, then the frore fresh stream. There stood a Regent of the Realm ashore,44 a chief, in native parlance “Cat’ual[12]” hight, by noble Nayrs surrounded, waiting for illustrious Gama, with a strange delight: Now to the land our Chief in arms he bore, and a rich-cushion’d couch in litter light he proff’ereth as a coach (an usage old), which bearer-people on their shoulders hold. [Pg 270] Thus he of Lusus, he of Malabar,45 wend whither sitteth ’waiting them the King: Follow the Portingalls in form of War for foot-troops, marching fierce and threatening: The people, buzzing with confusèd jar to see the strangers, fain of questioning gather’d, but in the cent’uries long gone by the Babel-tower did such hope deny. Now with the Cat’ual Gama speech exchangèd46 on things th’ occasion and the moment chose: Interpreteth the tongues so far estrangèd

Monsaydé, for the twain right well he knows. Thus the procession through the City rangèd, whither a noble, splendid pile arose; and, reached the precincts of a sumptuous Fane, through the tall portals paced on equal plane. Here frightful forms of men’s idolatries47 stand carved in lifeless stock and death-cold stone, varied in gestures, various of dyes, e’en as by feigning Fiend to man made known: Abominable forms the sight surprise with mingled members like Chimæra shown: The Christians, wont to see their God-in-Man, these hybrid monsters with blank wonder scan. [Pg 271] One bore two horns insculpture’d on his brow48 like Jove called Ammon in the Libyan wold; this, double faces on one form did show, like two-faced Janus limned in church of old; that had of arms a long divided row mocking Briareus’ members manifold; that thing a canine front external bore, such as th’ Anubis Memphians did adore. The barb’arous Géntoo in his Gods’ abode49 a superstitious adoration paid; then both went straight, ne’er straying from the road,

where the vain people’s King his sojourn made: The stream of starers fuller still o’erflow’d, for all to sight the stranger Chief essay’d; while to the roofs and casements gazing came greybeard and stripling, damosel and dame. Now near they, marching with no shorten’d stride,50 fair fragrant gardens and perfumèd bowers, wherein the royal palace-buildings hide, a structure sumptu’ous though not tall in towers: The chiefs and nobles choose to build and ’bide where cooly bosquets teem with fruits and flowers: Thus dwell the rulers of the race, delighting in seats the City and the Camp uniting. [Pg 272] The precinct portals by their work betray51 subtleties telling of the dædal hand, in forms whose noble presences display the hoar antiquities of India-land: The marvel-stories of her antient day, with such a living art enfigured stand, that whoso reads them with a lore exact, knows from the Fiction what hath been the Fact. There puissant armies show and proudly tread52 that Orient region which Hydaspes laves; a smooth brow’d Capitayne is at the head,