CANTO I

The feats of Arms, and famed heroick Host, from occidental Lusitanian strand, who o'er the waters ne'er by seaman crost, fared beyond the Taprobane-land, forceful in perils and in battle-post, with more than promised force of mortal hand; and in the regions of a distant race rear'd a new throne so haught in Pride of Place:

And, eke, the Kings of mem'ory grand and glorious, who hied them Holy Faith and Reign to spread, converting, conquering, and in lands notorious, Africk and Asia, devastation made; nor less the Lieges who by deeds memorious brake from the doom that binds the vulgar dead; my song would sound o'er Earth's extremest part were mine the genius, mine the Poet's art.

Cease the sage Grecian, and the man of Troy to vaunt long voyage made in by-gone day: Cease Alexander, Trojan cease to 'joy the fame of vict'ories that have pass'd away: The noble Lusian's stouter breast sing I, whom Mars and Neptune dared not disobey: Cease all that antique Muse hath sung, for now a better Brav'ry rears its bolder brow.

And you, my Tagian Nymphs, who have create in me new purpose with new genius firing; if 'twas my joy whilere to celebrate your founts and stream my humble song inspiring; Oh! lend me here a noble strain elate, a style grandiloquent that flows untiring; so shall Apollo for your waves ordain ye in name and fame ne'er envy Hippokrene.

Grant me sonorous accents, fire-abounding, now serves ne peasant's pipe, ne rustick reed; but blasts of trumpet, long and loud resounding, that 'flameth heart and hue to fiery deed: Grant me high strains to suit their Gestes astounding, your Sons, who aided Mars in martial need; that o'er the world he sung the glorious song, if theme so lofty may to verse belong.

And Thou! O goodly omen'd trust, all-dear[1] to Lusitania's olden liberty, whereon assured esperance we rear enforced to see our frail Christianity: Thou, O new terror to the Moorish spear, the fated marvel of our century, to govern worlds of men by God so given, that the world's best be given to God and Heaven:

Thou young, thou tender, ever-flourishing bough, true scion of tree by Christ beloved more than aught that Occident did ever know, "Caesarian" or "Most Christian" styled before: Look on thy 'scutcheon, and behold it show the present Vict'ory long past ages bore; Arms which He gave and made thine own to be by Him assured on the fatal tree:[2]

Thou, mighty Sovran! o'er whose lofty reign the rising Sun rains earliest smile of light; sees it from middle firmamental plain; And sights it sinking on the breast of Night: Thou, whom we hope to hail the blight, the bane of the dishonour'd Ishmaelitish knight; and Orient Turk, and Gentoo--misbeliever that drinks the liquor of the Sacred River:[3]

Incline awhile, I pray, that majesty which in thy tender years I see thus ample, E'en now prefiguring full maturity that shall be shrined in Fame's eternal temple: Those royal eyne that beam benignity bend on low earth: Behold a new ensample of hero hearts with patriot pride inflamed, in number'd verses manifold proclaimed.

Thou shalt see Love of Land that ne'er shall own lust of vile lucre; soaring towards th' Eternal: For 'tis no light ambition to be known th' acclaimed herald of my nest paternal. Hear; thou shalt see the great names greater grown of Vavasors who hail the Lord Supernal: So shalt thou judge which were the higher station, King of the world or Lord of such a nation.

Hark, for with vauntings vain thou shalt not view phantastical, fictitious, lying deed of lieges lauded, as strange Muses do, seeking their fond and foolish pride to feed Thine acts so forceful are, told simply true, all fabled, dreamy feats they far exceed; exceeding Rodomont, and Ruggiero vain, and Roland haply born of Poet's brain.

For these I give thee a Nuno, fierce in fight, who for his King and Country freely bled; an Egas and a Fuas; fain I might for them my lay with harp Homeric wed! For the twelve peerless Peers again I cite the Twelve of England by Magrico led: Nay, more, I give thee Gama's noble name, who for himself claims all AEneas' fame.

And if in change for royal Charles of France, or rivalling Caesar's mem'ories thou wouldst trow, the first Afonso see, whose conquering lance lays highest boast of stranger glories low: See him who left his realm th' inheritance fair Safety, born of wars that crusht the foe: That other John, a knight no fear deter'd, the fourth and fifth Afonso, and the third.

Nor shall they silent in my song remain, they who in regions there where Dawns arise, by Acts of Arms such glories toil'd to gain, where thine unvanquisht flag for ever flies, Pacheco, brave of braves; th' Almeidas twain, whom Tagus mourns with ever-weeping eyes; dread Albuquerque, Castro stark and brave, with more, the victors of the very grave.

But, singing these, of thee I may not sing, O King sublime! such theme I fain must fear. Take of thy reign the reins, so shall my King create a poesy new to mortal ear: E'en now the mighty burthen here I ring (and speed its terrors over all the sphere!) of sing'ular prowess, War's own prodigies, in Africk regions and on Orient seas.

Casteth on thee the Moor eyne cold with fright, in whom his coming doom he views designed: The barb'rous Gentoo, sole to see thy sight yields to thy yoke the neck e'en now inclined; Tethys, of azure seas the sovran right, her realm, in dowry hath to thee resigned; and by thy noble tender beauty won, would bribe and buy thee to become her son.

In thee from high Olympick halls behold themselves, thy grandsires' sprites; far-famed pair;[4] this clad in Peacetide's angel-robe of gold, that crimson-hued with paint of battle-glare: By thee they hope to see their tale twice told, their lofty mem'ries live again; and there, when Time thy years shall end, for thee they 'sign a seat where soareth Fame's eternal shrine.

But, sithence ancient Time slow minutes by ere ruled the Peoples who desire such boon; bend on my novel rashness favouring eye, that these my verses may become thine own: So shalt thou see thine Argonauts o'erfly yon salty argent, when they see it shown thou seest their labours on the raging sea: Learn even now invok'd of man to be.[5]

[1] Invocation to Dom Sebastian.

[2] The Arms of Portugal (Canto iii., 53, 54).

[3] The Ganges (not the Jordan).

[4] D. Joam III. and the Emperor Charles Quint.

[5] End of exordium: narrative begins.