The Lusiad (extract from Book I: Islands in the Indian Ocean) - Luís Vas de Camões

Whilst thus in heaven's bright palace fate was weigh'd

Right onward still the brave Armada strayed:

Right on they steer by Ethiopia's strand

And pastoral Madagascar's verdant land.

Before the balmy gales of cheerful spring,

With heav'n their friend, they spread the canvas wing,

The sky cerulean, and the breathing air,

The lasting promise of a calm declare.

Behind them now the Cape of Praso bends,

Another ocean to their view extends,

Where black-topp'd islands, to their longing eyes,

Lav'd by the gentle waves, in prospect rise.

But GAMA (captain of the vent'rous band,

Of bold emprize, and born for high command,

Whose martial fires, with prudence close allied,

Ensur'd the smiles of fortune on his side)

Bears off those shores which waste and wild appear'd,

And eastward still for happier climates steer'd:

When gath'ring round, and black'ning o'er the tide,

A fleet of small canoes the pilot spied;

Hoisting their sails of palm-tree leaves, inwove

With curious art, a swarming crowd they move:

Long were their boats, and sharp to bound along

Through the dash'd waters, broad their oars and strong:

The bending rowers on their features bore

The swarthy marks of Phaeton's fall of yore:

When flaming lightnings scorch'd the banks of Po,

And nations blacken'd in the dread o'erthrow.

Their garb, discover'd as approaching nigh,

Was cotton strip'd with many a gaudy dye:

'Twas one whole piece beneath one arm confin'd,

The rest hung loose and flutter'd on the wind;

All, but one breast, above the loins was bare,

And swelling turbans bound their jetty hair:

Their arms were bearded darts and faulchions broad,

And warlike music sounded as they row'd.

With joy the sailors saw the boats draw near,

With joy beheld the human face appear:

What nations these, their wond'ring thoughts explore,

What rites they follow, and what God adore!

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 masts the nimble youths ascend,

The ropes they haul, and o'er the yard-arms bend;

And now their bowsprits pointing to the shore,

(A safe moon'd bay), with slacken'd sails they bore:

With cheerful shouts they furl the gather'd sail

That less and less flaps quiv'ring on the gale;

The prows, their speed stopp'd, o'er the surges nod,

The falling anchors dash the foaming flood;

When, sudden as they stopp'd, the swarthy race,

With smiles of friendly welcome on each face,

The ship's high sides swift by the cordage climb:

Illustrious GAMA, with an air sublime,

Soften'd by mild humanity, receives,

And to their chief the hand of friendship gives,

Bids spread the board, and, instant as he said,

Along the deck the festive board is spread:

The sparkling wine in crystal goblets glows,

And round and round with cheerful welcome flows.

While thus the vine its sprightly glee inspires,

From whence the fleet, the swarthy chief enquires,

What seas they past, what 'vantage would attain,

And what the shore their purpose hop'd to gain?

"From farthest west," the Lusian race reply,

"To reach the golden Eastern shores we try.

Through that unbounded sea whose billows roll

From the cold northern to the southern pole;

And by the wide extent, the dreary vast

Of Afric's bays, already have we past;

And many a sky have seen, and many a shore,

Where but sea monsters cut the waves before.

To spread the glories of our monarch's reign,

For India's shore we brave the trackless main,

Our glorious toil, and at his nod would brave

The dismal gulfs of Acheron's black wave.

And now, in turn, your race, your country tell,

If on your lips fair truth delights to dwell

To us, unconscious of the falsehood, show

What of these seas and India's site you know."

"Rude are the natives here," the Moor replied;

"Dark are their minds, and brute-desire their guide:

But we, of alien blood, and strangers here,

Nor hold their customs nor their laws revere.

From Abram's race our holy prophet sprung,

An angel taught, and heaven inspir'd his tongue;

His sacred rites and mandates we obey,

And distant empires own his holy sway.

From isle to isle our trading vessels roam,

Mozambique's harbour our commodious home.

If then your sails for India's shore expand,

For sultry Ganges or Hydaspes' strand,

Here shall you find a pilot skill'd to guide

Through all the dangers of the perilous tide,

Though wide-spread shelves, and cruel rocks unseen,

Lurk in the way, and whirlpools rage between.

Accept, meanwhile, what fruits these islands hold,

And to the regent let your wish be told.

Then may your mates the needful stores provide,

And all your various wants be here supplied."

So spake the Moor, and bearing smiles untrue

And signs of friendship, with his bands withdrew.

O'erpower'd with joy unhop'd the sailors stood,

To find such kindness on a shore so rude.

---

Luís Vas de Camões (c. 1524–1580) Portugal

Translated by W. J. Mickle

Source: The Lusiad, by Luís de Camões, George Bell & Sons, 1877 [Project Gutenberg]

This section deals with the discovery of islands in the Indian Ocean and the natives who live there, p. 13-16. To read the next part follow this link.