The Lusiad Part 24

Here o'er the wat'ry mirror's lucid bed Narcissus, self-enamour'd, hangs the head; And here, bedew'd with love's celestial tears, The woe-mark'd flower of slain Adonis rears[580]

Its purple head, prophetic of the reign When lost Adonis shall revive again.

At strife appear the lawns and purpled skies, Which from each other stole the beauteous dyes:[581]

The lawn in all Aurora's l.u.s.tre glows, Aurora steals the blushes of the rose, The rose displays the blushes that adorn The spotless virgin on the nuptial morn.

Zephyr and Flora emulous conspire To breathe their graces o'er the field's attire; The one gives healthful freshness, one the hue Fairer than e'er creative pencil drew.

Pale as the love-sick hopeless maid they dye The modest violet; from the curious eye The modest violet turns her gentle head, And, by the thorn, weeps o'er her lowly bed.

Bending beneath the tears of pearly dawn The snow-white lily glitters o'er the lawn; Low from the bough reclines the damask rose, And o'er the lily's milk-white bosom glows.

Fresh in the dew, far o'er the painted dales, Each fragrant herb her sweetest scent exhales.

The hyacinth bewrays the doleful _Ai_,[582]

And calls the tribute of Apollo's sigh; Still on its bloom the mournful flower retains The lovely blue that dy'd the stripling's veins.

Pomona, fir'd with rival envy, views The glaring pride of Flora's darling hues; Where Flora bids the purple iris spread, She hangs the wilding's blossom white and red; Where wild-thyme purples, where the daisy snows The curving slopes, the melon's pride she throws; Where by the stream the lily of the vale, Primrose, and cowslip meek, perfume the gale, Beneath the lily, and the cowslip's bell, The scarlet strawberries luxurious swell.

Nor these alone the teeming Eden yields, Each harmless b.e.s.t.i.a.l crops the flow'ry fields; And birds of ev'ry note, and ev'ry wing, Their loves responsive thro' the branches sing: In sweet vibrations thrilling o'er the skies, High pois'd in air, the lark his warbling tries; The swan, slow sailing o'er the crystal lake, Tunes his melodious note; from ev'ry brake The glowing strain 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 fearless deer; The hare starts trembling from the bushy shade, And, swiftly circling, crosses oft the glade.

Where from the rocks the bubbling founts distil, The milk-white lambs come bleating down the hill; The dappled heifer seeks the vales below, And from the thicket springs the bounding doe.

To his lov'd nest, on fondly flutt'ring wings, In chirping bill the little songster brings The food untasted; transport thrills his breast; 'Tis nature's touch, 'tis instinct's heav'n-like feast.

Thus bower and lawn were deck'd with Eden's flowers, And song and joy imparadis'd the bowers.

And soon the fleet their ready anchors threw: Lifted on eager tip-toe at the view, On nimble feet that bounded to the strand The second Argonauts[583] elance to land.

Wide o'er the beauteous isle[584] the lovely fair Stray through the distant glades, devoid of care.

From lowly valley and from mountain grove The lovely nymphs renew the strains of love.

Here from the bowers that crown the plaintive rill The solemn harp's melodious warblings thrill; Here from the shadows of the upland grot The mellow lute renews the swelling note.

As fair Diana, and her virgin train, Some gaily ramble o'er the flow'ry plain, In feign'd pursuit of hare or bounding roe, Their graceful mien and beauteous limbs to show; Now seeming careless, fearful now and coy, (So, taught the G.o.ddess of unutter'd joy), And, gliding through the distant glades, display Each limb, each movement, naked as the day.

Some, light with glee, in careless freedom take Their playful revels in the crystal lake; One trembling stands no deeper than the knee To plunge reluctant, while in sportful glee Another o'er her sudden laves the tide; In pearly drops the wishful waters glide, Reluctant dropping from her b.r.e.a.s.t.s of snow; Beneath the wave another seems to glow; The am'rous waves her bosom fondly kiss'd, And rose and fell, as panting, on her breast.

Another swims along with graceful pride, Her silver arms the glist'ning waves divide, Her s.h.i.+ning sides the fondling waters lave, Her glowing cheeks are brighten'd by the wave, Her hair, of mildest yellow, flows from side To side, as o'er it plays the wanton tide, And, careless as she turns, her thighs of snow Their tap'ring rounds in deeper l.u.s.tre show.

Some gallant Lusians sought the woodland prey, And, thro' the thickets, forc'd the pathless way; Where some, in shades impervious to the beam, Supinely listen'd to the murm'ring stream: When sudden, through the boughs, the various dyes Of pink, of scarlet, and of azure rise, Swift from the verdant banks the loit'rers spring, Down drops the arrow from the half-drawn string: Soon they behold 'twas not the rose's hue, The jonquil's yellow, nor the pansy's blue: Dazzling the shades the nymphs appear--the zone And flowing scarf in gold and azure shone.

Naked as Venus stood in Ida's bower, Some trust the dazzling charms of native power; Through the green boughs and darkling shades they show The s.h.i.+ning l.u.s.tre of their native snow, And every tap'ring, every rounded swell Of thigh, of bosom, as they glide, reveal.

As visions, cloth'd in dazzling white, they rise, Then steal unnoted from the flurried eyes: Again apparent, and again, withdrawn, They s.h.i.+ne and wanton o'er the smiling lawn.

Amaz'd and lost in rapture of surprise, "All joy, my friends!" the brave VELOSO cries, "Whate'er of G.o.ddesses old fable told, Or poet sung of sacred groves, behold.

Sacred to G.o.ddesses divinely bright These beauteous forests own their guardian might.

From eyes profane, from ev'ry age conceal'd, To us, behold, all Paradise reveal'd!

Swift let us try if phantoms of the air, Or living charms, appear divinely fair!"

Swift at the word the gallant Lusians bound, Their rapid footsteps scarcely touch the ground; Through copse, through brake, impatient of their prey, Swift as the wounded deer, they spring away: Fleet through the winding shades, in rapid flight, The nymphs, as wing'd with terror, fly their sight; Fleet though they fled, the mild reverted eye And dimpling smile their seeming fear deny.

Fleet through the shades in parted rout they glide: If winding path the chosen pairs divide, Another path by sweet mistake betrays, And throws the lover on the lover's gaze: If dark-brow'd bower conceal the lovely fair, The laugh, the shriek, confess the charmer there.

Luxurious here the wanton zephyrs toy, And ev'ry fondling fav'ring art employ.

Fleet as the fair ones speed, the busy gale In wanton frolic lifts the trembling veil; White though the veil, in fairer brighter glow, The lifted robe displays the living snow: Quick flutt'ring on the gale the robe conceals, Then instant to the glance each charm reveals; Reveals, and covers from the eyes on fire, Reveals, and with the shade inflames desire.

One, as her breathless lover hastens on, With wily stumble sudden lies o'erthrown; Confus'd, she rises with a blus.h.i.+ng smile; The lover falls the captive of her guile: Tripp'd by the fair, he tumbles on the mead, The joyful victim of his eager speed.

Afar, where sport the wantons in the lake, Another band of gallant youths betake; The laugh, the shriek, the revel and the toy, Bespeak the innocence of youthful joy.

The laugh, the shriek, the gallant Lusians hear As through the forest glades they chase the deer; For, arm'd, to chase the bounding roe they came, Unhop'd the transport of a n.o.bler game.

The naked wantons, as the youths appear, Shrill through the woods resound the shriek of fear.

Some feign such terror of the forc'd embrace, Their virgin modesty to this gives place, Naked they spring to land, and speed away To deepest shades unpierc'd by glaring day; Thus, yielding freely to the am'rous eyes What to the am'rous hands their fear denies.

Some well a.s.sume Diana's virgin shame, When on her naked sports the hunter[585] came Unwelcome--plunging in the crystal tide, In vain they strive their beauteous limbs to hide; The lucid waves ('twas all they could) bestow A milder l.u.s.tre and a softer glow.

As, lost in earnest care of future need, Some to the banks, to s.n.a.t.c.h their mantles, speed, Of present view regardless; ev'ry wile Was yet, and ev'ry net of am'rous guile.

Whate'er the terror of the feign'd alarm, Display'd, in various force, was ev'ry charm.

Nor idle stood the gallant youth; the wing Of rapture lifts them, to the fair they spring; Some to the copse pursue their lovely prey; Some, cloth'd and shod, impatient of delay, Impatient of the stings of fierce desire, Plunge headlong in the tide to quench the fire.

So, when the fowler to his cheek uprears The hollow steel, and on the mallard bears, His eager dog, ere bursts the flas.h.i.+ng roar, Fierce for the prey, springs headlong from the sh.o.r.e, And barking, cuts the wave with furious joy: So, mid the billow springs each eager boy, Springs to the nymph whose eyes from all the rest By singling him her secret wish confess'd.

A son of Mars was there, of gen'rous race, His ev'ry elegance of manly grace; Am'rous and brave, the bloom of April youth Glow'd on his cheek, his eye spoke simplest truth; Yet love, capricious to th' accomplish'd boy, Had ever turn'd to gall each promis'd joy, Had ever spurn'd his vows; yet still his heart Would hope, and nourish still the tender smart: The purest delicacy fann'd his fires, And proudest honour nurs'd his fond desires.

Not on the first that fair before him glow'd, Not on the first the youth his love bestow'd.

In all her charms the fair Ephyre came, And Leonardo's heart was all on flame.

Affection's melting transport o'er him stole, And love's all gen'rous glow entranced his soul; Of selfish joy unconscious, ev'ry thought On sweet delirium's ocean stream'd afloat.

Pattern of beauty did Ephyre s.h.i.+ne, Nor less she wish'd these beauties to resign: More than her sisters long'd her heart to yield, Yet, swifter fled she o'er the smiling field.

The youth now panting with the hopeless chase, "Oh turn," he cries, "oh turn thy angel face: False to themselves, can charms like these conceal The hateful rigour of relentless steel?

And, did the stream deceive me, when I stood Amid my peers reflected in the flood?

The easiest port and fairest bloom I bore-- False was the stream--while I in vain deplore, My peers are happy; lo, in ev'ry shade, In ev'ry bower, their love with love repaid!

I, I alone through brakes, through thorns pursue A cruel fair. Ah, still my fate proves true, True to its rigour--who, fair nymph, to thee Reveal'd 'twas I that sued! unhappy me!

Born to be spurn'd though honesty inspire.

Alas, I faint, my languid sinews tire; Oh stay thee--powerless to sustain their weight My knees sink down, I sink beneath my fate!"

He spoke; a rustling urges thro' the trees, Instant new vigour strings his active knees, Wildly he glares around, and raging cries, "And must another s.n.a.t.c.h my lovely prize!

In savage grasp thy beauteous limbs constrain!

I feel, I madden while I feel the pain!

Oh lost, thou fli'st the safety of my arms, My hand shall guard thee, softly seize thy charms, No brutal rage inflames me, yet I burn!

Die shall thy ravisher. O G.o.ddess, turn, And smiling view the error of my fear; No brutal force, no ravisher is near; A harmless roebuck gave the rustling sounds, Lo, from the thicket swift as thee he bounds!

Ah, vain the hope to tire thee in the chase!

I faint, yet hear, yet turn thy lovely face.

Vain are thy fears; were ev'n thy will to yield The harvest of my hope, that harvest field My fate would guard, and walls of bra.s.s would rear Between my sickle and the golden ear.

Yet fly me not; so may thy youthful prime Ne'er fly thy cheek on the grey wing of time.

Yet hear, the last my panting breath can say, Nor proudest kings, nor mightiest hosts can sway Fate's dread decrees; yet thou, O nymph, divine, Yet thou canst more, yet thou canst conquer mine.

Unmov'd each other yielding nymph I see; Joy to their lovers, for they touch not thee!

But thee!--oh, every transport of desire, That melts to mingle with its kindred fire, For thee respires--alone I feel for thee The dear wild rage of longing ecstasy: By all the flames of sympathy divine To thee united, thou by right art mine.

From thee, from thee the hallow'd transport flows That sever'd rages, and for union glows: Heav'n owns the claim. Hah, did the lightning glare: Yes, I beheld my rival, though the air Grew dim; ev'n now I heard him softly tread.

Oh rage, he waits thee on the flow'ry bed!

I see, I see thee rus.h.i.+ng to his arms, And sinking on his bosom, all thy charms To him resigning in an eager kiss, All I implor'd, the whelming tide of bliss!

And shall I see him riot on thy charms, Dissolv'd in joy, exulting in thine arms?

Oh burst, ye lightnings, round my destin'd head, Oh pour your flashes----" Madd'ning as he said,[586]

Amid the windings of the bow'ry wood His trembling footsteps still the nymph pursued.

Woo'd to the flight she wing'd her speed to hear His am'rous accents melting on her ear.

And now, she turns the wild walk's serpent maze; A roseate bower its velvet couch displays; The thickest moss its softest verdure spread, Crocus and mingling pansy fring'd the bed, The woodbine dropp'd its honey from above, And various roses crown'd the sweet alcove.

Here, as she hastens, on the hopeless boy She turns her face, all bath'd in smiles of joy; Then, sinking down, her eyes suffused with love Glowing on his, one moment lost reprove.

Here was no rival, all he wish'd his own; Lock'd in her arms soft sinks the stripling down.

Ah, what soft murmurs panting thro' the bowers Sigh'd to the raptures of the paramours!

The wishful sigh, and melting smile conspire, Devouring kisses fan the fiercer fire; Sweet violence, with dearest grace, a.s.sails, Soft o'er the purpos'd frown the smile prevails, The purpos'd frown betrays its own deceit, In well-pleas'd laughter ends the rising threat; The coy delay glides off in yielding love, And transport murmurs thro' the sacred grove.

The joy of pleasing adds its sacred zest, And all is love, embracing and embraced.

The golden morn beheld the scenes of joy; Nor, sultry noon, mayst thou the bowers annoy; The sultry noon-beam s.h.i.+nes the lover's aid, And sends him glowing to the secret shade.

O'er evr'y shade, and ev'ry nuptial bower The love-sick strain the virgin turtles pour; For nuptial faith and holy rites combin'd, The Lusian heroes and the nymphs conjoin'd.

With flow'ry wreaths, and laurel chaplets, bound With ductile gold, the nymphs the heroes crown'd: By ev'ry spousal holy ritual tied, No chance, they vow, shall e'er their hands divide, In life, in death, attendant as their fame; Such was the oath of ocean's sov'reign dame: The dame (from heav'n and holy Vesta sprung, For ever beauteous and for ever young), Enraptur'd, views the chief whose deathless name The wond'ring world and conquer'd seas proclaim.

With stately pomp she holds the hero's hand, And gives her empire to his dread command, By spousal ties confirm'd; nor pa.s.s'd untold What Fate's unalter'd page had will'd of old: The world's vast globe in radiant sphere she show'd, The sh.o.r.es immense, and seas unknown, unplough'd; The seas, the sh.o.r.es, due to the Lusian keel And Lusian sword, she hastens to reveal.

The glorious leader by the hand she takes, And, dim below, the flow'ry bower forsakes.

High on a mountain's starry top divine Her palace walls of living crystal s.h.i.+ne; Of gold and crystal blaze the lofty towers; Here, bath'd in joy, they pa.s.s the blissful hours: Engulf'd in tides on tides of joy, the day On downy pinions glides unknown away.

While thus the sov'reigns in the palace reign, Like transport riots o'er the humbler plain, Where each, in gen'rous triumph o'er his peers, His lovely bride to ev'ry bride prefers.

"Hence, ye profane!"[587]--the song melodious rose, By mildest zephyrs wafted through the boughs, Unseen the warblers of the holy strain-- "Far from these sacred bowers, ye lewd profane!

Hence each unhallow'd eye, each vulgar ear; Chaste and divine are all the raptures here.

The nymphs of ocean, and the ocean's queen, The isle angelic, ev'ry raptur'd scene, The charms of honour and its meed confess, These are the raptures, these the wedded bliss: The glorious triumph and the laurel crown, The ever blossom'd palms of fair renown, By time unwither'd, and untaught to cloy; These are the transports of the Isle of Joy.

Such was Olympus and the bright abodes; Renown was heav'n, and heroes were the G.o.ds.

Thus, ancient times, to virtue ever just, To arts and valour rear'd the wors.h.i.+pp'd bust.

High, steep, and rugged, painful to be trod, With toils on toils immense is virtue's road; But smooth at last the walks umbrageous smile, Smooth as our lawns, and cheerful as our isle.