The Lusiads quotes

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 bygone day: Cease Alexander, Trajan 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 the sage Grecian, and the Man of Troy to vaunt long Voyage made in bygone day: Cease Alexander, Trajan 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;

Thence to Mombasah takes the God his course, where the strange vessels rode in fear afar, to bid the seamen leave, while none the worse, those lands suspected and that treacherous bar: For scant availeth human fraud or force against Infernals waging treach’erous war:

Scant ’vaileth heart and art and judgment staid when human wisdom lacketh heavenly aid.

Already Night had past her middle way, and all the starry host with th’ alien light rained on the breadth of Earth their radiance gay; and now was Sleep tired man’s supreme delight.

“ ‘

Oh craving of Command! Oh vain Desire!

of vainest van’ity man miscalleth Fame! Oh fraud’ulent gust, so easy fanned to fire by breath of vulgar, aping Honour’s name! What just and dreadful judgment deals thine ire, to seely souls who overlove thy claim!

nay, cruel recompense dealt us Rhamnúsia, sorrows strange and new. Thus smiling Heav’en mixt favours doth dispense; in such condition dark and dure man drew the breath of Life; and, while all Ills endure,

Good changeth often, Good is never sure.

“And ’twas that sickness of a sore disgust, the worst I ever witness’d, came and stole the lives of many; and far alien dust buried for aye their bones in saddest dole. Who but eye-witness e’er my words could trust?

“At last in tangled brake and unknown ground, our true companions lost for aye, we leave, who ’mid such weary ways, such dreary round, such dread adventures aidance ever gave.

How easy for man’s bones a grave is found! Earth’s any wrinkle, Ocean’s any wave.

whereso the long home be, abroad, at home, for ev’ery Hero’s corse may lend a tomb.

Now, as the Delian youth turns round the rein Lampetia’s brother held with feeble hand, and in the Thetian arms way-weary falls; the King hies sea-borne to his royal halls.

How pleasant sound the praise and well-won glory of man’s own exploits as man hears them chime!

for noble travail, actions digne of story, that dim or equal those of passèd Time. Envy of famous feats untransitory hath ’gendered thousand thousand deeds sublime: The Brave who loves to tread in Valour’s ways pants for the pleasure of his fellows’ praise.

How pleasant sound the praise and well-won glory of man’s own exploits as man hears them chime! for noble travail, actions digne of story, that dim or equal those of passèd Time.

Envy of famous feats untransitory hath ’gendered thousand thousand deeds sublime:

The Brave who loves to tread in Valour’s ways pants for the pleasure of his fellows’ praise.

remembering aye the wrongful long-past tale of woes the waters wrought to them of yore: Meanwhile th’enamoured Dolphins fled the gale to shelt’ering grottos in the deep-sea floor, although the mighty winds and mightier waves threatenèd danger in their deepest caves.

Ne’er forged such lightning-bolts of living fire

against the Giants’ haught rebellious band, the great toil-sordid Blacksmith, in desire to grace with radiant arms his stepson’s hand.

for gentle ways be Love’s securest sign; wrath has no power the lover’s heart to move: See, an thou bridle not that rage indign, expect no grace of me, whom ’twill behove henceforth to murther Love by deadly Fear; for

Love is terror when Fear draweth near.

”

No more the Gama could compose his mind for joy to see that Inde is known and near; with knees on deck and hands to Heav’en upraisèd the God who gave such gift of grace he praisèd:

Praise to his God he gave, and rightly gave,

for he not only to that Bourne was brought wherefore such perils he and his did brave, wherefore with toil and moil so sore he fought;

And bridle Av’arice-sin with iron bit, rein that Ambition which o’er-reigns your race in thousand fashions, and the base conceit of vicious Tyr’anny breeding vile disgrace: Such tinkling honours, gold so counterfeit, to true and honest worth ne’er raised the base:

Better to merit and the meed to miss, than, lacking merit, every meed possess.

Or give us Peace, and Laws impartial deal, that baulk the rich from plund’ering poorer men; or cloak your forms in coats of flashing steel, and crush the law of hostile Saracen:

Nor ken I wherefore, by what Fate indign she ’joys ne genial pride, ne gen’eral taste, which strengthen mortal spirit and incline to face all travail with a happy haste.

Wherefore, O King! thou whom the Will Divine hath on the kingly throne for purpose place’d

look that thou be (and see the realms of Earth) sole Lord of vassals peerless in their worth!