The Lusiads

Canto I

The Portugueze navigate the Eastern Seas: The Gods hold their Council: Bacchus opposeth himself to this navigation: Venus and Mars favour the navigators: They arrive at Mozambíque, the Governor whereof attempteth to destroy them: Encounter and first military Action of our People with the Gentiles: They weigh anchor; and, passing Quiloa, they ride in the roadstead of Mombasah.

The Gods hold council Heaven’s high court within, (20–41)
Bacchus our Lusian braves to thwart doth seek (73–81)
Who meed of Mars, and grace of Venus gain,
Till cast the ferreous tooth in Mozambíque:
Thence, when their arm of pow’r display’d had been, (85)
Death and destruction on the foe to wreak;
Fareth the fleet where red Aurora bideth;
And, reach’d Mombasah-town, outside it rideth. (103)

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The feats of Arms, and famed heroick Host,
from occidental Lusitanian strand,
who o’er the waters ne’er by seaman crost,
farèd beyond the Taprobáne-land,1
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:

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