Thefeathersso,thattender,soft,andplain,Aboutthedove’ssmoothneckclosecouchedbeen,Doinonecolorneverlongremain,ButchangetheirhuegainstglimpseofPhoebus’sheen;
Andnowofrubiesbrightavermeilchain,Nowmakeacarknetrichofemeraldsgreen;
Nowmingleboth,nowalter,turnandchangeTothousandcolors,rich,pure,fair,andstrange。
VI
“Enterthisboat,youhappymen,“shesays,“WhereinthroughragingwavessecureIride,Towhichalltempest,storm,andwindobeys,Allburdenslight,benignisstreamandtide:
Mylord,thatrulesyourjourneysandyourways,Hathsentmehere,yourservantandyourguide。“
Thissaid,hershallopdroveshegainstthesand,Andanchorcastamidthesteadfastland。
VII
Theyenteredin,heranchorssheupwound,Andlaunchedforthtoseaherpinnaceflit,Spreadtothewindhersailsshebroadunbound,Andatthehelmsatdowntogovernit,SwelledthefloodthatallhisbankshedrownedTobearthegreatestshipofburthenfit;
Yetwasherfatiguelittle,swiftandlight,Thatathislowestebbbearithemight。
VIII
SwifterthanthoughtthefriendlywindforthboreTheslidingboatupontherollingwave,WithcurdedfoamandfroththebillowshoarAboutthecablemurmurroarandrave;
AtlasttheycamewhereallhiswaterystoreThefloodinonedeepchanneldidengrave,Andforthtogreedyseashisstreamshesent,Andsohiswaves,hisname,himselfhespent。
IX
ThewondrousboatscanttouchedthetroubledmainButalltheseastill,hushedandquietwas,Vanishedtheclouds,ceasedthewindandrain,Thetempeststhreatenedoverblowandpass,AgentlebreathingairmadeevenandplainTheazurefaceofheaven’ssmoothlooking-glass,AndheavenitselfsmiledfromtheskiesaboveWithacalmclearnessontheearthhislove。
X
ByAscalontheysailed,andforthdrived,Towardthewesttheirspeedycoursetheyframe,InsightofGazatillthebarkarrived,Alittleportwhenfirstittookthatname;
Butsince,byothers’losssowellitthrivedAcitygreatandrichthatitbecame,AndtheretheshoresandbordersofthelandTheyfoundasfullofarmedmenassand。
XI
Thepassengerstolandwardturnedtheirsight,Andtheresawpitchedmanyastatelytent,Soldierandfootman,captain,lordandknight,Betweentheshoreandcity,cameandwent:
Hugeelephants,strongcamels,courserslight,Withhornedhoofsthesandywaysoutrent,Andinthehavenmanyashipandboat,Withmightyanchorsfastened,swimandfloat;
XII
Somespreadtheirsails,somewithstrongoarssweepThewaterssmooth,andbrushthebuxomwave,Theirbreastsinsundercleavetheyieldingdeep,Thebrokenseasforangerfoamandrave,Whenthustheirguidebegan,“Sirknights,takekeepHowalltheseshoresarespreadwithsquadronsbraveAndtroopsofhardyknights,yetonthesesandsThemonarchscanthathgatheredhalfhisbands。
XIII
“OfEgyptonlythesetheforcesare,Andaidfromotherlandstheyhereattend,Fortwixtthenoon-daysunandmorningstar,Allrealmsathiscommanddobowandbend;
SothatItrustweshallreturnfromfar,Andbringourjourneylongtowishedend,BeforethiskingorhislieutenantshallThesearmiesbringtoZion’sconqueredwall。“
XIV
Whilethusshesaid,assoaringeaglesflyMongstotherbirdssecurelythroughtheair,Andmountingupbeholdwithwakefuleye,TheradiantbeamsofoldHyperion’shair,HergondolasopassedswiftlybyTwixtshipandship,withoutenfearorcareWhoshouldherfollow,trouble,stoporstay,Andforthtoseamadeluckyspeedandway。
XV
ThemselvesfornenstoldRaffia’stowntheyfand,AtownthatfirsttosailorsdothappearAstheyfromSyriapasstoEgyptland:
ThesterilecoastsofbarrenRhinocereTheypassed,andseaswhereCasiushilldothstandThatwithhistreeso’erspreadsthewatersnear,AgainstwhoserootsbreakeththebrackishwaveWhereJovehistemple,Pompeyhathhisgrave:
XVI
ThenDamiatanext,wheretheybeholdHowtotheseahistributeNiluspaysByhissevenmouthsrenownedinstoriesold,Andbyanhundredmoreignobleways:
TheypassthetownbuiltbytheGrecianbold,OfhimcalledAlexandriatillourdays,AndPharaoh’stowerandisleremovedofyoreFarfromtheland,nowjoinedtotheshore:
XVII
BothCreteandRhodestheyleftbynorthunseen,AndsailedalongthecoastsofAfriclands,Whoseseatownsfair,butrealmsmoreinwardbeenAllfullofmonstersandofdesertsands:
WithherfivecitiesthentheyleftCyrene,WherethatoldtempleoffalseHammonstands:
NextPtolemais,andthatsacredwoodWhencespringthesilentstreamsofLetheflood。
XVIII
ThegreaterSyrte,thatsailorsoftencastInperilgreatofdeathandlossextreme,Theycompassedroundabout,andsafelypassed,TheCapeJudecaandfloodMagra’sstream;
ThenTripoli,gainstwhichisMaltaplaced,Thatlowandhid,tolurkinseasdothseem:
ThelittleSyrtethen,andAlzerhesisle,WheredweltthefolkthatLotosateerewhile。
XIX
NextTunisonthecrookedshoretheyspied,Whosebayarockoneithersidedefends,Tunisalltownsinbeauty,wealthandprideAbove,asfarasLibya’sboundsextends;
Gainstwhich,fromfairSicilia’sfertileside,HisruggedfrontgreatLilybaeumbends。
ThedametherepointedoutwheresometimestoodRome’sstatelyrivalwhilom,Carthageproud;
XX
GreatCarthagelowinashescolddothlie,Herruinspoortheherbsinheightscantpass,Socitiesfall,soperishkingdomshigh,Theirprideandpomplieshidinsandandgrass:
Thenwhyshouldmortalmanrepinetodie,Whoselife,isair;breath,wind;andbody,glass?
FromthencetheseasnextBisert’swallstheycleft,AndfarSardiniaontheirrighthandleft。
XXI
Numidia’smightyplainstheycoastedthen,Wherewanderingshepherdsusedtheirflockstofeed,ThenBugiaandArgier,theinfamousdenOfpiratesfalse,Orantheyleftwithspeed,AllTingitantheyswiftlyoverren,Whereelephantsandangrylionsbreed,WherenowtherealmsofFezandMarocbe,GainstwhichGranada’sshoresandcoaststheysee。
XXII
Nowaretheythere,wherefirsttheseabrakeinBygreatAlcides’help,asstoriesfeign,TruemayitbethatwherethosefloodsbeginItwhilomwasafirmandsolidmainBeforetheseatherethroughdidpassagewinAndpartedAfricfromthelandofSpain,Abilahence,thenceCalpegreatupsprings,Suchpowerhathtimetochangethefaceofthings。
XXIII
FourtimesthesunhadspreadhismorningraySincefirstthedamelaunchedforthherwondrousbargeAndneveryettookportincreekorbay,Butfairlyforwardboretheknightshercharge;
Nowthroughthestraitherjollyshipmadeway,Andboldlysailedupontheoceanlarge;
Butiftheseainmidstofearthwasgreat,Ohwhatwasthis,whereinearthhathherseat?
XXIV
NowdeepengulphedinthemightyfloodTheysawnotGades,northemountainsnear,Fledwastheland,andtownsonlandthatstood,Heavencoveredsea,seaseemedtheheavenstobear。
“Atlast,fairlady,“quothUbaldogood,“Thatinthisendlessmaindostguideushere,Ifevermanbeforeheresailedtell,Orotherlandsherebewhereinmendwell。“
XXV
“GreatHercules,“quothshe,“whenhehadquailedThemonstersfierceinAfricandinSpain,Andallalongyourcoastsandcountriessailed,Yetdursthenotassaytheoceanmain,WithinhispillarswouldhehaveimpaledTheoverdaringwitofmankindvain,TillLordUlyssesdidthosebounderspass,Toseeandknowhesodesirouswas。
XXVI
“Hepassedthosepillars,andinopenwaveOfthebroadseafirsthisboldsailsuntwined,Butyetthegreedyoceanwashisgrave,Naughthelpedhimhisskillgainsttideandwind;
WithhimallwitnessofhisvoyagebraveLiesburiedthere,notruththereofwefind,Andtheywhomstormhathforcedthatwaysince,Aredrownedall,orunreturnedfromthence:
XXVII
“Sothatthismightyseaisyetunsought,Wherethousandislesandkingdomslieunknown,Notvoidofmenassomehavevainlythought,Butpeopledwell,andwonnedlikeyourown;
Thelandisfertileground,butscantwellwrought,Airwholesome,temperatesun,grassproudlygrown。“
“But,“quothUbaldo,“dame,IpraytheeteachOfthathidworld,whatbethelawsandspeech?“
XXVIII
“Asdiversebetheirnations,“answeredshe,“Theirtongues,theirrites,theirlawssodifferentare;
Somepraytobeasts,sometoastoneortree,Sometotheearth,thesun,ormorningstar;
Theirmeatsunwholesome,vile,andhatefulbe,Someeatman’sflesh,andcaptivesta’eninwar,AndallfromCalpe’smountainwestthatdwell,Infaithprofane,inlifearerudeandfell。“
XXIX
“ButwillourgraciousGod,“theknightreplied,“Thatwithhisbloodallsinfulmenhathbought,HistruthforeverandhisgospelhideFromallthoselands,asyetunknown,unsought?“
“Ohno,“quothshe,“hisnamebothfarandwideShalltherebeknown,alllearningthitherbrought,NorshalltheselongandtediouswaysforeverYourworldandtheirs,theirlands,yourkingdomssever。
XXX
“ThetimeshallcomethatsailorsshalldisdainTotalkorargueofAlcides’streat,Andlandsandseasthatnamelessyetremain,Shallwellbeknown,theirboundaries,siteandseat,Theshipsencompassshallthesolidmain,Asfarasseasoutstretchtheirwatersgreat,Andmeasurealltheworld,andwiththesunAboutthisearth,thisglobe,thiscompass,run。
XXXI
“AknightofGenesshallhavethehardimentUponthiswondrousvoyagefirsttowend,Norwindsnorwaves,thatshipsinsunderrent,Norseasunused,strangeclime,orpoolunkenned,NorotherperilnorastonishmentThatmakesfrailheartsofmentobowandbend,WithinAbilas’straitshallkeepandholdThenoblespiritofthissailorbold。