Chapter XV: Canto IV: (after Stanza 2). Translated in the Millié-Dubeux edit. of

1862.

“The meed of valour Bastards aye have claimèd 1
By Arts or Arms, or haply both conjoinèd;
Such were of fabled Gods the most enfamèd
To whom rude Antients highest rank assignèd.
Hermes, and doct Apollo still are namèd
For varied Science with long Art combinèd;
Others by Arms alone prevail; so reign
Bacchus and Hercules, that Theban Twain.

2

“Bastardos são tambem Homero e Orpheo,
Dous a quem tanto os versos illustraram;
E os dous de quem o imperio procedeo,
Que Troia e Roma em Italia edificaram.
Pois se he certo o que a fama já escreveo,
Se muitos a Philippo nomearam
Por pae do Macedonico mancebo
Outros lhe dão o manho Nectanebo.

“Homer and Orpheus, eke, of birth were base, 2
The pair by Po’etry raised to such degree;
And they, the Sires of that Imperial race,
Who founded Troy and Rome for Italy.
Nay, an in written legend trust we place,
Though many Philip made the father be
Of Macedonia’s Youth, not few would prove
Great Nectanébus[128] filcht his mother’s love.

3

“Assi o filho de Pedro justiçoso,
Sendo governador alevantado
Do reino, foi nas armas tão ditoso,
Que bem póde igualar qualquer passado.
Porque vendo-se o reino receoso
De ser do Castelhano sujugado,
Aos seus o medo tira, que os alcança;
Aos outros a falsífica esperança.”

“Thus Justiciary Pedro’s bastard son, 3
Being exalted o’er the realm to sway,
By Gestes of arms such goods of Fortune won
That equalled ev’ery Great of bygone day.
He, when his kingdom feared to be undone
And prostrate lie, the proud Castilian’s prey,
Bateth the terror his own lieges tries;
And in all others Esp’erance falsifies.”

Canto IV.

“Nem no reino ficou de Tarragona
Quem não siga de Marte o duro officio:
Nem na cidade nobre, que se abona
Com ser dos Scipiões claro edificio.
Tambem a celebrada Barcelona
Mandou soldados dextros no exercicio:
Todos estes ajunta o Castelhano
Contra o pequeno reino Lusitano.”

Canto IV. (after Stanza 11).

Omitted because Catalonia and Arragon did not then belong to Castile (?).

“Remainèd none in realm of Tarragon
Who shirkt to mell in Mavors’ dour emprize:
None in the noble City, whose renown
Upon her founder Scipio’s name relies.
And last not least the far-famed Barcelon
Sent warmen tried in warlike exercise:
All these strong powers uniteth haughty Spain
Against our little Lusitanian reign.”

Canto IV.

“Oh inimigos máos da natureza
Que injuriaes a propria geração!
Degenerantes, baixos! Que fraqueza
De esforço, de saber e de razão,
Vos fez, que a clara estirpe que se presa
De leal, fido e limpo coração,
Offendais dessa sorte? Mas respeito
Que este dos grandes he o menor defeito.”

Canto IV. (after Stanza 13).

“Oh, foes unnat’ural! Nature so misbred,
Race of thy race’s name disgrace that art!
Degenerates! caitiffs! say what feeble Dread,
Sans wisdom, reason, all Man’s better part,
Have made a gallant people, born and bred
Loyal and brave with clean and candid heart,
Offend in such base guise? But I suspect
Amid the Great this be the least defect.”

Canto IV.

“Qual o mancebo claro, no Romano
Senado, os grandes medos aquebranta
Do grão Carthaginez, que soberano
Os cutelos lhe tinha na garganta;
Quando ganhando o nome de Africano
A resistir-lhe foi com furia tanta,
Que a patria duvidosa libertou,
O que Fabio invejoso não cuidou.”

Canto IV. (in lieu of Stanza 21).

“E’en as the noble Youth of Roman strain
Strengthend the Senate, fain in fear to fly
The Carthaginian who, all-sovereign,
His whetted blade to shrinking throats brought nigh;
When worth’ily winning surname ‘African,’
His furious force so did their force defy,
His doubtful country free as air he made
When jealous Fabius still his rede delay’d.”

Canto IV.

“Já a fresca filha de Titão trazia
O sempre memorando dia, quando
As vesperas se cantam de Maria,
Que este mez honra, o nome seu tomando.
Para a batalha estava já este dia
Determinado: logo, em branqueando
A alva no ceo, os Reis se apparelhavam,
E as gentes com palavras animavam.”

Canto IV. (after Stanza 27).

“Now Titan’s daughter fresh and rosy came
Bringing that memorable, deathless day,
When Vespers chaunted are in Mary’s name,
Hon’ouring the holy month whose name is May.
This day for battle having fittest claim
Was chosen: Now, as paled the morning Gray
Bleaching the skies, both Kings unsheathed their swords
Their hosts enheartening with hearty words.”

Canto IV.

“E vós Imperadores, que mandastes
Tanta parte do mundo, sempre usados
A resistir os asperos contrastes
De traidores crueis, e alevantados:
Não vos queixeis: que agora se attentastes,
Hum dos mais claros Reis, e mais amados,
Vê contra si, contra seu reino, e lei,
Seus vassallos por outro estranho Rei.”

Canto IV. (after Stanza 33).

“And, Emperors! you that held and had command
O’er so much Earth, aye ready to resist
In asp’erous conflict, and the wrong withstand
Of cruel Traitors raising Treason’s crest:
Complain ye not: Nay, well this chance attend,
One of the noblest Kings, and loved the best,
Sees ’gainst his law, his crown, his self, his all,
Vavasors rise to sue a stranger’s thrall.

Canto IV.

“Passaram a Giraldo co’ as entranhas
O grosso e forte escudo, que tomára
A Perez que matou, que o seu de estranhas
Cutiladas desfeito ja deixára.
Morrem Pedro, e Duarte (que façanhas
Nos Brigios tinham feito) a quem criára
Bragança: ambos mancebos, ambos fortes,
Companheiros nas vidas e nas mortes.