Thus pass the company so brave and bright
The day almost entire, with due regard,
In a sweet genial and unknown delight,
Which compensates for toils so long and hard;
Because of noble deeds, of daring might,
Famous and strong, the world reserves reward,
Which merit at the close so well may claim,
With high renown and rare exalted fame.
For Ocean's nymphs so lovely and so fair,
Tethys and all the angelic painted isle,
Serve but those pleasing honours to declare
That give to life sublime and noble style:
Those glorious pre-eminences rare,
The triumphs and the forehead crowned, the while,
With palm and laurel, marvel and renown,
These are the pleasures in this island shown.
For the immortalities the Ancients feigned
(Loving illustrious heros aye to claim,)
For those who had of old Olympus gained
The starry height, on brilliant wings of fame,
Through works of valour, which they had attained
By toil immense, and bearing for its name
The path of virtue, arduous to ascend,
But joyful, sweet, and pleasing at the end,
Were nought else than rewards, which man's decree For deeds immortal and all sovereign
Accords the great; thus making gods to be,
For power and skill, those who were nought but men.
For Jupiter, Mars, Phoebus, Mercury,
Eneas, Romulus, the Theban twain,
Juno, Diana, Ceres, Pallas, all,
Were only what weak human flesh we call.
Mas a fama, trombeta de obras tais,
Lhe deo no mundo nomes tão estranhos,
De Deoses, Semideoses immortais,
Indigetes, Heroicos, e de Magnos.
Por isso, ó vós que as famas estimais,
Se quizerdes no mundo ser tamanhos,
Despertai já do somno do ocio ignavo
Que o animo de livre faz escravo;
E ponde na cubiça hum freio duro
E na ambição tambem, que indignamente
Tomais mil vezes, e no torpe e escuro
Vicio da tyrannia infame e urgente;
Porque essas honras vãas, esse ouro puro
Verdadeiro valor não dão á gente ;
Melhor he merecel-os, sem os ter,
Que possuil-os, sem os merecer.
Ou dai na paz as leis iguaes, constantes,
Que aos grandes não dem o dos pequenos,
Ou vos vesti nas armas rutilantes
Contra a lei dos imigos Sarracenos ;
Fareis os reinos grandes e possantes,
E todos tereis mais e nenhum menos,
Possuireis riquezas merecidas,
Com as honras que illustram tanto as vidas.
E fareis claro o Rei que tanto amais,
Agora co'os conselhos bem cuidados,
Agora co'as espadas, que immortais
Vos farão como os vossos já passados:
Impossibilidades não façais ;
Que, quem quiz sempre pôde: e numerados
Sereis entre os Heroes esclarecidos,
E nesta ilha de Venus recebidos.
But Fame, the trumpet which such deeds makes known,
Gave them on earth such wondrous names and state,
As Gods and Demigods, immortal shown,
Man-gods and Heroes, and in fine, the Great.
Therefore, O ye who covet honour's crown,
If these on earth ye fain would emulate,
Cast off the sleep of idle ease with speed,
Which the free spirit makes a slave indeed;
On covetousness put strong bit and rein,
And on ambition, which unworthily
A thousand times ye suffer, and the stain
Obscure and vile of pressing tyranny;
Because this kind of gold, these honours vain
Confer on man no worth of certainty;
Better no honours should your merit bless
Than, without merit, honours to possess ;
In peace make equal laws ye will not break,
Which give not to the great the small man's gains;
Or go once more, your shining armour take
Against the faith of hostile Saracens ;
Ye shall the kingdoms great and powerful make,
All shall have more, and none less for your pains;
Of well earned riches thus shall ye partake,
With honours which men's lives illustrious make.
Your King, so cherished, ye shall aggrandise,
Now with your counsel well conceived and true,
Now with your swords, which shall immortalise
Yourselves, as your forefathers stand in view;
Do not create impossibilities,
For he who willed the deed could always do;
Thus shall ye rank with Heroes of renown,
And in this isle of Venus wear your crown.
MAS já o claro amador da Larissea
Adúltera inclinava os animaes
Lá para o grande lago que rodea
Temistitão nos fins Occidentaes :
O grande ardor do Sol Favonio enfrea
Co'o sôpro, que nos tanques naturaes
Encrespa a agua serena, e despertava
Os lirios e jasmins que a calma aggrava ;
Quando as formosas nymphas, co'os amantes
Pela mão já conformes e contentes,
Subiam para os paços radiantes,
E de metaes ornados reluzentes
Mandados da Rainha, que abundantes
Mesas d'altos manjares excellentes
Lhe tinha apparelhadas, que a fraqueza
Restaurem da cansada natureza.
Alli em cadeiras ricas crystallinas
Se assentam dous e dous, amante e dama; N'outras á cabeceira, d'ouro finas,
Está co'a bella deosa o claro Gama.
De iguarias suaves e divinas,
A quem não chega a Egypcia antigua fama, Se accumulam os pratos de fulvo ouro,
Trazidos lá do Atlantico thesouro.
Now the bright lover of the frail in faith,
The adulterous Larissea, 'gan dispose
His steeds to the mighty gulph which compasseth
Temistitan, where western boundaries close;
Sol's ardent rays Favonius with his breath
Was tempering down-which o'er a calm pool blows,
And crisps the water smooth—and thus relieved
Lilies and jasmines which the heat aggrieved;
When with their loves the beauteous nymphs and gay,
All hand in hand, quite willing and content,
Took to the radiant palaces their way,
With shining metals all magnificent
By order of the Queen; who great display
Of tables, with choice viands excellent,
Commanded should be ready for them there,
Their wearied nature's weakness to repair.
There, on rich gorgeous chairs and crystalline
Are seated, two by two, lover and dame;
While others, at the head, which golden shine,
The Goddess fair and noble Gama claim :
Of viands all delicious and divine,
Surpassing those of Egypt's ancient fame,
Come crowded plates, in yellow gold all wrought,
From the far treasury of Atlantic brought.
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