Page:The Lusiad (Camões, tr. Mickle, 1791), Volume 1.djvu/464

And when again for India's golden strand
Before the prosperous gale your sails expand,
A skilful pilot oft in danger try'd,
Of heart sincere, shall prove your faithful guide.

Thus Hermes spoke, and as his flight he takes
Melting in ambient air, DE GAMA wakes.
Chill'd with amaze he stood, when through the night
With sudden ray appear'd the bursting light;
The winds loud whizzing through the cordage sigh'd——
Spread, spread the sail, the raptured VASCO cried;
Aloft, aloft, this, this the gale of heaven;
By heaven our guide, th' auspicious sign is given;
Mine eyes beheld the messenger divine;
O fly, he cried, and give the favouring sign,
Here treason lurks.——Swift as the captain spake
The mariners spring bounding to the deck,
And now with shouts far-echoing o'er the sea,
Proud of their strength the ponderous anchors weigh.
When heaven again its guardian care display'd;
Above the wave rose many a Moorish head——
Conceal'd by night they gently swam along,
And with their weapons sawed the cables strong,