Chapter XIII: Canto IV

ARGUMENT OF THE FOURTH CANTO.

Da Gama pursueth his discourse with the King of Melinde, and relateth the wars between Portugal and Castile, touching the succession to the throne, after the death of the king, D. Fernando: Military feats of the Constable, D. Nuno Alvares Pereira: Battle and victory of Aljubarrota: Diligent attempts to discover India by land, in the days of the king D. Joam II.: How the king D. Manoel gained this end by resolving upon the present voyage: Preparations for it: Embarkation and farewells of the navigators upon the Belem beach.

ANOTHER ARGUMENT.

_Acclamado João, de Pedro herdeiro,
Convoca Leonor ao Castelhano:
Oppoem-se Nuno, intrepido guerreiro;
Da-se batalha, vence o Lusitano:
Quem a Aurora buscar tentou primeiro
Pelas tumidas ondas do Oceano;
E como ao Gama coube esta alta empreza,
Por affinar a gloria Portugueza._

Joam acclaimèd to be Pedro’s heir, (1–5)
Léonor craveth aidance of Castile: (6–13)
Withstandeth Nuno, warrior sans fear, (14–22)
They fight; and conquest crowns the Lusian’s weal: (23–47)
Who first went forth the Morning-land to spere } (60–66)
And through the tumid flood his way to feel; }
And how to Gama fell the great emprize, } (77–end)
To gar our Port’ugal’s glory higher rise. }