Chapter XVI: Canto IV: (after Stanza 35)

These Homeric stanzas on the deaths of Portuguese knights took away interest from the central figure, the King.

“Piercèd[129] Giraldo’s vitals through and through 1
And eke the huge thick targe he snatcht away
From Perez whom he killed; his own with hew
And strangest hack of cutlass useless lay.
Dies Pedro, and Duarte dies (in lieu
Of death amid the Brigians): Born were they
Both in Braganza, brave in youthful pride
Together lived they, fought they, fell they, died.

2

“Morrem Lopo e Vicente de Lisboa,
Que estavam conjurados a acabarem,
Ou a ganharem ambos a coroa
De quantos n’esta guerra se afamarem
Por cima do cavallo Afonso voa;
Que cinco Castelhanos (por vingarem
A morte de outros cinco, que matára)
O vão privar assi da vida cara.

“Lopo and Vincent de Lisbóa bleed; 2
Sworn in the common cause to meet their fate;
Or both the crown to gain and Victory’s meed
To snatch from all whom most enfamed this bate.
Afonso flieth from his battle-steed;
For five Castilians (who in ambush wait
to ’venge five comrades slain in earli’er strife)
Packing around him pluck his precious life.

3

“De tres lanças passado Hilario cai;
Mas primeiro vingado a sua tinha;
Não lhe peza porque a alma assi lhe sai,
Mas porque a linda Antonia n’elle vinha:
O fugitivo esp’rito se lhe vai,
E n’elle o pensamento que o sostinha;
E saíndo da dama, a quem servia,
O nome lhe cortou na bocca fria.”

“Down falls Hilario drilled by spear-heads three; 3
But first he took the vengeance of his spear;
He mourneth not because his Sprite goes free,
But for-that comes in it Antonia fair:
Flitteth the fug’itive Spirit fast, and flee
With it the thoughts sustaining all to dare;
And as life fled the service of his dame,
Fell from his clay-cold lips her broken name.”

Canto IV.

“Favorecem os seus com grandes gritas
O successo do tiro; e elle logo
Toma outra: (que jaziam infinitas
Dos que as vidas perderam neste jogo)
Corre enrestando-a forte; e d’arte incita
Á brava guerra os seus, que ardendo em fogo
Vão ferindo os cavallos de esporadas,
E os duros inimigos de lançadas.”

Canto IV. (in lieu of Stanza 39).

“His foll’owers favour with a piercing cry
This goodly lunge of lance; nor is he slow
To snatch another (for innum’erous lie
The weapons lost by battle’s losing throw):
He runs with couchèd spear: His bravery
Urgeth his Braves who, brent with martial lowe,
Into the courser’s flanks keen rowels thrust,
And lance the foeman level with the dust.”

Canto IV.

“Velasquez morre, e Sanches de Toledo, 1
Hum grande caçador, outro letrado:
Tambem perece Galbes, que sem medo
Sempre dos companheiros foi chamado:
Montanchez, Oropesa, Mondonhedo:
(Qualquer destro nas armas e esforçado)
Todos per mãos de Antonio, moço forte,
Destro mais que elles, pois os trouxe á morte.