For these I give thee a Nuno, fierce in fight,12
who for his King and Country freely bled ;
an Egas and a Fuas ;[1] fain I might
for them my lay with harp Homeric wed!
For the twelve peerless Peers again I cite
the Twelve of England by Magriço led:
Nay, more, I give thee Gama's noble name,
who for himself claims all Æneas' fame.
And if in change for royal Charles of France,13
or rivalling Cæsar's mem'ories thou wouldst trow,
the first Afonso see, whose conque'ring lance
lays highest boast of stranger glories low :
See him who left his realm th' inheritance
fair Safety, born of wars that crusht the foe :
That other John, a knight no fear deter'd,
the fourth and fifth Afonso, and the third.
Nor shall they silent in my song remain,14
they who in regions there where Dawns arise,
by Acts of Arms such glories toil'd to gain,
where thine unvanquisht flag for ever flies,
Pacheco, brave of braves ; th' Almeidas twain,
whom Tagus mourns with ever-weeping eyes ;
dread Albuquerque, Castro stark and brave,
with more, the victors of the very grave.
- ↑ For the " Great Constable," Egas and Fuas, see Cantos IV. 23, and VIII. 13, 17.
