Thus hearing Jupiter's decree pronounced,30
each God responsive spoke, in order due,
contrasting judgment one and all announced
giving and taking various divers view.
But Father Bacchus then and there renounced,
homage to Jove's command, who right well knew
his deeds on Orient-lond would leave no trace,
were furtherance granted to the Lusian race.
The Fatal Sisters he had heard declare,31
how from Hispanian bounds a hero-band
should span the pathless deep, and nought should spare
wherever Doris batheth Indian strand:
Should with new victories eve'ry deed out-dare
done or by his or other stranger hand:
Profound he sorrows lest he lose the glory,
the name still cel'ebrate in the Nyssan story.
He sees, while Indus he of yore hath tamed,32
Fortune or favouring chance had aye denied
to hear him India's conqueror acclaimed
by bardic men who drain Parnassus' tide:
And now he dreadeth lest a name so famed
be doomed for ever in the mire to hide
of Lethe-fountain, if on Inde debark
these vagueing Portingalls so strong and stark.
