Henry Wadsworth Longfellow, ed. Poems of Places: An Anthology in 31 Volumes.
Spain, Portugal, Belgium, and Holland: Vols. XIV–XV. 1876–79. | | | | Portugal: Tagus (Tejo), the River | | Camoens | | William Lisle Bowles (1762–1850) |
| | (From The Spirit of Discovery by Sea)
WHAT lofty meed awaits | |
| The triumph of his victor conch, that swells | |
| Its music on the yellow Tagus’ side, | |
| As when Arion, with his glittering harp | |
| And golden hair, scarce sullied from the main, | 5 |
| Bids all the high rocks listen to his voice | |
| Again! Alas, I see an aged form, | |
| An old man worn by penury, his hair | |
| Blown white upon his haggard cheek, his hand | |
| Emaciated, yet the strings with thrilling touch | 10 |
| Soliciting; but the vain crowds pass by: | |
| His very countrymen, whose fame his song | |
| Has raised to heaven, in stately apathy | |
| Wrapped up, and nursed in pride’s fastidious lap, | |
| Regard not. As he plays, a sable man | 15 |
| Looks up, but fears to speak, and when the song | |
| Has ceased, kisses his master’s feeble hand. | |
| Is that cold wasted hand, that haggard look, | |
| Thine, Camoens? O, shame upon the world! | |
| And is there none, none to sustain thee found, | 20 |
| But he, himself unfriended, who so far | |
| Has followed, severed from his native isles, | |
| To scenes of gorgeous cities, o’er the sea, | |
Thee and thy broken fortunes!
God of worlds! | |
| O, whilst I hail the triumph and high boast | 25 |
| Of social life, let me not wrong the sense | |
| Of kindness, planted in the human heart | |
| By man’s great Maker, therefore I record | |
| Antonio’s faithful, gentle, generous love | |
| To his heart-broken master, that might teach, | 30 |
| High as it bears itself, a polished world | |
| More charity. | | | | |
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