Os Lusiadas (The Lusiads), vol. 1 of 2

Chapter 16: Another Argument.

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About This Book

An epic poem recounts a heroic maritime expedition to distant shores, framing the voyage within classical myth and allegory. It alternates stirring narrative of navigation, encounters, and naval combat with formal speeches and digressions that praise the homeland's virtues, explore destiny and imperial ambition, and reflect on fate, fame, and human courage. Gods and mythic figures intervene and debate, while lyric passages celebrate landscape, love, and patriotic pride. The structure cycles through cantos that blend descriptive vividness, rhetorical argument, and moral reflection to commemorate a national enterprise of exploration.

Another Argument.

A populosa Europa se descreve;
De Egas Moniz o feito sublimado,
Lusitania, que Reis, que guerras teve;
Christo a Afonso se expoem crucificado:
De Dona Ignez de Castro a pura neve
Em purpura converte o povo irado:
Mostra-se o vil descuido de Fernando,
E o grão poder de hum gesto suave, e brando.

Populous Europe passeth in review;	(6–23)
Egás Moníz is praised for famous feat;	(35–41)
What Kings and wars our Lusitania knew;	(24–34)
Afonso sees the Christ on Cross elate;	(42–46)
Agnes de Castro’s breast of snowy hue	(118–135)
With innocent blood empurpleth popular hate:	(118–135)
Fernando’s vile neglect is shown to shame,	(138–143)
And the high pow’ers that youth and beauty claim.	(138–143)