No More Learning

[479] _Before these shrines the blinded Indians bow. _--In this instance,
Camoens has, with great art, deviated from the truth of history. As it
was the great purpose of his hero to propagate the law of heaven in the
East, it would have been highly absurd to have represented GAMA and his
attendants as on their knees in a pagan temple. This, however, was the
case. "GAMA, who had been told," says Osorius, "that there were many
Christians in India, conjectured that the temple, to which the catual
led him, was a Christian church. At their entrance they were met by four
priests, who seemed to make crosses on their foreheads. The walls were
painted with many images. In the middle was it little round chapel, in
the wall of which, opposite to the entrance, stood an image which could
hardly be discovered. The four priests ascending, some entered the
chapel by a little brass door, and pointing to the benighted image,
cried aloud, 'Mary, Mary! ' The catual and his attendants prostrated
themselves an the ground, while the Lusians on their bended knees adored
the blessed virgin. " Thus Osorius. Another writer says, that a
Portuguese, having some doubt, exclaimed, "If this be the devil's image,
I however worship God. "

[480] _Here India's fate. _--The description of the palace of the
zamorim, situated among aromatic groves, is according to history; the
embellishment of the walls is in imitation of Virgil's description of
the palace of King Latinus:--

_Tectum augustum, ingens, centum sublime columnis,
Urbe fuit summa, etc. _

"The palace built by Picus, vast and proud, }
Supported by a hundred pillars stood, }
And round encompass'd with a rising wood.
}
The pile o'erlook'd the town, and drew the sight,
Surprised, at once, with reverence and delight. . . .
Above the portal, carv'd in cedar wood,
Placed in their ranks their godlike grandsires stood.
Old Saturn, with his crooked scythe on high;
And Italus, that led the colony:
And ancient Janus with his double face,
And bunch of keys, the porter of the place.
There stood Sabinus, planter of the vines, }
On a short pruning-hook his head reclines; }
And studiously surveys his gen'rous wines. }
Then warlike kings who for their country fought,
And honourable wounds from battle brought.
Around the posts hung helmets, darts, and spears; }
And captive chariots, axes, shields, and bars; }
And broken beaks of ships, the trophies of their wars. }
Above the rest, as chief of all the band
Was Picus plac'd, a buckler in his hand;
His other wav'd a long divining wand.
Girt in his Gabin gown the hero sate----"

DRYDEN, AEn. vii.


[481]

_Behind her founder Nysa's walls were rear'd----
----at distance far
The Ganges lav'd the wide-extended war. --_

This is in the perspective manner of the beautiful descriptions of the
figures on the shield of Achilles. --IL. xviii.