Canto IX explained

What happens

Themes in this chapter

• Fate and Divine Providence

  The chapter shows divine intervention guiding the heroes' journey, with Venus and Cupid orchestrating their reward and rest.

• Love and Desire

  The island is a place of love and pleasure, where the sailors are united with the Nereids, highlighting the theme of romantic and physical desire.

• The Other and Cultural Encounter

  The interactions with the Moors in Calecut and the warning from Monsaydé highlight the cultural and religious tensions between the Portuguese and the Muslim world.

Characters to notice

• Vasco da Gama

  The protagonist, who decides to leave Calecut and is guided by Venus to a delightful island.

• Venus

  The goddess who, moved by the heroes' suffering, directs them to a beautiful island for rest and reward.

• Cupid

  The god of love who, at Venus's behest, fires arrows at the Nereids to make them fall in love with the sailors.

• Thetis

  The Nereid who is singled out by Cupid and is destined for Da Gama.

• Monsaydé

  The Moor who warns Da Gama of the impending Mecan fleet, proving his loyalty.

• The Cat'ual

  The official in Calecut who detains the Portuguese factors, leading to Da Gama's reprisals.

Key passages

• “Fareth from Calecut the Capitayne (1–16) Bearing glad tidings of the Orient; To whom, amiddle of the tumid Main, (17–63) Venus displays an Island excellent: Here from all nobly suffered loss and pain, (64–82) Rest and Repose they find convenient, And with the gentle Nymphs the livelong day (83–95) They pass in wassail, and in Love’s fair play.”

  The captain leaves Calecut with good news, and in the middle of the sea, Venus shows them a wonderful island where they recover from their hardships and spend their days in celebration and love.

  This is the chapter's argument, summarizing the main events.

• “He warns the wary Gama that th’ Armade due from Arabian Meca year by year, is that whereon his fellows’ hope is laid, to be the deadly arm of certain snare: “They sail with armed hosts amain,” he said, “and Vulcan’s horrid thunderbolts they bear; So may ye read’ily fall an easy prey as you be poorly furnisht for the fray!””

  Monsaydé warns Gama that the yearly fleet from Mecca, which the Moors are waiting for, is heavily armed and could easily destroy them.

  This is a key moment of warning and betrayal, showing the dangers the Portuguese face.

• “Now of its arrows is the quiver bare, nor lives in sea-plain Nymph her life to ’joy; and, if the wounded breathe a living breath ’tis but to savour that they strive with Death.”

  Cupid has used all his arrows, and every Nymph is now in love, feeling the pangs of desire.

  This describes the effect of Cupid's arrows on the Nereids, setting the stage for the romantic encounters.