The Lusiads · Chapter
Canto VII explained
The fleet arrives at Calecut, where the Moor Monsaydé greets them and provides information about the land.
What happens
The fleet arrives at Calecut, where the Moor Monsaydé greets them and provides information about the land. The Catual, or Governor, visits the fleet and is shown the banners depicting Portuguese heroes. The chapter includes an exhortation to the Princes of Christendom to undertake similar enterprises, and reflects on the poet's own struggles.
Themes in this chapter
Exploration and Discovery
The arrival at Calecut marks the culmination of the voyage, with the fleet reaching the 'Morning-land' and the 'realm of riches.'
Religion and Christianity
The exhortation to Christian princes to fight for the Holy Land and spread the faith, contrasting with the 'base-born Ishmaelite' holding Jerusalem.
Nationalism and Patriotism
The poet praises the Portuguese as a 'race from Lusus sprung' and calls on them to undertake great deeds for Christendom.
The Power of Poetry
The poet reflects on his own role and the importance of poetic fame, asking the Nymphs for aid to continue his epic.
Characters to notice
- Vasco da Gama
Leads the fleet to Calecut, meets with Monsaydé and the Catual, and shows the banners.
- Monsaydé
The Moor who greets the fleet and provides information about the natives and the land.
- The Cat'ual
Governor of Calecut who visits the fleet and examines the banners.
- Paul da Gama
Receives the Catual and the Moor aboard the flagship.
- Nicholas Coelho
Present with Gama and the Moor when viewing the banners.
- Luís de Camões
The poet interjects with personal reflections on his own suffering and the reception of his work.
Key passages
“And now th’ Armada near’d the Morning-land, many so much desirèd to have seen, Reigns by those Indic currents moated, and by Gange who dwelleth in the sky terrene.”
The fleet approached India, a land long desired, surrounded by rivers and seas.
Describes the arrival at the Indian coast.
“To you, O race from Lusus sprung! I say, to whom such puny part of Earth is dole’d nay, what say I of Earth, but of His sway who ruleth all the rounded skies enfold?”
The poet addresses the Portuguese people, descendants of Lusus, who have been given a small part of the earth but serve a higher power.
Exhortation to the Portuguese to pursue great deeds.
“See them, those Germans, stiff-neckt, herd-like horde who browse the pastures of such wide extent, to him rebellious who hath Peter’s ward, choose a new Shepherd, a new Sect invent:”
The poet criticizes the Germans for rebelling against the Pope and inventing a new sect.
Critique of Protestantism.
“See the hard Englander proclaim his right of that old Sacred City King to be, where reigns and rules the base-born Ishmaelite (Honour of Truth so nude who e’er did see!);”
The English claim the right to be king of Jerusalem, but it is ruled by Muslims.
Critique of English claims to the Holy Land.
“Holds for himself meanwhile a faithless Roy, Jerus’alem City, the terrestrial; who holds not holy law, but dares defy Jerus’alem City, the celestial.”
A faithless king holds the earthly Jerusalem, defying the heavenly one.
Critique of the Ottoman ruler.
“What shall I say of those who ’mid delights, which vilest Idlesse bare for manhood’s bane, spend life and love to waste the gold that blights, and clean forget their ancient valiant strain?”
The poet criticizes those who waste their lives in idleness and forget their heroic heritage.
Critique of Italian decadence.
