# Canto VII explained — The Lusiads > Chapter companion for The Lusiads by Luís de Camões. ## 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. ## Character check-ins ### 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 lines > 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._ > Ah, wretched Christians, who such cross incur, be you perchance the teeth by Cadmus sown, that waste of brother-blood ye thus prefer when all by self-same mother-womb are grown? Christians fight each other like the sown teeth of Cadmus, wasting brotherly blood. _Lament over Christian infighting._ > If lust of lucre and of lordship led your course to conquer far and foreign lands, see you not Hermus and Pactólus shed adown their fertile valleys aureate If you are motivated by greed, look at the riches of the East. _Encouragement to turn attention to the East._ > Behold, ye Nymphs! what high-bred Lords and wise breedeth your Tagus, what a gen’erous race, who in such fashion with such favours prize the Bard whose boon hath lent their lordships grace! The poet praises the noble and wise people of Portugal who honor their poets. _Reflection on the poet's own reception._ > But since such hosts of ills around me lie, let not my Fancy of your favour fail here chiefest wanted as the goal draws nigh, that mighty feats wax mightier by my tale: Despite many troubles, the poet asks for inspiration to complete his epic. _Invocation to the Nymphs._ > Think not, ah no, my Nymphs! I would enfame the man who dares his country and his King forget for private int’erest’s pit’iful claim, by law of God and Man a felon thing. The poet will not praise those who betray their country for personal gain. _Declaration of poetic integrity._ > Only of men I’ll sing the glorious name who riskèd darling life for God, for King; when losing life they lengthened life by fame, and well deserved the best that Bard can sing. The poet will sing only of those who risked their lives for God and King, gaining fame through sacrifice. _Statement of purpose._ > Flamed with desire the Idol-servant’s mind to sight the marvels told him by the Moor: He bade the boats be manned, and straight incline’d to view the vessels which the Gama bore: The Catual, eager to see the wonders described by Monsaydé, ordered boats to visit the fleet. _The Catual's visit to the fleet._ > Her purple awnings and her banners shine with the rich tissue which the worm hath made; whereon appear portray’d with rare design the warlike actions of the mighty Dead: The ship's awnings and banners are decorated with silk and depict the deeds of heroes. _Description of the ship's decorations._ > He asks of all he sees: But Gama pray’d he first be seated, and in cool retreat be pleased to taste the food before him spread, which Epicurus’ sect holds highest treat. The Catual asks about everything, but Gama invites him to sit and eat. _Gama's hospitality._ > Yet nills the Géntoo-man to break his fast, as ’twas forbidden by the laws of Caste. The Catual refuses to eat because of his caste restrictions. _Cultural difference._ > The blaring Trumpet, which in Peace the thought of Warfare im’ages, rends the lift like thunder: The diabolick instruments fire-fraught wake slumb’ering echoes there, the sea-depths under. The trumpet sounds like thunder, and the cannons fire, echoing across the sea. _Display of military power._ > Noted the Géntoo all: But most he sought to read th’ intention and the works of wonder done by the Heroes which in scanty space Picture, mute Poesy, had power to trace. The Catual observed everything, especially the heroic deeds depicted in the banners. _The Catual's interest in the banners._ > He riseth, Gama rising by his side, and there Coelho with the Mauritan: With curious eyne a warlike form they eye’d, an old white Sire of aspect sovereign, whose name and honours in our hearts shall ’bide, long as the World shall know the name of man: They rise and look at a depiction of an old, majestic warrior. _Description of a banner figure._ > In garb of Grecian usage stands he dight, bearing device of leaf-branch in his right. The figure is dressed in Greek style and holds a branch. _Symbolic imagery._ ## Links - HTML: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/the_lusiads_se/chapters/canto-vii - Book: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/the_lusiads_se - All chapters: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/the_lusiads_se/chapters