Anointed by God
Note on the text: I used Richard Francis Burton’s translation of Luis De Camoes’ The Lusiads as published in 2018 by Livraria Lello.
There is some beautiful poetry in what is considered to be Portugal’s definitive national epic, written by the poet that is considered to be their equivalent of Shakespeare. I love the way in which De Camoes retells the epic story of Vasco de Gama’s legendary voyage to India. One of the things I really enjoyed from a thematic perspective is how he constantly underscores just how weak the Christians were compared to their Muslim, here referred to as Moors, adversaries in a way that highlights how the only way they could have succeed is because God wanted them to. He says as much in the opening of the poem when he says that the powerful Moors were fated to be defeated by “our frail Christianity. . . the fated marvel of our century,/to govern world’s of men by God so given” (I. 6).
Then later towards the middle of the story, he reminds everyone that one of the things that art can do is continue to inspire people in the future and how he hopes that reading of De Gama’s journey will inspire other people to do great things even if the chips appear to be stacked against those people: “Yet, ne’er let human bosom cease to thrill/with hope to dare and do some mighty deed,/since [] by these or, haply, other ways,/he ne’er shall forfeit prizes, value, praise” (V. 100). In other words, don’t be afraid to try to do great things. Because if God wills it you will succeed despite the odds and your reward, whatever form that reward takes, will be great.
