×

We use cookies to help make LingQ better. By visiting the site, you agree to our cookie policy.


image

The Discovery of New Worlds, 32. India at Last

32. India at Last

"O'er Oriental waters now they fly Upon the Indian seas. And now their chosen task is almost done. " —CAMOENS.

A few days' cruising along the eastern coast brought Vasco da Gama to the merchant town of Mozambique, only a few degrees to the south of the equator. Here, however, the chief of the district proved unfriendly, and the Portuguese commander sailed on to Melinda, a trading city on the open coast. It was Easter Day when they anchored in front of the town. News of their coming had spread like wildfire along the coast, and the Indian merchant-ships in port were dressed out with flags in their honour. The king proved a friend in need.

"I will give you pilots," he said, "to take you to the city of Calicut, which is in the country where pepper and ginger grow. " It was August before they were ready to sail. The king was very sad at letting them go, and watched till he could see them no longer.

"Lord God have mercy, farewell!" cried the Portuguese sailors as they sailed away into the open sea, leaving the coast of Africa.

For twenty days they sailed to the east, guided by the pilot, and then Vasco da Gama sighted the long faint line of the Indian coast for which he had sailed so far.

"That is India," said the pilot, nodding his head in the direction to which all eyes were strained. "This is India," echoed the sailors in content, gazing anxiously from the masthead. It was a tremendous moment for the Portuguese commander when, after three hundred and four days of tossing on the ocean, he arrived at Calicut, on the coast of India. It was more than he could bear, the poet Camoens tells us. Falling down on his knees, he spread his hands abroad to the blue heavens above him, while in the depth of his joy he could find no words. His heroic task was accomplished; he had fulfilled the desire of his king, the dream of Prince Henry of Portugal in days gone by.

People soon flocked, to see the Portuguese ships and sailors, for they soon discovered that Vasco da Gama had gold and silver on board in exchange for the spices of the East. Their king, too, was anxious to hear of the great Christian King of Portugal.

Vasco da Gama, accompanied by twelve of his best-looking sailors, went on shore, taking presents for the Eastern monarch. They took magnificent pieces of scarlet cloth and crimson velvet, a splendid gilt mirror, fifty knives with ivory handles and glittering blades, and other tokens of Portuguese wealth, so that the king swore eternal friendship with his "brother" the King of Portugal, and gave his representatives free leave to buy and sell as they pleased at Calicut. Moreover, he presented da Gama with a beautiful jewelled sword, in a scabbard of velvet and gold, as a solemn pledge of friendship.

Then the Portuguese loaded their ships with the treasures of Calicut, and, enriched with presents from the king, they sailed away for home. With a fair wind and under the guidance of pilots they soon reached Melinda again, sailed past Mozambique, past what we now know as Zanzibar, and rounded the dreaded Cape of Good Hope in fair weather. With shouts of joy they reached Lisbon, exactly two years and eight months after their departure.

The ships had been seen, and the king was waiting to receive Vasco da Gama and eager to hear his news. With his long beard—which had never been cut since he left Lisbon—the successful explorer stepped ashore, and kneeling low before his king he kissed his hand again and again, saying: "Sire, all my hardships have come to an end at this moment. " The news spread far and wide, and great were the rejoicings throughout Portugal, and indeed throughout Europe. "Another road had been discovered to a country which, famed for its riches, had been the envy of Western nations from the earliest times—the dream of every youth of every age from the days of Solomon. Did we say rejoicings everywhere in Europe? There was one city that did not rejoice at this famous discovery, one city—proud, beautiful, rich—which seemed stunned by the news.

"It is the worst news that ever arrived," they said sadly. For Venice, amid her waste of waters, was ruined. No longer "did she hold the gorgeous East in fee." Her traffic, her commerce had been taken from her. She had been the first city in Europe

"till the unwelcome tidings came That in the Tagus had arrived a fleet From India, from the regions of the sun, Fragrant with spices—that a way was found, A channel opened, and the golden stream Turn'd to enrich another. Then she felt Her strength departing, and at last she fell, Fell in an instant, blotted out and razed. "

Learn languages from TV shows, movies, news, articles and more! Try LingQ for FREE

32. India at Last 32. India por fin 32. L'Inde enfin 32. Finalmente l'India 32.最後のインド

"O'er Oriental waters now they fly Upon the Indian seas. "Sulle acque orientali ora volano sui mari indiani. And now their chosen task is almost done. " E ora il compito che hanno scelto è quasi finito. " —CAMOENS.

A few days' cruising along the eastern coast brought Vasco da Gama to the merchant town of Mozambique, only a few degrees to the south of the equator. |||plavba||||||||||||||Mozambik|||||||||| |||navegación|||||||||||||||||||||||| Alcuni giorni di navigazione lungo la costa orientale portarono Vasco da Gama alla città mercantile di Mozambico, a pochi gradi a sud dell'equatore. Here, however, the chief of the district proved unfriendly, and the Portuguese commander sailed on to Melinda, a trading city on the open coast. ||||||||||||||||Melinda||||||| Qui, però, il capo del distretto si dimostrò ostile e il comandante portoghese fece rotta verso Melinda, una città commerciale sulla costa aperta. It was Easter Day when they anchored in front of the town. News of their coming had spread like wildfire along the coast, and the Indian merchant-ships in port were dressed out with flags in their honour. |||||||lesní požár|||||||||||||||||| The king proved a friend in need. Il re si dimostrò un amico nel momento del bisogno.

"I will give you pilots," he said, "to take you to the city of Calicut, which is in the country where pepper and ginger grow. " ||||||||||||||Kozhikode|||||||||| It was August before they were ready to sail. The king was very sad at letting them go, and watched till he could see them no longer.

"Lord God have mercy, farewell!" cried the Portuguese sailors as they sailed away into the open sea, leaving the coast of Africa.

For twenty days they sailed to the east, guided by the pilot, and then Vasco da Gama sighted the long faint line of the Indian coast for which he had sailed so far.

"That is India," said the pilot, nodding his head in the direction to which all eyes were strained. |||||||||||||||||napjaté ||||||gesturing affirmatively||||||||||| "This is India," echoed the sailors in content, gazing anxiously from the masthead. ||||||||||||el mástil It was a tremendous moment for the Portuguese commander when, after three hundred and four days of tossing on the ocean, he arrived at Calicut, on the coast of India. |||||||||||||||||navegando a|||||||Calicut||||| It was more than he could bear, the poet Camoens tells us. Falling down on his knees, he spread his hands abroad to the blue heavens above him, while in the depth of his joy he could find no words. Cadendo in ginocchio, stese le mani verso il cielo azzurro che lo sovrastava, mentre nel profondo della sua gioia non trovava parole. His heroic task was accomplished; he had fulfilled the desire of his king, the dream of Prince Henry of Portugal in days gone by. |||||||splnil|||||||||||||||| Il suo compito eroico era stato portato a termine; aveva realizzato il desiderio del suo re, il sogno del principe Enrico del Portogallo nei tempi passati.

People soon flocked, to see the Portuguese ships and sailors, for they soon discovered that Vasco da Gama had gold and silver on board in exchange for the spices of the East. Their king, too, was anxious to hear of the great Christian King of Portugal.

Vasco da Gama, accompanied by twelve of his best-looking sailors, went on shore, taking presents for the Eastern monarch. |||||||||||||||||||monarcha They took magnificent pieces of scarlet cloth and crimson velvet, a splendid gilt mirror, fifty knives with ivory handles and glittering blades, and other tokens of Portuguese wealth, so that the king swore eternal friendship with his "brother" the King of Portugal, and gave his representatives free leave to buy and sell as they pleased at Calicut. |||||||||||||||||slonovina|rukojeťmi||||||znaky|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||| ||||||||||||||||||||||||symbols of wealth|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||| ||||||||carmesí|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||| Portarono con sé magnifici pezzi di stoffa scarlatta e di velluto cremisi, uno splendido specchio dorato, cinquanta coltelli con manico d'avorio e lame scintillanti e altri segni della ricchezza portoghese, tanto che il re giurò eterna amicizia al "fratello" re del Portogallo e diede ai suoi rappresentanti il permesso di comprare e vendere a Calicut a loro piacimento. Moreover, he presented da Gama with a beautiful jewelled sword, in a scabbard of velvet and gold, as a solemn pledge of friendship. ||||||||||||pouzdro|||||||||| ||||||||||||sword sheath|||||||||| ||||||||||||鞘|||||||||| ||||||||||||||terciopelo||||||||

Then the Portuguese loaded their ships with the treasures of Calicut, and, enriched with presents from the king, they sailed away for home. ||||||||||||obohaceni|||||||||| With a fair wind and under the guidance of pilots they soon reached Melinda again, sailed past Mozambique, past what we now know as Zanzibar, and rounded the dreaded Cape of Good Hope in fair weather. |||||||vedením|||||||||||||||||||||||||||| With shouts of joy they reached Lisbon, exactly two years and eight months after their departure.

The ships had been seen, and the king was waiting to receive Vasco da Gama and eager to hear his news. With his long beard—which had never been cut since he left Lisbon—the successful explorer stepped ashore, and kneeling low before his king he kissed his hand again and again, saying: "Sire, all my hardships have come to an end at this moment. " |||||||||||||||||en tierra|||||||||||||||||||||||||| The news spread far and wide, and great were the rejoicings throughout Portugal, and indeed throughout Europe. "Another road had been discovered to a country which, famed for its riches, had been the envy of Western nations from the earliest times—the dream of every youth of every age from the days of Solomon. |||||||||proslulý|||||||||||||||||||||||||||Šalomoun |||||||||famosa por||||||||||||||||||||||||||| "Un'altra strada era stata scoperta per raggiungere un Paese che, famoso per le sue ricchezze, era stato l'invidia delle nazioni occidentali fin dai tempi più antichi, il sogno di ogni giovane di ogni epoca fin dai tempi di Salomone. Did we say rejoicings everywhere in Europe? |||regocijos||| Abbiamo detto che in Europa si gioisce ovunque? There was one city that did not rejoice at this famous discovery, one city—proud, beautiful, rich—which seemed stunned by the news. |||||||||||||||||||ohromená||| C'era una città che non si rallegrava di questa famosa scoperta, una città orgogliosa, bella, ricca, che sembrava stordita dalla notizia.

"It is the worst news that ever arrived," they said sadly. "È la peggiore notizia che sia mai arrivata", dissero con tristezza. For Venice, amid her waste of waters, was ruined. Perché Venezia, in mezzo al suo spreco di acque, era rovinata. No longer "did she hold the gorgeous East in fee." |||||||||in possession of Non "teneva più in pugno lo splendido Oriente". Her traffic, her commerce had been taken from her. Il suo traffico, il suo commercio le erano stati sottratti. She had been the first city in Europe Era stata la prima città in Europa

"till the unwelcome tidings came That in the Tagus had arrived a fleet From India, from the regions of the sun, Fragrant with spices—that a way was found, A channel opened, and the golden stream Turn'd to enrich another. ||nepříjemné|zprávy||||||||||||||||||voňavý|||||||||||||||se obrátil||| |||nuevas noticias||||||||||||||||||fragante de especias|||||||||||||||se desvió||| "finché non giunse la sgradita notizia che nel Tago era arrivata una flotta dall'India, dalle regioni del sole, profumata di spezie: si trovò una via, si aprì un canale e il flusso d'oro si trasformò in un altro. "Пока не пришло нежелательное известие, что в Тежу прибыл флот из Индии, из солнечных краев, благоухающий пряностями, - тогда был найден путь, открыт канал, и золотой поток обратился, чтобы обогатить другой. Then she felt Her strength departing, and at last she fell, Fell in an instant, blotted out and razed. " |||||||||||||||vymazaná|||smazána |||||||||||||||erased or obscured|||completely destroyed |||||se desvanecía||||||||||borrada||| Poi sentì che le forze le venivano meno e infine cadde, cadde in un istante, cancellata e rasa al suolo. "