Venus, having thus twice rescued her proteges from imminent death, now visits Olympus, and by the exercise of all her conquettish wiles obtains from Jupiter a promise to favor the Portuguese.  In accordance with this pledge, Mercury himself is despatched to guide the fleet safely to Melinda, whose harbor the Portuguese finally enter, decked with flags and accompanied by triumphant music.

  Now Gama’s bands the quiv’ring trumpet blow,
  Thick o’er the wave the crowding barges row,
  The Moorish flags the curling waters sweep,
  The Lusian mortars thunder o’er the deep;
  Again the fiery roar heaven’s concave tears,
  The Moors astonished stop their wounded ears;
  Again loud thunders rattle o’er the bay,
  And clouds of smoke wide-rolling blot the day;
  The captain’s barge the gen’rous king ascends,
  His arms the chief enfold, the captain bends
  (A rev’rence to the scepter’d grandeur due): 
  In silent awe the monarch’s wond’ring view
  Is fix’d on Vasco’s noble mien; the while
  His thoughts with wonder weigh the hero’s toil. 
  Esteem and friendship with his wonder rise,
  And free to Gama all his kingdom lies.[15]

Book III. As Vasco da Gama has solemnly vowed not to leave his ship until he can set foot upon Indian soil, he refuses to land at Melinda although cordially invited to do so by the native king.  Seeing the foreign commander will not come ashore, the king visits the Portuguese vessel, where he is sumptuously entertained and hears from Da Gama’s own lips an enthusiastic outline of the history of Portugal.  After touching upon events which occurred there in mythological ages, Vasco relates how Portugal, under Viriagus, resisted the Roman conquerors, and what a long conflict his country later sustained against the Moors.  He also explains by what means Portugal became an independent kingdom, and enthusiastically describes the patriotism of his countryman Egas Moniz, who, when his king was captured at the battle of Guimaraens, advised this prince to purchase his liberty by pledging himself to do homage to Castile.  But, his master once free, Egas Moniz bade him retract this promise, saying that, since he and his family were pledged for its execution, they would rather lose their lives than see Portugal subjected to Castile.

  “And now, O king,” the kneeling Egas cries,
  “Behold my perjured honor’s sacrifice: 
  If such mean victims can atone thine ire,
  Here let my wife, my babes, myself expire. 
  If gen’rous bosoms such revenge can take,
  Here let them perish for the father’s sake: 
  The guilty tongue, the guilty hands are these,
  Nor let a common death thy wrath appease;
  For us let all the rage of torture burn,
  But to my prince, thy son, in friendship turn.”

Touched by the patriotism and devotion of Moniz, the foe not only spared his life, but showered favors upon him and even allowed him to go home.