acquitted. His services to his
country were soon forgotten, his merits were no longer thought of, and
the unfortunate Pacheco ended his days in an alms-house--a circumstance
referred to in the Lusiad, bk. x. p. 305.

CONTENTS.

BOOK I.
PAGE
Subject proposed 1, 2
Invocation to the Muses of the Tagus 3
Address to Don Sebastian 3, 4
Assembly of the gods and goddesses 8
The fleet enters the Indian Ocean 13
Discovers islands there 13
Description of the natives 14
Intercourse with the ships 15, 16
The governor visits Gama 17, 18
Bacchus determines on obstructing the fleet 20
His stratagem for that purpose 21
Attack by the Portuguese on landing to obtain water 23
Bombardment of the town 24, 25
Another plot of Bacchus 26, 27
The poet's reflections 29

BOOK II.

Treacherous invitation from the King of Mombas for the fleet
to enter the harbour 31
Messengers sent on shore by Gama to look at the town 32, 33
Venus and the Nereids save the fleet from danger 35, 36
Venus appeals to Jupiter on behalf of the expedition 40
His reply 43
Mercury sent to earth 46
His message to Gama in a dream 47
How the vessels escaped 49
They meet two Moorish ships 49
Their account of Melinda and its king 50
Hospitable reception by the King of Melinda 51
Gama's address 52
The king's reply 53, 54
Night rejoicings in the ships and on shore 54, 55
Visit of the king to the fleet 55
Gama's speech 57
The king requests Gama to