From every lock the crystal drops distil,
And bathe their limbs, as in a trickling rill;
Gay wreaths of flowers, of fruitage and of boughs,
(Nameless in Europe), crown'd their furrow'd brows.

_Book V._ Such was the enthusiasm caused by this vision that many
mariners dedicated their lives to the discovery of this road to India.
Among these Gama modestly claims his rank, declaring that, when he
called for volunteers to accompany him, more men than he could take
were ready to follow him. [History reports, however, that, such was
the terror inspired by a voyage in unknown seas, Vasco da Gama had to
empty the prisons to secure a crew!] Then the narrator added he
had--as was customary--taken ten prisoners with him, whose death
sentence was to be commuted provided they faithfully carried out any
difficult task he appointed.

After describing his parting with his father, Vasco da Gama relates
how they sailed past Mauritania and Madeira, crossed the line, and
losing sight of the polar star took the southern cross as their guide.

"O'er the wild waves, as southward thus we stray,
Our port unknown, unknown the wat'ry way,
Each night we see, impress'd with solemn awe,
Our guiding stars and native skies withdraw,
In the wide void we lose their cheering beams,
Lower and lower still the pole-star gleams.

* * * * *

"Another pole-star rises o'er the wave: