Thefeathersso，thattender，soft，andplain，Aboutthedove’ssmoothneckclosecouchedbeen，Doinonecolorneverlongremain，ButchangetheirhuegainstglimpseofPhoebus’sheen；
Andnowofrubiesbrightavermeilchain，Nowmakeacarknetrichofemeraldsgreen；
Nowmingleboth，nowalter，turnandchangeTothousandcolors，rich，pure，fair，andstrange。
VI
“Enterthisboat，youhappymen，“shesays，“WhereinthroughragingwavessecureIride，Towhichalltempest，storm，andwindobeys，Allburdenslight，benignisstreamandtide：
Mylord，thatrulesyourjourneysandyourways，Hathsentmehere，yourservantandyourguide。“
Thissaid，hershallopdroveshegainstthesand，Andanchorcastamidthesteadfastland。
VII
Theyenteredin，heranchorssheupwound，Andlaunchedforthtoseaherpinnaceflit，Spreadtothewindhersailsshebroadunbound，Andatthehelmsatdowntogovernit，SwelledthefloodthatallhisbankshedrownedTobearthegreatestshipofburthenfit；
Yetwasherfatiguelittle，swiftandlight，Thatathislowestebbbearithemight。
VIII
SwifterthanthoughtthefriendlywindforthboreTheslidingboatupontherollingwave，WithcurdedfoamandfroththebillowshoarAboutthecablemurmurroarandrave；
AtlasttheycamewhereallhiswaterystoreThefloodinonedeepchanneldidengrave，Andforthtogreedyseashisstreamshesent，Andsohiswaves，hisname，himselfhespent。
IX
ThewondrousboatscanttouchedthetroubledmainButalltheseastill，hushedandquietwas，Vanishedtheclouds，ceasedthewindandrain，Thetempeststhreatenedoverblowandpass，AgentlebreathingairmadeevenandplainTheazurefaceofheaven’ssmoothlooking-glass，AndheavenitselfsmiledfromtheskiesaboveWithacalmclearnessontheearthhislove。
X
ByAscalontheysailed，andforthdrived，Towardthewesttheirspeedycoursetheyframe，InsightofGazatillthebarkarrived，Alittleportwhenfirstittookthatname；
Butsince，byothers’losssowellitthrivedAcitygreatandrichthatitbecame，AndtheretheshoresandbordersofthelandTheyfoundasfullofarmedmenassand。
XI
Thepassengerstolandwardturnedtheirsight，Andtheresawpitchedmanyastatelytent，Soldierandfootman，captain，lordandknight，Betweentheshoreandcity，cameandwent：
Hugeelephants，strongcamels，courserslight，Withhornedhoofsthesandywaysoutrent，Andinthehavenmanyashipandboat，Withmightyanchorsfastened，swimandfloat；
XII
Somespreadtheirsails，somewithstrongoarssweepThewaterssmooth，andbrushthebuxomwave，Theirbreastsinsundercleavetheyieldingdeep，Thebrokenseasforangerfoamandrave，Whenthustheirguidebegan，“Sirknights，takekeepHowalltheseshoresarespreadwithsquadronsbraveAndtroopsofhardyknights，yetonthesesandsThemonarchscanthathgatheredhalfhisbands。
XIII
“OfEgyptonlythesetheforcesare，Andaidfromotherlandstheyhereattend，Fortwixtthenoon-daysunandmorningstar，Allrealmsathiscommanddobowandbend；
SothatItrustweshallreturnfromfar，Andbringourjourneylongtowishedend，BeforethiskingorhislieutenantshallThesearmiesbringtoZion’sconqueredwall。“
XIV
Whilethusshesaid，assoaringeaglesflyMongstotherbirdssecurelythroughtheair，Andmountingupbeholdwithwakefuleye，TheradiantbeamsofoldHyperion’shair，HergondolasopassedswiftlybyTwixtshipandship，withoutenfearorcareWhoshouldherfollow，trouble，stoporstay，Andforthtoseamadeluckyspeedandway。
XV
ThemselvesfornenstoldRaffia’stowntheyfand，AtownthatfirsttosailorsdothappearAstheyfromSyriapasstoEgyptland：
ThesterilecoastsofbarrenRhinocereTheypassed，andseaswhereCasiushilldothstandThatwithhistreeso’erspreadsthewatersnear，AgainstwhoserootsbreakeththebrackishwaveWhereJovehistemple，Pompeyhathhisgrave：
XVI
ThenDamiatanext，wheretheybeholdHowtotheseahistributeNiluspaysByhissevenmouthsrenownedinstoriesold，Andbyanhundredmoreignobleways：
TheypassthetownbuiltbytheGrecianbold，OfhimcalledAlexandriatillourdays，AndPharaoh’stowerandisleremovedofyoreFarfromtheland，nowjoinedtotheshore：
XVII
BothCreteandRhodestheyleftbynorthunseen，AndsailedalongthecoastsofAfriclands，Whoseseatownsfair，butrealmsmoreinwardbeenAllfullofmonstersandofdesertsands：
WithherfivecitiesthentheyleftCyrene，WherethatoldtempleoffalseHammonstands：
NextPtolemais，andthatsacredwoodWhencespringthesilentstreamsofLetheflood。
XVIII
ThegreaterSyrte，thatsailorsoftencastInperilgreatofdeathandlossextreme，Theycompassedroundabout，andsafelypassed，TheCapeJudecaandfloodMagra’sstream；
ThenTripoli，gainstwhichisMaltaplaced，Thatlowandhid，tolurkinseasdothseem：
ThelittleSyrtethen，andAlzerhesisle，WheredweltthefolkthatLotosateerewhile。
XIX
NextTunisonthecrookedshoretheyspied，Whosebayarockoneithersidedefends，Tunisalltownsinbeauty，wealthandprideAbove，asfarasLibya’sboundsextends；
Gainstwhich，fromfairSicilia’sfertileside，HisruggedfrontgreatLilybaeumbends。
ThedametherepointedoutwheresometimestoodRome’sstatelyrivalwhilom，Carthageproud；
XX
GreatCarthagelowinashescolddothlie，Herruinspoortheherbsinheightscantpass，Socitiesfall，soperishkingdomshigh，Theirprideandpomplieshidinsandandgrass：
Thenwhyshouldmortalmanrepinetodie，Whoselife，isair；breath，wind；andbody，glass？
FromthencetheseasnextBisert’swallstheycleft，AndfarSardiniaontheirrighthandleft。
XXI
Numidia’smightyplainstheycoastedthen，Wherewanderingshepherdsusedtheirflockstofeed，ThenBugiaandArgier，theinfamousdenOfpiratesfalse，Orantheyleftwithspeed，AllTingitantheyswiftlyoverren，Whereelephantsandangrylionsbreed，WherenowtherealmsofFezandMarocbe，GainstwhichGranada’sshoresandcoaststheysee。
XXII
Nowaretheythere，wherefirsttheseabrakeinBygreatAlcides’help，asstoriesfeign，TruemayitbethatwherethosefloodsbeginItwhilomwasafirmandsolidmainBeforetheseatherethroughdidpassagewinAndpartedAfricfromthelandofSpain，Abilahence，thenceCalpegreatupsprings，Suchpowerhathtimetochangethefaceofthings。
XXIII
FourtimesthesunhadspreadhismorningraySincefirstthedamelaunchedforthherwondrousbargeAndneveryettookportincreekorbay，Butfairlyforwardboretheknightshercharge；
Nowthroughthestraitherjollyshipmadeway，Andboldlysailedupontheoceanlarge；
Butiftheseainmidstofearthwasgreat，Ohwhatwasthis，whereinearthhathherseat？
XXIV
NowdeepengulphedinthemightyfloodTheysawnotGades，northemountainsnear，Fledwastheland，andtownsonlandthatstood，Heavencoveredsea，seaseemedtheheavenstobear。
“Atlast，fairlady，“quothUbaldogood，“Thatinthisendlessmaindostguideushere，Ifevermanbeforeheresailedtell，Orotherlandsherebewhereinmendwell。“
XXV
“GreatHercules，“quothshe，“whenhehadquailedThemonstersfierceinAfricandinSpain，Andallalongyourcoastsandcountriessailed，Yetdursthenotassaytheoceanmain，WithinhispillarswouldhehaveimpaledTheoverdaringwitofmankindvain，TillLordUlyssesdidthosebounderspass，Toseeandknowhesodesirouswas。
XXVI
“Hepassedthosepillars，andinopenwaveOfthebroadseafirsthisboldsailsuntwined，Butyetthegreedyoceanwashisgrave，Naughthelpedhimhisskillgainsttideandwind；
WithhimallwitnessofhisvoyagebraveLiesburiedthere，notruththereofwefind，Andtheywhomstormhathforcedthatwaysince，Aredrownedall，orunreturnedfromthence：
XXVII
“Sothatthismightyseaisyetunsought，Wherethousandislesandkingdomslieunknown，Notvoidofmenassomehavevainlythought，Butpeopledwell，andwonnedlikeyourown；
Thelandisfertileground，butscantwellwrought，Airwholesome，temperatesun，grassproudlygrown。“
“But，“quothUbaldo，“dame，IpraytheeteachOfthathidworld，whatbethelawsandspeech？“
XXVIII
“Asdiversebetheirnations，“answeredshe，“Theirtongues，theirrites，theirlawssodifferentare；
Somepraytobeasts，sometoastoneortree，Sometotheearth，thesun，ormorningstar；
Theirmeatsunwholesome，vile，andhatefulbe，Someeatman’sflesh，andcaptivesta’eninwar，AndallfromCalpe’smountainwestthatdwell，Infaithprofane，inlifearerudeandfell。“
XXIX
“ButwillourgraciousGod，“theknightreplied，“Thatwithhisbloodallsinfulmenhathbought，HistruthforeverandhisgospelhideFromallthoselands，asyetunknown，unsought？“
“Ohno，“quothshe，“hisnamebothfarandwideShalltherebeknown，alllearningthitherbrought，NorshalltheselongandtediouswaysforeverYourworldandtheirs，theirlands，yourkingdomssever。
XXX
“ThetimeshallcomethatsailorsshalldisdainTotalkorargueofAlcides’streat，Andlandsandseasthatnamelessyetremain，Shallwellbeknown，theirboundaries，siteandseat，Theshipsencompassshallthesolidmain，Asfarasseasoutstretchtheirwatersgreat，Andmeasurealltheworld，andwiththesunAboutthisearth，thisglobe，thiscompass，run。
XXXI
“AknightofGenesshallhavethehardimentUponthiswondrousvoyagefirsttowend，Norwindsnorwaves，thatshipsinsunderrent，Norseasunused，strangeclime，orpoolunkenned，NorotherperilnorastonishmentThatmakesfrailheartsofmentobowandbend，WithinAbilas’straitshallkeepandholdThenoblespiritofthissailorbold。