118 исторических миниатюр и 108 авторских текстов на 13 иностранных языках. Сборник (СИ)

Well, not! The Portuguese this prospect "did not smile"!

In 1487, the Portuguese king sent through Egypt and Palestine the unofficial representative who reached the Lands of Spices. This representative investigated the geographical conditions by personal inspections and inquiries of seasoned people, merchants. The representative sent to Portugal a confirmation of the reality of the principal plan: circumnavigating Africa, to reach the caravels from the coast of Africa through the Indian Ocean to the Lands of Spices.

Bartolomeu Diash went on an expedition in 1487. He rounded the southern tip of Africa, discovered the Cape of Storms (Cape of Good Hope). He understood that he had a chance to get to the Land of Spices. But the participants of the expedition, fearing death, collectively forced him to turn back to his homeland. Ostensibly Bartolomeu Diash composed a document signed by all the participants of the expedition, where it was said about the need to return. This document was submitted to the King.

Expedition Bartolomeu Diash returned from the voyage. And Portuguese sailors already in 1488 learned that Africa can be circumambulated, that the Land of Spices is within reach.

July 8, 1497, a squadron of Vasco da Gama entered the sea. Knowing about the opening of the Bartolomeu Dias, Vasco da Gama to the demands of the participants of the expedition on the return responded: "setting off from Lisbon, I vowed not to turn back. Everyone who hints about this, I'll throw it overboard."

Trade exchange with Africans in the Bay of Mossel Bay passed safely.

Both Africans and Portuguese were pleased.

Africans decided to celebrate the successful sale of music and dancing - right on the beach.

They began to play on several flutes. Some issued high notes, others - low. A beautiful harmony was created. And the locals danced to the sound of flutes.

Inspiring memories, upcoming wins, a clear fresh day, a ray of the sun shining through the clouds - all this brought Vasco da Gama into a particularly good mood. Looking at the dancing Africans, he smiled. The face of this man, who had recently mercilessly suppressed rebellions in the squadron, seemed to be lit up.

The sailors were astonished: this resolute, grim, cruel man smiles!

His good mood passed to the team.

The sailors lined up, the squadron commander ordered the trumpeters to play. The words of the ancient song of the Portuguese sailors were heard, the sailor's dance began.

Suddenly, Vasco da Gama realized what else was - so far - the future: he and the sailors - the Portuguese sailors - opened the sea route around Africa to the Lands of Spices .

For a moment his personality and their personalities were freed from the grave concerns of the past and the future.

There were jocular words of a sailor's song about the eyes of a girlfriend: black and infidels.

Under the sounds of the song, the sailors danced an old beloved dance. Danced with a growing tempo acceleration. At first, slowly, with squats and bows, and then all the faster. Together with the sailors Vasco da Gama danced.

During the dance was forgotten and riots, and difficult to overcome hierarchical distance, that separated sailors from the captain.

With the dancing sailors and with their caravels, a magical transformation took place.

Of people who survived for centuries at the limit of opportunities, they turned into free people - within the limits of the opportunities provided that era and that civilization.

They, their dance, their Caravels drifted into eternity. They and their Portugal has become the eternal part of the history of the world.

With each step of their dance, civilization changed mystically. But - by the will of Destiny had been changed not with difficulty, not with flour, moaning, crying and tears, but with a cheerful rhythmic accelerating dance.

Vasco da Gama and the sailors danced a rhythmic dance, and the wind carried over the ocean the sounds of music, the words of the song.

Ahead were geographic discoveries, diplomacy, battles, the horrors of ruthlessness, torment, moans, tears, sickness, commerce, sea trips, rewards and appointments ...

Now there was a dance. Understanding of luck ...

Eternal dance of winners. Stubborn, fortunate, knowledgeable sailors. Eternal sounds of music, rushing over the ocean.

April 2, 2017 - April 06, 2017.

This translation: 01.09.2017 18:45 Владимир Владимирович Залесский "Сказка о танце Васко да Гамы".

XV. O Conto da Dança Vasco da Gama

Предисловие к экспериментальному переводу на португальский язык.