British explorer, army officer, writer and scholar (1821–1890)
Sir Richard Francis Burton (19 March 1821 – 20 October 1890) was a British consul, explorer, translator, writer, poet, Orientalist and swordsman known for his often-unprecedented exploits of travel and exploration as well as his extraordinary knowledge of languages and cultures.
From: Wikiquote (CC BY-SA 4.0)
Alternative Names:
Sir Richard Burton
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Richard F. Burton
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Sir Richard Francis Burton
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Richard Burton
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Captain Sir Richard Francis Burton
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R. F. Burton
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Mombasah-city, with her brave array
of sumptuous palace, proudest edifice,
defaced, deformed by fire and steel shall pay
in kind the tale of byegone malefice.
Thence on those Indian shores which proud display
their hostile fleets, and warlike artifice
'gainst the Lusians, with his sail and oar
shall young Lourenço work th' extremes of war.
What mighty vessels Sam'orim's orders own
covering Ocean, with his iron hail
poured from hot copper-tube in thunder-tone
all shall he shatter, rudder, mast and sail;
then with his grapples boldly, deftly thrown,
the hostile Ammiral he shall assail,
board her, and only with the lance and sword
shall slay four hecatombs of Moors abhor'd.
But God's prevision 'scaping human sight,
alone who knows what good best serves His end,
shall place the Hero where ne toil ne might
his lost young life availeth to forfend.
In Cháúl-bay, where fierce and furious fight
with fire and steel shall fervid seas offend,
th' Infidel so shall deal that end his days
where Egypt's navy doth conjoin Cambay's.
There shall the pow'er of man'ifold enemies, — for only stronger force strong force can tire, — and Winds defaulting and fierce injuries
of Ocean, 'gainst a single life conspire :
Here let all olden men from death arise
to see his Valour, catch his noble fire :
A second Scæva see who, hackt and torn,
laughs at surrender, quarter holds in scorn.
With the fierce torture of a mangled thigh,
torn off by bullet which at random past,
his stalwart arms he ceaseth not to ply,
that fiery Spirit flaming to the last :
Until another ball clean cuts the tie
so frail that linkèd Soul and Body fast ; — the Soul which loosed from her prison fleets
whither the prize eterne such Conqueror greets.
Go, Soul! to Peace from Warfare turbulent
wherein thou meritedst sweet Peace serene !
for those torn tortured limbs, that life so rent
who gave thee life prepareth vengeance keen :
I hear een now the furious storm ferment,
threating the terrible eternal teen,
of Chamber, Basi
Nor shall they silent in my song remain,
they who in regions there where Dawns arise,
by Acts of Arms such glories toil'd to gain,
where thine unvanquisht flag for ever flies,
Pacheco, brave of braves; th' Almeidas twain,
whom Tagus mourns with ever-weeping eyes ;
dread Albuquerque, Castro stark and brave,
with more, the victors of the very grave.
"After which we left the Mosque, and I was under the "fatal necessity" of paying a dollar for the honour of entering it. But the guardian promised that the chapters Y.S. and Al-Ikhlas should be recited for my benefit, the latter forty times; and if their efficacy be one-twentieth part of what men say it is, the reader cannot quote against me a certain popular proverb concerning an order of men easily parted from their money."