Аннотация: The Tale of the dance of Vasco da Gama. Series 2
The Tale of the dance of Vasco da Gama. Series 2
The day of December 2, 1497 was excellent. Portuguese caravels, heading from Lisbon to the Lands of Spices, stood in the South African Bay, which has the modern name Mossel Bay.
The Portuguese caravels, battered by storms, but showed naval power. Team, gained experience, reduced to obedience. Fearless, skillful soldiers.
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 the duty sailor gave a signal. The ship under an unknown flag came into the Bay. The unknown ship anchored in the Bay. The boat departed from the ship.
After a while several people in unfamiliar clothes rose aboard Vasco da Gama's ship.
Despite their strange appearance, it was clear that they were Europeans.
Among the participants of the expedition of Vasco da Gama were German merchants. Merchants were able to talk with strangers. It turned out that this ship is from Russia under the command of captain Yuri Lisyansky (Lisianski).
The politeness is the politeness. Vasco da Gama invited Lisyansky in the cabin and treated with the available drinks. The German merchant translated.
Lisyansky expressed admiration of dance of the Portuguese sailors.
- In 1453 Constantinople fell! - Vasco da Gama explained. - The Pope then called on to read a special prayer ... We, Portuguese, took a number of measures ... And today I realized what else is - so far - the future: I and sailors - the Portuguese seamen - opened the sea route around Africa to the Lands of Spices.
As a courtesy Vasco da Gama asked the mood and business of the guest:
- We float from Alaska. Came into the Chinese port. A great storm brought us here, into this Bay. On the way we came on islands where the captain Cook was killed. We demanded from inhabitants of the island to make careful investigation, to establish guilty persons, to create the joint commission with participation of representatives of the injured party, to inform the world community about the results.
Vasco da Gama,without saying a word, looked at Lisyansky.
"Strange look", - Lisyansky thought. - "Vasco da Gama's ships are equipped is not so modern as ours. And they dance. Why don't we float to Great Britain without stops. Let's try to repeat Drake's "flight"".
Suddenly Vasco da Gama broke the silence and pronounced several words.
"Your sailors do not dance", - the German merchant translated.
Lisyansky did not understand intonation of a phrase. What is it? Question? Reflection aloud?
"What to answer?" - Lisyansky thought. He said:
- We create a seaworthy traditions.
Lisyansky politely said goodbye. Thanked for reception, wished a successful way.
Vasco da Gama went some steps with Lisyansky and wished him successful completion of the ocean march.
Lisyansky came back to the ship.
Under song sounds the Portuguese seamen danced ancient favourite dance.
To the dancing seamen and to their caravel there was a magic transformation.
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.
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 ...
"Well..." - Lisyansky philosophically thought. - "Everyone has their own ships and their own routes." "Own luck and own difficulties."
Ahead the captain Lisyansky and his team had a record non-stop floating to Europe.
October 16, 2018 20:23.
Translation from Russian into English: October 16, 2018 21:15.
Владимир Владимирович Залесский 'Сказка о танце Васко да Гамы. Серия 2'.