570 
ford has practised is perfectly the reverse 
of that of which we have convicted Mr. 
Peter Bayley, junior, Instead of pilfer- 
ing the. reputation of another, Lord 
Surangford has been increasing it: he 
has imputed his own merits to Camoens, 
«« The late ingenious translator of the Lu- 
siad has pourtrayed the character, and nar-~ 
rated the misfortunes of our poct, in a man- 
ner more honourable to his feelings asa man, 
than to his accuracy in point of biographical 
detail. Itis with diffidence that the preseng 
writeressays to correct his errors ; but asthe 
real circumstances of the life of Camoens are 
mostly to be found in his own minor com- 
positions, with which Mr. Mickle was unac- 
quainted, he trusts that certain information 
will atone for his presumption.” 
It does not, however, appear that 
any inaccuracies have been detected in 
Mickle’s account. Enough has been 
added to elucidate, in some degree, the 
character of the poet, and still more that 
of his present biographer. 
«* The family of Camoens was illustrious, 
and originally Spanish. They were long set- 
tled at Cadmon, a castle in Galicia, from 
which they probably derived their patronymic 
appellation. However, there are some who 
maintain that their name alluded to a certain 
wonderful bird,+ whose mischievous saga- 
city discovered and punished the smallest de- 
viation from conjugal fidelity. A lady of the 
house of Cadmon, whose conduct had been 
rather indiscreet, demanded to be tried by 
this extraordinary judge. Her innocence was 
roved, and in gratitude to the being who 
a restored him to matrimonial felicity, the 
contented husband adopted his name.” 
Of Vasco Pires de Camoens, Alcayde 
of Alamquer, the ancestor of the poet, 
some anecdotes might have been found 
in history, little to his honour. He is 
_ accused of having accepted a commis- 
sion to assassinate the master of Ovis, 
afterwards Joam I. at Atouguia, and it is 
certain, that after he had capitulated with 
that prince upon honourable terms, he 
engaged in a conspiracy against his life, 
in resentment, because certain favours 
had been refused to his solicitations. 
Lord Strangford having stated that 
«©* The Camas. Our poet himself gives a somewhat different account of the matter. 
(Quinitil. a huma dama, v. 190.) Formerly, every well regulated family in Spain retained 
one of these terrible attendants. The infidelity of its mistress was the only circumstance 
which could deprive it of life. Should her guilt haye been-extended to any degree bevand 
a wish, the faivhfal bird immediately betrayed it, by expiring at the feet of its injured 
It soon was difficult to find 2 Camao that had lived in the same family during three genera 
tions ; and at length the species.became entirely extinct! — ; ¢ abe 
«‘This odious distrust of female honour is ever characteristic of a barbarous age. The 
Camai of Spain, and the .Wdibo of Africa, are expedients indicative of equal refinement.” 
POETRY. - 2:: 4 
the poet was born at Lisbon, observes 
that the place of his nativity is ascertain: | 
ed by his frequent application of the epi- | 
thet paternal to-the ‘Tagus. There is no 
reason to doubt the fact, because it is cers 
tain that his. parents were Lisboners; but 
no such inference can be deduced from 
his calling the Tagus paternal. The epi- 
thet would have been equally applicable 
had he been born at Santarem, Salva- 
terra, Abrantes, or any village upon the 
course of theriver, 
** During the pertod which he passed at 
the university, he was an utter stranger ta 
that passion, with which he afterwards be~ 
came so intimately acquainted. It is even re- 
corded, that while the manly graces of his 
person inspired many of the better sex with 
admiration, he treated his fair captives with 
disdain, or at most, as the mere objects of 
temporary transport. 
««But the scene was soon to, be changed, 
and on his arrival at Lisbon, he was destined 
to feel the full vengeance of that god whose, 
power he had contemned. Love is very 
nearly allied to devotion, and it was in the 
exercise of the latter that Camoens was intro- 
duced to the knowledge of the former. In, 
the church of § Christ’s Wounds,’ at Lisbon, 
on the t1th of April, 1542, he first beheld 
Dona Caterina de Ataide, the object of his, 
purest and earliest attachment. The churches, 
of Spain and Portugal, says Scarron, are the, 
very cradles of intrigue; and it was not long 
before Camoens enjoyed an opportunity of 
declaring his affection, with all the romantic 
ardour of eighteen, and of a poet. 
«« But, in those days, love was a state of 
no trifling probation, and ladies then uncon- 
scionably expected a period of almost chival- 
rous servitude, which, happily for gentlemen, 
is no Jonger required. ‘The punctilious seve- 
rity of his mistress formed the subject of our 
poet’s most tender complaints ; fer, though, 
her heart had secretly decided in his favour, 
still Portuguese delicacy suppressed al! avowal 
of her passion. After many months of ado- 
ration, when he humbly besought a ringlet 
of her hair, she was so far softened by his en- 
treaties, as to make a compromise with pru- 
dery, and bestow one of the silken fillets 
which eacircled her head ! These anecdotes 
must not be despised, for they mark the tem-. 
per of the times. 
‘¢ The peculiar situation of Dona Caterina 
ord. 
