LORD STRANGFORD’S TRANSLATION OF CAMOENS. 
“(that of one of the queen's ladies). imposed an 
uniform restrainst on her lover, which seon 
became iptolerable. Like another Ovid, he 
violated the sanctity of the royal precincts, 
and was in consequence banished from the 
court. With the precise nature of his of- 
fence we are unacquainted, but it too proba- 
bly arose from a breach of discretion, the first 
and noblest amongst the laws of gallantry. 
Whatsoever it might have been, it furnished - 
a happy pretext to the lady’s relations, for 
terminating an intercourse. which worldly 
considerations rendered, on her part, of the 
highest imprudence. But Love prepared con- 
solation for’ his votary, where least he ex- 
ected it. On the morning of his departure, 
is mistress relented from her wonted Seve- 
rity, and confessed the secret of her long-con- 
cealed affection. The sighs of grief were 
soon lost in those of mutual delight, and the 
hour of parting was, perhaps, the sweetest of 
our poet’s existence. Fhus comforted, he 
removed to Santarem (the scene of his banish- 
ment) but speedily returned to Lisbon, again 
tasted of transport, was a second time de- 
tected, and a second time driven into exile. 
To such a spirit as Camoens, the inactivity 
of this situation must have proved insupport- 
able ; the voice of Love whispered a secret re- 
proach, and inspired him with the glorious 
resolution of conquering the obstacles which 
fortune had placed between him and felicity. 
He accordingly sought and obtained permis- 
sion to accompany King John III. in an ex- 
ition then concerted against the moors 
in Aftica, Here, whilst bravely fighting 
under the command of a near relation, he 
was deprived of his right eye, by some splin- 
ters from the deck of the veel in which he 
was stationed. Many of his most pathetic 
compositions were written during this cam- 
paign, and the toils of a martial life were 
sweetened by the recollection of her for whom 
they were endured. 
«His heroic- conduct in many engage- 
ments, at length purchased his recal to court. 
He hastened home, fraught with the most 
tener anticipations, and found—what must 
have been his feelings?—that his mistress 
was no more! : 
«« There can scarcely be conceived a more 
interesting theme for the visions of romance, 
than the death of this young and amiable be-, 
ing. The circumstances of her fate are pe- 
culiarly favourable to the exercise of conjec- 
ture. She loved, she was beloved, yet un- 
fortunate in her attachment, she was torn 
from the world at the early age of twenty ; 
and we cannot but adorn her grave with 
some of the wildest flowers which fancy pro- 
duces.” 
To this event the poet often alludes. 
One sonnet upon the subject is thus para- 
phrased in the present volume. ; 
When from my heart the hand of Fortune 
% tore M 
S71. 
Those smiling hopes that cheer'd mine* 
earlier day, 
Would that she too had kindly borne away” 
The sweetly sad remembrances of yore ! 
I should notsthen, as now, in tears deplore 
My buried bliss, and comfort’s fast decay ;. 
i 2 Love (on whom my vain dependance 
ay) 
Still ling'ring on delights that live no more, 
Kills all my peace—-whene'er the tyrant sees: 
My spirit taste a little hour of ease ! 
Fell star of fate! thou never canst employ 
A torment teeming with severer smart, 
*Than that which Memory pours upon the 
heart, > 
While clinging round the sepulchre of joy!" 
The character of Lord Strangford’s 
translations, when any originals actually 
exist, we shall elucidate hereafter. In: 
this place we will insert another sonnet, 
omitted by the noble writer, in which’ 
nothing has been added to the ideas, 
though something has certainly been lost 
in the expression, as must inevitably be 
the case where the beauty of the original 
consists in the sweet and simple expres- 
sion of a sweet and simple feeling. 
Meek spirit, who so early didst depart, 
Thou artat rest in heaven! [linger here 
And feed the lonely anguish of my heart, 
Thinking ofall that made existence dear. 
All lost! if in the happy world above, 
Remembrance of this mortal life endure, 
Thou wilt not there forget the perfect love 
Which still thou seest in me, O spirit pure! 
And if the irremediable grief, : 
The woe which never hopes en earth relief, 
May merit aught of thee, prefer thy prayer 
To God, who took thee early to his rest, 
That it may please him soon amid the blest 
To snmmon me, dear maid! to. meet thee 
there. a 
To most imaginations Camoens wilj 
never appear so interesting as when he is 
bewailing his first love. It is in these 
moments that he is most truly a poet. 
Shall we be excused for inserting ano- 
ther specimen of his natural manner ? 
Delightful fields, and thickets gay and green, 
Ye woods that shadow o’er the mountain's 
scene, : 
Ye rocks grotesque, ye fountains cold and 
clear, 
Who, as ye murmur down the sparkling stee 
Your coneord with the waving woodlands 
keep, Ravan s)s ; 
And send cial music to the traveller’s ear. 
O lovely scenes! unsatisfied my sight 
Dwells on your beauties now, your ancient 
shade, ; 
Clear fountains, gleaming through the open- 
ing glade, . 
Rocks. thickets, fields, and all 
; your green 
delight. css 
