The Lusiad; Or, The Discovery of India, an Epic Poem

Editor of "Cory's Ancient Fragments," "The Principia Hebraica," etc., etc. LONDON: GEORGE BELL AND SONS, YORK STREET, COVENT GARDEN. 1877. {iv} "As the mirror of a heart so full of love, courage, generosity, and patriotism as that of Camoëns, The Lusaid can never fail to please us, whatever place we may assign to it in the records of poetical genius."— Hallam. {v} Editor's Preface. The Life Of Camoëns, By William Julius Mickle. Dissertation on The Lusiad, and on Epic Poetry, By The Translator. Mickle's Introduction to The Lusiad. Mickle's Sketch of The History of The Discovery Of India. Contents. The Lusiad. Dissertation on The Fiction of The Island of Venus. Footnotes [ORIGINAL DEDICATION, 1776.] TO THE DUKE OF BUCCLEUGH. My Lord, The first idea of offering my Lusiad to some distinguished personage, inspired the earnest wish, that it might be accepted by the illustrious representative of that family under which my father, for many years, discharged the duties of a clergyman. Both the late Duke of Buccleugh , and the Earl of Dalkeith , distinguished him by particular marks of their favour; and I must have forgotten him, if I could have wished to offer the first Dedication of my literary labours to any other than the Duke of Buccleugh . I am, with the greatest respect, My Lord, Your Grace's most devoted And most obedient humble servant, WILLIAM JULIUS MICKLE. {vi} {vii} EDITOR'S PREFACE. In undertaking, at the publishers' request, the function of editor of Mickle's Lusiad, I have compared the translation with the original, and, in some places, where another translation seemed preferable to, or more literal than, Mickle's, I have, in addition, given that rendering in a foot-note. Moreover, I have supplied the arguments to the several cantos, given a few more explanatory notes, and added a table of contents. "The late ingenious translator of the Lusiad," says Lord Strangford, [1] "has portrayed the character, and narrated the misfortunes of our poet, in a manner more honourable to his feelings as a man than to his accuracy in point of biographical detail. It is with diffidence that the present writer essays to correct his errors; but, as the real circumstances of the life of Camoëns are mostly to be found in his own minor compositions, with which Mr. Mickle was unacquainted, he trusts that certain information will atone for his presumption." As Lord Strangford professes to have…