Camoens: Poet And Warrior.

and career . The forefathers of tho poet can bo traced back to the year 1370 Avhen Dom Henry II . reigned in Castillo , and his family was undoubtedly of good birth and extraction . Three toAvns claim the honour of being the birthplace of Camoens , A iz ., Lisbon , Coimbra , and Santarem , but it is generally supposed that he was born at Lisbon about the year 1524 , the same year in which , it is believed , the great discoverer Vasco da Gama died .

HoAvever this may be , it is notorious that Camoens receiA'cd bis early education in the capital , though be afterwards studied at Coimbra University , then newly founded by Dom John III ., or rather transferred to that city from Lisbon . He appears to have possessed great poetic talent at an early age , ancl was a great favourite Avitb the ladies , bis personal appearance being at that time very much in bis favour . His hair is said to have been of a liht yellow tingelike

g , Tasso ' s , a remarkable incident when we come to remember that both poets belonged to a SAvarthy race of people . At the time tbe poet Avas born tbe world Avas ringing -with the fame of Vasco da Gama and his great discoveries . It was onl y a few years previously that the rich land of India was a terra incognita , when suddenly it was opened up to the world by tbe untiring energy ancl perseverance of Vasco da Gama

ancl his brave followers ; and to many persons tbe East became instantly peopled Avitb all that Avas marvellous and magnificent . It is not to be wondered at , therefore , that Camoens should exercise his poetic genius in describing the glories and deeds of the great discoverer , but surely no poet in any age ever composed a great epic under such terrible misfortunes ancl disadvantages as attended the author of the " Lusiad . "

As a matter of course to a young poet , Camoens fell in love at an early age , but he bad the misfortune to lose bis heart to a lady of tbe Court , ancl all assignations within the precincts of the palace being at that period absolutely prohibited , be incurred the displeasure of his sovereign by a A'iolation of the court rules . For this daring offence be Avas exiled from Lisbon , and be Avas left to console bis SOITOAV by Avriting sonnets to his lady-love—the fair Catoi'ina . These little poems are amongst the SAveetest of their kind that have ever been Avritten in any language .

At length bis ardent spirit could withstand the pains and penalties of exile no longer , and be joined the army as a volunteer in a campaign against the Moors in Africa . On the voyage thither the young poet and hero lost bis eye in a naval battle , but quickly rocoA'ering from this injury , be rejoined the forces , and gained a great reputation for bravery . It was with a heart beating wildly Avi tli love ancl pride that the young hero returned to Lisbonwhere he hoped to find in tbe arms of bis Caterina beautiful

, a solace and recompense for all he bad undergone . Alas , for human hopes ' ! The lady of his heart had died before attaining the age of twenty-one , ancl to crown all bis disappointments be found himself very cool y received at the Court , owinp ' it Avas said , to the disfigurement caused in his appearance by tbe loss of his eye . His sorrow at tbe death of tbe being Avho had been prominent in all his thoughtsand bis great love for whom bad guided all bis actionsfound its full

, , and sweet expression in a beautiful sonnet in Avhich be describes ber as having turned to "A little cold and loveless clay . " Camoens loved bis country with an undying affection , which even his anger at tbe scurvy treatment be received on bis return from the Moorish campaign could not extinguish or even diminish . He , however , turned bis back upon the ungrateful city once more , setting sail from the Tagns , and as bo stood on

the poop of tbe vessel which carried him suvay from the shores of Portugal , he exclaimed in the bitterness of his heart , " Ingrata patria ! non possidetis ossa mea . " ( Ungrateful country ! my bones shall not be thine ) . On bis way to Goa the other vessels which accompanied bis foundered in a storm , so it may be said that sorrow ancl disaster dogged his steps wherever be went . Ancl yet it is on record—aye ! and breathes in every verse of his