Camoens: Poet And Warrior.

poetry—that he was as gentle-souled and noble-minded a man as ever lived . His poems were his greatest wealth , and Avben be landed at Goa , tbe place that his great hero Gama bad visited during his first voyage , be continued his magnificent poem "The Lusiad , " or , as he himself called it , " Os Luisacbis " ( Tbe Lusitanians ) , Lusitania being , as our readers are aware , tbe ancient name of Portugal .

Rich , however , as he was in rjoetic ideas and temperament , bis muse Avas also the source of all his poverty , for he satirized the proceedings of certain governors who were fast bringing the Portuguese name into contempt , and thus made himself obnoxious to the authorities , who expelled htm from the town . He went to Macao ancl chvelt there some time , having received an appointment as Commissaryancl here be bestowed much time upon his great

, poem , until a new Viceroy having been made be was recalled to Goa . Joyfully lie collected together his manuscripts ancl the little competency he bad amassed during bis residence at Macao , ancl once more trusted his life and fortune to the treacherous Avaves . These did not belie their character , for disaster again followed the track of Portugal's SAveetest singer , and he Avas sbipAvrecked on the coast of China . Having to abandon bis money , be had to

swim for his life with his A'aluable manuscript fastened about his waist . His success in reaching the coast saved to tbe world an immortal epic , but the young poet found himself friendless ancl alone upon an unknown shore . Eventually he reached Macao again , where he suffered a long ancl most unjust imprisonment . Charges were trumped up against bim , but he was never brought forth to face bis accusers , till at length people began to be ashamed

of having so eminent a scholar ancl so great a genius shut up in a prison , ancl an agitation for bis release was crowned with success . At length , after sixteen years of exile , Camoens returned to his native land , as poor in pocket as when he left it , but rich in his unalterable loA'e ancl devotion to bis country , which neither exile , Avant , penury , or neglect could ever shake . In return for ber immense ingratitude , he presented to her a gem of inestimable value , nothing less than bis own deathless soul embosomed in a work which will last while tbe ages run .

Such was the man Avhose remains were the other day conveyed Avith much pomp and state , three hundred years after his demise , up the Tagus to tbe hitherto ungrateful city—to Lisbon , the scene of bis birth , of his romantic love , of his exile , and his shameful death . True , a late repentance is better than none at all , and Portugal has now removed from her noble escutcheon the stain which had defaced it for tliree centuries past . Camoenswe are glad to say , liA'ed to see his great work printedand even we

, , are told , Avas honoured (?) Avitb a pension from the king of about four pounds per annum ! But even this pittance Avas after a time withdrawn , and ( oh , that we should bave to write it !) one of tbe greatest poets that the world has produced was ultimately compelled to beg for his bread in the streets of Lisbon ! Surely , tbe proud city should have put on sackcloth and ashes on the 8 th June , instead of dancing about after triumphal cars , and making a saturnalia

of what ought to bave been a deeply solemn occasion ! However , the ways of the Portuguese are not as our ways , though we feel as much pride in their one poet as if be bad been a countryman of our own . " I am ending my life , and the world will soon know how much I have loA'ed my country ! " ( Em fim accaberei a vida e verrain todos que fui a fecioada a rniiiha patria !) So said Camoens , as be lay dying in the mean Lisbon

almshouse into which he had crept to breathe bis last . Tbe world does know for after ages bave given immortality to bis name , and have placed it in that hio-h . niche of fame , from which neither slander or neglect can cast it down . Such is the brief record of the poet and warrior whose bones have been , at length , honoured with the sepulchre tbey deserved , and in honourino- Avhom Portugal has not only honoured herself but has deserved well of the civilized world .