line appears to have been suggested by De Barros, who says (Decada i. 1. iv. c. xi.), "Certo grave e piedosa cosa de ouvir, -ver huma naçaō, a que Deos deo tanto animo, que se tivera creado outros Mundos jà là tivera mettido outros Padrões de victorias." NOTE 9, PAGE 254. Contented sought no other sustenance Than the sweet fragrance of delicious flowers. Pliny alludes to this tradition.-Nat. Hist. lib. xii. NOTE 10, PAGE 260. Here, among other splendid cities, towers, Every thing that occurred at Calicut, between Vasco da Gama and the Samorim, is minutely described by Barros in his first Decade, and it appears to be from this source the poet has collected almost all the incidents, which are subsequently introduced into this Canto. Instead of unnecessarily augmenting the number of explanatory Notes, it may be sufficient to refer to this excellent and authentic Portugueze historian. In the compendious history of the Discovery of India, prefixed to Mr. Mickle's translation of the Lusiad, may also be found a statement of most of these incidents; and the Appendix to Dr. Robertson's Historical Disquisition concerning India, may be advantageously consulted on the points connected with the civil policy and religious institutions of the Indians. Vasco da Gama landed at Calicut on the 22d May, 1498-ten months and two days after his departure from Lisbon. NOTE 11, PAGE 264. The province, where In port your vessels ride, is Malabar. The description of this part of India, of its riches, products, manners, superstitions, government, commercial relations with other states, distribution of territory by Sarama Perimal, establishment of the supreme authority of the Samorim, or Emperor, and the nobility of the Nayres, which Camoens has given in the relation of Monsaidè to Vasco da Gama, is almost wholly taken from the Ninth Book of the Third Chapter in the first Decade of De Barros. NOTE 12, PAGE 266. Like Jews Of old, who people of Samaria Thus scornful shunn'd. Then saith the woman of Samaria unto him, How is it that thou, being a Jew, askest drink of me, which am a woman of Samaria? for the Jews have no dealings with the Samaritans. -John, ch. iv. v. 9. NOTE 13, PAGE 268. But this to them of old in Babel's tow'r Had been denied. Go to, let us go down, and there confound their language, that they may not understand one another's speech. Therefore is the name of it called Babel, because the Lord did there confound the language of all the earth.-Genesis, xi. 7. 9. NOTE 14, PAGE 269. There monsters stood among their deities— Camoens has sculptured, on the gates of the Indian temple, some of the monsters that presented themselves to Æneas, at the commencement of his descent into Acheron,-and he appears not to have forgotten the figures upon his shield. Multaque prætereà variarum monstra ferarum, Omnigenumque Deûm monstra, et latrator Anubis. Ib. 1. viii. 698. Barros has contributed but few materials for this poetical description. He merely states that, on the second day of their journey to the palace of the Samorim, they came to a spacious heathen temple, well constructed of stone, and covered with tiles, and that around the interior there were various images for the adoration of the natives. Some of the Portugueze, he says, believing, from tradition, that these Indians had been converted by St. Thomas, knelt before these images, conceiving them to be worthy of this religious homage. The natives, Barros observes, were much pleased with these marks of devotion, and the more so, as they had never seen it practised by the Moors.-Decade i. 1. iv. ch. viii. NOTE 15, PAGE 270. Proceeding with impatient steps they soon In which the royal palace was conceal'd. The description of the palace of the Samorim, and of the sculptured gates which closed the entrance to its site, can scarcely fail to remind the classical reader of Virgil's palace of Latinus in the Seventh Æneid. NOTE 16, PAGE 271. There sculptur'd stands The object of her base unbridled lust. Francisco de Sà de Miranda. Ecloga terceira. History has charged Semiramis with many very enormous crimes; but credulity has added to the number, by a literal acceptation of what was merely intended figuratively to describe the extent of her guilt. NOTE 17, PAGE 271. Immortal Greece, In rank third empire of the world. This is in conformity to the order in which an allusion is made to Greece in the first Canto, p. 9. NOTE 18, PAGE 272. Shortly will the time arrive, &c. The poet has interwoven, very dexterously, with this prophetic speech of the Catual a panegyric on the superior skill, valor, and excellence of the Portugueze, and a pious acknowledgment that the success of their arms is to be ascribed to the favoring aid of divine Providence. He pays a high compliment to his countrymen in making it even glorious for the natives of India to submit to them, and pointedly alludes to the historians (among whom Barros deserves the first place) by whom these conquests have been recorded. NOTE 19, PAGE 272. Conversing thus they enter'd the saloon, What passed at this interview is taken from the first Decade of Barros, and, with the exception of that poetic embellishment which is not only admissible, but indispensably requisite, is correctly narrated by Camoens.-Vide Decade i. 1. iv. ch. viii. NOTE 20, PAGE 277. They come from fam'd Iberia. Camoens omits no opportunity of extolling his country's fame. He here compels the Moor, Monsaidè, to do ample justice to the Portugueze nation. Their religion, their glorious deeds of arms in Spain and Africa, their unconquerable valor, their love of truth, their policy in peace and war, are all made the subjects of unqualified praise; and this is still more enhanced, as it proceeds from the lips of a Mahomedan, who may be supposed to be influenced by every motive of natural antipathy and religious prepossession to condemn, and not to praise. NOTE 21, PAGE 279. Art there Truly had pictur'd war's terrific scenes. A great part of this poem is composed of the long speech L L |