Note 166 — CHAP. II. HISTORY OF PORTUGUESE POETRY AND ELOQUENCE FROM THE EPOCH OF THE INTRODUCTION OF THE ITALIAN STYLE, TILL TOWARDS THE END OF THE SIXTEENTH CENTURY. (continued 2)

The translator who undertakes to produce a good version of the Lusiad, must, in the first place, adopt no other metre than that of the original, for on the structure of the verse the style of the poem materially depends. He must, moreover, diffuse over the whole composition a character equally natural and dignified, and, where mythological ornament is not introduced, perfectly simple. Finally, he must avoid all antiquated and uncommon turns of expression; for the language of Camoens is always elegant and modern.