Note 398 — CHAP. II. HISTORY OF PORTUGUESE POETRY DURING THIS PERIOD.
Thomasina Ross translation
These translations are anonymously printed, and have never been regularly published. The design with which they are written, renders them, however, the more deserving of being known, since, according to the express declaration of the author, their object is,—“to counteract the too great predilection of the Portuguese nation for languishing pastoral poetry.” The commencement of the translation of Alexander’s Feast, shall now close the poetic portion of this selection of Portuguese extracts:—
Era a festa Real, que ao bellicozo Macedonio, da Persia glorioso Vencedor acclamava. Excelso o Eroe brilhava No solio majestozo. Valentes Pares seus o rodeavaõ Que de rosas e murta a frente ornavaõ (Como ao valor compete se croavaõ.) Thais mostrava ao regio lado airoza, Qual outra oriental florente esposa, Juventude e beldade radioza. Feliz, feliz donzella! Ninguem, se naõ o Eroe, Ninguem, se naõ o Eroe, Ninguem, se naõ o Eroe merece a bella.