Читать книгу Notes and Queries, Number 12, January 19, 1850 - Various - Страница 3
NOTES
ON AUTHORS AND BOOKS, NO. 4
ОглавлениеVerse may picture the feelings of the author, or it may only picture his fancy. To assume the former position, is not always safe; and in two memorable instances a series of sonnets has been used to construct a baseless fabric of biography.
In the accompanying sonnet, there is no such uncertainty. It was communicated to me by John Adamson, Esq., M.R.S.L., &c., honourably known by a translation of the tragedy of Dona Ignez de Castro, from the Portuguese of Nicola Luiz, and by a Memoir of the life and writings of Camoens, &c. It was not intended for publication, but now appears, at my request.
Mr. Adamson, it should be stated, is a corresponding member of the Royal Academy of Sciences of Lisbon, and has received diplomas of the orders of Christ and the Tower-and-Sword. The coming storm alludes to the menace of invasion by France.
"SONNET
"O Portugal! whene'er I see thy name
What proud emotions rise within my breast!
To thee I owe—from thee derive that fame
Which here may linger when I lie at rest.
When as a youth I landed on thy shore,
How little did I think I e'er could be
Worthy the honours thou has giv'n to me;
And when the coming storm I did deplore,
Drove me far from thee by its hostile threat—
With feelings which can never be effaced,
I learn'd to commune with those writers old
Who had the deeds of they great chieftains told;
Departed bards in converse sweet I met,
I'd seen where they had liv'd—the land Camoens grac'd."
I venture to add the titles of two interesting volumes which have been printed subsequently to the publications of Lowndes and Martin. It may be a useful hint to students and collectors:—
"BIBLIOTHECA LUSITANA, or catalogue of books and tracts, relating to the history, literature, and poetry, of Portugal: forming part of the library of John Adamson, M.R.S.L. etc. Newcastle on Tyne, 1836. 8vo.
"LUSITANIA ILLUSTRATA; notices on the history, antiquities, literature, etc. of Portugal. Literary department. Part I. Selection of sonnets, with biographical Sketches of the author, by John Adamson, M.R.S.L. etc. Newcastle upon Tyne, 1842. 8vo."
BOLTON CORNEY.
