The morning star and Catholic messenger. [volume] (New Orleans [La.]) 1868-1881, 1872-01-21
Louis do Ca,nosns.

proQuCe0 tue 4uoNS:. toC AnVss AuOAU SUI |
transparent Of all the poems Of antiquity"
Though composed under numerous disad-
vantaRes, and 1t Q time when literature |
was in its infancy, Homer In his great work
still remains unTivaled and for vigorous
conception and originality Of idea, and 9
most happy combination Of strength and
passed. The construction Of the gigantic
fabric Of epic poetry, thus auspsciously
was destined for many Gem
turtles to remain without the slightest adj
dition.
ti1ued to produce tragedians without NUM-
whosc eiYusions arb read to-day with de-
light. Still the germ Of epic poetry seemed
d have been nippcd In the bud, and for q
time Homer's production was the only one
of Ms0lass alone and without composition.
Alter centuries chad rolled lon In their cease
spirit of patriotism and desire to perna-
neatly secure his fame, produced his de-
serycialy celebrated "Eneid." Though en-
jcyipe life Of comparative ease and tram
mvNity. stropgly contrasted to the stormy
career Of Homer, and though literature in
his time had attained tts golden age. still
Virgil in this, his greatest work, 10 vastly
Thus It seemed that the epic, even In the
few attempts already made, was gradually
iosinR those exalted qualities which char
.acterized the first production.
First, We may say, among the moderns
the production of the 81 Lusiad," succeeded
in establishing for himself fame as lasting
az the world Of letters itself.
He was descended from family origin
ally Spanish, but who, some centuries be-
fore the birth of the poet, actuated by
political motives, and desirous Of escaping
from the Court of Madrid, emigrated to
Portugal, and settled in the then powerful
and fourisbiug city of Lisbon. Being of a
prominent and wealthy family, Ferdinand,
King of Portugal at the time, patronized
Vasco Perez de Caamans, or Camoens, and
bestowed on him numerous iavors to enable
him to support his exalted dignity.
On the death of Ferdinand, the family of
Camoens espoused the cause of his widow,
and though failing to secure for her the
crown of Portugal, still the usurper, ad-
D,iring their maenanimity, confirmed them
in most of their possessions. For several
centuries they had gradually descended
from the lofty station they had formerly
occupied; their immense wealth became
less in course of time, until at tho birth of
Camoens they occupied but a respectable
position in private circles.
Louis de Camoens was born at Lisbon
but this honor has been disputed by several
other places. There 10 no less controversy
about the precise year of birth, which, ac-
cording to come, was 1917, while most bio
graphers suppose it to be 1924. In his in
fancy, his father, Simon Vas de Camoens,
commander of - vessel, was shipwrecked
at Goa, and lost, with his life, the greater
part of his fortune.
The poets misfortuues, thus inauspi-
ciously begun, chung tenaciously to him In
after life, and the early lOss of his father
but foresbadowed in u slight degree the
course of constant misery that eventually
characterized his career. His mother, how
ever, was enabled, by dint Of frugality, to
place him in the famous University of Co.
imbra, where, Notwithstanding Voltaire's
raeh assertion that his youth was spent in
idleness, it appears from his works that he
must have acquired the substance as well as
caught the spirit of classical learning. Ca
moens now exchanged the sombre univer-
city for the pleasures Of the court, o sphere
for which he was well adapted, from tho
fact that he possessed in no small degree
the acceptable qualities of thorough scho-
lar and an accomplished gentleman. Yet
he was not free from that levity which
constitutes no uncomfortable portion of
the Castilian character; and, following the
fashion Of the times, he rashly formed an
intrigue, in consequence of which he in
Cured the royal displeasure, and was ban
lshed from court.
Some time after he retired to Sautarem,
where numerous relations of his mother
resided, and there, immersed in solitude,
he commenced the +" Lusiad n-the work
afterward destined to immortalize his name.
Camoens soon became tired of an inact-
Ave and obscure life. To be at once q hero
AID poet was HE ambition. He Joined an
expedition which was then fitting ont
against the Moors. During the campaign
that ensued, he distinguished himself BY
his ready valor, which on many occasions
degenerated i.tO rashness, and in q naval
engagement with the MoOrs, in the Straits
Of Gibraltar, he had the misfortune to lose
his right eye. The fame of his achieve
ments soon reached the Portuguese court,
AUD being allowed TO return, he occc more