The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1856-1888, 1875-01-02

attuned to the u,terance of noble story. The
beroism and grandeur OF his native lands rise up
out Of the ashes Of his hearts consuming fires.
The loss to him of his lover, is the gain to his
country Of his inspiring verse. And in the midst
Of sorrow and p~rivatioR he begins the gloriOas
story of the Lusiad.
MS GENEROUS ARDoR UNpER ALL CONDITIONS
What an ardor, and what an unquenehable
enthusiasm there must have been in a nature;-
that No storm, nor exposure, nor hard chanee, nor
hard fare, nor any harshness of the situation
could stop the outflow in sweet rythmic lines Of
this poetic soul, 1t was the same. whether sit
ting by the smoky, oft disturbed camp fire; or
whether on board ship, where, leaning against
Heavy eDa cold recane The AHgud orsz,p
His fervent soul kindled up ever the same, and
sought expression. Whilst he was toiling and
fighting in Africa, or making weary voyage to
India, he was only occupied in making a record
to preserve the memories of the heroes of his
country. And it is to Camoens that we owe our
chief interest in the Illustrious Henry, in tho
great Kings John and Emmanuel, and in the re-
nowned Oriental discoFeter Vsseo de CANA.
HE ENNoBLES COMMERCIAL ADVENTURE.
Camoens sings the first song of progress, of
which the lllustrious Prince Henry made the first
steps. Camoens is the voice of peaceful adyen-
ture and of benefcent commerce; and yet his is a
voice of generous ~chivalry, and not of any of the
sordidness of trade. He is the first man who
thinks to give to trade a coronet of nobility. He
thrills with epic grandeur as he shows to us, CANA
presenting at CaIicut the utilities of Europe in
exchange for the luxuries of Asia. And you who
have delighted in the fierce and vengefnl voices of
Hector and Achilles, or of the bold Rugero, or
the crusading Godfrey of BouiIon or ola yalo-
rous, slaughtering Black Prince of England, listen
to the words of our Poets hero, de CANA, as he
addresses a pagan Prince of Asia.
"FroH EurOpes strand ! trace the foamy way,
To find the regions of the infant day.
And gave these swelling waves to ron below
The he~mispheres of night and day He spread,
He sc9op'd each vale, and reard each mountains head
Ills word PTodGed the nations Of The earth
On earth by Hin, His holy lore was given,
On earth He came to raise mankind 10 Heaven" &c.
And thus as preachers and teachers of right
eousness, as, well as chivalrous adventures,
Camoens leads his heroes onward round the
bounds of the savage continent. where he was
grooming in exile, until their glorious advent in
the new world of the east. This great story OF
the Lusiad he began in Africa, although it was
chiefly written in India. 1t was Of course in
wonderful contrast to the scenes that surrounded
him. how could he write Of glories, and pro-
duce marvels of beautiful expression in the midst
of miseries? OF course he was deemd insane
by the most of those who stood near and observ'd
his work. Why should he not curse his enemies
like David? Or curse God and die? What
meant the man with his everlasting tributes oil
praise, when the grip of influence was choking
him off from everything he held dear 2, Why did
he not seorch and desolate his enemies with his
pen of fire, whose expressions of sweetness and
iervor brought forth only worthless tears after he
was dead and gone? Why did he keep the
peace? Because he loved-he loved-and he
could not curse whilst his heart was thrill'd unto
it's last throb with one everlasting ache of love
Hear him:
"Iulgame a genie tods por perdido
Nendome tao entregne a meu cuydadO" &c.
My senses lost. misjuding men declare,
And reason banished from her mental throne,
Because l shun the crowd, and dwell alone
In the calm trance Of undisturb'd despair,
Tears all my pleasure-al my comfort care
But l have known from my experience known
How vain the worship to those idols shown,
Which charm the world, and reign unrIvaIrd there:
Proud dreams Of power, and fortunes gilded glare,
The lights that blaze in tall ambitions towT,
For such, let others waste lfe's little hour
In toll and weary search,-but be il mine,
Dear girl to muse Of hee-and in my bow'r
Pour TO thy praise the soul impassioned line
Go be cOnAnued.)