Note.
Contrary to custom, I begin with my translation of the Poem, and end with what usually comes first, the Commentary. This Introduction, now converted to a postscript, is necessary for the full comprehension of an Epic upwards of three centuries old. But, believing in the “liberty of foot-notes,” I have appended a few, which will save many readers the mortification of consulting the conclusion.
The following synopsis of The Lusiads shows the raison d’être of my commentary:—
| Canto | I. | The Voyage, | in | … | stanzas | 106, | lines | 848 |
| ” | II. | ” | ” | … | ” | 113, | ” | 904 |
| ” | III. | Historical | ” | … | ” | 143, | ” | 1144 |
| ” | IV. | ” | ” | … | ” | 104, | ” | 832 |
| ” | V. | The Voyage and geographical | ” | … | ” | 100, | ” | 800 |
| ” | VI. | ” | ” | … | ” | 99, | ” | 792 |
| ” | VII. | Geographico-historical | ” | … | ” | 87, | ” | 696 |
| ” | VIII. | Historical | ” | … | ” | 99, | ” | 792 |
| ” | IX. | Romantic | ” | … | ” | 95, | ” | 760 |
| ” | X. | Geographico-ethnographico-historical | ” | … | ” | 156, | ” | 1248 |
| Totals | … | … | 1,102 | 8,816 | ||||
The text of the Poem is immediately followed by the 79 estancias desprezadas, or stanzas, which, omitted by Camoens, were printed from manuscripts after his death. Of these 632 lines many were rejected for special reasons, and not a few deserve translation: they are here offered to the public for the first time.
Thus my Commentary falls naturally into IV. Chapters.
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Chap. I. Biographical; with three Sections: § 1. Essay on the Life of Camoens; § 2. Camoens the Man; and, § 3. Camoens the Poet.
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Chap. II. Bibliographical; with five Sections: § 1. On translating The Lusiads; § 2. English translators, with specimens; § 3. Notices of English translators; § 4. Minor partial and miscellaneous English translations; and, § 5. The present version.
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Chap. III. Historical and Chronological; with four sections: § 1. Portugal before the reign of D. Joam II.; § 2. D.D. Joam III. and Manoel; § 3. The reign of D. Joam III.; and, § 4. The Annals of his Country till the death of Camoens.
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Chap. IV. Geographical; with four sections: § 1. Preliminary; § 2. The Voyage of Da Gama; § 3. The Travels and Campaigns of Camoens in the nearer East; and, § 4. In the further East. I make no apology for the length of this topographical essay; the subject has been much neglected by modern commentators.
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Chap. V. Annotative. I have here placed explicatory and philological details which illustrate the ten Cantos, concluding with three tables borrowed from various sources. No. § 1. Editions of the works of Camoens; § 2. Tables of Translations of the works, especially The Lusiads; and, § 3. Contents of The Lusiads, which may serve as an index of subjects.
In conclusion, I have to thank Messrs. Wyman for the care and trouble they have taken in printing the Translation.