3549 
 
 
 l D = 
 
 
 Mickle 
 Almeda hill 
 
 /"
 
 THE LIBRARY 
 OF 
 
 THE UNIVERSITY 
 OF CALIFORNIA 
 
 LOS ANGELES 
 
 FREDERIC THOMAS BLANCHARD 
 
 ENDOWMENT FUND 
 
 mONID HlHdWVd 
 
 : n.ioji 
 
 "5
 
 ALMADA HILL: 
 
 A N 
 
 E P I S T L E 
 
 FROM 
 
 LISBON. 
 
 By WILLIAM JULIUS M I C K L E. 
 
 OXFORD, 
 
 PRINTED BY W. JACKSON: 
 And fold by J. Bew, Paternoller-Row, London; and by the Bookfellers of Oxford and Cambridge. 
 
 MDCCLXXXf.
 
 I v 3 g^ 
 MS?a, 
 
 ADVERTISEMENT. 
 
 THOUGH no fubje&s are more proper for poetry 
 than thofe which are founded upon hiilorical re- 
 trofpecl:, the author of fuch a poem lies under very parti- 
 cular difadvantages : every one can underftand and relifli 
 a work merely fictitious, defcriptive, or fentimental ; but a 
 previous acquaintance, and even intimacy, with the hiftory 
 and characters upon which the other poem is founded, is 
 abfolutely necefTary to do juftice to its author. Without 
 fuch previous knowledge, the ideas which he would convey 
 pafs unobferved, as in an unknown tongue ; and the hap- 
 pieft allufion, if he is fortunate enough to attain any thing 
 worthy of that name, is unfelt and unfeen. Under thefe 
 difadvantages the following epiftle is prefented to the public, 
 whofe indulgence and candour the author has already amply 
 experienced. 
 
 In the Twelfth Century, Lilbon, and great part of 
 Portugal and Spain, were in poffeffion of the Moors, 
 Alphonfo, the firft King of Portugal, having gained feveral 
 
 victories 
 
 86529^
 
 [ vi ] 
 
 victories over that people, was laying fiege to Lifbon, when 
 Robert, Duke of Gloucefter, on his way to the Holy Land, 
 appeared upon the coaft of that kingdom. As the caufe 
 was the fame, Robert was eafily perfuaded to make his 
 firft crufade in Portugal. He demanded that the ftorming 
 of the Cattle of Lifbon, fituated on a confiderable hill, and 
 whofe ruins fhew it to have been of great ftrength, mould 
 be allotted to him, while Alphonfo was to afTail the walls 
 and the city. Both Leaders were fuccefsful ; and Alphonfo, 
 among the rewards which he bellowed upon the Englifh, 
 granted to thofe who were wounded, or unable to proceed 
 to Paleftine, the Caftle of Almada, and the adjoining lands. 
 
 The river Tagus below and oppofite to Lifbon, is edged 
 by fteep grotcfque rocks, particularly on the fouth fide. 
 Thofe on the fouth arc generally higher and much more 
 magnificent and piclurefquc than the Cliffs of Dover. 
 Upon one of the higheft of thefe, and directly oppofite to 
 Lifbon, remain the ftatcly ruins of the Caftle of Almada. 
 
 In December, 1779, as the Author was wandering among 
 thefe ruins, he was ftruck with the idea, and formed the 
 plan of the following poem ; an idea which, it may be 
 
 allowed
 
 [ vii ] 
 
 allowed, was natural to the Tranflator of the Lusiad, and 
 the plan may, in fome degree, be called a fupplement to 
 that work. 
 
 The following poem, except the corrections and a few 
 lines, was written in Portugal. The defcriptive parts 
 are ftricHy local. The fineft profpect, of Lifbon and the 
 Tagus, (which is there about four miles broad) is from 
 Almada, which alfo commands the adjacent country, from 
 the Rock of Cintra to the Caftle and City of Palmela, 
 an extent of above fifty miles. This magnificent view is 
 completed by the extenhve opening at the mouth of 
 the Tagus, about ten miles below, which difcovers the 
 Atlantic Ocean.
 
 A N 
 
 E P I S T L E 
 
 FROM 
 
 LISBON. 
 
 WHILE you, my Friend, from louring wintery plains 
 Now pale with fnows, now black with drizzling rains, 
 From leaflefs woodlands, and difhonour'd bowers 
 Mantled by gloomy mills, or lafh'd by mowers 
 Of hollow moan, while not a ftruggling beam 
 Steals from the Sun to play on Ills' ftream; 
 While from thefe fcenes by England's winter fpread 
 Swift to the cheerful hearth your fteps are led, 
 Pleas'd from the threatening tempeft to retire 
 And jom the circle round the focial fire ; 
 
 B In
 
 [ s 3 
 
 In other clime through fun-bafk'd fcenes I ftray, 
 As the fair landfcape leads my thoughtful way, 
 As upland path, oft winding, bids me rove 
 Where orange bowers invite, or olive grove, 
 No fullen phantoms brooding .o'er my breaft, 
 The genial influence of the clime I tafte; 
 Yet ftill regardful of my native fhore, 
 In every fcene, my roaming eyes explore, 
 Whate'er its afpect, ftill, by memory brought, 
 My fading country rufhes on my thought. 
 
 While now perhaps the claffic page you turn, 
 And warm'd with honeft indignation burn, 
 'Till hopelefs, ficklied by the climate's gloom, 
 Your generous fears call forth Britannia's doom, 
 What hoftile fpears her facred lawns invade, 
 By friends deferted, by her chiefs bctray'd, 
 Low fall'n and vanquifh'd ! — I, with mind ferene 
 As Lifboa's Iky, yet penfive as the fcene 
 Around, and penfive feems the fcene to me, 
 From other ills my country's fate forefee. 
 
 Not
 
 [ 3 3 
 
 Not from the hands that wield Iberia's fpear, 
 Not from the hands that Gaul's proud thunders bear, 
 Nor thofe that turn on Albion's breaft the fword 
 Beat down of late by Albion when it gored 
 Their own, who impious doom their parent's fall 
 Beneath the world's great foe th' infidious Gaul j 
 Yes, not from thefe the immedicable wound 
 Of Albion — Other is the bane profound 
 Deftined alone to touch her mortal part ; 
 Herfelf is fick and poifoned at the heart. 
 
 O'er Tago's banks where'er I roll mine eyes 
 The gallant deeds of antient days arife ; 
 The fcenes the Lufian Mufes fond difplay'd 
 Before me oft, as oft at eve I flray'd 
 By Ifis' hallowed ftream. Oft now the flrand 
 Where Gama march'd his death-devoted * band, 
 
 a The expedition of Vafco de Gama, the the crews of his fquadron in the chapel of 
 
 difcoverer of the Eafl- Indies, was extremely our Lady at Belem, on the fpot where the 
 
 unpopular, as it was eiteemed impracticable. noble gothic church now ftands adjoining 
 
 His embarkation is rtrongly marked by the convent of St. Jerome. 
 Oforius the hiftorian. Gama, before he In the chapel they bound themfelves to 
 
 went on board, fpent the night along with obedience to Gama, and devoted themfelves 
 
 B 2 While
 
 I 4 ] 
 
 While Lilboa awed with horror faw him fpread 
 The daring fails that firft to India led ; 
 And eft Almada's caftled deep infpires 
 The penfive Mufe's vifionary fires; 
 Almada Hill to Englifh Memory dear, 
 While fhades of Englifh heroes wander here! 
 
 To ancient Englifh valour facred ftill 
 Remains, and ever fhall, Almada Hill; 
 The hill and lawns to Englifh valour given 
 What time the Arab Moons from Spain were driven, 
 Before the banners of the Crofs fubdued, 
 When Lifboa's towers were bathed in Moorifh blood 
 By Glofter's lance. — Romantic days that yield 
 Of gallant deeds a wide luxuriant field 
 Dear to the Mufe that loves the fairy plains 
 Where ancient honour wild and ardent reigns. 
 
 to death. '* On the next day when the ad- " numerous proceflion of priefls in theii 
 
 *' venturers marched to the lhips, the lhore " robes fung anthems, and offered up invo- 
 
 " of Beltm prellntcd one of the moll fo- " cations to heaven. Every one beheld the 
 
 " lemn and affefting fcenes perhaps re- " adventurers as brave innocent men going 
 
 " corded in hiftory. The beach was cover- " to a dreadful execution, as rufhing upon 
 
 " ed with the inhabitants of Liibon. A " certain death." Intmdutt. to the lujiad. 
 
 Where
 
 [ 5 ] 
 
 Where high o'er Tago's flood Almada lowers, 
 Amid the folemn pomp of mouldering towers 
 Supinely feated, wide and far around 
 My eye delighted wanders. — Here the bound 
 Of fair Europa o'er the Ocean rears 
 Its weftern edge} where dimly difappears 
 The Atlantic wave, the flow defcending day 
 Mild beaming pours ferene the gentle ray 
 Of Lufitania's winter, filvering o'er 
 The tower-like fummits of the mountain fhore ; 
 Dappling the lofty cliffs that coldly throw 
 Their fable horrors o'er the vales below. 
 Far round the ftately-fhoulder'd river bends 
 Its giant arms, and fea-like wide extends 
 Its midland bays, with fertile iflands crown'd, 
 And lawns for Englifh valour ftill renown'd: 
 Given to Cornwallia's gallant fons of yore, 
 Cornwallia's name the fmiling paftures bore; 
 And ftill their Lord his Englifh lineage boafls 
 From Rolland famous in the Croifade Hofts. 
 
 Where
 
 Where fea-ward narrower rolls the fhining tide 
 Through hills by hills embofom'd on each fide, 
 Monaftic walls in every glen arife 
 In coldeft white fair gliftening to the fides 
 Amid the brown-brow'd rocks ; and, far as -fight, 
 Proud domes and villages array'd in white b 
 Climb o'er the fteeps, and thro' the dufky green 
 Of olive groves, and orange bowers between, 
 Speckled with glowing red, unnumber'd gleam — - 
 And Lifboa towering o'er the lordly ftream 
 Her marble palaces and temples fp reads 
 Wildly magnific o'er the loaded heads 
 Of bending hills, along whofe high-piled bafe 
 The port capacious, in a moon'd embrace, 
 Throws her maft-foieii, waving on the gale 
 The vanes of every more that hoifb the fail. 
 
 Here while the Sun from Europe's bread retires, 
 Let Fancy, roaming as the fcene mipires, 
 
 b The houfes in Portugal are generally cMccmcd as rcpulfive of the rays of the 
 wliitened on the outfide, white being Sun. 
 
 Pnrfue
 
 [ 7 ] 
 
 Perfue the prefent and the paft reftore, 
 And Nature's purpofe in her fleps explore. 
 
 Nor you, rriy Friend, admiring Rome, difdain 
 Th' Iberian fields and Lufitanian Spain. 
 While Italy, obfeured in tawdry blaze, 
 A motley, modern character difplays, 
 And languid trims her long exhaufted ftore j 
 Iberia's fields with rich and genuine ore 
 Of ancient manners wooe the traveller's eye; 
 And fcenes untraced in every landfcape lie. 
 Here every various dale with lefTons fraught 
 Calls to the wanderer's vifionary thought 
 What mighty deeds the lofty hills of Spain 
 Of old have witnefs'd — From the evening main 
 Her mountain tops the Tyrian pilots faw 
 In lightning's wrapt, and thrill'd with facred awe 
 Thro' Greece the tales of Gorgons, Hydras fpread, 
 And Geryon dreadful with the triple head j 
 
 The
 
 [ 8 ] 
 
 The ftxeam of ' Lethe, and the dread abodes 
 Of forms gigantic, and infernal gods. 
 But foon, by fearlfs luft of gold impell'd, 
 They mined the mountain, and explored the field j 
 'Till Rome and Carthage, fierce for empire, ftrove, 
 As for their prey two famifh'd birds of Jove. 
 The rapid Durius then and Boetis' flood 
 Were dyed with Roman and with Punic blood, 
 While oft the lengthening plains and mountain fides 
 Seem'd moving on, flow rolling tides on tides, 
 When from Pyrene's fummits Afric pour'd 
 Her armies, and o'er Rome deftruction lour'd. 
 
 Here while the Youth revolves fome Hero's fame, 
 Jf patriot zeal his Britilh breaft inflame, 
 Here let him trace the fields to freedom dear 
 Where low in dufl lay Rome's invading fpearj 
 
 « The river of Lima, in the north of the River of Oblivion, the rirft ftrangen 
 
 Portugal, faid to be the Lethe of the ancients, who vifited it, forgetting their native 
 
 is thus mentioned by Cellarius in his Geo- country, and being willing to continue oo 
 
 graphia Antiqua ; " Fabulofus Oblivionis its banks. The fame reafon of forgetful- 
 
 fluvius, Lima:as, ultra Lufitaniam in fep- nefs is afcribed to the Lotos by Homer, 
 
 tentrione." It runs through a molt roman- OJyf. ix. There is another Lethe of the 
 
 tic and beautiful diltrid ; from which cir- ancients in Africa. 
 cumlUnte it probably received the name of 
 
 Where
 
 C 9 3 
 
 Where Viriatus'' proudly trampled o'er 
 
 Fafces and Roman eagles fteept in gorej 
 
 Or where he fell, with honefl laurel crown'd, 
 
 The awful victim of a treacherous wound; 
 
 A wound ftill bathed in Honour's generous tear, 
 
 While Freedom's wounds the brave and good revere; 
 
 Still pouring frefli th' inexpiable flain 
 
 O'er Rome's patrician honour falfe and vain ! 
 
 Or fhould the pride of bold revolt infpire, 
 And touch his bofom with unhallowed fire; 
 If merit fpurn'd demand ftern facrifice, 
 O'er Ev'ra's ' fields let dread Sertorius rife. 
 Dyed in his country's blood, in all the pride 
 Of wrongs revenged, illuftrious let him ride 
 Enfhrined, o'er Spain, in Victory's dazzling rays, 
 'Till Rome look pale beneath the mounting blaze. 
 But let the Britifh wanderer thro' the dales 
 Of Ev'ra ftray, while midnight temped wails: 
 
 J This great man is called by Florus the ' Ebora, now Evora, was the principal 
 
 Romulus of Spain. What is here laid of refidence of Sertorius. 
 kin is agreeable to hiftory. 
 
 C There
 
 C 10 ] 
 
 There as the hoary villagers relate 
 
 Sertorius, Sylla, Marius, weep their fate, 
 
 Their fpefrres gliding on the lightning blue, 
 
 Oft doom'd their ancient ftations to renew ; 
 
 Sertorius bleeding on Perpenna's knife, 
 
 And Marius finking in ambition's ftrife$ 
 
 As foreft boars entangled in a chain, 
 
 Dragg'd on, as flings each Leader's rage or pain; 
 
 And each the furious Leader in his turn, 
 
 'Till low they lie, a ghaftly wreck forlorn. 
 
 And fay, ye tramplers on your country's mounds, 
 Say who mall fix the fwelling torrent's bounds? 
 Or who mail fail the pilot of the flood? 
 Alas, full oft fome worthlefs trunk of wood 
 Is whirl'd into the port, blind Fortune's boaft, 
 While noblefl vefTels, founder'd, flrew the coaft ! 
 
 If wars of fairer fame and old applaufe, 
 That bear the title of our country's caufe, 
 
 To
 
 To humanife barbarians, and to raifc 
 
 Our country's prowefs, their aflerted praife; 
 
 If thefe delight, Hifpania's dales difplay 
 
 The various arts and toils of Roman fway. 
 
 Here jealous Cato f laid the cities wafte, 
 
 And Julius f here in fairer pride replaced, 
 
 'Till ages faw the labours of the plough 
 
 By every river, and the barren bough 
 
 Of laurel fhaded by the olive's bloom, 
 
 And grateful Spain the ftrength of lordly Rome; 
 
 Hers mighty bards 8 , and hers the facred earth 
 
 That gave the world a friend in Trajan's birth. 
 
 When Rome's wide empire, a luxurious prey, 
 Debafed in falfe refinement nervelefs lay, 
 The northern hords on Europe's various climes 
 Planted their ruling virtues and their crimes. 
 Cloifter'd by Tyber's ftream the flothful ftaid, 
 To Seine and Loire the gay and friv'lous ftray'd, 
 
 ' According to Hiftory, this different policy is ftri kingly chara&eriflic of thofe 
 celebrated names. * Lucan, Martial, Seneca. 
 
 C 2 A fordid
 
 [ » ] 
 
 A fordid groupe the Belgian marfhes pleafed, 
 And Saxony's wild forefts Freedom feized, 
 There held her juries, poifed the legal fcales; — 
 And Spain's romantic hills and lonely dales 
 The penfive Lover fought ; and Spain became 
 The land of gallantry and amorous flame. 
 Hail, favour'd clime! whofe lone retreats infpire 
 The fofteft dreams of languifhing defire, 
 Affections trembling with a glow all holy, 
 Wildly fublime, and fweetly melancholy j 
 'Till rapt devotion to the Fair, refine 
 And bend each paflion low at Honour's fhriiie. 
 So felt the iron Goth when here he brought 
 His worfhip of the Fair with valour fraught: 
 Soon as Iberia's mountains fixt his home, 
 He rofe a character unknown to Rome} 
 His manners wildly colour'd as the flowers 
 And flaunting plumage of Brazilian bowers : 
 New to the world as thefe, yet polifh'd more 
 Than e'er the pupil of the Attic lore 
 
 Might
 
 [ '3 ] 
 
 Might proudly boaft. On man's bold arm robuft 
 
 The tender Fair reclines with fondeft truft: 
 
 With Nature's fined touch exulting glows 
 
 The manly breaft which that fond aid beftows : 
 
 That nrfr, of generous joys on man beftow'd, 
 
 In Gothic Spain in all its fervour glow'd. 
 
 Then high burn'd honour; and the dread alarms 
 
 Of danger then aflumed the deareft charms. 
 
 What for the Fair was dared or fuffered, bore 
 
 A faint-like merit, and was envied more; 
 
 'Till led by love-fick Fancy's dazzled flight, 
 
 From Court to Court forth roam'd Adventure's Knight ; 
 
 And tilts and tournaments, in mimic wars, 
 
 Supplied the triumphs and the honour'd fears 
 
 Of arduous battles for their country fought, 
 
 'Till the keen relifli of the marvellous wrought 
 
 All wild and fever'd ; and each peaceful made, 
 
 With batter'd armour deckt, its Knight difplay'd, 
 
 In foothing tranfport, liflening to the ftrain 
 
 Of dwarfs and giants, and of monfters flaini 
 
 Of
 
 t '4 3 
 
 Of fpells all horror, and enchanters dire, 
 And the fweet banquet of the amorous fire, 
 When Knights and Ladies chafte, relieved from thrall, 
 Hold Love's high holiday in bower and hall. 
 
 'Twas thus, all pleafing to the languid thought, 
 With magic power the tales of magic wrought j 
 Till by the Mufes armed, in all the ire 
 Of wit, refiftlefs as electric fire, 
 Forth rode La Mancha's Knight ; and fudden fled 
 Goblins and beauteous nymphs, and pagans dread, 
 As the delirious dream of ficknefs flies, 
 When health returning fmiles from vernal flcies. 
 
 But turn we now from Chivalry difeafed, 
 To Chivalry when Honour's wreath fhe feized 
 From Wifdom's hand. — From Taurus' rugged fteep, 
 And Caucafus, far round with headlong fweep, 
 As wolves wild howling from their famifh'd den, 
 Rulh'd the devouring bands of Sarazen : 
 
 Their
 
 [ '5 ] 
 
 Their favage genius, giant -like and blind, 
 Trampling with fullen joy on human kind, 
 AfTyria lay its own uncover'd grave, 
 And Gallia trembled to th' Atlantic wave : 
 
 In awful wafte the faireft cities moan'd, 
 
 And human Liberty expiring groan'd 
 
 When Chivalry arofe: — Her ardent eye 
 
 Sublime, that fondly mingled with the fky, 
 
 Where patience watch'd, and fledfaft purpofe frown'd 
 
 Mixt with Devotion's fire, fhe darted round, 
 
 Stern and indignant j on her glittering fhield 
 
 The Crofs fhe bore, and proudly to the field 
 
 High plumed fhe rufh'dj by Honour's dazzling fired, 
 
 Confcious of Heaven's own caufe, and all infpired 
 
 By holy vows, as on the frowning tower 
 
 The lightning vollies, on the crefted power 
 
 Of Sarazen fhe wing'd her javelin's way, 
 
 And the wide-wafting giant proftrate lay. 
 
 Let
 
 1 
 
 [ "5 J 
 
 Let fupercilious Wifdom's fmiling pride 
 The pailion wild of thefe bold days deride; 
 But let the humbler Sage with reverence own 
 That fomething facred glows, of name unknown, 
 Glows in the deeds that Heaven delights to crown; 
 Something that boafts an impulfe uncontroul'd 
 By fchool-taught prudence, and its maxims cold. 
 Fired at the thought, methinks on facred ground 
 I tread ; where'er I caft mine eyes around, 
 Palmela's hill" and Cintra's fummits tell 
 How the grim Sarazen's dread legions fell; 
 Turbans and cymeters in carnage roll'd, 
 And their moon'd enfigns torn from every hold : — 
 Yes, let the Youth whofe generous fearch explores 
 The various leflbns of Iberia's fhores, 
 Let him as wandering at the Mufe's hour 
 Of eve or morn where low the Moorifli tower, 
 Fallen from its rocky height and tyrant fway, 
 Lies fcatter'd o'er the dale in fragments grey, 
 
 1 Palmela's hill avd Cintra's fummits — ftormed by Alphonfo the full about the time 
 arc both fcen from Almada, and were prin- of" the conquelt of Lilbon. 
 cipal forts of the Moors. They were 
 
 Let
 
 [ '7 J 
 
 Let him with joy behold the hills around 
 
 With olive forefts, and with vineyards crown'd, 
 
 All grateful pouring on the hands that rear 
 
 Their fruit, the fruitage of the bounteous year. 
 
 Then let his mind to fair Ionia turn, — 
 
 Alas ! how wafte Ionia's landfcapes mourn ; 
 
 And thine, O beauteous Greece, amid the towers 
 
 Where dreadful flill the Turkifh banner lowers ; 
 
 Beneath whofe gloom, unconfcious of the ftain 
 
 That dims his foul, the peafant hugs his chain. 
 
 And whence thefe woes debafing human kind? 
 
 Eunuchs in heart, in polim'd floth reclin'd, 
 
 Thy fons, degenerate Greece, ignobly bled, 
 
 And fair Byzantium bow'd th' imperial head; 
 
 While Tago's iron race, in dangers fteel'd, 
 
 All ardour, dared the horrors of the field. 
 
 The towers of Venice trembled o'er her flood, 
 
 And Paris' gates aghaft and open flood ; 
 
 D Low
 
 [ '8 ] 
 
 Low lay her Peers on Fontarabia's ' plains : 
 
 And Lifboa groan'd beneath ftern Mah'met's chains: 
 
 Vain was the hope the North might reft unfpoil'd ; 
 
 When ftern Iberia's fpirit fierce recoil'd. 
 
 As from the toils the wounded lion bounds, 
 
 And tears the hunters and the fated hounds j 
 
 So fmarting with his wounds th' Iberian tore, 
 
 And to his fun-fcorch'd regions drove, the Moor: 
 
 The vengeful Moors, as maftiffs on their prey, 
 
 Return'dj as heavy clouds their deep array 
 
 Blacken'd o'er Tago's banks. — As Sagrez k braves 
 
 And ftems the furious rage of Afric's waves, 
 
 So braved, fo ftood the Lufitanian bands, 
 
 The fouthern bulwark of Europa's lands. 
 
 1 The irruption of the Mohammedans into Europe gave rife to that fpecies of poetry 
 called Romance. The Orlando Furiofo is founded upon the invafion of France, 
 
 When Charlemaigne with all his Peerage fell 
 
 By Fontarabia Milton. 
 
 k The promontory of Sagrez, where Henry, Duke of Vifeo, refided and eAablifhed his 
 naval fchool, is on the fouthern part of Portugal oppofite to Africa. 
 
 Such
 
 I 
 
 C '9 ] 
 
 Such were the foes by Chivalry repell'd, 
 
 And fuch the honours that adorn'd her fhield. 
 
 And aik what Chriftian Europe owes the high 
 
 And ardent foul of gallant Chivalry, 
 
 Afk, and let Turkifh Europe's groans reply ! 
 
 As through the pictured abbey window gleams 
 The evening Sun with bold though fading beams, 
 So through the reverend fhade of ancient days 
 Gleam thefe bold deeds with dim yet golden rays. 
 But let not glowing Fancy as it warms 
 O'er thefe, high honour's youthful pride in arms, 
 Forget the ftern ambition and the worth 
 Of minds mature, by patriot Kings call'd forth ; 
 That worth that roufed the nations to explore 
 Old Ocean's wildeft waves and farthefl fhore. 
 
 By human eye untempted, unexplored, 
 An awful folitude, old Ocean roar'd : 
 
 D 2 As
 
 [ 20 ] 
 
 As to the fearful dove's impatient eye 
 
 Appears the height untry'd of upper iky ; 
 
 So feem'd the laft dim wave, in boundlefs fpace 
 
 Involved and loft, when Tago's gallant race, 
 
 As eagles fixing on the Sun their eyes 
 
 Through gulphs unknown explor'd the morning Ikies j 
 
 And taught the wondering world the grand defign 
 
 Of parent heaven, that fhore to fhore fhould join 
 
 In bands of mutual aid, from Iky to Iky, 
 
 And Ocean's wildeft waves the chain fupply. 
 
 And here, my Friend, how many a trophy wooes 
 The Briton's earneft eye, and Britifh Mufe ! 
 Here bids the youthful Traveller's care forego 
 The arts of elegance and polifh'd fhew ; 
 Bids other arts his nobler thoughts engage, 
 And wake to higheft aim his patriot rage; 
 Thofe arts which raifed that race of Men, who fhone 
 The heroes of their age on Lifboa's throne. 
 
 What
 
 [ *1 ] 
 
 What mighty deeds in filial order flow'd, 
 
 While each ftill brighter than its parent glow'd, 
 
 Till Henry's Naval School its heroes pour'd 
 
 From pole to pole wherever Ocean roar'd ! 
 
 Columbus, Gama, and Magellan's name, 
 
 Its deathlefs boaft ; and all of later fame 
 
 Its offspring — kindling o'er the view the Mufe 
 
 The naval pride of thofe bright days reviews ; 
 
 Sees Gama's fails, that firft to India bore, 
 
 In awful hope evanifh from the fhore j 
 
 Sees from the filken regions of the morn 
 
 What fleets of gay triumphant vanes return ! 
 
 What heroes, plumed with conqueft, proudly bring 
 
 The Eaftern fceptres to the Lufian King ! 
 
 When fudden, rifing on the evening gale, 
 
 Methinks I hear the Ocean's murmurs wail, 
 
 And every breeze repeat the woeful tale, 
 
 How bow'd, how fell proud Lifboa's naval throne — 
 
 Ah heaven, how cold the boding thoughts rufh on ! 
 
 Methinks 
 
 I
 
 [ « ] 
 
 Methinks I hear the fhades that hover round 
 Of Englifh heroes heave the figh profound, 
 Prophetic of the kindred fate that lowers, 
 O'er Albion's fleets and London's proudeft towers. 
 
 Broad was the firm-bafed flruclure and fublime, 
 That Gama fondly rear'd on India's clime : 
 On juftice and benevolence he placed 
 Its ponderous weight, and warlike trophies graced 
 Its mounting turrets ; and o'er Afia wide 
 Great Albuquerk ' renown'd its generous pride. 
 The injured native fought its friendly fhade, 
 And India's Princes bleft its powerful aid : 
 Till from corrupted paffion's bafeft hour 
 Rofe the dread daemon of tyrannic power. 
 Sampayo's heart, where dauntlefs valour reign'd, 
 And counfel deep, (he fciz'd and foul profaned. 
 
 1 Albuquerk, Sampayo, Nunio, Caftro, arc diftinguifhed characters in the Lufiad, and 
 in the Hiftory of Portuguefe Afia. 
 
 Then
 
 C 2 3 J 
 
 Then the ftraight road where facred juftice leads, 
 Where for its plighted compact honour bleeds. 
 Was left, and holy patriot zeal gave place 
 To luft of gold and felf-devotion bafe : 
 Deceitful art the Chief's fole guide became, 
 And breach of faith was wifdom ; {laughter, fame. 
 Yet though from far his hawk-eye markt its prey, 
 Soon through the rocks that croft his crooked way, 
 As a toil'd bull, fiercely he ftumbled on, 
 Till low he lay diflionour'd and o'erthrown. 
 
 Others, without his valour or his art, 
 With all his interefted rage of heart, 
 Follow'd, as blighting mills on Gama's toil, 
 And undermined and rent the mighty pile; 
 Convulfions dread its deep foundations tore, 
 Its bending head the fcath of lightning bore : 
 Its falling turrets defolation fpread ; 
 And from its faithlefs fhade in horror fled 
 
 The
 
 [ *4 ] 
 
 The native tribes — yet not at once fubdued; 
 
 Its priftine ftrength long ftorms on ftorms withftood 
 
 A Nunio's juftice, and a Caftro's fword, 
 
 Oft raifed its turrets, and its dread reftored. 
 
 Yet, like the funfhine of a winter day 
 
 On Norway's coaft, foon died the tranfient ray. 
 
 A tyrant race, who own'd no country m , came, 
 
 Deep to intrench themfelves their only aim ; 
 
 With luft of rapine fever'd and athirft, 
 
 With the unhallowed rage of game accurft ; 
 
 Againft each fpring of action, on the breaft 
 
 For wifeft ends, by Nature's hand impreft, 
 
 Stern war they waged ; and blindly ween'd, alone 
 
 On brutal dread, to fix their cruel throne. 
 
 The wife and good, with indignation fired, 
 
 Silent from their unhallowed board retired ; 
 
 m A tyrant race, who otun'd no country, came, — before the total dcclenfion of the 
 Portugucfc in Afia ; and while they were fubjeft to Spain, the principal people, fays the 
 hiltorian Faria, who were moftly a mixed race born in India, loll all affection for the 
 mother country, nor had any regard for any of the provinces where they were only the 
 fons of ftrangcrs : and prefent emolument became their fole objeft. 
 
 The
 
 [ *5 ] 
 
 The Bafe and Cunning ftaid, and, flaves avow'd, 
 Submifs to every infult fmiling bow'd. 
 Yet while they fmiled and bow'd the abject head, 
 In chains unfelt their Tyrant Lords they led ; 
 Their av'rice, watching as a bird of prey, 
 O'er every weaknefs, o'er each vice held fway; 
 Till fecret art afTumed the thwarting face, 
 And dictate bold ; and ruin and difgrace 
 Clofed the unworthy fcene. Now trampled low 
 Beneath the injured native, and the foe 
 From Belgia lured by India's coftly prey, 
 Thy glorious ftructure, Gama, proftrate lay; 
 And lies in defolated awful gloom, 
 Dread and inftructive as a ruin'd tomb. 
 
 Nor lefs on Tago's than on India's coaft 
 Was ancient Lufian Virtue flain'd and loft: 
 On Tago's banks, heroic ardour's foes, 
 A foft, luxurious, tinfel'd race, arofe j 
 
 E Of
 
 [ *s ] 
 
 Of lofty boaftful look and pompous {hew, 
 Triumphant tyrants o'er the weak and low : 
 Yet wildly flarting from the gaming board 
 At every diftant brandiih of the fword ; 
 Already conquer'd by uncertain dread, 
 Imploring peace with feeble hands outfpread j — 
 Such peace as trembling fuppliants ftill obtain, 
 Such peace they found beneath the yoke of Spain ; 
 And the wide empires of the Eaft no more 
 Poured their redundant horns on Lifboa's more. 
 
 Alas, my Friend, how vain the faireft boaft 
 Of human pride ! how foon is Empire loft ! 
 The pile by ages rear'd to awe the world, 
 By one degenerate race to ruin hurl'd ! 
 And mail the Briton view that downward race 
 With eye unmoved, and no fad likenefs trace ! 
 Ah heaven ! in every fcene, by memory brought, 
 My fading country rufhes on my thought. 
 
 From
 
 [ *7 ] 
 
 From Lilboa now the frequent vefper bell 
 Vibrates o'er Tago's ftrearn with folemn knell. 
 Turn'd by the call my penfive eye furveys 
 That mighty fcene of Hift'ry's fhame and praife. 
 Methinks I hear the yells of horror rife 
 From flaughter'd thoufands fhrieking n to the fkies, 
 As factious rage or blinded zeal of yore 
 Roll'd their dire chariot wheels through ftreams of gore. 
 Now throbs of other glow my foul employ ; 
 I hear the triumph of a nation's joy°, 
 
 n Befides the total (laughter of the Moors at the taking of Lilbon, other maflacres have 
 bathed the ftreets of that city in blood. King Fernando, furnamed the Carelefs, was 
 driven from Lilbon by a bloody infurreftion, headed by one Velafquez a Taylor. Some 
 time after on the death of Fernando, Andeyro, the Queen's favourite, was fcabbed in her 
 prefence, the Biihop of Lilbon was thrown from the tower of his own cathedral, and the 
 maffacre of all the Queen's adherents became general ; and many were murdered under that 
 pretence, by thofe who had an enmity againfl them. In 1505 between two and three 
 thoufand Jews were maflacred in Lilbon in the fpace of three days, and many ChriiKans 
 were alfo murdered by their private enemies under a fimilar pretence that they were of the 
 Hebrew race. Thoufands flocked in from the country to aflift in their deftruftion, and the 
 crews of fome French and Dutch (hips then in the river, fays Oforius, were particularly 
 aftive in murdering and plundering. 
 
 When the Spanifh yoke was thrown off", 3nd the Duke of Braganza afcended the 
 throne under the title of John IV. This is one of the moll remarkable events in hiflory, 
 and does the Portuguefe nation infinite honour. 
 
 E 2 From
 
 [ a8 ] 
 
 From bondage refcued and the foreign fword, 
 And Independence and the Throne reftored ! 
 
 Hark, what low found from Cintra rock ! the air 
 Trembles with horror ; fainting lightnings glare ; 
 Shrill crows the cock, the dogs give difmal yell j 
 And with the whirlwind's roar full comes the fwell -, 
 Convulfive ftaggers rock th' eternal ground, 
 And heave the Tagus from his bed profound j 
 A dark red cloud the towers of Lifboa veils j 
 Ah heaven, what dreadful groan ! the rifing gales- 
 Bring light ; and Lifboa fmoaking in the dull 
 Lies fall'n. — The wide-fpread ruins, ftill auguft, 
 Still fhew the footfteps where the dreadful God 
 Of earthquake, cloath'd in howling darknefs, trod ; 
 Where mid foul weeds the heaps of marble tell 
 From what proud height the fpacious temples fell ; 
 And penury and v floth of fqualid^mien 
 Beneath the rooflefs palace walls p are feen 
 
 p This defcription is literally juft. Whole families, of all ages, are every where Ceen 
 among the ruins, the only covering of their habitations being ragged fragments of fail- 
 
 In
 
 [ *9 ] 
 
 In favage hovels, where the tap'ftried floor 
 Was trod by Nobles and by Kings before ; 
 How like, alas, her Indian empire's flate ! 
 How like the city's and the nation's fate ! 
 Yet Time points forward to a brighter day ; 
 Points to the domes that flretch their fair array 
 Through the brown ruins, lifting to the Iky 
 A loftier brow and mien of promife high ; 
 Points to the river-fhore where wide and grand 
 The Courts of Commerce and her walks expand, 
 As an Imperial palace * to retain ^ 
 The Univerfal Queen, and fix her reign ; 
 Where pleas'd fhe hears the groaning oar refound j 
 By magazines and ars'nals mounded round, 
 
 cloth ; and their common' bed dirty draw. The magnificent and extenfive ruins of the 
 palace of Braganza contain feveral hundreds of thefe idle people, much more wretched 
 in their appearance than the gypfies of England. 
 
 i The Prafa de Commercio, or Forum of Commerce, is one of the largeft and molt 
 magnificent fquares in Europe. Three fides confift of the Exchange and the public 
 offices ; the fourth is formed by the Tagus, which is here edged by an extenfive and 
 noble wharf, built of coarfe marble. 
 
 Whole
 
 I 3° ] 
 
 Whofe yet unfinifhed grandeur proudly boafts 
 The faireft hope of either India's coafts, 
 And bids the Mufe's eye in vifion roam 
 Through mighty fcenes in ages long to come. 
 
 Forgive, fair Thames, the fong of truth that pays 
 To Tago's emprefs-ftream fuperior praifej 
 O'er every vauntful river be it thine 
 To boafl the guardian fhield of laws divine ; 
 But yield to Tagus all the fovereign ftate 
 By Nature's gift beftow'd and partial Fate, 
 The fea-like port and central fway to pour 
 Her fleets, by happieft courfe, on every more. 
 
 When from the fleep of ages dark and dead, 
 Thy Genius, Commerce, rear'd her infant head, 
 Her cradle bland on Tago's lap fhe chofe, 
 And foon to wandering childhood fprightly rofe ; 
 And when to green and youthful vigour grown 
 On Tago's breaft fhe fixt her central throne ; 
 
 Far
 
 [ 3' I 
 
 Far from the hurricane's refiftlefs fweep 
 
 That tears with thundering rage the Carib deep ; 
 
 Far from the foul-winged Winter that deforms 
 
 And rolls the northern main with ftorms on ftorms ; 
 
 Beneath falubrious Ikies, to fummer gales 
 
 She gives the ventrous and returning fails : 
 
 The fmiling ifles, named Fortunate of old, 
 
 Firft on her Ocean's bofom fair unfold : 
 
 Thy world, Columbus, fpreads its various breaft, 
 
 Proud to be firft by Liiboa's waves careft ; 
 
 And Afric wooes and leads her eafy way 
 
 To the fair regions of the rifing day. 
 
 If Turkey's drugs invite or filken pride, 
 
 Thy {traits, Alcides, give the ready tide j 
 
 And turn the prow, and foon each fhore expands 
 
 From Gallia's coaft to Europe's northern lands. 
 
 When Heaven decreed low to the duft to bring 
 That lofty oak r , AlTyria's boaflful King, 
 
 r See Daniel, ch. iv. 
 
 Deep,
 
 [ 3> ] 
 
 Deep, faid the angel voice, the roots fecure 
 
 With bands of brafs, and let the life endure, 
 
 For yet his head fliall rife. — And deep remain 
 
 The living roots of Lifboa's ancient reign, 
 
 Deep in the caftled ides on Afia's ftrand, 
 
 And firm in fair Brazilia's wealthy land. 
 
 And fay, while ages roll their lengthening train, 
 
 Shall Nature's gifts to Tagus frill prove vain, 
 
 An idle wafte ! — A dawn of brighteft ray 
 
 Has boldly promifed the returning day 
 
 Of Lilboa's honours, fairer than her prime 
 
 Loft by a rude unletter'd Age's crime — 
 
 Now Heaven-taught Science and her liberal band 
 
 Of Arts, and dictates by experience plann'd, 
 
 Beneath the fmiles of a benignant Queen 
 
 Boaft the fair opening of a reign' ferene, 
 
 * Alludes to the cftablifhment of the Royal Academy of Lifbon in July 1780, under 
 the prefidency of the molt illuftrious Prince Don John of Braganza, Duke of Lafocns, 
 &c. &c. &c. The Author was prefent at the ceremony of its commencement, and had 
 the honour to be admitted a member. 
 
 Of
 
 [ 33 3 
 
 Of omen high. — And Camoens' Ghoft no more 
 Wails the neglected Mufe on Tago's more ; 
 No more his tears the barbarous Age ' upbraid : 
 His griefs and wrongs all footh'd, his happy Shade 
 Beheld th' Ulyfles w of his age return 
 To Tago's banks ; and earned to adorn 
 The Hero's brows, he weaves the Elyfian crown, 
 What time the letter'd Chiefs of old renown, 
 
 1 Camoens, the firft poet of Portugal, publifhed his Lufiad at a time of the deepelt 
 declenfion of public virtue, when the Portuguefe empire in India was falling into rapid 
 decay, when literature was totally neglected, and all was luxury and imbecility at home. 
 At the end of books V. and VII. of his Lufiad, he feverely upbraids the Nobility for 
 their barbarous ignorance. He died, negledled in a workhoufe, a few months before his 
 country fell under the yoke of Philip II. of Spain, whofe policy in Portugal was of the 
 fame kind with that which he exercifed in the Netherlands, endeavouring to fecure fub- 
 miffion by feverity, with the view of reducing them beneath the poffibility of a fuccefs- 
 ful revolt. 
 
 w This title is given by the Portuguefe hiftorians to Don John, one of the younger fons 
 of John I. of Portugal, who had vifited every Court of Europe. The fame title is no lefs 
 due to the prefent illultrious defcendant of his family, the Duke of Lafoens. His Grace, 
 who has within thefe few years returned to his native country, was about twenty-two 
 years abfent from it. During the late War, he was a volunteer in the army of the 
 Emprefs Queen, in which he ferved as Lieutenant-general, and particularly diilinguiflied 
 himfelf at the battle of Maxen, where the Pruflians were defeated. After the peace, 
 he not only vifited every court of Europe, mod of whofe languages he fpeaks fluently, 
 but alfo travelled to Turkey and Egypt, and even to Lapland. His Grace is no 
 lefs diltinguifhed by his tafte for the Belles Letlres, than for his extenfive knowledge 
 of Hiflory and Science. 
 
 F And
 
 C 34 ] 
 
 And patriot Heroes, in the Elyfian bowers 
 
 Shall hail Braganza : of the faireft flowers 
 
 Of Helicon, entwined with laurel leaves 
 
 From Maxen field, the deathlefs wreath he weaves j 
 
 Anxious alone, nor be his vows in vain ! 
 
 That long his toil unfiniihed may remain ! 
 
 The view how grateful to the liberal mind, 
 Whofe glow of heart embraces human kind, 
 To fee a nation rife ! But ah, my Friend, 
 How dire the pangs to mark our own defcend ! 
 With ample powers from ruin ftill to fave, 
 Yet as a veflel on the furious wave, 
 Through funken rocks and rav'nous whirlpools tod:, 
 Each power to fave in counter-action loft, 
 Where, while combining ftorms the decks o'erwhelm, 
 Timidity flow faulters at the helm, 
 The crew, in mutiny, from every mail 
 Tearing its ftrength, and yielding to the blaft $ 
 
 By
 
 [ 35 ] 
 
 By Faction's ftern and gloomy luft of change, 
 And felfifli rage infpired and dark revenge — 
 Nor ween, my Friend, that favouring Fate forebodes 
 That Albion's ftate, the toil of demi-gods, 
 From ancient manners pure, through ages long, 
 And from unnumber'd friendly afpec~ts fprungj 
 When poifon'd at the heart its foul expires, 
 Shall e'er again relume its generous fires : 
 No future day may fuch fair Frame reflore : 
 When Albion falls, me falls to rife no more. 
 
 °#°
 
 Lately Pub/i/hed, by the fame Author, 
 ( Price One Guinea ) 
 
 THE LUSIAD; 
 
 Or, The D I S C O V E R Y of INDIA. 
 AN EPIC POEM. 
 
 Tranflated from the Original Portuguefe of Luis de Camoens. 
 
 ALSO, 
 ( Price Two Shillings and Sixpence ) 
 
 SYR MARTYN: A POEM. 
 
 In the Manner of SPENSER. 
 
 And, preparing for the Prefs, 
 OBSERVATIONS AND REMARKS 
 
 ON THE 
 
 ANCIENT AND PRESENT STATE OF PORTUGAL; 
 Written during fome Excursions in that Country. 
 
 BY THE SAME.
 
 UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA LIBRARY 
 
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