Camoens - The Lyrics part 1 - Sir Richard Francis Burton (1821-1890)

THE TRANSLATOR'S FOREWORD,I NOW submit to the Public a second section ofmy Master's works, the first Part of his far-famedLyricks. This volume is the fifth of a Camonianseries; and two or three more, which are in MS.,will complete my Labour of Love.It is hard to repress a smile at the thought of thesepages being turned over by Young England of thenineteenth century ;these Sonnets which date fromdays when "courting" was a study; these Odes thatdeal with old Endymion and Achilles, whose seconddeath was after the date of Gray ;these Canzons sofull of shadowy half-expression,of shorthand allusiveness,that every Commentator explains them forhimself. To the inevitable cui lono ? I can only pleada " call " :my translation should be printed eventhoughit had ne'er a reader save the writer. It isinnocuous so far that it can injure no publisher: it isbrought out sumftu meo ; and my friend Mr. Quaritchis strong enough to lend his name without fearing tolose caste. And yet, though my work must be itsown reward, I am not wholly without hope that theLyricksjj