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[521] _Those three bold knights how dread. _--Nothing can give us a
stronger picture of the romantic character of their age, than the
manners of those champions, who were gentlemen of birth; and who, in the
true spirit of knight-errantry, went about from court to court in quest
of adventures. Their names were, Goncalo Ribeiro; Fernando Martinez de
Santarene; and Vasco Anez, foster-brother to Mary, queen of Castile,
daughter of Alonzo IV. of Portugal.

[522] _And I, behold, am off'ring sacrifice. _--This line, the simplicity
which, I think, contains great dignity, is adopted from Fanshaw--

"And I, ye see, am off'ring sacrifice;"

who has here caught the spirit of the original--

_A quem lhe a dura nova estava dando,
Pois eu responde estou sacrificando;_

_i. e. _ To whom when they told the dreadful tidings, "And I," he replies
"am sacrificing. " The piety of Numa was crowned with victory. --Vid.
'Plut. in vit. Numae.

[523]

_The Lusian_ Scipio _well might speak his fame,
But nobler_ Nunio _shines a greater name_. --

Castera justly observes the happiness with which Camoens introduces the
name of this truly great man.
"_Il va_," says he, "_le nommer tout a
l'heure avec une adresse et une magnificence digne d'un si beau sujet_. "

[524] _Two knights of Malta. _--These knights were first named Knights
Hospitalers of St. John of Jerusalem, afterwards Knights of Rhodes, from
whence they were driven to Messina, ere Malta was assigned to them. By
their oath of knighthood they were bound to protect the Holy Sepulchre
from the profanation of infidels; immediately on taking this oath, they
retired to their colleges, where they lived on their revenues in all the
idleness of monkish luxury. Their original habit was black, with a white
cross; their arms _gules_, a cross, _argent_.

[525] _His captive friend. _--Before John I. mounted the throne of
Portugal, one Vasco Porcallo was governor of Villaviciosa. Roderic de
Landroal and his friend, Alvarez Cuytado, having discovered that he was
in the interest of the King of Castile, drove him from his town and
fortress. On the establishment of King John, Porcallo had the art to
obtain the favour of that prince; but, no sooner was he re-instated in
the garrison, than he delivered it up to the Castilians; and plundered
the house of Cuytado, whom, with his wife, he made prisoner and, under a
numerous party, ordered to be sent to Olivenca. Roderic de Landroal,
hearing of this, attacked and defeated the escort, and set his friend at
liberty. --CASTERA.

[526] _Here treason's well-earn'd meed allures thine eyes. _--While the
kingdom of Portugal was divided, some holding with John the newly
elected king, and others with the King of Castile, Roderic Marin,
governor of Campo-Major, declared for the latter. Fernando d'Elvas
endeavoured to gain him to the interest of his native prince, and a
conference, with the usual assurances of safety, was agreed to.