--_
The opinion of the sacredness of the table is very ancient in the East.
The opinion of the sacredness of the table is very ancient in the East.
Camoes - Lusiades
--_
According to Osorius.
[486] _A leaf. _--The Betel.
[487] _More now we add not. _--The tenor of this first conversation
between the zamorim and GAMA, is according to the truth of history.
[488] _What terrors oft have thrill'd my infant breast. _--The enthusiasm
with which Monzaida, a Moor, talks of the Portuguese, may perhaps to
some appear unnatural. Camoens seems to be aware of this by giving a
reason for that enthusiasm in the first speech of Monzaida to Gama--
_Heav'n sent you here for some great work divine,
And Heav'n inspires my breast your sacred toils to join. _
And, that this Moor did conceive a great affection to GAMA, whose
religion he embraced, and to whom he proved of the utmost service, is
according to the truth of history.
[489] _The ruddy juice by Noah found. _--Gen. ix. 20. "And Noah began to
be an husbandman, and he planted a vineyard, and he drank of the wine,"
etc.
[490]
_His faith forbade with other tribe to join
The sacred meal, esteem'd a rite divine.
--_
The opinion of the sacredness of the table is very ancient in the East.
It is plainly to be discovered in the history of Abraham. When
Melchizedek, a king and priest, blessed Abraham, it is said, "And he
brought forth bread and wine and he blessed him. "--Gen. xiv. 18. The
patriarchs only drank wine, according to Dr. Stukely, on their more
solemn festivals, when they were said _to rejoice before the Lord_.
Other customs of the Hindoos are mentioned by Camoens in this book. If a
noble should touch a person of another tribe--
_A thousand rites, and washings o'er and o'er,
Can scarce his tainted purity restore. _
Nothing, says Osorius, but the death of the unhappy commoner can wipe
off the pollution. Yet we are told by the same author, that Hindoo
nobility cannot be forfeited, or even tarnished by the basest and
greatest of crimes; nor can one of mean birth become great or noble by
the most illustrious actions. The noblemen, says the same writer, adopt
the children of their sisters, esteeming there can be no other certainty
of the relationship of their heirs.
[491] _The warlike song. _--Though Camoens began his Lusiad in Portugal,
almost the whole of it was written while on the ocean, while in Africa,
and in India. --See his Life.
According to Osorius.
[486] _A leaf. _--The Betel.
[487] _More now we add not. _--The tenor of this first conversation
between the zamorim and GAMA, is according to the truth of history.
[488] _What terrors oft have thrill'd my infant breast. _--The enthusiasm
with which Monzaida, a Moor, talks of the Portuguese, may perhaps to
some appear unnatural. Camoens seems to be aware of this by giving a
reason for that enthusiasm in the first speech of Monzaida to Gama--
_Heav'n sent you here for some great work divine,
And Heav'n inspires my breast your sacred toils to join. _
And, that this Moor did conceive a great affection to GAMA, whose
religion he embraced, and to whom he proved of the utmost service, is
according to the truth of history.
[489] _The ruddy juice by Noah found. _--Gen. ix. 20. "And Noah began to
be an husbandman, and he planted a vineyard, and he drank of the wine,"
etc.
[490]
_His faith forbade with other tribe to join
The sacred meal, esteem'd a rite divine.
--_
The opinion of the sacredness of the table is very ancient in the East.
It is plainly to be discovered in the history of Abraham. When
Melchizedek, a king and priest, blessed Abraham, it is said, "And he
brought forth bread and wine and he blessed him. "--Gen. xiv. 18. The
patriarchs only drank wine, according to Dr. Stukely, on their more
solemn festivals, when they were said _to rejoice before the Lord_.
Other customs of the Hindoos are mentioned by Camoens in this book. If a
noble should touch a person of another tribe--
_A thousand rites, and washings o'er and o'er,
Can scarce his tainted purity restore. _
Nothing, says Osorius, but the death of the unhappy commoner can wipe
off the pollution. Yet we are told by the same author, that Hindoo
nobility cannot be forfeited, or even tarnished by the basest and
greatest of crimes; nor can one of mean birth become great or noble by
the most illustrious actions. The noblemen, says the same writer, adopt
the children of their sisters, esteeming there can be no other certainty
of the relationship of their heirs.
[491] _The warlike song. _--Though Camoens began his Lusiad in Portugal,
almost the whole of it was written while on the ocean, while in Africa,
and in India. --See his Life.
