_
[333] Prometheus is said to have stolen fire from heaven.
[333] Prometheus is said to have stolen fire from heaven.
Camoes - Lusiades
"
[330] More literally rendered by Capt. R. Burton:--
"----He spoke
From a full heart, and skill'd in worldly lore,
In deep, slow tones this solemn warning, fraught
With wisdom, by long-suffering only taught:
'O passion of dominion! O fond lust
Of that poor vanity which men call fame!
O treach'rous appetite, whose highest gust
Is vulgar breath that taketh honour's name!
O fell ambition, terrible but just
Art thou to breasts that cherish most thy flame!
Brief life for them in peril, storm, and rage;
This world a hell, and death their heritage.
"'Shrewd prodigal! whose riot is the dearth
Of states and principalities oppress'd,
Plunder and rape are of thy loathly birth,
Thou art alike of life and soul the pest.
High titles greet thee on this slavish earth,
Yet, none so vile but they would fit thee best.
But Fame, forsooth, and Glory thou art styl'd,
And the blind herd is by a sound beguil'd. '"
[331] The Moor. --_Ed. _
[332] The Muses. --_Ed.
_
[333] Prometheus is said to have stolen fire from heaven. --_Ed. _
[334] Alluding to the fables of Phaeton and Icarus; the former having
obtained from Helios, his father, permission to guide the chariot of the
sun for one day, nearly set the world on fire. He perished in the river
Eridanus (the Po. ) Icarus, the sun having melted the wax with which his
wings were cemented, fell into that part of the AEgean which, from his
misfortune, was called the _Icarian Sea_. --_Ed. _
[335] The sun is in the constellation Leo in July. --_Ed. _
[336] The Serra de Cintra, situated about 15 miles N. W. of
Lisbon. --_Ed. _
[337] See the life of Don Henry, prince of Portugal, in the preface.
[338] Morocco.
[339] The discovery of some of the West Indian islands by Columbus was
made in 1492 and 1493. His discovery of the continent of America was not
till 1498.
[330] More literally rendered by Capt. R. Burton:--
"----He spoke
From a full heart, and skill'd in worldly lore,
In deep, slow tones this solemn warning, fraught
With wisdom, by long-suffering only taught:
'O passion of dominion! O fond lust
Of that poor vanity which men call fame!
O treach'rous appetite, whose highest gust
Is vulgar breath that taketh honour's name!
O fell ambition, terrible but just
Art thou to breasts that cherish most thy flame!
Brief life for them in peril, storm, and rage;
This world a hell, and death their heritage.
"'Shrewd prodigal! whose riot is the dearth
Of states and principalities oppress'd,
Plunder and rape are of thy loathly birth,
Thou art alike of life and soul the pest.
High titles greet thee on this slavish earth,
Yet, none so vile but they would fit thee best.
But Fame, forsooth, and Glory thou art styl'd,
And the blind herd is by a sound beguil'd. '"
[331] The Moor. --_Ed. _
[332] The Muses. --_Ed.
_
[333] Prometheus is said to have stolen fire from heaven. --_Ed. _
[334] Alluding to the fables of Phaeton and Icarus; the former having
obtained from Helios, his father, permission to guide the chariot of the
sun for one day, nearly set the world on fire. He perished in the river
Eridanus (the Po. ) Icarus, the sun having melted the wax with which his
wings were cemented, fell into that part of the AEgean which, from his
misfortune, was called the _Icarian Sea_. --_Ed. _
[335] The sun is in the constellation Leo in July. --_Ed. _
[336] The Serra de Cintra, situated about 15 miles N. W. of
Lisbon. --_Ed. _
[337] See the life of Don Henry, prince of Portugal, in the preface.
[338] Morocco.
[339] The discovery of some of the West Indian islands by Columbus was
made in 1492 and 1493. His discovery of the continent of America was not
till 1498.
