[256] Se alguma cousa me lastima, he ver, que a pouca noticia que della (a lingoa Portugueza) tenho, me fara levar o estilo de historia menos lustroso do que podera ir, sendo composto porque fizera seu fundamento na elegancia e fermosura da pratica mais que na verdade e certeza do que se conta; o que se naõ permitte em homem que professa nome de historiador authentico.--_Prologo, p. 4._ [257] With regard to these portraits, it may be observed that they are not well engraved; but according to the assurance of Brito, they were faithfully copied from the best likenesses extant. It would not be easy to find a portrait of Philip II. of Spain, who is here described as the eighteenth King of Portugal, which so decidedly expresses the character of that austere despot. [258] I am acquainted with this work only by means of the Spanish translation which is entitled:--_Historia oriental de las peregrinaciones de Fernan Mendez Pinto, Portuguez. Madr. 1620. fol._ [259] They are noticed by Barbosa Machado. [260] These works are more particularly noticed at the commencement of the preceding volume, page 14. [261] See preceding vol. page 431. [262] A writer of Spanish verse, and the author of several approved Spanish comedies. [263] _Jacinto Cordero_ (according to the Spanish orthography and pronunciation of _Cordeiro_), _Elogio de poetas Lusitanos_. Lisb. 1631. Those who wish to study the progress of Portuguese poetry, will derive no information from this book. [264] A sufficient acquaintance with the more celebrated of these Portuguese sonneteers, may be acquired from the collection of Portuguese poems, edited by Matthias Pereira da Sylva, under the following fantastical title:--_A Fenix renascida, ou Obras poeticas dos melhores engenhos Portugueses_ (though only those of the seventeenth century are included). _Segunda ediçaõ. Lisb._ 1746, in 3 volumes octavo. Not one half of this collection is worth perusing. [265] See preceding vol. page 428. [266] Barbosa Machado notices this polygraphic author with nearly as much enthusiasm as the Spaniards speak of Lope de Vega. He even asserts, that, in point of style Faria y Sousa may be placed on a parallel with the most distinguished of the ancient writers. [267] They are included in the first and fourth volumes of his _Fuente de Aganippe_. (Madrid, 1446). [268] The following sonnet will afford a specimen of these compositions. It is not indeed totally free from affected phrases; for example, the sixth line. But that line is sufficiently atoned for by the rest:--