Luís de Camões Quotes

Ever in this world saw I
Good men suffer grave torments,
But even more— Enough to terrify— Men who live out evil lives
Reveling in pleasure and in content.

The last words which I uttered on board of the vessel were those of Scipio—<nowiki>'</nowiki>Ungrateful country! thou shalt not even possess my bones<nowiki>'</nowiki>.

Ah! minha Dinamene! Assim deixaste
Quem não deixara nunca de querer-te!
Ah! Ninfa minha, já não posso ver-te,
Tão asinha esta vida desprezaste! Como já pera sempre te apartaste
De quem tão longe estava de perder-te?
Puderam estas ondas defender-te
Que não visses quem tanto magoaste? Nem falar-te somente a dura Morte
Me deixou, que tão cedo o negro manto
Em teus olhos deitado consentiste! Oh mar! oh céu! oh minha escura sorte!
Que pena sentirei que valha tanto,
Que inda tenha por pouco viver triste?

A sad event and worthy of Memory,
Who draws forth men from their (closed) sepulchres,
Befell that piteous maid, and pitiful
Who, after she was dead was (crowned) queen.

Tu só, tu, puro Amor...

Cesse tudo o que a Musa antiga canta, Que outro valor mais alto se alevanta.

My song shall spread where ever there are men,
If wit and art will so much guide my pen.

[Ah o amor...] que nasce não sei onde,
Vem não sei como, e dói não sei porquê.

Cantando espalharei por toda parte,
Se a tanto me ajudar o engenho e arte.

Porque é tamanha bem-aventurança
o dar-vos quanto tenho e quanto posso,
quanto mais vos pago, mais vos devo.

I was long ago undeceived that protesting
could bring redress. But whoever suffers
is bound to complain if the pain is great.
So I did! But the cry that could offer
relief is itself feeble and exhausted,
and it is not through weeping that pain abates.

Right honest studies my career can show with long experience blent as best beseems, and genius here presented for thy view;— gifts, that conjoined appertain to few.

Death, what are you taking?" "The daylight."
"What hour did you take it?" "As it dawned."
"Do you know what you're taking?"
"I'm unconcerned."
"Then who made you do it?" "The Creator.

O piteous lot of man's uncertain state!
What woes on Life's unhappy journey wait!

Great Sir, let never the astonished Gall
The English, German, and Italian,
Have cause to say, the fainting Portugal
Could not advance the great work he began.
Let your advisers be experienced all,
Such as have seen the world, and studied man.
For, though in science much contained be,
In special cases practice more doth see.