The beautiful
poem of the Lusiad by Camoens, the Portuguese Homer, is dedicated to the
celebration of this important transaction, and is well known through an
elegant translation into English by Mickle. In the present chapter, the
curious and rare work of Castaneda, so far as his first book extends, is
given entire; and the only freedom employed in this version, besides
changing the English of 229 years ago into the modern and more
intelligible language, has Been to prune a quaint verbosity, mistaken by
Lichefield for rhetorical eloquence. The dedication of the early
translator to the celebrated Sir Francis Drake, is preserved in its
original dress, as a sufficient specimen of the language of England at
the close of the sixteenth century.

DEDICATION.

_To the right Worshipfull
Sir Fraunces Drake, Knight,
N, L, G, wisheth all prosperitie._

They haue an auncient custome in Persia (the which is also observed
throughout all Asia) that none will enterprise to visit the king,
noble man, or perticularly any other person of countenance, but he
carieth with him some thing to present him with all worthy of thanks,
the which is not onely done in token of great humilitie & obedience,
but also of a zealous loue & friendly affection to their superiours &
welwillers. So I (right worshipfull following this Persian president)
hauing taking vpon me this simple translation out of the Portingale
tongue, into our English language, am bold to present & dedicate the
same vnto you as a signification of my entire good will. The history
conteineth the discouerie and conquest of the East Indias, made by
sundry worthy captaines of the Portengales, in the time of King Don
Manuel, & of the King Don John, the second of that name, with the
description, not onely of the country, but also of every harbour
apperteining to every place whervnto they came, & of the great
resistance they found in the same, by reson wherof there was sundry
great battles many times fought, and likewise of the commodities &
riches that euery of these places doth yeeld. And for that I know your
worship, with great peril and daunger haue past these monstrous and
bottomlesse sees, am therfore the more encouraged to desire & pray
your worships patronage & defence therof, requesting you with all to
pardon those imperfections, which I acknowledge to be very many, & so
much