ABSTRACT
The Portuguese were a poetic people, and the Portuguese language adapted to poetry. The reformation of Castilian poetry introduced into Spain by Boscan and Garcilaso, penetrated into Portugal; and, singularly enough, the poets who followed, quitted their native idiom to adopt that of the rival country. In this brief summary of the predecessors of Camoens, introduced chiefly to shew the state of national poetry when he appeared, the authors are unable to do full justice to any of these writers, and are obliged to omit the names of many. Antonio Ferreira must be mentioned as a classic poet of Portugal. It was the object of his ambition at once to be himself a classic poet; and to give to his native Portugal a classic style of poetry. The glory, the advancement and the civilisation of Portugal, were the themes of his praise, and the objects which he furthered with his utmost endeavours.
