Page:Lusitania illustrata- notices on the history, antiquities, literature, etc., of Portugal. Literary department. Part I. Selection of sonnets, with biographical sketches of the authors (IA lusitaniaillustr00adam 0).pdf/137



HE earliest efforts of Literature in all countries appear in the form of poetical Traditions, many of which have not been consigned to writing until much of the originals has been irretrievably lost.

The Portuguese Literature had its commencement with its imitators of the Troubadours ; but, amidst the struggles and noise of warfare, it had small chance of cultivation ; and the probability is, that it obtained little amelioration until the time of the king Dom Diniz; who, himself a poet and an able and distinguished scholar, during the calm of peace protected and encouraged it.

From the Reign of Dom Joao I. until the death of Dom Manoel, the arts and sciences kept pace and increased with the national virtue and the national pride. It was at that period that Gil Vicente laid the foundation for a theatre of the living languages, and that Bernardim Ribeiro, taking advantage of the Ro.