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/27

 Poet, descended from a noble family, was born at Coimbra in the year 1495, and in accordance with the wishes of his parents, studied law at the University of that City, arriving at the degree of Doctor. The death of his Father closed his legal career, for which he had had 110 predilection; and, left to follow his own inclinations, he visited most of the cities of Europe. On his return he tarried some time at Court, but afterwards retired disappointed to his Quinta near Ponte de Lima, where he spent the remainder of his life. His Poems, through which a vein of melancholy runs, consist of Sonnets, Elegies, and Redondilhas; and his two Comedies, which were remarkable productions for the time they were composed, were frequently performed before the Cardinal Dom Henrique. He is accounted the founder of a new school in Portugal, and one of her most distinguished Poets. He married Dona Briolanja de Azevedo, whose father being dead, the overtures were made to her brothers; who, being aware that their sister had neither youth or beauty to recommend her, would not conclude any compact until he had seen her; and an interview having been arranged, he thus accosted her, “Chastise me, lady, with this staff, for having come so late." Her amiable disposition, however, fully compensated for her defect in beauty, and he never recovered the shock occasioned by