active service of the sea, he quitted that occupation, and commenced corrector of the press. In the latter capacity he was employed by Mr. Jackson of Oxford, and, till he commenced poet, was much noticed by Mr. Warton. Having derived some pecuniary advantages from his literary productions, he chose for his residence in a sequestered situation near Oxford, whence he occasionally visited the University and London. On the appointment of Mr. Johnson to his command, he took Mr. Mickle with him as Secretary, and afterwards carried him to Libson. There, the attention he had bestowed on the Lusiad was acknowledged in the most flattering manner, and the literary honors of that country were liberally conferred upon him. Being now easy in his circumstances, Mr. Mickle indulged his love both of ease and of letters, but his enjoyment was of short duration. He was author of a tract or two in prose of no extraordinary merit, and of several little poems, beside his translation. His best production is Sir Martyn, which was at first entitled THE CONCUBINE, and deserves commendation not only for its moral tendency but also it's poetic beauty. To the Epistle from Lisbon, Mr. Mickle prefixed the advertisement subjoined. ADVERTISEMENT. Though no subjects are more proper for poetry than those which are founded upon historical retrospect, the author of such a poem lies under very par ticular disadvantages: every one can understand and relish a work merely fictitious, descriptive, or senti mental; but a previous acquaintance, and even intimacy, with the history and characters upon which the other poem is founded, is absolutely necessary to do justice to its author. Without such previous knowledge, the ideas which he would convey pass unobserved, as in an unknown tongue; and the happiest allusion, if he is fortunate enough to attain any thing worthy of that name, is unfelt and unseen. Under these disadvantages the following epistle is presented to the public, whose indulgence and candor the author has already amply experienced. In the Twelfth Century, Lisbon, and great part of Portugal and Spain, were in possession of the Moors. Alphonso, the first King of Portugal, having gained several victories over that people, was laying siege to Lisbon, when Robert, Duke of Gloucester, on his way to the Holy Land, appeared upon the coast of that kingdom. As the cause was the same, Robert was easily persuaded to make his first crusade in Portugal. He demanded that the storming of the Castle of Lisbon, situated on a considerable hill, and whose ruins shew it to have been of great strength, should be allotted to him, while Alphonso was to assail the walls and the city. Both Leaders were successful; and Alphonso, among the rewards which he bestowed upon the English, granted to those who were wounded, or unable to proceed to Palestine, the Castle of Almada, and the adjoining Lands. The River Tagus below and opposite to Lisbon, is edged by steep grotesque rocks, particularly on the south side. Those on the south are generally higher and much more magnificent and picturesque than the Cliffs of Dover. Upon one of the highest of these, and directly opposite to Lisbon, remain the stately ruins of the Castle of Almada. In December, 1779, as the Author was wandering among these ruins, he was struck with the idea, and formed the plan of the following poem; an idea which it may be allowed, was natural to the Translator of the LUSIAD, and the plan may, in some degree, be called a supplement to that work. The following poem, except the corrections and a few lines, was written in Portugal. The descriptive parts are strictly local. The finest prospect of Lisbon and the Tagus, "(which is there about four miles broad) is from Almada, which also commands the adjacent country, from the Rock of Cintra to the Castle and City of Palmela, an extent of above fifty miles. This magnificent view is completed by the extensive opening at the mouth of the Tagus, about ten miles below, which discovers the Atlantic Ocean. 113. Where Gama march'd his death devoted band.] The expedition of Vasco de Gama, the discoverer of the East-Indies, was extremely unpopular, as it was esteemed impracticable. His embarkation is strongly marked by Osorius the historian. Gama, before he went on board, spent the night along with the crews of his squadron in the chapel of our Lady at Belem, on the spot where the noble Gothic church now stands, adjoining the convent of St. Jerome, In the chapel they bound themselves to obedience to Gama, and devoted themselves to death. "On the next day when the adventurers marched to the ships, the shore of Belem presented one of the most solemn and affecting scenes perhaps recorded in history. The beach was covered with the inhabitants of Lisbon. A numerous procession of priests in their robes sung anthems, and offered up invocations to heaven. Every one beheld the adventurers as brave innocent men going to a dreadful execution, as rushing upon certain death." Introdu&. to the Lusiad. 114. Proud domes and villages array'd in white] The houses in Portugal are generally whitened on the outside, white being esteemed as repulsive of the rays of the sun. 115. The stream of Lethe.] The river of Lima, in the north of Portugal, said to be the Lethe of the ancients, is thus mentioned by Cellarius in his Geographia Antiqua; "Fabulosus Oblivionis fluvius, Limaeas, ultra Lusitaniam in septentrione." It runs through a most romantic and beautiful district; from which circumstance it probably received the name of the River of Oblivion, the first strangers who visited it, forgetting their native country, and being willing to continue on its banks. The same reason of forgetfulness is ascribed to the Lotos by Homer, Odys. ix. There is another Lethe of the ancients in Africa. 116. Where Viriatus proudly trampled o'er Fasces and Roman eagles steept in gore;] This great man is called by Florus the Romulus of Spain. C. 116. O'er Ev'ra's fields let dread Sertorius rise.] Ebora, now Evora, was the principal residence of Sertorius. 117. Here jealous Cato laid the cities waste,] According to History, this different policy is strikingly characteristic of those celibrated names. ibid. And Julius here in fairer pride replaced,] Lucan, Martial, Seneca. 121. Palmela's hill and Cintra's summits-] are both seen from Almada, and were principal forts of the Moors. They were stormed by Alphonso the First, about the time of the conquest of Lisbon. 122. Low lay her Peers on Fontarabia's plains :] The irruption of the Mohammedans into Europe gave rise to that species of poetry called Romance. The Orlando Furioso is founded upon the invasion of France: When Charlemaigne with all his Peerage fell MILTON. ibid. Blacken'd o'er Tago's banks- -] The promontory of Sagréz, where Henry, Duke of Viseo, resided and established his naval school, is on the southern part of Portugal, opposite to Africa. 124. Great Albuquerk renown'd it's generous pride ] Albuquerk, Sampayo, Nunio, Castro, are distinguished characters in the Lusiad, and in the History of Portuguese Asia. 126. A tyrant race, who own'd no country, came,] Before the total declension of the Portuguese in Asia; and when they were subject to Spain, the principal Vol. IV. N |