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Nor do I sing for courtesy's sake
with a taste for praising, but to make
pure truths known about my former times.
Would to God they were mere dreams.

— Luís de Camões

Nem eu delicadezas vou cantando
Co'o gosto do louvor, mas explicando
Puras verdades já por mim passadas.
Oxalá foram fábulas sonhadas!

Original text (Portuguese)

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Dreams

More quotes by Luís de Camões

The moon, full orbed, forsakes her watery cave,
And lifts her lovely head above the wave...

Os Lusíadas (1572)

O foul disgrace, of knighthood lasting stain,
By men of arms a helpless lady slain!

Os Lusíadas (1572)

Cease all, whose actions ancient bards expressed:
A brighter valour rises in the West.

Os Lusíadas (1572)

My pen in this, my sword in that hand hold.

Os Lusíadas (1572)

Go, gentle spirit! now supremely blest,
From scenes of pain and struggling virtue go:
From thy immortal seat of heavenly rest
Behold us lingering in a world of woe!

All Luís de Camões quotes →

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Attribution

Quote text and notes from Wikiquote: Luís de Camões (page history), available under CC BY-SA 4.0. Source quality and labels are our own summary of what Wikiquote records.