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Ever in this world saw I
Good men suffer grave torments,
But even more—
Enough to terrify—
Men who live out evil lives
Reveling in pleasure and in content.

— Luís de Camões

Os bons vi sempre passar
No mundo graves tormentos;
E para mais me espantar,
Os maus vi sempre nadar
Em mar de contentamentos.

Original text (Portuguese)

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Notes from Wikiquote

"Esparsa ao Desconcerto do Mundo", translation from Luís de Camões and the Epic of the Lusiads (1962) by Henry Hersch Hart, p. 111

More quotes by Luís de Camões

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

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

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

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

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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!

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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.