[425] What time he claim'd the proud Castilian throne.—John of Gaunt, duke of Lancaster, claimed the crown of Castile in the right of his wife, Donna Constantia, daughter of Don Pedro, the late king. Assisted by his son-in-law, John I. of Portugal, he entered Galicia, and was proclaimed king of Castile at the city of St. Jago de Compostella. He afterwards relinquished his pretensions, on the marriage of his daughter, Catalina, with the infant, Don Henry of Castile.
[426] The dames by lot their gallant champions choose.—The ten champions, who in the fifth book of Tasso's Jerusalem are sent by Godfrey for the assistance of Armida, are chosen by lot. Tasso, who had read the Lusiad, and admired its author, undoubtedly had the Portuguese poet in his eye.
In that proud port half circled by the wave,
Which Portugallia to the nation gave,
A deathless name.—
Oporto, called by the Romans Calle. Hence Portugal.
Yet something more than human warms my breast,
And sudden whispers—
In the Portuguese—
Mas, se a verdade o espirito me adevinha.
Literally, "But, if my spirit truly divine." Thus rendered by Fanshaw—