COUTO, Diogo do Observações sobre as Principaes Causas da Decadencia dos Portuguezes na Asia, escritas . . em forma de Dialogo, com o titulo de Soldado Pratico . . With second title p.: Dialogo do Soldado Pratico Portuguez, . . entre hum Governador novamente eleito, e hum soldado antigo. Lisbon Na Offic. da Acad. Real das Sciencias 1790
8vo. Pp. III-XIV, (1) f., 161 pp.; 110 pp. Modern quarter calf, spine richly gilt.
First edition of one of the most important Portuguese literary works, referred to by Rodrigues Lapa as dos livros mais honrados da literatura portuguesa. Couto lived for many years in Goa, and his work, in which he vigorously criticizes the authorities, is a rich and valuable document because of his first-hand knowledge and his literary gifts. The original manuscript was stolen, but the indomitable Couto rewrote it and both versions have survived. Bell (Portuguese Literature, p. 198) writes, this dialogue between an old soldier of India, and ex-Governor, and a judge forms a most valuable and interesting indictment of the decadence of Portuguese rule in India, where the thief and rogue escaped scot-free, while the occasional honest man was liable to suffer for their sins, and the sleek soldier in velvet with gold ribbons on his hat had taken the place of the bearded conquistadores. Pinto de Mattos p. 206. Azevedo-Samodães 948, apreciada e pouco vulgar. Innocêncio II, 156. Palha 4154, ouvrage estimé. Avila-Perez 2091. Scholberg, Bibliography of Goa & the Portuguese in India, EC14. De Silva, The Portuguese in Asia, 739, a valuable contemporary source.
£300
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