CHRISTOPHER
CHAP. V I ]
COLUMBUS.
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its princes so poor as to lack means to engage in discoveries. Even granting that those proposed by Columbus were conjectural, why should they abandon those commenced by their late Prince Henry, on such solid foundations, and prosecuted with such happy prospects ? Crowns,” he observed, “enriched themselves by commerce, fortified themselves by alliance, and acquired empires by conquest.
The views of a nation could not always be the
same; they extended with its opulence and prosperity.
Portu
gal was at peace with all the princes of Europe.
It had nothing
to fear from engaging in an extensive enterprise.
It would be
the greatest glory for Portuguese valor to penetrate into the secrets and horrors of the ocean sea, so formidable to the other nations of the world.
Thus occupied, it would escape the idleness
engendered in a long interval of peace—idleness, that source of vice, that silent file, which, little by little, wore away the strength and valor of a nation.
It was an affront,” he added, “ to the
Portuguese name to menace it with imaginary perils, when it had proved itself so intrepid in encountering those which were most certain and tremendous. terprises.
Great souls were formed for great en
He wondered much, that a prelate, so religious as the
bishop of Ceuta, should oppose this undertaking; the ultimate object of which was to augment the Catholic faith, and spread it from pole to pole; reflecting glory on the Portuguese nation, and yielding empire and lasting fame to its princes.“
He concluded
by declaring that, “ although a soldier, he dared to prognosticate, with a voice and spirit as if from heaven, to whatever prince should achieve this enterprise, more happy success and durable renown, than had ever been obtained by sovereign the most valorous and fortunate.”*
The warm and generous eloquence of the count
* Vasconcelos, lib. iv. La Clede, Hist. Portugal, lib. xiii. tom. iii.
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