searched and rifled with their utmost diligence； they went about to
procure discoveries by the most cruel torments they could invent upon the
prisoners they had taken： but having profited nothing by these； their
courage being greater than their torments； they arrived at last to such a
degree of fury； as； contrary to their faith and the law of nations； to
condemn the king himself； and one of the principal noblemen of his court；
to the rack； in the presence of one another。 This lord； finding himself
overcome with pain； being environed with burning coals； pitifully turned
his dying eyes towards his master； as it were to ask him pardon that he
was able to endure no more； whereupon the king； darting at him a fierce
and severe look； as reproaching his cowardice and pusillanimity； with a
harsh and constant voice said to him thus only： 〃And what dost thou think
I suffer？ am I in a bath？ am I more at ease than thou？〃 Whereupon the
other immediately quailed under the torment and died upon the spot。 The
king； half roasted； was carried thence； not so much out of pity （for what
compassion ever touched so barbarous souls； who； upon the doubtful
information of some vessel of gold to be made a prey of； caused not only
a man； but a king； so great in fortune and desert； to be broiled before
their eyes）； but because his constancy rendered their cruelty still more
shameful。 They afterwards hanged him for having nobly attempted to
deliver himself by arms from so long a captivity and subjection； and he
died with a courage becoming so magnanimous a prince。
Another time； they burnt in the same fire four hundred and sixty men
alive at once； the four hundred of the common people； the sixty the
principal lords of a province； simply prisoners of war。 We have these
narratives from themselves for they not only own it； but boast of it and
publish it。 Could it be for a testimony of their justice or their zeal
to religion？ Doubtless these are ways too differing and contrary to so
holy an end。 Had they proposed to themselves to extend our faith； they
would have considered that it does not amplify in the possession of
territories； but in the gaining of men； and would have more than
satisfied themselves with the slaughters occasioned by the necessity of
war； without indifferently mixing a massacre； as upon wild beasts； as
universal as fire and sword could make it； having only； by intention；
saved so many as they meant to make miserable slaves of； for the work and
service of their mines； so that many of the captains were put to death
upon the place of conquest； by order of the kings of Castile； justly
offended with the horror of their deportment； and almost all of them
hated and disesteemed。 God meritoriously permitted that all this great
plunder should be swallowed up by the sea in transportation； or in the
civil wars wherewith they devoured one another； and most of the men
themselves were buried in a foreign land without any fruit of their
victory。
That the revenue from these countries； though in the hands of so
parsimonious and so prudent a prince； ＇Phillip II。＇ so little answers
the expectation given of it to his predecessors； and to that original
abundance of riches which was found at the first landing in those new
discovered countries （for though a great deal be fetched thence； yet we
see 'tis nothing in comparison of that which might be expected）； is that
the use of coin was there utterly unknown； and that consequently their
gold was found all hoarded together； being of no other use but for
ornament and show； as a furniture reserved from father to son by many
puissant kings； who were ever draining their mines to make this vast heap
of vessels and statues for the decoration of their palaces and temples；
whereas our gold is always in motion and traffic； we cut it into a
thousand small pieces； and cast it into a thousand forms； and scatter and
disperse it in a thousand ways。 But suppose our kings should thus hoard
up all the gold they could get in several ages and let it lie idle by
them。
Those of the kingdom of Mexico were in some sort more civilised and more
advanced in arts than the other nations about them。 Therefore did they
judge； as we do； that the world was near its period； and looked upon the
desolation we brought amongst them as a certain sign of it。 They
believed that the existence of the world was divided into five ages； and
in the life of five successive suns； of which four had already ended
their time； and that this which gave them light was the fifth。 The first
perished； with all other creatures； by an universal inundation of water；
the second by the heavens falling upon us and suffocating every living
thing to which age they assigned the giants； and showed bones to the
Spaniards； according to the proportion of which the stature of men
amounted to twenty feet； the third by fire； which burned and consumed
all； the fourth by an emotion of the air and wind； which came with such
violence as to beat down even many mountains； wherein the men died not；
but were turned into baboons。 What impressions will not the weakness of
human belief admit？ After the death of this fourth sun； the world was
twenty…five years in perpetual darkness： in the fifteenth of which a man
and a woman were created； who restored the human race： ten years after；
upon a certain day； the sun appeared newly created； and since the account
of their year takes beginning from that day： the third day after its
creation the ancient gods died； and the new ones were since born daily。
After what manner they think this last sun shall perish； my author knows
not； but their number of this fourth change agrees with the great
conjunction of stars which eight hundred and odd years ago； as
astrologers suppose； produced great alterations and novelties in the
world。
As to pomp and magnificence； upon the account of which I engaged in this
discourse； neither Greece； Rome； nor Egypt； whether for utility；
difficulty； or state； can compare any of their works with the highway to
be seen in Peru； made by the kings of the country； from the city of Quito
to that of Cusco （three hundred leagues）； straight； even； five…and…twenty
paces wide； paved； and provided on both sides with high and beautiful
walls； and close by them； and all along on the inside； two perennial
streams； bordered with beautiful plants； which they call moly。 In this
work； where they met with rocks and mountains； they cut them through； and
made them even； and filled up pits and valleys with lime and stone to
make them level。 At the end of every day's journey are beautiful
palaces； furnished with provisions； vestments； and arms； as well for
travellers as for the armies that are to pass that way。 In the estimate
of this work I have reckoned the difficulty which is especially
considerable in that place； they did not build with any stones less than
ten feet square； and had no other conveniency of carriage but by drawing
their load themselves by force of arm； and knew not so much as the art of
scaffolding； nor any other way of standing to their work； but by throwing
up earth against the building as it rose higher； taking it away again
when they had done。
Let us here return to our coaches。 Instead of these； and of all other
sorts of carriages； they caused themselves to be carried upon men's
shoulders。 This last king of Peru； the day that he was taken； was thus
carried betwixt two upon staves of gold； and set in a chair of gold in
the middle of his army。 As many of these sedan…men as were killed to
make him fall （for they would take him alive）； so many others （and they
contended for it） took the place of those who were slain； so that they
could never beat him down； what slaughter soever they made of these
people； till a horseman； seizing upon him； brought him to the ground。
CHAPTER VII
OF THE INCONVENIENCE OF GREATNESS
Since we cannot attain unto it； let us revenge our selves by railing at
it； and yet it is not absolutely railing against anything to proclaim its
defects； because they are in all things to be found； how beautiful or how
much to be coveted soever。 Greatness has； in general； this manifest
advantage； that it can lower itself when it pleases； and has； very near；
the choice of both the one and the other condition； for a man does not
fall from all heights； there are several from which one may descend
without falling down。 It does； indeed； appear to me that we value it at
too high a rate； and also overvalue the resolution of those whom we have
either seen or heard have contemned it； or displaced themselves of their
own accord： its essence is not so evidently commodious that a man may
not； with out a miracle； refuse it。 I find it a very hard thing to
undergo misfortunes； but to be content with a moderate measure of
fortune； and to avoid greatness； I think a very easy matter。 'Tis；
methinks； a virtue to which I； who am no conjuror； could without any
great endeavour arrive。 What； then； is to be expected from them that
would yet put into consideration the glory attending this refusal；
wherein there may lurk worse ambition than even in the desire itself；
and fruition of greatness？ Forasmuch as ambition never comports itself
better； according to itself； than when it proceeds by obscure and
unfrequented ways。
I incite my courage to patience； but I rein it as much as I can towards
desire。 I have as much to wish for as another； and allow my wishes as
much liberty and indiscretion； but yet it never befell me to wish for
either empire or royalty； or the eminency of those high and commanding
fortunes： I do not aim that way； I love myself too well。 When I think to
grow greater； 'tis but very moderately； and by a compelled and timorous
advancement； such as is proper for me in resolution； in prudence； in
health； in beauty； and even in riches too； but this supreme reputation；
this mighty authority； oppress my imagination； and； quite contrary to
that other；＇Julius Caesar。＇ I should； peradventure； rather choose to
be the second or third in Perigord than the first at Paris at least；
without lying； rather the third at Paris than the first。 I would neither
dispute with a porter；