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multiplication and vicissitude of forms。 There is nothing single and
rare in respect of nature； but in respect of our knowledge； which is a
wretched foundation whereon to ground our rules； and that represents to
us a very false image of things。 As we nowadays vainly conclude the
declension and decrepitude of the world； by the arguments we extract from
our own weakness and decay：
〃Jamque adeo est affecta aetas effoet aque tellus；〃
＇〃Our age is feeble； and the earth less fertile。〃
Lucretius； ii。 1151。＇
so did he vainly conclude as to its birth and youth； by the vigour he
observed in the wits of his time； abounding in novelties and the
invention of divers arts：
〃Verum； ut opinor； habet novitatem summa； recensque
Natura est mundi； neque pridem exordia coepit
Quare etiam quaedam nunc artes expoliuntur；
Nunc etiam augescunt； nunc addita navigiis sunt
Multa。〃
＇〃But； as I am of opinion； the whole of the world is of recent
origin； nor had its commencement in remote times； wherefore it is
that some arts are still being refined； and some just on the
increase； at present many additions are being made to shipping。〃
Lucretius； v。 331。＇
Our world has lately discovered another （and who will assure us that it
is the last of its brothers； since the Daemons； the Sybils； and we
ourselves have been ignorant of this till now？）； as large； well…peopled；
and fruitful as this whereon we live and yet so raw and childish； that we
are still teaching it it's a B C： 'tis not above fifty years since it
knew neither letters； weights； measures； vestments； corn； nor vines： it
was then quite naked in the mother's lap； and only lived upon what she
gave it。 If we rightly conclude of our end； and this poet of the
youthfulness of that age of his； that other world will only enter into
the light when this of ours shall make its exit； the universe will fall
into paralysis； one member will be useless； the other in vigour。 I am
very much afraid that we have greatly precipitated its declension and
ruin by our contagion； and that we have sold it opinions and our arts at
a very dear rate。 It was an infant world； and yet we have not whipped
and subjected it to our discipline by the advantage of our natural worth
and force； neither have we won it by our justice and goodness； nor
subdued it by our magnanimity。 Most of their answers； and the
negotiations we have had with them； witness that they were nothing behind
us in pertinency and clearness of natural understanding。 The astonishing
magnificence of the cities of Cusco and Mexico； and； amongst many other
things； the garden of the king； where all the trees； fruits； and plants；
according to the order and stature they have in a garden； were
excellently formed in gold； as； in his cabinet； were all the animals bred
upon his territory and in its seas； and the beauty of their manufactures；
in jewels； feathers； cotton； and painting； gave ample proof that they
were as little inferior to us in industry。 But as to what concerns
devotion； observance of the laws； goodness； liberality； loyalty； and
plain dealing； it was of use to us that we had not so much as they； for
they have lost； sold； and betrayed themselves by this advantage over us。
As to boldness and courage； stability； constancy against pain； hunger；
and death； I should not fear to oppose the examples I find amongst them
to the most famous examples of elder times that we find in our records on
this side of the world。 Far as to those who subdued them； take but away
the tricks and artifices they practised to gull them； and the just
astonishment it was to those nations to see so sudden and unexpected an
arrival of men with beards； differing in language； religion； shape； and
countenance； from so remote a part of the world； and where they had never
heard there was any habitation； mounted upon great unknown monsters；
against those who had not only never seen a horse； but had never seen any
other beast trained up to carry a man or any other loading； shelled in a
hard and shining skin； with a cutting and glittering weapon in his hand；
against them； who； out of wonder at the brightness of a looking glass or
a knife； would exchange great treasures of gold and pearl； and who had
neither knowledge； nor matter with which； at leisure； they could
penetrate our steel： to which may be added the lightning and thunder of
our cannon and harquebuses； enough to frighten Caesar himself； if
surprised； with so little experience； against people naked； except where
the invention of a little quilted cotton was in use； without other arms；
at the most； than bows； stones； staves； and bucklers of wood； people
surprised under colour of friendship and good faith； by the curiosity of
seeing strange and unknown things； take but away； I say； this disparity
from the conquerors； and you take away all the occasion of so many
victories。 When I look upon that in vincible ardour wherewith so many
thousands of men； women； and children so often presented and threw
themselves into inevitable dangers for the defence of their gods and
liberties； that generous obstinacy to suffer all extremities and
difficulties； and death itself； rather than submit to the dominion of
those by whom they had been so shamefully abused； and some of them
choosing to die of hunger and fasting； being prisoners； rather than to
accept of nourishment from the hands of their so basely victorious
enemies： I see； that whoever would have attacked them upon equal terms of
arms； experience； and number； would have had a hard； and； peradventure；
a harder game to play than in any other war we have seen。
Why did not so noble a conquest fall under Alexander； or the ancient
Greeks and Romans； and so great a revolution and mutation of so many
empires and nations； fall into hands that would have gently levelled；
rooted up； and made plain and smooth whatever was rough and savage
amongst them； and that would have cherished and propagated the good seeds
that nature had there produced； mixing not only with the culture of land
and the ornament of cities； the arts of this part of the world； in what
was necessary； but also the Greek and Roman virtues； with those that were
original of the country？ What a reparation had it been to them； and what
a general good to the whole world； had our first examples and deportments
in those parts allured those people to the admiration and imitation of
virtue； and had begotten betwixt them and us a fraternal society and
intelligence？ How easy had it been to have made advantage of souls so
innocent； and so eager to learn； leaving； for the most part； naturally so
good inclinations before？ Whereas； on the contrary； we have taken
advantage of their ignorance and inexperience； with greater ease to
incline them to treachery； luxury； avarice； and towards all sorts of
inhumanity and cruelty； by the pattern and example of our manners。 Who
ever enhanced the price of merchandise at such a rate？ So many cities
levelled with the ground； so many nations exterminated； so many millions
of people fallen by the edge of the swo