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Show l'td . /1./ }~t/t ' .f . H I S T 0 R Y 0 F M E X I C 0. 5 become the fupport of his f.1mily which was reduced to poverty; bnt BOOKVIH. ·it was not long before his military genius diverted him from fiudy, and '--v'--J led him to the New World, after the example of many illufl:rious youths of .his nation. He accompanied Diego Velafquez, in the conqueft of the iiland of Cuba, where he gained much wealth and ac-quired confiderable authority. He was a 01an of great talents, ·difcern.:. ment, and courage, dext'rous in the ufe of arms, frui.tful in expedients and refources to carry his projefts into execution, and highly ingenious .in making himfelf be obeyed and refpefted even by his equals; great in his defigns and aftions, ~autious in operations, modeft in fpeech, .fieady in his enterprifes, and patient in adverfity. His zeal in religion was by no means inferior to his conftant and inviolable fidelity to his Jovereign; but the fplendor of thofe and other good qualities which placed him in the rank of heroes, was fullied and darkened by fome aft:ions unworthy of his greatnefs of foul. His immoderate love of the fex engaged him perpetually in criminal conneftions, and had for-merly been attended with many difficulties and much danger. His too great ardour, or rather obfiinacy, in enterprifes, and the fear of frufirating his hopes of fortune, made him fometimes wanting in juf-tice, gratitude, and humanity; but, perhaps, there never was a gene-ral and conqueror, brought up in the fchool of the world, in whom the virtues were not foiled by his vices. ortes was of a good fiaturc and well proportioned, robufi and aCtive. His chefl: was rather pro-minent, his bt:ard black, and his eyes fparkling and <Unorous. ~uch is tl e portrait of the famous conqueror of Mexico, which the fidl: hifiorians who knew him have left us. . As foon as he found himfelf honomeJ with the pofi: of general of the expedition, he ufed the utmofl: diligence in preparing for the voyage, and began to afiume the !l:yle of a great lord, both in his c:lrTiage and in his attendants ; fully fenlible of the inanencc fuch a conduCt has in dazzling the vulgar, and creating authority. lie immediately ercC.h.:J the royal fi.mdard before his hout(·, and publifhed a proclamation throu r-h tht! iiland to cnlifl: foldicrs. -!Vfcn, the mofl: confpicuous of nll th tt country, both in rank and oAice, were emulous to put thcmfelvcs undel' his command, namely, Alonzo l ern:mdez de Porto .. |