Of All Which, There Hardly Remaineth Any
Memory, For Want Of Having Been Duly Recorded By Writing.
So likewise
of those actions which have been performed in India, only as it were
of yesterday, the exact memory of them is confined to four persons;
and if they were to die, all remembrance of these transactions must
have ended to their great dishonour.
Considering these things, I
resolved to record these noble deeds which the subjects of your
highness have performed in the discovery and conquest of India, which
have never been surpassed in valour, or even equalled, in any age or
country. Leaving all mention of the conquests of Cyrus and other
barbarians, and even taking into the account the deeds of Alexander,
so famous over all the world, which are as nothing compared to what
has been performed since India became frequented by the Portuguese, no
more than a dead lion can be likened to one alive. The conquests of
Alexander were all by land, and achieved by himself in person, against
nations who were little trained or accustomed to feats of arms. But
the Portuguese conquest of India was performed by the captains of your
highness, after a voyage by sea of a year and eight months, going
almost around the globe, from the utmost limits of the west through
the vast and bottomless ocean, seeing only the heaven and the water; a
thing never before attempted by man, and hardly even imagined. After
surmounting hunger and thirst, and daily exposure to furious storms,
and a thousand dangers in the voyage; they had to encounter great and
cruel battles on their arrival in India; not against men armed only
with bows and spears, as in the time of Alexander, but with people of
stout and tried courage and experienced in war, having ordinance and
fire-workers more numerous even than the Portuguese, besides many
other excellent weapons. The power of these men, against whom the
subjects of your highness had to contend, was infinitely greater than
that of King Porus, against whom Alexander had to encounter; yet the
Portuguese, though few in number, uniformly had the victory, and never
retired from the war as was done by Alexander.
Leaving the actions of the Greeks, and considering what was performed
by the Romans with their innumerable armies and vast fleets, which
seemed to cover the face of the sea, and by means of which they
thought to have conquered the whole earth. Yet they never adventured
beyond the Red Sea; neither was the greatest of their famous victories
comparable to those battles which have been fought by our men in India;
in which, most invincible prince, the great prosperity of your father
and you is well known. As, without moving from your palace,
discoveries and conquests have been achieved by your captains, more
extensive than ever were discovered or conquered by any prince in
person. There never was any conquest, either by the Barbarians, Greeks,
or Romans, of any thing like equal difficulty with this of India;
neither any kings or captains of any of these nations equal in valour
and conduct to those of your father and yourself, as will manifestly
appear from the whole tenor of the following history.
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