We Have Already Said All That
Could Be Learnt Respecting Their Parentage.
They were both personally
brave and daring, patient of labour, of hale and robust constitutions, and
exceedingly friendly, being always ready to do good offices to every one
without consideration of expence.
In their inclinations and manner of life
they very much resembled each other, as neither of them were married,
though Almagro attained to seventy-five years of age and the marquis to
sixty-five. Both loved war; but Almagro, when not thus employed, willingly
devoted himself to the management of his private affairs. They were both
advanced in life when they undertook the discovery and conquest of Peru,
in which they both encountered great fatigues, as has been formerly
mentioned; but the marquis more especially was exposed to great dangers,
far beyond those of the president, who remained long at Panama providing
all necessaries for the success of the enterprize, while the marquis was
actually engaged in the discovery and conquest of the greater part of the
country. Both had great souls, continually occupied in vast designs and
splendid enterprizes; yet both were of gentle and conciliatory manners,
and of easy access to their followers. They were both liberal and generous
in their gifts; yet the president loved to have his liberalities known and
published to the world; while the marquis carefully concealed his gifts,
and expressed uneasiness when they were known or blazed abroad; being more
anxious to serve the necessities of those to whom he made them, than to
make an ostentatious display of his munificence. One example of this is
worthy of being mentioned. He learnt that one of his soldiers had lost a
horse, on which occasion he went to a tennis-court belonging to his house,
expecting to meet the soldier in that place, carrying with him an ingot of
gold of ten pounds weight, which he meant to present him with. Not finding
the soldier there, he engaged in a match at tennis without taking off his
coat, as he did not wish the ingot should be noticed, which was concealed
below his waistcoat. He remained there above three hours, when at length
the soldier made his appearance. The marquis then took him aside and gave
him the gold, saying that he would rather have given him thrice as much
than have been obliged to carry that heavy weight so long.
Many other examples might be given of the secret liberalities of the
marquis, who gave all his presents with his own hand that they might not
be known. On this account, Almagro was always considered as more liberal,
as his gifts were made in an ostentatious manner. They may be considered,
however, as perfectly equal in their liberality and munificence; for, as
the marquis used to acknowledge that all came from their common funds,
being partners and associates in every thing derived from their joint
discovery and conquest, the half of all that was given by one belonged to
the other, so that he who consented to or participated in the present, was
equally generous with the actual donor.
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