登陆注册
5362600000389

第389章

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.

同类推荐
  • 大明高僧传

    大明高僧传

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
  • Thoughts on the Present Discontents

    Thoughts on the Present Discontents

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
  • 书法雅言

    书法雅言

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
  • 缅国纪略

    缅国纪略

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
  • FROM THE EARTH TO THE MOON

    FROM THE EARTH TO THE MOON

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
热门推荐
  • 续指月录

    续指月录

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
  • 八十天环游地球(语文新课标课外读物)

    八十天环游地球(语文新课标课外读物)

    现代中、小学生不能只局限于校园和课本,应该广开视野,广长见识,广泛了解博大的世界和社会,不断增加丰富的现代社会知识和世界信息,才有所精神准备,才能迅速地长大,将来才能够自由地翱翔于世界蓝天。否则,我们将永远是妈妈怀抱中的乖宝宝,将永远是温室里面的豆芽菜,那么,我们将怎样走向社会、走向世界呢?
  • 你来过我的世界

    你来过我的世界

    【有温暖,有小虐,很纯情的都市文哈~~~~~】凡的微博是:http://m.wkkk.net/u/1343870180大家可以使劲戳啦~~~【文案】“我曾想用尽生命,来爱你这个,来过我的世界里的人……”她,尹氏封竣集团千金,商场上雷厉风行,生活中淡漠如素……在她的世界里,容得下深爱她的人,却容不下背叛她的人……“我爱的人,他一定要爱我如斯。因为他是我用生命来爱的男人。”他,邪魅花心,冷峻的外表下是商场上刀刀逼人的狠手……只要有他在的地方,就有耀眼的光芒,不需要微笑或者任何动作,称霸作为世界500强内的企业,他绝对有震慑人的魄力。这样的男人,因为事业上的交锋,他遇见了让他赔入真心,甚至赔入一生的女人,尹筱安。“对我来说,你已经是一种抹不去的存在,我只知道我早就没得选择了……”还有,他,身上有着宛若万年寒冰般融化不开的气场,只对于她,可以是那般温文如玉。尹筱安,那个他深爱入骨髓的女人,再见面,却早已如陌。“未来的事,谁也不能确定会发生些什么,我不能现在就给你一个准确的答复,我唯一能够给你的回答就是,我对你的爱,生死不变。”象牙塔里的爱情和现实里的爱情,尹筱安,你究竟要什么?vinrou在此求点击+收藏+咖啡+鲜花+神笔+荷包……哗啦啦,总之各种求~(≧▽≦)/~啦啦啦
  • 小学生最喜欢读的益智故事(高年级)

    小学生最喜欢读的益智故事(高年级)

    小朋友们,你们爱听故事吗?喜欢故事里跌宕起伏的情节吗?喜欢那些出乎意料的故事结局吗?喜欢故事中蕴含的智慧吗?这里有你喜爱的故事,孩子们,还等什么,来吧,来这里寻找快乐和智慧吧!
  • 乱世浮城

    乱世浮城

    北平金家,四大世家之首,曾经的辉煌一夜没落……上海苏公馆,青年才俊,却误入歧途?一梅寒霜独绽,一人荒芜前行。是无法相守的无奈,是手足相残的悲哀,是国破家亡的愤恨……生于国难之境,困于世俗枷锁!我们最终的信仰只有一个——国泰民安!待风尘尽然,现明珠之光。
  • 篮下我为王

    篮下我为王

    人生至此,你是否觉得遗憾?如果给你一个机会,你愿意重塑你的人生吗?当你带着系统回到过去,得到一副无人可敌的身体,你要做什么?锄强扶弱?拯救世界?带领人类冲出银河系?或者每天准时扶老奶奶过马路什么的?算了吧!我没那么伟大,我就是想自由自在地活着,顺便成为NBA历史上最伟大的球员。我要为所欲为,爱我的人加倍爱我,恨我的人睡觉都在咒骂我!既然你想看我的故事,你必须知道以下几件事:詹姆斯的时代不会到来。杜兰特唯一的夺冠方式就是加入我。至于那个摇头晃脑的小学生我他妈连提都不想提,我要打十个!
  • 亲爱的鬼神君

    亲爱的鬼神君

    这是一部很甜的作品,给你糖,用这部小说来补充甜份吧。
  • 我们一起读过的劳伦斯

    我们一起读过的劳伦斯

    收在本书里的六十余篇随笔是翻译家黑马翻译多卷劳伦斯作品时的心情和思索记录,多是应网友要求回答问题启发后再形成文章,还有报刊访谈和讲座的文字记录稿等,既是记录过往,也是给喜欢劳伦斯作品的读者提供一本参考书,分享多年来黑马与读者互动的快乐。
  • 综艺之谐星传奇

    综艺之谐星传奇

    我的哭不是哭,我的笑不是笑..谐星....娱乐圈一个特殊的产物,每每奉上笑果,但笑完之后只剩下心酸,让人心疼不已的一群人。装疯卖傻、扮丑洋相只是遮掩他们内心的痛处以及倔强...为什么要当谐星?当有人问道这个问题时,他们的回答出奇的一致。“只为了多红几年...”普群:572761030
  • 紫藤萝

    紫藤萝

    一个可以指挥千军万马的部队首长,却指挥不了一个叛逆的儿子;一颗负罪心灵的自我救赎,却摆脱不了残酷命运的捉弄;一个敢恨敢爱、一心想走出樊篱的女人,最终却走向毁灭;一个美丽清纯的少女,却走向爱恨交织的深渊……这一切,谁之过?这是一部令人深恶、令人回味的作品。