performed by other nations,
there is little or no memory, because these do not remain recorded by
history: Such are those of the Assyrians, Medes and Persians; of the
Africans against the Romans; of the Suevi against Julius Caesar; of
the Spaniards in recovering their country from the Moors; and
principally of these invincible and pious kings of Portugal, your
glorious ancestors, Don Alonso Henriques, Don Sancho his son, and Don
Alonso, who acquired the kingdoms of Portugal and Algarve by great and
wonderful deeds of arms. 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 Portu