270 



HISTORY OF MEXICO. 



felf be obeyed and refpe&ed even by his equals ; great 

 in his defigns and actions, cautious in operations, modeft 

 in fpeech, fteady in his enterprifes, and patient in adver- 

 fity. His zeal in religion was by no means inferior to 

 his conftant and inviolable fidelity to his fovereign ; but 

 the fplendor of thofe and other good qualities which 

 placed him in the rank of heroes, was fullied and dark- 

 ened by fome actions unworthy of his greatnefs of foul. 

 His immoderate love of the fex engaged him perpetually 

 in criminal connections, and had formerly been attended 

 with many difficulties and much danger. His too great 

 ardour, or rather obftinacy, in enterprifes, and the fear 

 of fruftrating his hopes of fortune, made him fometimes 

 wanting in juflice, gratitude, and humanity ; but, per- 

 haps, there never was a general and conqueror, brought 

 up in the fchool of the world, in whom the virtues were 

 not foiled by his vices. Cortes was of a good ftature 

 and well proportioned, robuft and active. His chert 

 was rather prominent, his beard black, and his eyes 

 fparkling and amorous. Such is the portrait of the fa- 

 mous conqueror of Mexico, which the firft hiftorians 

 who knew him have left us. 



As foon as he found himfelf honoured with the poll of 

 general of the expedition, he ufed the utmoft diligence in 

 preparing for the voyage, and began to affume the ftyle 

 of a great lord, both in his carriage and in his atten- 

 dants ; fully fenfible of the influence fuch a conduct has 

 in dazzling the vulgar, and creating authority. He im- 

 mediately erected the royal ftandard before his houfe, 

 and publifhed a proclamation through the ifland to en- 

 lift foldiers. Men, the raoft confpicuous of all that coun- 

 try, both in rank and office, were emulous to put them- 

 felves under his command, namely, Alonzo Hernandez 



de 



