按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！
powerful； and in the twelfth century it was one of the prosperous
states of Europe； ruled by an oligarchy of the leading merchants。
Contemporaneous with Dante； one of the most distinguished citizens
of this mercantile mart； Marco Polo； impelled by the curiosity
which reviving commerce excited and the restless adventure of a
crusading age； visited the court of the Great Khan of Tartary；
whose empire was the largest in the world。 After a residence of
seventeen years； during which he was loaded with honors； he
returned to his native country； not by the ordinary route； but by
coasting the eastern shores of Asia； through the Indian Ocean； up
the Persian Gulf； and thence through Bagdad and Constantinople；
bringing with him immense wealth in precious stones and other
Eastern commodities。 The report of his wonderful adventures
interested all Europe； for he was supposed to have found the
Tarshish of the Scriptures； that land of gold and spices which had
enriched the Tyrian merchants in the time of Solomon；men supposed
by some to have sailed around the Cape of Good Hope in their three
years' voyages。 Among the wonderful things which Polo had seen was
a city on an island off the coast of China； which was represented
to contain six hundred thousand families； so rich that the palaces
of its nobles were covered with plates of gold； so inviting that
odoriferous plants and flowers diffused the most grateful perfumes；
so strong that even the Tartar conquerors of China could not subdue
it。 This island； known now as Japan； was called Cipango； and was
supposed to be inexhaustible in riches； especially when the reports
of Polo were confirmed by Sir John Mandeville； an English traveller
in the time of Edward III。；and with even greater exaggerations；
since he represented the royal palace to be more than six miles in
circumference； occupied by three hundred thousand men。
In an awakening age of enterprise； when chivalry had not passed
away； nor the credulity of the Middle Ages； the reports of this
Cipango inflamed the imagination of Europe； and to reach it became
at once the desire and the problem of adventurers and merchants。
But how could this El Dorado be reached？ Not by sailing round
Africa； for to sail South； in popular estimation； was to encounter
torrid suns with ever increasing heat； and suffocating vapors； and
unknown dangers。 The scientific world had lost the knowledge of
what even the ancients knew。 Nobody surmised that there was a Cape
of Good Hope which could be doubled； and would open the way to the
Indian Ocean and its islands of spices and gold。 Nor could this
Cipango be reached by crossing the Eastern Continent； for the
journey was full of perils； dangers； and insurmountable obstacles。
Among those who meditated on this geographical mystery was a young
sea captain of Genoa； who had studied in the University of Pavia；
but spent his early life upon the waves；intelligent；
enterprising； visionary； yet practical； with boundless ambition；
not to conquer kingdoms； but to discover new realms。 Born probably
in 1446； in the year 1470 he married the daughter of an Italian
navigator living in Lisbon； and； inheriting with her some valuable
Portuguese charts and maritime journals； he settled in Lisbon and
took up chart…making as a means of livelihood。 Being thus trained
in both the art and the science of navigation； his active mind
seized upon the most interesting theme of the day。 His studies and
experience convinced him that the Cipango of Marco Polo could be
reached by sailing directly west。 He knew that the earth was
round； and he inferred from the plants and carved wood and even
human bodies that had occasionally floated from the West； that
there must be unknown islands on the western coasts of the
Atlantic； and that this ocean； never yet crossed； was the common
boundary of both Europe and Asia； in short； that the Cipango could
be reached by sailing west。 And he believed the thing to be
practicable； for the magnetic needle had been discovered； or
brought from the East by Polo； which always pointed to the North
Star； so that mariners could sail in the darkest nights； and also
another instrument had been made； essentially the modern quadrant；
by which latitude could be measured。 He supposed that after
sailing west； about eight hundred leagues； by the aid of compass
and quadrant； and such charts as he had collected and collated； he
should find the land of gold and spices by which he would become
rich and famous。
This was not an absurd speculation to a man of the intellect and
knowledge of Columbus。 To his mind there were but few physical
difficulties if he only had the ships； and the men bold enough to
embark with him； and the patronage which was necessary for so novel
and daring an enterprise。 The difficulties to be surmounted were
not so much physical as moral。 It was the surmounting of moral
difficulties which gives to Columbus his true greatness as a man of
genius and resources。 These moral obstacles were so vast as to be
all but insurmountable； since he had to contend with all the
established ideas of his age；the superstitions of sailors； the
prejudices of learned men； and general geographical ignorance。 He
himself had neither money； nor ships； nor powerful friends。 Nobody
believed in him； all ridiculed him； some insulted him。 Who would
furnish money to a man who was supposed to be half crazy；
certainly visionary and wild； a rash adventurer who would not only
absorb money but imperil life？ Learned men would not listen to
him； and powerful people derided him； and princes were too absorbed
in wars and pleasure to give him a helping hand。 Aid could come
only from some great state or wealthy prince； but both states and
princes were deaf and dumb to him。 It was a most extraordinary
inspiration of genius in the fifteenth century which created； not
an opinion； but a conviction that Asia could be reached by sailing
west； and how were common minds to comprehend such a novel idea？
If a century later； with all the blaze of reviving art and science
and learning； the most learned people ridiculed the idea that the
earth revolved around the sun； even when it was proved by all the
certitudes of mathematical demonstration and unerring observations；
how could the prejudiced and narrow…minded priests of the time of
Columbus； who controlled the most important affairs of state； be
made to comprehend that an unknown ocean； full of terrors； could be
crossed by frail ships； and that even a successful voyage would
open marts of inexhaustible wealth？ All was clear enough to this
scientific and enterprising mariner； and the inward assurance that
he was right in his calculation gave to his character a blended
boldness； arrogance； and dignity which was offensive to men of
exalted station； and ill became a stranger and adventurer with a
thread…bare coat； and everything which indicated poverty； neglect；
and hardship； and without any visible means of living but by the
making and selling of charts。
Hence we cannot wonder at the seventeen years of poverty； neglect；
ridicule； disappointment； and deferred hopes； such as make the
heart sick； which elapsed after Columbus was persuaded of the truth
of his theory； before he could find anybody enlightened enough to
believe in him； or powerful enough to assist him。
Wrapped up in those glorious visions which come only to a man of
superlative genius； and which make him insensible to heat and cold
and scanty fare； even to reproach and scorn； this intrepid soul；
inspired by a great and original idea； wandered from city to city；
and country to country； and court to court； to present the certain
greatness and wealth of any state that would embark in his
enterprise。 But all were alike cynical； cold； unbelieving； and
even insulting。 He opposes overwhelming； universal； and
overpowering ideas。 To have surmounted these amid such protracted
opposition and discouragement constitutes his greatness； and
finally to prove his position by absolute experiment and hazardous
enterprise makes him one of the greatest of human benefactors；
whose fame will last through all the generations of men。 And as I
survey that lonely； abstracted； disappointed； and derided man；
poor and unimportant； so harassed by debt that his creditors seized
even his maps and charts； obliged to fly from one country to
another to escape imprisonment； without even listeners and still
less friends； and yet with ever…increasing faith in his cause；
utterly unconquerable； alone in opposition to all the world；I
think I see the most persistent man of enterprise that I have read
of in history。 Critics ambitious to say something new may rake out
slanders from the archives of enemies； and discover faults which
derogate from the character we have been taught to admire and
venerate； they may even point out spots； which we cannot disprove；
in tha