Page:A New Survey of the West Indies or The English American his Travel by Sea and Land.djvu/42

 siderat, man naturally inclines to know more and more; which knowledge he fancied could be no where more furnished with rare curiosities then in those parts; for there should the Gold and Silver, which here are fingered, in their growth in the bowels of the Earth be known; there should the Pepper be known in its season, the Nutmeg and Clove, the Cinnamon as a rine or bark on a Tree; the fashioning of the Sugar from a green growing Cane into a Loaf; the strange shaping the Cochinel from a worm to so rich a Scarlet die; the changing of the Tinta which is but grass with stalk and leaves into an Indigo black die, should be taught and learned; and without much labour thus should our ignorance be instructed with various and sundry curiosities of knowledge and understanding. Finally, though Xerez, liquor (Grapes bewitching tears) had put this bewitching Eloquence into my Antonies brain yet he doubted not to prefer before it his Wine of Philippinas, growing on tall and high trees of Coco, wherein he longed to drink a Spanish Brindis in my company to all his friends remaining behind in Spain. Who would not be moved by these his arguments to follow him, and his Calvo or bald pated Superior? Thus Supper being ended my Melendez desired to know how my heart stood affected to his Journey; and breaking out into a Voto a Dios with his Converting Zeal, he swore he should have no quiet nights rest until he were fully satisfied of my resolution to accompany him. And having learned the Poets expression, Quid non mortalia pectora cogis Auri sacra fames? he offered unto me half a dozen of Spanish pistols, assuring me that I should want nothing, and that the next morning Calvo should furnish me with whatsoever monies I needed, for to buy things necessary for the comfort of so long and tedious a Journey. To whom I answered, suddain resolutions might bring future grief and sorrow, and that I should that night lie down and take Counsel with my pillow, assuring him that for his sake I would do much, and that if I resolved to go, my resolution should draw on another friend of mine, an Irish Frier, named Thomas Delcon. Thus took I my leave of my Melendez, and retired my self to my Chamber and Bed, which that night was no place of repose and