Though courageous, he
was cautious; and his counsels, when not warped by passion, were
wise and wary. But he had other qualities, which more than
counterbalanced the good resulting from excellent parts and
attainments. His ambition and avarice were insatiable. He was
supercilious even to his equals; and he had a vindictive temper,
which nothing could appease. Thus, instead of aiding his brother
in the Conquest, he was the evil genius that blighted his path.
He conceived from the first an unwarrantable contempt for
Almagro, whom he regarded as his brother's rival, instead of what
he then was, the faithful partner of his fortunes. He treated
him with personal indignity, and, by his intrigues at court, had
the means of doing him sensible injury. He fell into Almagro's
hands, and had nearly paid for these wrongs with his life. This
was not to be forgiven by Hernando, and he coolly waited for the
hour of revenge. Yet the execution of Almagro was a most
impolitic act; for an evil passion can rarely be gratified with
impunity. Hernando thought to buy off justice with the gold of
Peru. He had studied human nature on its weak and wicked side,
and he expected to profit by it. Fortunately, he was deceived.
He had, indeed, his revenge; but the hour of his revenge was that
of his ruin.
The disorderly state of Peru was such as to demand the immediate
interposition of government. In the general license that
prevailed there, the rights of the Indian and of the Spaniard
were equally trampled under foot.
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