He even gives, with curious minuteness, the contents of the
several books of the projected history. But the First Part, as
already noticed, was alone completed; and the author, having
returned to Spain, died there in 1560, at the premature age of
forty-two, without having covered any portion of the magnificent
ground-plan which he had thus confidently laid out. The
deficiency is much to be regretted, considering the talent of the
writer, and his opportunities for personal observation. But he
has done enough to render us grateful for his labors. By the
vivid delineation of scenes and scenery, as they were presented
fresh to his own eyes, he has furnished us with a background to
the historic picture, - the landscape, as it were, in which the
personages of the time might be more fitly portrayed. It would
have been impossible to exhibit the ancient topography of the
land so faithfully at a subsequent period, when old things had
passed away, and the Conqueror, breaking down the landmarks of
ancient civilization, had effaced many of the features even of
the physical aspect of the country, as it existed under the
elaborate culture of the Incas.]
The advice of the bold counsellor was, perhaps, the most politic
that could have been given to Pizarro under existing
circumstances. For he was like one who had heedlessly climbed
far up a dizzy precipice, - too far to descend safely, while he
had no sure hold where he was. His only chance was to climb
still higher, till he had gained the summit.
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