*18
[Footnote 17: "Dezian que no era falta de ontendimiento, pues lo
tenia bastante, sino que deuia de ser sobra de influencia de
signos y planetas, que le cegauan y forcauan a que pusiesse la
garganta al cuchillo." Garcilasso, Com. Real., Parte 2 lib. 5,
cap. 33.]
[Footnote 18: Eurip. Fragmenta]
Gonzalo was without education, except such as he had picked up in
the rough school of war. He had little even of that wisdom which
springs from natural shrewdness and insight into character. In
all this he was inferior to his elder brothers, although he fully
equalled them in ambition. Had he possessed a tithe of their
sagacity, he would not have madly persisted in rebellion, after
the coming of the president. Before this period, he represented
the people. Their interests and his were united. He had their
support, for he was contending for the redress of their wrongs.
When these were redressed by the government, there was nothing to
contend for. From that time, he was battling only for himself
The people had no part nor interest in the contest. Without a
common sympathy to bind them together, was it strange that they
should fall off from him, like leaves in winter, and leave him
exposed, a bare and sapless trunk, to the fury of the tempest?
Cepeda, more criminal than Pizarro, since he had both superior
education and intelligence, which he employed only to mislead his
commander, did not long survive him. He had come to the country
in an office of high responsibility.
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