The works of John Dryden, $c now first collected in eighteen volumes. $p Volume 16 by John Dryden
page 129 of 503 (25%)
page 129 of 503 (25%)
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Unhappy island, with how many carcases do I behold thee covered, and what
rivers of blood are making inundations on all sides of thee!" These words were prophetical of what happened afterwards, when on Constantine de Braganza at one time, and Don Hurtado de Mendoca at another, destroyed all those islanders with the sword; and the king of Jafanatapan being himself taken, together with his eldest son, was put to death in his own palace; as if the divine justice had not deferred the death of this persecutor, but only to render it more terrible, and more memorable. Father Xavier was very desirous of returning to Travancore; but the winds blew so contrary, that they always drove him from the coast. By this he judged that God had called him to some other place; and thereupon formed a resolution of carrying the light of the gospel from isle to isle, and from kingdom to kingdom, even to the utmost limits of the East. The news he heard, during his navigation, caused him suddenly to cast his thoughts on an island situate under the equinoctial, betwixt the Moluccas and Borneo, stretched in length two hundred leagues from north to south, and divided into sundry kingdoms, called by the geographers Celebes, by the historians Macassar, from the names of the two capital cities, of the two principal kingdoms; as to the rest, well peopled, and abounding in all sorts of riches. It was related to him, that about the year 1531, two brothers, both idolaters, as were all the inhabitants of Macassar, going on their private business to Ternate, the chief of the Moluccas, had some conference, relating to religion, with the governor, Antonio Galvan, a Portuguese, one of the most famous warriors of his age, and celebrated in history both for his piety and valour: that having learnt from him the vanity of their idols, they embraced the Christian faith, and at their baptism took the names of Antonio and Michael: that being returned into |
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