Page 341 - Third Book of Reading Lessons

340 THIRD BOOK OF
Columbus, holding his course due , est, le immedi­ ately the usual track of navigation, and stretched into un equented and unknown seas.
4. The rst day, as it was very calm, he made but little way; but, on the second, he lost sight of the Canaries; and many of the sailors, already d ected and dismayed, when they contemplated the boldness of the undertaking, began to beat their breasts, and to shed tears, as if they were never more to behold land. Columbus com rted them with assurances of success, and the prospect of vast wealth in those op­ unt regions, whither he was conducting them.
5. This early discovery of the spirit of his fllow­ ers taught Columbus that he must prepare to strug­ gle not only with the unavoidable di culties which might be expected om the nature of his undertak­ ing, but with such as were likely to arise om the ignorance and timidity of the people under his com­ mand; and he perceived, that the art of governing the minds of men would be no less reqnisite r ac­ complishing the discoveries which he had in view, than naval skill and an enterprising courage.
6. Happily for himself, and r the country by which he was employed, he joined to the ardent tem­ per and inventive genius of a pr ector, virtues of another species, which are rarely united with them. He possessed a thorough knowledge of mankind, an insinuating address, a patient perseverance in exe- cuting any plan, the perfect government of bis own passions, and the talent of acquiring the direction of those of other men.
7. All these qualities, which rmed him r com­ mand, were accompanied with that superior knowl­ edge of his· pro ssion which begets con dence, in