He should have told a straightforward
tale of what he had done, without one word of exaggeration; but
Christopher had a fervid Italian imagination and could never resist
exaggerating. So, instead of dwelling on the one stupendous, thrilling
fact that he had sailed three thousand miles into the fearsome west and
discovered new lands; instead of making them feel that he was great
because of what he _had_ done, and letting it go at that, the
foolish man filled his narrative with absurd promises of miracles he
would perform in the future. But none of it did seem absurd to him! He
had persuaded himself, by this time, that west of his poor, uncivilized
islands lay richer countries; and so he did not hesitate to assure the
sovereigns that he had discovered a land of enormous wealth, and that if
they would equip another expedition, he stood ready to promise them any
quantity of gold, drugs, and cotton, as well as legions of people to be
converted to Christianity.
Indeed, he went much further, and made a solemn vow that he, from his
own personal profits in the discovery, would furnish, within seven
years, an army of four thousand horse and fifty thousand foot for the
purpose of reclaiming the Holy Sepulchre! Imagine a man pledging this,
just because he had gathered a few gold bracelets! And yet, as he stood
there in all the glamour of the court, with a whole nation regarding him
as a wonder, he was so carried away by the situation that he probably
actually saw himself leading a triumphant crusade! As for the king and
queen, so deeply affected were they that they fell on their knees then
and there and poured forth their thanks to God.
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