God

itaque donec corruptiuum istud induat incorruptionem, et mortale hoc accipiat inmortalitatem, et spiritus nos perducat ad Deum patrem, quaecumque sunt carnis incommoda sunt nobis cum humano genere communia.

So until this corruptible body puts on incorruption, and this mortal body receives immortality, and the spirit leads us home to God the Father, the troubles of the flesh are ours as much as anyone's.

Sic Abraham Deo placuit, quia ut placeret Deo nec amittere filium timuit nec gerere parricidium recusauit.

Abraham pleased God in just this way: to please God, he did not fear to lose his son, and he did not refuse to kill him with his own hand.

ad omnia te paratum facere timor Dei et fides debet.

The fear of God and faith should make you ready for anything.

hoc denique inter nos et ceteros interest qui Deum nesciunt, quod illi in aduersis queruntur et murmurant, nos aduersa non auocant a uirtutis et fidei ueritate, sed conprobant in dolore.

In the end, this is what separates us from the others, who do not know God. In hard times they complain and grumble. But hard times do not draw us away from true courage and faith; they prove us true in our pain.

contra tot inpetus uastitatis et mortis inconcussis animi uirtutibus congredi quanta pectoris magnitudo est, quanta sublimitas in ruinis humani generis stare rectum nec cum eis quibus spes in Deum nulla est iacere prostratum et gratulari magis et temporis munus amplecti, quod dum nostram fidem firmiter promimus et labore tolerato ad ‖306‖ Christum per angustam Christi uiam pergimus, praemium uiae eius et fidei ipso iudicante capiamus.

What greatness of heart it takes to meet so many attacks of ruin and death with a mind that does not waver! What nobility, to stand upright among the ruins of the human race, instead of lying flat on the ground beside those for whom there is no hope in God! Rather, we should rejoice and welcome the gift this time brings. The gift is this: by firmly showing our faith, bearing our hardships, and pressing on to Christ along Christ's narrow way, we may win the reward of his way and of our faith, with Christ himself as our judge.

mortalitas ista Iudaeis et gentibus et Christi hostibus pestis est, Dei seruis salutaris excessus est.

This mortality is a plague to the Jews and the pagans and the enemies of Christ; to the servants of God it is a departure that brings salvation.

ut nihil aliud mortalitas ista contulerit, hoc christianis et Dei seruis plurimum praestitit quod martyrium coepimus libenter adpetere, dum mortem discimus non timere.

Even if this mortality had done nothing else, it has done Christians and servants of God this great service: we have begun to seek martyrdom gladly, while we are learning not to fear death.

primo in loco non est in tua potestate sed in Dei dignatione martyrium, nec potes te dicere perdidisse quod nescis an merearis accipere.

First of all, martyrdom does not lie in your power; it lies in God's gift. And you cannot say you have lost something when you do not know if you would have deserved to receive it.

tunc deinde Deus scrutator est renis et cordis et occultorum contemplator et cognitor, uidet et conlaudat te et conprobat et qui perspicit aput te paratam fuisse uirtutem reddit pro uirtute mercedem.

Then, too, God searches the heart and the inmost being; he sees and knows what is hidden. He sees you, and he praises and approves you. He sees that the courage was ready in you, and for that courage he pays the reward.

nec enim sanguinem Deus nostrum sed fidem quaerit.

For what God seeks is not our blood but our faith.

Nobis quoque ipsis minimis et extremis quotiens reuelatum est, quam frequenter adque manifeste de Dei dignatione praeceptum est, ut contestarer adsidue, ut publice praedicarem fratres nostros non esse lugendos arcessitione dominica de saeculo liberatos, cum sciamus non amitti sed praemitti, recedentes praecedere, ut proficiscentes, ut nauigantes solent, desiderari eos debere, non plangi nec accipiendas esse hic atras uestes, quando illi ibi indumenta alba iam sumpserint, occasionem dandam non esse gentilibus, ut nos merito ac iure reprehendant, quod quos uiuere aput Deum dicimus ut extinctos et perditos lugeamus et fidem quam sermone et uoce depromimus cordis et pectoris testimonio non probemus.

And to me, too, the least and lowest of all, how often this has been revealed! How often and how clearly God in his kindness has commanded me to bear witness constantly and to preach in public that our brothers whom the Lord's summons has set free from the world must not be mourned. For we know they are not lost; they are sent on ahead. In leaving us, they go before us. We should miss them as we miss travelers, or people who have set sail, but not wail over them. We should not put on black clothes here when they have already put on white robes there. We must not give the pagans good reason to blame us. They would be right and just to blame us if we mourned as dead and lost the very people we declare to be alive with God, and if the witness of our hearts did not prove the faith we profess with our words.

Señor: Porque sé que habreis placer de la grande vitoria que nuestro Señor me ha dado en mi viage vos escribo esta, por la cual sabreis como en veinte dias pasé las Indias con la armada que los Ilustrísimos Rey y Reina nuestros Señores me dieron, dondé yo fallé muy muchas islas pobladas con gente sin número, y dellas todas he tomado posesion por sus Altezas con pregon y bandera Real extendida, y no me fue contradicho.

Sir: I know you will be glad to hear of the great success our Lord has given me on my voyage, so I am writing to tell you about it. In twenty days I crossed to the Indies with the fleet that our most illustrious King and Queen gave me. There I found a great many islands, filled with more people than anyone could count. I took possession of them all for Their Highnesses, with a proclamation and the royal banner unfurled, and no one opposed me.

A la primera que yo fallé puse nombre San Salvador, á conmemoracion de su Alta Magestad, el cual maravillosamente todo esto ha dado: los indios la llaman Guanahani.

The first island I found I named San Salvador [Holy Savior], in honor of His Divine Majesty, who has so wonderfully given all this. The Indians call it Guanahani.