Philip’s policy had gradually abridged them; yet aware of De Castro’s upright conduct in the arduous station to which he had been elevated, he suffered him to remain amongst the people whom his virtues rendered obedient. Every post of influence in Brazil was now filled by Spaniards, or Portuguese devoted to Spanish views: the colony was yet weak, and therefore unable to act alone in the cause of its lawful sovereign, should he even declare himself: its land could furnish only a resting-place for him and his, where they might securely wait under De Castro’s protection for some political change in Europe, which might prove favorable to discovery. The death of Philip, or the defection of his most powerful allies, or possibly the insurrection of Portugal itself, might hereafter offer an inviting conjuncture for a step of some risk: the recovery of his crown could not be rashly attempted, if he would spare to his people the misery of a fruitless contest. Don Emanuel suggested nothing but patience, watchfulness, and hope. Too well convinced by the arguments of De Castro, Sebastian saw that he had no other line of conduct to choose; he must reconcile himself to an obscure life in Brazil. He consented therefore to settle as a wealthy but untitled individual, whom a mercantile speculation had brought to the new world. “I submit to my destiny;” he said, after they had discussed these topics, “I submit to my destiny! an inglorious, unoccupied life is a fresh trial for a spirit like mine.--Deem me not a boaster De Castro, when I say, that to live without an aim, without great and soul-quickening duties, will be in my eyes a living death: I shall scarcely feel privileged to enjoy the happiness of loving and being beloved by the little circle that now encloses all my affections.--To what have I reduced myself?--to a nothing!--a worthless husk deprived of what was valuable within!” Sebastian sighed heavily, and fixed his eyes on the ground. “Not so, my honored liege!” observed Don Emanuel, “a benevolent spirit can everywhere make for itself duties and enjoyments, for to what spot shall man fly, where the voice of suffering does not reach him?--Ignorance is a calamity; it is the soil of crimes; and here we are surrounded by ignorant natives, whom the memory of former cruelties almost justifies in hating us. Those great and amiable qualities, which even in a state of slavery made to themselves power and usefulness, will surely enable my King to find the same noble pleasures in a more liberal station.”