_ 184 _ Lionel Coutinho, Rui Pereira Coutinho and Francisco de Travora were of the same opinion, but the others said they shouldn’t attack the city because it was well fortified and possessed many men who would defend it. The Portuguese on the other hand had not brought machinery suitable to attack a fortified city, and the landing site was very dangerous so that whoever went ashore first would suffer many losses. When the commander-in-chief had listened to the arguments of both sides, he looked at those who had advised him not to attack and said “Lords, well I know that you speak as you do not out of any lack of zeal, but to look after the well-being of your men, as every brave captain should, for I know you to be such. If only half your men shared your qualities, I know you would go ashore and capture the city, even if they were three times as many Arabs and the dangers were much greater than they actually are. But since you fear that your men might not live up to your standards, you are also afraid that you might not be able to succeed in your endeavour and for this reason think it unwise to attack the Arabs. I truly believe that you advise me as experienced men. However, as I myself am not yet experienced, at least not in these parts, I wish
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