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Published online by Cambridge University Press: 28 December 2023
As old habits teach us, and as acquaintance with them convinces us even more, nowhere does envy have a cosier place in which to dwell than in the courts of kings and great lords. As the Master often took counsel with his followers as to how to proceed with his great enterprise, he sometimes talked to Nuno Álvares, but separately, telling him things about which the others had no knowledge. Thus it came about that this common evil, namely envy, took a powerful hold on the hearts of members of the Master's council, men like Rui Pereira, Álvaro Vasques, Doctor João das Regras and all his other close advisers, when they realised that the Master was holding special conversations with Nuno Álvares and actually following his advice. Their resentment was so deep that they all secretly agreed that they would always oppose any advice that Nuno Álvares gave to the Master, however noble and well-reasoned it might be, and that they would never abide by it – and, indeed, that is what they did.
Nuno Álvares found out about this secret compact and said nothing about it to any of them. One day, when the Master was speaking in his council about a matter of considerable importance, Nuno Álvares answered with his own opinion, a reply that pleased the Master, so that he took a decision in accordance with what he said. As the Master was so receptive to the arguments of Nuno Álvares, the other members of his council were far from pleased with this and argued vigorously against it, deploying all manner of reasons as to why it was bad advice.
On realising this, Nuno Álvares began to laugh, as he knew only too well why they were reacting in this way. When the Master noticed this and asked him why he was laughing, he explained to him the situation and why it was that they disagreed with what he had to say. The Master was greatly taken aback at their envy and addressed them in such a way that they abandoned their approach, and from then on everyone always reached a common consensus.
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