You men of the lake, forgetting your ancient liberties,
have submitted to the Castillans.
Sheer idiocy!
Do you realize what subjection would reduce you to?
A toilsome slavery under the Spaniards!
Turn your eyes to what the subject nations have been reduced to.
Behold the Tagalogs and the Visayans, whose chiefs are trampled
upon by the lowliest Castillan!
Do you think you are better than them?
Do you think the Spaniards consider you of better stuff?
You, like them, will row the galleys, toil at the shipyards and ceaselessly
labor on the other public works.
Just as they do.
Would you allow anyone with a little Spanish blood to beat you up and
grasp the fruits of your labor?
Become subjects today and tomorrow you will be at the oars!
I, at least, will be pilot -- the biggest favor they will allow a sultan.
Let not their sweet words deceive you;
their promises facilitate their deceits.
Little by little, they will control everything!
Reflect on how even the minor promises to the chiefs of other nations
were not honored.
And now the Spaniards have become masters of them all.
Be men!
Let me aid you to resist.
All the strength of my Sultanate, I promise you, shall be in your defense.
What matters if the Castillans are at first successful?
That means only the loss of a year's harvest.
Do you think that is too dear a price for Liberty?
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