The Aravidu Dynasty of Vijayanagara, Vol. I v1.c24.74

v1.c24.74

In an account of the year 1608 we read as follows: "He has started to learn the Gueredan (Gradonic or Sanskrit) now, and he reads it and speaks it moderately well”¹. Two years later, in a letter dated December 8th, 1610, Laerzio reports that ‘Father Roberto possesses the language, understands it perfectly, and speaks it with ease’ ². Finally in 1613, Mgr. Ros is able to affirm that de Nobili has “learned three very difficult languages, investigated to their very depths the secrets of the sacred mysteries of the heathen and mastered them fully”. And somewhat later on, the Archbishop expresses his admiration for the marvellous knowledge acquired by de Nobili in such a short time: “I have conversed with Fr. Roberto”, says he, “about the languages and manners of these people, and I was so much impressed by his knowledge, that I, who may, however, be said to know something of those languages, am ready to swear, every time I am asked to do it, that this Father cannot have acquired the knowledge he possesses through natural means, any more than he can, without the special help of God, lead the austere life he leads” ³.