Question

What did Cortes mean by his quote, we Spaniards know a sickness of the heart that only gold can cure?

A. The Spaniards had a literal heart disease curable only with gold.
B. Cortes referred to a metaphorical ailment, suggesting a deep longing or desire for wealth.
C. The quote implies a medical condition that requires a cure involving gold.
D. Cortes was describing a physical illness prevalent among the Spanish population.

Answer 1

Hernán Cortés used the quote metaphorically to express the Spaniards' desire for wealth and power through acquiring gold.

Step-by-step explanation:

Hernán Cortés, the Spanish conquistador, meant that gold was the solution to the yearning and desire for wealth that the Spaniards possessed. The quote is metaphorical, expressing the idea that the Spaniards believed that accumulating gold would satisfy their deepest desires and fulfill their ambitions. Cortés and other Spanish explorers were driven by legends of vast quantities of gold in the Americas, and they saw the acquisition of gold as a means to achieve power, privilege, and prosperity.