Matteo Ricci, De Christiana expeditione apvd Sinas svscepta ab Societate Jesv

“Ad huius regni amplitudinem, ac celebritatem accedit, quod undique vel nature vel arte cingitur aptis ad se tuendum munitionibus. Ad austrum simul & ortum mari alluitur, eoquetot Insulis distincte, ut classibus ad continentem aditus fit ubique perdifficilis. Ad Aquilonem ardue praecipitia, continuo quinque leucarum supra quadringentas eoque fortissimo muro coniuncta. Tartarorum prope continuos insultus excludunt, ab occasu qui aquiloni vicinior est, conterminus visitur arenae sitientis ager, qui multorum dierum penuria advenarum exercitus ab Sinarum regno aut deterret, aut sepelit. Occasus austra lior saltibus & montibus frequente natatur, & exigue admodum regna finitima habet, quae Sinae negligunt, indigna suo vel metu vel cupiditate arbitrari.”((Ricci, De Christiana expeditione apvd Sinas svscepta ab Societate Jesv, 8.))

This, according to Google translate, should be rendered as:

The validity of this of the kingdom, to the extent of, and the well-known approaches, using for this purpose that is surrounded by all sides, or to the nature or art is more suitable for defense fortresses. Washed by the sea and at the same time the rise of the South, eoquetot the Islands of distinctness, that the divisions of the approaches to the continent takes place is very difficult. To the north ardue steep, continuous five leagues above four hundred so strong, united wall. Tartars exclude almost continuous attacks from the west and north, closer to conterminus sand thirsty field, which deters many days is the lack of an alien army from the kingdom or China, or buried. To swim in the forests & mountains of the full meeting of the going down of the more robust of the South, and as neighbors of the kingdoms of the very small quantities, which China is a neglect to think unworthy of his own authority or by fear, or desire for gain.