ThemoreunpronounceableoftheAztecnamesareshortenedinmanyinstancesoutofconsiderationforthepatienceofthereader；thus’Popocatapetl’becomes’Popo，’’Huitzelcoatl’becomes’Huitzel，’
　　TheprayerinChapterxxvi。isfreelyrenderedfromJourdanet’sFrenchtranslationofFrayBernardinodeSahagun’sHistoryofNewSpain，writtenshortlyaftertheconquestofMexicoBookVI，chap。v。，towhichmonumentalworkandtoPrescott’sadmirablehistorytheauthorofthisromanceismuchindebted。
　　TheportentsdescribedasheraldingthefalloftheAztecEmpire，andmanyoftheincidentsandeventswrittenofinthisstory，suchastheannualpersonationofthegodTezcatlipocabyacaptivedistinguishedforhispersonalbeauty，anddestinedtosacrifice，areinthemainhistorical。
　　ThenoblespeechoftheEmperorGuatemoctothePrinceofTacubautteredwhiletheybothweresufferingbeneaththehandsoftheSpaniardsisalsoauthentic。
　　StrangeasweretheadventuresandescapesofThomasWingfield，onceofthisparish，whereofthesepagestell，yourowncanalmostequalthemintheselatterdays，and，sinceafellowfeelingmakesuskind，youatleasttheymaymovetoasighofsympathy。
　　Amongmanyadistantlandyouknowthatinwhichhelovedandfought，followingvengeanceandhisfate，andbyyoursideIsawitsrelicsanditspeoples，itsvolcansanditsvalleys。
　　Youknowevenwhereliesthetreasurewhich，threecenturiesandmoreago，hehelpedtobury，thecountlesstreasurethatanevilfortuneheldusbackfromseeking。
　　NowtheIndianshavetakenbacktheirsecret，andthoughmanymaysearch，nonewillliftthegravenstonethatsealsit，norshallthelightofdayshineagainuponthegoldenheadofMontezuma。
　　Sobeit！
　　ThewealthwhichCortesweptover，andhisSpaniardssinnedanddiedfor，isforeverhiddenyonderbytheshoresofthebitterlakewhosewatersgaveuptoyouthatancienthorror，theveritableandsleeplessgodofSacrifice，ofwhomI
　　wouldnotrobyou——and，formypart，Idonotregrettheloss。
　　Whatcannotbelost，whattomeseemofmoreworththanthedeadheroGuatemoc’sgemsandjarsofgold，arethememoriesoftruefriendshipshowntousfarawaybeneaththeshadowoftheSlumberingWoman，*anditisingratitudeforthesethatIaskpermissiontosetyournamewithinabookwhichwereitnotforyouwouldneverhavebeenwritten。
　　Iam，mydearJebb，
　　Alwayssincerelyyours，
　　Wornoutprematurelybyalifeofhardshipandextraordinaryadventure，Mr。JebbpassedawayonMarch18，1893，takingwithhimtherespectandaffectionofallwhohadthehonourofhisfriendship。
　　Theauthorhaslearnedwithpleasurethatthereadingofthistaleinproofandthefactofitsdedicationtohimselfaffordedhimsomeamusementandsatisfactionintheintervalsofhissufferings。
　　*ThevolcanoIzticcihuatlinMexico。
　　NowglorybetoGodwhohasgivenusthevictory！
　　Itistrue，thestrengthofSpainisshattered，hershipsaresunkorfled，theseahasswallowedhersoldiersandhersailorsbyhundredsandbythousands，andEnglandbreathesagain。
　　Theycametoconquer，tobringustothetortureandthestake——todotousfreeEnglishmenasCortesdidbytheIndiansofAnahuac。
　　Ourmanhoodtotheslavebench，ourdaughterstodishonour，oursoulstotheloving-kindnessofthepriest，ourwealthtotheEmperorandthePope！
　　Godhasansweredthemwithhiswinds，Drakehasansweredthemwithhisguns。
　　Theyaregone，andwiththemthegloryofSpain。
　　I，ThomasWingfield，heardthenewsto-dayonthisveryThursdayintheBungaymarket-place，whitherIwenttogossipandtoselltheappleswhichthesedreadfulgaleshaveleftme，astheyhanguponmytrees。
　　Beforetherehadbeenrumoursofthisandofthat，buthereinBungaywasamannamedYoung，oftheYoungsofYarmouth，whohadservedinoneoftheYarmouthshipsinthefightatGravelines，ayeandsailednorthaftertheSpaniardstilltheywerelostintheScottishseas。
　　Littlethingsleadtogreat，mensay，butheregreatthingsleadtolittle，forbecauseofthesetidingsitcomesaboutthatI，ThomasWingfield，oftheLodgeandtheparishofDitchinghaminthecountyofNorfolk，beingnowofagreatageandhavingonlyashorttimetolive，turntopenandink。
　　Tenyearsago，namely，intheyear1578，itpleasedherMajesty，ourgraciousQueenElizabeth，whoatthatdatevisitedthiscounty，thatIshouldbebroughtbeforeheratNorwich。
　　Thereandthen，sayingthatthefameofithadreachedher，shecommandedmetogivehersomeparticularsofthestoryofmylife，orratherofthosetwentyyears，moreorless，whichI
　　spentamongtheIndiansatthattimewhenCortesconqueredtheircountryofAnahuac，whichisnowknownasMexico。
　　ButalmostbeforeIcouldbeginmytale，itwastimeforhertostartforCosseytohuntthedeer，andshesaiditwasherwishthatIshouldwritethestorydownthatshemightreadit，andmoreoverthatifitwerebuthalfaswonderfulasitpromisedtobe，IshouldendmydaysasSirThomasWingfield。
　　TothisIansweredherMajestythatpenandinkweretoolsIhadnoskillin，yetIwouldbearhercommandinmind。
　　ThenImadeboldtogiveheragreatemeraldthatoncehadhunguponthebreastofMontezuma’sdaughter，andofmanyaprincessbeforeher，andatthesightofithereyesglistenedbrightlyasthegem，forthisQueenofourslovessuchcostlyplaythings。
　　Indeed，hadIsodesired，IthinkthatImightthenandtherehavestruckabargain，andsetthestoneagainstatitle；
　　butI，whoformanyyearshadbeentheprinceofagreattribe，hadnowishtobeaknight。
　　SoIkissedtheroyalhand，andsotightlydiditgripthegemwithinthattheknucklejointsshonewhite，andIwentmyways，comingbackhometothismyhousebytheWaveneyonthatsameday。
　　NowtheQueen’swishthatIshouldsetdownthestoryofmyliferemainedinmymind，andforlongIhavedesiredtodoitbeforelifeandstoryendtogether。
　　Thelabour，indeed，isgreattooneunusedtosuchtasks；butwhyshouldIfearlabourwhoamsoneartotheholidayofdeath？
　　IhaveseenthingsthatnootherEnglishmanhasseen，whichareworthytoberecorded；mylifehasbeenmoststrange，manyatimeithaspleasedGodtopreserveitwhenallseemedlost，andthisperchanceHehasdonethatthelessonofitmightbecomeknowntoothers。
　　ForthereisalessoninitandinthethingsthatIhaveseen，anditisthatnowrongcaneverbringaboutaright，thatwrongwillbreedwrongatlast，andbeitinmanorpeople，willfalluponthebrainthatthoughtitandthehandthatwroughtit。
　　LooknowatthefateofCortes——thatgreatmanwhomIhaveknownclothedwithpowerlikeagod。
　　Nearlyfortyyearsago，soIhaveheard，hediedpooranddisgracedinSpain；he，theconqueror——yes，andIhavelearnedalsothathissonDonMartinhasbeenputtothetortureinthatcitywhichthefatherwonwithsogreatcrueltiesforSpain。
　　Malinche，shewhomtheSpaniardsnamedMarina，thechiefandbestbelovedofallthewomenofthissameCortes，foretoldittohiminheranguishwhenafterallthathadbeen，aftershehadsomanytimespreservedhimandhissoldierstolookuponthesun，atthelasthedesertedher，givingherinmarriagetoDonJuanXaramillo。
　　LookagainatthefateofMarinaherself。
　　BecauseshelovedthismanCortes，orMalinche，astheIndiansnamedhimafterher，shebroughtevilonhernativeland；forwithoutheraidTenoctitlan，orMexico，astheycallitnow，hadneverbowedbeneaththeyokeofSpain——yes，sheforgotherhonourinherpassion。
　　Andwhatwasherreward，whatrightcametoherofherwrongdoing？
　　Thiswasherrewardatlast:tobegivenawayinmarriagetoanotherandalessermanwhenherbeautywaned，asaworn-outbeastissoldtoapoorermaster。
　　ConsideralsothefateofthosegreatpeoplesofthelandofAnahuac。
　　Theydidevilthatgoodmightcome。
　　Theysacrificedthelivesofthousandstotheirfalsegods，thattheirwealthmightincrease，andpeaceandprosperitybetheirsthroughoutthegenerations。
　　AndnowthetrueGodhasansweredthem。
　　ForwealthHehasgiventhemdesolation，forpeacetheswordoftheSpaniard，forprosperitytherackandthetormentandthedayofslavery。
　　Forthisitwasthattheydidsacrifice，offeringtheirownchildrenonthealtarsofHuitzelandofTezcat。
　　AndtheSpaniardsthemselves，whointhenameofmercyhavewroughtcrueltiesgreaterthananythatweredonebythebenightedAztecs，whointhenameofChristdailyviolateHislawtotheuttermostextreme，sayshalltheyprosper，shalltheirevil-doingbringthemwelfare？
　　Iamoldandcannotlivetoseethequestionanswered，thoughevennowitisinthewayofanswering。
　　YetIknowthattheirwickednessshallfallupontheirownheads，andIseemtoseethem，theproudestofthepeoplesoftheearth，bereftoffameandwealthandhonour，astarvelingremnanthappyinnothingsavetheirpast。
　　WhatDrakebeganatGravelinesGodwillfinishinmanyanotherplaceandtime，tillatlastSpainisofnomoreaccountandliesaslowastheempireofMontezumaliesto-day。
　　Thusitisinthesegreatinstancesofwhichalltheworldmayknow，andthusitiseveninthelifeofsohumbleamanasI，ThomasWingfield。
　　Heavenindeedhasbeenmercifultome，givingmetimetorepentmysins；yetmysinshavebeenvisitedonmyhead，onmewhotookHisprerogativeofvengeancefromthehandoftheMostHigh。
　　Itisjust，andbecauseitissoIwishtosetoutthematterofmylife’shistorythatothersmaylearnfromit。
　　Formanyyearsthishasbeeninmymind，asIhavesaid，thoughtospeaktruthitwasherMajestytheQueenwhofirstsettheseed。
　　Butonlyonthisday，whenIhaveheardforcertainofthefateoftheArmada，doesitbegintogrow，andwhocansayifeveritwillcometoflower？
　　Forthistidingshasstirredmestrangely，bringingbackmyyouthandthedeedsofloveandwarandwildadventurewhichIhavebeenmingledin，fightingformyownhandandforGuatemocandthepeopleoftheOtomieagainstthesesameSpaniards，astheyhavenotbeenbroughtbackformanyyears。
　　Indeed，itseemstome，andthisisnorarethingwiththeaged，asthoughthereinthefarpastmytruelifelay，andalltherestwerenothingbutadream。
　　FromthewindowoftheroomwhereinIwriteIcanseethepeacefulvalleyoftheWaveney。
　　Beyonditsstreamarethecommonlandsgoldenwithgorse，theruinedcastle，andtheredroofsofBungaytowngatheredaboutthetowerofSt。Mary’sChurch。
　　Yonderfarawayaretheking’sforestsofStoweandthefieldsofFlixtonAbbey；totherightthesteepbankisgreenwiththeEarshamoaks，totheleftthefastmarshlandsspottedwithcattlestretchontoBecclesandLowestoft，whilebehindmemygardensandorchardsriseinterracesuptheturfyhillthatinolddayswasknownastheEarl’sVineyard。
　　Alltheseareaboutme，andyetinthishourtheyareasthoughtheywerenot。
　　ForthevalleyoftheWaveneyIseethevaleofTenoctitlan，fortheslopesofStowethesnowyshapesofthevolcanoesPopoandIztac，forthespireofEarshamandthetowersofDitchingham，ofBungay，andofBeccles，thesoaringpyramidsofsacrificegleamingwiththesacredfires，andforthecattleinthemeadowsthehorsemenofCortessweepingtowar。
　　Itcomesbacktome；thatwaslife，therestisbutadream。
　　OncemoreIfeelyoung，and，shouldIbesparedsolong，IwillsetdownthestoryofmyyouthbeforeIamlaidinyonderchurchyardandlostintheworldofdreams。
　　LongagoIhadbegunit，butitwasonlyonlastChristmasDaythatmydearwifedied，andwhileshelivedIknewthatthistaskwasbetterleftundone。
　　Indeed，tobefrank，itwasthuswithmywife:
　　Shelovedme，Ibelieve，asfewmenhavethefortunetobeloved，andthereismuchinmypastthatjarreduponthisloveofhers，movinghertoajealousyofthedeadthatwasnotthelessdeepbecauseitwassogentleandsocloselycoupledwithforgiveness。