Whenthefeastwasdoneandwehaddrunkofthecocoaorchocolate，andsmokedtobaccoinpipes，astrangebutmostsoothingcustomthatIlearnedinTobascoandofwhichIhaveneverbeenabletobreakmyself，thoughtheweedisstillhardtocomebyhereinEngland，Iwasledtomysleepingplace，asmallchamberpanelledwithcedarboards。
　　ForawhileIcouldnotsleep，forIwasovercomebythememoryofallthestrangesightsthatIhadseeninthiswonderfulnewlandwhichwassocivilisedandyetsobarbarous。
　　Ithoughtofthatsad-facedking，theabsolutelordofmillions，surroundedbyallthattheheartofmancandesire，byvastwealth，byhundredsoflovelywives，bylovingchildren，bycountlessarmies，byallthegloryofthearts，rulingoverthefairestempireontheearth，witheverypleasuretohishand，agodinallthingssavehismortality，andworshippedasagod，andyetavictimtofearandsuperstition，andmoreheavyheartedthanthemeanestslaveabouthispalaces。
　　HerewasalessonsuchasSolomonwouldhavelovedtoshow，forwithSolomonthisMontezumamightcry:
　　’Igatheredmealsosilverandgold，andthepeculiartreasureofkingsandoftheprovinces:Igatmemensingersandwomensingers，andthedelightsofthesonsofmen，andmusicalinstruments，andthatofallsorts。
　　AndwhatsoevermyeyesdesiredIkeptnotfromthem，Iwithheldnotmyheartfromanyjoy。
　　Andbehold，allwasvanityandvexationofspirit，andtherewasnoprofitunderthesun。’
　　Sohemighthavecried，so，indeed，hedidcryinotherwords，for，asthepaintingoftheskeletonsandthethreemonarchsthatisuponthenorthwalloftheaisleofDitchinghamChurchshowsforthsoaptly，kingshavetheirfatesandhappinessisnottothemmorethantoanyotherofthesonsofmen。
　　Indeed，itisnotatall，asmybenefactorFonsecaoncesaidtome；truehappinessisbutadreamfromwhichweawakecontinuallytothesorrowsofourshortlaboriousday。
　　Thenmythoughtsflewtothevisionofthatmostlovelymaid，theprincessOtomie，who，asIbelieved，hadlookedonmesokindly，andIfoundthatvisionsweet，forIwasyoung，andtheEnglishLily，myownlove，wasfarawayandlosttomeforever。
　　WasitthenwonderfulthatIshouldfindthisIndianpoppyfair？
　　Indeed，whereisthemanwhowouldnothavebeenovercomebyhersweetness，herbeauty，andthatstampofroyalgracewhichcomeswithkinglybloodandthedailyexerciseofpower？
　　Liketherichwondersoftherobeshewore，herverybarbarism，ofwhichnowIsawbutthebetterside，drewanddazzledmymind’seye，givingherwoman’stendernesssomenewquality，sombreandstrange，aneasternrichnesswhichislackinginourwellschooledEnglishwomen，thatatoneandthesamestroketouchedboththeimaginationandthesenses，andthroughthementhralledtheheart。
　　ForOtomieseemedsuchwomanasmendreamofbutveryrarelywin，seeingthattheworldhasfewsuchnaturesandfewernurserieswheretheycanbereared。
　　Atoncepureandpassionate，ofroyalbloodandheart，richnaturedandmostwomanly，yetbraveasamanandbeautifulasthenight，withamindathirstforknowledgeandaspiritthatnosorrowscouldavailtoquell，everchanginginheroutermoods，andyetmostfaithfulandwiththehonourofaman，suchwasOtomie，Montezuma’sdaughter，princessoftheOtomie。
　　WasitwonderfulthenthatIfoundherfair，or，whenfategavemeherlove，thatatlastIlovedherinturn？
　　AndyettherewasthatinhernaturewhichshouldhaveheldmebackhadIbutknownofit，forwithallhercharm，herbeautyandhervirtues，atheartshewasstillasavage，andstriveasshewouldtohideit，attimesherbloodwouldmasterher。
　　ButasIlayinthechamberofthepalaceofChapoltepec，thetrampoftheguardswithoutmydoorremindedmethatIhadlittlenowtodowithloveandotherdelights，Iwhoselifehungfromdaytodayuponahair。
　　To-morrowthepriestswoulddecidemyfate，andwhenthepriestswerejudges，theprisonermightknowthesentencebeforeitwasspoken。
　　Iwasastrangerandawhiteman，surelysuchaonewouldproveanofferingmoreacceptabletothegodsthanthatfurnishedbyathousandIndianhearts。
　　IhadbeensnatchedfromthealtarsofTobascothatImightgracethehigheraltarsofTenoctitlan，andthatwasall。
　　Myfatewouldbetoperishmiserablyfarfrommyhome，andinthisworldnevertobeheardofmore。
　　MusingthussadlyatlastIslept。
　　WhenIwokethesunwasup。
　　RisingfrommymatIwenttothewood-barredwindowplaceandlookedthrough。
　　ThepalacewhenceIgazedwasplacedonthecrestofarockyhill。
　　OnonesidethishillwasbathedbythebluewatersofTezcuco，ontheother，amileormoreaway，rosethetempletowersofMexico。
　　Alongtheslopesofthehill，andinsomedirectionsforamilefromitsbase，grewhugecedartreesfromtheboughsofwhichhungagreyandghostly-lookingmoss。
　　ThesetreesaresolargethatthesmallestofthemisbiggerthanthebestoakinthisparishofDitchingham，whilethegreatestmeasurestwenty-
　　twopacesroundthebase。
　　BeyondandbetweenthesemarvellousandancienttreeswerethegardensofMontezuma，thatwiththeirstrangeandgorgeousflowers，theirmarblebaths，theiraviariesandwildbeastdens，were，asIbelieve，themostwonderfulinthewholeworld。*
　　’Attheleast，’Ithoughttomyself，’evenifImustdie，itissomethingtohaveseenthiscountryofAnahuac，itsking，itscustoms，anditspeople。’
　　*ThegardensofMontezumahavebeenlongdestroyed，butsomeofthecedarsstillflourishatChapoltepec，thoughtheSpaniardscutdownmany。
　　Oneofthem，whichtraditionsayswasafavouritetreeofthegreatemperor’s，measuresaccordingtoaroughcalculationtheauthorofthisbookmadeuponthespotaboutsixtyfeetroundthebole。
　　ItisstrangetothinkthatafewancientconifersshouldalonesurviveofallthegloriesofMontezuma’swealthandstate——AUTHOR。
　　CHAPTERXVI
　　THOMASBECOMESAGOD
　　LittledidI，plainThomasWingfield，gentleman，know，whenIrosethatmorning，thatbeforesunsetIshouldbeagod，andafterMontezumatheEmperor，themosthonouredman，orrathergod，inthecityofMexico。
　　Itcameaboutthus。
　　WhenIhadbreakfastedwiththehouseholdoftheprinceGuatemoc，Iwasledtothehallofjustice，whichwasnamedthe’tribunalofgod。’
　　HereonagoldenthronesatMontezuma，administeringjusticeinsuchpompasIcannotdescribe。
　　Abouthimwerehiscounsellorsandgreatlords，andbeforehimwasplacedahumanskullcrownedwithemeraldssolargethatablazeoflightwentupfromthem。
　　Inhishandalsoheheldanarrowforasceptre。
　　Certainchiefsorcaciqueswereontheirtrialfortreason，norweretheyleftlongindoubtastotheirfate。
　　Forwhensomeevidencehadbeenheardtheywereaskedwhattheyhadtosayintheirdefence。
　　Eachofthemtoldhistaleinfewwordsandshort。
　　ThenMontezuma，whotillnowhadsaidanddonenothing，tookthepaintedscrolloftheirindictmentsandprickeditwiththearrowinhishandwherethepictureofeachprisonerappeareduponthescroll。
　　Thentheywereledawaytodeath，buthowtheydiedIdonotknow。
　　Whenthistrialwasfinishedcertainpriestsenteredthehallclothedinsablerobes，theirmattedhairhangingdowntheirbacks。
　　Theywerefierce，wild-eyedmenofgreatdignity，andIshiveredwhenIsawthem。
　　InoticedalsothattheyalonemadesmallreverencetothemajestyofMontezuma。
　　Thecounsellorsandnobleshavingfallenback，thesepriestsenteredintotalkwiththeemperor，andpresentlytwoofthemcameforwardandtakingmefromthecustodyoftheguards，ledmeforwardbeforethethrone。
　　ThenofasuddenIwascommandedtostripmyselfofmygarments，andthisIdidwithnolittleshame，tillIstoodnakedbeforethemall。
　　Nowthepriestscameforwardandexaminedeverypartofmeclosely。
　　OnmyarmswerethescarsleftbydeGarcia’ssword，andonmybreastthescarcelyhealedmarksofthepuma’steethandclaws。
　　Thesewoundstheyscanned，askinghowIhadcomebythem。
　　Itoldthem，andthereupontheycarriedonadiscussionamongthemselves，andoutofmyhearing，whichgrewsowarmthatatlengththeyappealedtotheemperortodecidethepoint。
　　Hethoughtawhile，andIheardhimsay:
　　’Theblemishesdonotcomefromwithinthebody，norweretheyuponitatbirth，buthavebeeninflictedbytheviolenceofmanandbeast。’
　　Thenthepriestsconsultedtogetheragain，andpresentlytheirleaderspokesomewordsintotheearofMontezuma。
　　Henodded，andrisingfromhisthrone，cametowardsmewhostoodnakedandshiveringbeforehim，fortheairofMexicoiskeen。
　　Asheadvancedheloosedachainofemeraldsandgoldthathungabouthisneck，andunclaspedtheroyalcloakfromhisshoulders。
　　Thenwithhisownhand，heputthechainaboutmythroat，andthecloakuponmyshoulders，andhavinghumblybentthekneebeforemeasthoughinadoration，hecasthisarmsaboutmeandembracedme。
　　’Hail！mostblessed，’hesaid，’divinesonofQuetzal，holderofthespiritofTezcat，SouloftheWorld，CreatoroftheWorld。
　　Whathavewedonethatyoushouldhonourusthuswithyourpresenceforaseason？
　　Whatcanwedotopaythehonourback？
　　Youcreatedusandallthiscountry；behold！whileyoutarrywithus，itisyoursandwearenothingbutyourservants。
　　Orderandyourcommandsshallbeobeyed，thinkandyourthoughtshallbeexecutedbeforeitcanpassyourlips。
　　OTezcat，I，Montezumayourservant，offeryoumyadoration，andthroughmetheadorationofallmypeople，’andagainhebowedtheknee。
　　’Weadoreyou，OTezcat！’chimedinthepriests。
　　NowIremainedsilentandbewildered，forofallthisfooleryI
　　couldunderstandnothing，andwhileIstoodthusMontezumaclappedhishandsandwomenenteredbearingbeautifulclothingwiththem，andawreathofflowers。
　　Theclothingtheyputuponmybodyandthewreathofflowersonmyhead，worshippingmethewhileandsaying，’Tezcatwhodiedyesterdayiscomeagain。
　　Bejoyful，TezcathascomeagaininthebodyofthecaptiveTeule。’
　　ThenIunderstoodthatIwasnowagodandthegreatestofgods，thoughatthatmomentwithinmyselfIfeltmoreofafoolthanI
　　hadeverbeenbefore。
　　Andnowmenappeared，graveandreverendinappearance，bearinglutesintheirhands。
　　Iwastoldthattheseweremytutors，andwiththematrainofroyalpageswhoweretobemyservants。
　　Theyledmeforthfromthehallmakingmusicastheywent，andbeforememarchedaherald，callingoutthatthiswasthegodTezcat，SouloftheWorld，CreatoroftheWorld，whohadcomeagaintovisithispeople。
　　Theyledmethroughallthecourtsandendlesschambersofthepalace，andwhereverIwent，manwomanandchildbowedthemselvestotheearthbeforeme，andworshippedme，ThomasWingfieldofDitchingham，inthecountyofNorfolk，tillIthoughtthatImustbemad。
　　ThentheyplacedmeinalitterandcarriedmedownthehillChapoltepec，andalongcausewaysandthroughstreets，tillwecametothegreatsquareofthetemple。
　　Beforemewentheraldsandpriests，aftermefollowedpagesandnobles，andeveraswepassedthemultitudesprostratedthemselvestillIbegantounderstandhowwearisomeathingitistobeagod。
　　Nexttheycarriedmethroughthewallofserpentsandupthewindingpathsofthemightyteocallitillwereachedthesummit，wherethetemplesandidolsstood，andhereagreatdrumbeat，andthepriestssacrificedvictimaftervictiminmyhonourandIgrewsickwiththesightofwickednessandblood。
　　Presentlytheyinvitedmetodescendfromthelitter，layingrichcarpetsandflowersformyfeettotreadon，andIwasmuchafraid，forIthoughtthattheywereabouttosacrificemetomyselforsomeotherdivinity。
　　Butthiswasnotso。