Itvanished，butwhereithadbeenanotherlightnowburned，forthetempleofQuetzalwasafire。
　　NowcriesoffearandlamentationarosefromallwhobeheldthesewondersonthehillofChapoltepecandalsofromthecitybelow。
　　EvenIwasfrightened，Idonotknowwhy，foritmaywellbethattheblazeoflightwhichwesawonthatandafternightswasnothingbutthebrightnessofacomet，andthatthefireinthetemplewascausedbyathunderbolt。
　　Buttothesepeople，andmoreespeciallytoMontezuma，whosemindwasfilledalreadywithrumoursofthecomingofastrangewhiterace，which，asitwastrulyprophesied，wouldbringhisempiretonothingness，theomensseemedveryevil。
　　Indeed，iftheyhadanydoubtastotheirmeaning，itwassoontobedispelled，intheirmindsatleast。
　　Foraswestoodwonder-struck，amessenger，pantingandsoiledwithtravel，arrivedamongusandprostratinghimselfbeforethemajestyoftheemperor，hedrewapaintedscrollfromhisrobeandhandedittoanattendantnoble。
　　SodesirouswasMontezumatoknowitscontents，thatcontrarytoallcustomhesnatchedtherollfromthehandsofthecounsellor，andunrollingit，hebegantoreadthepicturewritingbythebalefullightoftheblazingskyandtemple。
　　Presently，aswewatchedandheread，Montezumagroanedaloud，andcastingdownthewritinghecoveredhisfacewithhishands。
　　AsitchanceditfellneartowhereIstood，andIsawpaintedoveritrudepicturesofshipsoftheSpanishrig，andofmenintheSpanisharmour。
　　ThenIunderstoodwhyMontezumagroaned。
　　TheSpaniardshadlandedonhisshores！
　　Nowsomeofhiscounsellorsapproachedhimtoconsolehim，buthethrustthemaside，saying:
　　’Letmemourn——thedoomthatwasforetoldisfallenuponthechildrenofAnahuac。
　　ThechildrenofQuetzalmusteronourshoresandslaymypeople。
　　Letmemourn，Isay。’
　　Atthatmomentanothermessengercamefromthepalace，havinggriefwrittenonhisface。
　　’Speak，’saidMontezuma。
　　’Oking，forgivethetonguethatmusttellsuchtidings。
　　YourroyalsisterPapantzinwasseizedwithterroratyonderdreadfulsight，’andhepointedtotheheavens；’sheliesdyinginthepalace！’
　　Nowwhentheemperorheardthathissisterwhomhelovedwasdying，hesaidnothing，butcoveringhisfacewithhisroyalmantle，hepassedslowlybacktothepalace。
　　Andallthewhilethecrimsonlightgleamedandsparkledintheeastlikesomemonstrousandunnaturaldawn，whilethetempleofQuetzalburnedfiercelyinthecitybeneath。
　　Now，IturnedtotheprincessOtomie，whohadstoodbymysidethroughout，overcomewithwonderandtrembling。
　　’DidInotsaythatthiscountrywasaccursed，princessoftheOtomie？’
　　’Yousaidit，Teule，’sheanswered，’anditisaccursed。’
　　Thenwewentintothepalace，andeveninthishouroffear，aftermecametheminstrelsasbefore。
　　OnthemorrowPapantzindied，andwasburiedwithgreatpompthatsameeveningintheburial-groundatChapoltepec，bythesideoftheemperor’sroyalancestors。
　　But，aswillbeseen，shewasnotcontentwiththeircompany。
　　Onthatdayalso，Ilearnedthattobeagodisnotallpleasure，sinceitwasexpectedofmethatImustmastervariousarts，andchieflythehorridartofmusic，towhichIneverhadanydesire。
　　Stillmyownwisheswerenotallowedtoweighinthematter，fortherecametometutors，agedmenwhomighthavefoundbetteremployment，toinstructmeintheuseofthelute，andonthisinstrumentImustlearntostrum。
　　Otherstherewerealso，whotaughtmeletters，poetry，andart，astheywereunderstoodamongtheAztecs，andallthisknowledgeIwasgladof。
　　StillIrememberedthewordsofthepreacherwhichtellusthathewhoincreasethknowledgeincreasethsorrow，andmoreoverI
　　couldseelittleuseinacquiringlearningthatwastobelostshortlyonthestoneofsacrifice。
　　AstothismatterofmysacrificeIwasatfirstdesperate。
　　ButreflectiontoldmethatIhadalreadypassedmanydangersandcomeoutunscathed，andthereforeitwaspossiblethatImightescapethisonealso。
　　Atleastdeathwasstillalongwayoff，andforthepresentIwasagod。
　　SoIdeterminedthatwhetherIdiedorlived，whileIlivedIwouldlivelikeagodandtakesuchpleasuresascametomyhand，andIactedonthisresolve。
　　Nomaneverhadgreaterormorestrangeopportunities，andnomancanhaveusedthembetter。
　　Indeed，haditnotbeenforthesorrowfulthoughtsofmylostloveandhomewhichwouldforcethemselvesuponme，Ishouldhavebeenalmosthappy，becauseofthepowerthatI
　　wieldedandthestrangenessofallaroundme。
　　ButImusttomytale。
　　DuringthedaysthatfollowedthedeathofPapantzinthepalaceandthecityalsowereplungedinferment。
　　Themindsofmenwereshakenstrangelybecauseoftherumoursthatfilledtheair。
　　Everynightthefieryportentblazedintheeast，everydayanewwonderoromenwasreported，andwithitsomewildtaleofthedoingsoftheSpaniards，whobymostwereheldtobewhitegods，thechildrenofQuetzal，comebacktotakethelandwhichtheirforefatherruled。
　　Butofallthatweretroubled，nonewereinsuchbadcaseastheemperorhimself，who，duringtheseweeksscarcelyateordrankorslept，soheavywerehisfearsuponhim。
　　Inthisstraithesentmessengerstohisancientrival，thatwiseandseveremanNeza，thekingofthealliedstateofTezcuco，beggingthathewouldvisithim。
　　Thiskingcame，anoldmanwithafierceandgleamingeye，andIwaswitnesstotheinterviewthatfollowed，forinmyqualityofgodIhadfulllibertyofthepalace，andeventobepresentatthecouncilsoftheemperorandhisnobles。
　　Whenthetwomonarchshadfeastedtogether，MontezumaspoketoNezaofthematteroftheomensandofthecomingoftheTeules，askinghimtolightenthedarknessbyhiswisdom。
　　ThenNezapulledhislonggreybeardandansweredthatheavyastheheartofMontezumamightbe，itmustgrowstillheavierbeforetheend。
　　’See，Lord，’hesaid，’Iamsosurethatthedaysofourempirearenumbered，thatIwillplayyouatdiceformykingdomswhichyouandyourforefathershaveeverdesiredtowin。’
　　’Forwhatwager？’askedMontezuma。
　　’Iwillplayyouthus，’answeredNeza。
　　’Youshallstakethreefightingcocks，ofwhich，shouldIwin，Iaskthespursonly。
　　I
　　setagainstthemallthewideempireofTezcuco。’
　　’Asmallstake，’saidMontezuma；’cocksaremanyandkingdomsfew。’
　　’Still，itshallserveourturn，’answeredtheagedking，’forknowthatweplayagainstfate。
　　Asthegamegoes，soshalltheissuebe。
　　Ifyouwinmykingdomsalliswell；ifIwinthecocks，thengood-byetothegloryofAnahuac，foritspeoplewillceasetobeapeople，andstrangersshallpossesstheland。’
　　’Letusplayandsee，’saidMontezuma，andtheywentdowntotheplacethatiscalledtlachco，wherethegamesareset。
　　HeretheybeganthematchwithdiceandatfirstallwentwellforMontezuma，sothathecalledaloudthatalreadyhewaslordofTezcuco。
　　’Mayitbeso！’answeredtheagedNeza，andfromthatmomentthechancechanged。
　　Forstriveashewould，Montezumacouldnotwinanotherpoint，andpresentlythesetwasfinished，andNezahadwonthecocks。
　　Nowthemusicplayed，andcourtierscameforwardtogivethekinghomageonhissuccess。
　　Butherosesighing，andsaid:
　　’Ihadfarsoonerlosemykingdomsthanhavewonthesefowls，forifIhadlostmykingdomstheywouldstillhavepassedintothehandsofoneofmyownrace。
　　Nowalas！mypossessionsandhismustcomeunderthehandofstrangers，whoshallcastdownourgodsandbringournamestonothing。’
　　Andhavingspokenthus，herose，andtakingfarewelloftheemperor，hedepartedforhisownland，where，asitchanced，hediedveryshortly，withoutlivingtoseethefulfilmentofhisfears。
　　OnthemorrowofhisdeparturecamefurtheraccountsofthedoingsoftheSpaniardsthatplungedMontezumaintostillgreateralarm。
　　Inhisterrorhesentforanastronomer，notedthroughoutthelandforthetruthofhisdivinations。
　　Theastronomercame，andwasreceivedbytheemperorprivately。
　　WhathetoldhimIdonotknow，butatleastitwasnothingpleasant，forthatverynightmenwerecommandedtopulldownthehouseofthissage，whowasburiedinitsruins。
　　Twodaysafterthedeathoftheastronomer，Montezumabethoughthimthat，ashebelieved，IalsowasaTeule，andcouldgivehiminformation。
　　Soatthehourofsunsethesentforme，biddingmewalkwithhiminthegardens。
　　Iwentthither，followedbymymusiciansandattendants，whowouldneverleavemeinpeace，buthecommandedthatallshouldstandaside，ashewishedtospeakwithmealone。
　　Thenhebegantowalkbeneaththemightycedartrees，andIwithhim，butkeepingonepacebehind。
　　’Teule，’hesaidatlength，’tellmeofyourcountrymen，andwhytheyhavecometotheseshores。
　　Seethatyouspeaktruth。’
　　’Theyarenocountrymenofmine，OMontezuma，’Ianswered，’thoughmymotherwasoneofthem。’
　　’DidInotbidyouspeakthetruth，Teule？
　　Ifyourmotherwasoneofthem，mustyounotalsobeofthem；forareyounotofyourmother’sboneandblood？’
　　’Asthekingpleases，’Iansweredbowing。
　　ThenIbeganandtoldhimoftheSpaniards——oftheircountry，theirgreatness，theircrueltyandtheirgreedofgold，andhelistenedeagerly，thoughI
　　thinkthathebelievedlittleofwhatIsaid，forhisfearhadmadehimverysuspicious。
　　WhenIhaddone，hespokeandsaid:
　　’WhydotheycomeheretoAnahuac？’
　　’Ifear，Oking，thattheycometotaketheland，orattheleasttorobitofallitstreasure，andtodestroyitsfaiths。’
　　’Whatthenisyourcounsel，Teule？
　　HowcanIdefendmyselfagainstthesemightymen，whoareclothedinmetal，andrideuponfiercewildbeasts，whohaveinstrumentsthatmakeanoiselikethunder，atthesoundofwhichtheiradversariesfalldeadbyhundreds，andwhobearweaponsofshiningsilverintheirhands？
　　Alas！thereisnodefencepossible，fortheyarethechildrenofQuetzalcomebacktotaketheland。
　　FrommychildhoodIhaveknownthatthisevilovershadowedme，andnowitisatmydoor。’
　　’IfI，whoamonlyagod，mayventuretospeaktothelordoftheearth，’Ianswered，’Isaythatthereplyiseasy。
　　Meetforcebyforce。
　　TheTeulesarefewandyoucanmusterathousandsoldiersforeveryoneoftheirs。
　　Fallonthematonce，donothesitatetilltheirprowessfindsthemfriends，butcrushthem。’
　　’SuchisthecounselofonewhosemotherwasaTeule；’theemperoranswered，withsarcasmandbittermeaning。
　　’Tellmenow，counsellor，howamItoknowthatinfightingagainstthemIshallnotbefightingagainstthegods；howevenamItolearnthetruewishesandpurposesofmenorgodswhocannotspeakmytongueandwhosetongueIcannotspeak？’
　　’Itiseasy，OMontezuma，’Ianswered。
　　’Icanspeaktheirtongue；
　　sendmetodiscoverforyou。’