Attheleastshedidnotgobackthereforawhile，forthoughIneversawheragain，itissaidthatshelivedtobecomeaChristianandtoldstrangetalesofwhatshehadseeninthelandofDeath。*
　　*ForthehistoryoftheresurrectionofPapantzin，seenotetoJourdanet’stranslationofSahagun，page870——AUTHOR。
　　NowsomemonthspassedbetweenthedateofmynamingasthegodTezcatandtheentryoftheSpaniardsintoMexico，andduringallthisspacethecitywasinastateofferment。
　　AgainandagainMontezumasentembassiestoCortes，bearingwiththemvasttreasuresofgoldandgemsaspresents，andatthesametimeprayinghimtowithdraw，forthisfoolishprincedidnotunderstandthatbydisplayingsomuchwealthheflewalurewhichmustsurelybringthefalcononhimself。
　　TotheseambassadorsCortesreturnedcourteousanswerstogetherwithpresentsofsmallvalue，andthatwasall。
　　ThentheadvancebeganandtheemperorlearnedwithdismayoftheconquestofthewarliketribeoftheTlascalans，who，thoughtheywereMontezuma’sbitterandhereditaryfoes，yetmadeastandagainstthewhiteman。
　　NextcamethetidingsthatfromenemiestheconqueredTlascalanshadbecomethealliesandservantsoftheSpaniard，andthatthousandsoftheirfiercestwarriorswereadvancingwithhimuponthesacredcityofCholula。
　　AwhilepassedanditwasknownthatCholulaalsohadbeengiventomassacre，andthattheholy，orrathertheunholygods，hadbeentornfromtheirshrines。
　　MarvelloustalesweretoldoftheSpaniards，oftheircourageandtheirmight，ofthearmourthattheywore，thethunderthattheirweaponsmadeinbattle，andthefiercebeastswhichtheybestrode。
　　OncetwoheadsofwhitementakeninaskirmishweresenttoMontezuma，fierce-lookingheads，greatandhairy，andwiththemtheheadofahorse。
　　WhenMontezumasawtheseghastlyrelicshealmostfaintedwithfear，stillhecausedthemtobesetuponpinnaclesofthegreattempleandproclamationtobemadethatthisfateawaitedeveryinvaderoftheland。
　　Meanwhileallwasconfusioninhispolicies。
　　Daybydaycouncilswereheldofthenobles，ofhighpriests，andofneighbouringandfriendlykings。
　　Someadvisedonething，someanother，andtheendofitwashesitationandfolly。
　　Ah！hadMontezumabutlistenedtothevoiceofthatgreatmanGuatemoc，AnahuacwouldnothavebeenaSpanishfiefto-day。
　　ForGuatemocprayedhimagainandyetagaintoputawayhisfearsanddeclareopenwarupontheTeulesbeforeitwastoolate；toceasefrommakinggiftsandsendingembassies，togatherhiscountlessarmiesandsmitethefoeinthemountainpasses。
　　ButMontezumawouldanswer，’Towhatend，nephew？
　　HowcanI
　　struggleagainstthesemenwhenthegodsthemselveshavedeclaredforthem？
　　Surelythegodscantaketheirownpartsiftheywishit，andiftheywillnot，formyselfandmyownfateIdonotcare，butalas！formypeople，alas！forthewomenandthechildren，theagedandtheweak。’
　　Thenhewouldcoverhisfaceandmoanandweeplikeachild，andGuatemocwouldpassfromhispresencedumbwithfuryatthefollyofsogreataking，buthelplesstoremedyit。
　　Forlikemyself，GuatemocbelievedthatMontezumahadbeensmittenwithamadnesssentfromheaventobringthelandtoruin。
　　Nowitmustbeunderstoodthatthoughmyplaceasagodgavemeopportunitiesofknowingallthatpassed，yetIThomasWingfield，wasbutabubbleonthatgreatwaveofeventswhichsweptovertheworldofAnahuactwogenerationssince。
　　Iwasabubbleonthecrestofthewaveindeed，butatthattimeIhadnomorepowerthanthefoamhasoverthewave。
　　Montezumadistrustedmeasaspy，thepriestslookedonmeasagodandfuturevictimandnomore，onlyGuatemocmyfriend，andOtomiewholovedmesecretly，hadanyfaithinme，andwiththesetwoIoftentalked，showingthemthetruemeaningofthosethingsthatwerehappeningbeforeoureyes。
　　Buttheyalsowerestrengthless，forthoughhisreasonwasnolongercaptain，stilltheuncheckedpowerofMontezumaguidedtheshipofstatefirstthiswayandthenthat，justasarudderdirectsavesseltoitsruinwhenthehelmsmanhasleftit，anditswingsatthemercyofthewindandtide。
　　Thepeopleweredistraughtwithfearofthefuture，butnotthelessonthataccount，orperhapsbecauseofit，theyplungedwithfervourintopleasures，alternatingthemwithreligiousceremonies。
　　Inthosedaysnofeastwasneglectedandnoaltarlackeditsvictim。
　　Likeariverthatquickensitsflowasitdrawsneartheprecipiceoverwhichitmustfall，sothepeopleofMexico，foreseeingruin，awokeasitwereandlivedastheyhadneverlivedbefore。
　　Alldaylongthecriesofvictimscamefromahundredtempletops，andallnightthesoundsofrevelrywereheardamongthestreets。
　　’Letuseatanddrink，’theysaid，’forthegodsoftheseaareuponusandto-morrowwedie。’
　　Nowwomenwhohadbeenheldvirtuousprovedthemselveswantons，andmenwhosenameswerehonestshowedthemselvesknaves，andnonecriedfieuponthem；ay，evenchildrenwereseendrunkeninthestreets，whichisanabominationamongtheAztecs。
　　TheemperorhadmovedhishouseholdfromChapoltepectothepalaceinthegreatsquarefacingthetemple，andthispalacewasatowninitself，foreverynightmorethanathousandhumanbeingssleptbeneathitsroof，nottospeakofthedwarfsandmonsters，andthehundredsofwildbirdsandbeastsincages。
　　HereeverydayI
　　feastedwithwhomIwould，andwhenIwaswearyoffeastingitwasmycustomtosallyoutintothestreetsplayingonthelute，forbynowIhadinsomedegreemasteredthathatefulinstrument，dressedinshiningapparelandattendedbyacrowdofnoblesandroyalpages。
　　Thenthepeoplewouldrushfromtheirhousesshoutinganddoingmereverence，thechildrenpeltedmewithflowers，andthemaidensdancedbeforeme，kissingmyhandsandfeet，tillatlengthIwasattendedbyamobathousandstrong。
　　AndIalsodancedandshoutedlikeanyvillagefool，forIthinkthatakindofmadhumour，orperhapsitwasthedrunkennessofworship，enteredintomeinthosedays。
　　AlsoIsoughttoforgetmygriefs，IdesiredtoforgetthatIwasdoomedtothesacrifice，andthateverydaybroughtmenearertotheredknifeofthepriest。
　　Idesiredtoforget，butalas！Icouldnot。
　　ThefumesofthemescalandthepulquethatIhaddrunkatfeastswouldpassfrommybrain，theperfumeofflowers，thesightsofbeautyandtheadorationofthepeoplewouldceasetomoveme，andIcouldonlybroodheavilyuponmydoomandthinkwithlongingofmydistantloveandhome。
　　Inthosedays，haditnotbeenforthetenderkindnessofOtomie，IthinkthatmyheartwouldhavebrokenorI
　　shouldhaveslainmyself。
　　Butthisgreatandbeauteousladywaseverathandtocheermeinathousandways，andnowandagainshewouldletfallsomevaguewordsofhopethatsetmypulsesbounding。
　　ItwillberememberedthatwhenfirstIcametothecourtofMontezuma，IhadfoundOtomiefairandmyfancyturnedtowardsher。
　　NowIstillfoundherfair，butmyheartwassofullofterrorthattherewasnoroominitfortenderthoughtsofherorofanyotherwoman。
　　IndeedwhenIwasnotdrunkwithwineoradoration，Iturnedmymindtothemakingofmypeacewithheaven，ofwhichIhadsomeneed。
　　StillItalkedmuchwithOtomie，instructingherinthemattersofmyfaithandmanyotherthings，asIhaddonebyMarina，whowenowheardwasthemistressandinterpreterofCortes，theSpanishleader。
　　Sheforherpartlistenedgravely，watchingmethewhilewithhertendereyes，butnomore，forofallwomenOtomiewasthemostmodest，asshewastheproudestandmostbeautiful。
　　SomatterswentonuntiltheSpaniardshadleftCholulaontheirroadtoMexico。
　　ItwasthenthatIchancedonemorningtobesittinginthegardens，myluteinhand，andhavingmyattendantnoblesandtutorsgatheredatarespectfuldistancebehindme。
　　FromwhereIsatIcouldseetheentrancetothecourtinwhichtheemperormethiscouncildaily，andInotedthatwhentheprinceshadgonethepriestsbegantocome，andafterthemanumberofverylovelygirlsattendedbywomenofmiddleage。
　　PresentlyGuatemoctheprince，whonowsmiledbutrarely，cameuptomesmiling，andaskedmeifIknewwhatwasdoingyonder。
　　IrepliedthatIknewnothingandcaredless，butIsupposedthatMontezumawasgatheringapeculiartreasuretosendtohismasterstheSpaniards。
　　’Bewarehowyouspeak，Teule，’answeredtheprincehaughtily。
　　’Yourwordsmaybetrue，andyetdidInotloveyou，youshouldruethemeventhoughyouholdthespiritofTezcat。
　　Alas！’headded，stampingontheground，’alas！thatmyuncle’smadnessshouldmakeitpossiblethatsuchwordscanbespoken。
　　Oh！wereIemperorofAnahuac，inasingleweektheheadofeveryTeuleinCholulashoulddeckapinnacleofyondertemple。’
　　’Bewarehowyouspeak，prince，’Iansweredmockinghim，’fortherearethosewhodidtheyhear，mightcauseYOUtorueYOURwords。
　　Stillonedayyoumaybeemperor，andthenweshallseehowyouwilldealwiththeTeules，atleastotherswillseethoughIshallnot。
　　Butwhatisitnow？
　　DoesMontezumachoosenewwives？’
　　’Hechooseswives，butnotforhimself。
　　Youknow，Teule，thatyourtimegrowsshort。
　　Montezumaandthepriestsnamethosewhomustbegiventoyoutowife。’
　　’Givenmetowife！’Isaidstartingtomyfeet；’tomewhosebrideisdeath！
　　WhathaveItodowithloveormarriage？
　　Iwhoinsomefewshortweeksmustgraceanaltar？
　　Ah！Guatemoc，yousayyouloveme，andonceIsavedyou。
　　Didyouloveme，surelyyouwouldsavemenowasyousworetodo。’
　　’IsworethatIwouldgivemylifeforyours，Teule，ifitlayinmypower，andthatoathIwouldkeep，foralldonotsetsohighastoreonlifeasyou，myfriend。
　　ButIcannothelpyou；youarededicatedtothegods，anddidIdieahundredtimes，itwouldnotsaveyoufromyourfate。
　　Nothingcansaveyouexceptthehandofheavenifitwills。
　　Therefore，Teule，makemerrywhileyoumay，anddiebravelywhenyoumust。
　　Yourcaseisnoworsethanmineandthatofmanyothers，fordeathawaitsusall。
　　Farewell。’
　　WhenhehadgoneIrose，andleavingthegardensIpassedintothechamberwhereitwasmycustomtogiveaudiencetothosewhowishedtolookuponthegodTezcatastheycalledme。
　　HereIsatuponmygoldencouch，inhalingthefumesoftobacco，andasitchancedI
　　wasalone，fornonedaredtoenterthatroomunlessIgavethemleave。
　　Presentlythechiefofmypagesannouncedthatonewouldspeakwithme，andIbentmyhead，signifyingthatthepersonshouldenter，forIwaswearyofmythoughts。
　　Thepagewithdrew，andpresentlyaveiledwomanstoodbeforeme。
　　Ilookedatherwondering，andbadeherdrawherveilandspeak。
　　Sheobeyed，andI
　　sawthatmyvisitorwastheprincessOtomie。
　　NowIroseamazed，foritwasnotusualthatsheshouldvisitmethusalone。
　　I
　　guessedthereforethatshehadtidings，orwasfollowingsomecustomofwhichIwasignorant。
　　’Iprayyoubeseated，’shesaidconfusedly；’itisnotfittingthatyoushouldstandbeforeme。’
　　’Whynot，princess？’Ianswered。
　　’IfIhadnorespectforrank，surelybeautymustclaimit。’
　　’Atrucetowords，’sherepliedwithawaveofherslimhand。