Otomiebadethembeseatedandaddressedthemthus:
　　’Hearme，youchiefsandcaptainsofmymother’srace，whoamyourprincessbyrightofblood，thelastofyourancientrulers，andwhoammoreoverthedaughterofMontezuma，EmperorofAnahuac，nowdeadtousbutlivingevermoreintheMansionsoftheSun。
　　FirstI
　　presenttoyouthismyhusband，thelordTeule，towhomIwasgiveninmarriagewhenheheldthespiritofthegodTezcat，andwhom，whenhehadpassedthealtarofthegod，beingchosenbyheaventoaidusinourwar，Iweddedanewafterthefashionoftheearth，andbythewillofmyroyalbrethren。
　　Know，chiefsandcaptains，thatthislord，myhusband，isnotofourIndianblood，norishealtogetherofthebloodoftheTeuleswithwhomweareatwar，butratherofthatofthetruechildrenofQuetzal，thedwellersinafaroffnorthernseawhoarefoestotheTeules。
　　Andastheyarefoes，sothismylordistheirfoe，andasdoubtlessyouhaveheard，ofallthedeedsofarmsthatwerewroughtuponthenightoftheslayingoftheTeules，noneweregreaterthanhis，anditwashewhofirstdiscoveredtheirretreat。
　　’ChiefsandcaptainsofthegreatandancientpeopleoftheOtomie，IyourprincesshavebeensenttoyoubyCuitlahua，mykingandyours，togetherwithmylord，topleadwithyouonacertainmatter。
　　Ourkinghasheard，andIalsohaveheardwithshame，thatmanyofthewarriorsofourbloodhavejoinedtheTlascalans，whowereeverfoestotheAztecs，intheirunholyalliancewiththeTeules。
　　Nowforawhilethewhitemenarebeatenback，buttheyhavetouchedthegoldtheycovet，andtheywillreturnagainlikebeestoahalf-drainedflower。
　　Theywillreturn，yetofthemselvestheycandonothingagainstthegloryofTenoctitlan。
　　ButhowshallitgoifwiththemcomethousandsandtensofthousandsoftheIndianpeoples？
　　Iknowwellthatnowinthistimeoftrouble，whenkingdomscrumble，whentheairisfullofportents，andtheverygodsseemimpotent，therearemanywhowouldseizethemomentandturnittotheirprofit。
　　Therearemanymenandtribeswhorememberancientwarsandwrongs，andwhocry，“Nowisthehourofvengeance，nowwewillthinkonthewidowsthattheAztecspearshavemade，onthetributewhichtheyhavewrungfromourpovertytoswelltheirwealth，andonthecaptiveswhohavedeckedthealtarsoftheirsacrifice！“
　　’Isitnotso？
　　Ay，itisso，andIcannotwonderatit。
　　YetIaskyoutorememberthis，thattheyokeyouwouldhelptosetupontheneckofthequeenofcitieswillfityourneckalso。
　　Ofoolishmen，doyouthinkthatyoushallbesparedwhenbyyouraidTenoctitlanisaruinandtheAztecsarenomoreapeople？
　　Isaytoyounever。
　　ThesticksthattheTeulesusetobeatoutthelifeofTenoctitlanshallbythembebrokenonebyoneandcastintothefiretoburn。
　　IftheAztecsfall，thenearlyorlateeverytribewithinthiswidelandshallfall。
　　Theyshallbeslain，theircitiesshallbestampedflat，theirwealthshallbewrungfromthem，andtheirchildrenshalleatthebreadofslaveryanddrinkthewaterofaffliction。
　　Choose，yepeopleoftheOtomie。
　　Willyoustandbythemenofyourowncustomsandcountry，thoughtheyhavebeenyourfoesattimes，orwillyouthrowinyourlotwiththestranger？
　　Choose，yepeopleoftheOtomie，andknowthis，thatonyourchoiceandthatoftheothermenofAnahuac，dependsthefateofAnahuac。
　　Iamyourprincess，andyoushouldobeyme，butto-dayIissuenocommand。
　　IsaychoosebetweentheallianceoftheAztecandtheyokeoftheTeule，andmaythegodabovethegods，thealmighty，theinvisiblegod，directyourchoice。’
　　Otomieceasedandamurmurofapplausewentroundthehall。
　　Alas，Icandonojusticetothefireofherwords，anymorethanIcandescribethedignityandlovelinessofherpersonasitseemedinthathour。
　　Buttheywenttotheheartsoftherudechieftainswholistened。
　　ManyofthemdespisedtheAztecsasawomanishpeopleoftheplainsandthelakes，apeopleofcommerce。
　　Manyhadbloodfeudsagainstthemdatingbackforgenerations。
　　Butstilltheyknewthattheirprincessspoketruth，andthatthetriumphoftheTeuleinTenoctitlanwouldmeanhistriumphovereverycitythroughouttheland。
　　Sothenandtheretheychose，thoughinafterdays，inthestressofdefeatandtrouble，manywentbackupontheirchoiceasisthefashionofmen。
　　’Otomie，’criedtheirspokesman，aftertheyhadtakencounseltogether，’wehavechosen。
　　Princess，yourwordshaveconqueredus。
　　WethrowinourlotwiththeAztecsandwillfighttothelastforfreedomfromtheTeule。’
　　’NowIseethatyouareindeedmypeople，andIamindeedyourruler，’answeredOtomie。
　　’Sothegreatlordswhoaregone，myforefathers，yourchieftains，wouldhavespokeninalikecase。
　　Mayyouneverregretthischoice，mybrethren，MenoftheOtomie。’
　　AndsoitcametopassthatwhenwelefttheCityofPineswetookfromittoCuitlahuatheemperor，apromiseofanarmyoftwentythousandmenvowedtoservehimtothedeathinhiswaragainsttheSpaniard。
　　OurbusinesswiththepeopleoftheOtomiebeingendedforawhile，wereturnedtothecityofTenoctitlan，whichwereachedsafely，havingbeenabsentamonthandaday。
　　Itwasbutalittletime，andyetlongenoughforfreshsorrowstohavefallenonthatmostunhappytown。
　　FornowtheAlmightyhadaddedtotheburdenswhichwerelaiduponher。
　　Shehadtastedofdeathbytheswordofthewhiteman，nowdeathwaswithherinanothershape。
　　FortheSpaniardhadbroughtthefoulsicknessesofEuropewithhim，andsmall-poxragedthroughouttheland。
　　Daybydaythousandsperishedofit，fortheseignorantpeopletreatedtheplaguebypouringcoldwateruponthebodiesofthosesmitten，drivingthefeverinwardstothevitals，sothatwithintwodaysthemostofthemdied。*
　　Itwaspitifultoseethemmaddenedwithsuffering，astheywanderedtoandfroaboutthestreets，spreadingthedistemperfarandwide。
　　Theyweredyinginthehouses，theylaydeadbycompaniesinthemarketplacesawaitingburial，forthesicknesstookitstollofeveryfamily，theverypriestsweresmittenbyitatthealtarastheysacrificedchildrentoappeasetheangerofthegods。
　　Buttheworstisstilltotell；Cuitlahua，theemperor，wasstruckdownbytheillness，andwhenwereachedthecityhelaydying。
　　Still，hedesiredtoseeus，andsentcommandsthatweshouldbebroughttohisbedside。
　　InvaindidIprayOtomienottoobey；she，whowaswithoutfear，laughedatme，saying，’What，myhusband，shallI
　　shrinkfromthatwhichyoumustface？
　　Come，letusgoandmakereportofourmission。
　　IfthesicknesstakesmeandIdie，itwillbebecausemyhourhascome。’
　　*ThistreatmentisfollowedamongtheIndiansofMexicotothisday，butifthewritermaybelievewhatheheardinthatcountry，thepatientisfrequentlycuredbyit。
　　SowewentandwereusheredintoachamberwhereCuitlahualaycoveredbyasheet，asthoughhewerealreadydead，andwithincenseburningroundhimingoldencensers。
　　Whenweenteredhewasinastupor，butpresentlyheawoke，anditwasannouncedtohimthatwewaited。
　　’Welcome，niece，’hesaid，speakingthroughthesheetandinathickvoice；’youfindmeinanevilcase，formydaysarenumbered，thepestilenceoftheTeulesslaysthosewhomtheirswordsspared。
　　Soonanothermonarchmusttakemythrone，asItookyourfather’s，andIdonotaltogethergrieve，foronhimwillrestthegloryandtheburdenofthelastfightoftheAztecs。
　　Yourreport，niece；letmehearitswiftly。
　　WhatsaytheclansoftheOtomie，yourvassals？’
　　’Mylord，’Otomieanswered，speakinghumblyandwithbowedhead，’maythisdistemperleaveyou，andmayyoulivetoreignoverusformanyyears！
　　Mylord，myhusbandTeuleandIhavewonbackthemostpartofthepeopleoftheOtomietoourcauseandstandard。
　　Anarmyoftwentythousandmountainmenwaitsuponyourword，andwhenthosearespenttherearemoretofollow。’
　　’Welldone，daughterofMontezuma，andyou，whiteman，’gaspedthedyingking。
　　’Thegodswerewisewhentheyrefusedyoubothuponthestoneofsacrifice，andIwasfoolishwhenIwouldhaveslainyou，Teule。
　　ToyouandallIsaybeofasteadfastheart，andifyoumustdie，thendiewithhonour。
　　Thefraydrawson，butIshallnotshareit，andwhoknowsitsend？’
　　Nowhelaysilentforawhile，thenofasudden，asthoughaninspirationhadseizedhim，hecastthesheetfromhisfaceandsatuponhiscouch，nopleasantsighttosee，forthepestilencehaddoneitsworstwithhim。
　　’Alas！’hewailed，’andalas！
　　IseethestreetsofTenoctitlanredwithbloodandfire，Iseeherdeadpiledupinheaps，andthehorsesoftheTeulestramplethem。
　　IseetheSpiritofmypeople，andhervoiceissighingandherneckisheavywithchains。
　　Thechildrenarevisitedbecauseoftheevilofthefathers。
　　Yearedoomed，peopleofAnahuac，whomIwouldhavenurturedasaneaglenurturesheryoung。
　　HellyawnsforyouandEarthrefusesyoubecauseofyoursins，andtheremnantthatremainsshallbeslavesfromgenerationtogeneration，tillthevengeanceisaccomplished！’
　　Havingcriedthuswithagreatvoice，Cuitlahuafellbackuponthecushions，andbeforethefrightenedleechwhotendedhimcouldlifthishead，hehadpassedbeyondthetroublesofthisearth。
　　Butthewordswhichhehadspokenremainedfixedintheheartsofthosewhoheardthem，thoughtheyweretoldtononeexcepttoGuatemoc。
　　ThustheninmypresenceandinthatofOtomiediedCuitlahua，emperoroftheAztecs，whenhehadreignedbutfifteenweeks。
　　Oncemorethenationmourneditsking，thechiefofmanyathousandofitschildrenwhomthepestilencesweptwithhimtothe’MansionsoftheSun，’orperchancetothe’darknessbehindtheStars。’
　　Butthemourningwasnotforlong，forintheurgencyofthetimesitwasnecessarythatanewemperorshouldbecrownedtotakecommandofthearmiesandrulethenation。
　　ThereforeonthemorrowoftheburialofCuitlahuathecouncilofthefourelectorswasconvened，andwiththemlessernoblesandprincestothenumberofthreehundred，andIamongthemintherightofmyrankasgeneral，andashusbandoftheprincessOtomie。
　　Therewasnogreatneedofdeliberation，indeed，forthoughthenamesofseveralwerementioned，theprincesknewthattherewasbutonemanwhobybirth，bycourage，andnobilityofmind，wasfittedtocopewiththetroublesofthenation。
　　ThatmanwasGuatemoc，myfriendandbloodbrother，thenephewofthetwolastemperorsandthehusbandofmywife’ssister，Montezuma’sdaughter，Tecuichpo。
　　Allknewit，Isay，except，strangelyenough，Guatemochimself，foraswepassedintothecouncilhenamedtwootherprinces，sayingthatwithoutdoubtthechoicelaybetweenthem。
　　Itwasasplendidandasolemnsight，thatgatheringofthefourgreatlords，theelectors，dressedintheirmagnificentrobes，andofthelessercouncilofconfirmationofthreehundredlordsandprinces，whosatwithoutthecirclebutinhearingofallthatpassed。
　　Verysolemnalsowastheprayerofthehighpriest，who，cladinhisrobesofsable，seemedlikeablotofinkdroppedonaglitterofgold。
　　Thusheprayed: