NowshortlyafterChristmas，havingmarchedfromthecoastwithagreatarrayofSpaniards，formanyhadjoinedhisbannerfromoversea，andtensofthousandsofnativeallies，CortestookuphisheadquartersatTezcucointhevalleyofMexico。
　　Thistownissituatednearthebordersofthelake，atadistanceofseveralleaguesfromTenoctitlan，andbeingontheedgeoftheterritoryoftheTlascalanshisallies，itwasmostsuitabletoCortesasabaseofaction。
　　Andthenbeganoneofthemostterriblewarsthattheworldhasseen。
　　Foreightmonthsitraged，andwhenitceasedatlength，Tenoctitlan，andwithitmanyotherbeautifulandpopuloustowns，wereblackenedruins，themostoftheAztecsweredeadbyswordandfamine，andtheirnationwascrushedforever。
　　OfallthedetailsofthiswarIdonotpurposetowrite，forwereItodoso，therewouldbenoendtothisbook，andIhavemyowntaletotell。
　　These，therefore，Ileavetothemakerofhistories。
　　LetitbeenoughtosaythattheplanofCorteswastodestroyallhervassalandalliedcitiesandpeoplesbeforehegrappledwithMexico，queenofthevalley，andthishesethimselftodowithaskill，avalour，andastraightnessofpurpose，suchashavescarcelybeenshownbyageneralsincethedaysofCaesar。
　　Iztapalapanwasthefirsttofall，andheretenthousandmen，women，andchildrenwereputtotheswordorburnedalive。
　　Thencametheturnoftheothers；onebyoneCortesreducedthecitiestillthewholegirdleofthemwasinhishand，andTenoctitlanaloneremaineduntouched。
　　Manyindeedsurrendered，forthenationsofAnahuacbeingofvariousbloodwerebutasabundleofreedsandnotasatree。
　　ThuswhenthepowerofSpaincutthebandofempirethatboundthemtogether，theyfellthiswayandthat，havingnounity。
　　SoitcameaboutthatasthepowerofGuatemocweakenedthatofCortesincreased，forhegarneredtheseloosenedreedsintohisbasket。
　　And，indeed，nowthatthepeoplesawthatMexicohadmethermatch，manyanancienthateandsmoulderingrivalrybrokeintoflame，andtheyfelluponherandtoreher，likehalf-tamedwolvesupontheirmasterwhenhisscourgeisbroken。
　　ItwasthisthatbroughtaboutthefallofAnahuac。
　　Hadsheremainedtruetoherself，hadsheforgottenherfeudsandjealousiesandstoodagainsttheSpaniardsasoneman，thenTenoctitlanwouldneverhavefallen，andCorteswitheveryTeuleinhiscompanyhadbeenstretcheduponthestoneofsacrifice。
　　DidInotsaywhenItookupmypentowritethisbookthateverywrongrevengesitselfatlastuponthemanorthepeoplethatwroughtit？
　　Soitwasnow。
　　Mexicowasdestroyedbecauseoftheabominationoftheworshipofhergods。
　　Thesefeudsbetweenthealliedpeopleshadtheirrootinthehorribleritesofhumansacrifice。
　　Atsometimeinthepast，fromallthesecitiescaptiveshavebeendraggedtothealtarsofthegodsofMexico，theretobeslaughteredanddevouredbythecannibalworshippers。
　　Nowtheseoutrageswereremembered，nowwhenthearmofthequeenofthevalleywaswithered，thechildrenofthosewhomshehadslainroseuptoslayherandtodragHERchildrentotheiraltars。
　　BythemonthofMay，striveaswewould，andneverwasamoregallantfightmade，allourallieswerecrushedorhaddesertedus，andthesiegeofthecitybegan。
　　Itbeganbylandandbywater，forwithincredibleresourceCortescausedthirteenbrigantinesofwartobeconstructedinTlascala，andconveyedinpiecesfortwentyleaguesacrossthemountainstohiscamp，whencetheywerefloatedintothelakethroughacanal，whichwashollowedoutbythelabouroftenthousandIndians，whoworkedatitwithoutceasefortwomonths。
　　ThebearersofthesebrigantineswereescortedbyanarmyoftwentythousandTlascalans，andifIcouldhavehadmywaythatarmyshouldhavebeenattackedinthemountainpasses。
　　SothoughtGuatemocalso，buttherewerefewtroopstospare，forthemostofourforcehadbeendespatchedtothreatenacitynamedChalco，that，thoughitspeoplewereoftheAztecblood，hadnotbeenashamedtodeserttheAzteccause。
　　StillIofferedtoleadthetwentythousandOtomieswhomIcommandedagainsttheTlascalanconvoy，andthematterwasdebatedhotlyatacouncilofwar。
　　ButthemostofthecouncilwereagainsttheriskingofanengagementwiththeSpaniardsandtheiralliessofarfromthecity，andthustheopportunitywentbytoreturnnomore。
　　Itwasanevilfortuneliketherest，forintheendthesebrigantinesbroughtaboutthefallofTenoctitlanbycuttingoffthesupplyoffood，whichwascarriedincanoesacrossthelake。
　　Alas！thebravestcandonothingagainstthepoweroffamine。
　　Hungerisaverygreatman，astheIndianssay。
　　NowtheAztecsfightingalonewerefacetofacewiththeirfoesandthelaststrugglebegan。
　　FirsttheSpaniardscuttheaqueductwhichsuppliedthecitywithwaterfromthespringsattheroyalhouseofChapoltepec，whitherIwastakenonbeingbroughttoMexico。
　　Henceforthtilltheendofthesiege，theonlywaterthatwefoundtodrinkwasthebrackishandmuddyfluidfurnishedbythelakeandwellssunkinthesoil。
　　Althoughitmightbedrunkafterboilingtofreeitofthesalt，itwasunwholesomeandfilthytothetaste，breedingvariouspainfulsicknessesandfevers。
　　ItwasonthisdayofthecuttingoftheaqueductthatOtomieboremeason，ourfirst-born。
　　Alreadythehardshipsofthesiegeweresogreatandnourishingfoodsoscarce，thathadshebeenlessstrong，orhadIpossessedlessskillinmedicine，Ithinkthatshewouldhavedied。
　　Stillsherecoveredtomygreatthankfulnessandjoy，andthoughIamnoclerkIbaptizedtheboyintotheChristianChurchwithmyownhand，naminghimThomasafterme。
　　Nowdaybydayandweekbyweekthefightingwentonwithvaryingsuccess，sometimesinthesuburbsofthecity，sometimesonthelake，andsometimesintheverystreets。
　　TimeontimetheSpaniardsweredrivenbackwithloss，timeontimetheyadvancedagainfromtheirdifferentcamps。
　　Oncewecapturedsixtyofthemandmorethanathousandoftheirallies。
　　AlltheseweresacrificedonthealtarofHuitzel，andgivenovertobedevouredbytheAztecsaccordingtothebeastlikecustomwhichinAnahuacenjoinedtheeatingofthebodiesofthosewhowereofferedtothegods，notbecausetheIndianslovesuchmeatbutforasecretreligionsreason。
　　InvaindidIprayGuatemoctoforegothishorror。
　　’Isthisatimeforgentleness？’heansweredfiercely。
　　’Icannotsavethemfromthealtar，andIwouldnotifIcould。
　　Letthedogsdieaccordingtothecustomoftheland，andtoyou，Teulemybrother，Isaypresumenottoofar。’
　　Alas！theheartofGuatemocgreweverfiercerasthestruggleworeon，andindeeditwaslittletobewonderedat。
　　ThiswasthedreadfulplanofCortes:todestroythecitypiecemealasheadvancedtowardsitsheart，anditwascarriedoutwithoutmercy。
　　SosoonastheSpaniardsgotfootinginaquarter，thousandsoftheTlascalansweresettoworktofirethehousesandburnallinthemalive。
　　BeforethesiegewasdoneTenoctitlan，queenofthevalley，wasbutaheapofblackenedruins。
　　CortesmighthavecriedoverMexicowithIsaiahtheprophet:’Thypompisbroughtdowntothegrave，andthenoiseofthyviols:thewormisspreadundertheeandthewormscoverthee。
　　Howartthoufallenfromheaven，OLucifer，sonofthemorning！howartthoucutdowntothegroundwhichdidstweakenthenations！’
　　InallthesefightsItookmypart，thoughitdoesnotbecomemetoboastmyprowess。
　　StilltheSpaniardsknewmewellandtheyhadgoodreason。
　　Whenevertheysawmetheywouldgreetmewithrevilings，callingme’traitorandrenegade，’and’Guatemoc’swhitedog，’andmoreover，Cortessetapriceuponmyhead，forheknewthroughhisspiesthatsomeofGuatemoc’smostsuccessfulattacksandstratagemshadbeenofmydevising。
　　ButItooknoheedevenwhentheirinsultspiercedmelikearrows，forthoughmanyoftheAztecsweremyfriendsandIhatedtheSpaniards，itwasashamefulthingthataChristianmanshouldbewarringonthesideofcannibalswhomadehumansacrifice。
　　Itooknoheed，sincealwaysI
　　wasseekingformyfoedeGarcia。
　　HewasthereIknew，forIsawhimmanytimes，butIcouldnevercomeathim。
　　Indeed，ifI
　　watchedforhimhealsowatchedforme，butwithanotherpurpose，toavoidme。
　　FornowasofolddeGarciafearedme，nowasofoldhebelievedthatIshouldbringhisdeathuponhim。
　　Itwasthecustomofwarriorsintheopposingarmiestosendchallengestosinglecombat，onetoanother，andmanysuchduelswerefoughtinthesightofall，safeconductbeinggiventothecombatantsandtheirseconds。
　　Uponaday，despairingofmeetinghimfacetofaceinbattle，IsentachallengetodeGarciabyaherald，underhisfalsenameofSarceda。
　　InanhourtheheraldreturnedwiththismessagewrittenonpaperinSpanish:
　　’Christianmendonotfightduelswithrenegadeheathendogs，whiteworshippersofdevilsandeatersofhumanflesh。
　　Thereisbutoneweaponwhichsuchcannotdefile，arope，anditwaitsforyou，ThomasWingfield。’
　　Itorethewritingtopiecesandstampeduponitinmyrage，fornow，toallhisothercrimesagainstme，deGarciahadaddedtheblackestinsult。
　　Butwrathavailedmenothing，forIcouldnevercomenearhim，thoughonce，withtenofmyOtomies，IchargedintotheheartoftheSpanishcolumnafterhim。
　　FromthatrushIaloneescapedalive，thetenOtomiesweresacrificedtomyhate。
　　HowshallIpaintthehorrorsthatdaybydaywereheapeduponthedoomedcity？
　　Soonallthefoodwasgone，andmen，ay，andworsestill，tenderwomenandchildren，musteatsuchmeatasswinewouldhaveturnedfrom，strivingtokeeplifeinthemforalittlelonger。
　　Grass，thebarkoftrees，slugsandinsects，washeddownwithbrackishwaterfromthelake，theseweretheirbestfood，theseandthefleshofcaptivesofferedinsacrifice。
　　Nowtheybegantodiebyhundredsandbythousands，theydiedsofastthatnonecouldburythem。
　　Wheretheyperished，theretheylay，tillatlengththeirbodiesbredaplague，ablackandhorriblefeverthatsweptoffthousandsmore，whointurnbecametherootofpestilence。
　　ForonewhowaskilledbytheSpaniardsandtheirallies，twoweresweptoffbyhungerandplague。
　　Thinkthenwhatwasthenumberofdeadwhennotlessthanseventythousandperishedbeneaththeswordandbyfirealone。
　　Indeed，itissaidthatfortythousanddiedinthismannerinasingleday，thedaybeforethelastofthesiege。
　　OnenightIcamebacktothelodgingwhereOtomiedweltwithherroyalsisterTecuichpo，thewifeofGuatemoc，fornowallthepalaceshadbeenburntdown。
　　Iwasstarving，forIhadscarcelytastedfoodforfortyhours，butallthatmywifecouldsetbeforemewerethreelittlemealcakes，ortortillas，mixedwithbark。
　　Shekissedmeandbademeeatthem，butIdiscoveredthatsheherselfhadtouchednofoodthatday，soIwouldnottillshesharedthem。
　　ThenInotedthatshecouldscarcelyswallowthebittermorsels，andalsothatshestrovetohidetearswhichrandownherface。
　　’Whatisit，wife？’Iasked。
　　ThenOtomiebrokeoutintoagreatandbittercryingandsaid:
　　’This，mybeloved:fortwodaysthemilkhasbeendryinmybreast——
　　hungerhasdriedit——andourbabeisdead！
　　Look，heliesdead！’
　　andshedrewasideaclothandshowedmethetinybody。
　　’Hush，’Isaid，’heissparedmuch。
　　Canwethendesirethatachildshouldlivetoseesuchdaysaswehaveseen，andafterall，todieatlast？’
　　’Hewasourson，ourfirst-born，’shecriedagain。
　　’Oh！whymustwesufferthus？’
　　’Wemustsuffer，Otomie，becauseweareborntoit。
　　Justsomuchhappinessisgiventousasshallsaveusfrommadnessandnomore。
　　Askmenotwhy，forIcannotansweryou！
　　Thereisnoanswerinmyfaithorinanyother。’
　　Andthen，lookingonthatdeadbabe，Iweptalso。
　　Everyhourinthoseterriblemonthsitwasmylottoseeathousandsightsmoreawful，andyetthissightofadeadinfantmovedmethemostofallofthem。
　　Thechildwasmine，myfirstborn，itsmotherweptbesideme，anditsstiffandtinyfingersseemedtodragatmyheartstrings。
　　Seeknotthecause，fortheAlmightyWhogavetheheartitsinfinitepowerofpainalonecananswer，andtoourearsHeisdumb。
　　ThenItookamattockanddugaholeoutsidethehousetillIcametowater，whichinTenoctitlanisfoundatadepthoftwofeetorso。
　　And，havingmutteredaprayeroverhim，thereinthewaterI
　　laidthebodyofourchild，buryingitoutofsight。
　　Attheleasthewasnotleftforthezapilotes，astheAztecscallthevultures，liketherestofthem。
　　Afterthatweweptourselvestosleepineachother’sarms，Otomiemurmuringfromtimetotime，’Oh！myhusband，Iwouldthatwewereasleepandforgotten，weandthebabetogether。’
　　’Restnow，’Ianswered，’fordeathisveryneartous。’
　　Themorrowcame，andwithitadeadlierfraythananythathadgonebefore，andafteritmoremorrowsandmoredeaths，butstillwelivedon，forGuatemocgaveusofhisfood。