Theyledmetotheedgeofthepyramid，orasnearasIwouldgo，forIshrankbacklesttheyshouldseizemesuddenlyandcastmeovertheedge。
　　Andtherethehighpriestcalledoutmydignitytothethousandswhowereassembledbeneath，andeveryoneofthembentthekneeinadorationofme，thepriestsaboveandthemultitudesbelow。
　　AndsoitwentontillIgrewdizzywiththeworship，andtheshouting，andthesoundsofmusic，andthesightsofdeath，andverythankfulwasI，whenatlasttheycarriedmebacktoChapoltepec。
　　Herenewhonoursawaitedme，forIwasconductedtoasplendidrangeofapartments，nexttothoseoftheemperorhimself，andI
　　wastoldthatallMontezuma’shouseholdwereatmycommandandthathewhorefusedtodomybiddingshoulddie。
　　SoatlastIspokeandsaiditwasmybiddingthatIshouldbesufferedtorestawhile，tillafeastwaspreparedformeintheapartmentsofGuatemoctheprince，forthereIhopedtomeetOtomie。
　　MytutorsandthenobleswhoattendedmeansweredthatMontezumamyservanthadtrustedthatIwouldfeastwithhimthatnight。
　　Stillmycommandshouldbedone。
　　Thentheyleftme，sayingthattheywouldcomeagaininanhourtoleadmetothebanquet。
　　NowIthrewofftheemblemsofmygodheadandcastmyselfdownoncushionstorestandthink，andacertainexultationtookpossessionofme，forwasInotagod，andhadInotpoweralmostabsolute？
　　StillbeingofacautiousmindIwonderedwhyIwasagod，andhowlongmypowerwouldlast。
　　Beforethehourhadgoneby，pagesandnoblesentered，bearingnewrobeswhichwereputuponmybodyandfreshflowerstocrownmyhead，andIwasledawaytotheapartmentsofGuatemoc，fairwomengoingbeforemewhoplayeduponinstrumentsofmusic。
　　HereGuatemoctheprincewaitedtoreceiveme，whichhedidasthoughI，hiscaptiveandcompanion，wasthefirstofkings。
　　AndyetIthoughtthatIsawmerrimentinhiseye，mingledwithsorrow。
　　BendingforwardIspoketohiminawhisper:
　　’Whatdoesallthismean，prince？’Isaid。
　　’AmIbefooled，oramI
　　indeedagod？’
　　’Hush！’heanswered，bowinglowandspeakingbeneathhisbreath。
　　’Itmeansbothgoodandillforyou，myfriendTeule。
　　AnothertimeIwilltellyou。’
　　Thenheaddedaloud，’Doesitpleaseyou，O
　　Tezcat，godofgods，thatweshouldsitatmeatwithyou，orwillyoueatalone？’
　　’Thegodslikegoodcompany，prince，’Isaid。
　　NowduringthistalkIhaddiscoveredthatamongthosegatheredinthehallwastheprincessOtomie。
　　Sowhenwepassedtothelowtablearoundwhichweweretositoncushions，Ihungbackwatchingwhereshewouldplaceherself，andthenatonceseatedmyselfbesideher。
　　Thiscausedsomelittleconfusionamongthecompany，fortheplaceofhonourhadbeenpreparedformeattheheadofthetable，theseatofGuatemocbeingtomyrightandthatofhiswife，theroyalTecuichpo，tomyleft。
　　’Yourseatisyonder，OTezcat，’shesaid，blushingbeneathheroliveskinasshespoke。
　　’Surelyagodmaysitwherehechooses，royalOtomie，’Ianswered；
　　’besides，’Iaddedinalowvoice，’whatbetterplacecanhefindthanbythesideofthemostlovelygoddessontheearth。’
　　Againsheblushedandanswered，’Alas！Inogoddess，butonlyamortalmaid。
　　Listen，ifyoudesirethatIshouldbeyourcompanionatourfeasts，youmustissueitasacommand；nonewilldaretodisobeyyou，notevenMontezumamyfather。’
　　SoIroseandsaidinveryhaltingAztectothenobleswhowaitedonme，’ItismywillthatmyplaceshallalwaysbesetbythesideoftheprincessOtomie。’
　　AtthesewordsOtomieblushedevenmore，andamurmurwentroundamongtheguests，whileGuatemocfirstlookedangryandthenlaughed。
　　Butthenobles，myattendants，bowed，andtheirspokesmananswered:
　　’ThewordsofTezcatshallbeobeyed。
　　LettheseatofOtomie，theroyalprincess，thefavouredofTezcat，beplacedbythesideofthegod。’
　　Afterwardsthiswasalwaysdone，exceptwhenIatewithMontezumahimself。
　　MoreovertheprincessOtomiebecameknownthroughoutthecityas’theblessedprincess，thefavouredofTezcat。’
　　Forsostrongaholdhadcustomandsuperstitionuponthispeoplethattheythoughtitthegreatestofhonourstoher，whowasamongthefirstladiesintheland，thathewhoforalittlespacewassupposedtoholdthespiritofthesouloftheworld，shoulddeigntodesirehercompanionshipwhenheate。
　　Nowthefeastwenton，andpresentlyImadeshifttoaskOtomiewhatallthismightmean。
　　’Alas！’shewhispered，’youdonotknow，nordareItellyounow。
　　ButIwillsaythis:thoughyouwhoareagodmaysitwhereyouwillto-day，anhourshallcomewhenyoumustliewhereyouwouldnot。
　　Listen:whenwehavefinishedeating，saythatitisyourwishtowalkinthegardensofthepalaceandthatIshouldaccompanyyou。
　　ThenImayfindachancetospeak。’
　　Accordingly，whenthefeastwasoverIsaidthatIdesiredtowalkinthegardenswiththeprincessOtomie，andwewentoutandwanderedunderthesolemntrees，thataredrapedinawinding-sheetofgreymosswhich，hangingfromeveryboughasthoughtheforesthadbeendeckedwiththewhitebeardsofanarmyofagedmen，wavedandrustledsadlyinthekeennightair。
　　Butalas！wemightnotbealone，forafterusatadistanceoftwentypacesfollowedallmycrowdofattendantnobles，togetherwithfairdancinggirlsandminstrelsarmedwiththeiraccursedflutes，onwhichtheyblewinseasonandoutofit，dancingastheyblew。
　　InvaindidIcommandthemtobesilent，tellingthemthatitwaswrittenofoldthatthereisatimetoplayanddanceandatimetoceasefromdancing，forinthisalonetheywouldnotobeyme。
　　NevercouldIbeatpeacebecauseofthemthenorthereafter，andnottillnowdidI
　　learnhowgreatatreasureissolitude。
　　Stillwewereallowedtowalktogetherunderthetrees，andthoughtheclamourofmusicpursueduswhereverwewent，weweresoondeepintalk。
　　ThenitwasthatIlearnedhowdreadfulwasthefatewhichovershadowedme。
　　’Know，OTeule，’saidOtomie，forshewouldcallmebytheoldnamewhentherewerenonetohear；’thisisthecustomofourland，thateveryyearayoungcaptiveshouldbechosentobetheearthlyimageofthegodTezcat，whocreatedtheworld。
　　Onlytwothingsarenecessarytothiscaptive，namely，thathisbloodshouldbenoble，andthathispersonshouldbebeautifulandwithoutflaworblemish。
　　Thedaythatyoucamehither，Teule，chancedtobethedayofchoosinganewcaptivetopersonatethegod，andyouhavebeenchosenbecauseyouarebothnobleandmorebeautifulthananymaninAnahuac，andalsobecausebeingofthepeopleoftheTeules，thechildrenofQuetzalofwhomsomanyrumourshavereachedus，andwhosecomingmyfatherMontezumadreadsmorethananythingintheworld，itwasthoughtbytheprieststhatyoumayaverttheirangerfromus，andtheangerofthegods。’
　　NowOtomiepausedasonewhohassomethingtosaythatshecanscarcelyfindwordstofit，butI，rememberingonlywhathadbeensaid，swelledinwardlywiththesenseofmyowngreatness，andbecausethislovelyprincesshaddeclaredthatIwasthemostbeautifulmaninAnahuac，IwhothoughIwaswell-lookingenough，hadneverbeforebeencalled’beautiful’byman，woman，orchild。
　　Butinthiscaseasinmanyanother，pridewentbeforeafall。
　　’Itmustbespoken，Teule，’Otomiecontinued。
　　’Alas！thatitshouldbeIwhoamfatedtotellyou。
　　ForayearyouwillruleasagodinthiscityofTenoctitlan，andexceptforcertainceremoniesthatyoumustundergo，andcertainartswhichyoumustlearn，nonewilltroubleyou。
　　Yourslightestwishwillbealaw，andwhenyousmileonany，itshallbeanomenofgoodtothemandtheywillblessyou；evenmyfatherMontezumawilltreatyouwithreverenceasanequalormore。
　　Everydelightshallbeyoursexceptthatofmarriage，andthiswillbewithheldtillthetwelfthmonthoftheyear。
　　Thenthefourmostbeautifulmaidensinthelandwillbegiventoyouasbrides。’
　　’Andwhowillchoosethem？’Iasked。
　　’Nay，Iknownot，Teule，whodonotmeddleinsuchmysteries，’sheansweredhurriedly。
　　’Sometimesthegodisjudgeandsometimesthepriestsjudgeforhim。
　　Itisasitmaychance。
　　Listennowtotheendofmytaleandyouwillsurelyforgettherest。
　　Foronemonthyouwilllivewithyourwives，andthismonthyouwillpassinfeastingatallthenoblesthousesinthecity。
　　Onthelastdayofthemonth，however，youwillbeplacedinaroyalbargeandtogetherwithyourwives，paddledacrossthelaketoaplacethatisnamed“MeltingofMetals。“
　　Thenceyouwillbeledtotheteocallinamed“HouseofWeapons，“whereyourwiveswillbidfarewelltoyouforever，andthere，Teule，alas！thatImustsayit，youaredoomedtobeofferedasasacrificetothegodwhosespirityouhold，thegreatgodTezcat，foryourheartwillbetornfromyourbody，andyourheadwillbestruckfromyourshouldersandsetuponthestakethatisknownas“postofheads。“’
　　NowwhenIheardthisdreadfuldoomIgroanedaloudandmykneestrembledsothatIalmostfelltotheground。
　　Thenagreatfuryseizedmeand，forgettingmyfather’scounsel，Iblasphemedthegodsofthatcountryandthepeoplewhoworshippedthem，firstintheAztecandMayalanguages，thenwhenmyknowledgeofthesetonguesfailedme，inSpanishandgoodEnglish。
　　ButOtomie，whoheardsomeofmywordsandguessedmore，wasseizedwithfearandliftedherhands，saying:
　　’Cursenottheawfulgods，Ibeseechyou，lestsometerriblethingbefallyouatonce。
　　Ifyouareoverhearditwillbethoughtthatyouhaveanevilspiritandnotagoodone，andthenyoumustdienowandbytorment。
　　Attheleastthegods，whoareeverywhere，willhearyou。’
　　’Letthemhear，’Ianswered。
　　’Theyarefalsegodsandthatcountryisaccursedwhichworshipsthem。
　　TheyaredoomedIsay，andalltheirworshippersaredoomed。
　　Nay，IcarenotifIamheard——aswelldienowbytormentasliveayearinthetormentofapproachingdeath。
　　ButIshallnotdiealone，alltheseaofbloodthatyourpriestshaveshedcriesoutforvengeancetothetrueGod，andHewillavenge。’
　　ThusIravedon，beingmadwithfearandimpotentanger，whiletheprincessOtomiestoodterrifiedandamazedatmyblasphemies，andtheflutespipedandthedancersdancedbehindus。
　　AndasIravedIsawthatthemindofOtomiewanderedfrommywords，forshewasstaringtowardstheeastlikeonewhoseesavision。
　　ThenIlookedalsotowardstheeastandsawthattheskywasalightthere。
　　Forfromtheedgeofthehorizontothehighestpartsofheavenspreadafanofpaleandfearfullightpowderedoverwithsparksoffire，thehandleofthefanrestingontheearthasitwere，whileitswingscoveredtheeasternsky。
　　NowIceasedmycursingandstoodtransfixed，andasIstood，acryofterrorarosefromalltheprecinctsofthepalaceandpeoplepouredfromeverydoortogazeupontheportentthatflaredandblazedintheeast。
　　PresentlyMontezumahimselfcameout，attendedbyhisgreatlords，andinthatghastlylightIsawthathislipsworkedandhishandswrithedovereachother。
　　Norwasthemiracledonewith，foranonfromtheclearskythathungoverthecity，descendedaballoffire，whichseemedtorestuponthepointsoftheloftytempleinthegreatsquare，lightinguptheteocalliaswiththeglareofday。