NowasIspokethusmyheartboundedwithhope，forifonceIcouldcomeamongtheSpaniards，perhapsImightescapethealtarofsacrifice。
　　Alsotheyseemedalinkbetweenmeandhome。
　　Theyhadsailedhitherinships，andshipscanretracetheirpath。
　　Forthoughatpresentmylotwasnotallsorrow，itwillbeguessedthatIshouldhavebeengladindeedtofindmyselfoncemoreamongChristianmen。
　　Montezumalookedatmeawhileandanswered:
　　’Youmustthinkmeveryfoolish，Teule。
　　What！shallIsendyoutotellmyfearsandweaknesstoyourcountrymen，andtoshowthemthejointsinmyharness？
　　DoyouthensupposethatIdonotknowyouforaspysenttothislandbythesesameTeulestogatherknowledgeoftheland？
　　Fool，Iknewitfromthefirst，andbyHuitzel！wereyounotvowedtoTezcat，yourheartshouldsmoketo-
　　morrowonthealtarofHuitzel。
　　Bewarned，andgivemenomorefalsecounselslestyourendproveswifterthanyouthink。
　　LearnthatIhaveaskedthesequestionsofyoutoapurpose，andbythecommandofthegods，asitwaswrittenontheheartsofthosesacrificedthisday。
　　Thiswasthepurposeandthiswasthecommand，thatImightdiscoveryoursecretmind，andthatIshouldshunwhateveradviceyouchancedtogive。
　　YoucounselmetofighttheTeules，thereforeIwillnotfightthem，butmeetthemwithgiftsandfairwords，forIknowwellthatyouwouldhavemetodothatwhichshouldbringmetomydoom。’
　　Thushespokeveryfiercelyandinalowvoice，hisheadheldlowandhisarmscrosseduponhisbreast，andIsawthatheshookwithpassion。
　　Eventhen，thoughIwasverymuchafraid，forgodasI
　　was，anodfromthismightykingwouldhavesentmetodeathbytorment，Iwonderedatthefollyofonewhoineverythingelsewassowise。
　　Whyshouldhedoubtmethusandallowsuperstitiontodraghimdowntoruin？
　　To-dayIseetheanswer。
　　Montezumadidnotthesethingsofhimself，butbecausethehandofdestinyworkedwithhishand，andthevoiceofdestinyspokeinhisvoice。
　　ThegodsoftheAztecswerefalsegodsindeed，butIforonebelievethattheyhadlifeandintelligence，forthosehideousshapesofstonewerethehabitationsofdevils，andthepriestsspoketruthwhentheysaidthatthesacrificeofmenwaspleasingtotheirgods。
　　Tothesedevilsthekingwentforcounselthroughthepriests，andnowthisdoomwasonthem，thattheymustgivefalsecounseltotheirowndestruction，andtothedestructionofthosewhoworshippedthem，aswasdecreedbyOnemorepowerfulthanthey。
　　Nowwhileweweretalkingthesunhadsunkswiftly，sothatalltheworldwasdark。
　　ButthelightstilllingeredonthesnowycrestsofthevolcanoesPopoandIxtac，stainingthemanawfulred。
　　NeverbeforetomysighthadtheshapeofthedeadwomanwhoseeverlastingbierisIxtac’sbulk，seemedsoclearandwonderfulasonthatnight，foreitheritwassoormyfancygaveittheveryshapeandcolourofawoman’scorsesteepedinbloodandlaidoutforburial。
　　Norwasitmyphantasyalone，forwhenMontezumahadfinishedupbraidingmehechancedtolookup，andhiseyesfallingonthemountainremainedfixedthere。
　　’Looknow，Teule！’hesaid，presently，withasolemnlaugh；’yonderliesthecorseofthenationsofAnahuacwashedinawaterofbloodandmadereadyforburial。
　　Isshenotterribleindeath？’
　　Ashespokethewordsandturnedtogo，asoundofdolefulwailingcamefromthedirectionofthemountain，averywildandunearthlysoundthatcausedthebloodinmyveinstostandstill。
　　NowMontezumacaughtmyarminhisfear，andwegazedtogetheronIxtac，anditseemedtousthatthiswonderhappened。
　　Forinthatredandfearfullighttheredfigureofthesleepingwomanarose，orappearedtorise，fromitsbierofstone。
　　Itaroseslowlylikeonewhoawakesfromsleep，andpresentlyitstooduprightuponthemountain’sbrow，toweringhighintotheair。
　　Thereitstoodagiantandawakenedcorpse，itswhitewrappingsstainedwithblood，andwetrembledtoseeit。
　　ForawhilethewraithremainedthusgazingtowardsthecityofTenoctitlan，thensuddenlyitthrewitsvastarmsupwardasthoughingrief，andatthatmomentthenightrushedinuponitandcoveredit，whilethesoundofwailingdiedslowlyaway。
　　’Say，Teule，’gaspedtheemperor，’doInotwelltobeafraidwhensuchportentsasthesemeetmyeyesdaybyday？
　　Hearkentothelamentationsinthecity；wehavenotseenthissightalone。
　　Listenhowthepeoplecryaloudwithfearandthepriestsbeattheirdrumstoaverttheomen。
　　Weepon，yepeople，andyepriestsprayanddosacrifice；itisveryfitting，forthedayofyourdoomisuponyou。
　　OTenoctitlan，queenofcities，Iseeyouruinedanddesolate，yourpalacesblackenedwithfire，yourtemplesdesecrated，yourpleasantgardensawilderness。
　　Iseeyourhighbornwomenthewantonsofstrangerlords，andyourprincestheirservants；thecanalsrunredwiththebloodofyourchildren，yourgatewaysareblockedwiththeirbones。
　　Deathisaboutyoueverywhere，dishonourisyourdailybread，desolationisyourportion。
　　Farewelltoyou，queenofthecities，cradleofmyforefathersinwhichIwasnursed！’
　　ThusMontezumalamentedinthedarkness，andashecriedaloudthegreatmoonroseovertheedgeoftheworldandpoureditslevellightthroughtheboughsofthecedarsclothedintheirghostlyrobeofmoss。
　　ItstruckuponMontezuma’stallshape，onhisdistraughtcountenanceandthinhandsashewavedthemtoandfroinhispropheticagony，onmyglitteringgarments，andtheterror-
　　strickenbandofcourtiers，andthemusicianswhohadceasedfromtheirmusic。
　　Alittlewindsprangupalso，moaningsadlyinthemightytreesaboveandagainsttherocksofChapoltepec。
　　NeverdidIwitnessascenemorestrangeormorepregnantwithmysteryandthepromiseofunbornhorror，thanthatofthisgreatmonarchmourningoverthedownfallofhisraceandpower。
　　Asyetnomisfortunehadbefallentheoneortheother，andstillheknewthatbothweredoomed，andthesewordsoflamentationburstfromaheartbrokenbyagriefofwhichtheshadowonlylayuponit。
　　Butthewondersofthatnightwerenotyetdonewith。
　　WhenMontezumahadmadeanendofcryinghisprophecies，IaskedhimhumblyifIshouldsummontohimthelordswhowereinattendanceonhim，butwhostoodatsomedistance。
　　’Nay，’heanswered，’Iwillnothavethemseemethuswithgriefandterroruponmyface。
　　Whoeverfears，atleastImustseembrave。
　　Walkwithmeawhile，Teule，andifitisinyourmindtomurdermeIshallnotgrieve。’
　　Imadenoanswer，butfollowedhimasheledthewaydownthedarkestofthewindingpathsthatrunbetweenthecedartrees，whereitwouldhavebeeneasyformetokillhimifIwished，butI
　　couldnotseehowIshouldbeadvantagedbythedeed；alsothoughI
　　knewthatMontezumawasmyenemy，myheartshrankfromthethoughtofmurder。
　　Foramileormorehewalkedonwithoutspeaking，nowbeneaththeshadowofthetrees，andnowthroughopenspacesofgardenplantedwithlovelyflowers，tillatlastwecametothegatesoftheplacewheretheroyaldeadarelaidtorest。
　　Nowinfrontofthesegateswasanopenspaceofturfonwhichthemoonlightshonebrightly，andinthecentreofthisspacelaysomethingwhite，shapedlikeawoman。
　　HereMontezumahaltedandlookedatthegates，thensaid:
　　’ThesegatesopenedfourdayssinceforPapantzin，mysister；howlong，Iwonder，willpassbeforetheyopenforme？’
　　Ashespoke，thewhiteshapeuponthegrasswhichIhadseenandhehadnotseen，stirredlikeanawakeningsleeper。
　　Asthesnowshapeuponthemountainhadstirred，sothisshapestirred；asithadarisen，sothisonearose；asitthrewitsarmsupwards，sothisonethrewupherarms。
　　NowMontezumasawandstoodstilltrembling，andItrembledalso。
　　Thenthewoman——foritwasawoman——advancedslowlytowardsus，andasshecamewesawthatshewasdrapedingraveclothes。
　　Presentlysheliftedherheadandthemoonlightfellfulluponherface。
　　NowMontezumagroanedaloudandIgroaned，forwesawthatthefacewasthethinpalefaceoftheprincessPapantzin——Papantzinwhohadlainfourdaysinthegrave。
　　Onshecametowardus，glidinglikeonewhowalksinhersleep，tillshestoppedbeforethebushintheshadowofwhichwestood。
　　NowPapantzin，ortheghostofPapantzin，lookedatuswithblindeyes，thatiswitheyesthatwereopenandyetdidnotseemtosee。
　　’Areyouthere，Montezuma，mybrother？’shesaidinthevoiceofPapantzin；’surelyIfeelyourpresencethoughIcannotseeyou。’
　　NowMontezumasteppedfromtheshadowandstoodfacetofacewiththedead。
　　’Whoareyou？’hesaid，’whoweartheshapeofonedeadandaredressedinthegarmentsofthedead？’
　　’IamPapantzin，’sheanswered，’andIamrisenoutofdeathtobringyouamessage，Montezuma，mybrother。’
　　’Whatmessagedoyoubringme？’heaskedhoarsely。
　　’Ibringyouamessageofdoom，mybrother。
　　Yourempireshallfallandsoonyoushallbeaccompaniedtodeathbytensofthousandsofyourpeople。
　　ForfourdaysIhavelivedamongthedead，andthereIhaveseenyourfalsegodswhicharedevils。
　　TherealsoIhaveseentheprieststhatservedthem，andmanyofthosewhoworshippedthemplungedintotormentunutterable。
　　BecauseoftheworshipofthesedemongodsthepeopleofAnahuacisdestinedtodestruction。’
　　’Haveyounowordofcomfortforme，Papantzin，mysister？’heasked。
　　’None，’sheanswered。
　　’Perchanceifyouabandontheworshipofthefalsegodsyoumaysaveyoursoul；yourlifeyoucannotsave，northelivesofyourpeople。’
　　Thensheturnedandpassedawayintotheshadowofthetrees；I
　　heardhergraveclothessweepuponthegrass。
　　NowafuryseizedMontezumaandheravedaloud，saying:
　　’Cursesonyou，Papantzin，mysister！
　　Whythendoyoucomebackfromthedeadtobringmesucheviltidings？
　　Hadyoubroughthopewithyou，hadyoushownawayofescape，thenIwouldhavewelcomedyou。
　　Mayyougobackintodarknessandmaytheearthlieheavyonyourheartforever。
　　Asformygods，myfathersworshippedthemandIwillworshipthemtilltheend；ay，iftheydesertme，atleastIwillneverdesertthem。
　　Thegodsareangrybecausethesacrificesarefewupontheiraltars，henceforththeyshallbedoubled；ay，thepriestsofthegodsshallthemselvesbesacrificedbecausetheyneglecttheirworship。’
　　Thusheravedon，afterthefashionofaweakmanmaddenedwithterror，whilehisnoblesandattendantswhohadfollowedhimatadistance，clusteredabouthim，fearfulandwondering。
　　Atlengththerecameanend，fortearingwithhisthinhandsathisroyalrobesandathishairandbeard，Montezumafellandwrithedinafitupontheground。
　　Thentheycarriedhimintothepalaceandnonesawhimforthreedaysandnights。
　　Buthemadenoidlethreatastothesacrifices，forfromthatnightforwardtheyweredoubledthroughouttheland。
　　AlreadytheshadowoftheCrosslaydeepuponthealtarsofAnahuac，butstillthesmokeoftheirofferingswentuptoheavenandthecryofthecaptivesrangroundtheteocallis。
　　Thehourofthedemongodswasuponthemindeed，butnowtheyreapedtheirlastredharvest，anditwasrich。
　　NowI，ThomasWingfield，sawtheseportentswithmyowneyes，butI
　　cannotsaywhethertheywereindeedwarningssentfromheavenorillusionsspringingfromtheaccidentsofnature。
　　Thelandwasterror-struck，anditmayhappenthatthemindsofmenthussmittencanfindadismalmeaninginomenswhichotherwisehadpassedunnoticed。
　　ThatPapantzinrosefromthedeadistrue，thoughperhapssheonlyswoonedandneverreallydied。