AfterthisinsulthesworeallegiancetotheKingofSpain，andevencontrivedtocaptureCacama，thelordofTezcuco，bytreacheryandtodeliverhimintothehandsoftheSpaniardsonwhomhewouldhavemadewar。
　　Tothemalsohegaveupallthehoardedgoldandtreasureoftheempire，tothevalueofhundredsofthousandsofEnglishpounds。
　　Allthisthenationbore，foritwasstupefiedandstillobeyedthecommandsofitscaptiveking。
　　ButwhenhesufferedtheSpaniardstoworshipthetrueGodinoneofthesanctuariesofthegreattemple，amurmurofdiscontentandsullenfuryroseamongthethousandsoftheAztecs。
　　Itfilledtheair，itcouldbeheardwherevermenweregathered，anditssoundwaslikethatofadistantangrysea。
　　Thehourofthebreakingofthetempestwasathand。
　　Nowallthiswhilemylifewentonasbefore，savethatIwasnotallowedtogooutsidethewallsofthepalace，foritwasfearedlestIshouldfindsomemeansofintercoursewiththeSpaniards，whodidnotknowthatamanofwhitebloodwasconfinedthereanddoomedtosacrifice。
　　AlsointhesedaysIsawlittleoftheprincessOtomie，thechiefofmydestinedbrides，whosinceourstrangelovescenehadavoidedme，andwhenwemetatfeastsorinthegardensspoketomeonlyonindifferentmatters，oroftheaffairsofstate。
　　Atlengthcamethedayofmymarriage。
　　Itwas，Iremember，thenightbeforethemassacreofthesixhundredAztecnoblesontheoccasionofthefestivalofHuitzel。
　　OnthismyweddingdayIwastreatedwithgreatcircumstanceandworshippedlikeagodbythehighestinthecity，whocameintodomereverenceandburnedincensebeforeme，tillIwaswearyofthesmellofit，forthoughsuchsorrowwasontheland，thepriestswouldabatenojotoftheirceremoniesorcruelties，andgreathopeswereheldthatIbeingoftheraceofTeules，mysacrificewouldaverttheangerofthegods。
　　AtsunsetIwasentertainedwithasplendidfeastthatlastedtwohoursormore，andatitsendallthecompanyroseandshoutedaswithonevoice:
　　’Glorytothee，OTezcat！
　　Happyartthouhereonearth，happymaystthoubeintheHousesoftheSun。
　　Whenthoucomestthither，rememberthatwedealtwellbythee，givingtheeofourbest，andintercedeforusthatoursinsmaybeforgiven。
　　Glorytothee，O
　　Tezcat！’
　　Thentwoofthechiefnoblescameforward，andtakingtorchesledmetoamagnificentchamberthatIhadneverseenbefore。
　　Heretheychangedmyapparel，investingmeinrobeswhichwerestillmoresplendidthananythatIhadwornhitherto，beingmadeofthefinestembroideredcottonandoftheglitteringfeathersofthehummingbird。
　　Onmyheadtheysetwreathsofflowers，andaboutmyneckandwristsemeraldsofvastsizeandvalue，andasorrypopinjayIlookedinthisattire，thatseemedmoresuitedtoawoman’sbeautythantome。
　　WhenIwasarrayed，suddenlythetorcheswereextinguishedandforawhiletherewassilence。
　　TheninthedistanceIheardwomen’svoicessingingabridalsongthatwasbeautifulenoughafteritsfashion，thoughIforbeartowriteitdown。
　　Thesingingceasedandtherecameasoundofrustlingrobesandoflowwhispering。
　　Thenaman’svoicespoke，saying:
　　’Areyethere，yechosenofheaven？’
　　Andawoman’svoice，IthoughtitwasthatofOtomie，answered:
　　’Wearehere。’
　　’OmaidensofAnahuac，’saidthemanspeakingfromthedarkness，’andyou，OTezcat，godamongthegods，listentomywords。
　　Maidens，agreathonourhasbeendonetoyou，forbytheverychoiceofheaven，youhavebeenendowedwiththenames，thelovelinesses，andthevirtuesofthefourgreatgoddesses，andchosentoabideawhileatthesideofthisgod，yourmakerandyourmaster，whohasbeenpleasedtovisitusforaspacebeforeheseekshishomeinthehabitationsoftheSun。
　　Seethatyoushowyourselvesworthyofthishonour。
　　Comforthimandcherishhim，thathemayforgethisgloryinyourkindness，andwhenhereturnstohisownplacemaytakewithhimgratefulmemoriesandagoodreportofyourpeople。
　　Youhavebutalittlewhiletoliveathissideinthislife，foralready，likethoseofacagedbird，thewingsofhisspiritbeatagainstthebarsoftheflesh，andsoonhewillshakehimselffreefromusandyou。
　　Yetifyouwill，itisallowedtooneofyoutoaccompanyhimtohishome，sharinghisflighttotheHousesoftheSun。
　　Buttoallofyou，whetheryougoalso，orwhetheryoustaytomournhimduringyourlifedays，Isayloveandcherishhim，betenderandgentletowardshim，forotherwiseruinshallovertakeyouhereandhereafter，andyouandallofuswillbeillspokenofinheaven。
　　Andyou，OTezcat，weprayofyoutoacceptthesemaidens，whobearthenamesandwearthecharmsofyourcelestialconsorts，fortherearenonemorebeautifulorbetterbornintherealmsofAnahuac，andamongthemisnumberedthedaughterofourking。
　　Theyarenotperfectindeed，forperfectionisknowntoyouintheheavenlykingdomsonly，sincetheseladiesarebutshadowsandsymbolsofthedivinegoddessesyourtruewives，andheretherearenoperfectwomen。
　　Alas，wehavenonebettertoofferyou，anditisourhopethatwhenitpleasesyoutopasshenceyouwillthinkkindlyofthewomenofthisland，andfromonhighblessthemwithyourblessing，becauseyourmemoryofthesewhowerecalledyourwivesonearthispleasant。’
　　Thevoicepaused，thenspokeagain:
　　’Women，inyourowndivinenamesofXochi，Xilo，Atla，andClixto，andinthenameofallthegods，IwedyoutoTezcat，thecreator，tosojournwithhimduringhisstayonearth。
　　Thegodincarnatetakesyouinmarriagewhomhehimselfcreated，thatthesymbolmaybeperfectandthemysteryfulfilled。
　　Yetlestyourjoyshouldbetoofull——looknowonthatwhichshallbe。’
　　Asthevoicespokethesewords，manytorchessprangintoflameatthefarendofthegreatchamber，revealingadreadfulsight。
　　Forthere，stretcheduponastoneofsacrifice，wasthebodyofaman，butwhetherthemanlivedorwasmodelledinwaxIdonotknowtothishour，thoughunlesshewaspainted，Ithinkthathemusthavebeenfashionedinwax，sincehisskinshonewhitelikemine。
　　Attheleasthislimbsandheadwereheldbyfivepriests，andasixthstoodoverhimclaspingaknifeofobsidianinhistwohands。
　　Itflashedonhigh，andasitgleamedthetorcheswereextinguished。
　　Thencamethedullechoofablowandasoundofgroans，andallwasstill，tilloncemorethebridesbrokeoutintotheirmarriagesong，astrangechantandawildandsweet，thoughafterwhatIhadseenandheardithadlittlepowertomoveme。
　　Theysangoninthedarknessevermoreloudly，tillpresentlyasingletorchwaslitattheendofthechamber，thenanotherandanother，thoughIcouldnotseewholitthem，andtheroomwasaflareoflight。
　　Nowthealtar，thevictim，andthepriestswereallgone，therewasnooneleftintheplaceexceptmyselfandthefourbrides。
　　Theyweretallandlovelywomenallofthem，cladinwhitebridalrobesstarredoverwithgemsandflowers，andwearingontheirbrowstheemblemsofthefourgoddesses，butOtomiewasthestateliestandmostbeautifulofthefour，andseemedintruthagoddess。
　　Onebyonetheydrewneartome，smilingandsighing，andkneelingbeforemekissedmyhand，saying:
　　’Ihavebeenchosentobeyourwifeforaspace，Tezcat，happymaidthatIam。
　　MaythegoodgodsgrantthatIbecomepleasingtoyoursight，sothatyoumaylovemeasIworshipyou。’
　　Thenshewhohadspokenwoulddrawbackagainoutofearshot，andthenextwouldtakeherplace。
　　LastofallcameOtomie。
　　Shekneltandsaidthewords，thenaddedinalowvoice，
　　’HavingspokentoyouasthebrideandgoddesstothehusbandandthegodTezcat，now，OTeule，Ispeakasthewomantotheman。
　　Youdonotloveme，Teule，therefore，ifitisyourwill，letusbedivorcedofourownactwhowerewedbythecommandofothers，forsoIshallbesparedsomeshame。
　　Thesearefriendstomeandwillnotbetrayus；andshenoddedtowardshercompanionbrides。
　　’Asyouwill，Otomie，’Iansweredbriefly。
　　’Ithankyouforyourkindness，Teule，’shesaidsmilingsadly，andwithdrewmakingobeisance，lookingsostatelyandsosweetasshewent，thatagainmyheartwasshakenasthoughwithlove。
　　Nowfromthatnighttillthedreadfulhourofsacrifice，nokissortenderwordpassedbetweenmeandtheprincessoftheOtomie。
　　Andyetourfriendshipandaffectiongrewdaily，forwetalkedmuchtogether，andIsoughttoturnherhearttothetrueKingofHeaven。
　　Butthiswasnoteasy，forlikeherfatherMontezuma，Otomieclungtothegodsofherpeople，thoughshehatedthepriests，andsavewhenthevictimswerethefoesofhercountry，shrankfromtheritesofhumansacrifice，whichshesaidwereinstitutedbythepabas，sinceintheearlydaystherewerenomenofferedonthealtarsofthegods，butflowersonly。
　　Dailyitgrewandripenedtill，althoughI
　　scarcelyknewit，atlengthinmyheart，afterLily，Ilovedherbetterthananyoneonearth。
　　Asfortheotherwomen，thoughtheyweregentleandbeautiful，Isoonlearnedtohatethem。
　　StillI
　　feastedandrevelledwiththem，partlysinceImust，orbringthemtoamiserabledeathbecausetheyfailedtopleaseme，andpartlythatImightdrownmyterrorsindrinkandpleasure，forletitberememberedthatthedayslefttomeonearthwerefew，andtheawfulenddrewnear。
　　ThedayfollowingthecelebrationofmymarriagewasthatoftheshamelessmassacreofsixhundredoftheAztecnoblesbytheorderofthehidalgoAlvarado，whomCorteshadleftincommandoftheSpaniards。
　　ForatthistimeCorteswasabsentinthecoastlands，whitherhehadgonetomakewaronNarvaez，whohadbeensenttosubduehimbyhisenemyVelasquez，thegovernorofCuba。
　　OnthisdaywascelebratedthefeastofHuitzel，thatwasheldwithsacrifice，songs，anddancesinthegreatcourtofthetemple，thatcourtwhichwassurroundedbyawallcarvedoverwiththewrithingshapesofsnakes。
　　Itchancedthatonthismorningbeforehewenttojoininthefestival，Guatemoc，theprince，cametoseemeonavisitofceremony。
　　Iaskedhimifheintendedtotakepartinthefeast，asthesplendourofhisapparelbroughtmetobelieve。
　　’Yes，’heanswered，’butwhydoyouask？’
　　’Because，wereIyou，Guatemoc，Iwouldnotgo。
　　Saynow，willthedancersbearmed？’
　　’No，itisnotusual。’
　　’Theywillbeunarmed，Guatemoc，andtheyarethefloweroftheland。
　　Unarmedtheywilldanceinyonderenclosedspace，andtheTeuleswillwatchthemarmed。
　　Now，howwoulditbeifthesechancedtopickaquarrelwiththenobles？’
　　’Idonotknowwhyyoushouldspeakthus，Teule，forsurelythesewhitemenarenotcowardlymurderers，stillItakeyourwordsasanomen，andthoughthefeastmustbeheld，forseealreadythenoblesgather，Iwillnotshareinit。’
　　’Youarewise，Guatemoc，’Isaid。
　　’Iamsurethatyouarewise’
　　AfterwardsOtomie，Guatemoc，andIwentintothegardenofthepalaceandsatuponthecrestofasmallpyramid，ateocalliinminiaturethatMontezumahadbuiltforaplaceofoutlookonthemarketandthecourtsofthetemple。
　　FromthisspotwesawthedancingoftheAztecnobles，andheardthesongofthemusicians。