’Ogod，thouwhoarteverywhereandseestall，knowestthatCuitlahuaourkingisgatheredtothee。
　　Thouhastsethimbeneaththyfootstoolandthereherestsinhisrest。
　　Hehastravelledthatroadwhichwemusttraveleveryone，hehasreachedtheroyalinhabitationsofourdead，thehomeofeverlastingshadows。
　　Therewherenoneshalltroublehimheissunkinsleep。
　　Hisbrieflaboursareaccomplished，andsoiledwithsinandsorrow，hehasgonetothee。
　　Thougavesthimjoystotastebutnottodrink；thegloryofempirepassedbeforehiseyeslikethemadnessofadream。
　　Withtearsandwithprayerstotheehetookuphisload，withhappinesshelaiditdown。
　　Wherehisforefatherswent，thitherhehasfollowed，norcanhereturntous。
　　Ourfireisanashandourlampisdarkness。
　　Thosewhoworehispurplebeforehimbequeathedtohimtheintolerableweightofrule，andheinhisturnbequeathsittoanother。
　　Truly，heshouldgivetheepraise，thoukingofkings，masterofthestars，thatstandestalone，whohastliftedfromhisshoulderssogreataburden，andfromhisbrowthiscrownofwoes，payinghimpeaceforwarandrestforlabour。
　　’Ogodourhope，choosenowaservanttosucceedhim，amanafterthineownheart，whoshallnotfearnorfalter，whoshalltoilandnotbeweary，whoshallleadthypeopleasamotherleadsherchildren。
　　Lordoflords，givegracetoGuatemocthycreature，whoisourchoice。
　　Sealhimtothyservice，andasthypriestlethimsituponthyearthlythroneforhislifedays。
　　Letthyfoesbecomehisfootstool，lethimexaltthyglory，proclaimthyworship，andprotectthykingdom。
　　ThushaveIprayedtotheeinthenameofthenation。
　　Ogod，thywillbedone！’
　　Whenthehighpriesthadmadeanendofhisprayer，thefirstofthefourgreatelectorsrose，saying:
　　’Guatemoc，inthenameofgodandwiththevoiceofthepeopleofAnahuac，wesummonyoutothethroneofAnahuac。
　　Longmayyouliveandjustlymayyourule，andmaytheglorybeyoursofbeatingbackintotheseathosefoeswhowoulddestroyus。
　　Hailtoyou，Guatemoc，EmperoroftheAztecsandoftheirvassaltribes。’
　　Andallthethreehundredofthecouncilofconfirmationrepeatedinavoiceofthunder，’Hailtoyou，Guatemoc，Emperor！’
　　Nowtheprincehimselfstoodforwardandspoke:
　　’Youlordsofelection，andyou，princes，generals，noblesandcaptainsofthecouncilofconfirmation，hearme。
　　MaythegodsbemywitnessthatwhenIenteredthisplaceIhadnothoughtorknowledgethatIwasdestinedtosohighanhonourasthatwhichyouwouldthrustuponme。
　　Andmaythegodsbemywitnessagainthatweremylifemyown，andnotatrustinthehandsofthispeople，Iwouldsaytoyou，“Seekonandfindoneworthiertofillthethrone。“
　　Butmylifeisnotmyown。
　　AnahuaccallshersonandIobeythecall。
　　Wartothedeaththreatensher，andshallIhangbackwhilemyarmhasstrengthtosmiteandmybrainhaspowertoplan？
　　Notso。
　　NowandhenceforthIvowmyselftotheserviceofmycountryandtowaragainsttheTeules。
　　Iwillmakenopeacewiththem，Iwilltakenoresttilltheyaredrivenbackwhencetheycame，ortillIamdeadbeneaththeirswords。
　　Nonecansaywhatthegodshaveinstoreforus，itmaybevictoryoritmaybedestruction，butbeittriumphordeath，letusswearagreatoathtogether，mypeopleandmybrethren。
　　LetussweartofighttheTeulesandthetraitorswhoabetthem，forourcities，ourhearthsandouraltars；tillthecitiesareasmokingruin，tillthehearthsarecumberedwiththeirdead，andthealtarsrunredwiththebloodoftheirworshippers。
　　So，ifwearedestinedtoconquer，ourtriumphshallbemadesure，andifwearedoomedtofail，atleasttherewillbeastorytobetoldofus。
　　Doyouswear，mypeopleandmybrethren？’
　　’Weswear，’theyansweredwithashout。
　　’Itiswell，’saidGuatemoc。
　　’Andnowmayeverlastingshameovertakehimwhobreaksthisoath。’
　　ThusthenwasGuatemoc，thelastandgreatestoftheAztecemperors，electedtothethroneofhisforefathers。
　　Itwashappyforhimthathecouldnotforeseethatdreadfuldaywhenhe，thenoblestofmen，mustmeetafelon’sdoomatthehandoftheseveryTeules。
　　Yetsoitcameabout，forthedestinythatlayuponthelandsmoteallalike，indeedthegreaterthemanthemorecertainwashisfate。
　　WhenallwasdoneIhurriedtothepalacetotellOtomiewhathadcometopass，andfoundherinoursleepingchamberlyingonherbed。
　　’Whatailsyou，Otomie？’Iasked。
　　’Alas！myhusband，’sheanswered，’thepestilencehasstrickenme。
　　Comenotnear，Iprayyou，comenotnear。
　　Letmebenursedbythewomen。
　　Youshallnotriskyourlifeforme，beloved。’
　　’Peace，’Isaidandcametoher。
　　Itwastootrue，Iwhoamaphysicianknewthesymptomswell。
　　Indeedhaditnotbeenformyskill，Otomiewouldhavedied。
　　ForthreelongweeksIfoughtwithdeathatherbedside，andintheendIconquered。
　　Thefeverlefther，andthankstomytreatment，therewasnosinglescaruponherlovelyface。
　　Duringeightdayshermindwanderedwithoutceasing，anditwasthenIlearnedhowdeepandperfectwasherloveforme。
　　Forallthiswhileshedidnothingbutraveofme，andthesecretterrorofherheartwasdisclosed——thatIshouldceasetocareforher，thatherbeautyandlovemightpalluponmesothatIshouldleaveher，that’theflowermaid，’forsoshenamedLily，whodweltacrosstheseashoulddrawmebacktoherbymagic；thiswastheburdenofhermadness。
　　Atlengthhersensesreturnedandshespoke，saying:
　　’HowlonghaveIlainill，husband？’
　　Itoldherandshesaid，’Andhaveyounursedmeallthiswhile，andthroughsofoulasickness？’
　　’Yes，Otomie，Ihavetendedyou。’
　　’WhathaveIdonethatyoushouldbesogoodtome？’shemurmured。
　　Thensomedreadfulthoughtseemedtostrikeher，forshemoanedasthoughinpain，andsaid，’Amirror！
　　Swift，bringmeamirror！’
　　Igaveherone，andrisingonherarm，eagerlyshescannedherfaceinthedimlightoftheshadowedroom，thenlettheplateofburnishedgoldfall，andsankbackwithafaintandhappycry:
　　’Ifeared，’shesaid，’IfearedthatIhadbecomehideousasthosearewhomthepestilencehassmitten，andthatyouwouldceasetoloveme，thanwhichithadbeenbettertodie。’
　　’Forshame，’Isaid。
　　’Doyouthenthinkthatlovecanbefrightenedawaybysomefewscars？’
　　’Yes，’Otomieanswered，’thatistheloveofaman；notsuchloveasmine，husband。
　　HadIbeenthus——ah！Ishuddertothinkofit——
　　withinayearyouwouldhavehatedme。
　　Perhapsithadnotbeensowithanother，thefairmaidoffaraway，butmeyouwouldhavehated。
　　Nay，Iknowit，thoughIknowthisalso，thatIshouldnothavelivedtofeelyourhate。
　　Oh！Iamthankful，thankful。’
　　ThenIleftherforawhile，marvellingatthegreatlovewhichshehadgivenme，andwonderingalsoiftherewasanytruthinherwords，andiftheheartofmancouldbesoungratefulandsovile。
　　SupposingthatOtomiewasnowasmanywerewhowalkedthestreetsofTenoctitlanthatday，amassofdreadfulscars，hairless，andwithblindandwhitenedeyeballs，shouldIthenhaveshrunkfromher？
　　Idonotknow，andIthankheaventhatnosuchtrialwasputuponmyconstancy。
　　ButIamsureofthis；hadIbecomealepereven，Otomiewouldnothaveshrunkfromme。
　　SoOtomierecoveredfromhergreatsickness，andshortlyafterwardsthepestilencepassedawayfromTenoctitlan。
　　AndnowIhadmanyotherthingstothinkof，forthechoosingofGuatemoc——myfriendandbloodbrother——asemperormeantmuchadvancementtome，whowasmadeageneralofthehighestclass，andaprincipaladviserinhiscouncils。
　　NordidIsparemyselfinhisservice，butlabouredbydayandnightintheworkofpreparingthecityforsiege，andinthemarshallingofthetroops，andmoreespeciallyofthatarmyofOtomies，whocame，astheyhadpromised，tothenumberoftwentythousand。
　　Theworkwashardindeed，fortheseIndiantribeslackeddisciplineandpowersofunity，withoutwhichtheirthousandswereoflittleavailinawarwithwhitemen。
　　Alsothereweregreatjealousiesbetweentheirleaderswhichmustbeovercome，andIwasmyselfanobjectofjealousy。
　　Moreover，manytribestookthisoccasionofthetroubleoftheAztecstothrowofftheirallegianceorvassalage，andeveniftheydidnotjointheSpaniards，toremainneutralwatchingfortheeventofthewar。
　　Stillwelabouredon，dividingthearmiesintoregimentsafterthefashionofEurope，andstationingeachinitsownquarterdrillingthemtothebetteruseofarms，provisioningthecityforasiege，andweedingoutasmanyuselessmouthsaswemight；andtherewasbutonemaninTenoctitlanwhotoiledatthesetasksmoreheavilythanI，andthatwasGuatemoctheemperor，whodidnotrestdayornight。
　　ItriedeventomakepowderwithsulphurwhichwasbroughtfromthethroatofthevolcanPopo，but，havingnoknowledgeofthatart，Ifailed。
　　Indeed，itwouldhaveavaileduslittlehadI
　　succeeded，forhavingneitherarquebussesnorcannons，andnoskilltocastthem，wecouldonlyhaveuseditinminingroadsandgateways，and，perhaps，ingrenadestobethrownwiththehand。
　　Andsothemonthswenton，tillatlengthspiescameinwiththetidingsthattheSpaniardswereadvancinginnumbers，andwiththemcountlesshostsofallies。
　　NowIwouldhavesentOtomietoseeksafetyamongherownpeople，butshelaughedmetoscorn，andsaid:
　　’Whereyouare，thereIwillbe，husband。
　　What，shallitbesufferedthatyoufacedeath，perhapstofindhim，whenIamnotatyoursidetodiewithyou？
　　Ifthatisthefashionofwhitewomen，Ileaveittothem，beloved，andherewithyouIstay。’