# Myths and Legends Beyond Our Borders/The Death-Dance of Tezcatlipoca

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THE DEATH-DANCE OF TEZCATLIPOCA
TEZCATLIPOCA, the Mephistopheles and Hercules of Mexican mythology, wanted to gain power over the Toltecs, or, if he failed in that, to destroy them, and to this end he sought an alliance with the daughter of Vemac, their king. He put on his best appearance, and not much else, for though he could change his form he chose to ​enter Tula as a naked boor from the hills, peddling green peppers. Looking over the market-place, the girl saw the fellow, and in spite of his low trade and apparent poverty her heart went out to him, for he was tall and strong and handsome. King Vemac noticed presently that the girl had grown sickly and silent, and he asked her maids what ailed her. They were obliged to tell him that she suffered for love of a peddler who called himself Toveyo, and was like to die if he refused her love. At that the king sent a crier to the echoing mount of Tzatzitepec, calling on Toveyo to show himself at the palace. Days passed, and the people sought eagerly in every part of the province, for the life of the princess was in peril, so sick was she for love. They had no success, and great was the surprise of all when the man appeared in the market-place with a fresh lot of peppers for sale. The king sought him at once. Where do you belong?" he asked.
"I am a foreigner," quoth the peddler.
"Why do you come here without a blanket, and with not even breeches to cover you?"
"Such things are not the custom in my land."
"Then come with me and you shall be clothed, for my daughter perishes of love for you, and you must cure her."
"I am not worthy to meet the daughter of a king, nor even to hear your words. Let me rather die, for I am humble and poor."
​But he was bidden to have no fear; and so they took the scamp to the palace, and after he had bathed, had his hair cut, and dyed his body handsomely, he was richly dressed and led into the presence of the princess, who could not conceal her joy, as women commonly think it meet to do in the like event, but was quickly won and wedded; and seeing how good a figure was made by this new son-in-law, the king was half inclined toward him, even though he had been a peddler. But the people grumbled, "Was there not among us all a Toltec who could have wedded this princess? Could the king find no husband for her but an alien and a huckster who had not even riches enough to go in rags?"
These things came to the ears of the king and made him fear an estrangement from his people; nor was he truly proud of this Toveyo, who had sold peppers under his windows. The Toltecs about this time were having one of their usual wars with Cacatepec and Coatepec, and the king secretly urged his generals to take Toveyo to the front with them and lose him. A brigade of dwarfs and cripples was organized for Toveyo, and on arriving on the field he was placed in an advanced post of danger, with instructions to hold it while the trained troops led the attack in another quarter. After a feint at a charge the Toltecs pretended to be driven back in panic, leaving Toveyo and his invalids to get away as they might, for ​nobody waited to see whether they were saved or slaughtered. Arrived once more in Tula, the generals told the king how they had betrayed his son-in-law to presumptive death, and all except the princess rejoiced greatly. Presently a cripple came hobbling from the front with news. Toveyo had beaten the men of Cacatepec and Coatepec, and would be back before dark. A good face must be put upon the matter. The troops who had run away must honor the troops who stayed, and this they did with better will than they had felt in going to war, for the fellow had courage, though he was a vender. So the peddler of green peppers and his army of knock-knees and hunchbacks marched into Tula to the music of flute bands, the dancing of maidens, and a brave show of arms, shields, and feather dresses. Every man of the victorious troop was painted yellow, with his face red, and plumes in his hair, for these were the signs of success, and the king said to Toveyo, "Son-in-law, the Toltecs greet you, for you have proved brave in the fight and quick in leadership. You are worthy to be of us. Therefore enter the palace and be at ease." Toveyo saluted and kept silence, but he laughed in his heart.
Soon after he sent a crier to Mount Tzatzitepec to call all the people to Tula, to a great dance and feast, and they came, a countless throng. Standing among them on the plain of Texcalapa, he led the dance, marking the time on a drum. Unknown to ​the others, this was a magic drum, and so long as he played all must dance. Hour after hour its thump sounded above the song, but faster and faster. The sweat poured from the leaping company, their breath grew thick and short, yet they could not stop. Toveyo artfully moved toward the ravine of the Texcaltlauco, and the multitude followed, blind, bewitched. He broke the stone bridge as he crossed it, and, jumping to the opposite bank, beat his drum still more quickly and fiercely. On came the mob, singing, still stepping in time to the drum, and he roared in delight as they went over the edge into the cañon and became stones on the ledges below.