Burlington free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1827-1865, 1843-04-07

In the centre Of the present empire of
Mexico, and within the borders of the beau
tiful country once inhabited by the ancestors
of those wild and splendid savages, the Ca
manches, lies a chain of elevated mountains
whose snowy peaks pierce the skies, leaving
the vast field of clouds floating midway be-
tween them and the plains. Toward the
south they make a majestic curve and en-
close within their embrace a circle twelve
leagues in diameter, in the midst Of which
sleeps like a fair garden, the valley Of Alco-
10 Itself enclosed by a lake, and the lowell
est gem on the breast of the earth. One of
these mountains is lofiier than the rest, and
on its summit burns a star-like blaze, which
is said to be a single diamond, but inaccessi-
bic to human reach. This peak is hence
called the " Mountain Of the Burning Stone"
By day, the shining apex CLOVIS with all the
dyes of the rainbow; at night its light is like
pale moonshine.
At the time of our story this valley was
the centre of an empire now no more.-
Here was the palace and throne of the en-
perors, and the centre of wealth, power and
magnifccnce. In its midst rose a proud ci-
ty, gorgeous with swelling domes, needle
like pinnacles and majestic towers, through
which, dividing it into two parts, flowed a
stately river which, for more than a league,
reflected from either shore, on its silver boz
SOM, W continuous lines Of temples, pala-
ccs and e!iices of costly grandeur.
On the throne of this glorious empire sat
Ulyd, the last monarch of his race. He was
naughty, imperious and cruel. His foot rest
ed upon the necks of his subjects, and his
sceptre was converted into a sword, which
hourly drank human blood. But Eylla, the
daughter Of UIyd, was gentle as the dove in
spirit; as beautiful as Lyn, the Angel of the
Flowers, and graceful as the antelope that
runs upon the mountains. The tyrant loved
his daughter, and that love was all that har-
monized his nature.
In one of the lesser streets of this gorge
Gus capital lived a poor nei-makcr, whose
sole merit was his honesty, and whose only
income was the daily pittance earned by the
toll of his hands. He was a widower but
Heaven had tempered its judgments with
and solace his old age. Montezuma, the
name Of this youth, was now twenty years Of
age. His stature was lofty and his port no.
BILE while grace and beauty we're stamped
upon his face and person. His dignity was
that of virtue +; his beauty that of a gentle
temper and cheerful heart. He was below.
ed and idolized by all of his rank, doatcd or
by his father, and despised, so closely hat
nature allied him to them, by the nobles.-
Such was Montezuma, at the period of ouI
story.
STAND aside, serf!' were the stern tone,
Of an officer, addressed to a youth who will
thousand others was watching the procession
Of the emperor, his mobiles and the priests o
the Sun on their way to offer sacrifices a
each gate Of the city, to propi,iate the wra,l
Of their deity-for rain had not fallen on tn,
earth in the space of four months, and the
sun had burned up the harvest. The eye.
Of this youth seemed to be fixed more par
t~icularly on the Princess Eylla, than on tn
spectacle.
Stand aside, serf!' and a glittering spea
point at the same instant pricked the breas
OF the youth, who caught it in his hand, err
itcould penetrate, wrested it from the noble
grasp, broke i, in twain, and cast the piece
disdainfully at his feet.
'Ha! It's the slave Montezuma! erie,
the infuriated officer. He has Knocked u
full long. Cut him down! |,
But ere the guard which were about tn
emperor and his daughter, and which the OF
6cer commanded. could obey this command
the crowd opened to the right and left an
received the destined victim 10 their bosom
.Hew your way to him! cried the noble
'Cut the slaves in pleces!'
NAY, my sire, will you let blood be spille
on this sacred time Z plead the sweet an
earnest voice Of the princess Eylla, who, ri
ding in the chariot beside the emperor, ha
witnessed this scene.