The Forest Republican. [volume] (Tionesta, Pa.) 1869-1952, 1892-08-31
entered, the King leading, followed by
the priests aud the mobiles.


Multitudes of gayly clad pedestrians
thronged its streets. 1t was day of sac.
riice.
Towering high above all other build
ings rose the sacrifcial tower Of the god
Huitzilopochtli, in order that the im-
pressive ceremonies in honor of the deity
might be witnessed from all parts of the
capital.
Along one the principal streets passed
the procession of priests with the vic
tim, Tula, the bethrothed of the young
Prince. And it was no wonder that the
heart of the youthful warrior succumbed
to the charms of the gentle Tezcucan.
OF type of beauty long since extinct in
Mexico, in her the beauty of the south.
land was united with the ruddy, robust
character of the north. Her dark eyes
sparkled like twin stars; her luxuriant
nut brown tresses fell in waves almost to
her feet. Clad in the sacriicial robes of
pure white, with bare head and feet, her
ravishing beauty would have sufficed to
turn the head of even the most blase of
modern gallants.
BY her side walked the Prince, for by
the earnest entreaty of the old King he
had been granted that privilege by the
priests. Pale and sorrowful he was, and
clad only in the plainest of garments.
For what signifies gaudy apparel and out
ward splendor when the loved one is in
danger9
Just as the sun paused in the heavens
at the midday hour, the chief priest and
the maiden commenced to ascend the
stairway that led to the altar at the sum-
nit of the tower. Around the altar stood
five other priests, whose duty it was to
hold the victim fast while the chief priest
performed his horrible work.
In long, passionate chant-like prayer
the old priest invoked the blessing of the
terrible war god, beseeching that his
wrath might be turned away, in consd-
Grafton of the sacrifice about to be made.
For full half an hour the invocation con-
tinued, and ere it closed low murmur
burst from the lips of the assembled null
titudes below.
There was good reason, too, for the
surprise and CONSERVATION of the people,
for halfway up the side of the tower,
where none but the priesthood and the
victims had ever yet dared to tread,
could be seen the young Prince Neza.
hualcoyotl, swiftly and stealthily mount
ing to the summit. In his right hand
he grasped a light golden dart; by his
side hung a curiouslY wrought sword,
inlaid with gold and precious stones, and
on his face was look of determination
which boded i'll to any one who might
oppose him.
The prayer was ended. The chief
priest Huitzil advanced to consummate
the sacrifice, when suddenly he threw up
his hands and fell, pierced to the heart
with golden dart.
Then the people witnessed a sight
such as they had never seen before. Ere
the astonished priests could comprehend
what had occurred, the Prince had
leaped up beside the altar and slew all
five with the sword. Then he sprang to
the edge of the tower, after reassuring
the trembling maiden, and his tones rang
out clear and strong as he thus addressed
the people:
"Men of Tezcuco, this day ye have
witnessed deed that shall be for the
glory of the true gods and the good of
our nation. This day has the false priest
been slain by the arrow of the gods
which only pierces the heart of him who
speaks with a crooked tongue and a
decei7ing spirit. This day have the five
priests of the altar been slain by the
sword of Quetzalcoatl!
He raised the cleaning blade aloft,
still dripping with the blood of its vic
tins; the sight of the sacred trophy was
the signal for mighty shout from the
listening populace. Then he continued: :
,"Hear the commands of Quetzalcoatl,
the true god, who reigned in the golden
age of Anahuacl Thus saith the god: 4:
No more shall offerings of maidens be
made to the gods of Tezcuco. No more
shall the terrible war god be feared and
worshiped, for the day of his power is
passed, and peace shall again spread her
pinions over the royal city. This day
shall the maiden Tula become the wife
of the Prince ..Nezahualcoyoti, and the
temple of Hultzilopochtli shall be laid
waste. The messenger of the true god,
even the messenger of Quetzalcoatl, has
spoken"
Then turning to Tula he raised her to
her feet, and with their arms twined
around each other they descended the
narrow stairway, to be received with re-
joicing by the people.
How the old king was shortly after
ward slain in battle with the Tepanecs,
and how the Prince Nezahualcoyoti on
ascending the throne completely ban
ished the worship of Huitzilopochtli,
and how upward of forty years he con-
Quoted the most peaceful and prosper.
Gus reign ever known during the history
of the Tezcucana as a nation, are matters
of history. During his reign human sac
rifice was greatly lessened, although not
until after the conquesto of Mexico by the
Spaniards, about 300 years afterward,
was it entirely abolished. Wayerley
Magazine.