Edgefield advertiser. [volume] (Edgefield, S.C.) 1836-current, 1894-08-22
CHAPTER XIV.

THE NAMING OF THE BRIDES
Now, some months passed between the
date Of my naming as the god Tezcat and
the entry of the Spaniards into Mexico,
and during all this space the city was in
ferment. Again and again Montezuma
sent embassies to Cortes, bearing with
them vast treasures of gold and gems as
presents and at tho same time praying
him to withdraw, for this foolish prince
did not understand that by displaying so
surely bring tho falcon on himself To
these ambassadors Cortes returned courte-
Gus answers, together with presents OF
small value, and that was all.
Then tho advance began, and the en-
peror learned with dismay Of the conquest
of the warhle.tribe of'the Tlascalaos who,
though they were Montezumas bitter and
hereditary foes, yet made a stand against
the white man. Next came the tidtngs
that from enemies the conquered Tlasca-
lans had become the allies and servants Of
the Spaniard, and that thousands Of their
ficrccst warriors wcro advancing with him
upon the sacred city Of Cholula- Awhile
passed, and it was known that Cholula
also had been given to massacre, and that
the holy, or rather tho unholy, gods had
been torn from their shrines. Marvellous
tales were told of the Spaniards, Of their
courage and their might, Of the armor
that they wore, the thunder that their
weapons made in battle, and the fierce
beasts which they bestrode. Once two
heads of white men taken in skirmlsh
were sent to Montezuma-fercel looking
heads great and hairy, and with them the
head of horse When Montezuma saw
these CHASTITY relics, he almost tainted with
tear. Still he caused them to be set up on
pinnacles Of the great temple and proc
lamation to be,mado that this fate await
ed every invader tho land
Meanwhile all,was confusion in his pol
icies. Day by day councils were held Of
tho nobles,, of high priests and of neigh
boring. and friendly kings Some advised
e.thing, some another, and the end OF 1t
was hesitation and folly. All, had Monte
zma listened. to the voice Of that great
man Guatemoc, Anahuac would not have
been a Spanish fief today! For Guatemoc
prayed him again and yet again to put
away his fears and declare open war upon
the Teules before itswas too late-to cease
from making gifts and sending embassies,
toeather his countless armies and smitc the
foe in the mountain passes. But Montczu-
mnwould answer: ITO what end, nephewS
How can I struggle against these men
when the gods themselves have declared
for them? Surely the gods cnn take their
own parts If they wish it, and, if they will
not for myself and my own fate do not
care but alas for my people, alas for the
women and tho children, the aged and the
wcak!"
Then he would cover his face and moan
and weep like q child, and GuateInoc
would pass from his presence dumb with
fury at the folly Of so great king, but
HELPLESS to remedy it, for, like myself,
Gautemoc believed that Montezuma had
been smitten with madness sent from
heaven to bring the land to ruin.
The people were distraught with fear OF
the future, but not the less on that ac-
count, or perhaps because of 1t, they
plunged with fcrvor into pleasures, alter
mating them with religious ceremonies.
In those days no feast was neglected, and
no altar lacked its victim. Like river