The National tribune., 1899-05-04
,NgD$fHIkrnandoSprtez ,.Ng.
f.kSSI NM Story OF
z1--gND The Spanish Conquest Of Mexico
.asgaa.E9yV BY r. M BIRD.
A Story Of
The Spanish Conquest Of Mexico.
BY r. n. BIRD.

The unhappy monarch, by so express
ing his address as to steer clear of offenS'
to the Spaniards lfor we'll be knew the.
dreaded lest his confessions should still
more inflame the citizensl, committee
the more fatal error OF diSpleasing hi:
people. A murmur of Indignation rar
| through the mass, when M0ntezuma
with his own lips, confirmed, his abaSe
mcnt. Several rose, frowning, TO thel
feet, and young man, parting quickly
| from the crowd, advanced so near to the
palace, that his features could be plainly
distinguished He was OF noble Stature
countcnance, and mien, evidently of the
highest order of nobility, and enjoyed the
distinction of a principality in the House
| of Darts, as was shown by the red hlie'
4 in his hair, suspending the TUFTS OF honor.
AS this bold and nobie-looling youth
| stcCpCd up 10 the very mouths OF the
cannon, and raised his fiery eyes TO the
king, Don Aniador de Leste thought that
he recognized in him the princely Am
bassaGOr OF Cholula, the young fugitive,
who had been so ready to dispute the
path with him, under the walls OF the
holy city.
"Dost thou say this, thou that vert
once their lord, to the people of Mexitii''
said the young prince dor, as has been
recorded by other historians, it was the
valiant QuaUhtimotzin, the nephew OF the
king, who now so sharply rebuked himl.
"DJst thou indeed confess, son OF AKA
iacatli that thou art, by thine own con-
sent, the friend OF perhGious stranger
by thine Cwn choice, q. conqueror oi many
nations, the serf and slave OF him who is
the brother OF Tlascaia2 Then art thou,
indeed, what we have called thce,-the
slayer of thy pe0ple,-for this blood has
Gcwn at thy bidding; a traitor to thy
throne, fer thou hast surrendered 1t to a
master; ali apos;ate TO thy gods,-for
haS hat II
called upon thee for vengeance. Miser-
able king.-and yet a king no more,
When thy people wept TO see thee de-
graded, thou gaveSt them up TO slaughter;
and while they come TO restore thee to
thy rights, thou confeSseSt, that thou
lowest these less than the shame oi
captivity! know then, that, for thy base
ness, the gods have pronounced thee un-
worthy to be their viceroy, and thy people
have confirmed the decree. We break the
rods Of authority; we traInple upon the
robes of state: and Montezuma is nc
longer king in Tenochtitlanw
The unhappy monarch trembled while
he listened TO this insulting denuncia-
ton, for he felt that he had deserved it.
But his people still lay prostrate on the
earth; ard, hoping that they shared not
the indignation OF his lSinsman, he ele-
waited his voice again, and spoke sternly:
''Why doth QuauhtimotZin forget that
he is the son of my brother, and my
slave1 Is the young man that smiles in
Jewels wiser than he that hath gray hairs'
and the people that delve in canals and
build up the temples, have they more
than the king who councils with the
spiritS at the altar Know, that what
has heen done. has been done wisely, for
it was according TO the will of heaven;
and heaven, which has tried our fidelity,
is about to reward it with happiness and
peace. The strangers have promised to
depart from US: throw down your arms,
and let them be gone"
"And wilt thou" said the prince, ele
waiting his voice TO a still angrier pitch,
who hast been so many times deluded,
US 10 listen to their lies' o fallen
thou leaguest with them
against us. Wilt thou suffer them to eS-
cape, when we have them inclosed in
nets, as the birds that sing in thy gar
iensa o degraded chief. thou hast not
he courage 10 desire the blood of them
that have dethroned theel Thou art not
le that was Montezuma; thy words are
Tie words OF a Christian; thou spealiest
with the lips of a slave, and the heart of
a woman; thou art a Spaniard, and thy
ate shall be the fate of a Spaniard,
CuitlahuatZin is cur king; and we strike
.hee as foemanH
AS the prince concluded his indignant
Dration, he swung round his head the
avelin, which, all this time, he had bal
anced in his hand, and lanchcd it, with
AL his force, full at the breast OF Mon
.ezuma. The shield OF the novice, quick
Y Interposed before the body OF the king,
arrested the sharp weapon, and it fell,
on the terrace. At the same
the Mexicans all sprang to their
eet with loud cries, as if giving way TO
epressed fury, and brandished their arms.