OCR Text |
Show ISO :BOOK. 1[[, ~ SueT. XVI. lmprifonment and death of king ChimalpoJlOCa. II I S T 0 R Y 0 F M E X I C 0. of pleafure with them at Azcapozalco. Such. vifits. being freq~e?t among perfons of the firil: rank, of different nations, 1t was not dtfficult for the abandoned prince to gain the opportunity he fo much longed .for, to fatisfy his criminal paffion ; neither the tears nor effor~s. made by that virtuous Mexican in defen~e of. he: hon~ur, were ~ufljc1ent. to rcfl:rain him: lhe returned to Mex1co w1th 1gnommy, and p1erced W1th the mofl: aftetl:ing anguifh to mourn with her hulband. The unfortunate king, either that he might no~ furvive his difhonour, or that he might not die in the hands of the tyrant, refolved to put an end to his wretched life, by dying a facrifice in honour of his God, Huitzilopochtli, as many pretended heroes of his nation had done, believing fuch a death would cancel his din1onour, at leaft fave him fi·om fome ignominious exit, which he dreaded from his enemy. He communicated this refolution to his courtiers, who applauded it, from tht:: extravagant ideas they entertained in matters of religion, and fame of them even were willing to partake of the glory of fo barbarous a facrifice. The day appointed for this religious tragic fcene being come, the king appeared dreffed in the manner they ufually reprefented their God Huitzilopochtli, and all thofe who were to accompany him were dreffed · alfo in their bell: habits. This religious ceremony began with a folcmn ball; and while lt iafied the priefis Cacri.ficed th~ uohappy victims one after another, referving the king. to th~ laft. It wa~ hardly poffible fuch a tranfaction could remain unk,n<?wn to the tyrant; he knew it by :mticipation, and that he migh~ prevent his enemy efcaping from his revenge by voluntary death, he fent a boqy of troops to, take him before he was facrificed. They, arrived wpen the,,.-e. hardly ,remained two victims, after whom the king hi.mf~lf wa~ to fol.i<;>w. This unhappy prince was feized by the Tepanecas~ and conduCl:eq in,!l:antly, to Azcapozalco, where he was put into .a fl:rong cag~ of wood, which was the prifon ufed by theft nations, as we.'f'h~ll~ p)eq.tion hereafter, under cuftody of ftrong guat:ds. In thi~ even·t many ciicumfi:.ances appear difficult to be credited: but we relate it as we fi9p 'it rtold by the. hi}torians of Mexico. It is certainly', much .to he 1 W:ondere~ at, that the . Tepanccas ihould have dared to, enter into. that cit:Y and ~ttenwt fo ,danserous an act; alld, t~a~ the, M~~ic~n~ I !h'9-?,ld .no~ have arl}led th~l1}- . · · · · · · felves H I S T 0 R Y 0 F M E X 1 C O'r (elves in defence of their king; but the power of the tyrant may have, of itfelf, been fufficient to encourage the Tepaneca& and .. intimidate the Mexicans. The taking of Chimalpopoca prifon.er, excited freih defire in the mind of Maxtlaton to get the prince N ezahualcojotl alfo into his power; to effeCt this more eafily he fent for him under pretence of being willing to come to an agreement with him, refpetl:ing the crown of Acolhuacan . The difcerning prince immediately penetrated the rna_. levolent intention of the tyrant; but the ardour of youth, the courage and confidence of his foul, made him prefent himfelf intrepidly beforC' the fiernefi: dangers. In paffing through Tlatelolco·, he payed a vifit tci one of his confidents, named Chichincatl, by whom he was informed,.. that the tyrant was not only plotting againil: his life and the king of Tlatelolco, but, were it pofilble, d fired to annihilate the whole Acolhuan nation. Notwithftanding· this,. in the evening the prince fet out fearlefs for Azcapozalco, and went directly to the ho~fe of one of his friends. Early in the morning he waited on Cbaci.Jaton, a great favourite of the tyt·ant, and by whom the prince himfelf was beloved, and recommended to him to diffuade Maxtlaton from any deiign againft l1i perfon. They went together to the palace; when Chachaton preceded to acquaint his lord of the an·ivaf of the prince, and to fpeak in his favour. The prince entered after, and when he had paid his obeifance, thus fpoke: "I know, my lord, that you have imprifoned the king of " Mexico, but I am ignorant whether you have made him fufferdeath,. " or if he frill lives in prifon. I have heard, alfo, that it is your .. wifb " to take away my life. If this is true, behold me before you; kill me " with your own hands, and gratify the malice which you bear to a " prince not lefs innocent than unfortunate." While he fpoke thefc words, the memory of his misfortunes forced tears from his ·eyes . " What is your opinion?" faid Maxtlaton, then to his favourite, " Is it " not fi:range that a youth, who has hardly begun to enjoy life, il1ould " feek death fo daringly ?" Turning to the prince, he afrurcd him, that , he was forming no defign againil: his life, that the k ing of Mexico was not dead~ nor would be put to death by him; and endeavoured to juftify the imprifonment of that unfortunate king. He then gave orders that_ the prince ihcmld.,be properly entertained. J Cl1imal- .. • |