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Show BOOK III. t..--y--.J H I S T 0 R y 0 F M E X I C o. that fuch roads were interfeet:ed by ditches, wit~ drawbr~d~es ove-r h but no hiftorian mentions the time of the1r confirutbon (a). t em, . r~ f f< It is not a little wonderful, that the Mexicans, dunng a 1 eo o many hardfhips, fhould have had the fpirit ~o.undertake and conftancy to ex· ecute a work of fuch magnitude and difficulty. . . . The following day, upon the arrival of the pnnce Nezahualcojotl at Mexico, the Tepanecan army appeared in the field in great. numbers and brilliancy, being adorned with plates of gold, and wearmg beautiful plumes of feathers on their heads, to add to the appe~rance of their ftature. As they marched they made frequent fhouts, 111 boaft.ful anticipation of victory. Their army vlaS commanded by a famat~s general called Mazatl. The tyrant Maxtlaton, altho~gh he had. accepted the challenge, did not think proper to leav~ Ius palace, e1tl~er becaufe he believed he would degrade himfelf by gomg to combat With the king of Mexico, or, which is more probable, b~caufe he dreaded the event of the war. As foon as the Mexicans were mformed of the motions of the Tepanecas, they went out well ordered to meet them, and the fignal for engagement being given by king Itzcoad, b~ the found of a little drum which he carried on his fhoulder, the armtes attacked each other with incredible fury, each being fi.nnly perfuaded that the ifi'ue of the battle would determine their fate. During the grcateft part of the day it was not to be difcerned to w hie~ fide. vitl:ory inclined, the Tepanecas lofing in one place what the}t gamed m another. But a little before the fetting fun, the Mexican populace obferving the enemy continually increafcd by new reinforcements, began to be difmayed, and to complain of their chiefs, faying to each other," What are " we about, 0 Mexicans, ihall we do well in fac1:ificing our lives to· " the ambition of our king and our general ? How much· more prudent e~ will it be to furrender ourfelves, humbly acknowledging our ra!hnefs, cc that we may obtain pardon and the favour of our lives ?" The king, who heard thefe words with much vexation, a!1d perceived his troops frill more difcouraged by them, called a council of the p rince and general, to take their advice what iliould be done to diffipate ~he (a) I believe the Mexicans had before this time conftrueted the roads of Tncubn and Tcpcy• auc, but not that of lztnpallapan, which is larger than thofe, ~nd where the lake is de eper. fears .H I S T 0 R Y 0 F M E X I C 0. {ears of the people. " What?" anfwered Montezuma; " To fight till "death. Ifwe die with our arms in our hands, defending our liberty, " we will do our duty. If we furvive our defeat, we will remain covered "with eternal confufion. Let us go then, let us fight till we die." The cries of the Mexicans began already to prevail as if they had been conquered, fome of them being even fo mean-fpirited as to call out to their enemies, " 0 ye brave Tepanecas, lords of the continent, calm your " indignation ; for now we furrender. Here before your eyes we will L'l" crifice our chiefs~ to gain your pardon to our ralhnefs which their am" bition has occafioned." The king, the prince, the general., and nobles, were fo enraged at thefe fpeeches, that they would infiantly have puniihed the cowards with death, had not the fear of giving victory to the enemy refirained them. Diffembling their difpleafure, they exclaimed with one voice, "Let us die with glory," and ruilied with fuch vigour upon the enemy, that they repulfed them from a ditch which they had gained,. and made them retreat. Seeing this advantage, the king began to encourage his people, and the prince a!'ld general continued to perform fignal atl:s ·.of bravery. In the utmoH: heat of the engagement Montezuma encountered with the Tepanecan general, as he was advancing full of pride from the terror his troops ihuck to the Mexicans, and gave him fo furious a blow on the head, that he fell down lifelefs at his feet. The report of the viCl:ory fpread immediately through the whole field, and infpired the Mexicans with frefh courage : but the Tepanecas were fo difconcerted by the death of their brave general Mazatl, that they foon went into confufion. Night coming on prevented the Mexicans from purfuing their fuccefs : upon which both the armies withdrew to their cities, the Mexicans full of courage, and impatient at not being a~le, from the darknefs of the night, to complete their vitl:ory; the Tepanecas downcaft and dejected, though not altogether void of hope to be revenged the following, day. l\1axtlaton, affiitl:ed at the death of his general, and the defeat ofhis: troops, paffed that night the hft of his life, in encouraging his captains, and reprefenting to them· on the one hand the glory of triumphing over their enemies, and on the other the misfortunes which mufr enfue if they were vanqui{hed; as the Mexicans: who h~d hi.the1=to· been. BOOK lli. ~ |