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Show ~ o 8 r. OOK. V. ~ • H I S T 0 R Y 0 F M E X I C 9. N t. e of the eleCtion being fent to the two allied kings, they rcp:tited OlC b' inil:antly to the court to pay their compliments. ~ontezu~1a, ~mg apprized of it, al!o retired to the temple, ap~~armg to thmk h1m~ felf unworthy of {o much honour. The n~b1hty w~nt there to acquaint him with his being eleCted, and found hm1 fweepmg the pavement of the temple. He was conduCted by a n~mer?u~ attendance- to ~he pala e, where the ele~tors, with due folemmty, mtnnated the cle~wn had fallen on him as the .fitteft perfon to fill the throne of Mex1co. From thence he returned to the temple to perform the ufual ceremonies, and as foon as they were fini01ed he received on the throne the homage of the nobility, and heard the congratulator! .har~ngues of the orators. The firil: fpeech was made by Nezahualp1lh, kmg of Acolhuacan, which we prefent to our readers fuch as. it is preferved to us by the Mexicans. " The great good fortune," he faid, '' of the Mexican monarchy is " made manifeft from the unanimity in your eleClion, and the uncommon " applaufe with which it is celebrated by all. All have in truth rea" fon to celebrate it, for the kingdom of Mexico is arrived at fuch " greatnefs, no lefs fortitude than your invincible heart po1fe1Tes, no " lefs wifdom than that which in you we admire, would be fuffitt dent to fupport fo great a load. It is moft evident, how 1l:rong " the lpve is which the omnipotent God bears to this nation; as " he has enlightened it, that it may difcern and chufe that which can " be mofr beneficial to it. Who is able to perfuade himfelr that he, " who, as a private individual, has fearched into the myfi:eries of hea" ven (a), will not now, when king, know the things of this earth, '' which will prefecve the happinefs of his fubjecrs? That he who on fo " many occafions has difplayed the greatnefs of his foul, will not now re" tain it when it is become moil: neceifary to him ? Who can believe, " that where there is fo much courage, and fo much wifdom~ the widow " or the orphan will ever apply without relief? The Mexican empire ·" has unqueftionably attained the height of its power, as the Creator of " heaven has inveil:ed you with fo much authority as to infpire all thofe " who behold you with awe and refpect. Rejoice, therefore, 0 happy (a) This f:tying of Nctahualpilli-appears to imply that Montezuma was engaged in the ilmly of afironomy., , · '' land, HISTORY OF MEXICO . .-, land, that you are dell:ined to have a prince who will not only be thy BOOK v. " fupport, but will by his clemency prove a father and brother to his fub- ~ "jeets. Thou haft, indeed, a king who will not feize the occaGon of hiQ " exaltation to give himfelf up to luxury, and lie 11uggi!hly in bed, aban- ·" doned to pafi:imes and efreminate plcafures; his anxiety for thee rather '' will wake and agitate his bofom in the fofteft hour of reppfe, nor H will he be able to tafte food, or reli!h the moil: delicious morfel, while " thy interefts are opprefled or negleCted. And do you, noble prince and " moil: powerful lord, be confident, and truft that the Creator of hea- "' ven, who has raifed you to fo high a dignity, will give you ftrength " to difcharge all the obligations which are annexed to it. He who " has hitherto been fo liberal to you, will not now be niggardly of his " precious gifts, having himfelf raifed you to the throne on which I " wilh you many years of happinefs." Montezuma heard this harangue with much attention, and was fo greatly afrected b,Y it, that he attempted three times to anfwer it, but·· could not, fi·om 'the interruption of the tears, which the fecret pleafure he felt produced, and gave him the appearance of much humility; but, at lafi: after checking his emotions, he replied in few words, declaring himfelf unworthy of the ftation to which he was exalted, and returning thanks to that king fat· the praifes which he befl:owed on him; and after hearing the other addrelfes 0n this occafion, he returned to the temple to keep fail: for four days, at the end of which he was re-conduet d with great fbte to the royal palace. He thought now of going to war to procure victims .to be facrificed at his coronation. This difafi:er feU upon the Atlixchefe, wl10 fome time before had rebelled again£!: the crown. The king, accordingly, fet out from the court, with the flower of the nobility, his brothers and coufins being amongll: the number. In this war the Mexicans loft fome brave ot:Iiccrs; but, notwithfl:anding, they reduced the rebels under their former yoke, and Montezuma returned viCtorious, bringing along with him the prifoners which he required at his coronation. On this occafion was difplaycd fo much· pomp of games, dances, theatrical reprefentations and iJ.luminations, and with fuch variety and richnefs of tributes fent from the different provinces of the kingdom, that foreigners never kqown before in Mexico, came to ['-~ lV oi. I. E .e ir, |
