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Show ~6 BOOK VIII. ~ :Bre~king of the idols of Clu:mpoalla. H I S T 0 R Y 0 F 1\11 E X 1 C 0. unlefs they lhould firfl: renounce idolat.ry, and embrac~ .hri£l:ianity ; and upon this occaiion explained ~o h1m ~new the pnnc1ples of tbc Chrifl:ian religion, and reafonecl w1th all hts fl:rength on tl~e abfurd worG1ip of their falfc deities, and efpeciall~ again£1: the hornd cruc~ty ' of their f<1crifi~..es. To this warm expofl:ulatton the Chernpoallefe ducf replied, that although they mofl: highly v:~lned. his friencHhip,. they coul.d not however comply with his re'1ueJ1:, to abjure the worih1p of the1r gods, from whofe hand they rcct:ivcd health, plenty, and a~l the .blefi:. ings they had, and from whofc anger, when provoked by mgratttude, they mufi: dread the fevcrefl: puniG1ment. The military fire of Cortes was fi:ill more inflamed by this a11fwer;. upon which, turning to his foldiers, he faid to them, "Come on, foldiers; "' what do we wait for? How can we fuffer men, who pretend to be " our friends, to pay that wodhip to ftatucs and bafe images, which " is due to the only true God ? Courage, foldiers; now is the " time to fhew that we are Spaniards, and that we have, inherited " from our ancefl:ors, an ardent zeal for our holy religion. Let us " break the idols, and take from the fight of thofe infidels fuch vile u incentives to their fupedl:ition. If we obtain that end, we will do " our God the greate.ft polli.ble fervice in our power1 If we die in the " at tern pt, eternal glory will recompenfe the facrifice of our lives." The Chempoallefe chief, who from the countenance of Cortes, and the movements of his foldiers, clearly perceived their intention, made a. ilgn to his people to prepare themfdvcs for the defence of their gods .. The Spaniards already began to afce~1d the ftairs of the temple, when the Chempoallefe chief, confufed and enraged, cried out to them to gll'ard againll: that attempt, unlefs they defired that the vengeance of their gods !hould immediately pour down upon them. Cortes, incapable of being intimidated by their threats, anfwered, that he had already frequently admonilhed them to abandon their abominable fuper.ftition; that fince they had not chofen to take his counfel, which was fo advantageous for them, he would no longer hold their friend!hip; that if the Totonacas themfdves were not refolved to take away thofe dete.ftable images, he and his people would break them, and that the~ ~ufl: guard ca~1 tioufiy again 0: fhewin.g 1any 'hoftility towards the. Spamards, otherwtfe they would imme4i~tely charge upon them: with f~Ach ·. H I S T 0 R Y 0 F M E :X: I C 0. Cuch fury, that they would not leave a native alive among them. To BOOK VIII. thefe threats Marina added another more efiicacious, which was, that ~ if they oppofed the intention of thofe {hangers, in.ftead of being allied with the Totonacas againO: the Mexicans, they would join the Mexi-cans in alliance againfl: the Totonacas, and then their ruin would be inevitable. This motive diverted the chief from the firfi diCtates of his zeal, and the fear of the Mexican arms prevailing over the fear of his gods, he told Cortes he might do as he pleafed, for they had not cou-rage themfclves to put a f..1crilegious hand to their images. The Spa- ~liards no fooner obtained thi~ permiflion, than fifty of the foldiers rnounting rapidly into the temple, took up the idols from the alt:trs, and threw them down the fiairs. The Totonacas in the mean while !hed a !hower of tears, and covered thelr eyes that they might not fee the f.-lcrilege; praying their gods at the fame time, in a mournful voice, not to puniil1 the nation for the temerity of thofe .ftrangers, as they were unable to prevent it, without f:tlling a facrifice to the fury of the Mexicans. Neverthelefs fame of them, either lefs timid and cowardly, or more jealous of the honour of their deities, difpofed themfclves to take revenge of the Spaniards, and would certainly have engaged with them, if the Spaniards, by feizing the lord of Chempoalla and four principal prie.fts, had not compelled them to refl:rain the fury of their people. After this daring aCt, where prudence was blinded by enthufia!in, Cortes commanded the prieO:s to bring the, fragments of the idols before him, and throw them into a fire. He was immediately obeyed; upon which, being full of joy and triumph, as if, by breaking the idols, he had entirely bani!hed idolatry and fuperftiti :.>n from thofe people, he told their chief he was now willing to accept the eight virgins which had been offered him; that from that time he would confider the Totonacas as his friends and brothers, and in all their exigencies would affifi: them againfi: their enemies; that as they could never more adore thofe dete.ftable images of the demon their enemy, he would place in the fame temple an image of the true mother of God, that they might wodhip and implore her proteCtion in all their nece.l~: fities. He then expatiated, in a long difcourfe, upon the fanCtity of the Chri.ftian religion,; after which he ordered the Clwmpoallefe mafons E 2 to |