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Show J2 BOOK VIII. ~ H I S T 0 R Y 0 F M E X I C 0. after having bowed moil: profoundly, and fi1luted with all the other ncceilary ceremonies, they delivered themfclves to tbis purpofc : " M?ft ~~ great and valiant chiefs, may the gods prof per you, and grant you v.1c~ " tory over your encn1ies. The lord of Ch.empoalla, and all the nation " of Totonacas, off~r their refpeCl:s to acquamt you, that from the quar" ter of the Eafl: tht.:re are arrived' iri our country in large {hips certair~ " bold adventurous heroes, by the affifiance of whom we are now freed " from the tyrannical dominion of the king of Mexico. They ackno.w" ledge themfelves the fubjctl.s of a powerful monarch, in whofe name '·' they come to vifit you, to communicate intelligence to you of a tru " God, and to aOifl: you againfi. your ancient and inveterate enemy. Our u nation, following the diCl:ates of that firiCl: friend£hip which has alwttys " fubfified between it and this republic, counfel you to receive thofe " fl:rangers as friencis, who, though few in number, are equal in worth to "many." ,Maxicatzin anfwered, in the name of the fenate, that they thanked the Totonacas for their intelligence and counfcl, and thofe br:1.ve ftrangerS for the affifl:ance which they offered them, but that they required fome time to deliberate upon a point of fuch importance; that in the mean time they would be pleafed to return to their abode, where they would be treated with the difiincrion due to their charaCl:er and birth. The ambaffiH.Iors having returned, the fenate entered into confideration of the ernbaffy. Maxicatzin, who was highly efieemed among them, both for his prudence and benevolence of difpofition, faid, That they ought not to refuCe the advice given them by friends fo faithful to them, and fo hofiile to the greateil: enemy of the republic ; that thofe fl:rangers, according to the marks which the Champoallefe gave of them, appeared to be thofe heroes, who, agreeable to their tradition, were to arrive in that country ; that the earthquakes which had been felt a little before, the comet which was then feen in the heavens, and feveral other events of thofe lafi years, were indications that the time ?f the fulfi.lment of that. trad~tion was at hand; that if they were Immortal, It would be 10 vam for the republic to oppofe their entry. " Our refufal," he added, " may be produCl:ive of the moil: :: fatalt~lisfortunes,. and it would be a fubjeCl: of malicious plcafurc to the ~mg of ~ex1.co, to fee thofe whom the republic would not " grac1oufly receive mto their dominions, introduce themfclves by force: 8 . " that H I S T 0 R Y 0 F M E X I C 0. " that he was therefore of opinion they lhould be friendly received.''A1though this opinion was lificned to with great applaufc, it was immediately opp::>fed by Xicotencat!, an old chit'f of great authority on account of his long experience in civil and military aff.tirs. " Our "' law," he faid, " enjoins us to receivefir:mgers, but not enemies, " who may caufc dif1.0:ers to the fi~lte. Thofc men who demand ena trance into our city, appear to be rather mon!l:crs cail: up from the '" ft.a, bec:wfe it col!ld not e11dure them in its waters, than gods de" fcendcd from heaven, as fome have vainly imagined. Is it pollible " they can be gods, who fo greedily covet gold and pleafures? And H what ought we not to dread from them in a country fo poor as this "' is, where we are even defiitute of f.tlt? lie wrongs the honour of " the nation can thinks it will be overcome by a· handful of adven,~ turers. If they are mortal, the arms of the Tlafcalans will tell it to " nll the regions round; if they arc immortal, there will always be time " to appca!c their anger by homage, and to implore their mercy by " repentance. Let their demand, therefore, be rejeCted ; and if they " dare to enter by force, let our arms repel their temerity."-This contrariety of fentiment in two pcrfons of fo great refpecr divided the minds of the other feniltors. Tho!e who were the friends of commerce, and attached to a life of peace, adhered to tpe opinion of Maxicatzin, while thofe who were of a military difpofition embraced the propofal of Xicotmcatl. Temi!IJ/tccatl, one of the fenators, fuggcll: ed a middle courfe, which would reconcile the two parties. He propofed that a civil and friendly anfwer n10uld be lent to the chief·.of thofc:: firangcrs, gmnting the.~p permilllon to enter; but at the fame time that orders f110uld be given to Xicotenccrt!, the fon of the old Xicotencnt!, to go out with the troops of the Otomics belonging to the repuhlic, to OJ pofc their pafi~tgc, and to try their fircngth." If we remain viCtors," faid Tcmiloltecatl, " we will do our arms im- 41 mort:.ll honour; if we arc vanqui{hed, we will accufe the Otomics, " and charge them with having undertaken the w,1r without our or- 44 ders (y) ." Su h refources and expedients. though freqnent, efpccially among cultivated nations, arc not the lefs ontrary to the gooc;l (y) \Vc h:avc mentioned formerly, that many Ctomics had tnkcn rcfliJ.IC in Tlnfcala, from the tyranny of the Mexicans, and hut! fcrved the republic faithfully. ·VoL. 11. I• . f.1ith 33 BOOK VHf. ~ • \ |