He thought a while, and I heard him say:
'The blemishes do not come from within the body, nor were they upon it
at birth, but have been inflicted by the violence of man and beast.'
Then the priests consulted together again, and presently their leader
spoke some words into the ear of Montezuma. He nodded, and rising from
his throne, came towards me who stood naked and shivering before him,
for the air of Mexico is keen. As he advanced he loosed a chain of
emeralds and gold that hung about his neck, and unclasped the royal
cloak from his shoulders. Then with his own hand, he put the chain about
my throat, and the cloak upon my shoulders, and having humbly bent the
knee before me as though in adoration, he cast his arms about me and
embraced me.
'Hail! most blessed,' he said, 'divine son of Quetzal, holder of the
spirit of Tezcat, Soul of the World, Creator of the World. What have
we done that you should honour us thus with your presence for a season?
What can we do to pay the honour back? You created us and all this
country; behold! while you tarry with us, it is yours and we are nothing
but your servants. Order and your commands shall be obeyed, think and
your thought shall be executed before it can pass your lips. O Tezcat,
I, Montezuma your servant, offer you my adoration, and through me the
adoration of all my people,' and again he bowed the knee.
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