It
struck upon Montezuma's tall shape, on his distraught countenance and
thin hands as he waved them to and fro in his prophetic agony, on my
glittering garments, and the terror-stricken band of courtiers, and the
musicians who had ceased from their music. A little wind sprang up
also, moaning sadly in the mighty trees above and against the rocks of
Chapoltepec. Never did I witness a scene more strange or more pregnant
with mystery and the promise of unborn horror, than that of this great
monarch mourning over the downfall of his race and power. As yet no
misfortune had befallen the one or the other, and still he knew that
both were doomed, and these words of lamentation burst from a heart
broken by a grief of which the shadow only lay upon it.
But the wonders of that night were not yet done with.
When Montezuma had made an end of crying his prophecies, I asked him
humbly if I should summon to him the lords who were in attendance on
him, but who stood at some distance.
'Nay,' he answered, 'I will not have them see me thus with grief and
terror upon my face. Whoever fears, at least I must seem brave. Walk
with me a while, Teule, and if it is in your mind to murder me I shall
not grieve.'
I made no answer, but followed him as he led the way down the darkest of
the winding paths that run between the cedar trees, where it would have
been easy for me to kill him if I wished, but I could not see how I
should be advantaged by the deed; also though I knew that Montezuma was
my enemy, my heart shrank from the thought of murder.
Pages:
221
222
223
224
225
226
227
228
229
230
231
232
233
234
235
236
237
238
239
240
241
242
243
244
245