'Say, royal lady,' asked Marina in her gentle voice, 'for what cause
did you, if tales are true, lie by the side of yonder white man upon the
stone of sacrifice?'
'Because I love him, Marina.'
'And for this same cause have I, Marina, laid my honour upon a different
altar, for this same cause I have striven against the children of my
people, because I love another such as he. It is for love of Cortes that
I have aided Cortes, therefore despise me not, but let your love plead
for mine, seeing that, to us women, love is all. I have sinned, I know,
but doubtless in its season my sin shall find a fitting punishment.'
'It had need be sharp,' answered Otomie. 'My love has harmed none, see
before you but one grain of the countless harvest of your own. In yonder
chair Guatemoc your king was this day tortured by your master Cortes,
who swore to treat him with all honour. By his side sat Teule, my
husband and your friend; him Cortes gave over to has private enemy,
de Garcia, whom you name Sarceda. See how he has left him. Nay, do not
shudder, gentle lady; look now at his wounds! Consider to what a pass we
are driven when you find us about to die thus like dogs, he, my husband,
that he may not live to see me handled as he has been, and I with him,
because a princess of the Otomie and of Montezuma's blood cannot submit
to such a shame while death has one door through which to creep.
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