ThemoreunpronounceableoftheAztecnamesareshortenedinmanyinstancesoutofconsiderationforthepatienceofthereader；thus’Popocatapetl’becomes’Popo，’’Huitzelcoatl’becomes’Huitzel，’
TheprayerinChapterxxvi。isfreelyrenderedfromJourdanet’sFrenchtranslationofFrayBernardinodeSahagun’sHistoryofNewSpain，writtenshortlyaftertheconquestofMexicoBookVI，chap。v。，towhichmonumentalworkandtoPrescott’sadmirablehistorytheauthorofthisromanceismuchindebted。
TheportentsdescribedasheraldingthefalloftheAztecEmpire，andmanyoftheincidentsandeventswrittenofinthisstory，suchastheannualpersonationofthegodTezcatlipocabyacaptivedistinguishedforhispersonalbeauty，anddestinedtosacrifice，areinthemainhistorical。
ThenoblespeechoftheEmperorGuatemoctothePrinceofTacubautteredwhiletheybothweresufferingbeneaththehandsoftheSpaniardsisalsoauthentic。
StrangeasweretheadventuresandescapesofThomasWingfield，onceofthisparish，whereofthesepagestell，yourowncanalmostequalthemintheselatterdays，and，sinceafellowfeelingmakesuskind，youatleasttheymaymovetoasighofsympathy。
Amongmanyadistantlandyouknowthatinwhichhelovedandfought，followingvengeanceandhisfate，andbyyoursideIsawitsrelicsanditspeoples，itsvolcansanditsvalleys。
Youknowevenwhereliesthetreasurewhich，threecenturiesandmoreago，hehelpedtobury，thecountlesstreasurethatanevilfortuneheldusbackfromseeking。
NowtheIndianshavetakenbacktheirsecret，andthoughmanymaysearch，nonewillliftthegravenstonethatsealsit，norshallthelightofdayshineagainuponthegoldenheadofMontezuma。
Sobeit！
ThewealthwhichCortesweptover，andhisSpaniardssinnedanddiedfor，isforeverhiddenyonderbytheshoresofthebitterlakewhosewatersgaveuptoyouthatancienthorror，theveritableandsleeplessgodofSacrifice，ofwhomI
wouldnotrobyou——and，formypart，Idonotregrettheloss。
Whatcannotbelost，whattomeseemofmoreworththanthedeadheroGuatemoc’sgemsandjarsofgold，arethememoriesoftruefriendshipshowntousfarawaybeneaththeshadowoftheSlumberingWoman，*anditisingratitudeforthesethatIaskpermissiontosetyournamewithinabookwhichwereitnotforyouwouldneverhavebeenwritten。
Iam，mydearJebb，
Alwayssincerelyyours，
Wornoutprematurelybyalifeofhardshipandextraordinaryadventure，Mr。JebbpassedawayonMarch18，1893，takingwithhimtherespectandaffectionofallwhohadthehonourofhisfriendship。
Theauthorhaslearnedwithpleasurethatthereadingofthistaleinproofandthefactofitsdedicationtohimselfaffordedhimsomeamusementandsatisfactionintheintervalsofhissufferings。
*ThevolcanoIzticcihuatlinMexico。
NowglorybetoGodwhohasgivenusthevictory！
Itistrue，thestrengthofSpainisshattered，hershipsaresunkorfled，theseahasswallowedhersoldiersandhersailorsbyhundredsandbythousands，andEnglandbreathesagain。
Theycametoconquer，tobringustothetortureandthestake——todotousfreeEnglishmenasCortesdidbytheIndiansofAnahuac。
Ourmanhoodtotheslavebench，ourdaughterstodishonour，oursoulstotheloving-kindnessofthepriest，ourwealthtotheEmperorandthePope！
Godhasansweredthemwithhiswinds，Drakehasansweredthemwithhisguns。
Theyaregone，andwiththemthegloryofSpain。
I，ThomasWingfield，heardthenewsto-dayonthisveryThursdayintheBungaymarket-place，whitherIwenttogossipandtoselltheappleswhichthesedreadfulgaleshaveleftme，astheyhanguponmytrees。
Beforetherehadbeenrumoursofthisandofthat，buthereinBungaywasamannamedYoung，oftheYoungsofYarmouth，whohadservedinoneoftheYarmouthshipsinthefightatGravelines，ayeandsailednorthaftertheSpaniardstilltheywerelostintheScottishseas。
Littlethingsleadtogreat，mensay，butheregreatthingsleadtolittle，forbecauseofthesetidingsitcomesaboutthatI，ThomasWingfield，oftheLodgeandtheparishofDitchinghaminthecountyofNorfolk，beingnowofagreatageandhavingonlyashorttimetolive，turntopenandink。
Tenyearsago，namely，intheyear1578，itpleasedherMajesty，ourgraciousQueenElizabeth，whoatthatdatevisitedthiscounty，thatIshouldbebroughtbeforeheratNorwich。
Thereandthen，sayingthatthefameofithadreachedher，shecommandedmetogivehersomeparticularsofthestoryofmylife，orratherofthosetwentyyears，moreorless，whichI
spentamongtheIndiansatthattimewhenCortesconqueredtheircountryofAnahuac，whichisnowknownasMexico。
ButalmostbeforeIcouldbeginmytale，itwastimeforhertostartforCosseytohuntthedeer，andshesaiditwasherwishthatIshouldwritethestorydownthatshemightreadit，andmoreoverthatifitwerebuthalfaswonderfulasitpromisedtobe，IshouldendmydaysasSirThomasWingfield。
TothisIansweredherMajestythatpenandinkweretoolsIhadnoskillin，yetIwouldbearhercommandinmind。
ThenImadeboldtogiveheragreatemeraldthatoncehadhunguponthebreastofMontezuma’sdaughter，andofmanyaprincessbeforeher，andatthesightofithereyesglistenedbrightlyasthegem，forthisQueenofourslovessuchcostlyplaythings。
Indeed，hadIsodesired，IthinkthatImightthenandtherehavestruckabargain，andsetthestoneagainstatitle；
butI，whoformanyyearshadbeentheprinceofagreattribe，hadnowishtobeaknight。
SoIkissedtheroyalhand，andsotightlydiditgripthegemwithinthattheknucklejointsshonewhite，andIwentmyways，comingbackhometothismyhousebytheWaveneyonthatsameday。
NowtheQueen’swishthatIshouldsetdownthestoryofmyliferemainedinmymind，andforlongIhavedesiredtodoitbeforelifeandstoryendtogether。
Thelabour，indeed，isgreattooneunusedtosuchtasks；butwhyshouldIfearlabourwhoamsoneartotheholidayofdeath？
IhaveseenthingsthatnootherEnglishmanhasseen，whichareworthytoberecorded；mylifehasbeenmoststrange，manyatimeithaspleasedGodtopreserveitwhenallseemedlost，andthisperchanceHehasdonethatthelessonofitmightbecomeknowntoothers。
ForthereisalessoninitandinthethingsthatIhaveseen，anditisthatnowrongcaneverbringaboutaright，thatwrongwillbreedwrongatlast，andbeitinmanorpeople，willfalluponthebrainthatthoughtitandthehandthatwroughtit。
LooknowatthefateofCortes——thatgreatmanwhomIhaveknownclothedwithpowerlikeagod。
Nearlyfortyyearsago，soIhaveheard，hediedpooranddisgracedinSpain；he，theconqueror——yes，andIhavelearnedalsothathissonDonMartinhasbeenputtothetortureinthatcitywhichthefatherwonwithsogreatcrueltiesforSpain。
Malinche，shewhomtheSpaniardsnamedMarina，thechiefandbestbelovedofallthewomenofthissameCortes，foretoldittohiminheranguishwhenafterallthathadbeen，aftershehadsomanytimespreservedhimandhissoldierstolookuponthesun，atthelasthedesertedher，givingherinmarriagetoDonJuanXaramillo。
LookagainatthefateofMarinaherself。
BecauseshelovedthismanCortes，orMalinche，astheIndiansnamedhimafterher，shebroughtevilonhernativeland；forwithoutheraidTenoctitlan，orMexico，astheycallitnow，hadneverbowedbeneaththeyokeofSpain——yes，sheforgotherhonourinherpassion。
Andwhatwasherreward，whatrightcametoherofherwrongdoing？
Thiswasherrewardatlast:tobegivenawayinmarriagetoanotherandalessermanwhenherbeautywaned，asaworn-outbeastissoldtoapoorermaster。
ConsideralsothefateofthosegreatpeoplesofthelandofAnahuac。
Theydidevilthatgoodmightcome。
Theysacrificedthelivesofthousandstotheirfalsegods，thattheirwealthmightincrease，andpeaceandprosperitybetheirsthroughoutthegenerations。
AndnowthetrueGodhasansweredthem。
ForwealthHehasgiventhemdesolation，forpeacetheswordoftheSpaniard，forprosperitytherackandthetormentandthedayofslavery。
Forthisitwasthattheydidsacrifice，offeringtheirownchildrenonthealtarsofHuitzelandofTezcat。
AndtheSpaniardsthemselves，whointhenameofmercyhavewroughtcrueltiesgreaterthananythatweredonebythebenightedAztecs，whointhenameofChristdailyviolateHislawtotheuttermostextreme，sayshalltheyprosper，shalltheirevil-doingbringthemwelfare？
Iamoldandcannotlivetoseethequestionanswered，thoughevennowitisinthewayofanswering。
YetIknowthattheirwickednessshallfallupontheirownheads，andIseemtoseethem，theproudestofthepeoplesoftheearth，bereftoffameandwealthandhonour，astarvelingremnanthappyinnothingsavetheirpast。
WhatDrakebeganatGravelinesGodwillfinishinmanyanotherplaceandtime，tillatlastSpainisofnomoreaccountandliesaslowastheempireofMontezumaliesto-day。
Thusitisinthesegreatinstancesofwhichalltheworldmayknow，andthusitiseveninthelifeofsohumbleamanasI，ThomasWingfield。
Heavenindeedhasbeenmercifultome，givingmetimetorepentmysins；yetmysinshavebeenvisitedonmyhead，onmewhotookHisprerogativeofvengeancefromthehandoftheMostHigh。
Itisjust，andbecauseitissoIwishtosetoutthematterofmylife’shistorythatothersmaylearnfromit。
Formanyyearsthishasbeeninmymind，asIhavesaid，thoughtospeaktruthitwasherMajestytheQueenwhofirstsettheseed。
Butonlyonthisday，whenIhaveheardforcertainofthefateoftheArmada，doesitbegintogrow，andwhocansayifeveritwillcometoflower？
Forthistidingshasstirredmestrangely，bringingbackmyyouthandthedeedsofloveandwarandwildadventurewhichIhavebeenmingledin，fightingformyownhandandforGuatemocandthepeopleoftheOtomieagainstthesesameSpaniards，astheyhavenotbeenbroughtbackformanyyears。
Indeed，itseemstome，andthisisnorarethingwiththeaged，asthoughthereinthefarpastmytruelifelay，andalltherestwerenothingbutadream。
FromthewindowoftheroomwhereinIwriteIcanseethepeacefulvalleyoftheWaveney。
Beyonditsstreamarethecommonlandsgoldenwithgorse，theruinedcastle，andtheredroofsofBungaytowngatheredaboutthetowerofSt。Mary’sChurch。
Yonderfarawayaretheking’sforestsofStoweandthefieldsofFlixtonAbbey；totherightthesteepbankisgreenwiththeEarshamoaks，totheleftthefastmarshlandsspottedwithcattlestretchontoBecclesandLowestoft，whilebehindmemygardensandorchardsriseinterracesuptheturfyhillthatinolddayswasknownastheEarl’sVineyard。
Alltheseareaboutme，andyetinthishourtheyareasthoughtheywerenot。
ForthevalleyoftheWaveneyIseethevaleofTenoctitlan，fortheslopesofStowethesnowyshapesofthevolcanoesPopoandIztac，forthespireofEarshamandthetowersofDitchingham，ofBungay，andofBeccles，thesoaringpyramidsofsacrificegleamingwiththesacredfires，andforthecattleinthemeadowsthehorsemenofCortessweepingtowar。
Itcomesbacktome；thatwaslife，therestisbutadream。
OncemoreIfeelyoung，and，shouldIbesparedsolong，IwillsetdownthestoryofmyyouthbeforeIamlaidinyonderchurchyardandlostintheworldofdreams。
LongagoIhadbegunit，butitwasonlyonlastChristmasDaythatmydearwifedied，andwhileshelivedIknewthatthistaskwasbetterleftundone。
Indeed，tobefrank，itwasthuswithmywife:
Shelovedme，Ibelieve，asfewmenhavethefortunetobeloved，andthereismuchinmypastthatjarreduponthisloveofhers，movinghertoajealousyofthedeadthatwasnotthelessdeepbecauseitwassogentleandsocloselycoupledwithforgiveness。