NowasIspokethusmyheartboundedwithhope，forifonceIcouldcomeamongtheSpaniards，perhapsImightescapethealtarofsacrifice。
Alsotheyseemedalinkbetweenmeandhome。
Theyhadsailedhitherinships，andshipscanretracetheirpath。
Forthoughatpresentmylotwasnotallsorrow，itwillbeguessedthatIshouldhavebeengladindeedtofindmyselfoncemoreamongChristianmen。
Montezumalookedatmeawhileandanswered:
’Youmustthinkmeveryfoolish，Teule。
What！shallIsendyoutotellmyfearsandweaknesstoyourcountrymen，andtoshowthemthejointsinmyharness？
DoyouthensupposethatIdonotknowyouforaspysenttothislandbythesesameTeulestogatherknowledgeoftheland？
Fool，Iknewitfromthefirst，andbyHuitzel！wereyounotvowedtoTezcat，yourheartshouldsmoketo-
morrowonthealtarofHuitzel。
Bewarned，andgivemenomorefalsecounselslestyourendproveswifterthanyouthink。
LearnthatIhaveaskedthesequestionsofyoutoapurpose，andbythecommandofthegods，asitwaswrittenontheheartsofthosesacrificedthisday。
Thiswasthepurposeandthiswasthecommand，thatImightdiscoveryoursecretmind，andthatIshouldshunwhateveradviceyouchancedtogive。
YoucounselmetofighttheTeules，thereforeIwillnotfightthem，butmeetthemwithgiftsandfairwords，forIknowwellthatyouwouldhavemetodothatwhichshouldbringmetomydoom。’
Thushespokeveryfiercelyandinalowvoice，hisheadheldlowandhisarmscrosseduponhisbreast，andIsawthatheshookwithpassion。
Eventhen，thoughIwasverymuchafraid，forgodasI
was，anodfromthismightykingwouldhavesentmetodeathbytorment，Iwonderedatthefollyofonewhoineverythingelsewassowise。
Whyshouldhedoubtmethusandallowsuperstitiontodraghimdowntoruin？
To-dayIseetheanswer。
Montezumadidnotthesethingsofhimself，butbecausethehandofdestinyworkedwithhishand，andthevoiceofdestinyspokeinhisvoice。
ThegodsoftheAztecswerefalsegodsindeed，butIforonebelievethattheyhadlifeandintelligence，forthosehideousshapesofstonewerethehabitationsofdevils，andthepriestsspoketruthwhentheysaidthatthesacrificeofmenwaspleasingtotheirgods。
Tothesedevilsthekingwentforcounselthroughthepriests，andnowthisdoomwasonthem，thattheymustgivefalsecounseltotheirowndestruction，andtothedestructionofthosewhoworshippedthem，aswasdecreedbyOnemorepowerfulthanthey。
Nowwhileweweretalkingthesunhadsunkswiftly，sothatalltheworldwasdark。
ButthelightstilllingeredonthesnowycrestsofthevolcanoesPopoandIxtac，stainingthemanawfulred。
NeverbeforetomysighthadtheshapeofthedeadwomanwhoseeverlastingbierisIxtac’sbulk，seemedsoclearandwonderfulasonthatnight，foreitheritwassoormyfancygaveittheveryshapeandcolourofawoman’scorsesteepedinbloodandlaidoutforburial。
Norwasitmyphantasyalone，forwhenMontezumahadfinishedupbraidingmehechancedtolookup，andhiseyesfallingonthemountainremainedfixedthere。
’Looknow，Teule！’hesaid，presently，withasolemnlaugh；’yonderliesthecorseofthenationsofAnahuacwashedinawaterofbloodandmadereadyforburial。
Isshenotterribleindeath？’
Ashespokethewordsandturnedtogo，asoundofdolefulwailingcamefromthedirectionofthemountain，averywildandunearthlysoundthatcausedthebloodinmyveinstostandstill。
NowMontezumacaughtmyarminhisfear，andwegazedtogetheronIxtac，anditseemedtousthatthiswonderhappened。
Forinthatredandfearfullighttheredfigureofthesleepingwomanarose，orappearedtorise，fromitsbierofstone。
Itaroseslowlylikeonewhoawakesfromsleep，andpresentlyitstooduprightuponthemountain’sbrow，toweringhighintotheair。
Thereitstoodagiantandawakenedcorpse，itswhitewrappingsstainedwithblood，andwetrembledtoseeit。
ForawhilethewraithremainedthusgazingtowardsthecityofTenoctitlan，thensuddenlyitthrewitsvastarmsupwardasthoughingrief，andatthatmomentthenightrushedinuponitandcoveredit，whilethesoundofwailingdiedslowlyaway。
’Say，Teule，’gaspedtheemperor，’doInotwelltobeafraidwhensuchportentsasthesemeetmyeyesdaybyday？
Hearkentothelamentationsinthecity；wehavenotseenthissightalone。
Listenhowthepeoplecryaloudwithfearandthepriestsbeattheirdrumstoaverttheomen。
Weepon，yepeople，andyepriestsprayanddosacrifice；itisveryfitting，forthedayofyourdoomisuponyou。
OTenoctitlan，queenofcities，Iseeyouruinedanddesolate，yourpalacesblackenedwithfire，yourtemplesdesecrated，yourpleasantgardensawilderness。
Iseeyourhighbornwomenthewantonsofstrangerlords，andyourprincestheirservants；thecanalsrunredwiththebloodofyourchildren，yourgatewaysareblockedwiththeirbones。
Deathisaboutyoueverywhere，dishonourisyourdailybread，desolationisyourportion。
Farewelltoyou，queenofthecities，cradleofmyforefathersinwhichIwasnursed！’
ThusMontezumalamentedinthedarkness，andashecriedaloudthegreatmoonroseovertheedgeoftheworldandpoureditslevellightthroughtheboughsofthecedarsclothedintheirghostlyrobeofmoss。
ItstruckuponMontezuma’stallshape，onhisdistraughtcountenanceandthinhandsashewavedthemtoandfroinhispropheticagony，onmyglitteringgarments，andtheterror-
strickenbandofcourtiers，andthemusicianswhohadceasedfromtheirmusic。
Alittlewindsprangupalso，moaningsadlyinthemightytreesaboveandagainsttherocksofChapoltepec。
NeverdidIwitnessascenemorestrangeormorepregnantwithmysteryandthepromiseofunbornhorror，thanthatofthisgreatmonarchmourningoverthedownfallofhisraceandpower。
Asyetnomisfortunehadbefallentheoneortheother，andstillheknewthatbothweredoomed，andthesewordsoflamentationburstfromaheartbrokenbyagriefofwhichtheshadowonlylayuponit。
Butthewondersofthatnightwerenotyetdonewith。
WhenMontezumahadmadeanendofcryinghisprophecies，IaskedhimhumblyifIshouldsummontohimthelordswhowereinattendanceonhim，butwhostoodatsomedistance。
’Nay，’heanswered，’Iwillnothavethemseemethuswithgriefandterroruponmyface。
Whoeverfears，atleastImustseembrave。
Walkwithmeawhile，Teule，andifitisinyourmindtomurdermeIshallnotgrieve。’
Imadenoanswer，butfollowedhimasheledthewaydownthedarkestofthewindingpathsthatrunbetweenthecedartrees，whereitwouldhavebeeneasyformetokillhimifIwished，butI
couldnotseehowIshouldbeadvantagedbythedeed；alsothoughI
knewthatMontezumawasmyenemy，myheartshrankfromthethoughtofmurder。
Foramileormorehewalkedonwithoutspeaking，nowbeneaththeshadowofthetrees，andnowthroughopenspacesofgardenplantedwithlovelyflowers，tillatlastwecametothegatesoftheplacewheretheroyaldeadarelaidtorest。
Nowinfrontofthesegateswasanopenspaceofturfonwhichthemoonlightshonebrightly，andinthecentreofthisspacelaysomethingwhite，shapedlikeawoman。
HereMontezumahaltedandlookedatthegates，thensaid:
’ThesegatesopenedfourdayssinceforPapantzin，mysister；howlong，Iwonder，willpassbeforetheyopenforme？’
Ashespoke，thewhiteshapeuponthegrasswhichIhadseenandhehadnotseen，stirredlikeanawakeningsleeper。
Asthesnowshapeuponthemountainhadstirred，sothisshapestirred；asithadarisen，sothisonearose；asitthrewitsarmsupwards，sothisonethrewupherarms。
NowMontezumasawandstoodstilltrembling，andItrembledalso。
Thenthewoman——foritwasawoman——advancedslowlytowardsus，andasshecamewesawthatshewasdrapedingraveclothes。
Presentlysheliftedherheadandthemoonlightfellfulluponherface。
NowMontezumagroanedaloudandIgroaned，forwesawthatthefacewasthethinpalefaceoftheprincessPapantzin——Papantzinwhohadlainfourdaysinthegrave。
Onshecametowardus，glidinglikeonewhowalksinhersleep，tillshestoppedbeforethebushintheshadowofwhichwestood。
NowPapantzin，ortheghostofPapantzin，lookedatuswithblindeyes，thatiswitheyesthatwereopenandyetdidnotseemtosee。
’Areyouthere，Montezuma，mybrother？’shesaidinthevoiceofPapantzin；’surelyIfeelyourpresencethoughIcannotseeyou。’
NowMontezumasteppedfromtheshadowandstoodfacetofacewiththedead。
’Whoareyou？’hesaid，’whoweartheshapeofonedeadandaredressedinthegarmentsofthedead？’
’IamPapantzin，’sheanswered，’andIamrisenoutofdeathtobringyouamessage，Montezuma，mybrother。’
’Whatmessagedoyoubringme？’heaskedhoarsely。
’Ibringyouamessageofdoom，mybrother。
Yourempireshallfallandsoonyoushallbeaccompaniedtodeathbytensofthousandsofyourpeople。
ForfourdaysIhavelivedamongthedead，andthereIhaveseenyourfalsegodswhicharedevils。
TherealsoIhaveseentheprieststhatservedthem，andmanyofthosewhoworshippedthemplungedintotormentunutterable。
BecauseoftheworshipofthesedemongodsthepeopleofAnahuacisdestinedtodestruction。’
’Haveyounowordofcomfortforme，Papantzin，mysister？’heasked。
’None，’sheanswered。
’Perchanceifyouabandontheworshipofthefalsegodsyoumaysaveyoursoul；yourlifeyoucannotsave，northelivesofyourpeople。’
Thensheturnedandpassedawayintotheshadowofthetrees；I
heardhergraveclothessweepuponthegrass。
NowafuryseizedMontezumaandheravedaloud，saying:
’Cursesonyou，Papantzin，mysister！
Whythendoyoucomebackfromthedeadtobringmesucheviltidings？
Hadyoubroughthopewithyou，hadyoushownawayofescape，thenIwouldhavewelcomedyou。
Mayyougobackintodarknessandmaytheearthlieheavyonyourheartforever。
Asformygods，myfathersworshippedthemandIwillworshipthemtilltheend；ay，iftheydesertme，atleastIwillneverdesertthem。
Thegodsareangrybecausethesacrificesarefewupontheiraltars，henceforththeyshallbedoubled；ay，thepriestsofthegodsshallthemselvesbesacrificedbecausetheyneglecttheirworship。’
Thusheravedon，afterthefashionofaweakmanmaddenedwithterror，whilehisnoblesandattendantswhohadfollowedhimatadistance，clusteredabouthim，fearfulandwondering。
Atlengththerecameanend，fortearingwithhisthinhandsathisroyalrobesandathishairandbeard，Montezumafellandwrithedinafitupontheground。
Thentheycarriedhimintothepalaceandnonesawhimforthreedaysandnights。
Buthemadenoidlethreatastothesacrifices，forfromthatnightforwardtheyweredoubledthroughouttheland。
AlreadytheshadowoftheCrosslaydeepuponthealtarsofAnahuac，butstillthesmokeoftheirofferingswentuptoheavenandthecryofthecaptivesrangroundtheteocallis。
Thehourofthedemongodswasuponthemindeed，butnowtheyreapedtheirlastredharvest，anditwasrich。
NowI，ThomasWingfield，sawtheseportentswithmyowneyes，butI
cannotsaywhethertheywereindeedwarningssentfromheavenorillusionsspringingfromtheaccidentsofnature。
Thelandwasterror-struck，anditmayhappenthatthemindsofmenthussmittencanfindadismalmeaninginomenswhichotherwisehadpassedunnoticed。
ThatPapantzinrosefromthedeadistrue，thoughperhapssheonlyswoonedandneverreallydied。