Otomiebadethembeseatedandaddressedthemthus:
’Hearme，youchiefsandcaptainsofmymother’srace，whoamyourprincessbyrightofblood，thelastofyourancientrulers，andwhoammoreoverthedaughterofMontezuma，EmperorofAnahuac，nowdeadtousbutlivingevermoreintheMansionsoftheSun。
FirstI
presenttoyouthismyhusband，thelordTeule，towhomIwasgiveninmarriagewhenheheldthespiritofthegodTezcat，andwhom，whenhehadpassedthealtarofthegod，beingchosenbyheaventoaidusinourwar，Iweddedanewafterthefashionoftheearth，andbythewillofmyroyalbrethren。
Know，chiefsandcaptains，thatthislord，myhusband，isnotofourIndianblood，norishealtogetherofthebloodoftheTeuleswithwhomweareatwar，butratherofthatofthetruechildrenofQuetzal，thedwellersinafaroffnorthernseawhoarefoestotheTeules。
Andastheyarefoes，sothismylordistheirfoe，andasdoubtlessyouhaveheard，ofallthedeedsofarmsthatwerewroughtuponthenightoftheslayingoftheTeules，noneweregreaterthanhis，anditwashewhofirstdiscoveredtheirretreat。
’ChiefsandcaptainsofthegreatandancientpeopleoftheOtomie，IyourprincesshavebeensenttoyoubyCuitlahua，mykingandyours，togetherwithmylord，topleadwithyouonacertainmatter。
Ourkinghasheard，andIalsohaveheardwithshame，thatmanyofthewarriorsofourbloodhavejoinedtheTlascalans，whowereeverfoestotheAztecs，intheirunholyalliancewiththeTeules。
Nowforawhilethewhitemenarebeatenback，buttheyhavetouchedthegoldtheycovet，andtheywillreturnagainlikebeestoahalf-drainedflower。
Theywillreturn，yetofthemselvestheycandonothingagainstthegloryofTenoctitlan。
ButhowshallitgoifwiththemcomethousandsandtensofthousandsoftheIndianpeoples？
Iknowwellthatnowinthistimeoftrouble，whenkingdomscrumble，whentheairisfullofportents，andtheverygodsseemimpotent，therearemanywhowouldseizethemomentandturnittotheirprofit。
Therearemanymenandtribeswhorememberancientwarsandwrongs，andwhocry，“Nowisthehourofvengeance，nowwewillthinkonthewidowsthattheAztecspearshavemade，onthetributewhichtheyhavewrungfromourpovertytoswelltheirwealth，andonthecaptiveswhohavedeckedthealtarsoftheirsacrifice！“
’Isitnotso？
Ay，itisso，andIcannotwonderatit。
YetIaskyoutorememberthis，thattheyokeyouwouldhelptosetupontheneckofthequeenofcitieswillfityourneckalso。
Ofoolishmen，doyouthinkthatyoushallbesparedwhenbyyouraidTenoctitlanisaruinandtheAztecsarenomoreapeople？
Isaytoyounever。
ThesticksthattheTeulesusetobeatoutthelifeofTenoctitlanshallbythembebrokenonebyoneandcastintothefiretoburn。
IftheAztecsfall，thenearlyorlateeverytribewithinthiswidelandshallfall。
Theyshallbeslain，theircitiesshallbestampedflat，theirwealthshallbewrungfromthem，andtheirchildrenshalleatthebreadofslaveryanddrinkthewaterofaffliction。
Choose，yepeopleoftheOtomie。
Willyoustandbythemenofyourowncustomsandcountry，thoughtheyhavebeenyourfoesattimes，orwillyouthrowinyourlotwiththestranger？
Choose，yepeopleoftheOtomie，andknowthis，thatonyourchoiceandthatoftheothermenofAnahuac，dependsthefateofAnahuac。
Iamyourprincess，andyoushouldobeyme，butto-dayIissuenocommand。
IsaychoosebetweentheallianceoftheAztecandtheyokeoftheTeule，andmaythegodabovethegods，thealmighty，theinvisiblegod，directyourchoice。’
Otomieceasedandamurmurofapplausewentroundthehall。
Alas，Icandonojusticetothefireofherwords，anymorethanIcandescribethedignityandlovelinessofherpersonasitseemedinthathour。
Buttheywenttotheheartsoftherudechieftainswholistened。
ManyofthemdespisedtheAztecsasawomanishpeopleoftheplainsandthelakes，apeopleofcommerce。
Manyhadbloodfeudsagainstthemdatingbackforgenerations。
Butstilltheyknewthattheirprincessspoketruth，andthatthetriumphoftheTeuleinTenoctitlanwouldmeanhistriumphovereverycitythroughouttheland。
Sothenandtheretheychose，thoughinafterdays，inthestressofdefeatandtrouble，manywentbackupontheirchoiceasisthefashionofmen。
’Otomie，’criedtheirspokesman，aftertheyhadtakencounseltogether，’wehavechosen。
Princess，yourwordshaveconqueredus。
WethrowinourlotwiththeAztecsandwillfighttothelastforfreedomfromtheTeule。’
’NowIseethatyouareindeedmypeople，andIamindeedyourruler，’answeredOtomie。
’Sothegreatlordswhoaregone，myforefathers，yourchieftains，wouldhavespokeninalikecase。
Mayyouneverregretthischoice，mybrethren，MenoftheOtomie。’
AndsoitcametopassthatwhenwelefttheCityofPineswetookfromittoCuitlahuatheemperor，apromiseofanarmyoftwentythousandmenvowedtoservehimtothedeathinhiswaragainsttheSpaniard。
OurbusinesswiththepeopleoftheOtomiebeingendedforawhile，wereturnedtothecityofTenoctitlan，whichwereachedsafely，havingbeenabsentamonthandaday。
Itwasbutalittletime，andyetlongenoughforfreshsorrowstohavefallenonthatmostunhappytown。
FornowtheAlmightyhadaddedtotheburdenswhichwerelaiduponher。
Shehadtastedofdeathbytheswordofthewhiteman，nowdeathwaswithherinanothershape。
FortheSpaniardhadbroughtthefoulsicknessesofEuropewithhim，andsmall-poxragedthroughouttheland。
Daybydaythousandsperishedofit，fortheseignorantpeopletreatedtheplaguebypouringcoldwateruponthebodiesofthosesmitten，drivingthefeverinwardstothevitals，sothatwithintwodaysthemostofthemdied。*
Itwaspitifultoseethemmaddenedwithsuffering，astheywanderedtoandfroaboutthestreets，spreadingthedistemperfarandwide。
Theyweredyinginthehouses，theylaydeadbycompaniesinthemarketplacesawaitingburial，forthesicknesstookitstollofeveryfamily，theverypriestsweresmittenbyitatthealtarastheysacrificedchildrentoappeasetheangerofthegods。
Buttheworstisstilltotell；Cuitlahua，theemperor，wasstruckdownbytheillness，andwhenwereachedthecityhelaydying。
Still，hedesiredtoseeus，andsentcommandsthatweshouldbebroughttohisbedside。
InvaindidIprayOtomienottoobey；she，whowaswithoutfear，laughedatme，saying，’What，myhusband，shallI
shrinkfromthatwhichyoumustface？
Come，letusgoandmakereportofourmission。
IfthesicknesstakesmeandIdie，itwillbebecausemyhourhascome。’
*ThistreatmentisfollowedamongtheIndiansofMexicotothisday，butifthewritermaybelievewhatheheardinthatcountry，thepatientisfrequentlycuredbyit。
SowewentandwereusheredintoachamberwhereCuitlahualaycoveredbyasheet，asthoughhewerealreadydead，andwithincenseburningroundhimingoldencensers。
Whenweenteredhewasinastupor，butpresentlyheawoke，anditwasannouncedtohimthatwewaited。
’Welcome，niece，’hesaid，speakingthroughthesheetandinathickvoice；’youfindmeinanevilcase，formydaysarenumbered，thepestilenceoftheTeulesslaysthosewhomtheirswordsspared。
Soonanothermonarchmusttakemythrone，asItookyourfather’s，andIdonotaltogethergrieve，foronhimwillrestthegloryandtheburdenofthelastfightoftheAztecs。
Yourreport，niece；letmehearitswiftly。
WhatsaytheclansoftheOtomie，yourvassals？’
’Mylord，’Otomieanswered，speakinghumblyandwithbowedhead，’maythisdistemperleaveyou，andmayyoulivetoreignoverusformanyyears！
Mylord，myhusbandTeuleandIhavewonbackthemostpartofthepeopleoftheOtomietoourcauseandstandard。
Anarmyoftwentythousandmountainmenwaitsuponyourword，andwhenthosearespenttherearemoretofollow。’
’Welldone，daughterofMontezuma，andyou，whiteman，’gaspedthedyingking。
’Thegodswerewisewhentheyrefusedyoubothuponthestoneofsacrifice，andIwasfoolishwhenIwouldhaveslainyou，Teule。
ToyouandallIsaybeofasteadfastheart，andifyoumustdie，thendiewithhonour。
Thefraydrawson，butIshallnotshareit，andwhoknowsitsend？’
Nowhelaysilentforawhile，thenofasudden，asthoughaninspirationhadseizedhim，hecastthesheetfromhisfaceandsatuponhiscouch，nopleasantsighttosee，forthepestilencehaddoneitsworstwithhim。
’Alas！’hewailed，’andalas！
IseethestreetsofTenoctitlanredwithbloodandfire，Iseeherdeadpiledupinheaps，andthehorsesoftheTeulestramplethem。
IseetheSpiritofmypeople，andhervoiceissighingandherneckisheavywithchains。
Thechildrenarevisitedbecauseoftheevilofthefathers。
Yearedoomed，peopleofAnahuac，whomIwouldhavenurturedasaneaglenurturesheryoung。
HellyawnsforyouandEarthrefusesyoubecauseofyoursins，andtheremnantthatremainsshallbeslavesfromgenerationtogeneration，tillthevengeanceisaccomplished！’
Havingcriedthuswithagreatvoice，Cuitlahuafellbackuponthecushions，andbeforethefrightenedleechwhotendedhimcouldlifthishead，hehadpassedbeyondthetroublesofthisearth。
Butthewordswhichhehadspokenremainedfixedintheheartsofthosewhoheardthem，thoughtheyweretoldtononeexcepttoGuatemoc。
ThustheninmypresenceandinthatofOtomiediedCuitlahua，emperoroftheAztecs，whenhehadreignedbutfifteenweeks。
Oncemorethenationmourneditsking，thechiefofmanyathousandofitschildrenwhomthepestilencesweptwithhimtothe’MansionsoftheSun，’orperchancetothe’darknessbehindtheStars。’
Butthemourningwasnotforlong，forintheurgencyofthetimesitwasnecessarythatanewemperorshouldbecrownedtotakecommandofthearmiesandrulethenation。
ThereforeonthemorrowoftheburialofCuitlahuathecouncilofthefourelectorswasconvened，andwiththemlessernoblesandprincestothenumberofthreehundred，andIamongthemintherightofmyrankasgeneral，andashusbandoftheprincessOtomie。
Therewasnogreatneedofdeliberation，indeed，forthoughthenamesofseveralwerementioned，theprincesknewthattherewasbutonemanwhobybirth，bycourage，andnobilityofmind，wasfittedtocopewiththetroublesofthenation。
ThatmanwasGuatemoc，myfriendandbloodbrother，thenephewofthetwolastemperorsandthehusbandofmywife’ssister，Montezuma’sdaughter，Tecuichpo。
Allknewit，Isay，except，strangelyenough，Guatemochimself，foraswepassedintothecouncilhenamedtwootherprinces，sayingthatwithoutdoubtthechoicelaybetweenthem。
Itwasasplendidandasolemnsight，thatgatheringofthefourgreatlords，theelectors，dressedintheirmagnificentrobes，andofthelessercouncilofconfirmationofthreehundredlordsandprinces，whosatwithoutthecirclebutinhearingofallthatpassed。
Verysolemnalsowastheprayerofthehighpriest，who，cladinhisrobesofsable，seemedlikeablotofinkdroppedonaglitterofgold。
Thusheprayed: