THE HESPERIAN STUDENT.
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A MEXTGAN PlilNOK.
Nearly four centuries ago tho city ol'Mexloo was bust
ing with unusual oxciUmcnl. The Aztec emperor was
dead and (lie nobles bad assembled to elect bis succssor
from tho Imperial family. Among tho blood-royal.
Montezuma stood preeminent; thoroughly educnted in
the University of the priests, a member of their highest
order, in addition a warrior of prcitt promise, and lie was
quickly chosen to All the Imperial throne. And now his
coronation day is at hand. The capital swarms with the
subjects of tho emperor-eltct. Summoned from tho do
pendnnt provinces by tho swift footed couriers, this
princes of the empire are thronging to render homage to
their lord The commoners arc as&cmbling to witness
the rites of his coronation. Here and there the uniforms
of the imperial police upbear, and still more numerous,
the black-tobed priests flit like threatening shadows
among tho molly crowd. "Wherever tho eye may turn
throughout the restless mass, the dejected faces ot the
war-captured slaves arc seen, to-day toiling for their hard
masters; to-morrow perhaps, In be sacrificed to their
conqueror's godf.. For bonis before the time appo'nlcd
for the coronation the throng surges through the city
gazing at every notable object in impatient curiosity.
At length, the hour has conic. From the gates of tho im
perial palace a stately pre cession emerges nud move3
slowly towards the temple of tho Mexican war-god. In
the van wild-cjed priests chant a wicrd melody. Then
the tributary princes followed, gorgeous in their armors
of gold slid tropical feathers. Finally borne on r palan
quin by captive princes the emperor appears in oriental
splendor. In awe all bow before him. Now the proces -ion
is winding up tho sides of the pyramidal temple. It
has reached the lp Tin re tho nobles clown their
monarch, and nshij:li piieM of the Empiie, Montezuma
prays (or a prot-pci'Mis reign. Attendant priests now
bring forward n captive pr'.ncc and before the hideous
Btatuc of the war-god they bind him to the sacrificial
altar. The king takes up the knile and with its keen
blade, cleaves tho victim's breast; then plunging his
hand within tho wound he plucks out the beating heart
and lays it still palpitating before the god of the Aztecs.
When he has finhhed his propitiatory sacrifice tho mon
arch strikes the sacred drum ; as its mournful notes roll
over the waters of Tezcuco, the whole va'ley of Anahuac
becomes a charnel-house and before the sacrifice is com
pleted, ten thousand human hearts are sending their grate
ful incense to Heaven and ten thousand warriors are fol
lowing their prince to oblivion. Thus did Montezuma be
come priest end king of the Aztecs. In the midst of his ex
Imitation ono thought disturbed tho emperor. Day and night
his mind dwelt on the fair-haired god who, In tho long
ago, came to Anahuac and taught tho people a religion of
peace. Tlieii ho departed eastward over tho great sea,
promising to return to Mexico, and foretelling its de
struction at that timo. Tho oracles declared ills coming
in tho reign of a Montezuma, and tho Emperor has henid
.of a mysterious white man far to the ea3t. Ho felt that
the timo of tho god's return was at hand. However, res
olutely putting aside his forebodings the emperor dis
play ed his military powers in conquering limitations
from sea to sea. Then the airogance of n conqueror
took possession of him. Ho forgot tho fair-haired god,
lie forgot his forebodings; he almost defied himself. Tho
greatest princes must crave audience on bended knee,
lie increased greatly the burden of taxation throughout
tho empire. The tributary prcvlnr.es became restless;
they longed for a deliverer. Only a storm was needed
to shake down the props of personal might sui rounding
lie emperor, and the quicksands ofdisnlleclioii would en
gulf the whole empire. That storm was rising on the
eastern horizon. In tho lOlli year of Montezuma's reign,
rout lers from tht eastern coast reported that winged
boats had come from over the Ocean and from thoni a
band of white-faced men had disembarked, clothed in
grey armor from which all weapons fell harmless, and
wielding against their foes the death-dealing lighting,
ifomc of the strangers rode on terrible beasts, whose awful
appearance caused the stoutest warrior to fly in terror.
I Terrified by the seeming fulfillment of ihe oracle, tho
Emperor attempted by bribes, threats and snares to obtain
the departure or destruction of the dreaded stranger. His
efforts were worse than vain. The Spaniards had tasted
Mexican gold by tho emperors own orders, and the plun
dering of the wl ole empire could scarcely alleviate the
insatiate thirst thus produced. Corlez had learned of the
disaffection of tho subject tri lies and from tho coast tho
stranger advanced, pursuiuling some nations, forcing
others into rebellion. Montezuma from within the walls
of mountains surrounding his capitol, heard in conster
nation that the white man had left tho coast, and was
conquering all before him. Nothing can withstand tu is
small band of strangers; his empire Is melting at their
fiery touch. Now, his couriers tell him, Cortez litis
turned aside to subjugate Tlascala invincible to Mexican
arms. Now the thunder of the evening's cannon have
terrified lier war-like sons into submission. Following
closo upon this news, comes the tidings that tho Tlasca
lons have joined the strangers lit their expedition against
Mexico, and that the combined army was in tiie field.
Panic stricken by t'10 approach of the prophesied de
struction, Montezuma weakly sent an embassy to invito
tho strangers to tho capital. On to Mexico tho invited
guests proceeded; over snow capped mountians, through
steep defiles, past awful chasms, till before them lay tho
Hie valley of Anahuac In all its tropical glory. In the
valley, Lake Tezcuco shone like a mirror; Its borders
seemed a Titan's necklace, gemmed with populous cities
and preeminent among tho jowcls. Mexico, the Venice
of the new world, dazzled the Spaniard's greedy eyes,
with her wonderous gardens, lofty temples, aud masslvo
palaces. "With superstitious dread, Montezuma beheld
the strangers winding down the mountain pass within
tho valley. He had abandoned all Uope; his superstition
held him fast; yielding to his fate, he received into his
city as guests, a band of invincible warriors accompanied
by an army of his deadliest foes. The royal proclama
tion forbade any injury to tho monarch's guests. Hio
father's palace became tho Spaniards' abode, and the
del'caciesof a tropical market mluistered to their appe
tites. Soon after tho arrival of the strangers, the Emperor
met the Spanish leader in conference. As their conver
sation proceeded, Montezuma seized upon a new hope
from the pacific expressions of Oorez. Perhaps tho god
had not sent these men us destroyers, but as embassadors.
