Whenthefeastwasdoneandwehaddrunkofthecocoaorchocolate，andsmokedtobaccoinpipes，astrangebutmostsoothingcustomthatIlearnedinTobascoandofwhichIhaveneverbeenabletobreakmyself，thoughtheweedisstillhardtocomebyhereinEngland，Iwasledtomysleepingplace，asmallchamberpanelledwithcedarboards。
ForawhileIcouldnotsleep，forIwasovercomebythememoryofallthestrangesightsthatIhadseeninthiswonderfulnewlandwhichwassocivilisedandyetsobarbarous。
Ithoughtofthatsad-facedking，theabsolutelordofmillions，surroundedbyallthattheheartofmancandesire，byvastwealth，byhundredsoflovelywives，bylovingchildren，bycountlessarmies，byallthegloryofthearts，rulingoverthefairestempireontheearth，witheverypleasuretohishand，agodinallthingssavehismortality，andworshippedasagod，andyetavictimtofearandsuperstition，andmoreheavyheartedthanthemeanestslaveabouthispalaces。
HerewasalessonsuchasSolomonwouldhavelovedtoshow，forwithSolomonthisMontezumamightcry:
’Igatheredmealsosilverandgold，andthepeculiartreasureofkingsandoftheprovinces:Igatmemensingersandwomensingers，andthedelightsofthesonsofmen，andmusicalinstruments，andthatofallsorts。
AndwhatsoevermyeyesdesiredIkeptnotfromthem，Iwithheldnotmyheartfromanyjoy。
Andbehold，allwasvanityandvexationofspirit，andtherewasnoprofitunderthesun。’
Sohemighthavecried，so，indeed，hedidcryinotherwords，for，asthepaintingoftheskeletonsandthethreemonarchsthatisuponthenorthwalloftheaisleofDitchinghamChurchshowsforthsoaptly，kingshavetheirfatesandhappinessisnottothemmorethantoanyotherofthesonsofmen。
Indeed，itisnotatall，asmybenefactorFonsecaoncesaidtome；truehappinessisbutadreamfromwhichweawakecontinuallytothesorrowsofourshortlaboriousday。
Thenmythoughtsflewtothevisionofthatmostlovelymaid，theprincessOtomie，who，asIbelieved，hadlookedonmesokindly，andIfoundthatvisionsweet，forIwasyoung，andtheEnglishLily，myownlove，wasfarawayandlosttomeforever。
WasitthenwonderfulthatIshouldfindthisIndianpoppyfair？
Indeed，whereisthemanwhowouldnothavebeenovercomebyhersweetness，herbeauty，andthatstampofroyalgracewhichcomeswithkinglybloodandthedailyexerciseofpower？
Liketherichwondersoftherobeshewore，herverybarbarism，ofwhichnowIsawbutthebetterside，drewanddazzledmymind’seye，givingherwoman’stendernesssomenewquality，sombreandstrange，aneasternrichnesswhichislackinginourwellschooledEnglishwomen，thatatoneandthesamestroketouchedboththeimaginationandthesenses，andthroughthementhralledtheheart。
ForOtomieseemedsuchwomanasmendreamofbutveryrarelywin，seeingthattheworldhasfewsuchnaturesandfewernurserieswheretheycanbereared。
Atoncepureandpassionate，ofroyalbloodandheart，richnaturedandmostwomanly，yetbraveasamanandbeautifulasthenight，withamindathirstforknowledgeandaspiritthatnosorrowscouldavailtoquell，everchanginginheroutermoods，andyetmostfaithfulandwiththehonourofaman，suchwasOtomie，Montezuma’sdaughter，princessoftheOtomie。
WasitwonderfulthenthatIfoundherfair，or，whenfategavemeherlove，thatatlastIlovedherinturn？
AndyettherewasthatinhernaturewhichshouldhaveheldmebackhadIbutknownofit，forwithallhercharm，herbeautyandhervirtues，atheartshewasstillasavage，andstriveasshewouldtohideit，attimesherbloodwouldmasterher。
ButasIlayinthechamberofthepalaceofChapoltepec，thetrampoftheguardswithoutmydoorremindedmethatIhadlittlenowtodowithloveandotherdelights，Iwhoselifehungfromdaytodayuponahair。
To-morrowthepriestswoulddecidemyfate，andwhenthepriestswerejudges，theprisonermightknowthesentencebeforeitwasspoken。
Iwasastrangerandawhiteman，surelysuchaonewouldproveanofferingmoreacceptabletothegodsthanthatfurnishedbyathousandIndianhearts。
IhadbeensnatchedfromthealtarsofTobascothatImightgracethehigheraltarsofTenoctitlan，andthatwasall。
Myfatewouldbetoperishmiserablyfarfrommyhome，andinthisworldnevertobeheardofmore。
MusingthussadlyatlastIslept。
WhenIwokethesunwasup。
RisingfrommymatIwenttothewood-barredwindowplaceandlookedthrough。
ThepalacewhenceIgazedwasplacedonthecrestofarockyhill。
OnonesidethishillwasbathedbythebluewatersofTezcuco，ontheother，amileormoreaway，rosethetempletowersofMexico。
Alongtheslopesofthehill，andinsomedirectionsforamilefromitsbase，grewhugecedartreesfromtheboughsofwhichhungagreyandghostly-lookingmoss。
ThesetreesaresolargethatthesmallestofthemisbiggerthanthebestoakinthisparishofDitchingham，whilethegreatestmeasurestwenty-
twopacesroundthebase。
BeyondandbetweenthesemarvellousandancienttreeswerethegardensofMontezuma，thatwiththeirstrangeandgorgeousflowers，theirmarblebaths，theiraviariesandwildbeastdens，were，asIbelieve，themostwonderfulinthewholeworld。*
’Attheleast，’Ithoughttomyself，’evenifImustdie，itissomethingtohaveseenthiscountryofAnahuac，itsking，itscustoms，anditspeople。’
*ThegardensofMontezumahavebeenlongdestroyed，butsomeofthecedarsstillflourishatChapoltepec，thoughtheSpaniardscutdownmany。
Oneofthem，whichtraditionsayswasafavouritetreeofthegreatemperor’s，measures(accordingtoaroughcalculationtheauthorofthisbookmadeuponthespot)aboutsixtyfeetroundthebole。
ItisstrangetothinkthatafewancientconifersshouldalonesurviveofallthegloriesofMontezuma’swealthandstate——AUTHOR。
CHAPTERXVI
THOMASBECOMESAGOD
LittledidI，plainThomasWingfield，gentleman，know，whenIrosethatmorning，thatbeforesunsetIshouldbeagod，andafterMontezumatheEmperor，themosthonouredman，orrathergod，inthecityofMexico。
Itcameaboutthus。
WhenIhadbreakfastedwiththehouseholdoftheprinceGuatemoc，Iwasledtothehallofjustice，whichwasnamedthe’tribunalofgod。’
HereonagoldenthronesatMontezuma，administeringjusticeinsuchpompasIcannotdescribe。
Abouthimwerehiscounsellorsandgreatlords，andbeforehimwasplacedahumanskullcrownedwithemeraldssolargethatablazeoflightwentupfromthem。
Inhishandalsoheheldanarrowforasceptre。
Certainchiefsorcaciqueswereontheirtrialfortreason，norweretheyleftlongindoubtastotheirfate。
Forwhensomeevidencehadbeenheardtheywereaskedwhattheyhadtosayintheirdefence。
Eachofthemtoldhistaleinfewwordsandshort。
ThenMontezuma，whotillnowhadsaidanddonenothing，tookthepaintedscrolloftheirindictmentsandprickeditwiththearrowinhishandwherethepictureofeachprisonerappeareduponthescroll。
Thentheywereledawaytodeath，buthowtheydiedIdonotknow。
Whenthistrialwasfinishedcertainpriestsenteredthehallclothedinsablerobes，theirmattedhairhangingdowntheirbacks。
Theywerefierce，wild-eyedmenofgreatdignity，andIshiveredwhenIsawthem。
InoticedalsothattheyalonemadesmallreverencetothemajestyofMontezuma。
Thecounsellorsandnobleshavingfallenback，thesepriestsenteredintotalkwiththeemperor，andpresentlytwoofthemcameforwardandtakingmefromthecustodyoftheguards，ledmeforwardbeforethethrone。
ThenofasuddenIwascommandedtostripmyselfofmygarments，andthisIdidwithnolittleshame，tillIstoodnakedbeforethemall。
Nowthepriestscameforwardandexaminedeverypartofmeclosely。
OnmyarmswerethescarsleftbydeGarcia’ssword，andonmybreastthescarcelyhealedmarksofthepuma’steethandclaws。
Thesewoundstheyscanned，askinghowIhadcomebythem。
Itoldthem，andthereupontheycarriedonadiscussionamongthemselves，andoutofmyhearing，whichgrewsowarmthatatlengththeyappealedtotheemperortodecidethepoint。
Hethoughtawhile，andIheardhimsay:
’Theblemishesdonotcomefromwithinthebody，norweretheyuponitatbirth，buthavebeeninflictedbytheviolenceofmanandbeast。’
Thenthepriestsconsultedtogetheragain，andpresentlytheirleaderspokesomewordsintotheearofMontezuma。
Henodded，andrisingfromhisthrone，cametowardsmewhostoodnakedandshiveringbeforehim，fortheairofMexicoiskeen。
Asheadvancedheloosedachainofemeraldsandgoldthathungabouthisneck，andunclaspedtheroyalcloakfromhisshoulders。
Thenwithhisownhand，heputthechainaboutmythroat，andthecloakuponmyshoulders，andhavinghumblybentthekneebeforemeasthoughinadoration，hecasthisarmsaboutmeandembracedme。
’Hail！mostblessed，’hesaid，’divinesonofQuetzal，holderofthespiritofTezcat，SouloftheWorld，CreatoroftheWorld。
Whathavewedonethatyoushouldhonourusthuswithyourpresenceforaseason？
Whatcanwedotopaythehonourback？
Youcreatedusandallthiscountry；behold！whileyoutarrywithus，itisyoursandwearenothingbutyourservants。
Orderandyourcommandsshallbeobeyed，thinkandyourthoughtshallbeexecutedbeforeitcanpassyourlips。
OTezcat，I，Montezumayourservant，offeryoumyadoration，andthroughmetheadorationofallmypeople，’andagainhebowedtheknee。
’Weadoreyou，OTezcat！’chimedinthepriests。
NowIremainedsilentandbewildered，forofallthisfooleryI
couldunderstandnothing，andwhileIstoodthusMontezumaclappedhishandsandwomenenteredbearingbeautifulclothingwiththem，andawreathofflowers。
Theclothingtheyputuponmybodyandthewreathofflowersonmyhead，worshippingmethewhileandsaying，’Tezcatwhodiedyesterdayiscomeagain。
Bejoyful，TezcathascomeagaininthebodyofthecaptiveTeule。’
ThenIunderstoodthatIwasnowagodandthegreatestofgods，thoughatthatmomentwithinmyselfIfeltmoreofafoolthanI
hadeverbeenbefore。
Andnowmenappeared，graveandreverendinappearance，bearinglutesintheirhands。
Iwastoldthattheseweremytutors，andwiththematrainofroyalpageswhoweretobemyservants。
Theyledmeforthfromthehallmakingmusicastheywent，andbeforememarchedaherald，callingoutthatthiswasthegodTezcat，SouloftheWorld，CreatoroftheWorld，whohadcomeagaintovisithispeople。
Theyledmethroughallthecourtsandendlesschambersofthepalace，andwhereverIwent，manwomanandchildbowedthemselvestotheearthbeforeme，andworshippedme，ThomasWingfieldofDitchingham，inthecountyofNorfolk，tillIthoughtthatImustbemad。
ThentheyplacedmeinalitterandcarriedmedownthehillChapoltepec，andalongcausewaysandthroughstreets，tillwecametothegreatsquareofthetemple。
Beforemewentheraldsandpriests，aftermefollowedpagesandnobles，andeveraswepassedthemultitudesprostratedthemselvestillIbegantounderstandhowwearisomeathingitistobeagod。
Nexttheycarriedmethroughthewallofserpentsandupthewindingpathsofthemightyteocallitillwereachedthesummit，wherethetemplesandidolsstood，andhereagreatdrumbeat，andthepriestssacrificedvictimaftervictiminmyhonourandIgrewsickwiththesightofwickednessandblood。
Presentlytheyinvitedmetodescendfromthelitter，layingrichcarpetsandflowersformyfeettotreadon，andIwasmuchafraid，forIthoughtthattheywereabouttosacrificemetomyselforsomeotherdivinity。
Butthiswasnotso。
