Xicoténcatl: An anonymous historical novel about the events leading up to the conquest of the Aztec empire 9780292753259

Citation preview

Xkotencati

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Texas Pan American Series

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Xicotencatf «^J*VJ

AM anonymous historical novel about tl^e events leaoina up to trje conquest of the Aztec Empire Translated by Guillermo I. Castillo-Feliu

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University of Texas Press .Austin

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Copyright © 1999 by the University of Texas Press All rights reserved Printed in the United States of America First edition, 1999 Requests for permission to reproduce material from this work should be sent to Permissions, University of Texas Press, Box 7819, Austin, TX 78713-7819Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data Varela, Felix, 1788-1853. [Jicotencal. English] Xicotencad : an anonymous historical novel about the events leading up to the conquest of the Aztec Empire / translated by Guillermo I. Castillo-Feliu. p. cm. — (Texas Pan American series) ISBN: 978-0-292-71214-0 1. Cortes, Hernan, 1485-1547—Fiction. I. Castillo-Feliu, Guillermo I. II. Tide. III. Series. PQ7389.V38JS313 *999 863—dc2i 98-37127

ISBN 978-0-292-75325-9 (library e-book) ISBN 978-0-292-78987-6 (individual e-book)

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Contents

Translator's Note

Introduction i

Book One 7 Book Two 3i Book T^ree 55 Book ?our 79 Book Fife 105 Book Six 131

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Translator's Note Translators are always aware that they face an impossible dilemma in any attempt to perfectly and exactly transpose words, thoughts, and culture—that is, all of the signifiers that make one particular language a unique mode of expression. The degree of difficulty, or impossibility, if I may be permitted to sound Borgian, is proportional to the distance that separates the two languages in question. In spite of the unique characteristics of, for example, Portuguese, Spanish, and Italian, the translator will find the task of translating between these Romance languages, with their abundant similarities, to be less daunting than the distance to be bridged between any of them and English, a language with essentially Germanic roots, despite the influence of Norman French. The creative act is an intensely private and subjective one; the author of an original work of literature does not set out to write with the intention of making the work very accessible to the future and potential translator. Still, the translator who is able to work with the author does have the opportunity to collaborate in the enterprise, with especially good results if the author of the original is also acquainted with the language of the translation. When this is not a possibility, translators, out of sheer necessity, perform their craft and act as interpreters as well. Xicotencatl was published in 1826. Aside from the difficulties already inherent in the process of translating the Spanish into English, the modern translator faces an insurmountable challenge posed by the chronological gap that renders impossible any collaboration between author and translator. The fact of the novel s anonymous author would probably have made such collaboration unlikely even if both author and translator had been contemporaries. I rejoice in the rewarding exercise that was the act of translating itself. The process, in spite of its accompanying difficulties, has once again demonstrated to me the obvious beauty of both languages, and even though the finished product might be, of necessity, an approximation, it does i/ii

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Translator's Note

serve the purpose of making the original work accessible to those readers who are unable to enjoy it in the language of Cervantes. In my desire to update the language of this early nineteenth-century work for the modern reader, I have at times taken some linguistic liberties whenever they do not detract from the serious speech of the major characters. At the same time, to retain the flavor of this late neoclassic narrative, I have endeavored to remain faithful to the elevated oratory of the characters. Thus, my translation does not purport to be an interpretation but rather a scrupulous transmutation, as much as that is possible, and with the caveats already mentioned. To have done otherwise would have been a disservice to the original intent of the author, who obviously wished to ennoble the original inhabitants of the New World even as he clearly denigrated most of the usurpers from the Old.

vm

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Xkotencati

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Introduction

Xkotencati was first published in Spanish in 1826, under the title Jicotencatl, by the William Stavely Publishing House of Philadelphia.1 During the beginning of the nineteenth century, as Spain's American colonies began to move toward independence, several cities, both in Europe and North America, became centers of political propaganda, pushing for separation of the Spanish possessions from the mother country. Prominent among these were, first, London and then Philadelphia and New York. Spanish Americans and Spaniards circulated in the Pennsylvania city, and funds were gathered and collected for the coming campaigns for separation. The Mexican novelist and critic Martin Luis Guzman has stated that, in 1811, Philadelphia was a paradise for conspirators. So the appearance of the novel in that city is not surprising, given the prevalence there of fermenting aspirations for independence. The fact that it was published anonymously serves to further explain the selection of this American city, for 1826 was not an ideal time for such a novel to have seen the light of day in Mexico or even in Spain. There has always been a great deal of controversy regarding Xicotencad's authorship. The well-known Mexican critic Luis Leal provides the best research into the subject, detailing several critics' arguments for and against authorship by various writers who lived during the period of the work s publication.2 The critics who have generally believed the author to be Mexican are Pedro Henriquez Ureiia, Ralph Warner, and Jose Rojas Garciduenas. Of these, Henriquez Urefia appears to lean most decidedly toward assigning authorship to a Mexican. Warner is not as strong in this belief but generally accepts its viability. Rojas Garciduenas echoes Henriquez Urerla s belief somewhat, stating that the author certainly was Spanish American. The great majority of critics who have delved into the novel s provenance have, to one degree or another, supported the theory that it was the work of a Spanish American. Only Argentine critic and writer Enrique Anderson

1

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Introduction

Imbert and Spanish critic Vicente Llorens Castillo have discussed the possibility that the author might have been a Spaniard. Luis Leal rejects the likelihood that the novel s author might have been the poet Jose Maria Heredia. This Cuban's careful and correct style seems to be completely different from that of Xicotencatl s author, which at times is incorrect and imitative of the French style often seen in Hispanic writers of the late eighteenth and early nineteenth centuries. For Leal, the evidence seems to point rather convincingly to the strong possibility that the Cuban priest Felix Varela could be the author of Xicotencatl. Father Varela lived in Philadelphia for some months during 1824, shortly afterward moving to New York. There he wrote the first three issues of a newspaper in Spanish, El Habanero, published by the same press that, in 1826, published Xicotencatl. Leal makes a detailed comparison of Varela s language and style, as seen in his own acknowledged publication and in the novel. Aside from the fact that there are similarities in orthography, Leal is more impressed by the resemblance in lexicon. The examples provided by Leal of the novels language and Varelas as seen in the latter s review of Heredia s Poesios (Poems), which appeared in New York in 1825 in the newspaper New York American, are almost astonishing in their parallelism. The one seems, most often, to be a paraphrasing of the other. And not only are lexicon and style similar; the ideology presented in one mirrors that of the other: attitudes toward the American native, liberty, tyranny, and faith. After providing evidence for the elimination of other purported authors, Leal, while welcoming continued research into the novels authorship, proposes Father Felix Varela as the possible author of Xicotencatl. The novel displays the slowness and moral elevation that is common in works of the late eighteenth and early nineteenth centuries. Its calm development and reasoned dialogue easily place Xicotencatl in the realm of late neoclassic literature that was prevalent in the period before the advent of Romanticism. It describes the arrival of Cortes and his armies in Tlaxcala, the resistance offered at first by its troops, and, once defeated, the collaboration that helped the Spanish caudillo in his advance toward Tenochtitlan, leading to the ultimate defeat and conquest of the Aztec Empire. The conquistadors are depicted as somber, cruel, amoral individuals, violators of all norms of civilized behavior. The Indians, whom the anonymous author often refers to as Americans, are noble and morally upstanding. Only two individuals, one from each side, are exceptions to these depictions: the Spaniard Diego de Ordaz is worthy of respect; he is human and generous; on the Indian side, Magiscatzin, a member of the 2

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Introduction

Tlaxcalan Senate, is a traitor to the cause of his people, subservient to Cortes and the Spanish cause. The novel is essentially the drama of Xicotencatl the Younger, captain of the Tlaxcalan troops, who proposes that the American armies fight against the invading Spaniards. Magiscatzin, wooed by Cortes, forces the younger warrior to collaborate with the Spanish leader. Xicotencad the Elder respects the resolution of the Tlaxcalan Senate, which supports Magiscatzin, and induces his more rebellious son to abide by its decision, although the younger man does it unwillingly and full of suspicion. The alliance that the Aztec emperor Cuauhtemoc had proposed to the Tlaxcalans to fight the invaders, and that Xicotencatl the Younger had recommended, is rejected under the influence of Magiscatzin. As Cortes advances toward the Aztec capital, he orders the hanging of Xicotencatl, suspecting him of a plan to betray him and, at the same time, having been smitten by the beauty of Teutila, the Indian leader s wife, whom the Spaniard had previously attempted to seduce. Xicotencatl the Elder is depicted as a noble patriarch. His moral strengths and attributes stand diametrically opposed to Cortes s failings and moral weaknesses. The dramatic crux for Xicotencatl the Younger is his fateful inability to convince his father and the Senate that the rivalry between Tlaxcala and Tenochtitlan is much less dangerous and significant than their giving in to the Spaniards and collaborating with them against the Aztecs. Tlaxcala s allied victory against the Aztecs merely foreshadows the overpowering of both Indian nations by the European invaders. There is no element of surprise for todays reader of the novel, of course, nor was there any even at the time of its publication in 1826. The anonymous author was not attempting to create suspense over events already decided by the reality of history. Rather, the tragic young hero of Xicotencatl, although not a racial representative of Vasconcelos s Cosmic Race, clearly stands as a symbol of the dichotomy of the contemporary Mexican.3 There are two interesting and significant female characters in the novel as well. Teutila is a paragon of strength and honesty. Brave and generous, she undertakes to kill Cortes after learning of her young husband s fate. Historical hindsight prepares the reader for her eventual failure, but even so, her determination and courage make it clear to the reader that she is nobler in death than Cortes is in surviving her attempt. La Malinche is perhaps the most interesting of all the characters in the entire work, for she alone seems to be multidimensional. At first she is false, passionate, and sensual, driven by self-interest and her attraction to Cortes and the power derived from her association with him. The birth of her bastard 3

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Introduction son, however, awakens sentiments in her that seem, in part, to ennoble her and help her recognize her role in history as the symbolic mother of the nation. Cortes is completely unidimensional. He is a "monster," a "barbarian," a "murderer," "the most detestable monster ever thrown up by hell." There is no deed of his that demonstrates any generosity or nobility of the spirit. He is simply a "fortunate" conqueror who proceeds always with unnecessary violence and cruelty. Only at the very end of the novel, as he becomes aware of Teutila s failed attempt at assassinating him, does he vacillate in his endeavor. The respite is brief, however. He quickly reasserts himself as he prepares to move against Tenochtitlan. Notwithstanding this obvious idealization of the indigenous inhabitants of early sixteenth-century Mesoamerica and consequent denigration of the invading Spaniards, the author wrote the novel clearly under the influence of much of the cultural baggage that is inherent to the Iberian Peninsula. The personal difficulties depicted in the three-way relationship among Xicotencatl the Younger, Teutila, and Ordaz clearly reflect the tradition of honor long depicted in Spanish literature from the early Middle Ages on, and especially during Spain's Golden Age in the sixteenth and seventeenth centuries. It is in this context that Xicotencatls jealousy toward Ordaz becomes understandable. This tradition of honor in Spain—and, by extension, in Spanish America—has been traced back variously to the Visigoths, the Arabs, the chivalric romances, and the Spanish national character. The renowned scholar Americo Castro attributed the exaggerated sense of honor to the long coexistence of Christians and Jews in Spain.4 The social opprobrium that could result from any suspicion that a cristiano viejo (literally, an "old Christian") could be a converso (that is, of Jewish origin) made a Spaniard's reputation of paramount importance to him. Honor had multidimensional expressions, of course. An individual's self-respect or pride was certainly a noble ideal. An individual's loss of reputation was much worse than loss of life. The Spaniard s reputation did not rest solely on his own behavior but also on the actions of all women for whom he was responsible. Any act committed by such a female that could be deemed to be an offense against his honor would require the shedding of blood in order to cleanse the blot against his reputation. Even the perception of a dishonorable act was often as serious as its actual commission. Thus, Xicotencatls jealousy upon seeing his wife Teutila with Ordaz, even if their meeting was totally innocent and easily explained, is understandable, given the code of honor that had been trans4

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Introduction mitted throughout the centuries. Perhaps the young husband s ultimate expiation—when he realizes that his wife was completely innocent of any wrongdoing, regardless of his early perception of such a blot to his honor—is attributable to the fact that the novel appears in more modern times, reflecting at least a partial rejection of the medieval code of honor. Although the anonymous author would have his readers believe that Magiscatzins perfidy is the paramount reason for the Tlaxcalans' alliance with the Spaniards, it behooves any realistic historians or sociologists today to be aware of the extreme animosities that existed between the Aztec Empire and the various other pre-Columbian cultures that struggled with Tenochtitlan, preeminent among them the powerful Tlaxcalans. It is interesting to note that Spain's chances of success against the dominant Aztec Empire were significantly improved by the disunity that prevailed in Middle America as, little more than a decade later, Pizarro's victory was immensely abetted by the weakening civil war between Huascar and Atahualpa in Peru. But the author s purpose in the writing of Xicotencatl was not solely to fictionalize historical events that were and continue to be significant to Mexico and to Spanish America as a whole. Had that been his only purpose, there surely would have been little reason for him to hide his identity. There are frequent allusions throughout the novel to the effort that people must exert to attain freedom from the tyranny that oppresses them. The constant reference to the struggle between the republics of the New World and the empire-building represented by the conquering Spaniards is clearly analogous to the ongoing conflict at the time of the novel s publication between like forces in Mexico immediately following the wars of independence begun in 1810 and ending in the early 1820s. For many Mexicans struggling against early nineteenth-century Spain, there was a clear correlation between the events facing Tlaxcala and Tenochtitlan more than three hundred years before and the situation that existed in their own time. To add credence and historicity to the events depicted here, the anonymous author intersperses the narrative with generous extracts from Historia de la conquista de Mexico, chronicles of the conquest written by Antonio de Solis ( I 6 I O - I 6 8 6 ) . S The authors style even mirrors that of the Mexican chronicler to the point that the inclusion of Solis s words does not seem to detract from the novel's narrative but rather blends very well with it. The author carefully cited these borrowings from Solis in footnotes that have been retained in this translation. 5

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Introduction

Notes i. Jicotencatl (Philadelphia: William Stavely, 1826). 2. Luis Leal, "Jicotencatl: Primera novela historica en castellano," Revista Iberoamericana, July i960, pp. 9-31. 3. Jose Vasconcelos, La raza cosmka (Mexico City: Espasa Calpe, 1948). 4. Americo Castro, De la dad conflictiva (Madrid: Taurus, 1961). 5. Antonio de Solis, Historia de la conquista de Mexico (Mexico City: Porrua, 1988).

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Book One

l\)e fail of t^e great empire of Moctezuma was written in the fateful book of destiny. The Republic of Tlaxcala and other governments of a beautiful part of America would be buried under its ruins. Men had already seen invasions by half-savage barbarians who, abandoning their lairs and their thankless country, had taken possession of more beneficent climes, destroying their ancient inhabitants; some of these, ambitiously inclined, placed in leadership roles by their peoples, had armed the nations, one against the other, in order to subjugate them all, and the immense ocean of passions had brought about frightening, internal storms in which civil societies had suffered indescribable upheavals. But the complete destruction of an immense empire, of a large republic and of a great number of other, smaller states, that occupied a great part of that continent, undertaken and carried out by a band of soldiers, on salary and under the orders of a despot who had his throne more than two thousand leagues away, was a lot reserved only for the unlucky inhabitants of Western America. Valiant and inured republicans, mercenary vassals of a proud tyrant, those who lived among large families with a cacique at the head, all of them succumbed before the European cunning and intrigue that a handful of ambitious people were able to contrive against their simplicity and against their different way of life. The regiment, whose lot it was to conquer Mexico, and which was captained by Hernan Cortes, was on the border of the Republic of Tlaxcala, at a place of medium population called Jacacingo, in the province or state of Zocotlan, governed by a cacique subordinate to the emperor of Mexico. From there Cortes sent his ambassadors to the republic requesting passage for his troops to the lands of Tlaxcala. They were four Cempoalans, of those that came along with his army who, bedecked in white, cotton shawls over their shoulders, tied at the ends, cloak-like, and with a shell buckler over their left arms and a long arrow in their right hands, went toward the city, showing by the white color of the arrows feathers 7

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Xkotencatl

that their mission was one of peace. They were recognized and religiously respected with these signs, as was prescribed by the rights of the peoples established in those regions. The Republic of Tlaxcala was at the time a state of medium size, but with a large population. It was situated on mountainous and uneven terrain, near what today is called the Gran Cordillera. The towns occupied the highlands, leaving the plains for agriculture, something that also favored its defense. The houses and other buildings stood out more because of their solid construction than their beauty, and everywhere one could see the equanimity that formed the country's public spirit. The castles, fortified towers, and palaces did not contrast with the huts inhabited by the poor, publicly and scandalously insulting their misery. Tlaxcala, the capital, a very heavily populated city, was situated on four prominent hills, all not far one from the other, which extended from east to west; the rugged terrain served as a fortress for them. These four neighborhoods or separated villages communicated with one another by different streets with thick walls that served them as ramparts. The entire state stretched more from east to west than from north to south. It had borders on all sides with nations subject to or allied with the emperors of Mexico; only in the north did the Gran Cordillera close off its borders. There it had communications with the Otomi, the Totonacs, and other nations of the mountains with which it formed a confederation. Agriculture flourished in all its territory, and it owed its name of Tlaxcala apparently to the abundance of corn, for in that ancient language it meant Land of Bread. The inhabitants' character was bellicose, long-suffering, frank, little given to pomp, and the enemy of effeminacy. Its government was a confederated republic; sovereign power dwelt in a congress or senate, composed of members elected one for each party of those in the republic. Executive power, and apparently also the judicial, were to be found among the chiefs or caciques from the parties or districts which, nevertheless, were subordinate to the congress, and the congress, in judicial cases, also permitted appeals of its sentences. The capital's four neighborhoods were considered to be four independent districts. There was a desire that an old tradition should maintain the memory of ancient times when Tlaxcala had been governed by only one powerful cacique or king, but the people had risen up against the excesses of his authority and, after recovering its sovereignty, it had become a republic.

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Book One

The national spirit of the Tlaxcalans was so determined that, when they lacked salt, they preferred to live deprived of this condiment rather than enjoy it by establishing commercial ties with their enemies, the vassals of Moctezuma. Thus they remained always at war against that powerful emperor and they were always undefeated. The arms of the republic were entrusted to a general who, for the same reason, was also a member of the senate or the congress. When the ambassadors of Hernan Cortes arrived, this post was occupied by the distinguished young man Xicotencatl, who, because of his military talents, his natural gifts, and his pure, disinterested patriotism, obtained preference over the rest of the candidates, notwithstanding his youth. In spite of the fact that the republic had so far maintained its united spirit, its strength, discord had begun to undermine its foundations toward the time of the election of Xicotencatl. Magiscatzin, one of the most senior senators and possessor of some of the greatest talents in the state, was a particular enemy of the family of the Xicotencatls, and this enmity was inflamed even more by the jealousy that the elevation of young Xicotencatl gave rise to and the effect on the influence that Magiscatzin had had in the government until then. Thus, resentment and personal interest came to the fore instead of the people s cause at such a critical and transcendent moment. Passions presided in the nations council, and the Tlaxcalans at the end became the victims of their discord. The ambassadors of Cortes awaited the resolution of the congress, lodged in a public building named Calpisca and meant especially for that purpose. The following day they were summoned to the national building where the congress celebrated its sessions. They were held in a large hall where individuals were seated according to seniority, in low stools made of exquisite woods carved out of one piece; these were called yopales. After the ambassadors had been introduced, the members of the congress rose and bowed to them slightly. They held their arrows up high and their shawls over their heads as a sign of great submission to the national authority of the republic; thus they moved forward to the middle of the hall, where they waited on their knees for permission to present their message. Once it was granted by the dean who presided over the congress, the man charged to speak said: "Noble republic, brave and powerful Tlaxcalans! The cacique of Cempoala and those that live in the mountains, your friends and confederates, send you greetings and, wishing you good harvests and death to your

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Xfcotmcatl

enemies, communicate to you that, from the east, there have come invincible men who resemble deities, because they sail aboard palaces and control thunder and lightning, arms that are reserved for Heaven, ministers of another God, superior to ours, who is offended by tyrannies and sacrifices of human blood. "Their captain is the ambassador of a very powerful prince who, prompted by his religion, wishes to cure the abuses in our land and the violent actions of Moctezuma and, having already redeemed our provinces from the oppression under which they lived, finds himself forced to travel through your republic on his way to Mexico, and he wants to know in what ways that tyrant has offended you to take up your cause as his own and to place it among the others that justify his quest. With this news, then, of his own designs, and with this experience of his kindness, we have come forward to ask of you and to admonish you from the part of your caciques and every confederation that you recognize these strangers as benefactors and allies of your allies. "And from the captains part we wish you to know that he comes in peace and only seeks that you allow him passage through your lands, understanding that he wishes you well, and that his arms are instruments of justice and reason, and that they defend the cause of Heaven: benign by their own nature and rigorous only against misdeed and provocation.'' l Thus spoke the most favorably disposed of the Cempoalans, who had learned his oration from memory and, accompanying his three associates, reverently bowed toward the congress and took a seat to await the response. And it was: "That Tlaxcala received with gratitude the proposition from the Cempoalans and Totonacs, their friends; but that the response required greater deliberation." The ambassadors retired to their lodging, and the congress continued discussing the advantages and drawbacks of the missions objective. Finally, after various opinions were offered, in which surprise also played a role, passions began to heat up the discussion, and Magiscatzin, who supposed that Xicotencatl emulated his pro-war stance, guided only by his resentment, spoke in these terms: "You know well, noble and brave Tlaxcalans, that it was revealed to our priests during the first centuries of our former ages, and it is now a i. Soils, Historia, the three paragraphs from "Noble republic" through "provocation."

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Book One

tenet of our religion, that an invincible people from the eastern regions were to come to this world that we live in, a people with such dominion over the elements that they would found movable cities over the waters; they would make use of fire and the air to hold fast the earth and, even though judicious people might not believe that they were living gods, as do the common folks in their coarseness, the same tradition tells us that they would be celestial men, so valorous that one would be worth a thousand, and so benevolent that they would only try to see that we live according to reason and justice. "I cannot deny to all of you that I have become vigilant regarding how these signs conform to those of the strangers that you have in your vicinity. They come by way of the East; their arms are made of fire, their ships floating houses; you know of their bravery from what you have heard they did in Tabasco; their kindness you see in the gratefulness of your very confederates; and if we turn our eyes to those comets and signs in the heavens, which amaze us repeatedly, it seems they speak to our concerns and come as signs or messages of this great news. "Then, who might there be so bold and imprudent that, if these are the people of our prophesies, he might want to pit his strength against Heaven and treat as enemies those who bring their decrees as their very arms? I, at least, would fear the indignation of the gods, who rigorously punish those who rebel against them, and with their very lightning bolts seem to be teaching us to obey, for all of us feel that we are spoken to through the threat brought by thunder and what is seen is havoc where resistance existed. But I want us to consider this evidence simply as chance happenings and to accept these strangers as men such as we are. What harm have they caused us that we are considering vengeance? On what injury are we to base this violence? "Tlaxcala maintains its freedom through its victories and its victories by means of its armed power. Will it promote a war of its own volition that discredits its government and valor? These people come in peace; their intentions are to travel through the republic and they do not do so without our leave; where, then, is their transgression? Where does it show provocation? They arrive at our gates trusting in the support of our friends, and will we lose our friends in order to trample over those who wish our friendship? What will the rest of our confederates say of such an action? And what will our reputation be if five hundred men force us to take up arms? Will we gain as much in defeating them as we will in having feared them? My feeling is that we admit them with kindness and

II

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Xicotewcatf allow them to pass through as they desire, if they are men, because reason is with them and, they are something more, because reason is satisfied if it is the will of the gods."2 This speech was listened to very attentively and had almost decided the thinking of the congress when Xicotencatl, the younger, asked for license to speak and, once it had been granted, spoke in these terms: "Respected and just Tlaxcalans! Not always are gray hairs the mark of being correct; more inclined to fear than to bravery, they are often better advisors of patience than of valor. I respect the authority of Magiscatzin; but, driven by my burning love for my country, and perhaps by the fire of my youth and the inclinations of my profession, I am going to set forth my judgment, which I am pleased to submit to your discretion. "It is certain that a confusing tradition has moved among the common people about the coming of some eastern reformers, whose coming perpetuates itself in prophesy and is delayed in disappointment. Nor is it my purpose to now combat this rumor that has made itself respectable because of the manner in which it has spread. Human frailty has always received such prophesies with a timid credulity, but woe to those people that allow themselves to be deluded by those that try to profit from them! Their firearms, their floating palaces are nothing more than works of man's ingenuity that are admired because they have not been seen. If not, they also make use of the illusions of some craftiness like that of our prophets of doom. "Are their feats in Tabasco being exaggerated; was it, perhaps, something more than defeating a superior army? And this is being pondered as something supernatural in Tlaxcala, where major deeds are being effected daily? Tlaxcalans! Those very men that are being depicted to you as invincible and celestial are also being put forward to you as an object whose surrender would tarnish your glory because of their smallness. Five hundred men are not enough, no matter what their strength and arms might be, to arouse fear in the Tlaxcalans, and certainly those who attempt to combat them do not fear them but rather those who try to yield to them. But these men already come with the armies of two nations that have become their allies and, if others follow their example, they can become very frightening, without our having to turn to the protection of Heaven, for no one should hope more than the one who seeks it with the sincerity and justice of his own feelings. If the Cempoalans and the Totonacs have accepted their friendship, it has been 2. Soils, Historia, the four paragraphs from "You well know" through "will of the gods."

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Book One without their having consulted our republic and they come under the protection of a lack of concern that deserves the punishment of their defenders. "As far as regards that benevolence, which is so pompously manifested, I maintain that it is an artifice employed to conquer peoples with the least cost; in a word: I maintain that it is a suspicious sweetness such as those that regale the palate before introducing the poison, because it does not conform to the rest that we know about their covetousness, their arrogance and ambition. These men, if they are not already some monsters that the sea cast on our shores, rob our peoples; they live at the caprice of their whim, thirsty for gold and silver, and abandoned to the earth s delights; they scorn our laws; they offer dangerous alterations to our justice and religion; they destroy our temples; they destroy our altars; they blaspheme the gods . . . , and they are held to be celestial!3 "They present themselves as followers of a great tyrant for whom they search for willing or unwilling vassals. And one hears the call for peace without being horrified and even scandalized! And for this purpose we are presented as proof these phenomena, so recommended by Magiscatzin, along with so many other warnings from Heaven! As for me, I accept them as such; but Heaven does not inform us as to the benefits that we are to expect, but rather as to the evils that we are to fear, so that our guard not be down nor our diligence unaware. My feeling is, thus, that we call on all of the forces of Tlaxcala and that we finish them off, because Heaven does not present them as enemies of our country and of the gods, and they trust in our valor to provide vengeance for them. Let us punish, then, with our arms, their fatal and perverse conduct and let the world know that it is not the same to be victorious in Tabasco as invincible in Tlaxcala." This vigorous speech awakened the spirit of independence and liberty that had been made numb by the eloquence of Magiscatzin; the assembly was moved with enthusiasm, and it took some time for Xicotencatl the Elder to regain their attention: "My children, for my years give me the right to address you thus," he said to them, "wise senators and brave Tlaxcalans, when it is a matter of the nations health, everything else must be silenced. I do not believe that any of you will accuse me of being irreverent; my veneration toward religion has reached the point that I respect the ridiculous and unfounded 3. Soils, Historia, the italic passages and the part of this paragraph from "I maintain that it is a suspicious sweetness" through "celestial."

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Xkottncatl worries that the cleverness or foolishness of the priests has introduced under the holy mantle of their having come from Heaven. "But what today is being expected of us so that we humble ourselves before a handful of strangers ought to irritate everyone who still has some love of country and self-respect. A few moons ago it would have been difficult to establish the sense of this prediction, in which, if we remove ourselves from the ridiculous ideas that have been altering it in the course of so many generations, we will find only the picture of some men who would come from whence the sun rises to make us enter the path of virtue and justice, when we had prevaricated. "A truly ingenious way of presenting a lesson in virtue in a prophetic apologue and, at the same time, of providing a favorable disposition to the knowledge of a just and remunerating God. But now that, giving credence to the smallest rumors, one makes out of all of this a direct application to men; when the fearful and credulous masses begin to think that those strangers might be the ones foretold, he that maintains such absurd nonsense is a blasphemer and a traitor to the country. "Hallowed gods! Your defenders, those who topple your temples! Those who bring down our images, without knowing that in each one of them we represent a virtue! Those comets and those phenomena of the air are admirable, for we know neither their origin nor their mechanism; but if they have some moral purpose, it is simply to make known to us the greatness of the power of the one who governs the world and the smallness and ignorance of our nature. Never have they meant anything else nor will they ever. Asking for or giving moral explanations about these phenomena is either the excess of folly or the ultimate degree of rascality. Forgive, representatives of Tlaxcala, the passion with which my zeal is expressed, and you, brother Magiscatzin, do not be offended if the tongue of a Tlaxcalan knows how to depict the feelings of your heart; yours must be identical, and they will surely be when you hear what your reason and natural light tell you. "Let me continue. That benevolence that we are asked to ponder is cruel and abominable hypocrisy. This is its language: 'I come to enslave all of you, your thinking, your children and your descendants; I come to destroy your form of worship and to make you apostatize your religion; I come to violate your women and your daughters; I come to steal from you all that you possess if you submit willingly to so much debasement. My sovereign benevolence reserves for you the high honor of being my allies so that you might perish fighting against my enemies/ Thus have they done in Cozumel, in Tabasco, in Cempoala, and in the rest of the nations that 14

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'Rook One fate has condemned to suffer their presence. But even if none of this were so, how can Tlaxcala forget the circumspection and reserve that it has always had in forming new alliances? "Who can assure us that those vassals will not become associated with Moctezuma, whose despotism is more analogous to his form of government? We ought to prevent their possibly injuring us in the future and prepare ourselves to repel their attacks, even before they attempt them. Unfortunately, this is no longer possible; their mission is an insult to the sovereignty of the republic, because it threatens and admonishes instead of asking a favor. And I do not stop to analyze it, because my anger would deprive me of the serenity that I need so much at this moment. "Believe me, friends: never did one nation give favors to another; interest leads them in their mutual relations, and the one that moves forward the most is only just with the rest. That generosity, those benevolent intentions, that benefit of ours that takes them from their homes, they are all expressions of an art unknown in these climes and which, either I deceive myself greatly or it is more infernal and diabolical than their firearms. My judgment is, thus, that we deny passage to the strangers and that those people who are deemed necessary to defend us if they should dare enter the territory of our nation without our leave stand up." The congress heard the voice of the nation in this speech by the respectable Xicotencad, whose zeal had not become lukewarm with the ravages of time or yielded to the dangers and difficulties of the occasion. It was agreed, then, that the troops of the republic should gather and that their general lead them up to the borders of the state to oppose an invasion, and that, in the interim, the ambassadors sent by Cortes be detained. While these deliberations were going on, Hernan Cortes was spending his days in maneuvers and sham battles in the vicinity of Jacacingo, more preoccupied with the misgivings caused by the detention of his ambassadors than with the diversions that might be promised by a nation overflowing with the gifts of Nature. It was the season when the heat of the summer was beginning to surrender its place to the beautiful afternoons of autumn. During one of these, after the military exercises, Fray Bartolome de Olmedo, chaplain of the Spanish troops, and Diego de Ordaz, one of their captains, both friends, in spite of their difference in age, because of their long-standing family relationships, went out for a walk. Diego de Ordaz was a young man of good presence, clear and solid talent, and with a righteous and just heart. Educated with a love for virtue, his honesty had been sustained against the spirit of his century, even though the torrent of dominant 15

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Xkotencatl

opinion had drawn him to the great scenes in which he found himself involved, not having been able through his own striving to entirely shake off the yoke of the concerns of his times. Distracted by the amenity of the countryside and by the pleasant temperature of the air, they entered, without realizing it, a luxuriant woods, whose trees had been respected until then by the ax and the pruning shear. Seated at the margin of a crystalline brook, Diego de Ordaz addressed his old friend this way: "Truly, Father Bartolome, man's destiny is impenetrable. We find ourselves two thousand leagues away from our country when it needs its sons perhaps more than ever, and we find ourselves in such remote regions carrying out conquests, as it is manifested, for our religion and our king, when, as we painfully see, neither one nor the other plays the smallest role in our conduct. Our side spreads the image of the Holy Cross and the Latin words that Cortes has inscribed on it: Let us follow the Cross, for under this sign we will conquer. "But, Father, this is hypocritical. It does not behoove me to repeat what is public knowledge and what makes us see that that young man has deceived us in our hopes. His conduct in Santiago de Cuba was regarded as an act of gallantry; but, once he took command, he removed his mask, and, without considering his character or the religion that he promotes, he almost boasts of his adulterous affair with that Indian woman, who is maybe a victim of his seduction. His conduct in Cozumel was more an act of imprudence than Christianity. It is true that he toppled the idols of the island, because we were the strongest; but who can assure him that the image of the Virgin and the Cross, which he left abandoned in place of the idols, are free of the insults of the first impudent one who might want to do the same with them? And, in this case, a very probable one, who will convince them about the divinity of our religion when they see Heaven so indifferent to the insults against our images as it was when their idols were brought down? "Instead of instruction and doctrine, those men have received only an example of audacity against sacred objects. Examples teach a great deal, especially those that have a propensity for license, and for the same reason, he that might be in a situation to give them ought to be extremely circumspect. On the other hand, it is a good way, of course, to preach the religion of the True Immaculate One, making use, for this purpose, of iron and fire, intrigue and falsehoods, violation and robbery, and with no more counsel than the insatiable and frenetic ambition of command and wealth. 16

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Book One "With respect to the king, whom they say we serve, let us be frank, Father. You know that the first men who accompanied Columbus were a bunch of outlaws, who knew no king or God other than their greed. Christopher Columbus came to America driven by his great genius and by the noble love of glory. Yet his soldiers stained the glory of our nation, and the pages of their history will make Humanity tremble. "Valor was so forgotten, and greed so ingrained in the spirit, that it was only a matter of enriching oneself, breaking with conscience and reputation. Only lamentation and disputes concerning the suffering being experienced could be heard from those places; religious fervor and the public weal surrendered entirely to the interest and whim of those involved, and, at the same pace, those poor Indians who moaned under the weight, yearning for gold to satisfy alien avarice, forced to look with the sweat of their brow for the same thing that they scorned, and to pay with their slavery for the ungrateful fertility of their country, were slowly being extinguished.4 "The news of a New World discovered, of a world where gold and silver were believed as common as stones in the Old, stimulated the imagination of Spaniards, who were dominated by a military and adventurous spirit, conceived and nourished in the long wars with the Moors, that at last we have been able to expel from our country. It, in turn, was at the same time in turmoil because of internal dissension that threatened it with destruction, and the parties and factionalism that divided it at the death of His Catholic Majesty don Fernando left no hope that we would be able to count on a government to which we could offer obedience and fidelity. "You know what the harsh methods of Cardinal Cisneros were to remedy the disorders of that part of America that had been discovered, which, because of its distance from the centers of power, was suffering more gravely the ills that affect the whole nation. The four Hieronymite monks came, with their great powers, elected for the attempt, and everything turned out worse than it had been before, because the individuals involved mocked the impotent authority of the priests. Under these circumstances they wish to make a display offidelityto the king. No, sir; I wish to be frank: the adventurous spirit, the slothfulness personified by the military, the ambition that foments the military profession, and, especially, gold and silver, whose abundance in these lands has been reflected 4. Solis, Historia, this paragraph from "Valor was so forgotten" through "they scorned." 17

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Xkotbncatl on so much; these are the guides that have led us and the motives and rules of our conduct. "I was not satisfied under the orders of Diego Velazquez in Cuba; his ambition and his mistrustful character displeased me; the youth, talents, and charm of Hernan Cortes blinded me: I took him for a man who was generous and capable of great virtue. I deceived myself, unfortunately, and now I have no recourse but to follow his fortune, for that is what destiny commands/' Fray Bartolome de Olmedo was left somewhat embarrassed by such an oration. He knew and loved Ordaz; his reasoning strengthened him, and the obligations that he honestly believed were demanded of him by his profession prescribed to him that he impugn all of his reasoning. Thus, after a few moments of reflection, he answered him with these words: "My son, let us bless God s providence and humbly submit our reasoning to the mighty and impenetrable judgment of the Lord. You have just told me some truths, which flow from your good talent, but your inexperience leads you to deduce dangerous consequences from them. I am very far from approving of error or sin, wherever they might be found, and no matter how high and honored the person who might commit them. But God has chosen great sinners as instruments for his mighty purposes. King David, fashioned according to God s will and from whom Our Holy Redeemer deigned to descend, sinned, and sinned publicly and scandalously, and in spite of this was no less the holy king and prophet of the Lord. Let us venerate, then, his decrees and keep ourselves from grumbling about the means that he employs. "As far as your doubts about the love and fidelity of the Spaniards toward their king, how has a Spanish heart ever been able to harbor them even for a moment? In us, one can palpably see a particular providence of God that infuses us with a sacred respect toward his royal majesty." A peal of thunder, which echoed over countless hills, interrupted the conversation. Flashes of lightning crossed the atmosphere in every direction, the clouds almost above their heads darkened the horizon, the water fell in torrents, and just a few steps away, a mahogany tree, as old as the world, exploded and burned after being hit by the fire of a lightning bolt. With some urgency, they went to take cover from the storm in a grotto formed by the cleft of some large rocks not very far away. With some difficulty, they were able to cross the brooks that the downpour had created until they arrived at the grotto. But how surprised must they have been when, almost at the entrance, they found an extraordinarily beautiful Indian maiden who awaited them, as still as a statue, with one hand 18

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Book One leaning on her bow? They both stopped, surprised by respect and admiration, such was the noble and peaceful countenance of the beautiful American. "Come in," she said to them, "come in without trepidation. I could have stopped you until you had informed me as to whether you had come on a mission of peace or war and also have defended myself here, preventing you from coming near. But I have seen that fear leads you to seek refuge and that, even though you say you control lightning and thunder, you also tremble before what the sky discharges. Your fear makes evident your weakness, and it makes you worthy of compassion. Come in." The shepherd, who sees the dog he caressed wounded by lightning, is less astonished than Fray Bartolome de Olmedo and Diego de Ordaz were embarrassed by such a harangue. Who could have told Ordaz, without impunity, that he was afraid other than a beautiful woman? This young man s soul did not yet know love; nobly proud of character, and austere in his upbringing, he was just and fair; but he seemed little sensitive to the sweet feelings of the heart. But now he himself was unable to comprehend the emotions that the young American stirred in him. He responded in the following way: "Someday you will know, whoever you are, oh beautiful maiden! that Diego de Ordaz does not fear the phenomena of Nature that so frighten pusillanimous spirits. But tell me: who are you to show such serenity, alone before us? Do you not fear strangers whom you do not know?" "Why would I show fear? Learn, stranger, that the woman with whom you speak has known how to conquer the heart of the bravest man in the world." "And who is that fortunate mortal?" "My beloved Xicotencatl, the brave and virtuous general of the armies of Tlaxcala." Hardly had he uttered these last words when the chaplain joined in the conversation, and after a short time learned from the Indian woman who Xicotencatl was, about his fame and his high destiny in the Republic of Tlaxcala, as has just been narrated. All the time, Ordaz, with tender emotion, was admiring the grace and noble naturalness of the unknown maiden. The sky was beginning to clear; the rainbow was shining already with the rays of the setting sun; the rainstorm was turning into a gentle shower; the thunder was hardly heard, as it echoed along the mountains and valleys. The two strangers took leave of the American maiden and she said to them: 19

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Xkotencati

"I will lead you to the vicinity of Jacacingo, because I fear that you might lose your way, the night being so near." Both of them thanked her for her generous offer, admiring the kindness and gentleness with which she tempered her noble severity. Along the way, an interesting conversation developed on the subject of hospitality, in which the American maiden manifested sentiments that were as pure and determined on the practice of this virtue as was to be expected from the spirit of a soul so open, so uncorrupted by the arts of civilization. "What would become of man," she was saying to them, "if in the midst of his misery he found only insensitive and indifferent hearts? Where would the lost traveler take shelter from inclement weather? How would he nourish himself during sterile times? Or how would he recover his strength when fatigue had overcome him? He that could deny his compassion and aid to a man whom chance has put in need of them would be an abominable monster with entrails as hard as those of a ferocious beast which, in the havoc it creates, is following the impulses of its nature; the other would be criminally separating himself from what his heart tells him." As she was speaking, Fray Olmedo interrupted her, exclaiming: "My God! Is it possible that such a virtuous soul does not know You? What a pity, my child, that in your primitiveness you have not come to know the creator and source of all those virtues!" "And who has told you, stranger," said the American maiden brightly, "that I do not adore the creator of all that exists? Is there, perhaps, someone in your country who does not know Him from His works? Who has made the heavens, those mountains, and those trees that cover them? Who has directed that spectacle that has just made you tremble with the crashing of the elements? Who has composed the shining and comforting perspective afforded by that rainbow that you have before you? I confess that you know more than we do of the things that men have invented, because I see that you bring machines and do things that we have yet to come to know; but to know of the existence of a Being who has laid out the sun and the stars, and who presides over all of Nature, it is enough not to close one s eyes to what it tells us continuously." At this spot she bid them adieu and followed another path, leaving the two Spaniards marveling at their singular meeting and on their way to the barracks. Once there, Fray Bartolome de Olmedo immediately went to Hernan Cortes and reported on the important news that he had obtained about

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Boofe Owe the Tlaxcalan general, of his valor and renown. The good friar told him in great detail about all of the circumstances surrounding his encounter, without omitting his greatest praise of the American maidens beauty, and he did it with so much passion that Cortes was greatly impressed, considering the maturity and unemotional heart of the man who addressed him. He had captain Ordaz report to him immediately, and he reproached him tartly for his lukewarm behavior while in the service of the king, for not having seized a woman who could be of great interest to them for a number of reasons. In vain did the honest Ordaz bring up the generous welcome tendered by the American maiden who, seemingly, belonged to the nation of Zocotlan, with which they had harmonious relations. The leader suspended him from his duties until he offered up the Indian. Ordaz took on this commission with more pleasure than could be expected, judging from the manner in which he accepted it, and, thus, without reflecting on the rigor and roughness with which his leader treated him on every occasion, he dedicated himself gladly to meditating on the means of which he would avail himself to find the beautiful American maiden. The first impressions of sex in an honest heart awaken in the one affected by them a new character that distinguishes it visibly from how it had been up to then. Thus, Ordaz, cold and indifferent to the greatest dangers, began to fear the failure of all the steps that he was taking to find the American maiden, and he spent an agitated night, with a heart full of misgivings, with a new and heretofore unknown disquietude affecting him. He left his bed before the break of dawn, and the first rays of the sun found him at the grotto where he had had his singular meeting on the afternoon of the preceding day. There he found a number of tiny arrows driven into the ground in rows of six and placed in order, with one larger than the others at the front or head of the column: all of them had red feathers. As he reflected on the possible meaning of these arrows and who might have placed them there, he was surprised by the Indian maiden for whom he was searching. "What are you doing here, stranger?" she said to him; "you are undoubtedly unaware of the danger that you are exposing yourself to. Look at those arrows. Xicotencatl placed them here this evening, and through them he informs me that he is at war at the head of the troops of his republic; the direction is toward us, and his objective is to provoke you to battle. Go, then; inform your leader that a powerful army threatens

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XkoUncatl

you; tell him that Tlaxcala does not have those metals that you covet so much and that in war you expose everything without any hope of gaining anything. Go in peace and let us enjoy our lives, already laden with sufficient grief, without any need of the further unpleasantness that you bring us." "Beautiful American maiden: neither my captain, nor my companions at arms, nor I fear combat; but we prefer peace to war. For the former we will do all that honor allows us, and we will fly the latter, considering not the danger, when honor itself gives us the sign to attack. I have come here to find you. My captain wishes to see you, and your mediation can perhaps prevent the war that, my heart fears, could occasion you so many evils. Yes, my friend; the darkest of shadows hang over my head, and it seems to me that I can see the Evil One unleashing infernal furies that fall upon you, innocent and unfortunate and beautiful creature. Come, then, and be the angel of peace that holds back so much havoc and the rainbow that calms such a horrendous storm." "Let us go immediately. Let us go to see your leader. I shall speak to him; I shall be his ambassador. Only with that tide am I permitted to walk on the soil of Tlaxcala." How easy it is to deceive a noble and generous heart! The innocent American maiden ran to her doom with the same enthusiasm with which she would move to make the entire world happy, and Diego de Ordaz, the honest Ordaz, he who would give his life to save her from any danger, led the victim to her sacrifice. Unable to suspect the horrors that awaited her, he heard only the voice of duty, which prescribes complete devotion to service, and the illusions of his passion that presented his beloved to him as an olive branch, like the statue of peace. Nevertheless, when he heard her say that "she herself would be the ambassador," for the first time he felt a commotion that was unpleasant in the extreme, a kind of uneasiness and shuddering and a fit of anger, not of a noble and generous nature but rather of a low and gnawing kind, which bewildered his senses and made him feel a strange torment. Poor Ordaz! You hardly know love and you begin to be tormented by jealousy! A moment of reflection made him delve into his own thoughts, and the beautiful idea of contributing to the well-being of all exalted his enthusiasm, and soon he forgot that he had a preferred rival, one full of merit. Upon his arrival at the Spaniards' barracks, Hernan Cortes was surprised by the beauty and noble bearing of the American maiden, in spite of his having been apprised about her beforehand. She accepted, with assurance and dignity, the gifts and attention coming from the leader of 22

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Hook One

the strangers; but she assured him that she would use none of those gifts so long as peace did not prevail between the two armies. An interesting and expressive conversation gave the American maiden the opportunity to manifest her clear talent and noble and straightforward character, and the skillful leader recognized immediately the advantage that he could obtain from his acquisition. So he dismissed all those present and, being alone with her, he addressed her with a kind and insinuating expression, wishing to know how she had met a man as noble as she believed Xicotencatl to be, not being from the same nation. To satisfy him, the American maiden spoke to him in this manner: "I am Teutila, daughter of Ocambo, who was once cacique of Zocotlan and of Ozimba, sister of Teutile, general of the armies of Moctezuma, from whom I took my name. My nation has always wished an alliance with the Tlaxcalans, because the demands and tributes imposed upon us by the government of Moctezuma are almost untenable, and the haughtiness and violence of his agents insufferable. Our location, so distant from the center of the empire, and our proximity to Tlaxcala have always made us lean toward union; but the agents of the government, and especially the emperor s troops, have committed atrocities against Tlaxcalans whenever they have come to our lands, thus fomenting and igniting hatred and rivalry between the two neighboring nations. "Notwithstanding, secret negotiations had been progressing considerably; my father had almost decided to shake off the yoke of Moctezuma, and we and the Tlaxcalans were beginning to look at each other as brothers when a senator from Tlaxcala, by the name of Magiscatzin, running along the savannas on a hunt, entered our territory and attempted to abuse a maiden, a relative of ours, whom he found alone tending a cornfield. That honest Zocotlan defended herself valorously against the insults leveled at her by that insolent man, wounding him many places on the face with her own hands. Although we did not know the name of that brazen man, he was identified by his feathers as a Tlaxcalan; however, my father refused to lay a charge on the nation because of the crime committed by one of its individuals and, entrusting vengeance to the gods, he took no action against the criminal, sacrificing the desire for just punishment for the promising hope of a future union. "As my father witnessed this generous conduct, Magiscatzin appeared before the Senate, still bloodied, and accused his peaceful neighbors from Zocotlan of having made an attempt on his life inside the borders of Tlaxcala. That sanctuary of liberty had never before been contaminated by untruth and slander; thus it is that the spirit of the fiery Tlaxcalans was 23

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Xkotkncati kindled and they voted for war and vengeance. Our borders were attacked and our homeland was soon covered in mourning and desolation. My father gathered his people and set out to meet the enemy; on the outskirts of Zocotlan, there was a bloody batde in which my father was wounded by an arrow through the throat. This sad news very soon came to us, who were praying to the god of the armies to favor us in this just cause. My mother and I went out onto the field to bestow our tender care on my unfortunate father, who was being carried on the shoulders of several braves. The venerable old man was unable to speak to us, but his hands and eyes showed us his affection and the consolation that he obtained from our loving care. "At the same time, a regiment of Tlaxcalans broke forward from the line, charged the escort guarding my father, surrounded us screaming in a disorderly manner, and butchery and terror enveloped us everywhere. Leading these troops was a young man whose appearance and bearing particularly caught my eye, in spite of my surprise. With a quick step and a serene face he approached me, his quiver on his back and a mace in his hand; he stood a short distance away and, in a voice that was sonorous and dignified, he exclaimed: 4Tlaxcalans! Do not besmirch your glory with the death of the vanquished. Our vengeance must be generous/ "His people obeyed him as if he were a god and, after tendering some orders, he turned to me, and spoke to me in the following manner: 'Who are you, oh maiden more beautiful than the morning star! who have been able to disarm the just anger of a Tlaxcalan?' " 'Monster!' I answered him, 'you dare call your ire just, when it is the natural offspring of an atrocious crime? Finish satiating your thirst for blood and wring out my soul which cannot stand your horrors.' "At that very moment, I saw my mother fall to the ground, unconscious; she had been wounded in the fray but, concerned with my father s situation and mine, had suffered her pain in silence until she succumbed to the loss of blood caused by her wound. A few moments later she expired in my arms and I was able to resist that fatal blow only animated by the few moments of life left to my father who, finally, succumbed to the weight of so many injuries; and when he closed his eyes forever, I fell to the ground unconscious. "When I came to, I found myself in the arms of Xicotencatl; he was the young man about whom I have just spoken to you; he led a division or regiment of the troops of the republic. This magnanimous warrior was sprinkling water on my breast, making me smell burnt feathers and rubbing my feet with furs. Even though I owed my life to his care, I was cruel 24

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Boofe Owe to him, insulting him again; immediately, I obstinately refused to say a single word in response to his affectionate care and honest protestations, and my anger grew more and more on seeing how he rose in my estimation, in spite of myself. "The laws of war condemned me to the fate of a slave, and, nevertheless, I made my way to the city of Tlaxcala, receiving from Xicotencatl the same solicitude and respect that I could have expected from my own kind. Shortly after entering the capital, I was led to the house of my young lord. I was calm concerning my honor; and I was not distressed by a state of slavery, which Xicotencatl s respect and solicitude made appear to be something not to be feared. It was my heart that alarmed me, for it was involuntarily burning with love for the young warrior. He introduced me to his father, who was elderly and blind, saying these words to him: 'Heaven fill you, my father, with as much happiness as this young Zocotlan that I am presenting you has grace. The fortunes of war have given her to me as a slave, but the one who commands the hearts of men has made her the master of your sons. Laden with glory, I find myself sadder and more downcast than any slave who ever found himself tied to the foot of the altar. The law forbids me from marrying an enemy and Heaven unites me with her, and to add insult to injury, this ingrate hates me, she detests me, she calls me a barbarian, a monster! Meditate, my father, to see if in your wisdom and experience you are able find some remedy against the injuries or consolation against the pain that your unhappy son is suffering.' "Xicotencad the Elderfilledhim with loving affection and, with a truly fatherly effect, bestowed such comfort on him and gave him such prudent advice that the face of the respectful son began to shine with a calm serenity that I had never seen before. Such is the uplifting effect of virtue, united to the fatherly affection and respect instilled by venerable gray hairs, that the impetuous character of a brave and conquering young man was transformed into the sweet meekness of innocence submitting to the advice of wisdom. "Be tolerant, stranger, let me pause, complacently, amid such interesting memories; perhaps they are the only happiness left to me. And I wish you had known this venerable, elderly man! Your heart would have been unable to resist the commanding power of all those virtues gathered in one man. "But, returning to my story, I remained alone with Xicotencatl, the father, and he ingratiated himself with such sweetness and with such prudence that I could only open my heart to him, asking him also for a cure 2-5

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Xfcotencatl

or some consolation for my unhappy passion. But who could describe to you the great anger that showed on his face when he learned from me about Magiscatzin's black lie? 'Oh, first cause that governs the world!' he exclaimed in a way that made me fall on my knees, overcome by a sacred respect, 'how can you allow such evil? Oh, supreme judge of all mortals! Law s sanctuary, the august temple of Tlaxcala s liberty, is sacrilegiously contaminated. Why is your revenge stayed? Innocent blood has watered the earth, and the villain who has made us spill it still breathes! Rest, my daughter; your weariness demands it and I need all my strength to meditate over the evil that threatens my son and my homeland even more.' "The following morning, the honorable elder summoned me and his son, and taking hold of his hand affectionately, spoke to him thus: 'Xicotencatl, Teutila loves you.' "Oh, how hard it was for the kind old man to contain the great joy that his son showed! He almost dragged his elderly father to my feet and he, after having allowed his son to give free reign to his passion for a short while, continued in the following manner: 'I think, my son, that it is not impossible for you to be happy. Heaven has given us our inclinations to make us unhappy. But it is necessary to be very prudent and to know how to control oneself so that unbridled passions do not drag us to well-merited unhappiness. Your situation demands more prudence from you than from anyone else and perhaps more than one should expect from you. Have courage, my son. Will you promise that you will know how to subdue your passions as a gift to your homeland and Teutila?' "Xicotencatl swore thus on his father's hands, on his honor, by his love and respect and filial affection. 'Well,' his father continued, 'listen to me until the end without interruption. Up to now, our country has been invincible because of its sense of justice and its virtues. The oldest citizens of Tlaxcala have never seen an injustice committed by their leaders, nor have they ever heard of a tradition that tarnishes the glory of those who have governed the nation; this spirit of rectitude has united us and has, to a great extent, made up for the defects of our system of government, because, what would happen to us, truly, if evil and ambitious men took over the Senate, given the fact that they serve for life? Well, there is no longer any unity in the Senate, my son. Magiscatzin, betraying his oath, has just committed the horrible crime of having been unjust and slanderous, and has made the Tlaxcalans the instrument of an infamous and criminal vengeance. My God! Do not take revenge on my homeland, forgive the innocent instrument, and discharge your anger on the iniquitous hand that directed it! And when does this unfortunate situation befall us, 2.6

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my son? When we receive the news of the taking of Tabasco and the defeat of its army by some strangers who, if those who say it are not lying, are superior to us in strength and arms, and they surprise and frighten peoples, as much by their strange knowledge as by their great vices, unknown in these climes. The nearness of such an enemy makes our disunity more fearful and fateful than ever. Magiscatzin has friends, and when gangrene settles in one extremity, the sickness has already more or less contaminated other parts of the same body. You know that those vague predictions promulgated until now by a false zeal for religion are beginning to be explained as directly applicable to those strangers. Perhaps up to now only the love for the magical has been the cause of those senseless commentaries, but woe to us if someone who is perverse wishes to take advantage of the credulity of the ignorant masses! These sad circumstances make me fear, my son, that they could bring a break and internal dissension. Without them, I myself would appear before the Senate and, with my last breath, would I sustain the accusation of that patricide, and even if it involved us in a civil war, the republic would recuperate and recover its vigor, after having pulled the rotten member up by the roots. Nevertheless, it is necessary to avoid, by all imaginable means, having that villain take any ascendant role in our councils. The general of the republic is aged and infirm; your valor has decided the ominous victory at Zocotlan, and we have agreed that he will today step down from his command, and we hope that our country will choose you to defend it. The honest Tlaxcalan band will be made stronger, and thus we will be able to better struggle against the evils that threaten us inside and outside our homes. We will immediately grant peace to our neighbors in Zocotlan, for they are asking for it, and, making Tlaxcalan generosity prevail in the Senate in competition with the kindness supposedly demonstrated by those strangers about whom we hear so much, we will propose, and undoubtedly Tlaxcala will agree, the liberation of all prisoners of war. In this manner we will practice justice as much as circumstances allow us and we will smooth out the road of our union with Zocodan, so tragically interrupted. Thus, also, there will begin to grow in you the hope that the day will come when, without disobeying your country's laws, you might be able to become Teutilas husband. The problems with which our country's common enemy will face us are certain to be great; but we shall face them with valor and constancy, and we shall place ourselves at the discretion of the worlds supreme governor, trusting in the purity of our intentions. I demand of you, my son, that you temper your ardor, that you suffer a monster like Magiscatzin with patience and tolerance, and this as a gift to 17

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Xkot&ncatl

your homeland and to Teutila, because both of them could come to be the victims of our quarrels if the torch of discord is lighted in Tlaxcala.' "'Sacred heaven above!' exclaimed young Xicotencad then. 'Until when are you reserving the bolts of lightning, if you are indifferent to so much abomination? And you, my country! and you, my beloved Teutila! both of whom I hold so dear, admit the sacrifice of my just anger, the greatest of sacrifices that could be exacted from Xicotencad. Oh father, do not abandon me; my fire requires your prudence, and your son will meekly follow the advice that comes from your wisdom. Good-bye, Teutila!' he said to me, taking both my hands in his, 'you are going to be free and only Xicotencad is a slave. My heart will follow you everywhere and it will beat for you until the last breath that I take. When these beautiful hands interweave the linden tree; when they spin the white cotton, less pure than your innocence; when they water the flowers, less fragrant and less delicious than your lips, do not forget that your Xicotencad lives because of you and for you.' "The elder interrupted this scene, already too touching for everyone, reminding his son about the duties that called him to other considerations. Everything was verified the very same day, as my dear Xicotencad s father had predicted. My compatriots chose Olinteth as their leader; he presented himself before the Senate to receive the peace being accorded him by Tlaxcala and to gather up the prisoners. "The moment of our separation came finally. Under such circumstances I could do no less than open my heart to the one who already reigned there as its only and absolute lord. I bestowed innocent caresses on him; my soul became united with his with a sweet kiss, and to mitigate somewhat the torment of our separation, we agreed that we would see each other frequently at the grotto near the border of the two nations where your men found me late yesterday. Since then, Xicotencad has come again and again, every morning at the break of dawn, to hear me repeat my promises, after having dedicated the day to the tasks impressed on him by his great responsibility. "The few instances when his duty has kept him from coming to see me, he has never failed to send me some friend with a flower or fruit, or some other sign of his affection. Only, since all of you came to this land, I have not seen him again, nor have I had news of him other than the arrows that the soldier saw this morning with me. Stranger, Xicotencad is at war with you and Xicotencad is invincible. If you wish to take my advice, try to speak with him, try to meet him, and you will see a brave, a gallant young man, but still more virtuous than valiant. When you know 28

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Book Owe him, you will love him, if you are not insensitive to the merit of virtue and valor. Give the commission to me; I will go as an ambassador, and, believe me, no one will receive as much from him as I will." While Teutila narrated the story of her love with frankness and simplicity, Hernan Cortes meditated on the great news that he was hearing. As a good politician, he especially turned his attention to a great project that the division and discord in the Tlaxcalan senate suggested to him and, all the while, with his eyes he devoured the young Americans attributes, which had made as much of an impression on him as they had on the honest Diego de Ordaz. Finally, after having lavished the finest attentions on Teutila, he ordered that she be given a comfortable room in his very barracks, thus keeping her as a prisoner under the guise of bestowing on her a gift. He immediately ordered that Diego de Ordaz leave with his reconnaissance company, or advance guard, and he designated for that service the officers who were not among those deserving of his absolute trust. Following that, he called together the other captains to a war council. Once they were gathered together, he said the following: "Fellow soldiers and brothers at arms: the Republic of Tlaxcala is preparing its forces against us; they are formidable, apparently, but I hope that, if fortune favors our destiny, a victory over Tlaxcala will assure for us the conquest of the entire continent. If you trust my prudence, I have thought over a vast plan that will help us powerfully to conquer any obstacle that might face us, no matter how extraordinary they might be, and that will remove great difficulties; but it is better that I not communicate it to you, if I am to hope to see it crowned with a successful outcome. "I have ample proof of your affection, which I have never doubted; but now I need more, when I want to lead you on a great enterprise along roads that I need to cover with that secret. Tell me, then, if I can count on your trust, and we will march to glory." Since Cortes, under the pretext of service, had culled out all those who might have the slightest misgivings, the council demonstrated its blind submission, and the journey set for the following day was agreed upon unanimously. The captains went on to make all preparations for the march, and before the break of dawn, Cortes entered Teutila s room and told her that, after having meditated all night on the conversation of the previous day, he believed that the most proper thing to do was to go in search of the brave Xicotencatl in his very country, where the latter, out of bravery and civility, would receive them well; that if she favored the enterprise, he 19

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Xicotencatl would hope that her mediation would favor the solid friendship that he was going to sincerely propose between the republic and Spanish arms. The innocent and simple American, who knew neither intrigue nor duplicity, acceded willingly to the foreign leader s proposal, readily placed herself in his hands, and, in this manner, avoided the scandal of potential confusion and the danger that the Zocotlans might attempt to oppose their violence, something that would hinder him too much in his plans. With the Spanish troops gathered at the outskirts of Jacacingo, Cortes ordered the Cempoalans and Totonacs who assisted him to set out, and he addressed them passionately in this way: "Fellow soldiers! The Tlaxcalans have not responded to our message. Eight days have passed since our ambassadors left the barracks, and one week is too long a term for our patience. Let us go ourselves to discover the cause for their delay. Fellow soldiers! Tlaxcala will be our friend or it will suffer the fate of Tabasco." After this brief, impassionate speech had concluded, the army immediately set out on its march.

30

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Hook Two

Among t\)e great disturbances experienced by civil societies, there are always certain phenomena removed from the center of the action that, like so many sparks released by the explosion of a volcano, light up or are extinguished far from the focus of the fire. So it happened that, influenced by the long wars that Spain sustained against the Moors, the nations usurpers, and from the military spirit that these wars had nourished in the Spaniards, these adventurers set forth on their conquest of western America. The difference in religion, which had become the motto and war cry in Spain, placing the combatants under the Holy Cross or under the Crescent Moon, also gave the warriors the spirit of evangelists, and they took as pretext for their adventures the propagation of a faith that they hardly knew and that they insulted with their conduct. Hernan Cortes, captain over those who left to subdue Mexico, was a young man of bold presence, possessing very clear talents and unique valor. He was born in Medellin, a province in Extremadura. At first a man of letters, the natural impatience of his genius made him turn from that career to that of the military, and in the year 1^04 he boarded a ship bound for Santo Domingo, with a recommendation addressed to its governor. But the tranquil security he found on the island did not befit his character and he moved to Cuba, where the people were still prepared for battle. There he was regarded as a brave soldier and a man of prudent and solid counsel, but his great reputation was founded on his generosity and amiable character. In Cuba he married a distinguished lady, dona Catalina Suarez de Pacheco. In his courtship he behaved with such imprudence that Governor Diego Velazquez was compelled to put him in jail until the celebration of the wedding, in which he himself served as best man. This new relationship procured Cortes the favor of the governor, who finally named him captain general of the armada and lands that he might discover in the West Indies. 31

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Xkottncatl Hernan Cortes immediately raised his standard; he appeared in public in the uniform of a general, something that enhanced his handsome appearance, and he spent liberally all that he could amass from among his friends in making the preparations for his enterprise. News of the enterprise was received with enthusiasm, as much because of what it promised as because of the natural gifts of its leader, so Hernan Cortes s departure from Santiago on November 18, 1518, was a real triumph. In Trinidad many distinguished individuals and a larger number of soldiers joined him; with the added reinforcement, his armada was considerable. At this point, Governor Diego Velazquez, distrustful of his behavior and even more of his great ambition, resolved to strip him legally of his title of captain general. As soon as Hernan Cortes received news of this order, he appeared before his soldiers, inciting them to avenge the insult being cast on their captain. The troops were resolved to defend him to the last man, and with this assurance he warned the authorities that they would be repulsed if they attempted to oppose the expedition. The public officials gave in to the tyrannical law of power, and Hernan Cortes continued on to Havana, where the same orders from Diego Velazquez to depose him had already arrived, but the authorities faced the same difficulties in their attempt to carry them out. Hernan Cortes had might on his side, and without it government is only an impotent and ridiculous phantom. Besides, he ordered that his artillery and his men be put ashore, demonstrating, under the pretext of a military review, that he did not fear the governor of the island, nor did he intend to attack him with the king's troops, as they were saying. Hernan Cortes, seeing thus that it was not the time for half measures, which are ordinarily the enemy of great resolutions, tried to look out for himself, employing the forces that he had at his disposal, as they might be needed,5 and removing Diego de Ordaz from Havana, for he was suspicious of him, presented himself before his soldiers, protesting against the persecution that threatened him. This action excited the people's enthusiasm, and they rebelled openly, insolendy threatening any authority that dared oppose their captains project. With the insurrection thus solemnly in the open, Hernan Cortes appointed his troops' corporals and, after having celebrated a mass to the Holy Spirit and selecting Saint Peter as the armada's patron saint, left on £. Solis, Historia, the part of this sentence from "Hernan Cortes, seeing thus" through "might be needed." 32

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Book Two

February 10, 1519, and headed for Cozumel. The army under his command was composed of 508 soldiers, 16 horses, and 109 others that included grand masters, pilots, and sailors, not counting two chaplains. The victory in Tabasco, due undoubtedly to the terror and novelty of their firearms, and mainly to the horses, unknown in those regions, gave his small army the reputation of being supernatural and invincible. The leader was able to take advantage of that first impression to win over the native chiefs, who were aggrieved under the tyrannical oppression of Moctezuma. His empire and the fame of his immense wealth were the only goal that drove Cortes s ambition and toward which he channeled all of his plans. In spite of the political skill with which he led them, and how much fate favored him, the majority of his troops rebelled twice against him, for being less ambitious and less committed than he was, they added to the difficulties entailed by his fearsome enterprise. On both occasions he showed his fertile genius for being resourceful: with a counterrevolution he put down the first revolt and, hypocritically refusing command, he had himself re-elected by the same ones who had supported him in his revolt. To put down the second mutiny he behaved with great harshness, employing all of the severe types of punishment that despots use to topple the heads of those who would overshadow them. Then he burned his fleet to take away anyone's hope of returning to Cuba and to strengthen himself for the enterprise that he had undertaken at the risk of his own neck. Such was the captain of the Spanish army that, united with the Cempoalan and Totonac troops, was marching to face the Tlaxcalans. When the people arrived before the great stone wall that traversed a valley between two mountains which fixed and fortified the borders of the Republic of Tlaxcala, Hernan Cortes was in awe of the fortress and the sumptuousness of the construction, which manifested the power and prudence of that state. It is indeed certain that the spirit which is truly republican has never been a conqueror. As soon as Hernan Cortes had set foot on the land of the republic, he charged one of his confidants to walk inland as far as he deemed fit and, at any cost, to bring him a Tlaxcalan, old or young, man or woman, delivering that person to his tent at night and with the greatest possible secrecy. Indeed, a poor old man was placed before him, and after receiving him with great attention, he spoke to him in the following manner: "Friend, if you love your country, it will not weigh upon you to render it a great service. That fiery young man who is at the head of the troops, with less prudence than audacity, is going to lead you to inevitable ruin, 33

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Xkotencatl

if wise and judicious advice is scorned. Go to Tlaxcala, friend, and with great secrecy tell the respectable Magiscatzin that nothing is hidden to my science; that I know how with what ardor he has sustained the cause of justice and how contemptuously his prudence has been underestimated. Tell him that I am going to avenge the insult to his honor, and that he should have courage and strength to sustain his cause with perseverance, that the gods protect him. Give him this ribbon from me and tell him that he should wear it around his neck and that he should not forget that he has friends who hold him in high regard." The kind old man betrayed his country, believing that he was rendering it a great service, and the message had the most fateful consequences. Since the republic had decided to go to war and Magiscatzin knew well the strength of his country and the talents of its general, his plans had become entirely disconcerted, for he supposed that the strangers would be defeated. Surprised that these strangers had knowledge of the innermost affairs of his government, and with passions so flattered by the gifts and friendship offered by Hernan Cortes, he conceived and adopted the traitorous project of causing his friends to rise up and rebel against the family of Xicotencatl, thus sacrificing his country to private resentments. Meanwhile the vanguards of both armies met, and the Tlaxcalans sustained the attack with such valor that they wounded some Spanish soldiers and five horses. Night interrupted the battle and the armies retired to take up positions. When Teutila saw Hernan Cortes in a farmhouse, where those who guarded the army's baggage had violently detained her, she complained about the oppression committed against her by those who guarded her, and she again proposed to him her plan to serve as ambassador to her beloved Xicotencatl. Terrible was the disillusion experienced by the fiery American when the answers given her by Hernan Cortes laid bare her true situation. An honest spirit feels mortal convulsions when it finds itself imprisoned by the bonds of cunning. "Monster!" she said to him. "You are more inhuman than a tiger and more vile and treacherous than a snake. How can you not be horrified by your impudence? Look at Heaven, whose justice threatens you. Tremble, you wicked one, tremble and shake. Xicotencatl s arm is rising over your head. But if it is interest that leads you, there is still time for you to obtain some benefit from your atrocious deception, and if I am not to be the mediator, let me at least be the offer of peace. With this price there will be no harsh conditions for the enemy that you are provoking, unless they be those that stain his honor or those that sell out his country." 34

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Book Two Kip*

In vain did the poor innocent woman, like a bird in its cage, look for a means of escaping from her prison. Fate had dictated its unfortunate decision and Hernan Cortes was not a man of the type that wavers in his resolutions. One of those taken prisoner by the Spaniards managed to trick his guards and gave Xicotencatl the first news that Teutila was in the hands of the enemy. Xicotencatl s noble heart had never opened to distrust, but he was in love; he learned that his beloved had been regaled and tended to and the most violent jealousy came to augment the passions that tormented him. The next morning, he placed himself at the head of all his troops and like a lion went out to meet his enemy. Nevertheless, with his country in his heart and with his fathers advice in his thoughts, this brave young man, who had always seen fortune on his side and who at the time found himself stirred by such violent passions, had serenity enough to contain himself until he had attracted his enemy to a plain, where his army awaited in formation. There he encircled them, dividing his troops into two wings that, like impetuous waves, enveloped the enemy everywhere, taking away the means of retreat. The Spaniards and their allies formed themselves into a square, solely as a way of defending themselves; but the attack that they suffered was so vigorous and so sustained that only by looking for a means of escape at all costs were they able to avoid complete defeat. That is what they attempted, and there developed such a bloody battle that the Spaniards' spirit and valor began to weaken as they saw the inevitability of their defeat. Yet fate had decided that valor, prudence, and patriotism should collide against the irresistible force of their decrees. Young Xicotencatl could almost touch with his hand the palm of victory and a triumph that would assure the independence of Tlaxcala, the liberation of Teutila, and the just warning and revenge against their enemies, when he received news of the death of almost all of his corporals and, wishing not to waste so many advantages in the disorder that was to be feared after such a mishap, he sacrificed all his passions at his country's altar and, listening only to prudence, called for withdrawal. The horns and kettledrums of the Tlaxcalan army, which were playing withdrawal, were obeyed as quickly as when they had called to attack, and the vanquished found themselves freed from their sad situation as if by magic and without impediment to withdrawal. They immediately occupied a neighboring community, which had been abandoned by its inhabitants, there to recover from their weariness and fortify themselves against an enemy that was so fearsome in the field of battle. 35

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Xkotbncatl

Meanwhile, in Tlaxcala, Magiscatzin was deep in intrigue, pondering the loss of the Tlaxcalan corporals in order to win over his relatives and praising the advantages of Spanish arms. Feeling sure of the support of the Spanish leader, he redoubled his machinations and, wrapping his duplicity in the mantle of patriotic zeal, culled out from the good cause many honest Tlaxcalans whose valor lacked the mettle necessary in such a crisis. During this present state of division, an allied cacique arrived in Tlaxcala with a rather large division, and the astute Magiscatzin was able to win him over, emphasizing the insufferable arrogance displayed by Xicotencatl and the dangers that he was going to be exposed to solely to increase the glory of that ambitious young man, entrusting him with the communication that he had received from Hernan Cortes. When both conspirators had agreed on his plan, the cacique went out with his troops to join the encampment. Magiscatzin proposed to the Senate that they ask the Spaniards for peace, but he was unable to have that body prevaricate to such an extreme. Nevertheless, he had enough influence to have hostilities cease for a few days. Meanwhile, Teutila sustained herself in her prison with a dignity that was in sharp contrast with the impudence of her oppressors. Fray Bartolome de Olmedo, a man of gentle disposition, and faithful as well to his state, was anxious to convert her. With this in mind, he addressed her one day in this manner: "How sorry I am, my child, for the sorrows that distress you! But it seems to me that God wishes to test you, so that you might seek Him from the depths of your tribulations and pray to Him. If you did not persist, if in good faith you offered to listen to Him, you would see He is the one that calls to you and speaks to you through me." "Be silent, do not blaspheme, stranger, for such deception is an impious discredit to your gray hairs. You, God s representative! Among you, the instrument of his word! Hypocrites! You are full of abominable vices. And you dare to call yourselves ministers of a god! I do not know if yours might be a being so evil and wicked that He deserves such worshippers; but I feel confident that you are the true enemies of the one who governs the world, because He is good from His very nature. But, finally, what will your god do to me in the midst of my misfortunes?" "He will console you when you believe that your afflictions are nothing more than His providence to test your patience and your submission to His unchangeable decrees." "No, stranger; you do not know God. A god who takes pleasure in my 36

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Book Two

humiliation solely out of a curiosity to know if I am long-suffering! If He is the one who governs over the world, what need does He have of proof to know one of the least of His creations? Nor what does it matter to His greatness that I conform or not to His decrees, which you yourself call unchangeable? I turn to God in my affliction, yes, and I do so with fervor; but it is to bless His justice and to console myself contemplating His just revenge, for if there are monsters like all of you, it is necessary that there be someone who might punish your crimes." Nothing was sufficient to dash or moderate the offended pride of the American; mistrustful, and with reason, of all Spaniards, her only moments of consolation were the ones she spent with dona Marina, who would accompany her in her prison. Dona Marina was an American, a native of Guazacoalco, who after several accidents of fate came to be a slave of the cacique of Tabasco. He gave her to Hernan Cortes, after the capitulation of her country, along with other slaves that he gave him as a gift. The fine talents and charms that she possessed attracted her master, who, after having baptized her with the name of Marina, gave her his love and trust in such a way that in a few days she went from being his slave to being his concubine and confidante. This last office she carried out with great advantages for Hernan Cortes, for the natives did not suspect in her the guile and deceit of the Europeans. She was able to employ corruption and intrigue more effectively, activities in which she made great progress. Hernan Cortes had charged her, particularly, with consoling Teutila in her grief and with winning her over with sweetness and pleasantness, to prevent at all costs harshness from dragging her to some desperate course of action, something that she seemed very capable of. Dona Marina consoled her, more with affection than with reason, being careful not to praise her tyrants and showing herself to be anxious to shake off their yoke. When faced with the greatest afflictions, the strongest spirits have need of consolation that might mitigate their suffering, and this need, which is so natural, causes them to be little scrupulous with the one that offers them such solace. Thus, unhappy Teutila fell into the net of her astute and false friend and gave in trustingly to her deceit, thus enjoying for some time the sweet illusion of an honest friendship and later suffering the bitter torment of seeing herself again deceived. Hernan Cortes was becoming concerned by the stillness and silence of the enemy, because Xicotencatl s withdrawal had left the impression that the campaign was still pending. As a result of these misgivings, and having learned that the Tlaxcalan army was camped just a few leagues away, 37

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Xicotencatf he sent Xicotencatl some of the prisoners that he had acquired, in the nature of ambassadors, entrusting them to say substantially the following: that he was sorrowfully aware of the injuries suffered by his people in battle, the blame for which was to be placed upon those who had occasioned it, having received with arms those who had come offering peace; that he again requested it, putting aside entirely the reason for his anger, but that if they did not lay aside their arms, and tried to delay him, he would be forced to annihilate them and destroy them completely, giving their neighbors a lesson in the name of his nation.6 A few hours later, the emissaries returned, punished by Xicotencatl for the insolence of such a proposition. They said that the Tlaxcalan general had spared their lives only so that they would carry his response to Hernan Cortes: That at the break of dawn they wouldfindthemselves in battle; that his aim was to take him and his dependents alive, to be placed at the feet of the Senate so that it might justly pronounce punishment for his attempt against the republic, and that he was notifying him, of course, so that he might have time to prepare himself, making it thus understood that he did not wish to diminish the value of the victory as a result of the enemy's being surprised. This brave response did not cow Hernan Cortes, because he never knew fear or apprehension, but it did put him on guard, and he did not disregard the warning nor scorn the advice.7 Thus he inspected his fortifications, redoubled his guards, and prepared to defend himself against his powerful enemy, against whom, he prudently felt, he did not want to march. But that same night the four Cempoalans who had been sent as ambassadors came to his barracks, having escaped from Calpisca and being favored by Magiscatzin and his allies. With this gift, and a shield exquisitely wrought of shell that accompanied him, Magiscatzin tried to demonstrate to Hernan Cortes that he could count on his obedience and affection. Tell that famous captain,'' said one of the Cempoalans,'' that I am not informing him extensively about the affairs of our republic because I have seen that, with his science, he is aware of the deepest secrets; that I am anxious, for the moment, to prostrate myself at his feet and to offer him the homage due him because of his superiority and his virtues; that I beg him to accept this shield, not because his valor might need it, but rather as my way of demonstrating my keen wish for Heaven to protect and defend him, and if he allows a man as inferior to him as I am to offer 6. Solis, Historia, the passage from "that he was sorrowfully aware" through "the name of his nation." 7. Solis, Historia, the passages in italic. 38

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Book Two

him some observations, that he consider them as an extension of my zeal rather than as warnings of which he has no need. Tell him that those of us who follow his cause have agreed with the cacique who commands the allied division that has freshly entered the field that, at the first opportunity that battle offers him, he will cause his troops to rise up against the Tlaxcalans, something that will provide him with complete victory, not easy to accomplish any other way; that Xicotencad is such a bold and terrible man in a confrontation that he makes us fear for his own life, because he does not reckon with danger and he is pleased to stand against the most frightening ones; that even after the defeat of the Tlaxcalan army is achieved, there will be powerful forces here that will always be his enemy, at whose head is the decrepit Xicotencad, an obstinate and stubborn man who has known how to create an inflated opinion of himself, imposing on the Tlaxcalans a ridiculous austerity and a hypocritical and affected gentleness; but with all of this, that I trust that I will defeat him and force the Senate, finally, to go to him on its knees to sue for peace." Thus informed of the favorable fortune that protected his enterprise, Hernan Cortes varied his plans; he left his barracks before dawn and selected a suitable place from which to defend himself advantageously until the moment came to attack with the assurance of victory. Diego de Ordaz remained to command the barracks garrison, since he still had not recovered from a wound that he had received in the last battle. His generous heart cried secretly over Teutila s slavery and his honesty shook before the unworthy abuse with which she was oppressed. However, his exaggerated ideas concerning military insubordination and fidelity to his vows were such that he would have sacrificed his life a thousand times before ever failing in his duties. Even though he was more and more in love with Teutila s natural gifts, he still had not made the slightest intimation of his love for her, held back on the one hand by his modesty and restrained on the other by the continuous vigilance exerted by Cortes through his chaplain and other trusted persons. He had also charged dona Marina, most expressly, not to leave her for a single moment during his absence. Nevertheless, dona Marina remained in bed under the pretext of being indisposed and had Diego de Ordaz summoned, implying that she had matters of great importance to communicate to him. It would be difficult to describe how surprised the honest Spaniard was upon hearing the open declaration of love emanating from dona Marina. She said to him that, as a slave and not a lover of Hernan Cortes, she detested his haughty domination; that her affection had been unable to 39

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resist the merit and natural gifts of a man as honest as Ordaz; that, were she free, she would not doubt for a moment in her election and would instantly abandon her oppressor to give herself totally to his inclinations; but that, not being able, in her condition as slave, to proceed according to her free will, she wished at least to steal from her tyrant any moments that she could, thus taking revenge against his oppression. "I do not know, Lady dona Marina," Ordaz answered her, "what answer I should give to a proposal of such a nature. If someone other than a woman had dared enough to thus insult my honor, he would have paid with his life for such audacity. But whether this be an artful intrigue which purports to show me as a vile and low libertine, or whether this be that you have the misfortune of having conceived such infamous sentiments, one way or another, Diego de Ordaz will always be honest.'* And immediately he turned his back on her, leaving her pride, her vanity, and her love piqued in the extreme. There is nothing so natural as the enthusiasm that is kindled in an honest lover and the kind of veneration with which he contemplates the virtuous object of his love when the world's stage requires him to play a role in these scenes of corruption and vice. The contrast of extremes that are so opposite elevates his beloved to the level of a divinity, and if there is anything in the world that might give us the idea of celestial joy, it is these moments during which a virtuous spirit gives in to the purest delights, overcome by sacred respect. Encouraged by these feelings, Ordaz entered Teutila's room and, without saying a word to her, sat down beside her, absorbed in his pleasant meditations. Somewhat moved by his modest and decorous bearing, Teutila said to him: "Are you coming to insult an unfortunate soul in the midst of her misfortune? Inhuman warden of my prison! Are you coming to take pleasure in my useless efforts to break out of it? And when—? When your barbarous companions murder, perhaps at this very moment, the most virtuous and worthy of mortals! Get out and free me from your presence, for I am unhappy enough even without it." "No, beautiful and unfortunate creature, I am not coming to insult you or oppress you; I am coming to admire your virtues, to take pity on you and to feel your pain, as you do, and I wish it were in my power to lessen it at the cost of my life! I come to tell you that your misfortunes make me unhappy. I come, finally, to tell you that my heart burns out of love for you, but it is a pure and respectful love such as has never excited the heart of a man. Yes, incomparable woman, Diego de Ordaz loves you, adores 40

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you, and he will love and adore you until the last moment of his life, without its being possible for him to ever hide this passion, as noble and pure as the beautiful spirit that has produced it—" "Bravo, bravo! virtuous gentleman," said dona Marina, interrupting him; "It suits you well to play the modest one in one room and to come to another, indignantly, to seduce a slave. Leave this place immediately." Ordaz, more horrified than fearful, fled from the presence of this woman, and she, immediately changing her tone and demeanor, counseled Teutila, with the kindness and interest of a fine friend, not to heed the perfidious insinuations of these strangers; that their corruptness aspired only to vilely abuse their simplicity; that if, unfortunately, she allowed herself to be seduced by the false kindness of his words, she would forever cry over the loss of her innocence, her honor, and her tranquillity, which was all that his perfidious affability aspired to. "Is it possible," exclaimed Teutila, "is it possible that these men can be capable of such falseness? That expressions as noble and honest and interesting could be proffered and expressed by someone who only speaks or acts when instigated by vice? Such a lethal art, Marina! What can we possibly believe if men can thus feign virtue and hide vice? How dearly these strangers pay for the advantages of their knowledge! How much more valued are our simplicity and ignorance!" Thus did Teutila console herself in her unhappy situation. And dona Marina, who had known well the temper of the spirit that she wished to trap in her nets, after she had left her prisoner somewhat becalmed, reproached Ordaz in a most friendly manner because of his lack of prudence in manifesting his passion to a woman who, kept prisoner by a powerful and fearsome enemy, perhaps might become a political victim. She told him that neither envy nor jealousy played the smallest role in this advice; that she scorned those vile passions, unworthy of a heart that had conceived others of a noble and generous nature; and that, finally, she would keep, and she advised him to do the same, the most scrupulous secret concerning his weakness and indiscretion because, if Hernan Cortes were to discover it, he would use it as a pretext to satiate his hate against Ordaz and the envy and jealousy that his merits and natural gifts had given rise to in the ambitious and haughty leader. This astute serpent had the skill of touching the ailing heartstrings of the honest Ordaz who, thankful for her useful advice, began to take pity on her for her going astray. Thus, dona Marina felt reanimated in her hopes of carrying out her amorous intrigue with Ordaz, her pride piqued anew by the jealousy brought on in her after the scene with Teutila. 4i

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Xicotewcatf Hernan Cortes did not wait long for Xicotencatl who, true to his word, appeared at the head of his army under a great golden eagle, the insignia and flag of Tlaxcala. The Tlaxcalan army attacked bravely and intrepidly, and in spite of the disparity in weapons and the advantageous position chosen by the Spanish general, such was the ardor displayed by the Tlaxcalans that, charging with all their forces against the Spaniards and their allies, they broke and dispersed them, completely undoing their formation. In the midst of the hard-fought battle, the cacique won over by Magiscatzin removed himself from the action. Xicotencatl moved rapidly and ordered him to attack a platoon of Spaniards that was struggling to assemble for battle, and the traitor not only disobeyed but turned the force of his division against Tlaxcala s troops as well. Other chiefs took the side of the mutineers and the entire army was involved in a complete revolution. Xicotencatl, leading his loyal troops, faced each and every one of the enemies, and through his valor and prudence, he managed to undertake a retreat which the Spaniards, due to the poor state in which they found themselves, were unable to prevent. Thus both armies retired to their barracks: the first, to recover from its losses, and the other, to reorganize in the midst of its disarray. The precipice, at whose edge the Spaniards had twice tottered on the brink of collapse and from which they had been saved by such a singular stroke of fortune, drove the army to mutiny, and it was being said within the army publicly that their leader should order the return to Veracruz, for it was impossible to advance, or they would carry it out, leaving him alone with his ambition and temerity.8 In the midst of this dangerous and difficult crisis, Hernan Cortes, the politician, was able to submit to the prevailing circumstances and, without heeding the angry resentment of his men, made use of the very force and valor of the same circumstances to persuade them; and with studied kindness, he made them see that they would be lost without recourse if they turned their backs not only on Tlaxcala, which would pursue them, but even on the friendly nations, which would at least abandon them during the retreat. But even though he calmed the discontent in this way, he would not leave his barracks, whose fortifications he augmented daily. In the meantime, Magiscatzin was moving his party forward and swelling his support within it, and it came to be so strong that the elder Xicotencatl sent his son this message via one of his supporters: "That, even 8. Soils, Historia, the phrase from "the return to Veracruz" through "ambition and temerity."

42-

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though the foreign enemies were almost defeated, those within were increasing in strength and the homeland was at the edge of the abyss; that it was to be greatly feared that the Senate would vote in favor of peace at the next session, in spite of the glorious outlook that a prosecution of the war presented to them." The brave Tlaxcalan general considered only his patriotism, and desirous of preventing the betrayal of the nation by the guardians of liberty, he resolved to take the enemy trenches by surprise, storming the barracks during the night. This last consideration was impracticable because of the absolute lack of preparations and machines for the assault and the lack of experience in this aspect of the art of war, unknown among those peoples, and the prospect of surprising them was not to be expected with a captain such as Hernan Cortes and given the rushed circumstances in which he found himself. And yet when has a true patriot s valor considered the dangers or weighed the difficulties of an enterprise? Nothing intimidated Xicotencad, neither the terrible artillery nor the defensive ditches or parapets; Xicotencatl had heard that the nation was at the edge of the abyss and he went out, at the head of his loyal Tlaxcalans, toward the enemy barracks, cloaked in the nights darkness. With unflagging valor, he embarked upon the assault at three different points, and the skill of the Spaniards, favored by the superiority of their arms and their being sheltered inside their fortifications, worked greatly to impede the favorable outcome of the enterprise. The following day, peace was agreed to in the Senate, and this body sent Xicotencatl the order that he suspend hostilities while negotiations were initiated. This treacherous resolution redoubled the patriotic zeal of the young general, who said to the emissary: "Tell the Senate that, for my part, if its prevarication and degradation sink so low as to abandon or sell out their homeland, my troops and I will defend it." And he determined to attack the enemy barracks again the following evening. In order to accomplish it with more intelligence he provisioned twelve or fifteen of his most trusted and well-disposed soldiers, and sent them in the guise of Tlaxcalan peasants, because Magiscatzin and his allies had forced those depending on them to take victuals to the Spaniards, thus beginning to ingratiate themselves to them. These spies were found out because they were betrayed by the agents of Magiscatzin who, having been aware of the planning of a new attack the next night, informed Cortes of everything. Cortes had the Tlaxcalan soldiers mutilated, and after having them suffer the torment of having their ears, noses, fingers, and 43

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Xicotencatl toes cut off, he was so cruel as to send them, thus, to their general so that they might tell him that he was ready to receive them. This horror, unequaled in those regions, sowed terror in the Tlaxcalan spirit, and at the same time, some emissaries from the Senate arrived in order to dissolve the army. The moment of terror favored this providential annulment of liberty, and Xicotencatl was forced to yield to the fatal force of necessity. The Senate immediately agreed to send a proud and magnificent delegation to Hernan Cortes asking him for peace in the name of the republic. The leader of the delegation, who had been instructed by Magiscatzin, assured him that the army would be dissolved and that its general would be removed, and he repeated several times that the Senate and people of Tlaxcala were anxious for peace, and that in seeking it no sacrifice would prove too costly. Hernan Cortes gave an ambiguous but insulting answer, openly conceding the same thing that he so much needed in his difficult situation. In this way he also took time to heal the wounded, of whom there were many, and to open more immediate negotiations with Magiscatzin. Once negotiations had been opened, Hernan Cortes insinuated to the Tlaxcalan traitor that he would be pleased to have Xicotencatl himself sent as ambassador. The young warrior had retired to Tlaxcala, intending to defend his homeland in any way possible and to ultimately sacrifice his life for it. But his honorable and prudent father informed him of the state of things in the interior and of the powerful allies that had joined Magiscatzin, finally saying to him: "My son, a civil war annihilates our homeland's liberty with no hope of its being regained, and it places Tlaxcala irretrievably in the hands of those strangers. Those who have been loyal have behaved bravely, and traitors are always as despised as faithful patriots are appreciated. If that foreign captain maintains an iota of respect for civic virtues; if he has some trace of honor and self-respect; if he is not a shameless, cheeky, and infamous monster, he will certainly loathe and despise the traitor Magiscatzin and his vile and miserable accomplices. "Prudence dictates to us, in our sad situation, that we make peace with them today; if they take good measure of their true interests and abide by what is just, they will comply with the conditions established and we will remain faithful to the treaties, first, because that is the way that justice prescribes it and, second, because with their friendship we are better prepared to fight our enemies within. If they were to renege on their oath, Tlaxcala would still have brave soldiers to defend it and Heaven will provide us with a more favorable occasion. 44

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"Now it is wise to enter into this agreement in good faith, forced by necessity and advised by prudence. To demonstrate this, and to avoid having a vile flatterer dishonor our Tlaxcalans, I have projected with those who are good that you be proposed as the republics ambassador, and I hope to have it approved by the Senate in spite of the traitorous influence of Magiscatzin. Be prudent, my son; true valor and patriotism demand that we sacrifice our passion, a deed sometimes more costly, more difficult, and more heroic than the sacrifice of our lives." Far from being opposed to the appointment of Xicotencatl, Magiscatzin was infinitely pleased to give Hernan Cortes proof of his blind obedience to the slightest insinuations of his will, and at the same time it did not weigh heavily on him also to be able toflaunthis influence in the state s government. The next day, a delegation composed of fifty Tlaxcalans presented itself before the Spaniards' barracks. Leading it was a young man of more than average height, slim of waist, of steadfast demeanor, who, because of his manly appearance and majestic expression of face, invited the respect of all those present. He was bedecked in feathers and jewels and dressed in a white cloak that he gracefully handled. It was Xicotencatl who, after the customary ceremonies, according to his nations etiquette, spoke in the following manner: "General: Tlaxcala, which commanded me to take up arms against you, today sends me to discuss peace with you, and Xicotencatl proposes it to you with as much frankness and good faith as he employed constancy and determination in war. The republic offers you clear passage through its land, and it will provide you with victuals in abundance and with generosity. As a reward, it only asks of you that you respect its gods, its women, and its properties." Hernan Cortes showed himself to be expressly appreciative and respectful with Xicotencatl and, doing something which he had never until then done with any other American, embraced him, praised his valor, and, after the conditions for peace had been fixed and sworn to, shook his hand, intimating great friendship. With the public mission being concluded so happily, Xicotencad asked Hernan Cortes for a private audience. Once they were alone, the European suddenly changed his affectionate and expressive appearance and acquired a cold and dry demeanor, as one is accustomed to seeing among a despots ministers, a change that he would have been able to impress on someone less spirited than Xicotencatl. He, without evidencing any change in his frank behavior, began the conversation in this way: 45

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"Tell me, general, what have you being doing with a Zocodan Indian maiden whom you have kept detained in your barracks?" "And who are you," the other answered him, "to be asking me for a reason for my behavior?" "Who I am, you already know; but I am asking you for nothing more than news about a person in whom I am interested." "You are putting forward your petition with such arrogance that I want, with evident disdain, to have you see the difference that I make between the general of Tlaxcala s armed forces, obedient to his government, and Xicotencatl, insulting the one whom, for so many reasons, he ought to respect." "All right; since you establish that difference, after the peace is ratified, the general of the Tlaxcalans will respect the captain of the foreigners, and Xicotencatl will seek you out and ask for a reason, whatever your name might be, since you must have a name. Good-bye." Hernan Cortes realized full well that the enemy that he had to fear was Xicotencatl; his valor, his virtues, his fame, and his name could at all times renew the same dangers from which he had so fortunately escaped under the shadow of a faction. Nor was it hidden from him that, no matter how large and powerful such a faction might be, sooner or later it will yield or encounter a nation s might and this might is invincible when it has a good head to lead it. In a word: Xicotencatl threatened his security in America, and his existence put his advantages in a precarious position! Thus, political expediency required the disappearance of Xicotencatl at all costs. To accept his challenge was impossible in Hernan Cortes s situation, although the latter did not personally fear an enemy as inferior in resources for a duel. Such were Cortes s reflections after personally meeting the Tlaxcalan general. As far as Teutila was concerned, he did not fear that in Tlaxcala he might be asked for a reason for his conduct since she belonged to another state, enemy of the republic, and thus he resolved to retain her and keep her as a kind of security whose value would increase as Xicotencatls love grew more ardent. Besides, her beauty had greatly impressed him, and Cortes was not the type of man who easily abandoned his projects. As he meditated over these things, Teutila entered and, with her customary serenity, said to him: "Stranger, everyone in your barracks is celebrating the peace that they assure me has been concluded between the republic and your army; I must, therefore, be free. Good-bye." "Before we leave," Cortes answered her, "I have secrets of great im46

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portance to communicate to you. Be patient, my ardent young woman, and be not so unbridled toward someone who only wants what is best for you. We will see each other before dawn." The unhappy American was unable to reconcile these expressions of affection with the tyranny that deprived her of her freedom, and she left, pensively, and went to her room. She, alone, was sad in the barracks; the soldiers were celebrating, with great rejoicing and fiestas, such an unexpected peace with a nation that was so fearsome and powerful, the corporals together in the leader s room even after the troops had retired in order to rest. Cortes had apprised dona Marina that he was going to retire from the meeting because of an important matter that would occupy him until shordy before dawn; that she endeavor to pleasantly entertain the officers and, that if he were missed, that she employ any plausible pretext so that no one could be suspicious of his absence. From the very day that dona Marina s declaration of love for Diego de Ordaz had been so ill received, she had measured her conduct with such a fine degree of dissemblance that, far from having let out the slightest insinuation of complaint or resentment, she used every means possible to demonstrate that she was embarrassed and repentant of her weakness. All this, together with the tenderness that she lavished on Teutila, had brought on a reconciliation with Diego de Ordaz, who was naturally good. He was, at that moment, participating in the general celebration in the leader s room and, involved in a game of checkers that he was playing with dona Marina, he did not notice the absence of Cortes. At the end of the gathering, dona Marina prolonged the game and Ordaz remained alone with her, thinking of nothing other than the board. The sound of a door was heard. Dona Marina stood up, frightened, took Ordaz by the arm, and, without letting him react, told him tremblingly: "Hernan Cortes is here; we are lost if he finds us here alone and at this hour." And this artful woman led the surprised Ordaz to a small chamber that barely held more than a bed, and she locked it, thus leaving her chaste beloved alone and secure. The only idea that preoccupied Ordaz at that moment was that of seeing himself hidden like a criminal who is escaping from justice so innocently and involuntarily. But what was he to do? There are situations in which all of an honest mans prudence cannot prevent his being dragged along by the torrent of fate. Meanwhile, dona Marina took care to tell the servants to retire; she put out the lights and returned to look for the little bird that she had trapped in her net. 47

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Xicotencatf "Hernan Cortes," she said to him tremblingly, "is sleeping in that outside room, but he has to leave before dawn and you will be able to leave without being seen by anyone. I am so sorry not to be able to remain, myself, someplace else! But necessity forces me to inconvenience you. Yes, friend Ordaz; tonight you will know that the lesson your virtue gave to me has not been lost and that, if I once was weak, now I will be able to contain this fatal passion that torments me. Oh! I don't know why I'm so frightened—my heart wants to leap out of my breast." The room was small and poorly lighted; they had to speak to each other closely so as not to be heard. Ordaz was young; dona Marina was beautiful and kind, and—too late did the honest Ordaz come out of his lethargy and he was covered with shame. "You scheming and seductive woman!" he said to her. "You have finally abused the honesty of Diego de Ordaz. Open the door for me, because I prefer to expose my life to a thousand dangers rather than to the shameful situation to which you have dragged me." Doiia Marina, whose ego was deeply wounded, said to him, furiously: "Go on, you ridiculous Cato! Be afraid of a woman in love, whom you insult as you leave her arms. Her love affords you new pleasures, and her anger and disdain threaten your head." "Let me never see you again and any misfortune will be bearable." Thusly did poor Ordaz leave, paying very dearly with his remorse and shame for a weakness so difficult to defeat at his young age and under such circumstances. Teutila awaited, immersed in her sad reflections, for the important news, announced to her by Hernan Cortes, and he, surprising her amid her deep meditations, sat down next to her and spoke to her in the following manner: "Beautiful American maiden! Heaven does not wish for you to be unhappy; it has a great destiny for you. Your beauty and your charms do not deserve to be buried where they cannot be admired or envied. Alone in your severity, you reject your happiness." "Your words flatter me, stranger. I wish your heart were in harmony with them." "My heart! You've conquered it, Teutila. And this is one of the things that I wish to communicate to you: I am incapable of resisting the invincible inclination that your merit has produced in it. Who can look at you with indifference? And who can know you without feeling the finest affection for you? Believe me, dear Teutila, the expression of my affection is as sincere and true as you are beautiful and proud." 48

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"All right, then, if that is the way it is, why do you not let me go in search of my Xicotencatl?" "Xicotencatl, Xicotencatl! That barbarian doesn't deserve you." "Stop, stop, stranger, and do not insult that heroic man if you want Teutila to listen to you." "And why do you reject in such a way the affection that you have been able to introduce into my soul in spite of your insults?" "No, I am not rejecting you; on the contrary, I am heartened to know that you esteem me so, because this proves that I am deserving and of value in your opinion. But to believe you, I am asking for one thing that you cannot deny me without being the most detestable tyrant: my freedom." "And you would depart happily from among us, leaving me with such sorrow, in your absence, that I would lose my peace, my happiness, my health, and perhaps also my life? Your smile is so precious! There's such a lively fire in your beautiful eyes! Just a glance from you can make the most wretched mortal happy. And you wish to leave me?" "How little you know Teutila if you think that the memory of all the suffering you have caused me can be stronger than how much I esteem your friendship! Acquiring a friend is never too costly. But I repeat: give me back my freedom." "You aren't averse to being my friend?" Cortes offered his hand to the modest American maiden and she, not suspecting what the end of such a long introduction would be, took it affectionately and said to him: "Since we are friends, tell me: where is Xicotencatl? What is he doing? Why is he not here? Let me go and look for him, and I myself will introduce him to you." Cortes brought her hand to his lips and said to her with feeling and ardor: "How could I deny you anything? Everything, everything that you desire will be little in exchange for the lone favor my affection asks of you." "What is it that you want? Speak and explain yourself; in the state that I am, I cannot divine what it is that I might be able to do for you." "Doesn't your heart tell you?" (and still with Teutila s hand held tightly between his own, and kissing it over and over). "I do not know why you insist on tormenting me. If I knew I could perform some good deed, what could possibly keep me from the sweet satisfaction of making a man happy?" "You alone are capable of making me happy." 49

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Xfcottncati

"Tell me how." 1 ' By falling into my arms—'' Hernan Cortes threw himself at her and she backed away, horrified at discovering in his actions what in her innocence she had been unable to see until then. "Immortal gods!" she exclaimed. "Cast this wretched creature into an abyss; let my body be captured by birds of prey or, dragged by torrents, let it be abandoned to the oceans waves, but free me from this monster. How could I have offended you for you to punish me with such cruelty? Tell me, barbarian, is this what your affection is? And you are the one they call a hero! You, Tlaxcala s friend and ally! Damned be the hour that saw you born! What beast gave you suck? In what kind of hell have you learned such hypocrisy and such evil?" "Enough, enough, insolent one; my patience is wearing thin. Listen, wretch, to the one who holds your fate in his hands: either be indulgent or you'll never be free, unless it be to atone for your arrogance through the most horrifying death. You choose." "I do not need to vacillate for a single moment. We are going to die." "You, die? Not while my heart burns out of love for your beauty. I'll tire out your constancy, and that haughty resistance will give way to my continuous and passionate doggedness." "Your touch horrifies me; if you want to see me with some degree of tranquillity, continue with your insults and your threats, wound and tear apart your victim, because although I detest you as a tyrant, you are unbearable to me as a lover." Dona Marina, who could not rest from the furious confusion she had been left in by the dire end to her gallant adventure, happened to drop by to see Teutila and put an end to such a terrible scene. Hernan Cortes composed himself quickly and advised dona Marina not to leave the poor young American maiden alone. Diego de Ordaz tried to escape from his own tribulations, and like a timid traveler whom robbers have just let go free, he wandered around the barracks aimlessly and without purpose. Slowly the dawn air began to refresh the volcano that burned in his head and breast. Fray Bartolome de Olmedo found him under these circumstances, and both carried out the following conversation as they strolled: "It seems to me, dear Diego, that now you can only recognize God's particular providence, which protects us so pointedly. You have already seen that on two occasions, when our army was defeated by the large army, a miracle from heaven saved us, and Providence is now leading us, 50

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finally, to victory when, according to poor human reason, we should have been defeated/' "I do not deny that we have had an extraordinarily happy situation because, at the critical moment of our defeat, we saw the enemy retire suddenly and unexpectedly. But, undoubtedly, these events have had a cause, which we are ignorant of and which I want to learn about, because I fear that its discovery will tarnish our glory and wither our laurels. Perhaps we would also not be able to reconcile it with that special providence that you are talking to me about. I now recognize, and I have always recognized, the wise and beneficent providence that the Universe has ordered, with immutable laws obeyed by all the phenomena that we see as well as by all of those that are hidden from us. But I cannot bring myself to believe that the being that presides over nature might be concerned particularly about such minutiae, in a way that is so arbitrary, and sometimes so incompatible with his kindness. If you understand, then, by this particular providence in our favor, that in the immutable order of things, and in the uninterrupted chain of natural causes and effects, we have been touched by links and phenomena that are very advantageous to us according to our wishes, there is absolutely no doubt about it. And if you call these events miraculous, that is to say, admirable, because we do not know the causes that have produced them, we are in perfect agreement. But I resist anything that goes beyond this." "What are you saying, Ordaz! The Catholic Ordaz does not recognize God s special providence in everything without exception! Be aware, my son, that it is an atrocious lack of faith not to confess that even a leaf on a tree does not move unless it is the express will of God." "If that were so, to the letter, it would be impossible to reconcile what happened to me last night with the kindness and wisdom of God. My God! You, the author and willful arbiter of all of the actions of the lewd and fatal scene in which I have had the misfortune to play a role! But let us conclude a matter that is too profound for me. What do you say of the violent manner employed by our captain to keep the young woman a prisoner?" "Duty to the king probably demands it, and the one who has the authority surely has his motives for that; it is not for us to question it." "So we should not examine the conduct of our leaders, and our duty should be reduced to an obedience as blind as that of a machine to the agent that moves it?" "There is not the slightest doubt that loyal Spaniards have always obeyed their kings in that way and the authority that arises from them." 5i

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Xkotencatl

"So, in other words, if Hernan Cortes perverted certain points of faith, as we have seen him do with customs, and ordered us to adore a crocodile, are we to obey him blindly?" "Not that; God is first. His holy doctrine must yield neither to kings nor sovereigns on earth who, no matter how great their power might be, are in God's presence no more than miserable and mortal sinners." "Well, that same God commands us to defend oppressed innocence, not to ever be the instruments of injustice; in one word: to fulfill the duties of morality sanctioned by religion. If this, then, is evident, the duty of obedience to authority is reduced to a reasonable and just obligation imposed on us by society for the common good, but without damage to the duties that God has engraved in our hearts." Reveille, being played for the last time in the Spaniards' barracks, interrupted the two friends. Well into the day, the army set out, marching to the city of Tlaxcala, which Hernan Cortes entered with all the appearance of a great triumph, the twenty-third of September of 1^19. He had laid out his forces in a way that would be as ostentatious as possible in the arrangement of his artillery and horses; the soldiers marched with great precision, dressed with care, their weapons shining brightly, and drums and cornets played a resounding march, everything for the sake of pomp. The army was followed by the baggage and the special guard that looked after Teutila and dona Marina and, finally, came the Cempoalans and Totonacs, allies of Cortes. The Senate sent a commission to receive the army at the doors to the city, and Hernan Cortes and his officers entered the reception room. The elderly and blind Xicotencatl, as dean and presider, made the following rousing speech: "General, the Republic of Tlaxcala boasts that it observes with the most scrupulous fidelity the treaties that it never agrees to without a great deal of consideration and reflection. Justice is its fundamental law, and love of country molds its spirit. Ninety years of personal experience and the tradition of my predecessors have not presented me with a single instance that might contradict these virtues, and here are the guarantees that Tlaxcala offers you with regard to the treaty of friendship that it has celebrated with you. "Believe me, general, without my being persuaded that this friendship will benefit the public good, you would not have set foot peacefully on our territory while one Tlaxcalan remained alive. We hope that, for your

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hook Two

part, you will not wish for us to have an advantage over you in generosity and justice. "The respect for our gods, our women, and our properties that you have sworn to so solemnly has dissipated the slightest shadow of distrust in the magnanimous Tlaxcalans, and you can expect from them everything which does not compromise their honor or show itself to be prejudicial to their nation. Come, then, without any mistrust, among your friends and begin to put their frank promises to the test. Tlaxcala hopes to see you among her children, bedecked in the regalia of peace, after you have hung your weapons and machines of war on a silk-cotton tree." Hernan Cortes answered thus: "Venerable elder and other senators of Tlaxcala, the general of the forces of the king, our lord Charles V (may God bless him), is cognizant of and congratulates himself for the good faith with which the Republic of Tlaxcala has established peace, led finally, after its having become lost, to reason and self-interest. He will be among you without any mistrust or fear, as you can expect from one who has known neither among those in your armies. "He will be no less faithful than you to his oaths; his observance of them is prescribed to him as it is to you by justice, and also by the holy religion that he professes, which is the only true and divine one. But he will be unable to please you by laying down his arms, which are unique attributes that belong to him since he took on his honorable profession. This is the custom of our country, where a soldier appears with his arms even in God s temple. Nor should you be struck by our continuing to live in our homes the same sort of life that we do on the field of battle; we are the king s soldiers, and when he has no enemies to vanquish, we train for the time when he might have them." The Senate prepared a spacious building as lodging for the Spaniards, where they could all be comfortable, and had it provided abundantly with all types of products of the hunt, with extraordinary and exquisite fruit, with some clothing and curiosities of scarce value; but the best that the republic gave was of itself, being closed to commerce with other regions that produced gold and silver. As a greater gift, each of the senators had prepared some refreshment at home so as to thus begin the union and friendship that had been agreed to. The invitation to Cortes was proposed; but before the house that awaited him could be designated, he interrupted the one who was speaking, and said to him:

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XicoUncatf "Now that Tlaxcala wants our peace and friendship, I must distinguish from among its sons the one who might have been the first whose wisdom foresaw the will of his nation and who voted for peace in the Senate." Magiscatzin paid tribute to him, and Cortes went into his house with all the Spanish and allied officers, saying that this was the use and custom in his country. In this way he began to encourage the rebels, snubbing the patriots, but concealing his conduct under the guise of his astute pretexts. Teutila had flattered herself with the belief that upon entering Tlaxcala she would see her beloved Xicotencatl. He, in turn, had fostered the same longing, and with such a hope he left the Senate immediately at the conclusion of the reception ceremony. But Hernan Cortes, who had anticipated his wishes, ordered the guard to retire to the barracks during the ceremony. The unhappy Teutila, a slave of Tlaxcala for the second time, found herself comparing, in the midst of her sad meditations, the difference and contrast between her first and gallant love and her last, despotic oppressor.

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Hook T^ree

All nations have \)a& eras of

glory and debasement, and sometimes they have gone from one to the other of these extremes so quickly that on turning from one historical page to the next it seems to the reader that he is examining another century and another people. The philosopher who examines these events with impartiality finds the cause in the influence that virtues and vices have on all peoples. Thus did the wise and elderly Xicotencatl, who saw in Magiscatzins crime the first symptom that threatened the health of his nation, direct his attention and efforts to revive public virtues and to paralyze the corruption of those who had sold out to special interests, making the most deepfelt sacrifices to this end. To his son he said: "In the sad and critical situation that our nation is in, we must aspire, as much as is possible, to keep the honest people of Tlaxcala from the insults committed against our customs by an unbridled soldiery and the treacherous arts of the deceitful, undoubtedly protected by the general of those foreigners, because those bad examples are contagious. "In the meantime let us be alert to attack the patricidal faction at the first sign of weakness. Let us be tolerant of the respect that they still feign to show to public decorum; let us complain gendy against attacks, assuming them to be isolated cases, without accusing their champions, and let us fortify our side, keeping those that honesty still maintains true to the nation sflags.These still reflect the majority in the nation and if, as I think, the foreigners attempt to penetrate into Moctezuma s states, we will offer them an auxiliary army, with which we will help them, if they are faithful to their treaties, or we will fight them if they betray them. "This measure is becoming more necessary since, as you see, their leader is beginning to want to oppress us. To be truthful, he would like to repress his soldiers' license, because those who are ambitious want to

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Xkotencati

be the only ones who know no curbs or measure; but, my son, this is impossible for a leader, if he himself does not show by example. The manner with which he receives our friends and neighbors who come to offer him their allegiance seems to be more that of a sovereign who accepts the homage of his vassals than that of an ally to whom one offers equal and frank friendship. "Until now, he has not dared make any attempt against our religion, but his speeches are scandalous and can be seen as threats, contained only by the little respect that he still has for his pledges. This conduct proves to us, also, that he still fears us, and we must never lose him from our sights, always prepared to be just with him and always alert to defend ourselves. What I recommend most to you, my son, is that you be moderate and not allow yourself to be carried away by your ardor, losing yourself and with you the health of our nation." Hernan Cortes stopped in Tlaxcala for twenty days, and in that time received all of the caciques of the republic and allied nations, as if, in effect, they were coming to offer homage, extending a public document of their submission to King don Carlos of Austria. The large population of the republic and the spirit that reigned in it kept him from toppling and destroying their places of worship, and even his most passionate historian tells that the chaplain made it clear to him, telling him, with religious fortitude, that he was not unscrupulous in the matter of the force that had been used with the Cempoalans, because violence was not in keeping with the Gospel, because in substance it was like toppling the altars and leaving the idols in their hearts, and the enterprise of converting those people required more time and gentleness, because such twisted methods to make the truth known were not a good way to let them know their deception.9 At this time Diego de Ordaz befriended Xicotencatl, and these two honest and brave men held each other in great esteem when the differences in their respective situations and the gnawing disgust that tormented the Tlaxcalan permitted it. After knowing each other for a few days, they had the following conversation: "I cannot conceive," said the American, "how some men who undoubtedly are courageous, and some of them also virtuous, can be submissive to a despot who, the more powerful he becomes, the more he tyrannizes you. Government by one does not seem to me to be bearable 9. Soils, Historia, the part of this paragraph from "made it clear" through "their deception."

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Book Three

except among peoples whose ignorance makes them incapable of looking out for themselves or whose vices and degradation make them insensitive to oppression. This government has, for me, the great inconvenience of the natural propensity of man to abuse power, and when one individual s power is dominant, there are no laws other than his will. Woe to those whose happiness depends on the virtues of one man alone!" "In part you are right, Xicotencatl; but the kings of Spain have led us to glory and great deeds; under their rule we have fought against and defeated powerful enemies and subjugated immense nations; and since we are beginning a discussion, the word 'king' is one with all that is great, useful, and good. Consequently, a Spaniard s honor is identified with his fidelity to his king." "That, friend, is my great argument in favor of our popular government, but which does not have the inconvenience presented by your practice. Under the umbrella of our laws, we follow along the road of virtue and glory, and with them we have bound all there is that is good in society. These laws, this order and arrangement of what is required by the common good, cannot be detrimental to us unless such laws are wrong in and of themselves. But a king is a man; he has passions and can get to be a monster. Look at what is happening to that great Mexican empire. Moctezuma was virtuous, with an honest heart and with great generosity, and this same man, now at the head of twenty different and powerful nations, has become a haughty tyrant; he has forgotten that he is a man, and his extreme harshness makes him be the scourge of his peoples. Those who are bad join him; the good become corrupted and evil is irreparable, or if it is not, it exacts incredible convulsions, blood, and horrors." At this time the elder Xicotencatl entered and, joining the conversation, said to them: "It is difficult, my children, for you to agree on the subject that absorbs you. The ideas that you have received in your mothers' milk are diametrically opposed. Believe me when I say that all forms of government have their advantages, and even more their inconveniences; but from what I have been able to gather about that other world, where men know more than we do, there, as here, corruption and vice are the death of states in the same way that virtues form their lives and their vigor. "A man who has absolute command can oppress and mistreat his people; but if these people are virtuous, injustice will irritate their honest resentment, and they will know how to take in hand a noble and efficient vengeance, using their natural rights. But if these same people fear endangering the few assets left to them by their master, if they compromise 57

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Xicotencatf with the one who enslaves them, their vices and degradation, the only causes for their submission, will make them well deserving of their fate. "Similarly, in the republics, whose weakness is uneasiness and discord, so natural to humankind, if the mass of the nation is just and honest, those hindrances to their joy will dissolve like smoke; the differences will produce some scenes of movement, but the first danger will unite those people who do not let themselves be dragged along by passions and vices, taking sides and forming factions, and will make them invincible. If such factions come to be formed, it is an infallible sign that the nation is more or less ailing, but it will not succumb until after it has become corrupted. "Friend Ordaz, you have that young man before you. His valor is manifest, and his passions have all the force of his strong spirit. His dear woman, the beloved person who was to sweeten his days, is shamefully oppressed; it would be easy for him to attack her prison by surprise, and he would not be lacking any braves to help him. But he also has his country, and he knows that he must sacrifice his passions for it, and this suffering and this conformity, which I view with as much sorrow as admiration, make me see that Tlaxcala still has life and vigor." The end of this oration moved the young Tlaxcalan general who, remembering his private conversation with Hernan Cortes, went to seek him out immediately, having resolved to ask after Teutila. Teutila, for her part, suffered her sad fate by insulting her oppressor whenever he came near her, and her noble spirit absolutely refused to accept the mistrust and suspicion with which her astute tyrant attempted to trouble her. Hernan Cortes had charged dona Marina that she should endeavor, employing guile and kindness, to make Teutila distrust Xicotencatl, taking advantage, for that purpose, of the conversations that she might have with him, for he had also charged her with observing and spying on his thoughts. But since intrigue does not always succeed in fulfilling its objective, this time it produced an effect contrary to that which Cortes had proposed. Dona Marina knew well how much her own interests would be harmed if she were to destroy Teutila s love, and so she only advised her not to allow herself to be seduced by sweet words or the virtuous words coming from the Spaniards, who, skillful in deception, only tried to mock their victims' trust. And as if she did not know Xicotencatl, she expressed sorrow for her in her passion, remaining silent about him in such a way that it implied approval of their love. Xicotencatl, who had entered the room of Hernan Cortes, was admitted for a meeting that the latter could not deny him without causing a scandal. 58

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Book T&ree "I believe, Cortes," he said to him, "that I have fulfilled all of the expectations required of my destiny and yours, and it seems to me that the Spanish captain will not have any complaint about the Tlaxcalan general. Now, Xicotencatl has come to see him, well informed that, among all of you, custom requires a challenge, even though your laws forbid it, not the only contradiction that we see among men who deem themselves to be perfect. Tell me, then, with all frankness: where is Teutila? What is she doing? Why do you not free her? And if you refuse to answer me, give me satisfaction with arms, which you will be able to choose from among mine or yours.'' "Imprudent youth! My respect toward the high duties of my office saves you from paying dearly for your arrogance. Know once and for all that you will never see Teutila and that I will not suffer your insolence again." And Cortes left, leaving Xicotencatl fuming out of anger and defiance. Thus dona Marina found him, and, amid innumerable displays of affection, she began, with guile, to touch the most sensitive wounds in his heart and to provide consolation to him in vague and general ways, something he needed so much at that moment. "Are you still," he said to her, "are you still an American? Does the flame of love of country still burn inside you? Or have you been corrupted and contaminated by these mens magical arts, arts that upset all ideas of what is just and unjust, good and evil? Answer me frankly." "No, friend; fate has made me its slave, but my reason knows them and my heart detests them. Woe is me! What would you have me do without support, without defenders, without friends, without family, alone and abandoned by everyone? I endeavor to instruct myself, in case I can someday be useful to my people and to atone, through my future conduct, for the criminal appearance that my life exhibits today." A young and beautiful woman, with no support whatsoever! A woman who, in her enslaved condition, knows and loves virtue! What a great and noble goal for Xicotencatl s compassion! He assured her, with generous enthusiasm, that, if by risking his life he could procure Teutila s freedom, he would not doubt for a moment that he would set out to achieve it. And since the distance between compassion and love is not great, the brave Tlaxcalan slowly fell into the web being spun by his able and astute compatriot. In one word: without ceasing to love his Teutila, he fell in love with the graces with which dona Marina had beautified herself in her dealings with the Europeans, and speaking with one about the other, he spread his passion toward the two of them. 59

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Xicotencatf Doiia Marina quickly recognized her conquest, which she endeavored to maintain without compromising herself, with the idea of finding in any event a refuge in her misfortune. Ordaz was the only idol in her heart, the same man who despised and loathed her, but she was sure that she would be able to compromise him again, hoping to break down his reticence by dint of repeated defeats. With this goal in mind, she would speak to him about "poor Teutila," and since she was the only one who could provide him with the opportunity to see her and speak with her, his love for Teutila forced him to enter into transactions with the greatest enemy of his pure and selfless love. In this way good Ordaz had the consolation of seeing his beloved American for a few moments; and she, in spite of all the preventative measures taken by dona Marina, treated Ordaz with appreciation and friendship. His love was so respectful and prudent that it did not awaken the slightest alarm in a woman whose situation ought to make it so suspicious to her. During one of these meetings, Teutila was talking about her beloved Xicotencad. She took great pleasure in praising his valor, depicting his hunting of wild beasts, his great presence when facing dangers, and the serenity with which he confronted the greatest of them, all this with such interesting and vivid color that Diego de Ordaz remembered with some flush the manner and circumstances of his finding her in the grotto near Xacacinango. From there he went to the house of Xicotencad, where he usually stayed whenever his duties permitted it. The conversation then was about the Popocatepetl volcano, which at the time was spewing out a great and frightening column of smoke with such intensity and violence that it rose directly for a great distance without being affected by the winds that are strong along those mountain ranges. Those present were then discussing the worries of the people of the nation, who felt that the burning material being spewed out by the volcano were the spirits of the tyrants who were coming out to punish the earth. Diego de Ordaz knew well that such worries always have some source, even among people who are distinguished by their education and talent, and inspired by the praise that he heard concerning Xicotencad s valor, he was unable to resist the desire to set out, voluntarily, on a course of action that, as much because of its very danger as because of the religious prestige that augmented it, would make his bravery stand out before his beloved Teutila. He instantly ran to Hernan Cortes to ask that he be permitted to do reconnaissance around the volcano's crater. Cortes allowed it with little 60

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Book Tl?ree

consideration because exposing Ordaz to possible death, he risked the reputation of the Spaniards, for the existing worries would make his misfortune seem to be punishment from Heaven before such impious temerity. But passion is not commonly the best purveyor of good advice. Ordaz obtained permission, due perhaps to the greatness of the danger, and its good outcome gave him the reputation of being brave and the glory of having set out on such a risky enterprise. His friends accompanied him up to the middle of the mountain, remaining in some chapels of the country's gods where the serviceable road ended. Some filled with fear and others with envy, they all watched him climb, carried by the wings of his love, up the most precipitous section of the mountaintop. A less spirited man than he would have been intimidated by the roughness of the terrain, where he could hardly set foot, and much more yet by the occurrence of a horrendous commotion at the very moment that he was climbing and an explosion so great of burning materials that he had to take shelter under a boulder during a shower of hot ashes that almost suffocated him. But Ordaz was not a coward and he was in love. Teutila loved brave deeds, and he continued onward with great daring up to the volcano's mouth. From there, he examined its depths. He then walked around the crater, which must have been around a quarter of a league in circumference, and he descended to receive applause and cheers for his bizarre deed. One simple word of approval from Teutila was for him the greatest and most flattering reward. His friend Xicotencatl expressed to him, as soon as he was able, the pleasure with which he had seen him conclude his risky enterprise unscathed. "These worries," he added, "which are covered by the mantle of religion, demand great prudence to combat them. More than once, I have wished to climb the mountain and my father has stopped me, not because of the risk I might run, but because for such an enterprise it was necessary to demonstrate that one shows disdain for the worry that one has for what is sacred, and for this there was lacking a motivation that could justify our little respect for general opinion. But tell me: what motivation have you had to risk your life needlessly in such a way?" Diego de Ordaz was incapable of lying, and in giving his answer, he informed him of his love for Teutila, for whose appreciation and esteem he had alone exposed himself to such a risk. He immediately related to him extensively everything from their first encounter in the cave to the last conversation that he had with her, without even hiding from him the frank and noble declaration that he had made to her. Xicotencatl listened 61

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Xicotencatf intently to the entire story, to which he responded only with a deep and long sigh. After a brief silence he bade his friend Ordaz good-bye, calling on him, affectionately, to meet the next day to continue their conversation. Xicotencatl searched out his father and spoke to him in the following manner: "Could it be possible, my father, that relationships with those strangers are contagious? Entirely new things are happening inside of me. Your son has just heard from another man that he is in love with Teutila, and his soul has remained serene after this discovery. I do not know whether it is due to the virtues of good Ordaz or if it is something unknown that has produced this phenomenon. "What is certain is that Ordaz loves her; he himself told me so, and, far from having jealousy indispose me against him, I have looked upon him, on the contrary, as the best protector that Heaven could possibly send her in her horrible enslavement. If she were to be in love with him, it seems to me that I would give her up to him without great sorrow, if in your prudence you judged that in that way that innocent and unfortunate maiden could be happy. "I think, also, that I will be able to love Marina and be happy with her; her virtues and her charms are well deserving of the heart of an honest Tlaxcalan. And who knows, perhaps this union could be advantageous to our homeland, consolidating our relationships with the Spaniards. Nevertheless, Teutila rules my heart, and at the same time as I talk to you of giving her up to another and belonging to another myself, a feeling of sorrow that I cannot explain makes me fall into deep melancholy. Tell me, my father, what you think and what is happening inside of me, because all of these words of mine present themselves to my imagination as a dream." "Console yourself, my son," the kindly elder said to him, embracing him affectionately. "Your heart is not corrupted, which is all that I feared. I have known of your love for Marina for a long time; but since you would say nothing about that love—on the contrary, you always spoke repeatedly to me about your tender feelings for Teutila—my love for you trembled in fear that your visits to the barracks of those strangers might have contaminated you, teaching you to conceal yourself, and what is worse, corrupting your customs. Blessed be God! My old age will not have that additional sorrow to cry over. "If Teutila s character gives in to adversity, or if her heart is sensitive to our good friend s merit, her fortune could present a more promising per-

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spective. But, my son, the first thing is to carry out our commitments without looking for pretexts to elude them. Thus, if Teutila persists in her first passion, you must abide by your promises to her and you ought to carry them out, no matter what the sacrifice to you might be. But I think that her constancy will not be able to resist the attraction of a young man such as Ordaz, especially because of her cruel situation. "One cannot hide from Teutila s good judgment that, if there is one thing that can save her from her enslavement, it will be her union with one of those captains who, even though subordinate, will always have more power and consideration among them than any of us. With respect to your love, my son, I do not feel as positive. That Marina is much loved by the foreigners, something which in truth is not the best recommendation; nevertheless, this doesn't go beyond being a suspicion, for she might very well be a virtuous woman who might know how to obtain some benefit from her misfortune. "I will penetrate her heart when we see if she is sensitive to your merits and if she knows how to appreciate your virtues. But here is my greatest difficulty: I not only fear that Marina might not love you, but I also suspect that she is spying on you and watching you under orders from the leader of the foreigners. Our friend Ordaz, to whom we should speak with the most absolute frankness, will be able to clear up my doubts, and, after a friendly conference, we will resolve what out of common accord might seem most proper." "No, my father; Marina loves me. It is not possible for an honest woman to manifest so much tenderness, such an expression in her eyes, so many demonstrations of affection and interest unless her heart was filled with love. But she is honest; she knows of my love for Teutila and she hides her own from me under the veil of a simple and selfless friendship. "The last time we saw each other my frankness could not hide from her how sensitive my heart was to her charms and how happy I would be if I could offer her my hand without failing in my duties. She then answered me with a sweet smile: 'I do not know why even inconstancy in you seems all right to me. You know how to give such an interesting and seductive expression of proper decorum and decency to all your demonstrations of affection that it is not possible to resist it. But let us leave this discussion, my love; your heart already belongs to another woman; let her be happy, and you also, for the misfortunes of a slave abandoned by everyone matter little/

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Xicotencatl

" 'It is not like that,' I answered her. 'Xicotencatl is not capable of abandoning such virtue and so many charms, and if he cannot make you happy, he will give his life so that you might be less unfortunate.' " 'Let us end this, my love,' she said to me, interrupting me; 'let us end a discussion that is too dangerous for me. My gender is weak and I do not wish to deserve my misfortunes. Good-bye, Xicotencatl.' You see, my father; these feelings can only be a reflection of her love." "That is what I wish, but I repeat that, before we set our resolve, it is necessary to listen to our friend Ordaz. He is honest and good, and he should be more cognizant of the individuals involved. Let us wait until tomorrow." As disposed, the very next day Xicotencatl went to the barracks in search of his friend Ordaz, but he was on duty and was thus unable to satisfy his impatient curiosity. He immediately asked after dona Marina and was told that she was in bed somewhat indisposed. Fiery in his passions, he spent an anxious day, and very early the next day he rushed over to ask about dona Marina's health. The soldier who was on duty in Hernan Cortes s quarters smiled to himself upon seeing him with such solicitude, and with a manner that was somewhat scornful, he said to him that the new maiden was indisposed and did not wish to be seen. "Tell me, friend, if you know, what is the matter with her." "Oh! It's nothing dangerous; calm down." "But what is it?" "Nothing; nausea—she feels like vomiting, dizziness and other ills that affect women in her state." "Whatever are you talking about? What has happened to her?" "So you don't know that the lady dona Marina is pregnant?" "Be quiet, slanderer. Marina is a virtuous lady." "Tlaxcalan, you are honest and brave and it is a pity that they make fun of you as though you were a fool. Dona Marina is the lover or mistress of our captain and not very many weeks will pass before she gives birth to a child, the fruit of her affair. This is public knowledge and well known, because the one who has the power in his hands is not given to having much concern for public opinion. If there has been an attempt to deceive you, open your eyes, look at her waist, and take advantage of it, if there is still time for an end to the deception." Astonished and appalled, Xicotencatl remained as if in suspended animation for a moment, until finally he came back to reality, like someone

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Book Three

who returns from a pleasant dream to find vanished illusions. He left, pensive and sad, and, distracted in the midst of his deep thoughts, he walked into a woods, where the roughness of the terrain made him stop. Seated there on a rock, he tried to examine what was in his heart, in the midst of a deep melancholy. "Is it possible, great Lord!" he exclaimed after a long and deep silence, "is it possible for there to be such treachery, and so much duplicity, and so much falseness, and so much artifice, and so much infamy? That unworthy American, spurious daughter of these simple regions, a thousand times more detestable than those who have corrupted her, has unworthily abused the sincerity of my heart. Who could have discovered the poison in her tender words? Those kind and modest looks, that heartbeat, those continuous displays of alarm against her weakness: does all of this befit a betrayer as she leaves her adulterous bed? "And when? When inside her she is carrying the fruit of her criminal love! How horrible! How abominable! And my heart was able to forget the pure and heavenly Teutila over such a poisonous serpent! Oh no, my adored Teutila! You live and reign here in my heart, and my constant affection will atone for the moment of straying that affected your Xicotencatl. "But what am I saying? Woe is me! If in my delirium and in my vertigo I wished to give you to another so that you could be happy, am I to be sorry now that I know and feel how much you are to be valued? No, my angelic Teutila; I will sacrifice my love for your happiness, and when you achieve it, Xicotencatl will pay for his inconsistency by dying at your feet, thus ending such a bitter life." This generous resolution suddenly reinvigorated the downcast Tlaxcalan, and with firm and determined step, he ran in search of his father. The latter had discussed his project with Diego de Ordaz, informing him extensively about his sons decisions. Ordaz heard out the elder with admiration and was greatly moved, and the hope that for the first time shone inside him had placed him in a delicious ecstasy. But when he heard about the projected marriage between Xicotencatl and dona Marina, her name made the honest Spaniard shudder, and he, not allowing his respectable friend to continue, exclaimed: "Oh my God! Xicotencatl, the brave, the honest, the virtuous Xicotencatl, married to Marina! Don't allow, sir, such a monstrous union. Treachery united with frankness, vice with virtue, degradation with nobility! What sad destiny hangs over your ill-fated family? You will need to avail yourself of all of your prudence-, respectable friend, to extricate your son

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Xicotewcfltf from the labyrinth into which he has fallen. Redouble your care and do not weaken for a moment in your efforts to separate him from that astute and treacherous American." "Fear nothing, my father," said the young Xicotencad, interrupting them. "I know her already, and the heart of an honest Tlaxcalan can let itself be mesmerized by the charms and trickery of an infamous woman, but he will never fall in love with vice. That unworthy woman is pregnant, my father; I will understand your shock!" "Pregnant!" Ordaz retorted sharply. The good Spaniard suddenly realized that there was a possibility that he might be the father of a child by such a woman and of a child fated to belong to another father. His heart suffered different sensations at that moment, all difficult to explain: the shame of his weakness, the upbringing that faced that unhappy child, all these things tormented him in the extreme; nevertheless, the pleasure of having given life to a child made itself felt in the midst of so much displeasure. Happily for Ordaz, all of this was no more than suspicion that was snuffed out when dona Marina gave birth, and he then recognized that this schemer was carrying the fruit of her affair with Hernan Cortes on the night of her gallant adventure. The two Xicotencatls could not understand the motive behind their friend s surprise, and they attributed it to the shock that is so natural in honest people when they see such scandalous disorder. The elder Xicotencad attempted to return to the discussion about Marina, but his son interrupted him, saying: "No, my dear father; do me the favor of not talking about that betrayer any longer, for she does not deserve our concern. I want to speak of Teutila, of the virtuous Teutila, so unjustly offended by my fickle nature. This innocent victim finds herself in the clutches of her tyrant, guarded by an astute serpent that undoubtedly has gained her simple confidence. "We must, at all costs, look after her and remove her from the abyss at whose bottom she finds herself buried. I love her, I adore her, and I prefer her a thousand times to my own life; and in order to convince you, I agree, willingly, that she be yours, Ordaz, if you are able to make her happy. Yes, my friend; Teutila must live free and happy, or Xicotencad will shed his last drop of blood in that effort." The respected elder was hardly able to contain his son s ardor within the limits of prudence in order to listen to Diego de Ordaz who, no less generous than his rival, was saying to him that, for the same reason that he loved Teutila, as much as his heart was capable of doing so, he would 66

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Book Three

never consent to having his friend thus abandon his beloved, for he well knew from his own experience the force of afirstlove, founded upon the virtues and honesty of their end; in other words, that he could not permit making two such dear persons sad, without his being any less wretched because of it. After this competition in the field of generosity, love, and honesty, it was agreed, and Ordaz committed himself in this endeavor, to take the first steps necessary to provide Xicotencatl with a meeting with Teutila. This meeting could not take place without dona Marina s presence, for she was the most constant and trusted guard that Hernan Cortes employed to watch her. While he pondered over the ways to make the meeting a reality, Diego de Ordaz one night saw Cortes cautiously leaving the barracks, and moved by unfounded curiosity, followed him all the way to the house of Magiscatzin, where he saw him enter with the same precautions. He immediately went over to the house of Xicotencatl and led him without delay to the barracks so as not to waste the good opportunity being presented them by their good fortune. Having arrived there, he had his friend wait in the anteroom leading to dona Marina s room and asked her for permission to speak with her. Dona Marina told him to enter, pleasantly surprised by such an unexpected visit, and Ordaz said to her to her directly, without equivocation: "Marina, I have come to ask a favor of you that I must obtain unquestioningly and with no excuses offered. How important this favor is to me you can gather from the fact that I myself have come here to ask it of you, in spite of all that has happened in the past and of my resolution never again to be alone with you." "Is it possible, my friend," said dona Marina to him, as she lay reclined on a bed, "is it possible that you never appear before me without insulting me, one who loves you madly? If I in some way have lacked in decorum, it has been because of an irresistible passion. Tell me: what do you want? Am I, in my love for you, able to do something for you that might not occasion your disdain?" "Xicotencatl awaits me in the anteroom, and I am going to take him to Teutila s room; provide me with a way there." "My son, that is impossible; I swear to you with the love that I feel in my heart that I cannot please you. Listen to me, my little friend: you are aware of Hernan Cortes s haughty and proud character. I am no more than his slave and I would suffer his anger if I were to deviate even slightly from his strict orders. Ask something else of me, and if I am able to do 67

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Xicotencatl

it, whatever it might be, you will see how much my impassioned heart wishes to please you." "Let us put aside words and sweet nothings, Marina; let us not waste time in useless responses. Agree willingly to what I am proposing; be favorable for once to good deeds or, I swear to you, upon my honor, I shall uncover your intrigues; and I shall present your infamous conduct to the public, bare and unmasked." Ordaz took on such a firm and decisive tone, and he rushed dona Marina so much, that he finally made her tremble in fear for herself. Thus intimidated by Ordaz s resolve, and feeling neither pity nor a desire to protect innocence, she finally acceded to what was being demanded of her and produced a key to a secret door that led to Teutila s prison. Ordaz rushed over to get his friend, who was waiting for him with impatient worry. Dona Marina, furious at seeing herself defeated against her will, and frightened at the same time of the risks she was taking if her role was ever discovered, decided to take revenge on Ordaz by notifying Hernan Cortes, in such a way also looking out for her own security. She immediately called one of Cortes s most trusted soldiers and said to him: "Friend, run over to the house of Magiscatzin and tell my beloved hero that his faithful Marina, suffering in her bed the pains caused by the fruit of her love, watches over his interests while he, perhaps, looks for other rivals with whom to share his caresses, that Teutila s prison has been breached, and that Xicotencatl is at this moment in her arms. Tell him that, if he is sensitive, he alone can recognize all the merit of this step that my love forces me to take." The soldier left on his mission to the house of Magiscatzin. Xicotencatl entered Teutila s prison, trembling, led by the hand of his friend Ordaz. She was seated on a bench, one elbow leaning on a table, her head resting in her hand. Absorbed in the contemplation of her misfortune, she did not hear the noise made by the door as it opened. A cry from her beloved, who fell at her knees, awakened her from her deep meditation. "Oh my Xicotencatl!" "My dearest Teutila!" Those were the only words that the unfortunate lovers could manage as they mixed their tears and their sobs. Diego de Ordaz, moved, fondly and tenderly contemplated the exquisite ecstasy displayed by these two strong spirits, who loved each other so much and who had met, unexpectedly, after so many adversities. The engaging scene was going on for too long a time, and Ordaz, who 68

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Boofe T^ree feared that favorable moments were being lost, interrupted them, saying: "My friends, time is flying and I do not know how long it will remain in our favor; temper the effusiveness of your hearts and take advantage of the few moments of good fortune at your disposal. I shall leave you alone. Xicotencatl, I shall wait for you at the entrance." "No," replied Xicotencatl brightly, "your presence is necessary to us." And taking Teutila by one hand and Ordaz by the other, he continued thus: "Even if I were not capable of great deeds, in this moment in which Teutilas virtues have all passed over to my heart, as I am enjoying the sweet and heavenly consolation of seeing her and speaking with her, there is no heroism more powerful than my own strength. Teutila, your situation is appalling; you are the innocent victim of a barbarian w h o knows no law other than his ambition; perhaps he oppresses you so iniquitously only because you love Xicotencatl, and with this assurance in his power he wishes to protect himself against my valor and daring. My friend Ordaz loves you; he is not an abominable monster like his captain; on the contrary, he knows and practices virtue, and my father and I will testify to his honesty. Make him happy; be happy yourself as well and let your tyrant once and for all stop looking at you both as hostages of his fierce enemy." "Oh, my friends, how little you know that monster! Perhaps those plans figure in his own. You will find no atrocious treachery in the world that is not familiar to him. His brutal lechery plays a great role in my slavery. That insolent and haughty man tried to prostitute me, attempting to awaken in me a vile and miserable greed, and when he saw the uselessness of his intrigue and my disdain for his caresses, which I detest with all my heart, he made use of threats and insults. I have taken the tack of not responding to him with a single word; my disdain irritates him, and when I laugh at his anger, he suffers serious retching and convulsive displays of rage, which I look upon with satisfaction as worthy punishment for his brutal sensuality and insolent tyranny. But even if nothing came out of all this, do you think, my love, that the most horrifying death could possible make your Teutila waver in her resolution to always belong to her Xicotencatl? Little do you know me if you suppose that my heart prefers my interests and my life to the sweet pleasure of loving you and being loved by you." "Stop, stop," said Xicotencatl, interrupting her; "that constancy embarrasses me for being so fickle. I surrender myself at your feet; I do not deserve so much love and fidelity; I have wronged you; I have opened

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myself to another woman. And to whom? To a betrayer, to someone unworthy, prostituted to that same tyrant who oppresses you, to the miserable Marina. You can see how little I deserve you in my unfaithfulness." "Well, then," said Teutila to him, "I forgive you. Come into my arms, for one moment s illusion is not sufficient to cool my heart. I know you, and because of my misfortune I also know that betrayer, and if she has been able to win over my heart, how could it be strange for her to have entered your own? With respect to your friend, I do not understand why that plotting woman always advised me to distrust his honesty and his virtue, which she depicted as so many other links to make my honor fall. Stranger," she said to Ordaz, "I esteem you and I am your friend, but it is impossible for me to be anything else. I have given my heart, and this only happens once." At that very moment, Hernan Cortes came in precipitously, his sword drawn, and, like a ferocious tiger, threw himself at Xicotencatl, saying to him: "Now you'll pay for your effrontery, you vile savage!" The blow was aimed at the bare breast of the brave Tlaxcalan, and that infamous act of cowardice proved to be stronger for the honest Ordaz than his duties as a subordinate. The generous Spaniard unsheathed his sword and, placing himself between his friend Xicotencatl and his ferocious leader, exclaimed: "Stop, barbarian! The defenseless breast of a brave man will not be the target of a madman while Diego de Ordaz can wield a sword. No, you will not satiate your infamous resentment, for I still have enough valor to punish an evil man." Anger and hate defeated the astute politics of the leader of the Spaniards this time, and he began to duel against Diego de Ordaz from the first word that the latter said to him. The sound made by voices and weapons attracted other officers, and Hernan Cortes, partly recognizing his fault, even if he was still blinded by his desire for revenge, sheathed his sword and called the officer of the guard, and assuming the stance of the leader, said: Perform your duty. The officer asked Ordaz for his sword, and the latter gave it over to him, saying to him that it surprised him that the officer would not also disarm the other officer with whom he had been doing battle. But, without responding, he had him put in prison in the flag room. After he had left, Hernan Cortes had the brave Xicotencatl taken to a cellroom. That was when the Tlaxcalan's desperation put to the test all of the 70

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Book T^ree Spanish leader s reflexive postures. Xicotencatl filled him with insults and battled like a lion against ten or twelve vigorous soldiers that were required to subdue him. He was finally overwhelmed and Hernan Cortes was left alone with Teutila. With her face showing serenity and satisfaction, she said to him: "I am happy; your excesses force your hand and your crimes expose you. Crown my triumph: wound me or, at least, throw me in prison. That way, I will sleep in peace." Hernan Cortes left without saying a word; completely subjugated by jealousy, rage, and disdain, he plotted in his imagination, one after the other, all of the various projects suggested to him by his angry thirst for vengeance. But his sense of policy began to make him see the potential mistake and danger of all of his plans. Ordaz could be court-martialed, but it was impossible to stop him from defending himself, and his defense would be scandalous, if not destructive, to his authority as leader. Xicotencatl was under his power, but how would the Senate take this outrage? His name was respected and loved by the people, and his father s was venerated almost to the point of adoration. On the other hand, Magiscatzin, who feared his enemies more than he loved Hernan Cortes, had always made him aware of the influence and ability of the Xicotencatls to encourage and push him more and more toward his destruction. Finally, the most violent passions of a proud and daring man gave way to his insatiable ambition and the pleasure to be found in vengeance was sacrificed to the flattering perspective that his plans for conquest presented to him. Politics and a desire for concealment regained their accustomed influence, and the leader immediately had the elder and blind Xicotencatl summoned. While he awaited him, he told dona Marina that it was vital that she visit Diego de Ordaz in his prison cell, that she try by all means imaginable to temper his haughtiness and to direct him to find a way to forget all that had occurred, that the best way to accomplish this was to have Fray Bartolome de Olmedo act as mediator, for Ordaz would give in to the latter s solicitations since he was a priest, but that in no way should Ordaz come to suspect that he had the slightest role in these endeavors, for otherwise the entire process would be continued with the strictest severity, even if everything was compromised. The respected Xicotencatl appeared, warily, and Hernan Cortes, taking his hand affectionately, had him sit next to him and said to him: "My venerable friend, your sons ardor and boldness compromise my 7i

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Xkotbncatl prudence and our friendship. Without thought for this friendship, and without respect for the most sacred duties, he has violated my barracks and evaded my guards' vigilance. He has insulted me grievously and used force against my troops. Tlaxcala would justify my employing a means of satisfaction proportionate to so many excesses. But I do not wish to embitter our union and alliance with the punishment of a young man who, on the other hand, has such good traits and promises such a brilliant future. You will now see how a generous Spaniard behaves, beyond what he, in his just resentment, should expect." And rising from his seat, he had young Xicotencatl brought before him. The young man entered with serenity and resolve, but upon seeing his father, he embraced him, exclaiming with tender emotion: "Oh, my father, your son in the hands of his mortal enemy!" "Take comfort, my son," the elder responded, "Heaven never abandons innocence." Cortes interrupted them, saying to the father: "There you have the ingrate, respectable friend; that ingrate who is insensitive to my demonstration of my esteem. There you have him, free and safe, when his fearful daring throws him toward his downfall." "General," said the elder, "allow my son to leave. A Tlaxcalan cannot, in a moment, go from anger to friendship and from resentment to gratitude. I will answer for the honesty of his heart, and the best way to see that he will not offend you is to allow time to work toward his being convinced. Go, my son." The young man bowed his head seriously and politely and went out, leaving his father with Hernan Cortes. "General," said the elder to him, "I thank you for your action from the bottom of my heart, if my son is guilty, because your conduct is generous, and if he is not, because it is just and it repairs what is wrong. But tell me: what motivates the complaint against a young man whose virtues make pleasant my old age and strengthen the hopes of the nation?" "Friend, your fathers love blinds you; your son is proud and his haughtiness is detrimental to his merit." "How has he insulted you? Tell me frankly what his faults are, for no matter how great they might be, they will be unable to resist my paternal advice." "If you don't know them, it will be in vain for me to expose them to you." "General, your talents are clear and your heart is capable of great deeds. If you want to hear the voice of an old man who, with one foot in the 7i

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Book T^ree grave, does not need to counter a claim that a crime has been committed, listen to my frankness, for it never knew intrigue. My son will faithfully follow his country's recommendations, even if they run counter to or in opposition to the strongest passions in his heart. Tlaxcala is your friend and Xicotencatl cannot be your enemy. "Nevertheless, that young man is in love with the Zocotlan Indian that you are holding in your barracks and therein lies the entire reason for the resentment that he feels for you. But that resentment will never be detrimental to the interests of his country nor will it lead him to fail in his public duties. I cannot fathom what interests you might have for keeping an innocent woman under detention, and if you were generous enough to give her back her freedom, you would win over my son's heart and with it the friendship of those in Zocotlan who would, thereby, unite with us, and you would thus increase the number of those allied against the emperor Moctezuma. Why do you not, then, decide in favor of such an advantageous and brilliant action? Teutila has an uncle with great influence in the armies of Moctezuma, and this man cannot be indifferent to either the severity or kindness with which you treat his niece. Resolve to do this and begin to win over the Tlaxcalans by your noble actions." "Honorable elder, my heart is as sensitive to generosity as you have been able to see in my conduct toward your son; but my high responsibilities impose sacred obligations upon me, which I am unable to dispense with. I have motives for my conduct, and those motives only I ought to think about and consider. The interests of my cause will never be sacrificed to any individual consideration. Be respectful, then, of my mystery and believe that it is impossible for me to accede to your wishes." "Justice is the only rule that must direct the interests of all causes, and without it there is no politics or government, only despotism, disorder, and tyranny." "Xicotencad, my patience does not authorize you to offer reproaches that I suffer only in consideration of your age." "Since my frankness displeases you, I will say no more. Good-bye." While this conversation was going on, dona Marina set out determinedly on her mission for Hernan Cortes, not because she was concerned about the danger in which Diego de Ordaz found himself, but rather because she foresaw her inevitable loss if it were to be discovered that she had cleared the way for entry into Teutilas prison. Thus, she employed all the methods possible to convince Ordaz to request a favor in his critical situation. Her past conduct had been made possible by her concealment of the 73

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Xfcotencatl

origin of the steps she had taken, and in the same manner she made use of pleas and tears, powerful weapons in the hands of a skillful woman. Everything was in vain; the honorable Spaniard was too resentful to be persuaded even to listen to the proposition to take such a humiliating step. "If I didn't know," he was saying to her, "that you are so involved in this affair, because, after all, it must be known how and by what means we managed to enter the prison, I would believe that that proud and cowardly man sent you, fearing the consequences of his excesses. But I sense in you a similar conduct: you are a woman and you know what you can expect from your offended lord." Finally, after several explanations, Ordaz was tired of so many requests, and he spoke firmly to Marina: "Let us end this conversation once and for all. Diego de Ordaz will never bow down to an enemy that he despises. Before the sanctuary provided to me by justice, before the tribunal that must judge me, I shall pull the mask off that hypocrite, and if I succumb to the influence of his power, I will at least have the satisfaction of making it known to the world, which sooner or later always renders justice. Perhaps my loss could also contain him in his forward movement, disastrously fortunate up to now. My course is set. I will be judged." At that moment Fray Bartolome de Olmedo, who, having been informed of his friends misfortune, was on his way to console him in the midst of his affliction, came in. Dona Marina turned to the priest, and he gladly acceded in the plan to intercede in Ordaz s favor, as much out of the affection that he felt for him as his natural tendency to be conciliatory, and especially because of the renown that he would obtain were he able to resolve the differences between such highly placed individuals. In vain did Ordaz expressly oppose any step taken in his favor. The chaplain went, nevertheless, to speak to Hernan Cortes as if he were authorized to do so by his friend. The leader was not very scrupulous in his examination of the powers of the conciliator, and, as those who call themselves politicians are wont to do, he passed over all the formalities in order to arrive more quickly at an end that did not seem very accessible to him, given Ordaz s character. So, giving the impression that he was a generous man, he had the officer of the guard informed that he expected him to say nothing about the evening s occurrences. This was enough and Ordaz was set free immediately. The following day the leader assigned him to lead the barracks' guard, treating him with the same serenity as he would have had nothing happened. 74

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Book T^ree Hernan Cortes had decided to continue on the road to Mexico, and desirous of obtaining from Tlaxcala reinforcements for his army, he communicated his resolution to continue his trip to Magiscatzin as if he were placing in him his absolute trust, but in reality doing so with the aim of having them offer him the assistance that he didn't want to ask for openly, and this was the reason that moved him to go to the wicked senator s house with such mystery. Since Magiscatzin wished nothing other than an occasion toflatterHernan Cortes, he instantly offered to have the republic s troops accompany him in his dangerous trip. The Spaniard responded by saying that he had not found any dangers to fear in Tlaxcala, even less would he find them in Mexico; but that, nevertheless, he could not be indifferent to such an offer from the Senate. No more was necessary than for the treacherous functionary to propose, during the first session, that the republic assist the foreigners in their expedition to Mexico. This motion was supported by the elder Xicotencatl, out of his patriotic fervor, and it was agreed that a creditable number of troops would be gathered, under the command of the general of the state s army, in order to assist their friends on their trip to the empire of Moctezuma. All this was done by Magiscatzin with great secrecy in order to pleasantly surprise Cortes when, as he left, he found himself with such an expressive demonstration of the formers friendship and affection. Xicotencatl the elder repeated to his son the prudent advice that he felt was necessary to moderate his fiery demeanor and to have him consider his duties for the general weal. "The homeland, my son," he said to him, "is completely entrusted to your prudence and your valor; its main forces are in your hands; let not passions overwhelm you in your leadership over them. You are going to accompany an enemy, but an enemy who covers up, and one whom the republic will perhaps need as a friend and defender. Weigh her true interests very well; never lose from sight the salvation of the homeland; this is the law of laws and the goal of all the actions of an honest Tlaxcalan. But take care, especially, that neither your own side nor that of the foreigners finds any reason to rebuke you for an unjust action. Your father s blessing and Heaven s will sustain you in difficult situations and will protect you during your times of danger." Hernan Cortes announced to the Senate that he was departing the day before he was to set out, and since everything had been prepared beforehand, the Spanish general was surprised to see, as he left Tlaxcala, the entire army of the republic with its young general leading it. 75

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Xicotencatl "General," the young leader said to Cortes, coming out to meet him, "Tlaxcala offers you this army, as a good ally, so that it might assist you against its enemy, the emperor of Mexico. I ask you, in the name of my soldiers, that you assign us the most dangerous tasks. Tell us now where to place ourselves." Cortes knew from experience what that army could do and did not wish to have such a strong and terrible ally in case it stopped being that. He had flattered himself, besides, that Magiscatzin had prevented Xicotencatl from commanding those troops, and as much for this reason as their number, he responded, as a smart politician, that he was extremely thankful for the republic s fine offer, but that he could not accept it, seeing that he could not very well enter a country as an enemy when it was admitting him as a friend; all in all, that he would allow some companies to accompany him and that he hoped they would let him choose them. Xicotencatl answered him that since the republic had ordered the entire army to accompany him, he did not feel authorized to dispose of his forces in such a manner against the orders that he had received, but that he would immediately send one of his troops to ask the Senate for instructions in the matter. Neither one of the two Xicotencatls had foreseen such a situation, with which Cortes, astute politician that he was, removed from his side the man he most feared against his security, divided the forces of Tlaxcala, and added to his own. Thus, when the Senate received its notification, the support that Hernan Cortes s suggestion found in the servile and lowly Magiscatzin convinced that body to grant his wish that he be allowed to choose the troops that should accompany him. While the answer was awaited, both armies were stationed, each on one side of the road to Cholula, the two commanders in their respective places. This unexpected delay kept everyone discussing the possible reasons for it. Teutila, then, taking advantage of the general s tarrying and like a light-footed deer that is escaping in the hills from the hounds that are pursuing it, bolted away from her guards, leaving them behind, and rushed up to Xicotencatl, exclaiming: "My Xicotencatl! Here is your Teutila. Save me!" Hernan Cortes, who was on horseback, his sword unsheathed, immediately rushed over toward the Tlaxcalan general, and both armies became greatly agitated. Xicotencatl, who had not moved from his place, turned toward his troops and, in a decided and firm tone of voice, said to them: "Tlaxcalans! Keep your places unmoved. This innocent victim, unfortunately, does not belong to our nation, and Tlaxcala has not given us the arms to defend her. The voice of the nation is the only one that the repub76

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Book T^ree lie s soldier ought to hear, and the nation cares little whether the passion to which one s interests are sacrificed is noble or lowly, virtuous or criminal. Let your valor hope to hear this voice and let it be known that you are as subordinate as you are brave." He immediately turned to Hernan Cortes, who had been restrained by his rival s heroism, and he said to him: "General, take care of your prisoner and know, from my conduct, what you can expect from Tlaxcala! But this very Tlaxcalan, who knows how to sacrifice his passions to his public duties in this manner, begs you and asks you for the freedom of this unhappy and innocent maiden, whose slavery darkens your glory." "General of Tlaxcala!" Cortes answered him, "if you carry out your duties, I also know how to fulfill mine." And he ordered two of his soldiers to tear Teutila away from the arms of her beloved. She, then, recovering her quiet dignity, said to Xicotencatl: "My love, oh sweet friend, has exposed your glory to a stain for which your Teutila would have been forever sorry! Do not forget me. Goodbye." And turning to Hernan Cortes: "Barbarian," she said to him, "take away from me the sweet satisfaction of loving a man that you yourself admire and envy at this very moment. I do not wish my freedom; your oppression further exalts that heroism which contrasts with your horrible wickedness." Upon hearing these words, Xicotencatl, covering his eyes with his hands in order to hide his tears, exclaimed: "Oh my country! How you test my love for you!" At that moment, the messenger to the Senate arrived; on hearing that body's decision, Hernan Cortes chose a few companies commanded by relatives and partisans of Magiscatzin and set out for Cholula, as Xicotencatl returned to Tlaxcala with his army.

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Boo^ Pour

W^en internal divisions destroy the unity of a people, they inevitably become the victims of their enemies, and more so if the practitioners of political shrewdness and craftiness are able to take advantage of that discord. I call on all nations! If you love your freedom, gather together all your interests and your forces and learn that, if there is no power that will not fail when it collides against the immense force of your union, neither is there an enemy so weak that it will not defeat you and enslave you when you are disunited. Tlaxcala is a palpable example of that truth. Neither the valor and strength of its armies nor the magnanimous resolution of its brave general, not even the prudence, wisdom, and virtues of the elder Xicotencatl, nothing was able to save it from the destruction to which strife carried it. These were the secret reflections of the patriotic senator and his virtuous son after they saw all the plans suggested to them by their love of country simply vanish. But since true patriotism does not collapse in the midst of adversity or yield to obstacles presented, those two great men consoled themselves, hoping that fortune would someday show itself less angry at their unhappy republic. Hernan Cortes continued on his way to Cholula with no impediment, but uneasy, because of his memories of the last scene, in which Teutilas resolution and Xicotencatl s heroism had forced him to accept such an insulting snub. He was beginning to feel the weight of a woman whose valiant and constant resistance threatened even his glory and fame, and in his spite, he resolved to make a final attempt against her will and to rid himself of her at any cost if he were unable to weaken that resistance. The army spent the night one league from Cholula, and while they all rested, the unhappy Teutila had to suffer the most terrible and obstinate attack against her honor. Tears, pleas, humiliations, protests, gifts, and promises; all was in vain. Hernan Cortes was unable to get any response. The most atrocious threats and insults had no better result. Teutila persevered in her silence, and through it she always triumphed against her 79

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Xicotencatl

insolent tyrant. Violence and force would have finally consummated the crime had the frightening screams of the innocent victim, fighting off her angry oppressor, not caused great alarm in the encampment. The commotion among those soldiers closest to the scene was transmitted to everyone like a wave that grows and expands as it moves away from the beach. And what for some was only a certain feeling of indignation became, farther away, fear and alarm, and the shout of "To arms!" was repeated by all the soldiers amid the confusion and chaos. Hernan Cortes had to rush over to reassure all his people, who did not calm down until dawn dissipated their fears along with the night shadows. The army immediately set out and shortly afterward entered Cholula. There Hernan Cortes found Moctezuma s ambassadors, at whose head was General Teutile, uncle of the prisoner. After the formal ceremonies were completed, Teutile claimed his niece as the empire s subject. Hernan Cortes recognized that it was now impossible for him to honestly employ force, and so as not to have an adverse effect on his political plans, he gave in finally, sacrificing his passions to the altar of ambition, his favorite idol. Thus he answered Teutile that his niece was not a prisoner but was rather under guard so that she could be turned over to her relatives, once free of her greatest enemy, Xicotencatl, a barbarian as rustic and ferocious as all Tlaxcalans, who had seduced Teutila at the same time that he murdered those who had given her life; that the imbecilic cacique of Zocotlan, who had succeeded Teutila s father, had allowed her to consort scandalously with the general of an enemy nation, covering up, under the pretext of the love affair, the plans that were being hatched to separate Zocotlan from obedience to its legitimate sovereign, the emperor Moctezuma; that he, being desirous of putting this great prince in his debt, had taken the opportunity of stopping the treacherous negotiations, taking away the pretext to continue them and being convinced that his good and loyal intentions would someday be recognized. "Until that day arrives," he added, "should you allow yourself to be deceived by a passionate maiden, seduced by your greatest enemies, you can proceed in the way that seems best for you, but I warn you: Zocotlan s betrayal of your king is suppressed only by removing this naive maiden. Xicotencatl loves her fiercely, and the fear of losing her permanently is what stops him in his ambitious plans." In this way the astute Cortes managed to deprive Teutila of the trust and affection of her uncle, whose passions he knowingly incited with such a contrived response, whose poison was so deftly concealed. General

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Book $our Teutile commanded his niece to leave for Mexico immediately, and her tears and pleas could not make her resentful uncle listen to her justifications. And the unfortunate but virtuous Teutila went home to her relatives to receive the disgraceful and harsh treatment normally given a forsaken maiden by an honorable family. The scandalous horrors committed in Cholula by the army of Hernan Cortes had, amid confusion, scarcely come to the Tlaxcalans' attention, when their valiant general rushed to lead his warriors, having decided to be on the side of justice, always meditating over the dangers to his homeland. Unfortunately, upon his arrival terror and desolation had covered the beautiful and rich Cholula with the silent tranquillity of the cemetery, and the new offers made by the general and army of Tlaxcala were rejected for the very same reasons that had dictated Cortes s politics at the time of his departure from the republic. After Xicotencatl had fulfilled his civic duties, love and his frank and noble character suggested to him the idea of requesting a meeting with Teutile, and once it had been granted, he spoke to him in this way: "Even though destiny has made us enemies, Iflattermyself in the hope that the candor with which I am going to speak to you will remove any doubts that you might have concerning me. The heart of a brave man is always generous. Teutile, I love your niece; her virtues have as much of an effect on my soul as her charms do on my senses. At the moment of the ill-starred victory at Zocotlan, her filial tenderness was rendering the sweetest consolation to her father, who was mortally wounded. Who could possibly have been insensitive to such an interesting scene! Virtue itself spreading celestial balm on that honorable elder as he lay dying! "Yes, General; the soldiers ardor, the warriors rage, the enthusiasm of victory, everything disappeared before humanity itself, personified in your charming niece. This priceless jewel fell to me as a prize of war, but what dignity in her resentment! How proper was her conduct! My soldiers respected her as an angel from Heaven, and I adored her as my hearts sovereign. Nevertheless, faithful to my nations laws, I could do nothing other than give her freedom and offer her the promise that no other would replace her in my heart. "But what is even more painful is that her place as a foreigner has tied my hands and has impeded my attempts to save her from the unworthy enslavement forced upon her by that ferocious leader whom fate has cast on our country. You can do more for her than I can: you can lay claim to her in your double role as her uncle and her king s ambassador. And if the

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Xicotencatt danger that threatens us all were to make you put aside old and bitter resentments, you would recognize that our common interest leaves us no other alternative than to choose between our destruction and our union." "Tlaxcalan, it suits you well to appear patriotic and sensitive in my presence after having been the murderer of the honest caciques of Zocotlan, the seducer of their delicate daughter, and the unworthy corrupter of my kings vassals. I look after such sacred interests and have need of neither your cooperation nor your advice. Continue with your ambitious machinations and leave in peace those who have always been led by honor.'' "It is true, Teutile, that Tlaxcala has considered the propositions for an alliance made by Zocotlan. And how could we deny it to those who ask for our help to recover their rights, which have been trodden by a tyrant? In spite of it, neither ambition nor a desire for aggrandizement has ever besmirched our noble intentions. It is not the same to wish to make friends by protecting them in their oppression as to try to extend a tyrannical and unjust dominion. But who has perverted your good judgment to the extent that you hold me to be a murderer, a seducer, and a traitor?" And then Xicotencatl, with his natural frankness, gave him information concerning the state of affairs inside Tlaxcala, bringing him up to date on all the intrigues of Magiscatzin and the tragic consequences that they had occasioned, as much with respect to the republic as with his unfortunate niece, so tyrannically and barbarously persecuted by Hernan Cortes. The virtuous Tlaxcalan had been slowly rising in the estimation of the Mexican, and feeling resentful of the latter s attack on his honor, he concluded by saying to him: "Search out Teutila and let her tell you herself what Xicotencatl did for his country on the day of the departure of those foreigners and, when you feel you know me, then treat me, if you dare, as an egoist and a seducer." Teutile, who had already been moved by the veracity and force of expression shown by his old enemy, said to him with much sensitivity: "Give me your hand, Tlaxcalan; my heart surrenders and Teutile is your friend. So much virtue, so much nobility, and so much valor cannot be feigned. But, Xicotencatl, you at least still have a homeland; as for us—oh, we only have a despotic, moronic, and cowardly government! Moctezuma, devoured by an insatiable thirst for power and wealth, each day becomes more hateful to all the states that offered him a submissive obedience. Mistrustful, suspicious, and cruel, he torments his subjects, without having those wrongs that he makes them suffer calm the mortal anguish that those terrifying fears bring to him. He spends his life alone and shut away with his suspicions and his treasures, and when necessity 82

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Book Four forces him to let himself be seen, his vague and sinister look, his labored breathing, his nervous moves, his inane silence, everything reveals the gnawing sense of unease that pervades his conscience. "And as the host of these evils, a vile slave of the most ridiculous worries, he is the toy and butt of the rascality of his priests, who have placed even his understanding in chains. Such is the leader who tyrannizes twenty nations, any one of which would suffice to annihilate these foreigners. But these nations are divided between irritated malcontents, who are tired of so much tyranny, and timid and degraded slaves; the former allow themselves to be won over by that astute captain, and the latter tremble at the sight of their weapons and animals of war. "And in such a situation, the moronic monarch only makes evident his suspicions and fears, sending rich presents to his enemy, thus attracting his greed toward the nation, which opposes him not in the least and provides him from within with the means to subjugate it. I was one of the ambassadors that Moctezuma sent to those foreigners when we received news of their arrival on our coasts. The leader is brave and talented, and on seeing him burn his ships, I believed him capable of the greatest deeds. "Our immense empire is moving rapidly toward its dissolution, for when despotism and tyranny take the reigns of government, the lashes inflicted by its iron hand finally provoke those who are being led and, sooner or later, those men always drag down those who lead them with violence and oppression. If that foreigner, whose talents astonished me, had taken the side of justice and equity, if he had given us models of moderation, of wisdom and virtue, what would it have mattered whence came our well-being if our peoples had been happy? "These were the general attitudes of the Mexicans; because of them, many powerful caciques, who have been easily seduced by the foreigners' dashing deeds, became their allies; and this was the last hope that we had left after we became aware that the obsessed and impotent Moctezuma, buried among immense treasures and with millions of combatants at his orders, is incapable of saving his empire from five hundred men who have invaded it. "The entire continent toasted that newcomer, who was favored by the absurd and vague prophecies that nourished credulity. But the horrifying tragedies of Cholula have dissipated our hopes like a storm that, in an instant, devastates fields which promised us abundance. That treacherous man, that monster, walks toward us as friend and ally; he knows that, among the rich inhabitants of the city, he need not fear the strict valor of the republicans of Tlaxcala, and under pretext of being an army of 83

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Xkotencatl

observation, something we could expect from Moctezuma s timidity, he forges an infernal intrigue; he captures an elderly, weak, patrician woman and, by means of threats, violence, and torture, obtains the confession of everything he thought necessary to justify his devastating anger. "After this iniquitous although insignificant brief, he asks us for allied troops, which we generously and trustingly provide for him; he pens them up inside his headquarters and has them murdered by his soldiers without their being able to defend themselves. These ferocious soldiers, with bloodied hands, rape and put to the sword the kind inhabitants of the populous Cholula. Today the city is nothing more than a desert, strewn with corpses and the vestiges of his infernal fury. Oh, it has taken so much for us to learn to recognize the monster sent by the Fates to exterminate us! We already knew the goals of his enterprise when, in our presence, he harangued his troops as follows: 'This, friends, is what we seek, great difficulties and riches; from the former one obtains fame, from the latter, fortune.' But now we know, alas, the means he is able to put into motion to lead them. "The use of terror, so powerful against enslaved people, is inevitably going to assure him of victory if a magnanimous and strong man doesn't rise up from among us to confront that torrent of adversity. There is no one better than you to save the present and future generations from their imminent desolation. You have an army that respects you and loves you because of your virtues and your valor. Your homeland is no longer Tlaxcala; humanity calls upon you for your services, and an entire world turns to you as its liberator. I have been weak to believe that crafty hypocrite s story that he told me about Teutila, but my friendship and my niece s affection will more than compensate you for the injury that my foolish credulity has done you." The two generals reached an accord, moved by their great desire to save their country from all the evils that threatened it, and they agreed that, for the moment, the most prudent thing to do was to allow Hernan Cortes to continue toward Mexico, where he should destroy the prestige in which a fanatical people held their tyrant s majesty via the insults and degradation that he would undoubtedly suffer in his impotence; that Xicotencatl would appear with his troops at a place favored by the circumstances; that Teutile would spare no sacrifice to cooperate with him in his magnificent enterprise; and that, once the foreigners had been defeated, Mexicans and Tlaxcalans would create a solid peace, ensured by reform, so generally desired and so necessary in the Mexican Empire. The guarantor of this patriotic pact was the marriage of Xicotencatl 84

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Book $our and Teutila, which was agreed upon definitively, with her uncle committing himself to having her come to Tlaxcala from Mexico as soon as possible. In order to facilitate this union and begin to open the road to peace and a general alliance, both sides decided that peace would be made with the nations of Zocotlan and Cholula, a measure that Hernan Cortes approved of wholeheartedly, for he would thus find no hindrance in case he had to withdraw and because he feared nothing more than having Xicotencatl far from the influence of Magiscatzin and the Senate. After the preliminaries leading to these negotiations had been concluded, Hernan Cortes continued on his way to Mexico, everywhere witnessing the horror and terror produced by the hideous fate suffered by Cholula. The Tlaxcalan army returned home, and the elder Xicotencatl, upon hearing the pleasant news given him by his son, raised his hands toward Heaven and exclaimed: "You have not abandoned us, oh Great Spirit that governs the world! We still have a homeland. Blessed be your providence! Oh that I might see my country's freedom assured forever and that my eyes might close in the midst of peace! Courage, my son! How gratifying it is to be able to save ones homeland!" Teutila had arrived in Mexico more downcast because of the comments about her conduct than she had ever been before during her most horrifying moments of enslavement. Her great spirit was unable to resist such adversity, and her robust nature gave in before this blow to her honor. When her uncle arrived, a harmful fever had left her bedridden and almost beyond any hope of survival. His tender care, his demonstrations of affection, his repentance for his quickness in believing her to be guilty, and, especially, the arrangement of her marriage to Xicotencatl were the comforting balm that mitigated the all-consuming fire that engulfed her and revived her spirit, beaten down by ignominy. Her youth and the strength of her good temperament helped very much in her change for the better, and she finally recovered from her ailments, consoling herself that the ill effects produced by the lateness of their assuagement were compensated for by the felicitous perspective now presented by her future. During all this time, the honest Diego de Ordaz took advantage of the only opportunity that he had to see Teutila. The sensitivity that his love for her had created in him, and the gentleness that he had developed as he continually repressed the violence of his passion, gave this visit an interesting tenderness. "Go and be happy, adored woman," he said to Teutila as he shook her 85

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Xicotencatf hand. "You are going to live among simple men whose virtues will soften the sorrows that afflict humanity. Peace and quiet await you in the pure mansion of honesty and moderation, while your friend is condemned to drag his life through crime, fallacies, outrages, and intrigues. In my name, embrace that honorable elder, father of your fortunate husband; as you communicate my affection to that frank and faithful friend, give him this knife in my name; I received it from the hands of my father when I left home, and when, together in your enviable dwelling, you enjoy the sweet fruits of your absolute happiness, think sometimes about your unfortunate friend, Diego de Ordaz." The news that came to Mexico concerning the arrival of a new fleet of Spaniards that had disembarked along the coast, and the movement that was consequently being observed among those in the capital, all related to the great events that had taken place at that court, events about which Teutile wished to inform both Xicotencatls, accelerated Teutila s departure for Tlaxcala. Her trip took longer than necessary, as much because of the care that was taken to avoid long days of traveling as to their skirting around the borders of Tlaxcala, where those relatives who accompanied her could not enter, being Mexicans and still enemies of the republic. Finally, they arrived in Zocotlan, from where they sent news of their arrival to Xicotencatl, who raced over to receive from the hand of her relatives the cherished object of his love. After the first demonstrations of love by these two great spirits, Xicotencatl listened with patriotic attentiveness to the news that Teutile had sent to him via one of his nephews. This individual informed him that, since the arrival of the news of the horrors at Cholula, the imbecilic emperor had been so daunted that he would not leave his place among his fanatical priests, nor did he do anything other than prime the foreign captains greed with tremendous gifts, which he doubled as the latter approached the capital, his baseness reaching such depths that he had forced his nephew, the cacique of Texcoco, to set out to meet him and had gone out himself to receive him, ostentatiously demonstrating the useless greatness of his court; that the government had provided lodging for the foreign army in a strong and magnificent palace, thus giving him the means to defend himself under all circumstances; that the emperor had offered him the most flattering of welcomes, most sycophantically lavishing gifts and attentions on him and treating him as an equal. He told him that while the humiliated monarch was thus humbled, the brave Cualpopoca, with the army at his command, had taught the insolent 86

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Spaniards, who had remained in a fortress at the edge of the sea, a lesson when they had attempted to oppose him in his movements, assisted by several rebellious nations; that in these encounters the leader of the Spaniards and many others had lost their lives and that one had fallen into their hands alive. This action, which would have emboldened any other's valor with the possibility of victory, had made a coward of Moctezuma, to the point that he had allowed himself to be taken as prisoner to his enemies' barracks, as a guarantor of their security, under the pretext of a complaint arising from the death of their soldiers. He went on to say that the vile monarch had pretended to go to his prison voluntarily, imposing the death penalty on anyone who might attempt to set him free, and that he had ordered the arrest of the brave Cualpopoca and other army supporters. These warriors had perished, burned at the stake, condemned to such a horrifying torture by the foreigners themselves, who entrusted no one to carry out their cruel act and, while this was being carried out, the leader had had the affront to place Moctezuma in leg irons, something which, apparently, is reserved in their country for the worst of criminals. So much degradation on the one part and so much impudence on the other had finally aroused some Mexicans, led by Cacumatzin, cacique of Texcoco and the emperors nephew; this brave young man, enraged by the infamous cowardice of his uncle, organized his friends, and all of them swore to cleanse their honor by teaching their oppressors a lesson. But the vilest act of betrayal placed him in the hands of his enemies, and a monarch over twenty nations and a general who never stopped invoking God and honor were low enough to buy the brave Mexican s servants with gold, and they presented him, tied up, before those who had not dared to attack him face to face. The unfortunate Cacumatzin languished in a horrifying prison, for his vile enemies dared not satiate their vicious compulsions by putting him to death. Finally, the news of the arrival of other Spaniards to the coasts had set into motion those who were in Mexico, and by all appearances they were returning to Cempoala. Finally, he [Teutiles nephew] concluded that this news should be taken advantage of, and that one should always count on those good Mexicans who looked forward to the moment when they could shake off such an ignominious yoke. Xicotencatl and Teutila bade their Mexican relatives good-bye and, accompanied by their Zocotlan friends and their families, went to Tlaxcala, where they were all received most effusively by the venerable elder Xicotencatl. The family's patriarch set the wedding date for three days hence, a 87

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Xicotencat( period of time that, even though long for the son in his ardor, had to be accepted out of consideration for the country's customs and Teutila s need for rest, so overwhelmed was she after so many stressful experiences. The day of the betrothal arrived, and the two lovers, seeming animated by the flush in their cheeks, appeared before the venerable elder who waited them to give them his blessing. "May Heaven bless you, my children!" he said, shedding tears of joy and making those present shed them as well. "Go in peace to unite your innocent hearts and swear an oath of love and faithfulness that will last as long as you both live. This great act of the first alliance of man will raise you both to the great rank of parenthood, a rank of which your incomparable nobility has made you worthy because of your virtues. May the gods preserve you from failing to keep the sweet but sacred obligations to which you are going to commit yourselves, one toward the other, and both of you toward your children and toward society! Don't be halfhearted in your affection; don't let the torch of discord suffuse its fatal smoke over your peaceful home, and may your many offspring, educated like you both in virtue, make you as happy in your old age as your elderly father is now! "Come into my arms, my children, and may Heaven bless, as I bless you with my heart and my soul. And you, my dear Xicotencatl, do not let yourself be seduced by the sweet pleasures of your new state when your country calls you to come to its aid; this is every man's first duty in society, and yours grows today as you enlarge your place in society. Good-bye, my beloved children." The bride and groom left the paternal home, decked in their wedding attire, the new groom dressed in a cloak and his beloved wearing a veil, both as white as snow. The father, relatives, and friends walked behind them in procession with a respectful bearing. In such a manner, they walked toward the temple, where a priest asked them, employing the expressions required by law, if they loved each other and if they agreed mutually to become man and wife. Once an answer in the affirmative had been received, the priest took Teutila s veil in one hand and Xicotencatl s cloak in the other and tied them together, one end to the other in God's name, in this way making manifest the sacred union of the two spouses. Joined in this manner and accompanied by the same priest and the rest of the procession, they went toward their house, to the home where the domestic fires burned, and, after going around it seven times, everyone

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forming a respectful procession, the newly married couple sat down to receive the sacred warmth of their domestic fire, as a sign of the conjugal love that should inspire them for the rest of their lives. With the wedding ceremony thus concluded, all turned to the usual festivities and rejoicing in order to celebrate the marriage. The innocent joy of this simple family did not last very long. Hernan Cortes communicated to Magiscatzin that he was preparing an important campaign whose glory he would share with his friends the Tlaxcalans, if they joined him voluntarily, and that he would have the pleasure of seeing him at his home. The elder Xicotencatl had learned via his friends the Cempoalans that the newly arrived foreign troops were at war with Hernan Cortes and his troops, a fact that, together with the news that Teutile had sent him, impelled him to go before the Senate to strongly oppose Magiscatzin s proposal that Cortes be given an auxiliary army for his enterprise. The Tlaxcalans listened to the powerful reasoning of the prudent elder, and Magiscatzin s proposition was rejected. When father and son were gathered together at home, after this session, the young Xicotencatl said: "The respect and deference that I have always had with regard to your advice have prevented me from speaking out before the Senate, but I don't understand what motivates you, in your prudence, to have been opposed to having a strong division of our republic observe that foreigner in his dangerous journey. Perhaps this is the best opportunity to force him to leave our country." "When two wild beasts fight, it would be imprudent, my son, for the hunter not to wait for the end of the struggle, which must, without fail, be advantageous to him. As we can see, it seems that those people operate out of personal interest and that the principle of which they speak is only a pretext for their acts of piracy. Let those two great enemies fight each other: their bloody disagreements will end up destroying the prestige that they enjoy among the masses. And, believe me, these plagues that from time to time come to afflict humanity sooner or later yield to the inalterable constancy of patriotism. "You have seen how, finally, the Senate has come to sense these truths and the intrigues fomented by Magiscatzin have been impotent. This, my son, is a triumph against our enemies; let us be satisfied for now and let us hope that Heaven will not permit it to be our last one. But after having thus tended to the interests of the nation, it is now necessary to look after our own. That captain is going to come to Tlaxcala; his brutal passion for

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Xkottncatl

Teutila can be kindled and thus involve all of us if he provokes our just resentment. It seems to me that the best thing will be for you to absent yourself with her and, as much as it is possible for us, avoid a calamity. "As for me, Nature is taking me away from public concerns, and now that I see, with satisfaction, that the majority of the peoples representatives are looking after their interests, I gladly leave the presidency of the Senate to Magiscatzin, designated by law to succeed me, since he has the greatest seniority among its members. I will not again return to that sanctuary of justice without a great cause to revive my weakness/' The new couple, obedient to their father's advice, withdrew to one of their landholdings, while Hernan Cortes was only passing through Tlaxcala, pretending not to have been offended by the republic's snub. Diego de Ordaz warmly embraced the elder Xicotencad and, with his customary frankness, branded as nonessential the precaution of having had his son leave the city. In his honesty he believed it impossible that an attempt against public morals could be made in such a scandalous way and by a man who had to maintain himself by force at the head of an expedition whose command he had usurped from the established authority. Since Hernan Cortes said not a word about either Teutila or her marriage, Xicotencad reined in his suspicion and, to put right his fault and to have the honest Spaniard embrace his friends, he had his children come once the foreigners had left for Cempoala. Poor wretch! Your simple honesty did not know well the art of European corruption. A few days later Hernan Cortes returned from his expedition, his army having been increased by the soldiers who had come to fight against him and who exceeded his own in numbers. Upon entering Tlaxcala, he showed off his splendid new troops and the aggregates and supplies of war that he had acquired in his expedition. Placing himself at the head of his brilliant columns, he went direcdy to the house of Magiscatzin. The triumph that the patriots had obtained against that magistrate s faction, denying the auxiliary troops to Cortes, made the latter discover the weakness of his own troops, and thus confronting an imposing force, he sided with him, without reflection and openly, so as to become reinvigorated and enable himself to obtain victory against the good Tlaxcalans. Thus force presided in the councils of state. The weak gave in to his impulses, those who were evil and rebellious found support, and the good encountered defeat at the very moment when they had been the most hopeful. Diego de Ordaz shared with his friends the sweet satisfaction that they were enjoying, and he opened his heart to them, placing his feelings in

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the open palm of the innocent and pure friendship of the only virtuous persons that he knew. Then he informed Xicotencatl how Hernan Cortes had left the island of Cuba and how that new fleet and army had arrived to apprehend him and lead him back as a prisoner in order to be judged and punished for his crimes. But that he, shrewdly and serenely, had established peace talks with the leader who commanded them, entertaining him in this manner while he assured himself, with gifts and promises, of the loyalty of the soldiers that he had under his command in Mexico and while he managed to corrupt those of his adversary with the gold that he had wrenched away from Moctezuma in the midst of his fears. Finally, he told them that fortune had favored Cortes so much that he managed to have the newly arrived troops rebel, and in this state he attacked them by night with one hand on his sword and the other in his pocket. The confusion served him marvelously in his enterprise, and from the outcome of one of the battles that he was able to lead against them, he found an excuse to treat the vanquished with the harshness and vigor that only he deserved. In this way, he got rid of some, placed others securely in prison, and increased his own army with the multitudes, blinded by the thirst for gold. The infamous Magiscatzin, vaingloriously drunk because of the distinction accorded him by the man to whom he had sold himself, gave in unconditionally to the vilest dependency and, to complete his infamy, publicly forsook the religion of his ancestors to embrace that of his protector, who had power in his hands. This example produced some imitators, and the priest, Fray Bartolome de Olmedo, who only saw in these events the effects of his zeal for the propagation of his beliefs, took charge of converting the elder Xicotencatl. Hernan Cortes encouraged him in his enterprise, suspecting the venerable senator to be weakened enough by the ravages of time to be open to scruples and fears about his fate after death, if they managed to make him waver in his beliefs. Thus, the kindly chaplain went to visit him and spoke to him in the following manner: "My brother, since we are all children of the same God, we must all love our common father and our brothers, who are all men." "You surprise me, stranger, with maxims that conform so much to those that exist in my heart, when your actions are so contrary to these same maxims. If we are all to love one another in such a brotherly manner, why do you come in the guise of our worst enemies?" "We come to place you on the road to salvation; we come to make

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Xkotencatl

God known to you, the one and only true God. We come to teach you the only form of worship that He accepts, the one that He demands from us and the divine religion that alone can save you from eternal damnation." "Let me disregard for now that your conduct contradicts that divine mission and those benevolent views. And you yourself cannot deny to me that it is impossible for God to make Himself known through crimes that our hearts condemn. I think you come in peace, and I do not wish to offend you by telling you what you touch and feel if you don't also practice it. I know there is a God; that is, a very powerful being who has provided the whole universe with such a great intelligence that each thing has a direct relationship with a great end with admirable precision. I feel it inside myself, in the most abstract things as well as in the most tangible ones. This is as far as my knowledge goes; but since you have more of it, as you say, make that God known to me, a God that I believe is very powerful and wise, but of whom I know no more than what His works make known to me." "That same God, creator, maker, beginning and end of all things, infinitely good, wise, just, and powerful, has revealed to us His mysteries and the religion that we profess." "I cannot conceive how the world could have been created, because I cannot conceive how something can be created out of nothing; my imagination rests when I suppose it to be as old as its arranger. Neither can I grasp the concept of infinite kindness, knowledge, justice, and power, because the idea of something that is endless does not fit inside my comprehension. I walk around this room and I say: 'Since there is a space as large as this one, there can well be one that is larger; but no matter how far I take my imagination, I always find the limits.' I also place a weight on a scale, for example, a bit of corn; on the other I place a stone, and it makes the sack rise; therefore, the stone weighs more than the sack. But how much more does it weigh? This makes it impossible for me to find it out if I do not compare its weight with other objects. For this reason I say: 'The intelligence and power of the One who has ordered the world are undoubtedly very great, for they have been sufficient to produce such effects, but my knowledge cannot go beyond that point.' But since you are telling me that God has revealed His mysteries, teach me about them; tell me what they are." The chaplain, then, seeing such clarity of thought in the elder Xicotencatl, explained the articles of faith to him. The elder asked him for an explanation of the mysteries it contained, and, after being told that they

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Book Four

are mysteries beyond the reach of our understanding, he replied in a lively manner: "So God has revealed nothing. And you want to make me believe that this Being, who is so wise, has communicated to me certain things that are repugnant to my reason? What could He have had in mind to have behaved in such a manner?" "That of proving your submission to his will, your recognition of your smallness and ignorance." "And what need is there for the existence of some contradictory and absurd mysteries when I have my judgment, which is continually measuring my weakness, and a voice that speaks to me here, in my heart, and says to me that I must be recognized and be obedient to the Author of all good? My duties are very clear, and when my miserable nature attempts to make me stray from my path, I have an instinct inside me, something that reminds me of them and that you call reason. And do you want me to renounce that governing instinct in order to please God? Why would He have given it to me, then? But in the end if, in your religion, everything is violence and blind submission, tell me where is the evidence upon which it is founded?" "The many miracles that have taken place offer some of the proof that favors the doctrine that it teaches." "What is a miracle?" "It is a phenomenon that goes beyond all the laws of Nature, such as bringing a dead person back to life." "Are you a minister of your God?" "Yes, by his mercy, although I am an unworthy sinner." "Well, then, perform a miracle: bring my wife back to life; she died twenty moons ago." "I do not have that gift." "Have you seen a miracle?" "Yes, by the grace of God." "Tell me about it." At this point Fray Bartolome found himself deeply embarrassed, because although he believed that many of the events that had occurred during the enterprise in which he found himself had been miraculous, he recognized the difficulty of proving that they were outside the laws of Nature. Xicotencatl removed him from the midst of his embarrassment, saying to him: "Look, stranger, a miracle is an impossible thing, and believing in it

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Xicotencatf offends the wisdom and power of that same God that you refer to as wise and powerful. All that our intelligence is able to know in this world is ordered by immutable laws and with a relationship that is so intimate that, if any of them were to be infringed upon, it would go against the order of things. On the other hand, there is no need for those exceptions, because that Being which governs the world has known how to place inside us the knowledge that He has felt to be convenient, with no need to break these same laws." The conversation spread too much into prophecies, tradition, and other evidence for the Christian religion; but Xicotencatl insisted on listening only to the false light of his reason, so Fray Bartolome was becoming desperate in his task; but, remembering the beginning of the conversation, he said to him: "My obstinate elder: my divine religion prescribes certain moral rules which, if you follow them, assure of happiness in this world and take away any fears of the next. Here it is in short: love God above all things and your neighbor as yourself. Tell me now that the religion that expects that behavior from you is not divine." "Undoubtedly, my friend, those rules come from God; they are inside me, and they have been given to me by the same one to whom I owe these hands, this tongue with which I speak to you, and the thoughts that it expresses to you. Yes, I feel, in the same way that I feel hunger and thirst, that it is necessary to be just and beneficent. And you feel this also, you who come from such distant regions, as do more than twenty nations that inhabit the country that I know. You are whiter than we are; you have a beard and other differences which, seemingly, make you a man from a species other than ours; nevertheless, your morality is the same as mine. Thus, it comes from God. "If you wish for me to worship this God with you, give me that white delicacy that you offer Him, because it matters not to me whether I offer him a bit of copal or anything else so long as I acknowledge Him. Look at domestic animals when they try to please us; each one does it its own way, and we do not concern ourselves with the way they communicate with us but pay attention only to what they are showing us. Thus, the Creator of Nature will, undoubtedly, only attend to our intentions. And if He had wished for all of us to think in like manner about these mysteries, it would have been no harder for Him to have had us agree on morality. "Now I am going to give you some advice. Preach the practice of these rules of your religion among your people; exhort them to fulfill those 94

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Book 'Pour

divine duties, and if perchance you manage to have them heed your voice, and we see in them some examples of virtue, some just, moderate men, lords over their passions, then throw away your weapons of war, considering them to be worthless, because we will all look at you as gods. There's more yet: we will also believe any number of mysteries you might propose to us, no matter how absurd they might be, because then the sacrifice of our natural light would be rewarded with the happiness of all humanity. But, friend, to preach such a doctrine with war, licentiousness, and the most scandalous vices! What a contradiction! My God, these events put to the test my belief in your wisdom!" Fray Bartolome had not come prepared for such an attack, and thus under the pretext that his duties called for him to go elsewhere, he left with no great wish to continue in the conversation with the elder Tlaxcalan. The holy zeal of his religion had so inflamed the good priest that he entirely forgot the charge made to him by Cortes: to insinuate how surprised both natives and foreigners had been to see that Teutila had missed going by to visit her friend dona Marina. In this way Cortes was trying to attract her to the house of Magiscatzin, where, with more security than any place else, he could surrender himself to any extreme, a somewhat dangerous activity among his own people. With the same end in mind, he used political tact in communicating his complaint to Xicotencatl when the latter went to visit him as general of the republic. "Stranger," the brave Tlaxcalan answered him, "it seems to me you are addressing Xicotencatl. He is incapable of duplicity and deceit, and he answers you without evasion that his wife will not debase herself by dealing with an unworthy woman who has prostituted herself. Tlaxcalans respect their wives' honor." "You are insolent; be aware of my power and tremble before it." "Never, never will Xicotencatl be afraid of you. Nor should you think that Teutila has stopped seeing that wretch out of fear of your outrages. Teutila is today a Tlaxcalan." Cortes, then, recognizing his growing disadvantage in the situation, changed his demeanor, barely holding back his rage: "Ingrate!" he said to him; "you don't want to be my friend—well, you will be, by God! or—" Several Spanish officers entered the room, interrupting this scene, and Xicotencatl left for his house. When Cortes was alone, he had Magiscatzin summoned. "Friend," he said to him, "can I count on your advocacy?" 95

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Xfcottncatl "Sir, do you doubt the faithfulness of your slave Magiscatzin? What can I do to enhance your glory? Tell me." "Listen, friend. That insolent Xicotencatl is the great enemy that you have to fear. Tlaxcala committed the imprudence of making him its general, and this imprudence will weigh heavily on you. For your well-being and tranquillity, I should like to rein him in in such a way that his fiery character might feel the restraint and accept the fact that he has no recourse but to yield to force. With this end in mind, I kept that fool Teutila detained in my barracks, for after I discovered her affair with Xicotencatl, she was useful to me in quieting her lover. Teutile asked for her and I, who am incapable of ignoring the call of justice, turned her over to him. But now that I see their marriage celebrated, and suspect that this unworthy Tlaxcalan has a pact with your enemies, I would wish to use that woman to hold back that fearsome man, who will lead all of you to ruin." "Oh, my lord! No one would wish to cut down that insolent family's pride more than I do. I too am motivated by just resentment against the relatives of the infamous Teutila. But, Lord, how will the Senate look upon an outrage committed against a Tlaxcalan woman? Those imbeciles are so frightened when a woman is violated that they think the world is going to be turned upside down. I fear the outcome of the project; nevertheless, I am anxious that you in your wisdom find a way to put it into play. What a pleasure! The ridiculous anger of that decrepit old man and the desperation of that insolent young man would make for a most entertaining scene." "Well, listen to me: tonight Captain Ordaz is invited to dine with them. I have my suspicions that this captain has been an accomplice in the Spaniards' betrayal of me, a betrayal which has turned out quite victoriously in Cempoala, and I will have him apprehended during the dinner. He is fierce and haughty; to arrest him I will send one of his enemies who is brave and entirely faithful to me. There will probably be a scandalous scene. Xicotencatl, who owes his life to an act of brave daring by Ordaz, will attempt to defend him, and my envoy, following my instructions, will lead them all to prison. I will immediately place my troops on alert and appear in person before the Senate, where I expect you to support me so that this body will agree that they all be judged, according to the laws of our military discipline. As a result of the process, Xicotencatl will be removed and placed in prison and I will take Teutila with me, ridding you in this way of such a terrible enemy and assuring myself against the claims of Teutila s relatives, for she will be judged by the authority of the republic. 96

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The villainous senator applauded with the vilest demonstrations of adulation the infernal plot that he had just heard, and everything was agreed to on the spot. But fate had reserved the brave Tlaxcalan and his honest wife for scenes even more tragic, although no less vile. The virtuous friends were gathered at the home of Xicotencatl when people came to notify him of a slight disorder among workers in his lands; attentive to his domestic duties, he rushed to put in order what also belonged to his dear wife. At that moment, a patrol surrounded the house. The officer in charge entered without announcing himself; he found Ordaz alone with the venerable elder and the virtuous matron. "You are under arrest,'' he said, "in the name of the king." "I place myself under arrest," Ordaz answered him, without the least resistance. The officer was left disconcerted, and all of the plans for the most infernal intrigue dissolved like the soap bubbles that children blow into the wind. Hernan Cortes drooled in his anger. Magiscatzin was now aware of his weakness and all his enemies triumphant. His passions, thus aroused, broke free completely and the elimination of Xicotencatl was decided without appeal or recourse. Diego de Ordaz was set free, after having indicted him, because of the uselessness and dangers that a prosecution could bring to bear. Hernan Cortes determined to continue on to Mexico, from where he had received news that the natives had taken up arms against the Spaniards who had remained garrisoned in the barracks. With the same political considerations that marked past occasions, he refused to be accompanied by a large Tlaxcalan army, but he did choose a division from it led by those partial to him. The journey was settled, but it had to be postponed because of an unexpected event. Doiia Marina was afflicted by birth pains; her natural robustness was weakened as a result of the excesses to which she had vehemently devoted herself, and Nature, which never leaves these faults unpunished, was moved by mortal symptoms on an occasion during which temperance is quite easy to follow. Her religious education had been too superficial, and Death, surrounded by horrifying specters, appeared in her imagination. This "madwoman of the house," as she has been called by a Spanish saint, grew infinitely worried and terrified, and the cruelest feeling of remorse came to put her in a truly pitiful state. Amid these feelings of spiritual anguish, excited further by the violence of the pains, she called 97

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Xkotencatl

Fray Bartolome de Olmedo and confessed to him all of her past conduct, hiding from him neither the daring scene with Ordaz, nor her guardianship of Teutila, nor her persecution by Hernan Cortes, nor the intrigues and political tales—absolutely nothing. The good friar vainly lavished on her the health-giving consolation prescribed by his ministry: she saw Hell open under her feet; the endless torments took shape in her frenetic imagination, and, in this state, the only method that occurred to her to atone for her faults was that of making a public confession of them and to ask for forgiveness from all those persons that she had offended. For this purpose she wanted everyone to come to her room-, and, without seeing anything other than the vengeance of a just God, she feared neither Hernan Cortes nor all of the earth s princes gathered together. What, in effect, are human considerations before the excited imagination of a woman? "No, Father," she said to her confessor, "there is no remedy for me. I am a great sinner and the whole universe must know of my faults and see my remorse; let my suffering serve as example and lesson to those who, like me, abandon the path of virtue." It is easy to understand the predicament of a chaplain who is suddenly faced with all the considerations created by such a scene, and all of this without being allowed a moment of reflection by his penitent. Four or six strong pains and the screams from a baby that began to breathe air took Fray Bartolome de Olmedo away from an embarrassment that was becoming already too large for his great prudence. Amid great surprise, and not without the good friar s satisfaction, Hell, torment, scruples, faults, reparation, everything gave in as if miraculously, to maternal affection at the sight of the boy that had just been born. Violent in her passions, and lively and mischievous in her talents, this American could have been a woman worthy of appreciation without the corruption to which she devoted herself when she associated with the Spaniards. Nevertheless, tender maternal love spilled a sweet cover over her feelings, and, quite peacefully so as not to alarm her confessor, she asked him to have Diego de Ordaz come. When he had arrived, she spoke to him thus: "Ordaz, I am a mother. I wish my past conduct did not make me unworthy of this joy! Nevertheless, perhaps Nature will be stronger in me than corruption. I wish to ask you a favor: I am anxious to see Teutila. Her virtues make my seeing her extremely necessary; she will be a mother also, and the fruit of her womb will enjoy the purity of her soul. Have 98

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Boofe Four

that angelic child come, for her presence will reanimate in me those sensations that Nature awakens in me. Do me that favor, Ordaz; not for me but for this innocent babe. See how beautiful he is!" Diego de Ordaz was moved, and he promised that he would communicate the request to his friends and that he hoped Teutila would accede to her wish. Then Fray Bartolome de Olmedo offered a moving prayer about the duties of mothers with their children; this he did with much peace and appropriateness. Hernan Cortes was concerned with reinforcing Magiscatzins support, and he was also in the process of preparing him for his plans against Xicotencatl. The news concerning the Mexicans' uprising concerned him, but there was no way of leaving dona Marina behind, for he needed her very much. It was thus imperative that he await her recovery; meanwhile, he wasted no opportunity to enhance his support, encouraging some with promises and flattering others with presents. The physiological changes that accompany weak, lactating mothers showed themselves in dona Marina as a strong delirium as Xicotencatl and his wife went to see her, persuaded by Diego de Ordaz s request and his convincing arguments that the sick woman had had a change of heart. Dona Marinas sorrowful state moved the sensitive American, and she proposed to her husband that she stay to accompany her in her recovery. Xicotencatl was too humane not to accede to the compassionate wish of his wife, and kind Teutila thus exposed herself to new insults, while she lavished tender care on the sick woman. When Hernan Cortes finished his affairs and intrigues, he remembered, finally, that dona Marina was suffering greatly and went to her room. It is not easy to describe his great surprise when he saw Teutila at the sick woman's bedside, so preoccupied with her that she failed to notice that Cortes had entered. "To what happy event do we owe the pleasure of a visit by the wife of Xicotencatl?" he said to her. 4 'To a very unfortunate one—" answered Teutila, interrupting herself in order to take care of Marina, who tossed and turned violently in her bed. Then Fray Bartolome de Olmedo informed his general about the sufferer s good intentions, and of the good effect that her desire to see Teutila had had on the latter s sensitive heart and of the tender compassion with which she had remained behind to take care of her in her delirious condition. Gradually dona Marina calmed down until she fell into a deep and 99

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Xicotencatf tranquil sleep. All those present left, and Hernan Cortes, turning to Teutila, who had not moved from her place, said to her in a soft, low voice: "It is not only Marina who must express her remorse. If you would like to come into this adjoining room, I will show you that, although late, I finally recognize the great value of your virtues." "I am pleased, stranger, that you recognize your faults, because this lightens the heavy burden they cause; but it is useless for you to endeavor to have me leave this place." "But don't you see that we might awaken the patient?" "Leave, then. Good-bye." "No. You will please come with me." "That I will not do." At that moment some urgent mail for Hernan Cortes arrived from Mexico; approaching Teutila, he said to her in a determined manner: "I want you to know, you obstinate woman, that you are in my power. Your condescension and silence will free you only to make your ignominy public. Choose, then, between scandalous and useless resistance and prudent submission to the forces of fate." And exiting the room, he closed and locked the door, leaving poor Teutila in the most difficult of situations. But great spirits never lack resources, and a determined will defeats all obstacles. Teutila made her decision. She approached Marina very softly, gave her a kiss of peace on the forehead, placed in her hand a necklace that she had been wearing, opened the window that was located above the street, and, without thinking about the height or considering anything other than her aroused honor, she jumped out of her prison. Diego de Ordaz was on patrol that evening, and when his friend Xicotencatl told him of Teutila s resolve to stay behind to take care of dona Marina, he felt extremely concerned about her safety, although he prudently did not make his wariness known to the honest husband. But, trembling with concern over Teutila s danger, he dared not remove himself all evening from the walls around the house of Magiscatzin. Near dawn, fearful that his soldiers might become suspicious of his diligence around that square block, he put the patrol under the command of his corporal, feigning to be indisposed and advising him that he should patrol in the direction of his barracks, where he would meet them before turning the patrol over to him. A deadly foreboding tormented the honest Spaniard, who was on the alert, paying attention to the slightest noise; nevertheless, he still did not know what course to take in case of an incident. ioo

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Book Tour Hearing the noise made by Teutila as she fell from the window, and a half-suppressed ow! that escaped from her lips, Ordaz ran and found the shape of a person trying vainly to escape. "Who are you?" he said to her, "and what is the matter with you?" So frightened was poor Teutila that she failed to recognize her friend s voice, and finding herself unable to flee as a result of the fall, she answered him: "If you are not the monster from whom I am escaping, save an unhappy and honest woman from dishonor." Diego de Ordaz gathered up his beloved and respected friend in his arms and, without saying a word in response for fear that they might be heard from inside the house, he ran as hard as his strength, reinvigorated by the noblest of sentiments, allowed him. Dawn was breaking when the good Spaniard fell to the ground, his strength overwhelmed by the body's fatigue and by the great distress that his heart felt. Up to that moment, Teutila had not recognized her liberator; she had not even wondered about the intentions of the one who led her, being attentive only to the fact that she was being taken away from the mortal enemy of her tranquillity. The demonstrations of gratitude and esteem that the virtuous American showed her generous friend reinvigorated the tired Ordaz somewhat, but it was necessary for him to contain any demonstration of his affection in order to put the honorable woman out of harm s way. She had hurt her leg enough that walking was very painful and her friend could hardly stay on his feet. They had already left the neighborhood where Magiscatzin lived, and they were slowly making their way toward the house of Xicotencatl, Teutila with an arm leaning on the shoulders of her friend, when a call to arms was heard. Duty beckoned Ordaz to the barracks whereas humanity and friendship called on him to help Teutila. At this terrible juncture he saw Xicotencatl in the distance, coming toward Magiscatzin s neighborhood. "Good-bye, Teutila," he said letting go of her, "I cannot stop for even a moment, and I return gladly to my duties, leaving you in the hands of the valiant Xicotencatl. Good-bye, until we see each other again." The brave Tlaxcalan was startled to see his wife coming, embraced by his friend, and the sudden departure of the latter, when he discovered him, awakened his feelings of jealousy with all the violence that his strong and fiery heart was capable of. This terrible passion, cruel enemy of mans tranquillity, was not enough for the valiant republican to disregard the call of his public duties. He was on his way to the Senate, called there IOI

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Xkotbncati

urgently, and thus he was satisfied with telling his wife in a dry and disagreeable tone: "Go on, you ingrate, go home, and hide your behavior from my venerable father, who will die of grief if he learns of his sons misfortune." And not even waiting for a word in response, he ran to his duties, the fires of Hell burning in his breast. The letter that Cortes had received from Mexico notified him of the extreme predicament of the garrison that he had left in the barracks of that capital, a predicament which did not allow him to delay his departure for even a moment, without giving up his hope of avoiding its sure loss. Thus, he decided to leave on his journey at dawn. But what should he do about Teutila? She was in his power (so he believed), but it was not expected that she who had resisted valiantly and for so many days when single would give in now, married, to any sort of solicitude in a short period of time. To abandon a prize such as she was too hard for a character such as his. In his passion, he resolved to take her with him by force. For this purpose he had Magiscatzin awakened and told him that it was indispensable that he convene the Senate, that he hoped it would agree that he should be accompanied by the companies that he had selected with leaders whom he trusted, and to be sure, especially, that Xicotencatl did not go with them, for he would be forced to make him return from wherever he found him. Immediately he ordered a call to arms so as to gather his patrols and other soldiers, and he went to the barracks to be at the head of his troops and to go out with his prisoner, while her husband was in the Senate. Diego de Ordaz s delay after his patrol had gathered alarmed Hernan Cortes and left him time to reflect on the deadly consequences which his attempt could have, if he awakened the just indignation of the strict Tlaxcalans. To lose all hopes because of a woman! One who is ambitious ought never to be sensitive to any other passion or, at least, all of them should be subordinate to it. "Let Teutila save herself, as long as I do not lose the support of Tlaxcala." Such was the political resolution adopted by Hernan Cortes. Ordaz arrived at that moment, and after being reprimanded for his lateness, he was ordered to go to the house of Magiscatzin with his company, to have dona Marina made comfortable on a stretcher, and to go out with the baggage on a convoy, after dismissing the wife of Xicotencatl, whom he would find with the sick woman, and thanking her for her kind assistance. 102

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Book Xour

He had chosen Ordaz for this mission in the hope that his friendship with Teutila s family would calm her in her resentment, especially given the fact that this time it had been little more than a bit of fear. Diego de Ordaz asked his commander to be allowed to speak with him privately about important matters and, when they were alone, he said to him: "My general, I am incapable of being deceitful and telling lies. Teutila is at home." "That's impossible, because she is locked in." "Teutila has jumped out the window." Hernan Cortes was left surprised and confused, without knowing what to do, seeing that all his plans were crashing down to earth, turned into dust. Tlaxcala was a powerful and fearsome enemy in his situation and, in such a predicament, attentive only to his schemes, he abandoned his ordinary severity with Ordaz and begged him, with demonstrations of camaraderie, to use his friendship with Teutila to keep her father and husband from finding out about the evening s events, for with one retired because of his ailments and the other in the Senate, it was to be expected that the damage to the king s arms brought about by a disagreement with Tlaxcala could still be repaired. Ordaz answered that he himself had left Teutila with her husband Xicotencatl. "Since this barbarian," said Hernan Cortes angrily, "is always opposed to my plans, it will be necessary to give in to necessity," saying these last words with an affected moderation. Dona Marina had recovered enough with her nights sleep, and she thus found herself prepared to withstand the voyage s rigors. The army began its march, taking the road to Mexico.

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Hook Froe

W^en faceb ml\) difficult predicaments, any half measures undertaken to resolve them always produce the most disastrous results. Laziness, inherent in man, and the fear of letting go of the things one loves too much are always the counselors of those measures of accommodation that infallibly give victory to those who are perverse, those whose strength is based on daring and constancy. Thus, the father of Tlaxcala, the elder Xicotencad, weakened by the ravages to his nature brought about by the passing of nearly a century, was beginning to flag in his advice and, being extremely close in affection to his son, he compromised the latter s safety while attempting to maintain it. Dispirited by the weight of his years and the inseparable ailments of his age, he gave in, kindly, to the consolation afforded him by his children, and his love of country began to direct itself toward his family, for lack of strength to extend out to a larger sphere. "Come, my children," he was saying to Xicotencatl and Teutila, "come and make the last days of your old father happy ones. In their absence, those foreigners allow us to enjoy our happiness in peace. May you be happy; may your days be spent enveloped only by the sweetness of your love and my passing to another life will be like the sweet dream of a father who leaves his entire family happy and joyous." Thus did the honorable elder speak to the young Xicotencatl, who was being eaten up by the crudest feelings of jealousy. He had seen his beloved wife being embraced by Ordaz, walking slowly and calmly, and as soon as the Spaniard had been seen holding Teutila, he had left her and fled from his presence. The good wife, resentful because of the strange reception given her by Xicotencatl when, at the risk of her life, she had maintained her honor intact, received him at home coldly and even with indifference. Teutila s tender love was focused on the innocent elder, and she thus rid herself of the violence that her honor forced her to endure with respect to her unjust husband. 105

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Xicotencatl

What was he to think about a series of events that fate ordained with so much prejudice to his tranquillity? At times sad, at other times furious, when unhappy with himself and, perhaps remorseful, sensing his injustice, he fought against such opposing feelings like a ship that, abandoned without a rudder or a compass, at the mercy of the waves, at one moment touches the clouds and at another descends into the abyss. Poor Xicotencatl! Your father s counsel is more necessary to you now than ever before, and, in spite of that, your love for him seals your mouth when your heart is anxious for the counsel offered by his paternal affection. Teutila s noble fierceness and her husband s disquieting confusion induced both of them to take the attitude that was most opposed to their mutual tranquillity. Serene in appearance before their father, cold reserve separated them one from the other when they found themselves alone. Xicotencatl dared not ask for an explanation, fearing that a satisfactory one would be impossible, and Teutila remained silent, resentful from having so unjustly lost her husband s esteem. Thus these two innocent spirits spent the most bitter moments, and in a short period of time a deep melancholy had sensitively altered their natural demeanor. Their demonstrations of affection for the good old man were frequently suspended, followed by a deep melancholy silence, and a sad, long sigh would usually ensue before questions posed by the elder. Finally the latter became aware that his children were not happy, and because of his caring affection for them, he became exceedingly alarmed. "What has happened to you, my beloved children?" he was saying to them. "Come here, Xicotencatl, and you, Teutila; give me your hands. Could it be possible that discord has spilled its poison inside your hearts? Oh, your poor father would die of sadness! Tell me what is wrong, what is afflicting you. Bare your hearts to me. You both are the only joy left to me, and I see the end of my road, content, if my beloved children are happy." They then redoubled their displays of affection toward their father, and tears of filial tenderness issued from inside them, without relieving them of the weight that overwhelmed them. One day when this suffering family had gathered, after supper, the elder Xicotencatl said to his children: "My beloved, our mutual affection has made us forget our good friend Ordaz. Now I remember that he left without saying good-bye to us. Poor man! How he must suffer in his honesty among those wicked men! Do you know, Xicotencatl, why he left so precipitously? Have you heard anything from him?" "No, sir." 106

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Book Fife "What? He didn't say good-bye to you either? I thought you had seen him when you went to the Senate. And you, Teutila, did you see him in the house of Magiscatzin?" "No, sir." "Is it possible that a friend so faithful, a man so virtuous and so sensitive—?" "He s a wicked man, like all of his kind," said the young Xicotencad in a jealous fury; "he is a vile and iniquitous man who adds hypocrisy and the most cowardly baseness to his perversity." "No, Xicotencad," replied Teutila with fortitude, "I will never permit you to so denigrate the modest, generous liberator of my honor, the virtuous friend whose important service you repay so unjustly." "That monster has seduced you and you are in love with him." "Yes, with all my heart and all my soul. Yes, Xicotencad, I love him; I love his virtues, I love his heroism, because to him alone does the wife of Xicotencad owe the fact that she is not again the victim of his fierce and brutal leader." A torrent of tears choked off the words issuing from the tender Teutila, who, resting her head on her father s breast, was crying like a child. "What is this, Xicotencad?" said the elder. "Is it possible, my son, that your generous spirit has allowed mistrust to enter it? Infernal jealousy has disturbed your reason. Kind Father! Creator of the universe! Take pity on these unhappy creatures and banish from our midst the evil spirits that are persecuting us. Come here, my Teutila; tell me everything that has happened to you; tell me everything and take pity on my poor son, who at this moment is suffering all the torments of his infernal passion." In effect, Xicotencad was disturbed and, like a criminal awaiting his sentence, wished his wife would speak and yet feared it at the same time. She had to reassure him in his misfortune or demonstrate his injustice. Finally Teutila spoke and, upon telling the faithful story of her heroism, Xicotencad fell at her feet, embraced her around her knees, and with tears and sobs from deep in his heart, he implored his tender wife to forgive him and be kind to him. "Come into my arms, you ingrate," she said to him. "Your Teutila adores you, and there is no fault of yours that my love will not forgive. Come and repair with your affection the torment that you have made me endure these days The old man cried, and husband and wife intermingled their kisses with their tears and sighs. The denouement of this unfortunate event further strengthened the bonds of their precious union, and peace and 107

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tranquillity shed their gentleness over the pure pleasures of their hearts. Thus many days went by without Xicotencatl s having any direct news of Teutile and without knowing any more about the Spaniards in Mexico than Magiscatzin s allies wished to communicate. Hernan Cortes s last residence in Tlaxcala had given this side a disastrous preponderance, and the elder Xicotencatl s ill health had freed him from a censor too fearsome for his treacherous machinations. At this point, the Spanish and allied army arrived before Gualipar, a village of considerable population, near the border of Tlaxcala and the Mexican Empire. Hernan Cortes stopped before entering it and, addressing his soldiers, now down to only 420 men, told them how important it was to employ forbearance and modesty to keep the Tlaxcalans' affection, and that each of them was to see any citizens complaint in the city as a danger to all of them.10 This was the one and only instance when interest adopted the language of justice. He immediately commissioned two of the Tlaxcalans among his troops to go before the Senate of the republic in his name and announce that, after having defeated all Mexican power in the valley of Otumba, he hoped that the Senate would permit him to enter the capital, where he planned to give his troops a few days' rest so as to again lead them on to new victories. The Senate, led by Magiscatzin, responded in the mostflatteringmanner, while a commission from within it, presided over by Magiscatzin himself, went to Gualipar to pay its respects. Hernan Cortes presented a studied and able report of his campaign to this commission, carefully hiding whatever could be harmful to his fame. In the senators' answer he recognized that Magiscatzin s side dominated the Senate and that he could expect anything from its servile condescension. Thus convinced of the good state in which his side found itself, he said to the commission that, since his utmost consideration was the friendship and esteem of the Tlaxcalans, he would stop in Gualipar until such time as the Senate, instructed about all the details of the actions in which he had had the honor to lead a division of the brave troops entrusted to him from their side, would show him also its impartial judgment concerning his behavior with respect to the common interest of the allies. With this specious pretext, he took the time to rest his own people, 10. Solis, Historia, the part of the sentence from "how important it was" to "danger to all of them."

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Book Ffae w h o were in a pitiful state, and gave respite also to Magiscatzin so that new despicable acts and deeds of debasement on the part of the Senate could be resolved. This body agreed, in effect, to receive Hernan Cortes with the ceremonies and joy with which the republic customarily celebrated war victories. And the Spanish army entered Tlaxcala in triumph for the second time, having saved itself from almost inevitable ruin. Hernan Cortes took lodging in the house of Magiscatzin and, surrounded by the leaders of the faction, he communicated to them how surprised he had been at the coldness and reserve with which Xicotencatl the Younger had received him, and in this way he began to set the Tlaxcalans' spirit against their brave general. The latter had received news from Teutile, via one of the Tlaxcalans accompanying Cortes who had not been seduced against his country, saying that Mexico's new emperor, Guatimotzin, had decided, with the advice of the good patricians, to propose peace to Tlaxcala, giving with this act of justice proof of his good intentions toward the peoples' interest, until then sacrificed because of particular resentments and old feelings of hatred, and that in order not to spoil the great negotiations, he had given his troops orders not to go after the Spaniards inside the territory of the republic. Teutile hoped to be one of the ambassadors in these important negotiations, about which he was forewarned, keeping longer explanations for the time when he might have the opportunity to embrace him. Unfortunately, the healthy changes that were beginning to improve the hopes of the Mexicans had not yet extended their beneficial influence over all the provinces, and the nation of Tepeaca broke out in hostilities against Tlaxcala, penetrating and sacking some of the border towns. This provocation had aroused the spirit of vengeance among the Tlaxcalans, and Hernan Cortes managed, with no difficulty, to have the republic declare war on Tepeaca, committing himself to come to its aid. This was the first time that he consented to receiving the cooperation of a large Tlaxcalan army; the fear that its general aroused in him was concealed by the enthusiasm with which Tlaxcala had agreed to this war, moved by the aggression and, perhaps more, by the old hatreds between these two neighboring enemy nations. This enthusiasm would inevitably condemn any attempt that was not directed toward vengeance. In this manner, Hernan Cortes weakened the Mexicans' power, destroying one of their provinces, accustomed the Tlaxcalan army to fight with him, and tested with some certainty the effect that a declaration from Xicotencatl might produce, if the latter were to attempt some move

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Xicotewcatl against him. Furthermore, he took time to build thirteen brigantines that he had planned to take to the Mexican lagoon on the shoulders of the country s inhabitants. At this time news arrived in Tlaxcala that some ambassadors from Guatimotzin were requesting permission to appear before the Senate in order to reveal their mission from the emperor. This unexpected event very much worried Hernan Cortes, and all of his adroitness and despotic influence over Magiscatzin s powerful party were not enough to impede the ambassadors' audience. Peoples who have become accustomed to being sovereign take a long time to lose all their dignity, and some vestiges of it survive in their strength and patriotic virtues. The Senate agreed to listen to the ambassadors from its powerful enemy. At their head was Teutile who, accompanied by a splendid entourage, offered the Senate a magnificent present made up of pieces of gold and silver, clothing, and other curiosities, with numerous loads of salt, all in the name of Guatimotzin, who offered his friendship to the Tlaxcalan nation. His envoy ended with the following: "Senators of Tlaxcala: the Emperor of Mexico wishes you the greatest prosperity and offers you peace and a perpetual alliance between the two nations, freedom of trade, and communication of common interests, provided that you take up arms against the Spaniards, and asks that you join him in a common cause against the common enemy." n Once the ambassadors had retired, the discussion began and there was, of course, an unrestrained, open attack from the patricidal faction directed against those in the Senate who still had any feelings of patriotism left. The debates ranged from talking to insults, and the temple of wisdom and prudence turned into a theater of fury. Young Xicotencatl managed, finally, to make himself heard, saying to them: "Tlaxcalans, the Mexican emperor, whose formidable power always keeps us with our weapons in our hands and involved with the continuous infelicity of a defensive war, pleads in friendship, without asking us for any reward other than our waging war on the Spaniards, and in doing so he proposes that we do only what is convenient and advantageous to us, for as we forgive those upstarts in their efforts to annihilate us and destroy our religion, we cannot deny the fact that they are attempting to alter our laws and form of government, transforming the venerable reii. Solis, Historia, the part of the sentence from "offers you peace" through "against the Spaniards."

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public of the Tlaxcalans into a monarchy and turning us into subjects under the detested domination of emperors, a yoke that is so heavy and violent that, even when it is seen around the neck of our enemies, it hurts any consideration of the matter—" 12 The unbalanced shouts from Magiscatzin and his accomplices did not allow the patriot general to finish his oration, which was full of reason, politics, and interest. And the session ended without the necessary serenity to call a vote to respond to the mission. Hernan Cortes instantly gathered together in the house of Magiscatzin all those who were his partisans and spent the night in consultations and discussions about the means of agreeing, by the next day, on a response dictated by Cortes himself. The matter was urgent, and all of the refinements that were part of any intrigue were put into action during the course of the night. These activities made it possible for Xicotencatl to see Teutile and bring him to his house. The Mexican general recognized, sorrowfully, the tremendous loss of the good cause because of the elder Xicotencatl s disability, and after affectionately embracing his niece Teutila and congratulating her on her good fortune, he addressed her husband in the following manner: "When those adventurers left Mexico because of the news of the arrival of others who were coming to compete against them over their prize, only a small Spanish garrison was left behind, but in spite of that, the imbecilic Moctezuma refused to leave his prison. Fear made him pretend that he was content, and he repelled any effort by his subjects to free him from such ignominious enslavement. "At that time, a national festival was being celebrated in the empire, and all the youth of both sexes attended, bedecked in their richest jewels to display at dances, public and solemn. The infatuated monarch wanted the Spaniards to attend the solemn occasion; they came armed and, although few in number, attacked the defenseless Mexicans.13 Like leopards and lynxes besieging a flock of sheep, they turned the theater of peaceful joys into a horrifying butchery. Attack, in the name of St. James, was the signal for the slaughter that ensued as a result of their greedy pillage of the rich adornments. "All those horrible events finally piqued the just resentment of the 12. Solis, Historia, the part of the paragraph from "the Mexican emperor" through "any consideration of the matter." 13. Here the author credits Fray Bartolome de las Casas for the narration of this event. [Trans, note].

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Mexicans, and they came together under the leadership of Cuitlahuac, whom they named regent, in view of the fact that Moctezuma was being held captive. While the political and military system was being reorganized, we were unable to do anything other than lock in and blockade the enemy in his fortress. Hernan Cortes arrived with his army, reinforced with new foreigners, the troops from Tlaxcala and other allies, and we allowed them to penetrate up to their barracks so as to keep them from leaving. "The following day Cuitlahuac commanded the army and the people and ordered the siege and, afterward, the attack on the fortified palace. In this enterprise we maintained ourselves with prodigious bravery, in spite of the ravages caused by their machines of fire. And undoubtedly the people s constancy would have finally achieved its victory if nightfall had not impeded the battle s continuation. At dawn the very next day, all of Mexico was armed; the Spaniards came out of their barracks and the city became a battleground; the butchery was widespread and horrible, and night put an end to our stubborn combat. "During the night the reigning regent organized the troops, laid out their places, and, encouraging everyone, managed to contain them in their ardor, establishing better order than there had been during the day. At dawn, the enemy came out again with some new machines that, like so many other wooden towers on four wheels and pulled along by brutish warriors, exposed them to the throwing weapons that we hurled at them from the windows and rooftops of the houses. At the same time they burned down the city from their towers, hurling against the walls a type of incendiary that set the fires. "Cuidahuac ran everywhere, being an inspiration to some and reviving a love of liberty and a desire for just satisfaction among others. Enormous stones, taken up to the tops of buildings, destroyed their new and infernal invention. Then the fighting took place out in the open and in an orderly fashion, in the midst of the burning of entire square blocks of houses. More than forty Spaniards were left lying on the streets, and two-thirds of them returned wounded, more or less seriously, to take refuge in their palace. The slaughter of the Tlaxcalans, Cempoalans, and other allies was great and equal to ours. "Finally, although with very high cost, the people recognized that the foreigners were not immortal. The following day a new assault was carried out against the Spaniards' palace so they would not have time to recover. The enthusiasm was widespread; the Mexicans had awakened from their lethargy, and when they, in their constancy and valor, were in

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about to take the first building without failing, their leader, bold like no other, although down to his last recourse, had the inept Moctezuma led out by force and there exposed him to stones being thrown by the people who, until recently, had prostrated themselves in his presence. "The prestige invested upon royal majesties, which tyrants have fomented so skillfully before the masses, made the people abandon their victory and pay no heed to their cause and interest, in order to listen to a foolish phantom, ridiculous and impotent as he was, adorned with the insignias of supreme authority. The cowardly monarch was so vile that he ordered the people to lay down their arms. What a terrible lesson for those who delegate their rights or suffer their usurpation by the arbitrariness of a man! Cuitlahuac then spoke this way to the astonished Mexican populace: 'My people! That figure who is before you is only a man who, out of fear, cowardice, and pusillanimity, would allow all of you to be slaughtered so long as his own person did not run any risk. Save such an idol, perishing ignominiously and vilely, or save the country, liberty, your honor, and your women and property, fighting on the road to glory. You choose.' "The assault was redoubled. The populace vainly begged Moctezuma to retire, and vainly did Cuitlahuac direct his efforts elsewhere. His astute oppressor put him forward as his only shield in the most dangerous places and, finally, a stone hit him on the temple, thus ending the fateful reign of the despotic and imbecilic Moctezuma. "Concerns that have been suckled with our mothers' milk and nourished under the aegis of sacred respect are stronger than reason and judgment, even more, too, than the people s passions; they are the fatal magic which so many tyrants abuse and which saved our enemy at the very moment of his ruin. The astute politician sent the royal corpse to the people, who fled terrified and horrified upon seeing it, and in this way he gave himself breathing space in the middle of his distressing situation and prepared himself, if that was possible, for what was to come. "Cuitlahuac, who was elected emperor, took advantage of the time the fanatical people were taking to cry over their tyrant, to organize a new plan against the enemy that might prove to be infallible. With the enemy reduced to being unable to leave their fortification, Cuitlahuac placed his troops around the palace, well protected behind good trenches, and in this way tightened his siege until he might be able to attack once again. The wise leader recognized his desperate situation and, at all costs and in the middle of the night, set out on a retreat that perhaps would have been impossible the next day. "The new emperor attacked his column at the head of a chosen group 113

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Xkotbncatl of Mexicans and, after a most bloody skirmish, managed to cut off the Spaniards. Their leader managed to save himself, leaving more than two hundred Spaniards and one thousand of their allies dead along the streets of Mexico City and dikes on the lagoon, and all the artillery and baggage in the hands of the winner. On this occasion we observed that the first Spaniards who fell in the battle were loaded down with gold, so if they succumbed under its weight, we can say that this terrible metal has been useful to us once. "This battle cost the brave Cuitlahuac his life; but his glorious though brief reign and his heroic death have reinvigorated the public spirit of the nation, benumbed by slavery and degradation. The nation has named Guatimotzin as its leader, a young man of valor and patriotism in all circumstances, whose generous selflessness has justified his election. He himself has eliminated abuses of power and lightened the load with which Moctezuma oppressed us, and he, in good faith, wished for peace and friendship with Tlaxcala, for his generous spirit leads him toward love for humanity. "While our young monarch endeavored to set straight the disorder caused by two such recent changes of government and under such notable circumstances, the remains of the defeated Spanish army and its allies gathered on this side of the lagoon, and they say that, with their leader seated atop a stone, they all burst into tears. A notable weakness, and not without precedent in these ambitious men who, in prosperity, possess an irresistible valor but, amidst misfortune, manifest the miseries of human nature. "Nevertheless, since fear has wings, their retreat was carried out with such speed that the troops sent by Guatimotzin to pursue them were unable to reach the army until it had arrived in the valley of Otumba. There, a bloody battle took place, and in it that lucky upstart was wounded, and the only advantage won by the enemy was that they arrived at the outskirts of Tlaxcala, so much in haste and exhausted that they were unable to go beyond Gualipar. "Our army did not go after them inside your territory, because this would have been an act contrary to the friendly intentions of Guatimotzin. I fear that the Senate might disregard the honorable proposals offered by the emperor; but do not lose heart, for if we recognize that the fateful influence of that adventurer is the sole cause of the negative results of the negotiations, they will be repeated under more favorable circumstances. Now what is paramount is to force that treacherous enemy to leave Tlaxcala, and then we will both defeat him or perish in our glorious endeavor."

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Book Ewe After speaking this way and tenderly embracing his niece and the venerable elder, Teutile returned to Calpisca, accompanied by young Xicotencatl. The Senate was called to meet the following day, and at the hour of the opening session, one of the elder Xicotencatl s old friends appeared at the latter s home and said to him: "Your son, my friend, is in great danger. They have just accused him, before me and one of the senators who supports Magiscatzin, of having been seen, very late last night, leaving your house with one of the Mexican ambassadors; this is a crime of treason, especially if the peace proposals are not accepted. The senator has told me that he will accuse him this very day according to the law, and Magiscatzin is going to triumph over his rival and Tlaxcala s last hope." The kindly old man regained his sapped strength and had himself taken to the Senate, no longer, as before, to sustain with his prudence and with his inflexible justice the good of his country; this weight was too great for him in his state of feebleness. But his son was threatened, and the pull of Nature is more durable than the influence of education and society. Thus, he rushed to his assistance, sustained only by paternal concern. The venerable elders appearance caused very different commotions in the Senate. Magiscatzin was forced to yield the presidential seat to him, and Xicotencatl spoke to them in the following manner: "I have not come, Senators, to take part in a deliberation as important as the one that has brought you together at this moment. Retired by Nature from all political negotiations, I do not consider myself instructed enough to be able to put forth a report founded on justice and the interests of the nation. But I have wished that my last attendance in this holy temple of Tlaxcala s liberties might be on an occasion as arduous, significant, and critical as the present one. Thus I let you deliberate with no further delay over what you discussed yesterday and over what I hope you have meditated with my best wishes for your being successful." The Senate refused to have the majority reopen the discussion about the matter of the mission from the Mexican emperor; following a proposal by Magiscatzin, it was agreed that this response would be given, a response he had committed to memory: that peace be accepted with all due respect, provided that it came presented with proposals both reasonable and proportionate to what was convenient and honorable to both sides; but that Tlaxcalans had religiously observed the laws of welcome to guests and were not given to offending anyone who was thus safe,

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Xicotencatf priding themselves for feeling that anything illicit would be an impossibility and for always going straight to the truth of any matter, because they did not deal in pretension nor did they know of another name for treason.14 As soon as the emissary charged with communicating the response had left and after saying good-bye to the ambassadors, the senator who was mentioned earlier made the accusation against Xicotencatl, according to the form prescribed by law. Since there had not been time to inform Magiscatzin about this matter, the desire to take revenge on his enemy was evident in the happy surprise with which he heard the accusation. Paternal love reinvigorated the elderly president who, assuming the tone expected from his office, spoke thus to his son: "How do you respond, Tlaxcalan, to this accusation?" "That it is true." "Leave, while the Senate deliberates." The loving father, who was paying close attention to the discussion, realized, as he listened to it, that some of them tended toward delaying tactics, and fearing the loss of his son if Hernan Cortes s advice became intermingled with this affair, spoke up and said very gravely: "Senators! The Senate s justice has always been inflexible, and it must continue to be so as long as its members do not renounce honor and virtue. The Tlaxcalan general has had communication with an enemy; the accusation presents this deed, and the accused does not deny it. His crime is stipulated by the law. What is the penalty imposed by the law? His deposition as general. I vote in favor of it." The heroic valor of the venerable father filled the senators with a sense of admiration, to the point that they dared not oppose his vote. Xicotencatls deposition was agreed to, and the valiant warrior turned his baton over to the Senate to the indescribable joy of some of them and the tears of the others, who had just agreed to his deposition. Upon his return home, his old father embraced him, affectionately saying to him: "I have saved you, my son, I have saved you. My fathers love has strengthened me in my feebleness, and harshly, perhaps extremely so, I have been able to extricate you from the claws of your mortal enemy. If the resolution had been delayed to the point that those strangers' leader had been able to influence it, you would surely have been ruined. I have saved you, my son. Live on to console your old father in his last days." 14. Soils, Historia, the part of this paragraph from "that peace be accepted" through "another name for treason."

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Boofe Fife The young hero did not wish to disturb his beloved father s joy; but his heart was filled with sadness at the prospect of being unable to take up the defense of his homeland. Finally, responding to the affectionate urgings of the elder, he broke his silence: "No, my beloved father," he said to him, "it is not the feeling of loss of destiny that afflicts and torments your son. He is the unhappiest of men because of the idleness to which your affection condemns him, when his homeland is rushing precipitously to its destruction. But since the invincible power of Destiny has deprived her of a defender with influence and authority, Xicotencatl will know how to fulfill his duties as a citizen, as a man who saw hisfirstlight in Tlaxcala." Indeed, this generous and valiant American was planning a noble vengeance, one worthy of a republican spirit; like another Brutus, he swore that he would see the tyrant dead. Hernan Cortes recognized the innocent artifice of the venerable Xicotencatl, and he could not help but feel somewhat fearful in his suspicion that his valiant son might act out of desperation, being justly resentful, and as much to avoid that extreme reaction as to put his terrible enemy once more within the reach of his schemes, he played the role of the generous man and declared himself to be his protector, appearing before the Senate and begging this body to reappoint Xicotencatl leader of the arms of Tlaxcala. This behavior would have led to the condemnation of any attempt made by Xicotencatl against Cortes, branding the former with the mark of the blackest ingratitude in the face of such generous protection. The skillful Spaniard saw, in the Senate s easy malleability to his insinuations, that he could obtain from it, with astute concealment, whatever he needed to carry out, without risk, the horrible crime that his imagination was plotting. Xicotencatl had to perish: at every moment, his existence compromised Spanish arms in America; his spirit s mettle was inaccessible to any kind of corruption and depression; his reputation for valor and virtue was respected even by those Tlaxcalans who had sold themselves out to the treacherous faction, and any attempt against his person could bring deadly consequences, especially if it failed. Thus, in order to obviate all of these inconveniences, he communicated to the Senate that the act of magnanimous generosity that that body had just carried out, moved by the outstanding merits of the young general of the republic, could incite those who were rebellious in the hope that they might obtain pardon for their crimes, something that perhaps could carry unpleasant conse117

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quences during the course of a war such as the one that was going to be waged. That, to avoid these serious inconveniences, he was proposing the establishment of an energetic, precautionary measure that might put a halt to betrayers and rebels, because politics dictates prevention of the commission of crimes rather than the attempt to punish them; that it seemed to him that, if the Senate agreed that all crimes of rebellion and felony committed in the armies should be punished in a military fashion, according to Spanish ordinances, the knowledge of his righteous justice and of his rigid discipline would discourage the most daring and rebellious. But that, nevertheless, the Senate could freely decide whatever seemed best for the common good. Hernan Cortes departed without awaiting a response, and Magiscatzin, now rid of the two Xicotencatls, triumphed over the weak resistance of a few senators who showed useless opposition to the prostitution and debasement of the sovereign authority of Tlaxcala. Fate, ultimately, led that body, once so worthy of respect, to the lowest level of corruption, and judicial power was left to the adjudication of a skillful and powerful foreigner. From that moment on, the Republic of Tlaxcala ceased to exist as a nation. The sovereignty of states is like a woman's honor: when people maintain it intact, they are respected and esteemed, as is the case with an honest woman in all countries; but when selfinterest, corruption, weakness, or any other cause make them yield their appreciable jewel, neither one nor the other is more than the object of contempt, worthy, at the most, of pity and commiseration. People can, nevertheless, regain their honor and cleanse their degradation by reconquering, with valor, what the torrent of fate has torn out of them. Nevertheless, the wretched Republic of Tlaxcala was condemned, for the time, to suffer for a long while the worthy punishment of its vile act of prostitution. Hernan Cortes chose eight thousand Tlaxcalans, led by chiefs who had his complete trust and who answered immediately to him, leaving for Xicotencatl the command of the great army of the republic. Immediately afterward, all left to conduct the war against Tepeaca. Diego de Ordaz, still convalescing from his many wounds, remained in Tlaxcala, taking care of the sick and wounded and dona Marina as well, who had not yet recovered from the fatigue of such a dangerous retreat. She took advantage of Hernan Cortes s absence to have more contact with the virtuous Teutila. Although dissipation and the tumultuous events in Mexico had cooled the good disposition enjoyed by dona Marina when she left Tlaxcala, the tranquillity that she was left with and, especially, the 118

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vivid example of Teutila struck a chord inside her, and she began to take pleasure in the sweet habit of being virtuous. She was also becoming accustomed to seeing Ordaz as a sincere and selfless friend, and she revealed her heart s sensitivity when she saw the innocent, tender care that he lavished on her son. These good seeds were starting to germinate in the heart of doiia Marina when the death of Magiscatzin caused her irrevocable conversion to the virtuous life. As the last moments came near, the old prevaricator was faced with the perspective of an afterlife, so to be feared by the wicked. Cruel remorse and panicky terror, ministers of the vengeance of a just God, were tormenting his soul, and being unable to resist the horrible reality of his life, which placed before him its importunate memory, he trembled, horrified before the shouting of that tremendous voice that was his conscience as it accused him. His anguished sighs and lamentable whimpering manifested the insufferable torment that was tearing him apart. Shuddering, dona Marina witnessed this terrible struggle between the man and a voice that came out from inside him and began, heatedly, to exhort him to atonement, the sole but extremely sad consolation that was left to the wicked, dying man. Magiscatzin then directed, with officious stubbornness, that the elder Xicotencatl, Ordaz, and Teutila appear before him. Once they were all gathered around the bed with dona Marina and the relatives and friends of the sick man, he spoke in the following manner: "How happy you are, once and a thousand times, oh respectable Xicotencatl! You are to descend into the grave with the quiet tranquillity of the laborer who retires to his home after having carefully tended the field that sustains him and his fortunate family, while I approach the end of my days with the uneasiness and wary fear of the bandit who vainly wants to hide his remorse in the dark cavern where he is going to be buried. Yes, no matter how dark and deep we imagine the lair that awaits us to be, here inside us there is a light against which we so vainly try to close our eyes. "Oh, the evils I have caused! And how terrible my punishment must be! Let us mitigate, if it is possible, the horror of the torments that await me, recognizing with humility the scope of my crimes. But, no; how could there be any limits to the torment of the instigator of the war of Zocotlan, who has sold out his country to a social climber in order to satisfy his iniquitous and ruinous passions? If at least that foreigner were to behold the torture that I am suffering in these moments, perhaps the enormous evils that I have caused could be put right. "This is the reason why I have called you to witness this horrible spec119

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Xkottncatl tacle: gather around, all of you, and each one can paint on it the cruel anguish with which your favorite criminal is departing this life. You will never be able to describe the violence that is destroying my heart. The infernal Furies with their serpentine locks surround my bed and threaten me with open mouths and sharpened claws; the Evil Spirit burns his black torches, filling this room with its foul-smelling smoke, and hovering above all of these frightening specters, one can see, sparkling like a bolt of lightning, the terrible sword directed against me by the powerful arm of a vengeful God. Oh, stop, stop the blow, oh wrathful God! Oh, what a miserable wretch am I! Writhe in agony and suffer, wicked one—murderer—traitor! This is the reward for your patricidal triumphs! Let us end this, finally—my life be damned!" A frightening convulsion, followed by the crudest agony, put an end to the powerful scene and to the life of the iniquitous Tlaxcalan. All those present, terrified, prostrated themselves on the ground, remaining completely silent, as if they were expecting the supreme and invisible tribunal that had just carried out such great and exemplary justice to retire. Dona Marinas sobs and tears broke up the lugubrious silence of those present, and they came to her aid, believing her to be injured. This unhappy woman felt in her soul all of the weight of her past behavior; but being prepared beforehand for the sweet impressions of virtue, her tears were the consoling signal of the efforts made by a soul that has just shaken off the yoke of its vices. At that moment, Fray Bartolome de Olmedo entered, sent by Hernan Cortes to succor the miserable Magiscatzin in his last moments. Dona Marina addressed him in the following manner: "Foreigner, my ambition of going from servitude to lover of a powerful man influenced me to renounce the religion of my ancestors in favor of yours. Even though little instructed in the doctrine of this religion, about which you yourself vacillate and contradict yourself continuously, I see in you, nevertheless, the monstrous mixture of the most just and kind maxims with the most atrocious and iniquitous deeds, and the most profound and delicate discourses with the most foolish and contemptible absurdities. "When I observed my simple and pure worship, well, it came right from my heart. When I was an idolater, as you referred to me, I was always a virtuous woman, and my humble and wretched lot kept me very far from the heroism of that respectable woman that you have before you. But from the moment that I became a Christian, my progress along the road to crime was greater than the beautiful virtues of Teutila. 120

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Boofe Five "I renounce forever that religion that you have taught me with lies, with intrigue, with greed, with misery, and, especially, with indifference before the most atrocious crimes. Doctrine is preached through example, and when it has won over respect, understanding is held through conviction. Tell Hernan Cortes that his slave will knead his bread, that she will wash his clothes, but that she will no longer be the party to his ambitious plans or the accomplice to his excesses.'' In this way did poor Marina express herself, making, with her ardent imagination, an orderly mixture of things, men, and their discourse. With her lack of polish, she was unable to understand the pious reasoning with which the zealous priest attempted to contain that sheep who had strayed to the edge of the abyss. She did not wish to continue her affair with Hernan Cortes or be his confidante, and she avowed with all her strength that, if she continued in his amorous and political intrigue, she would separate herself, no matter what, from the road to virtue. The chaplain set forth before her that her good influence could lead to many good things in God's cause, because nothing held more sway over the heart of a magnanimous man than the tears and pleas of a virtuous woman. "Yes," Marina answered, "we have already seen that in the influence and power of Teutila. A man who is not intimidated by a God that you depict as being so terrible, a man who is not moved by the sight of a city reduced to ashes or a field covered with palpitating corpses, do you expect him to give in before the tears of a slave? Enough of your illusions." "Well, then, you obstinate idolater, God's grace abandons you. Go and rot in the filthy swamp of your former errors; but give me that child, redeemed in the blood of the Immaculate Lamb, for it isn't right that his pure soul nurse with his milk the seeds of idolatry and error." "You skillful hypocrite! You know how to attack me, employing Nature's elements. Your clever leader did the same; after he ingratiated himself in my heart, he tried to enslave my understanding. But—" Her tears did not allow her to continue. These powerful scenes sapped the elder Xicotencatl s strength, and his constitution, under the strain of his years, succumbed to the weight of feelings as intense as these. The old man's exhaustion caught the attention of all those present who, after having proffered him the most tender care, carried him out in their arms and put him to bed where, surrounded by his innocent family, he began to recover his serenity. What a contrast! What a magnificent change for the sensitive spectators! The scene of the criminal, gnawing at his chains, tied to a post, and 121

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Xkottncatl grinding his teeth and tearing himself apart with his own nails while Heavens vengeance whipped him from above, was followed by one of kind and tranquil virtue, resting on the bosom of trust, courted by filial love and friendship and consoled by the memories of an innocent life. While these things were taking place in Tlaxcala, the army of the republic was easily conquering Tepeaca, and Hernan Cortes was taking advantage of his victories by assuming possession of the territory of the vanquished, where he erected a fortress that was given the name Segura de la Frontera, leaving the victors with only a part of the booty taken by the troops. In this campaign Xicotencatl behaved with the strictest obedience of a republican who carries out his governments orders, persuaded by the justice of the orders given. Hernan Cortes carefully observed the valor and discipline of the Tlaxcalan militia, so superior to that of the other Americans against whom he had fought; wishing to accustom these warriors to fight and vanquish under someone other than their young general, he left him in Tepeaca with one of his divisions and a small party of Spaniards and moved on to new enterprises against the neighboring provinces that were not submitting to him. The benign influence of the new Mexican government had not extended out to the remote provinces, and that great old machine had entirely gone to pieces in the period of anarchy during Moctezuma s imprisonment. So it was that, assisted by a powerful and victorious army, Cortes subjugated those who resisted, drew to him those who were discontented, and organized a sort of league or confederation of different nations which, carefully maintained, was to contribute an army of more than one hundred thousand men to him, a respectable force that, united with that of Tlaxcala, made it possible for him to return with more hope against the city of Mexico. If his soldiers were displeased, he contained them with the Tlaxcalans; if any one of the latter acted the least suspiciously, he was removed in a diplomatic or violent manner from the place that he could affect prejudicially. And the other nations were manipulated with the same astute policy. To add to this felicitous situation, new reinforcements arrived from Cuba, sent by Diego Velazquez to help Narvaez; the men were won over with gold and with promises or were contained with warnings and severity, and the Spanish army increased its number of men and horses and was provisioned with weapons and ammunition, of which there had been an extreme lack.

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Book Fife The news of Magiscatzin s death stopped Cortes in his successful incursions. The bonds of friendship with Tlaxcala could be broken if a patriot occupied the empty place, and without further delay, he returned to that capital, taking with him the eldest son of Magiscatzin, who led one of the trusted companies. This young man, corrupted by the poor example set by his father and accustomed to luxury and ambition from his dealings with the Spaniards, sold himself out blindly to his protector Cortes, who was going to promote him to a rank to which his hopes could not have aspired. The principal patricians of the neighborhood or district where Magiscatzin was cacique and representative in the Senate, and who could have given some inkling of suspicion, stopped in Tepeaca, and for this reason Xicotencatl was ordered to wait in that city for three days before following the first body that marched toward Tlaxcala. Hernan Cortes resolved that he would enter the city in mourning because of the death of Magiscatzin; he availed himself of black clothing, which he and his captains wore over their weapons, and for this purpose he had some native cloaks dyed. They made their entrance with no more ceremony than that required by military decorum and with an affected silence from the part of the soldiers, by means of which they demonstrated their mourning for the general.15 With this ridiculous farce Cortes, faced with the death of the ostensible head of his faction, showed himself publicly and unabashedly to be the real leader. The district where the deceased had lived, besieged by intrigue, occupied by soldiers, and deprived of many of its electors, named Magiscatzin s son as leader and representative to the Supreme Council. And the faction remained equally dominant. All this was executed as Hernan Cortes wished. Because of his influence, Xicotencatl was denied any triumph, under the pretext that all this was due to the city's mourning and sorrow after the loss of its magistrate. Having immediately learned from the chaplain how dona Marina had insulted the holy faith under specious and apparent protestations of virtue and scrupulousness, he had her appear before him, determined to overcome all her plans with love, or by force, or in any other way. The able Americans cooperation was too useful to him to easily give her up because of womanish scruples. "It seems, Marina," he said to her, "that you want to be prudish. I i£. Soils, Historia, the part of this paragraph from "resolved that he would enter" through "mourning for the general."

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Xicotencatf know you and I suspect that some young Tlaxcalan is perhaps the cause of this conversion. But beware, both of you, that my resentment will be as great as my kindness has been." "Sire, I am your slave, and you can willfully avail yourself of me and the labor of my hands, but my heart has returned to virtue irrevocably. And she who, in her life of vice, might not have trembled before Heavens retribution might very well be calm before the anger of a man when performing her duty." This language left Hernan Cortes disconcerted. Marina's resolve was, by all appearances, sustained by the constancy that is natural to all people who have not been enervated by the refinement of society and strengthened by the enlightenment that she had acquired in her dealings with the Europeans. "Ingrate!" her lord said to her. "And will you thus abandon the man who has done so much for your well-being? Your son s tender father? Tell me, in what way has my affection been lacking? And if you are so hard inside, abandon your lover and protector; go and join his enemies and help them to defeat him." "Sire, the memory of the evils you have caused to befall me will in no way diminish my recognition of your benefits or my esteem for you. And if my past conduct authorizes you to suppose that I could be capable of such dark and vile ingratitude, time will serve to free you from the illusion that Marina is someone very different from the one whom you have known." "And who is responsible for this change?" "Nature, sire; this solicitous mother needed my instincts for her great goals and was able to awaken them. The vertigo that preceded their renewal made me an object worthy of pity; good example reanimated those charitable instincts, and Magiscatzins horrifying catastrophe has caused an invincible hatred of vice to take root in my heart." "What catastrophe? What has happened?" "What a pity, sire, that you were not present! Your great heart would have been unable to resist in the presence of a wicked man in the midst of his agony." Marina then painted for him, simply but vividly, the horrifying spectacle to which she had been witness. Immediately afterward, wishing to give more feeling to the depiction by the use of contrast and to give vent, at the same time, to the anguish in her heart, she went on to tell of the celestial calm that prevailed during the coming death of the virtuous Xicotencatl. When the heart speaks, its discourse is eloquent, and Hernan 124

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Boofe Fife Cortes, with all his character, was unable to remain serene before such vivid scenes as depicted by the sensitive American. A silent and profound sadness seized the Spanish leaders senses; his eyebrows in a frown, his breathing long and labored, his head resting in his hand, while his other arm hung down, everything showed the great impact that the depiction was having on him. Finally, after a long period of time, he broke his lugubrious silence, saying: "Leave, Marina; I expressly forbid you from going to the house of Xicotencatl. Your breast-feeding makes these scenes dangerous for you and for your son. Good-bye." At this time, young Xicotencatl arrived in Tlaxcala along with his troops, and his concerns over his father s health distracted him from the snub from which he suffered for having been denied the honor of victory. He immediately rushed to the place where his heart beckoned him and he saw the venerable creator of his life, the master of his virtues, his intimate friend, his dear father, lying prostrate in his bed and receiving, with a kind and celestial smile, the love proffered by his beloved Teutila and his faithful friend Diego de Ordaz. The life's breath of the elderly man was growing fainter and fainter with the same sweet and unalterable calmness with which the sun sinks below the clear horizon on a beautiful summer afternoon. "Come, my souls beloved!" exclaimed the elder, becoming more animated upon hearing the voice of his son, "come, my Xicotencatl; come and embrace your father. Kind God! I can finally depart from the race that I have run without making myself unworthy of your mercy. "I am content, my children, because you are happy and because you deserve to be so. My pilgrimage is coming to an end, and I go voluntarily to pay a debt to Nature, for it forgives no one. Receive, dear ones, my last paternal blessing, and may Heaven make your joy as full as mine! "Listen, my children: I have been young and I have had strong passions like you; I have lived a long life, in which I have obtained glorious victories, been assigned great tasks and representation in public affairs. I had a spouse, a model among Tlaxcala s women, who possessed an angelic character. Heaven has given me a son who is full of virtue and a daughter worthy of him. I have also had friends, a treasure of rare and great value. "Hear well what I say to you now that I have one foot in the grave and, before me, an open door to another life, where I am to be judged by the One who is incapable of being corrupt and ignorant: all of the pleasures that I have enjoyed, gathered together in a series so replete with prosperity, are an atom; they are nothing compared with the heavenly joy that 125

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intoxicates my spirit as I bid you adieu with a conscience that is pure and free of any fear.*' Tender and quiet tears dampened the cheeks of the three spectators, and tender sighs blended together from time to time with the saindy advice born of wisdom and the last expressions of paternal love. The dying elder's serenity had softened the strong sensitivity of those who surrounded him, in such a way that they seemed to be more imbued with religious devotion than afflicted by great emotion. No one dared to interrupt the venerable Xicotencatl, fearful of violating his sacred maxims. He continued his kind conversation, speaking to them of justice, the first and principal duty of men; about charity, humanity's great virtue and consolation; and of faith in a supreme being, master of the universe, the judge who rewards or avenges human acts; and after mentioning other objects that depend on these three cardinal principles, gently squeezing his children's hands, he said good-bye to them in a weakening voice and became still, like someone who has fallen asleep in the bosom of temperance and health. Then the oppressed hearts of the three bereaved gave vent to their sorrow without reserve, and after paying Nature with the tribute of their human frailty, giving in to the expression of their just grief, they contained their painful demonstrations of suffering to offer their dear father s remains their last demonstrations of love and respect. Xicotencatl distributed a great part of his father's wealth among the elderly, widows, and needy orphans and called for the funeral to have all the ostentation and pomp due the elder s virtue and rank. All of Tlaxcalas priests went out with censers, in which they burned copal, to receive the body being borne by the four newest senators. The clergy surrounded the coffin, singing doleful hymns; following them were Xicotencatl, on one side, and his wife, on the other; he was followed by all the honorable and virtuous Tlaxcalans and she by the respected matrons and honorable young women of the city. Diego de Ordaz had gone to inform Cortes about the death of the venerable senator, and he who knew how to glorify the memory of Magiscatzin with ridiculous pomp refused to allow any honor to be paid to the virtuous Xicotencatl. Thus, Ordaz discovered that Cortes s gifts had not been directed to the senator of the state but rather to his faction's subordinate leader. As the somber procession left the house, Diego de Ordaz appeared alone to accompany his desolate friend Xicotencatl, and the latter, for the first time in his life, suffered the disdain of Hernan Cortes.

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Book Ffoe Two tears fell from the young Tlaxcalan general's downcast eyes, and he said to his faithful friend: "Finally, that man has power over me, making me feel his snub." When the procession arrived at the temple, the body was placed in the center, on a bench, and the priests intoned the canticles of their rite. The august ceremony was interrupted several times by the sobs emanating from the many in attendance; once it was over, the cortege, in the same order, moved to the cemetery. The body was placed in an open grave next to his wife's; the priests recited some simple libations, Teutila placed a pale flower on the hands of the deceased, and his son covered him with dirt using his own hands. The clergy retired and the mourners accompanied the bereaved to their home. The honest Diego de Ordaz, finally wearied by his leader's partiality and injustice, and horrified by the bloody actions in which the laws of subordination had forced him to participate, appeared before Hernan Cortes and asked for permission to retire under pretext of his broken health. The leader was concerned by this resolution, coming, as it was, from such a deserving and well-loved captain, because of the possible effect that the voluntary retirement of a man like Ordaz could have on others' opinion of him; after having tried in vain to persuade him to stay, he found a political means to cloak the danger that imperiled him. He therefore told him that, since he had decided to retire, he would appoint him as one of the commissioners entrusted with taking his documents to Spain, where he could stay or from whence he could return, depending on what his state of health allowed, and that he was resolving to do this as much to show him this new sign of his appreciation for him as to take advantage of his trust in him over that which he might have for any other captain. Diego de Ordaz accepted the commission, and from that moment on he dedicated himself to the preparations for his departure. His friends Xicotencatl and Teutila were deeply affected by this news, for virtuous spirits love each other with a kind of affection that is very close to love. Thus their farewells were extremely touching. "Good-bye, dear friends; I leave your peaceful and enchanting homeland for the tumultuous bustle of a court, but for days now my heart has been assailed by the most foreboding of presentiments: my nights are restless and my dreams, dismal and bloody. I do not know whether these phenomena are the result of so many and such horrendous scenes as I have seen myself engaged in, or if it is an instinct that counsels me to

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draw away from more terrible catastrophes; what is certain is that I have been unable to resist the inclination to abandon this region, in spite of the fact that here my heart has offered its first fruits to love and friendship. Live happily and may Heaven keep you from misfortune, as you can be certain that your faithful friend will never forget you for even a moment." His departure left husband and wife in mourning and, as if the sad forebodings of the honest Ordaz were contagious, Xicotencatl and Teutila began to feel agitated and dispirited with no cause or motive. The resolution that Hernan Cortes communicated to the Senate to undertake the great expedition that he had planned against the Mexican Empire, and for which he could count on all the forces of Tlaxcala, took Xicotencatl out of his sad and profound meditation. From that very moment he dedicated himself to gathering and organizing his troops, and the public duties in which he was involved revived his patriotism, replaced at the last moment by those emotions natural to a sensitive man who has just suffered two such irreparable losses. In his mind, his homeland seemed like a desperately ill patient who is consumed daily by the lack of a spirited man who might dare to run the risk of saving him. The chain of events that fate had disposed against his republic had made it pass, in a very short time, from the high rank of a worthy and respectable nation to the debasement of slaves sold out to a fortunate newcomer. Social bonds were broken, authority prostituted, betrayal dominant and rewarded, patriotism and merit spurned, rights trodden, and laws affronted; in a word, the whole edifice, which the colossal power of the Mexican emperors had never been able to conquer, in tatters. Under such conditions, the natural order of things returns all powers to the individuals who had delegated them for the common good, and Xicotencatl s great spirit conceived the noble and patriotic project of gathering, from among so many ruins, the most useful materials with which to again raise the fortress of Tlaxcalan freedom, after having freed his country from the enemies that had destroyed it. With all the forces of Tlaxcala under his orders, his plan was to accompany the allied army until, far from the treacherous authorities, he could operate freely, and in this manner to let Cortes know that he should surrender his arms and remove himself from American territory or die with his troops in his attempts to achieve this goal. At the same time he must also reestablish negotiations with the new Mexican emperor so that, working together, they could achieve their great intentions with fewer casualties on the part of the natives who had been in awe of Hernan Cortes. 11S

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Book Fwe But what fateful destiny causes heroism and virtue to be tied so frequently to the triumphant chariot of astute malice and forewarned mistrust? Valiant and honest republican! Generous Xicotencatl! Your noble frankness will be the cause of your destruction and you are going to bare all of your spirit s greatness to an astute enemy who watches you insidiously to stab you with the treacherous dagger that knows the impossibility of forcing you to give in. The armies of the newly allied nations had just arrived at the outskirts of the city, and they numbered around one hundred thousand. The day of departure finally arrived. "Good-bye, dear Teutila," Xicotencad said to his wife, embracing her tenderly. "The nation separates me from you, and only for her would I ever leave the sweetness of your company/' And without awaiting further response, he left Teutila crying a sea of tears, in the arms of her family. Hernan Cortes was at the city's outskirts, accompanied by the authorities of the republic and the generals of the allied troops; an immense crowd occupied the surrounding area, and the Spanish leader had his troops and the artillery that he had removed from the ships carry out a parade, repeating his farcical pomp. The ostentatious display consisted more of the novelty of the wardrobe and armaments than the number of his people, who, with all their reinforcements, did not number even five hundred men. Patriotic pride set Xicotencatl s sincere heart on fire, and with noble demeanor he approached Cortes and said to him: "General, I congratulate you on your brilliant display and your troops' good order; now you are going to see those of Tlaxcala." And without waiting for an answer, he gave his orders to one of his officers; instantly eighty thousand Tlaxcalans began to move, carrying out several maneuvers with the greatest discipline before parading in front of the generals. Among the rows of marchers an officer who occupied the place of the leader led the field; he was followed by the horns and other instruments of martial music; then came the captains in rows, brightly adorned with great tufts of multicolored feathers and their truncheons or swords slung over their left arm with their ends pointing up; each one was accompanied by a page or squire on foot carrying their bucklers, on which were painted several military deeds, historical or mythical. These, in turn, were followed by companies of different arms, distinguished by the colors on the feathers of their tufts, and each one of them had a flag, made up of a golden figure representing an animal above its lance. Following was the baggage containing provisions for war and 129

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Xicotencatl nourishment, carried along by men dressed according to the customs of their country. Hernan Cortes silently watched this grand army that was parading with the greatest order and with whose valor in battle he was acquainted after repeated experiences. The noble pride with which their young general enjoyed reviewing his troops, and the unfavorable comparison between these forces and those of Cortes, strengthened the latter s resolve in his plans. "That insolent lout," Cortes said to himself as the troops of Tlaxcala passed in review, "this barbarian must be planning to impose his great forces on me. It is truly large, but I will make it smaller. I need to have my knowledge triumph over his rustic bravery. What luck awaits me if that general, so loved by his own and so infatuated with the savage customs of his country, befriends the new emperor of Mexico and forms an alliance with him? I would inevitably be lost. Politics has ruled on your sentence, oh proud one. Enjoy yourself in your last pleasure/' Once the troops of Tlaxcala had passed, Hernan Cortes, with studied kindness, paid his respects to Xicotencatl, lavishing praise on him. "And as proof," he added, "of the respect merited by that outstanding army, I want it to participate in the glory of all the dangers. One regiment will break off the vanguard of the allied army, under the command of one of my captains, another will come with me in the center, and you will close the rear guard with the rest. Moreover, so that there be no action in which the name of Tlaxcala is not heard, some of the country's companies will stay to help lead the ships that are being built for our enterprise." In this way he took from Xicotencatl two-thirds of his forces, splitting them with the immense allied army and making communication between them absolutely impossible. In his first moments of anger, Xicotencatl was about to give the order to attack, but the presence of the republican authority made him stop to reflect, and he saw that it was only a short time before he lost command of the force on which he was placing the salvation of his homeland. His love for it contained him, and in the hope that the army would not always move in this order, because at the outset of the action many and complicated maneuvers would need to be exercised, he dedicated himself to awaiting a better opportunity to carry out his grand designs. Hernan Cortes bade farewell to his generals; each one went to his respective place, and the army started out for Texcoco, where Cacumatzin led once again, put back in his position and taken out of prison by the emperor who had succeeded Moctezuma.

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wlyen arbitrary power causes a virtuous man to be assassinated, covering up this horrendous deed under the guise of a judicial farce, as ridiculous as it is insulting, and when despotism discharges in this way its iron hand before a people who do not suffocate it or tear it apart in the just indignation that such barbarous tyranny should incite, those people suffer their chains deservedly, and even these chains are feeble when one considers what their cowardly and vile patience deserves. Justice is the soul of Liberty, and this kind matriarch, unique and bountiful source of all social benefits, is so zealous of her honor that she turns her back to the nation that does not know how to take revenge against those who insult it and makes orphans and slaves out of present and future generations. For this reason, despots restrain themselves in their thirst for blood and vengeance until they, cautiously walking, step by step, are shown by experience the debasement of the nation they are oppressing. Such was the infamous policy that led Hernan Cortes to carry out to its end the great tragedy that is going to fill the pages of this book with horror. Vainly do historians attempt to cloak the black infamy which that insolent, astute, and even fortunate captain sank into forever; vainly has the monarchical vertigo, which has stultified Europe for so long, deprived us of the most precious of historical documents about the Republic of Tlaxcala. The philosopher s shrewd eye knows how to distinguish, among the mud and trash that sully the documents of history, some sparks of truth that neither fanaticism nor servile adulation have been able to extinguish. These sparks lead him on and, when his day arrives, he unearths the facts and presents them to the world, and if he is unable to exhume them from their ancient graves in total integrity, at least he does not twist or defile them with concerns and acts of debasement. The unhappy and virtuous Teutila was living in the midst of the saddest

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Xkottncatl and most anguished loneliness. How her sensitive heart missed the venerable elder s words of comfort, of which she had so much need in the absence of her tender and beloved husband! A sad melancholy took hold of her spirit, and the strength of her nature began to weaken visibly; her color withered, the brilliance went out of her eyes, and laughter and joy disappeared from her face, which was always covered with tears. Her relatives were startled and apprehensive, as they saw her glow and healthiness disappear from one moment to the next, and in their solicitous affection they invented continuous diversions to distract her from her sadness. It was all in vain: her heart rejected any type of distraction. One day they suggested a trip to visit her relatives in Zocotlan. Happiness spread throughout the entire house as everyone heard how easily and quickly she acquiesced in favor of this project. All that was necessary was readied with the utmost speed, and even Teutila herself cheerfully took part in the preparations. They set out the following day, the daily travel strengthening the weak with universal affection. When the travelers passed by the site of the Spaniards' old barracks, Teutila stopped and, with her eyes full of tears, exclaimed: "Oh, how much happier was I when I moaned, locked up in that place! Then I was not yet a wife, and the dark fear of losing my Xicotencatl did not torment me. Let us go, friends; let us flee from this place that is contaminated by the mansion built on it by monsters." Seemingly serene, Teutila continued on her way, until she arrived at the border between the two nations. There she stopped and with the most expressive of words she asked her relatives to let her go alone to visit the temple of her pure and innocent love, the precious grotto where, in happier times, she would see her beloved Xicotencad. "At least this grotto," she said to them, "has been trod upon by only one foreigner, the virtuous Ordaz and the other old man, who at least is not wicked." Who could have denied her this innocent unburdening? The procession stopped at the entrance to the woods, and Teutila ran with all her strength toward a place full of so many delicious memories. As she drew near it, she was surprised to see a number of stones piled up at its entrance and the rest of it closed off with tree branches and underbrush. Who could have profaned this place in such a way? Her doubts held her back for an instant; but upon hearing a sad lament that seemed to be coming from the grotto, the image of a creature being oppressed gave her new vigor and, knocking down the branches and some of those stones that 132

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Book Six blocked the entrance, the brave woman climbed over the others, compelled by her humanity. What she saw before her shocked her modesty and filled her with compassion at the same time. It was a man, entirely naked and so tightly bound that it was impossible for him to move. The wretch was a Spaniard. What did it matter? It was a man, moaning under oppression, and Teutila covered him with her veil and tried to untie him. "No matter who your oppressor might be," she said to him, "only the law has the right to deprive you of your liberty in such a way/' Poor Teutila employed her frail efforts in vain; the knots were so numerous and so strong that she failed to undo them in her frailty. Meanwhile, the prisoner said to her: "Oh, lady! How kind you are! I know you and I remember when it would have been so easy for me to perform the kind deed for you that you so generously attempt to perform for me now. My harshness then and my later offenses make me deserve the death that awaits me. Go in peace and let me suffer my punishment. Providence has sent you to console me, and now that you have accomplished your mission, inspiring me to conform to its just decrees, avoid the spectacle of my torture." "I am not abandoning you, stranger. My heart cannot suffer the idea of a man who has been so cruelly imprisoned. I am only going to search for someone who might assist me in freeing you." "Go, angel from Heaven! How can it have allowed your innocence and virtues to suffer, oppressed?" Teutila left, and as she went to meet her fellows, she saw two men descending along the roughest part of the mountain, and they, upon seeing her, tried to hide. She waved to them and, realizing that she had seen them, they came to where Teutila awaited them. What a surprise it was for the two Americans to recognize the wife of the general of Tlaxcala! They were two honest Tlaxcalan neighbors, known to Teutila s family. "Is it possible," she said to them, "that people as good as you have committed such an atrocious deed against humanity? Where are the Tlaxcalans' virtues?" "Listen to us," said the older one, "listen to us before you condemn us. That criminal in whom you are interested is one of the foreigners who have remained behind to build those great canoes or wooden houses, and the day before yesterday he was walking along our countryside killing birds with his machine and trusting in the peace and good harmony guaranteed to them by our republic. This friend s wife was on her way back from visiting a woman relative who is ill; the depraved man attacked her, 133

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Xicoteiicatf like an eagle attacks a poor little bird, and dragged her by an arm to the depths of the forest and with brutal lust he consummated the atrocious crime that I do not dare to mention in your presence. "The screams coming from the wretched woman were heard by my two sons and me, for we were only a short distance away, cutting firewood. The three of us ran, guided by her moans and laments, and when we came upon the depraved man, we found him lying on top of his wretched victim, who had already fainted; we were close enough to surprise him, so the three of us fell on the criminal. Indeed, we pulled him away while he was still passionately in the midst of his ferocious lechery; we bound him tightly with a rope; we wrapped his head in a blanket and went to render assistance to the wretched woman. But all was in vain: upon losing her honor she also lost her life. It is a pity, but she died like a good Tlaxcalan. "We deliberated over what was to be done, and the three of us resolved to take his life. But as we prepared to carry out the execution, none of the three of us dared to kill a man who was bound. Who would have believed this of me, someone who has been in so many battles? In the midst of this perplexing situation, it occurred to me to propose to my sons that we turn the prisoner over to this unfortunate husband, who is the most offended, and we immediately began to think of a place where we could leave him quite secured. Then we remembered this grotto, to which my older son and I had come one night to place some arrows as we had been ordered to do by our general, when these foreigners were in our nation and we had chosen it as a place that was isolated and hidden. "My two sons carried the miscreant on their shoulders and led him here, having taken the precaution of removing his clothes and covering him with a blanket, in case they came upon someone along the road. I went in search of the wronged husband and he, after having buried his wife's body, is here with me to obtain justice for the offense." "And who has taught you, Tlaxcalan, this manner of obtaining justice, a procedure that perverts the order of society? Why do you not turn to your magistrates?" "Honorable lady, from the moment that the name of any of those thugs is involved in any matter, there is no longer justice in Tlaxcala." "Have you witnessed one act of notorious and voluntary injustice from the part of the authorities?" "Oh, lady! There have been thousands, at every moment." "Well, you are quite despicable if you are aware of it and you suffer it. You have the sovereign power to gather up your powers and to judge and 134

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Book Six punish those to whom you have accorded them; but while authorities exist, it is necessary to respect them. Anything else is confusion and anarchy. Carry out your duties and turn that wretch over to the authorities." The dignity with which Teutila addressed them silenced the two Tlaxcalans who, recognizing their error, put themselves under their compatriot s arbitration, offering to follow her orders blindly. "Well, then," Teutila said to them, "if up to this moment you have not been just, it is necessary to purge this fault by being generous now. Furthermore, you have taken your good cause along the wrong path, which always happens when one strays from one s duties. Go on, you unfortunate husband; there is nothing to be gained by acquainting yourself with the creator of your misfortune. You, elder, wait for me." Both obeyed, and Teutila went inside the grotto and asked the prisoner if he knew who had placed him in such a state. The Spaniard said that he did not, because they had carefully covered his head when they had surprised him and that when they had left him in the grotto, it was nighttime. Thus assured that she was not proceeding wrongly against those good people, she called the elder and, together, they unbound the soldier; after letting him rest a bit, they gave him a blanket and sent him on his way to Tlaxcala. The Spaniard threw himself at his liberator s feet, bathing them with his tears, and she said to him: "Go, stranger; go and tell your friends how hearts are won over. Good-bye." This generous action took Teutila away from her unresponsive sadness, and her great spirit slowly recovered its natural temperament, dedicated as she was to the practice of charity. Wherever there was a heartbroken spirit, there could Teutila be found, lavishing her sustenance, more with her kind and instructive words than with her assets, which she employed as assistance of the second order. The widow, the orphan, the elderly, the sick, all were equal to her; thus her compatriots looked upon her as a consoling angel sent by Heaven to the aid of those who were unhappy. There were tears after her departure from Zocotlan; she was sorely missed and her memory served to console all of the unfortunate for a long time. Returning home, she set out on a lively plan to fill with charity work and domestic chores the great emptiness in her heart and to alleviate the extraordinary sorrows that her spirit sensed were coming. The brave Xicotencatl moved along meditating sadly over his country's misfortunes as the army advanced easily toward Texcoco. This province had divided up into factions as a result of the low treason that placed Cacumatzin, its leader, in Cortes s power; so when the American leader 135

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broke his chains and returned to take over the reins of government, he found the people torn apart by internal discord and threatened by the horrors of a civil war. In the midst of this state of affairs, such a natural consequence of the vices of an arbitrary and demoralized government, the proximity of the large army under the command of Hernan Cortes encouraged the rebellious elements, who saw the enemies of their homeland as the instruments of their fortune. The faction against Cacumatzin presented itself brazenly, having at its head the son of a former cacique of the country. In this troubled situation, Hernan Cortes sent the country s leader a parliamentarian, proposing peace, if he were allowed to occupy his capital. Cacumatzin, lacking the necessary strength to resist his enemies from inside and outside, prudently made the decision to retire with those who were loyal, and he joined the Mexican forces to fight among them as a soldier and patriot. Hernan Cortes entered Texcoco without difficulty, and wishing to maintain his army undivided, this being an important factor, he received the leader of the rebellious forces with singular demonstrations of friendship; he, in turn, appeared before Cortes, followed by his troops, and begged for his protection. Cortes took him by the hand and, addressing those who followed him, said to them: "Here you have him, my friends, the legitimate son of your legitimate king/' What an atrociously imprudent act! To proclaim, as the basis of a usurpation by force, the foolish absurdity of legitimacy and inherited right, unknown until then in those regions, where there was no right other than that of election! The usurper showered his godfather with such low adulation that, immediately after his coronation, he renounced his gods and embraced the religion of his protector, taking the name "Hernando Cortes" at his baptism. How ancient the lowness and vileness of monarchs before the arm that supports their crowns! Xicotencatl and the troops under his command were always assigned to the last spots of the rear guard and, especially, in places where he would be unable to communicate with his enemies. This cruel posting began to weaken his hopes of being useful to his homeland; nevertheless, his constancy sustained him, bearing so much disdain in silence in case fate presented him with some favorable opportunity. What patriotic heroism! How great is your influence! Love, honor, just resentment, pride, vanity, noble ambition, all passions are sacrificed before your altars because of a man such as Xicotencatl! The young leader arrived near Texcoco when Hernan Cortes, assured 136

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Book Six

of the allegiance of that city, went in person on the journey to Ixtapalapa, from whence he returned in such a bad way, thanks to the fatal destiny that had decided the loss of America, for nothing else saved his army from being completely drowned in that city. Those who were discontented and rebellious in the provinces of Chalco and Otumba came before the one who knew so well how to reward treason and felony and, assisted by Cortes s troops, the entire nation fell to the felony of the restless and greedy conspirators. Xicotencatl thus found himself more and more constrained inside his circle and more unable to do anything in favor of his cause. Hernan Cortes primed the avarice of the Tlaxcalans by always taking some of them where good booty awaited them, and in this way proceeded to weaken the rigid austerity of that militia, and under pretext of his continuous expeditions he was, little by little, reducing the troops led by Xicotencatl. By this time the three brigantines built in Tlaxcala had arrived in Texcoco; they had been transported by tamemes, or bearers, and escorted by a Tlaxcalan division under the command of Chechimical. He was a haughty and ambitious young man who had been able to win over the affection of Hernan Cortes because of his willingness to participate in great endeavors, as a result of which, in his first expedition against Tacuba, Cortes trusted him with twenty thousand Tlaxcalans, five thousand of whom he took from those he had left to Xicotencatl. The defeat suffered in this expedition by Cortes, whose withdrawal was due only to the valor displayed by the Tlaxcalan troops, made him sensitive to the delay, demanded by politics, in the execution of his plans to become the master of all the forces of that republic. But the opportune moment had not yet arrived and it was necessary to take preliminary precautions, which required some time still. At about this time a new reinforcement of Spaniards, arms, and munitions arrived, with which there was a renewal in the devastating war that was being waged wherever one could find vile men who would come willingly to submit to the yoke of oppression. By that time the losses and continuous blows already suffered by Hernan Cortes with an army, even as large as it was, made up of elements that were almost incapable of forming a uniform corps, had demonstrated to him that he could expect nothing without the cooperation of the united troops of Tlaxcala, and to accomplish this it was necessary that he rid himself of their standard-bearer, the general who led them. But the despot, in his great strikes, is as cowardly as the assassin. When the fateful moment arrives for a project as calculated as it is wicked, he is beset by dark fears. His hand trembles as it grasps the knife, and in the apparent 137

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stillness brought about by his security, an invisible power makes him afraid of his very shadow. In the same way, a hungry wolf lies in wait for the innocent little calf that grazes in the meadow, contemplating it at first with great care to assure itself that it is not a mastiff that will offer resistance. Then it circles the field, fearful lest its prey be guarded by enemies stronger than it is. The song of a little bird, the noise of leaves rustling in the wind, everything frightens and stardes it until, carried away by its bloodthirsty instinct, it delivers a mortal blow to its victim and flees, horrified before its very ferocity. Before departing from Tlaxcala, Hernan Cortes had published various edicts stating that the death penalty was imposed for the slightest offenses, a cruel and rigorous discipline that was almost impossible to put into practice with a militia so little accustomed to the mechanical and servile obedience of European soldiers. The rigor of these edicts startled the various troops who, unaware of the reason behind them, would tremble, fearful of their being carried out. The lack of living examples had made everyone forget the announcement when the same edicts were once again published with great ostentation in Texcoco and other places occupied by the troops. These threatening devices drew the attention of the soldiers, who cast their eyes everywhere, looking with anxious solicitude for the victims at whom such an imposing demonstration of force was being directed. Early one morning, two or three days later, a Spanish soldier was found hanged from one of the windows in his room. This spectacle, horrifying because of its novelty, the surprise it caused, and the circumstances that surrounded the executed man, produced a general commotion which manifested itself in different ways. Hernan Cortes informed the officers, and they in turn their respective ranks, of the horrible information that had been in the possession of Antonio de Villafafia (such was the name of the executed man) and the plot he had been hatching against him and many others, having beforehand passed along the word that Villafafia had swallowed a document, which had been torn to pieces, that, he thought, had had the names or signatures of the plotters.16 In order to formulate an exact idea of the motive that occasioned the sacrifice of this individual, it is sufficient to see the result that it produced. Hernan Cortes placed around himself a powerful retinue of soldiers chosen from among those he trusted, a noteworthy, preventative action that 16. Solis, Historia, the passage from "the horrible information" through "the plotters" (excluding "having beforehand"). 138

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Book Six laid bare his fears, badly concealed by the foolish invention of the paper with the signatures of the plotters. But the judgment and manner of Villafana s execution is one of the traits that make known the character of the man who, in times of slavery, has been celebrated as a hero. A panegyrist historian says that a soldier, one of those who had been in the army for a long time, betrayed himself as an accomplice in a plot against Cortes s life and those of all his friends. He states that the plotters had signed a paper which forced them to follow their leader, Villafana. Their plan was to pretend that they had a number of letters from Veracruz and to turn them over to Cortes when he was at table with his companions. They would all enter under the pretext of having brought news, and while he opened the letters, they would kill him and his friends and then run through the streets clamoring in the name of freedom. This sacred word is heard coming from the mouths of our debased ancestors as a complement and recrimination of an assassination! How far has the degradation of the human race gone! They promote as great heroic deeds the devastation of entire peoples, the unjust aggression against peaceful and remote countries, death and desolation inflicted by an ambitious man, accompanied by all the crimes and horrors of an uncontrolled soldiery; they venerate, as deeds of the most Christian piety, their having raised a cross atop the rubble of entire provinces and over the corpses of millions of men, and their having converted a few of the indigenous population, through coercion or out of fear, by despicable acts, or out of self-interest; they dare to desecrate something as venerable as Liberty in such a way! On this basis, which does not go beyond being a secret denunciation that Hernan Cortes supposedly received, they set up Villafana s trial and its verdict, which were as follows (these are the words of Antonio de Solis in his History of the Conquest of Mexico, book s, chapter 19): This was the substance of the news given by the soldier, who asked for his life as a reward for his loyalty, since he was implicated in the sedition, and Hernan Cortes resolved to personally visit Villafana's prison and attend to thefirststeps that had to be taken in order to convince him of his guilt, a procedure that can either clear up or muddle the truth. The importance of the affair required no less and time could not be taken to await the serious interrogation of the judicial authorities. He then departed in order to effect Villafana s imprisonment, taking along minor officials with some of his captains, and he found him at his lodging place along with some of his supporters. He approached him so as to overcome his own confusion and, after ordering that he be imprisoned, indicated that all should leave, under the pretext of 139

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Xkottncatl needing to carry out some secret interrogation and, making use of the news that he had received, he removed from Villafana*s vest, the paper with the pact signed by all the plotters. He read it and found on it the names of persons whose disloyalty made him very uneasy; but, being aware of the presence of the others, he ordered that those who were with the accused should be put in prison and he left, leaving word with the officials that the affair should be terminated in the briefest time possible, without turning to the accomplices for more information, and there was little need for it because Villafana was convinced after the paper was seized and, believing that his friends had turned him in, quickly confessed the offense, and with this, the case against him quickly narrowed, as is customarily done in the military style, and sentence of death was pronounced against him, and it was carried out that very night, after his having been allowed to make his peace with his maker. And the next day he was there, hanged from a window in his very room. What horror! Accusation, imprisonment, indictment, trial, sentence, execution, everything in the very same night! Undoubtedly an extremely powerful being watches over the human species, for we see it surviving against such monsters! Such was the event that was to precede the horrifying attack that was to free Hernan Cortes from his powerful enemy, the brave and inflexible Xicotencad. Confined to a place where he was more a besieged man than a part of the army, and almost totally deprived of his forces, he finally came to recognize that his existence as a public man had been nullified and he decided to step down so as to thus be free as a person, serving the cause of justice as a private man. The valiant American had planned to sacrifice his life for the country that had given birth to him, thus freeing it from the monster that was ravaging it. To carry out his plan, which was more generous than it was practicable, he wished to see himself freed from all public obligations and to run the risks as an individual, to discreedy avoid having Hernan Cortes use his plan as a way of again oppressing his homeland in case it failed. What a generous young man! Neither your resentments nor the justified indignation or disdainful acts that you were suffering, nothing was enough to have you understand the heart of your enemy. Tyrants do not need pretexts to work their evil: their oppression recognizes no boundaries other than those presented by the natural limits of their power. The most moderate one among them, if one can use that epithet with such monsters, sheds tears out of envy because he cannot surpass the Neros and Caligulas. As the noble Tlaxcalan thought about these things, Hernan Cortes, 140

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having already decided to consummate his crime, reflected on the heroic patience with which Xicotencatl had suffered an uninterrupted series of humiliations, and he trembled considering the danger that he would have been in as a result of removing him before taking all precautions. And in spite of them, his nights were disturbed by horrifying feelings of anxiety; his pleasures were embittered by a continuous and gnawing uneasiness; Xicotencatl appeared as an exalted figure before his imagination and he wavered for a moment. But ambition and envy conquered him and he resolved to carry out the most infamous of all atrocities. In order that his victim would provide some motivation to enable him to color his effrontery in any situation or, better, so that this type of evil act might always be accompanied by the despicable cowardice that spills an eternal dishonor over its originators, Hernan Cortes made sure that there would be a lack of provisions where Xicotencad was posted. The latter and his men suffered from shortages almost beyond endurance, thus prolonging the uneasiness of the leopard that lay in wait for him; but finally hunger forced him to come out in search of provisions for his troops in the surrounding area. The spies that surrounded him reported on his moves, and the weak Tlaxcalan regiment found itself surrounded by all the troops of the traitorous chief of Texcoco, the Chalco rebels, and several companies of Spaniards, the formidable force that Hernan Cortes sent so that his victim should not escape him. Xicotencatl and his men fought and defended themselves like lions, in spite of the depression in which hunger had placed them. But how much can an honest republicans bravery be humbled? He knows how to die before surrendering, and this was the resolution taken by the heroes of Tlaxcala, who made the enemy pay dearly for their victory, thus nobly avenging the honor of their republic. The unfortunate Xicotencad was wounded by a bullet shot from a harquebus which pierced his leg; still lying on the ground, he managed to knock down many of the enemy with his mace before being disarmed. Many men fell on top of him, finally, and through sheer force of numbers, the hero was tied up; he still made his guards tremble, nevertheless, as the lion does its own even when caged behind strong iron bars. The prisoner was taken to Texcoco at night with the greatest of precautions and the most meticulous care. Hernan Cortes, trembling, could not make a decision; by then he had already scattered the Tlaxcalan troops among the members of his extensive army; nevertheless, he feared awakening the Tlaxcalan eagle. An ambitious mans anger must be very powerful, since he walks among so many horrible hurdles. Then he reminded 141

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Xicotencatl himself with great ostentation of the authority that had been conferred upon him by the Senate of Tlaxcala, which allowed him to deal with Spanish military severity with any subjects of the republic who were insubordinate or lacked discipline, and, in spite of everything, even the farce of holding a war council was not followed. The aim was, thus, to harshly extract from the brave general a confession of his guilt; but he, being above fear and dread, upset all the plans with his unbending steadfastness and his noble pride. The crudest treatment and the vilest of insults had no better result. Xicotencatl, his wounded legs covered in irons, tied by the waist with a thick chain that was affixed to a ring in the wall, and his hands secured behind by two strong manacles, Xicotencatl in this horrendous condition was greater than his vile, lowly, cruel torturers. They showered him with blows and punches, as they insulted his honor with words unworthy of repetition, and the brave man looked upon the lowly subordinates of his tyrant as if they were poisonous vermin assaulting a corpse. Neither hunger, nor thirst, nor lack of sleep, no torment dreamed up by the frenetic delirium of oppressors could crush his pride. All was in vain. Tired, finally, his tormentors left the brave man alone while they rested a bit before returning to the task once again. Xicotencatl then gave in to his thoughts, and memories of Teutila drew a tear from his manly spirit. What an enviable tear, and more precious than all the laurels and triumphs of his oppressive tyrant! His homeland appeared in his mind s eye; his beloved homeland, torn apart, betrayed, dishonored, and weak. The bitter sighs that followed this pondering were the most unbearable of his torments. "So!" he said to himself, "Tlaxcala will be the victim of a tyrant, and the fiery Tlaxcalans will prostrate themselves before a lord as much a coward as he is wicked and insolent! What stroke of fate has led you to this destiny, oh my homeland? But wait; your virtues lie drowned by the vapors of this drunkenness that has inebriated you. The horrendous death that awaits me, the torments that I am suffering, are going to awaken your former valor, and undoubtedly you, oh valiant Tlaxcalans, you will avenge America, punishing the monsters that are tormenting me! A thousand times happy am I if my sacrifice makes you return to your former heroism! How could my life be any more useful to you than by its wrenching you away from your degradation and your lethargic drifting? And you, the most abominable of monsters ever aborted by the abyss! finish your work, for the more you multiply your horrors, the surer my sweet and consoling hopes will be." 142.

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The same wise providence that has put the world in order has made the souls of the just find in themselves effective consolation for even the greatest anguish. And thus Xicotencatl appropriated this great and comforting idea that his unjust, tyrannical, and cruel death would reinstill courage in the hearts of the degenerate Tlaxcalans, and he did not have to look outside of himself to assuage his horrendous situation. He was satisfied then with his destiny, and his love of country also mitigated the sorrows in his heart, all of which he laid before his wife, in the midst of her mourning and sobbing. "No, beloved Teutila," he exclaimed, "do not be downhearted by my misfortune. Your Xicotencatl, vilely murdered, is going to engender the revenge of a great people and, as my blood flows, there is going to be an explosion of the volcano that must consume the assassins of liberty." The time for the terrible execution was irrevocably set, and a gag was placed in the mouth of the Tlaxcalan general to guard against the potential effect of his valiant and manly eloquence. But faced with this unheard-of and unknown barbarity, a Texcocan, seeing the brave young mans mouth closed with iron, with only blood coming out of it rather than words, thus telling the world of the extremeness of the atrocious act about to be carried out, fainted and fell to the ground, horrified by such a spectacle. This occurrence made it necessary to have the gag s torment suppressed; but, at the same time, it became necessary to keep the heroic young man from addressing the public. Tyrants are fertile in resources and not very delicate in their selection of them; it matters not that they might be lowly and vile so long as they lead them to the achievement of their goals. It was determined, then, that the strong leader should be rendered unconscious with opium and then led, benumbed, to the altar of his glory and the monument to the dishonor of the oppressor. Human imagination has no brush with which to depict the remainder of this catastrophe. One hundred and fifty thousand men at arms, each one looking at the others; everyone stirred up in a horrifying manner and visibly frightened; the European caliph, pale and trembling, wishing to conceal his anxiousness from those satellites that surrounded him no less anxiously; and all of this because an unconscious and weakened man, a corpse, was being dragged toward the scaffold. The criminal act was carried out! A lugubrious and frightening silence kept those present in an idiotic stillness, demonstrating their degradation and giving evidence of the fact that they had permanently succumbed to the yoke imposed on them by tyranny. Still, the Spanish leader kept the allied troops busy with maneuvers and repetitive and continuous movements with the intention 143

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Xicotencatf of preventing them from reflecting too much on the serious events that they had witnessed. A young Tlaxcalan who had escaped the butchery that had occasioned the imprisonment of his beloved general ran to Tlaxcala, frightened and horrified at what he had seen. The brave republican entered Teutila s house and found her surrounded by elders and children whom she, with her own hands, was serving a simple and healthy meal, seasoned with the kind and sensitive expression of her own humanity. The Tlaxcalan prostrated himself before her and, after spilling countless tears and almost choked by his own sobbing, said to Teutila: "Exemplary lady, Heaven repays you for your virtues with unequaled bitterness. Steel yourself to hear the great misfortune that will condemn you to an eternity of sorrow and mourning." Teutila was startled; her heart beat forcefully in her breast, hardly able to contain itself, and a sad presentiment weakened her magnanimous valor. The soldier began to recount the horrible tragedy and Teutila was unable to contain herself until the end of the painful report. Her love had fearfully foreseen what had happened! Her strength failed her and she fell to the ground, unconscious. A burning fever, accompanied by the most horrendous delirium, followed her faint. Xicotencatls devastated and orphaned family gathered around the bed of the virtuous and unfortunate widow, as she struggled against the convulsions produced by the horrifying specters that overwhelmed her imagination. Teutila s nature shook to its very core, but her great spirit prevented her from succumbing to her pain. At the first moment of calm that followed continually disturbed sleep, she formed her plans and swore just vengeance against the murderer. Her spirit was reinvigorated by this noble and valiant project, and within a short period a look of serenity appeared on her face, but it was a serenity that was alarming because of the melancholy and deep silence that accompanied it. Nevertheless, her family was consoled, expecting that time would make the pain bearable. Teutila endeavored to maintain this pleasant illusion among all of them and decided to go out into the countryside so as to recover some strength in order to proceed with her great plan. One day, separated from her followers and in the company of a cousin of her unfortunate husband, she proposed to him that he accompany her to Texcoco, where she had to go without anyone's knowledge of her departure. The Tlaxcalan perceived what her intentions were and, with heroic enthusiasm, answered her: "Unfortunate lady, your resolve spills a celestial balm on the wounds 144

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Boofe Six of my heart, mitigating its cruel sorrow. I respect your silence, sure guarantor of your firm spirit, and I thank you with all the strength in my soul for the honor of having chosen me as your companion in your epic deed. Speak and w e will depart." "Worthy member of my ill-fated husband s family," Teutila said to him, "I have not put my trust in you in vain. This very night, while everyone rests, w e depart to carry out our last duty: you, as an uncorrupted citizen, and I, as the wife of that immortal Tlaxcalan, so basely murdered. Yes, friend, Heavens justice will guide our steps and direct my hand; you will serve as shield and guide to an unhappy wife, w h o must succumb to her misfortune, but showing herself worthy of the great man that so well distinguished her." And so it happened. As evening began, everyone retired to rest, trusting in the serenity displayed by Teutila. She awaited the silence of repose and, seated before her hearth, spilled some tears as if she hoped to extinguish those flames that would very soon burn uselessly. She immediately went to her room and, prostrate before Heaven, directed her most impassioned prayer to the Supreme Judge of the universe, seeking Heavens help in her great undertaking. She rose spiritedly, took the dagger that Diego de Ordaz had given to her husband, hid it carefully beneath her tunic, and set out with great determination to meet her relative, w h o awaited her at a place previously agreed upon. Daylight found the two travelers some distance from the capital; taking short rests from time to time, they arrived at the outskirts of Texmeluca without incident. At this hilly place, a great storm forced the two wayfarers to go to a poor home not far from the road, and after knocking at the door, they asked for the mistress's hospitality when she came to open for them. She was a woman of some thirty years of age and, after willingly offering them her humble room, she led them to her fire, in front of which she asked them to take a seat. Two innocent children were with the peasant woman, w h o appeared to be deeply saddened. Everyone remained totally silent until, after a few minutes had passed, the silence was broken by the mistress of the house, as she said to her guests: "Forgive me, brother and sister, if my sorrow has made me forget that you must be in need of some nourishment. But if you were aware of the state my heart is in, you would not be surprised at my oversight." "Generous woman," Teutila answered her, "sorrow is not lacking in our ill-fated times. I have compassion for you in your sorrow; how well my heart knows the torments of the soul. But, all in all, it seems as though

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Xicotencatl you have two beautiful children whose innocent love will serve you as consolation." The American embraced the two children with great emotion and answered Teutila enthusiastically: "Yes, friend, these two beloved children of mine have kept me alive in my unhappiness, the fruit of a marriage that was so joyous it made even those in Heaven jealous. I love them tenderly and this love has allowed me to survive their virtuous and unhappy father. But let us partake of some nourishment because it is not right to have the memories of my misfortune deprive you of what is necessary." The hospitable American set out a clean and simple meal, during which time the Tlaxcalan general's heroic widow tenderly poured her love on the two small orphans. As they covered her with kisses, they exclaimed: "Mamita! How good she is!" This touching scene brought the two women very close together; their virtues and sorrows had predisposed them to love one another. When the meal had ended, Teutila took her hostess by the hand and, closing the door behind them in her room, spoke to her this way: "Friend, since fate has led me to your home, it would be rash of me to deprive myself of the benefits that it offers me out of some obstinate resistance to its possibilities. The unfortunate need that consolation that might enliven and strengthen them in their affliction, and nothing is more capable of producing that healthful effect than opening ones heart to someone whose like situation might make her sensitive to the misfortunes being endured. I, more than anyone, have need of this relief, and the sweet calm that is surely provided by a virtuous woman's compassion will sustain me as much as I need to reach the end of my race. Listen, therefore, to the misfortunes and the chain of adversities that have tormented Teutila, the heartbroken widow of the virtuous and valiant Xicotencatl—" "You are the wife of that heroic man! Oh, Heaven above! What are my sorrows compared with yours? Come, my respected lady; let me embrace you. I knew your illustrious companion. In this very house, we heard him speak incessantly of his beloved Teutila, as he showered his love on my two children. If she at least had one child, he would say to us, her loneliness would not be so harrowing; but oh! how can her sensitive spirit resist the great emptiness that she must feel after all the great losses she has suffered? I am the only one she has left in this world. And fate takes

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Book Six me away from my wife, perhaps forever! And the tears would flow from the eyes of that fearful warrior. Oh Teutila! Consider how much sorrow his unprecedented misfortune must have caused m e — " "Stop!" Teutila said, interrupting her. "You might draw aside the veil that keeps me from seeing the last moments of his life; those horrors might take away the strength that I need so much. Hear me out." Teutila then recounted her sad misfortunes, from time to time shedding abundant tears that alleviated the burdens in her heart. And thus, coming to the end of her tragic story, animated by a valiant serenity, she concluded with these words: "I am going to Texcoco, accompanied only by justice in my purpose and given over to Providence, which sustains even the most miserable of reptiles. Your simple friendship, your tears, and your demonstration of compassion have soothed my heart. You cannot know how much I owe you. Now all that is lacking is that you tell me of your misfortunes. Perhaps your recounting of them will animate and confirm me in my noble project and Teutila will march onward to the temple of glory." "I can perceive your plans, respectable lady," her sensitive companion said to her. "They have been here, in my thoughts, but I have two children, and my heart has not been able to resolve to abandon them. Maybe it is a weakness; but if so, it has been placed there by the One who controls the world. I was raised in the midst of innocence and virtue; my parents, in their indulgence, gave me as a husband the kind and wonderful young man whom my heart had chosen, so my life has been full of pure and sweet joys that have allowed me to spend my days without being aware of their passing. "Loved by my good husband, and the happiest woman in the world, the two children that Heaven gave me lessened the sorrow caused me by the death of those who gave me life; they ended their lives in the midst of peace and virtue. The news that those foreigners were approaching our nation was the first alarm that disturbed our happiness. But our misgivings disappeared very quickly when we saw the captain who took lodgings in our house; his modesty, his considerate attention to us, and, especially, the love he showed our children calmed us in our uneasiness and made that race of monsters appear kind to us, for out of its very monstrosity it had produced a man as good as the one whom we first met. "His people respected and loved him and around our house everything was quiet and orderly. Perhaps you know him. One of his men told us that he was the same man who had climbed the Popocatepetl volcano.

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And this brave man stayed with us as an old friend of the family. This circumstance made us think very positively of those foreigners, and during his last trip to Tlaxcala my husband and I went out in search of our good friend. Oh! unfortunately we did not find him, and with our hearts in our mouths, we offered our hospitality to one of those leaders who, because of his advanced age, appeared to us as someone more respectful and worthy of our simple gifts. "What a difference, my friend! His wrinkled forehead, his knitted eyebrows, his hoarse voice, his sinister eyes; everything frightened our children, who did not dare move from their corner. That monster ordered us around insolently; he received our presents with disdain, and he insulted us with vile expressions that we did not think any man was capable of. His troops razed our fields and burned our trees; it seemed that the genie of destruction and disorder reigned over our peaceful home. "But oh, all of this was nothing yet! Before leaving, he said to my husband: 'Come over here, savage; tell me about your marriage and the circumstances surrounding your wedding.' My good husband began to tell him about our relationship, detailing the high points of our joyous life together with great pleasure, when the ugly bandit interrupted him: 'That's not what I want,' he said to him with a threatening gesture; 'Don't give me a headache with your foolish and insulting gallantries. Tell me if you gave that woman rich presents, what your parents and hers gave her, whether or not you have acquired new jewels, and don't hide anything from me, for your life depends on all of this.' " 'Why should I hide from you what we have in the midst of our poverty? We do not conceal actions that are not shameful in the least. Go on, beloved; take out our gems and jewels; let this foreigner see that love is capable of more than one might expect given our meager circumstances.' "The foreigner opened his baleful eyes and, with a consuming passion, came out to meet me and tore away, more than took, the jewels that I showed him. He ran his eyes over them and, on finding some small pieces of gold among them, an unpleasant smile changed the wrinkles on his face, making him appear even uglier, if that is possible, than before. 'Isn't there more?' he said to us, and when I had answered no, he called one of his men, still holding the jewels, and ordered him to search the entire house. The brute entered and, after rifling through to the last corner, he came out with the few items of clothing that we owned. "The disgusting old man said to him: 'Distribute those scraps,' and he began to tuck our jewels inside his clothing. My husband, who had witnessed this scene with admirable surprise and silence, serenely but reso148

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lutely said to him: 'Stranger, you take away my belongings because you are more powerful and abuse your power; I give them to you, to relieve you of the weight of such an infamous deed; but under no circumstances will I allow you to take the necklace that I gave my wife on the day of our union.' " 'Shut up, insolent one,' he responded; 'You are fortunate that I am letting you live and that I leave your wife untouched.' "And as he endeavored to leave, he was intercepted by my husband who again tried to retrieve my fateful necklace. Then the monster, making a gesture that made me back up in horror, unsheathed his gleaming weapon and ran my wretched and defenseless husband through with it, and he fell to the ground, covered in blood. I screamed in terror and my reason and strength left me. My two children's sobbing, tears, and little hands brought me back from my fainting spell and, on seeing my house free of those barbarians, I was at first full of joy. But oh how my tender husband's bloodied corpse made me realize how costly their presence had been to me. "It is useless for me to attempt to depict my desperation to you; you are aware of it. My heart cried out for vengeance and my resolve was like yours, great and noble. When social justice abandons us, we are left with natural justice, and he who, under such a forsaken state, does not turn to it because of his fear of dying is a coward, a miserable wretch who does not deserve to live. So I held the last rites for my late husband, a sad but consoling duty for sensitive spirits! And I returned to my plan. My two little children clung to me and their sweet and innocent tears affected me deeply. It seemed as though an invisible voice were communicating to these two little angels when they should redouble their tender caresses. "Finally, I gave in to the demands of Nature and I sacrificed my justified resentment in the interests of maternal love, entrusting Heaven with the punishment of that wicked man. I was in the midst of that painful situation when that great army passed by on its way to Texcoco. That night, the valiant Xicotencatl settled on this site with his troops and, seeing that they had camped out and that no one was coming to our door, I sent a message to their leader, offering him my house. He answered me that he was grateful for my offer of hospitality but that Tlaxcala's general did not take lodging anywhere except among his brave companions. "This magnanimous comportment and his renowned virtues encouraged me to seek out his protection, even though I was a foreigner, and I asked for an audience for an unhappy widow. He immediately appeared at my house. His striking appearance, the nobility of his demeanor, the 149

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moderation in his expression, all of it reanimated my hopes for justice. I recounted my catastrophe and ended it by saying to him: 'Protect me, virtuous general! Protect this unhappy one against the malicious murderer of my husband. Under your protection, I will appear before the foreign leader and, undoubtedly, he will give me justice. I know that not all of them are perverse.' " 'Unfortunate lady!' your husband answered me, 'Heaven has sent me to deliver you from new calamities, if you heed my advice with acquiescence. The crime that has caused your sorrow is celebrated by that bandit who is leading so many blind nations into slavery. And you will not find justice against the unworthy aggressor except in Heavens vengeance. If in your innocence you have these hopes, my experience, a very costly experience, must keep you from being the victim of the brutality of those monsters. Perhaps someday a terrible avenger will give you the justice that you so rightly seek—or, perhaps also, the evils in this country will be so many and so great that your misfortune will be lost among them, as one drop is lost in the immensity of the ocean. The gods know our destiny.' "The brave general stayed with me that night, reinvigorating my depressed spirit, and like a kind spirit sent by Heaven, he calmed the confusion that churned my soul and gave me strength to confront the unhappiness of my widowhood. Such is the power that great and virtuous spirits have." "Heavenly gods! And you, glorious spirit of my tender husband!" Teutila exclaimed, as she fell to her knees, "allow my arm to be that terrible avenger that might save all of us from so much desolation. Invigorate my weakness, my Xicotencatl, from the heavens, where you enjoy the reward of your heroic virtues, and do not abandon your beloved Teutila who, following your example, is on her way to placing herself at your side at the temple of glory! "There is no recourse, my friend," Teutila continued, as she rose. "Heaven sympathizes with us and its severity is going to end. The storm has dissipated and I must leave. One moment's delay could wreck the great task that is my destiny. Good-bye." The hospitable American directed her prayers to Heaven, imploring its protection of the heroine, and especially directed her to an honest Texcocan family, which was related to her unfortunate husband and to which she could turn. Teutila said good-bye, showering her affection on the two children, and their mother saw her leave the house with admiration and fear for the outcome of her great and momentous decision. The two travelers finally arrived in Texcoco at nightfall of a cloudy and 150

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gloomy day. As Teutila walked the streets of that city, her hair stood on end; a glacial cold penetrated and held her legs which, weak and trembling, could hardly hold her up. "I might be stepping on the blood of my Xicotencatl!" she exclaimed, horrified, and having said this, she attempted to throw herself down to the ground to kiss it. Her companion and relative restrained her in her cruel situation and tried to calm her emotions, advising her that she would be in great danger if she revealed who she was. "You are right, my friend, but our nature is weak and we are not always in control of our actions. Let us continue." The family to which they had been entrusted received them with hospitality and affection, and the noble guest was offered as much as its scant resources allowed. The following day, Teutila dedicated herself to resting from the journey s fatigue and to recovering her strength by meditating on her suffering in such a way as to be able to gain the spirit and firmness which she needed so much; meanwhile, she entrusted her relative and friend with attempting to obtain whatever news could be useful with regards to the situation and circumstances of the monster that had motivated her journey. At nightfall the honest Tlaxcalan returned and informed her that Hernan Cortes was occupying the palace of the emperors of Texcoco, surrounded by an immense body of guards that continually circled the building with weapons in hand so that it was impossible to penetrate the building without being seen and searched, and that, since the ships whose construction had started in Tlaxcala were ready, the army was prepared to depart in two days. "Let us not waste a moment," Teutila then said. "Good-bye, until tomorrow." Back in her room, Teutila fell on her knees and, raising her hands and heart toward Heaven, exclaimed: "God of compassion, justice, and wisdom! You are aware of the purity of my heart and the justice of my cause. Inspire me in the rightness of my plan, strengthen me in its execution, and defend me against all obstacles. My cause is Your cause, for it is humanity's cause, and Your valor, which is superior to the strength with which I set forth to carry out Your vengeance, assures me of Your protection." After this devout prayer she sat, now serene, to calmly reflect on the means with which to carry out her plan, and after meditating over everything, she retired in order to sleep and conserve her strength. 151

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The next morning she sent the mistress of the house to the palace of Hernan Cortes, well instructed on her important mission. This good woman, who was about fifty years old, patiently suffered the insults of the prostituted and unbridled guards and the mockery and peals of laughter with which they responded to her entreaties to be allowed to speak to the leader. Finally, her determined stubbornness reached his ears, and he had her brought to his room, where he received her as a monarch, surrounded by the court of his lowly sycophants. Among them she saw the cacique of Texcoco, standing and looking humbled, and the other lesser caciques who courted the subordinates in the anteroom. The good woman respectfully spoke to the sovereign leader, stating that a distinguished lady of the nation was requesting an audience with him to relate to him things that concerned her, and that she hoped he would be so kind as to indicate to her when she might speak with him, and, if at all possible, that it might be at night. "Have her come when the troops play the retreat," Hernan Cortes answered her curtly. "This lady," the good Texcocan added, "is not afraid to have everyone present to speak of her concerns; but it would be less awkward for her to explain herself before few witnesses, and if she could choose them, she would be satisfied to have your elderly priest and the lady who accompanies you." "Agreed. What else does she wish?" "That you might be so kind as to provide her with a way to come before you without being stopped by your guards." Then Cortes gave her a written order and said to her: "If someone stops her, have her show this paper and she'll see the authority that I possess, for I know how to make myself respected without any need for me to be present. Leave now." Teutila happily received the news of the extremely successful outcome obtained by her messenger, and calling aside her friend and traveling companion, she said to him: "My friend, the moment of my triumph is drawing near; speak to me of my Xicotencatl; tell me about all the deeds of his life that you are able to recall; do not be afraid to repeat even the most insignificant of them. It is perhaps the last service that I hope to receive from you. And, especially, do not abandon me." She thus spent the rest of the day in a situation that is very difficult to depict; but as twilight approached, a noble and serious degree of boldness began to imbue the fiery Teutila with an air of superiority and greatness 152

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that turned her into something more than human. The night covered the sky with its black mantle and the heroic woman put on her veil, thus covering her face, that beautiful face that would never again see the light of day. She checked the dagger her friend Ordaz had given her and readied it, and, on her feet, she awaited the moment when she would leave. The fateful retreat sounded; then, taking from her bosom a coconut in which she had kept a dependable poison, she swallowed it serenely, saying: "Oh spirit of my beloved husband! The one who shared your bed will not be a victim of your murderers, and that death which she has imbibed will give her enough time to complete your vengeance." This said, she departed resolutely and walked to the palace of her terrible enemy. But oh, the fatal and irresistible power of destiny! As Cortes awaited the lady's visit with confident curiosity, a small disturbance coming from one of the barracks made it necessary for him to make an appearance so as to prevent a serious mutiny, and as he left, Teutila entered his room, under the protection of his order. Fray Bartolome de Olmedo received the heroic widow, saying to her that the general of the Spanish armed forces had absented himself due to an important matter but that he hoped that she would be so kind as to await his return, which should not be long in coming. Teutila sat down without removing her veil and without answering except by a nod of the head. This silent scene lasted too long not to alarm Teutila with the fear that all her plans might be ruined as a result of such an unexpected and fateful incident. These very well-founded fears affected her deeply, and the physical disorder that resulted accelerated the symptoms of the poison, which began to affect her. Dona Marina entered at that moment and spoke to the unknown visitor in a modest and kind voice: "Would it be imprudent of me to attempt to distract you with my conversation from the unpleasantness of having to wait for Hernan Cortes?" Teutila was then unable to resist the pleasure of embracing her repentant friend and, raising her veil, threw herself into her arms. While they both sobbed, reflecting their different feelings, the chaplain was preparing to go and communicate to his leader the strange visit that awaited him; but a horrible convulsion, which affected Teutila, stopped him in his zeal, calling him to assist her in her distress. Teutila s condition was becoming more deplorable with each passing moment, and when their joint efforts were hardly sufficient to restrain 153

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her in the midst of her violent and anguished contortions, Hernan Cortes came in. What a scene! The unhappy Teutila struggled against the agony of her approaching death. As if by magic, her cruel enemy's haughty daring and ferocious serenity proved unable to calmly confront the scene of innocence before him. As pale as a corpse, his hair standing on end, his mouth agape, his eyes wide open, his arms half raised, not daring to either move backward or forward, his whole body trembling, Cortes was left stupefied, his external self well depicting the mortal anguish inside his black soul. Finally, covering his face with his hands, he exclaimed in a hoarse and discordant voice: "What is this before me!—" This exclamation from him revived Teutila, who, looking all around her, fixed her eyes on the monster and said: "You are finally here. I am not as unfortunate." Fray Bartolome and dona Marina moved away and were left astonished when they saw the horrible situation in which Cortes found himself. Teutila turned to him and said: "You murdering barbarian and monster, the most detestable ever vomited out of hell, you are going to atone for your unprecedented crimes and I—" But the heroic lady's strength failed her and her extremities, already affected by the action of the poison, refused to obey her will. Then, more serene and somewhat recovered on her stool, she continued: "Hear me, wretch. The wife of Xicotencatl"—Hernan Cortes shook convulsively upon hearing the name—"the widow of the brave and heroic general of Tlaxcala had sworn to avenge, with your death, the vilest murder ever committed by the most detestable of tyrannies. But oh, in her poor judgment, she was unable to recognize that her spilling of your black and infamous blood was too weak a punishment for crimes as atrocious as yours! Heaven has taken charge of carrying out this vengeance, and these tormenting words that you hear from me are an omen for you, vile and evil murderer! of the fate that awaits you in this life and they give you an idea of what is being prepared for you in the next. Yes, monster, this incident that has stopped my mission reflects divine justice, jealous of being obstructed from meting out its deserved punishment to its convict. Take this instrument that I, in my ignorance, had destined in opposition to the terrible arm of a vengeful God." Teutila threw him the dagger and Hernan Cortes took a step back, horrified.

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"I am content, my friend," Teutila continued, addressing dona Marina. "Xicotencatls spirit is at this moment assaulting that miserable wretch and soon Teutila s will also help in tormenting him." Poor Teutila was seized by renewed suffering, but suffering a thousand times preferable to that which tormented Hernan Cortes. He paced the room back and forth as a madman would; at times he struck his forehead with his fist; at other times he pulled his hair until another word escaped from Teutila, leaving him, for unknown reasons, as still as a statue. Finally, Teutila s strength began to fail her; death s whiteness appeared on her face; a cold sweat covered her serene forehead, and, opening her beautiful eyes for the last time, she turned to Cortes, who could not turn his eyes away from her, and said with all the strength she could muster: "Damn you, vile murderer of my Xicotencatl!—Xicotencatl—Xicotencatl—" Those were the last words spoken by the sensitive Teutila as she departed this world. Hernan Cortes shook so hard that the two witnesses were frightened. Finally, overwhelmed by so much suffering, he sat down hard on a stool while Marina, kneeling down next to Teutila s body, held one of her hands next to her heart, squeezing it between hers. Fray Bartolome de Olmedo trembled like a young lad as he leaned against a wall. The silence of the tomb reigned for a long while in the entire room; it was finally broken by a great deep sigh that escaped from Hernan Cortes. Marina then rose from her place and, taking one of the hands of Hernan Cortes, and with the same gesture that she had made next to the body of Teutila, she spoke to him in the following manner: "Sire, there is still time for your great heart to turn toward virtue. Look at this cold and immovable body; the serenity and purity of the soul that animated it can still be seen in its remains. Believe your humble slave: the consolation that such a virtuous soul finds within itself is so pure, so sweet, and so untainted by sorrow or displeasure that it seems impossible for men not to love virtue blindly. "Remember, I beg you, the last moments of this unlucky woman; just as fate toppled all her plans, just as vengeance seemed to have failed, and when her own life's sacrifice seemed to be useless, virtue, so rich in consolation, suggested to her an idea that sweetened the agony of her dying. I am not speaking to you of the torment that accompanies the criminal; a voice stronger than mine has already said much to you. Forgive, therefore, so much suffering, and embrace the rich joy that is offered to you

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Xkottncatl to make you happy. It will cost nothing more than wanting to do it. Leave the rest to your great spirit, and you will be as much a hero on the road to virtue as you have been awesome on the path to victory." "You're right, Marina," said Hernan Cortes, who was beginning to calm down. "How hard it is to be victorious! If before starting out on this path one could foresee the suffering and thorns that seed it, it would be difficult to set out on it, but it's so hard to turn back!" Fray Bartolome de Olmedo, who until then had remained as silent as a novitiate, took advantage of Hernan Cortes s calmness and, with his religious eloquence, made him see that a miracle, obviously coming from God, had saved him from Teutila s dagger, and that with this intervention Divine Providence was warning him that his life was in as much danger of certain death as that of any other. Thus, he should redouble his zealous faith in God and change his behavior to concur with His holy commandments. This speech had exactly the opposite effect that the good friar had intended, because it smothered the sparks of tender sensitivity that Marina had lit in the heart of Cortes. And he, recovering his usual superiority and serenity, stood up, saying: "Let s be done with this, friends. This painful scene is already too long. The road that leads to the temple of fame has many setbacks and, for the same reason, it is so glorious to overcome them. Perhaps it is sweeter to live a tranquil and peaceful life somewhere, but that is not my destiny. Tomorrow we leave for Mexico City."17 17. In referring to the Aztec capital, known in 1519 as Tenochtitlan, the author uses its modern-day name. [Trans, note]

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