Montezuma's Daughter

by H. Rider Haggard

  CHAPTER XVIII

  THE NAMING OF THE BRIDES

  Now some months passed between the date of my naming as the god Tezcatand the entry of the Spaniards into Mexico, and during all this spacethe city was in a state of ferment. Again and again Montezuma sentembassies to Cortes, bearing with them vast treasures of gold and gemsas presents, and at the same time praying him to withdraw, for thisfoolish prince did not understand that by displaying so much wealthhe flew a lure which must surely bring the falcon on himself. To theseambassadors Cortes returned courteous answers together with presents ofsmall value, and that was all.

  Then the advance began and the emperor learned with dismay of theconquest of the warlike tribe of the Tlascalans, who, though they wereMontezuma's bitter and hereditary foes, yet made a stand againstthe white man. Next came the tidings that from enemies the conqueredTlascalans had become the allies and servants of the Spaniard, and thatthousands of their fiercest warriors were advancing with him upon thesacred city of Cholula. A while passed and it was known that Cholulaalso had been given to massacre, and that the holy, or rather the unholygods, had been torn from their shrines. Marvellous tales were told ofthe Spaniards, of their courage and their might, of the armour thatthey wore, the thunder that their weapons made in battle, and the fiercebeasts which they bestrode. Once two heads of white men taken in askirmish were sent to Montezuma, fierce-looking heads, great and hairy,and with them the head of a horse. When Montezuma saw these ghastlyrelics he almost fainted with fear, still he caused them to be set up onpinnacles of the great temple and proclamation to be made that this fateawaited every invader of the land.

  Meanwhile all was confusion in his policies. Day by day councils wereheld of the nobles, of high priests, and of neighbouring and friendlykings. Some advised one thing, some another, and the end of it washesitation and folly. Ah! had Montezuma but listened to the voice ofthat great man Guatemoc, Anahuac would not have been a Spanish fiefto-day. For Guatemoc prayed him again and yet again to put away hisfears and declare open war upon the Teules before it was too late; tocease from making gifts and sending embassies, to gather his countlessarmies and smite the foe in the mountain passes.

  But Montezuma would answer, 'To what end, nephew? How can I struggleagainst these men when the gods themselves have declared for them?Surely the gods can take their own parts if they wish it, and if theywill not, for myself and my own fate I do not care, but alas! for mypeople, alas! for the women and the children, the aged and the weak.'

  Then he would cover his face and moan and weep like a child, andGuatemoc would pass from his presence dumb with fury at the folly ofso great a king, but helpless to remedy it. For like myself, Guatemocbelieved that Montezuma had been smitten with a madness sent from heavento bring the land to ruin.

  Now it must be understood that though my place as a god gave meopportunities of knowing all that passed, yet I Thomas Wingfield, wasbut a bubble on that great wave of events which swept over the world ofAnahuac two generations since. I was a bubble on the crest of the waveindeed, but at that time I had no more power than the foam has over thewave. Montezuma distrusted me as a spy, the priests looked on me as agod and future victim and no more, only Guatemoc my friend, and Otomiewho loved me secretly, had any faith in me, and with these two Ioften talked, showing them the true meaning of those things that werehappening before our eyes. But they also were strengthless, for thoughhis reason was no longer captain, still the unchecked power of Montezumaguided the ship of state first this way and then that, just as a rudderdirects a vessel to its ruin when the helmsman has left it, and itswings at the mercy of the wind and tide.

  The people were distraught with fear of the future, but not the less onthat account, or perhaps because of it, they plunged with fervour intopleasures, alternating them with religious ceremonies. In those days nofeast was neglected and no altar lacked its victim. Like a river thatquickens its flow as it draws near the precipice over which it mustfall, so the people of Mexico, foreseeing ruin, awoke as it were andlived as they had never lived before. All day long the cries of victimscame from a hundred temple tops, and all night the sounds of revelrywere heard among the streets. 'Let us eat and drink,' they said, 'forthe gods of the sea are upon us and to-morrow we die.' Now women who hadbeen held virtuous proved themselves wantons, and men whose names werehonest showed themselves knaves, and none cried fie upon them; ay, evenchildren were seen drunken in the streets, which is an abomination amongthe Aztecs.

  The emperor had moved his household from Chapoltepec to the palacein the great square facing the temple, and this palace was a town initself, for every night more than a thousand human beings slept beneathits roof, not to speak of the dwarfs and monsters, and the hundreds ofwild birds and beasts in cages. Here every day I feasted with whom Iwould, and when I was weary of feasting it was my custom to sally outinto the streets playing on the lute, for by now I had in some degreemastered that hateful instrument, dressed in shining apparel andattended by a crowd of nobles and royal pages. Then the people wouldrush from their houses shouting and doing me reverence, the childrenpelted me with flowers, and the maidens danced before me, kissingmy hands and feet, till at length I was attended by a mob a thousandstrong. And I also danced and shouted like any village fool, for I thinkthat a kind of mad humour, or perhaps it was the drunkenness of worship,entered into me in those days. Also I sought to forget my griefs, Idesired to forget that I was doomed to the sacrifice, and that every daybrought me nearer to the red knife of the priest.

  I desired to forget, but alas! I could not. The fumes of the mescaland the pulque that I had drunk at feasts would pass from my brain, theperfume of flowers, the sights of beauty and the adoration of the peoplewould cease to move me, and I could only brood heavily upon my doom andthink with longing of my distant love and home. In those days, had itnot been for the tender kindness of Otomie, I think that my heart wouldhave broken or I should have slain myself. But this great and beauteouslady was ever at hand to cheer me in a thousand ways, and now and againshe would let fall some vague words of hope that set my pulses bounding.It will be remembered that when first I came to the court of Montezuma,I had found Otomie fair and my fancy turned towards her. Now I stillfound her fair, but my heart was so full of terror that there was noroom in it for tender thoughts of her or of any other woman. Indeed whenI was not drunk with wine or adoration, I turned my mind to the makingof my peace with heaven, of which I had some need.

  Still I talked much with Otomie, instructing her in the matters of myfaith and many other things, as I had done by Marina, who we now heardwas the mistress and interpreter of Cortes, the Spanish leader. She forher part listened gravely, watching me the while with her tender eyes,but no more, for of all women Otomie was the most modest, as she was theproudest and most beautiful.

  So matters went on until the Spaniards had left Cholula on their roadto Mexico. It was then that I chanced one morning to be sitting in thegardens, my lute in hand, and having my attendant nobles and tutorsgathered at a respectful distance behind me. From where I sat I couldsee the entrance to the court in which the emperor met his councildaily, and I noted that when the princes had gone the priests began tocome, and after them a number of very lovely girls attended by women ofmiddle age. Presently Guatemoc the prince, who now smiled but rarely,came up to me smiling, and asked me if I knew what was doing yonder.I replied that I knew nothing and cared less, but I supposed thatMontezuma was gathering a peculiar treasure to send to his masters theSpaniards.

  'Beware how you speak, Teule,' answered the prince haughtily. 'Yourwords may be true, and yet did I not love you, you should rue them eventhough you hold the spirit of Tezcat. Alas!' he added, stamping on theground, 'alas! that my uncle's madness should make it possible that suchwords can be spoken. Oh! were I emperor of Anahuac, in a single week thehead of every Teule in Cholula should deck a pinnacle of yonder temple.'

  'Beware how you speak, prince,' I answered mocking him, 'for there arethose who did they hear, might cause YOU
to rue YOUR words. Still oneday you may be emperor, and then we shall see how you will deal with theTeules, at least others will see though I shall not. But what is it now?Does Montezuma choose new wives?'

  'He chooses wives, but not for himself. You know, Teule, that your timegrows short. Montezuma and the priests name those who must be given toyou to wife.'

  'Given me to wife!' I said starting to my feet; 'to me whose bride isdeath! What have I to do with love or marriage? I who in some few shortweeks must grace an altar? Ah! Guatemoc, you say you love me, and once Isaved you. Did you love me, surely you would save me now as you swore todo.'

  'I swore that I would give my life for yours, Teule, if it lay in mypower, and that oath I would keep, for all do not set so high a store onlife as you, my friend. But I cannot help you; you are dedicated to thegods, and did I die a hundred times, it would not save you from yourfate. Nothing can save you except the hand of heaven if it wills.Therefore, Teule, make merry while you may, and die bravely when youmust. Your case is no worse than mine and that of many others, for deathawaits us all. Farewell.'

  When he had gone I rose, and leaving the gardens I passed into thechamber where it was my custom to give audience to those who wished tolook upon the god Tezcat as they called me. Here I sat upon my goldencouch, inhaling the fumes of tobacco, and as it chanced I was alone, fornone dared to enter that room unless I gave them leave. Presently thechief of my pages announced that one would speak with me, and I bentmy head, signifying that the person should enter, for I was weary of mythoughts. The page withdrew, and presently a veiled woman stood beforeme. I looked at her wondering, and bade her draw her veil and speak. Sheobeyed, and I saw that my visitor was the princess Otomie. Now I roseamazed, for it was not usual that she should visit me thus alone. Iguessed therefore that she had tidings, or was following some custom ofwhich I was ignorant.

  'I pray you be seated,' she said confusedly; 'it is not fitting that youshould stand before me.'

  'Why not, princess?' I answered. 'If I had no respect for rank, surelybeauty must claim it.'

  'A truce to words,' she replied with a wave of her slim hand. 'I comehere, O Tezcat, according to the ancient custom, because I am chargedwith a message to you. Those whom you shall wed are chosen. I am thebearer of their names.'

  'Speak on, princess of the Otomie.'

  'They are'--and she named three ladies whom I knew to be among theloveliest in the land.

  'I thought that there were four,' I said with a bitter laugh. 'Am I tobe defrauded of the fourth?'

  'There is a fourth,' she answered, and was silent.

  'Give me her name,' I cried. 'What other slut has been found to marry afelon doomed to sacrifice?'

  'One has been found, O Tezcat, who has borne other titles than this yougive her.'

  Now I looked at her questioningly, and she spoke again in a low voice.

  'I, Otomie, princess of the Otomie, Montezuma's daughter, am the fourthand the first.'

  'You!' I said, sinking back upon my cushions. 'YOU!'

  'Yes, I. Listen: I was chosen by the priests as the most lovely in theland, however unworthily. My father, the emperor, was angry and saidthat whatever befell, I should never be the wife of a captive who mustdie upon the altar of sacrifice. But the priests answered that this wasno time for him to claim exception for his blood, now when the gods werewroth. Was the first lady in the land to be withheld from the god? theyasked. Then my father sighed and said that it should be as I willed. AndI said with the priests, that now in our sore distress the proud musthumble themselves to the dust, even to the marrying of a captive slavewho is named a god and doomed to sacrifice. So I, princess of theOtomie, have consented to become your wife, O Tezcat, though perchancehad I known all that I read in your eyes this hour, I should not haveconsented. It may happen that in this shame I hoped to find love ifonly for one short hour, and that I purposed to vary the custom of ourpeople, and to complete my marriage by the side of the victim on thealtar, as, if I will, I have the right to do. But I see well that I amnot welcome, and though it is too late to go back upon my word, haveno fear. There are others, and I shall not trouble you. I have given mymessage, is it your pleasure that I should go? The solemn ceremony ofwedlock will be on the twelfth day from now, O Tezcat.'

  Now I rose from my seat and took her hand, saying:

  'I thank you, Otomie, for your nobleness of mind. Had it not been forthe comfort and friendship which you and Guatemoc your cousin have givenme, I think that ere now I should be dead. So you desire to comfort meto the last; it seems that you even purposed to die with me. How am Ito interpret this, Otomie? In our land a woman would need to love aman after no common fashion before she consented to share such a bed asawaits me on yonder pyramid. And yet I may scarcely think that you whomkings have sued for can place your heart so low. How am I to read thewriting of your words, princess of the Otomie?'

  'Read it with your heart,' she whispered low, and I felt her handtremble in my own.

  I looked at her beauty, it was great; I thought of her devotion, adevotion that did not shrink from the most horrible of deaths, and awind of feeling which was akin to love swept through my soul. But evenas I looked and thought, I remembered the English garden and the Englishmaid from whom I had parted beneath the beech at Ditchingham, and thewords that we had spoken then. Doubtless she still lived and was true tome; while I lived should I not keep true at heart to her? If I must wedthese Indian girls, I must wed them, but if once I told Otomie that Iloved her, then I broke my troth, and with nothing less would she besatisfied. As yet, though I was deeply moved and the temptation wasgreat, I had not come to this.

  'Be seated, Otomie,' I said, 'and listen to me. You see this goldentoken,' and I drew Lily's posy ring from my hand, 'and you see thewriting within it.'

  She bent her head but did not speak, and I saw that there was fear inher eyes.

  'I will read you the words, Otomie,' and I translated into the Aztectongue the quaint couplet:

  Heart to heart, Though far apart.

  Then at last she spoke. 'What does the writing mean?' she said. 'I canonly read in pictures, Teule.'

  'It means, Otomie, that in the far land whence I come, there is a womanwho loves me, and who is my love.'

  'Is she your wife then?'

  'She is not my wife, Otomie, but she is vowed to me in marriage.'

  'She is vowed to you in marriage,' she answered bitterly: 'why, then weare equal, for so am I, Teule. But there is this difference between us;you love her, and me you do not love. That is what you would make clearto me. Spare me more words, I understand all. Still it seems that if Ihave lost, she is also in the path of loss. Great seas roll betweenyou and this love of yours, Teule, seas of water, and the altar ofsacrifice, and the nothingness of death. Now let me go. Your wife I mustbe, for there is no escape, but I shall not trouble you over much, andit will soon be done with. Then you may seek your desire in the Housesof the Stars whither you must wander, and it is my prayer that you shallwin it. All these months I have been planning to find hope for you, andI thought that I had found it. But it was built upon a false belief, andit is ended. Had you been able to say from your heart that you lovedme, it might have been well for both of us; should you be able to sayit before the end, it may still be well. But I do not ask you to say it,and beware how you tell me a lie. I leave you, Teule, but before I goI will say that I honour you more in this hour than I have honoured youbefore, because you have dared to speak the truth to me, Montezuma'sdaughter, when a lie had been so easy and so safe. That woman beyondthe seas should be grateful to you, but though I bear her no ill will,between me and her there is a struggle to the death. We are strangers toeach other, and strangers we shall remain, but she has touched yourhand as I touch it now; you link us together and are our bond of enmity.Farewell my husband that is to be. We shall meet no more till that sorryday when a "slut" shall be given to a "felon" in marriage. I use yourown words, Teule!'

  Then rising, Otomie cast her veil about
her face and passed slowlyfrom the chamber, leaving me much disturbed. It was a bold deed to haverejected the proffered love of this queen among women, and now thatI had done so I was not altogether glad. Would Lily, I wondered, haveoffered to descend from such state, to cast off the purple of herroyal rank that she might lie at my side on the red stone of sacrifice?Perhaps not, for this fierce fidelity is only to be found in women ofanother breed. These daughters of the Sun love wholly when they love atall, and as they love they hate. They ask no priest to consecrate theirvows, nor if these become hateful, will they be bound by them for duty'ssake. Their own desire is their law, but while it rules them they followit unflinchingly, and if need be, they seek its consummation in thegates of death, or failing that, forgetfulness.