its course, and would take on himself to appease its demands by a nominal punishment.[1] He then turned on his heel, while one of the soldiers clasped a pair of shackles round the prisoner's ankles, and the mighty emperor of the Aztecs was ironed. For a moment Montezuma stood rooted to the floor. Then he groaned with anguish at this the greatest indignity ever offered his sacred person. He trembled with apprehension at what might yet follow. His courtiers were no less afflicted, and with tears in their eyes they knelt to lessen the weight at least of the shameful bonds, and with bandages to relieve the imperial limbs.[2]
Meanwhile the troops formed an imposing cordon in front of the palace to prevent a rescue of the condemned as they were led out and tied to the stake. Writhing with pain, yet mute as became brave warriors, with the ascending smoke from Aztec shields and darts they rendered up their anguished souls. It was rare strategy thus with the offenders to destroy the means of offence. Supposing that the execution was by imperial sanction, the populace tacitly assented, gazing on the horrid spectacle with pallid faces and bated breath. Though accustomed to scenes like this in connection with their religious festivals, it appeared terrible when perpetrated by foreigners, to the dreary sound of muffled drums.[3]
- ↑ 'Me has negado no auer mãdado a Couatlpopocà q͏̄ matasse a mis compañeros, no lo has hecho como tan gran señor que eres,. . . .porque no quedes sin algun castigo, y tu y los tuyos sepays quanto vale el tratar verdad, te mãdare echar prisiones.' Herrera implies with this that Cortés laid more weight on the disregard for truth than on the authorization of the outrage. dec. ii. lib. viii. cap. ix. 'Que ya que aquella culpa tuuiesse, que antes la pagaria el Cortès por su persona, que verscla passaral Monteçuma.' Bernal Diaz, Hist. Verdad., 75.
- ↑ Esto hizo por ocupar le el pensamiento en sus duelos, y dexasse los ajenos.' Gomara, Hist. Mex., 129. 'Todo à fin de espantarle mas.' Ixtlilxochitl, Hist. Chich., 298.
- ↑ Solis seems to say that the bodies were burned after execution, Hist. Mex., i. 461-2, but Cortés and others are frank enough about the actual burning, which was not regarded in that cruel age with the same aversion as by us. Instances are to be found in the Native Races, ii.-iii., where this ordeal was undergone by criminals as well as temple victims among the Aztecs. Bernal Diaz gives the names of two of Quauhpopoca's companions in misfortune, Quiabuitle and Coatl. Hist. Verdad., 75. Prescott, Mex., ii. 173, states that the execution took place in the court-yard; but this is probably a misprint, to judge by his own text.
