All being over, Cortés reëntered the apartments of Montezuma with his captains, and kneeling down he himself took off the fetters, declaring that he felt deeply grieved at the infliction, for he loved him as a brother. The monarch became almost hysteric with joy at this deliverance, and with falling tears he expressed himself in abject terms of gratitude, like the dog licking the hand which has chastised it. Every fresh incident reveals some new trait in the character of this unhappy man which calls for pity or contempt. "Yet further," continued Cortés, "to show my deep regard and confidence, you are now at full liberty to return to your own house." But Montezuma understood well enough that these were but words, an empty offer; indeed he had been informed by the well prompted page that, although the general might wish to release him, the Spanish captains would never permit it.[1] He accordingly expressed his thanks, and said that he preferred to remain with him, giving as a reason that, were he free, the importunities of his relatives and nobles to attack the Spaniards might prevail over his friendship for them and their king, and this would entail not only loss of life on both sides, but the ruin of the city. Thereupon Cortés embraced him with every appearance of deep devotion, and said, "Next to my king you shall be king; vast as are your possessions, I will make you ruler of more and greater provinces.[2]
We can imagine the words by which the Spaniards might justify to themselves the death of Quauhpo-
- ↑ 'Á lo que entendimos, ê lo mas cierto, Cortés auia dicho á Aguilar la lengua, que le dixesse de secreto, que aunque Malinche le mandasse salir de la prision, que los Capitanes nuestros, è soldados no querriamos.' Bernal Diaz, Hist. Verdad., 75.
- ↑ 'Fué tanto el buen tratamiento que yo le hice, y el contentamiento que de mí tenia, que algunas veces y muchas le acometi con su libertad, rogándole que fuese á su casa, y me dijo todas las veces que se lo decia, que él estaba bien allí,' etc. Cortés, Cartas, 91. No osaua, de miedo que los suyos no le matassen. . . . por auer se dexado prender,' is one of the suppositions of Gomara, who calls him a man of little heart. Hist. Mex., 129-30. Peter Martyr appears to be moved rather by pity for him. dec. v. cap. iii. Non gli conveniva ritornare al suo palagio, mentre fossero nella Corte gli Spagnuoli.' Clavigero, Storia Mess., iii. 102.
