nd trying
by prayers and sacrifices to wring some favour from his gods. But the
oracles were dumb. Then he called a council of his chief nobles, but a
great difference of opinion arose amongst them. Cacama, the emperor's
nephew, king of Tezcuco, counselled him to receive the Spaniards
courteously as ambassadors of a foreign prince, while Cuitlahua, his
brother, urged him to muster his forces and then and there drive back
the invaders, or die in the defence of his capital. But Montezuma could
not rouse himself for this struggle. He exclaimed in deep dejection, "Of
what avail is resistance when the gods have declared themselves against
us? Yet I mourn for the old and infirm, the women and children, too
feeble to fight or fly. For myself and the brave men around me, we must
face the storm as best we may!" and he straightway sent off a last
embassy, with his nephew at its head, to meet the Spaniards and welcome
them to Mexico. By this time the army had reached the first of the towns
built on piles driven into the lake, and were delighted with its fine
stone houses, with canals between them instead of streets, up and down
which boats passed continually, laden with all kinds of merchandise.
Though received with great hospitality, Cortes still was strictly on his
guard, and neglected no precaution for the security of his men. Before
he left this place a messenger came, requesting him to wait for the
arrival of the king of Tezcuco, who very soon afterwards appeared, borne
in a palanquin richly decorated with plates of gold and precious stones,
having pillars curiously wrought which supported a canopy of green
plumes. He was accompanied by a numerous retinue of nobles and inferior
attendants, and when he came into the presence of Cortes he descended
from his palanquin and advanced towards him, his officers sweeping the
ground before him as he did so.

The prince was a handsome young man, erect and dignified; he made the
usual Mexican salutation to people of high rank, touching the earth with
his right hand and raising it to his head, and said that he came as the
representative of Montezuma to bid the Spaniards welcome to Mexico, and
presented the general with three pearls of uncommon size and lustre.
Cortes embraced him, and in return threw over his neck a chain of cut
glass. After this exchange of courtesies, and the most friendly and
respectful assurances on the part of Cortes, the Indian prince withdrew,
leaving the Spaniards