d silver. But
you see it is false: my houses, though large, are of wood and stone; and
as to my body, he said, baring his tawny arm, you see it is flesh and
bone like yours. It is true that I have a great empire inherited from my
ancestors, lands, and gold and silver, but your sovereign beyond the
waters is, I know, the rightful lord of all. I rule in his name. You,
Malinche, are his ambassador; you and your brethren shall share these
things with me. Rest now from your labours. You are here in your own
dwellings, and everything shall be provided for your subsistence. I will
see that your wishes shall be obeyed in the same way as my own. Cortes,
while he encouraged the idea that his own sovereign was the great Being,
as Montezuma believed, assured him that his master had no desire to
interfere with his authority otherwise than, out of concern for his
welfare, to effect his conversion, and that of his people, to
Christianity. Before the emperor dismissed his visitors, rich stuffs and
ornaments of gold were distributed among them, so that the poorest
soldier received at least two heavy collars of gold, and on their
homeward way they could talk of nothing but the generosity and courtesy
of the Indian monarch. But the general was harassed by many anxious
thoughts. He had not been prepared to find so much luxury, civilisation,
and power. He was in the heart of a great capital which seemed like an
extensive fortification, with its dykes and drawbridges, where every
house might be converted into a castle. At a nod from the sovereign all
communication with the rest of the country might be cut off, and the
whole warlike population be at once hurled upon himself and his handful
of followers, and against such odds of what avail would be his superior
science? As to the conquest of the empire, now he had seen the capital,
it must have seemed to him a more doubtful enterprise than ever; but at
any rate his best policy was to foster the superstitious reverence in
which he was held by both prince and people, and to find out all he
could about the city and its inhabitants. To this end he asked the
emperor's permission to visit the principal public buildings, which was
readily granted, Montezuma even arranging to meet him at the great
temple. Cortes put himself at the head of his cavalry, and, followed by
nearly all the Spanish foot, set out under the guidance of several
caciques sent by Montezuma. They led him to the great teocalli near
t