t and
offended dignity:

'When was it ever heard that a great prince like myself willingly left
his own palace to become a prisoner in the hands of strangers?'

Cortes declared that he would not go as a prisoner, but would be simply
changing his residence. 'If I should consent to such degradation,' he
cried, 'my subjects never would.'

When further pressed, he offered one of his sons and two of his
daughters as hostages, so that he might be spared this disgrace. Two
hours passed in this fruitless discussion, till Velasquez de Leon,
impatient of the long delay, and seeing that to fail in the attempt must
ruin them, cried out, 'Why do we waste words on this barbarian? Let us
seize him, and if he resists plunge our swords into his body!' The
fierce tone and menacing gesture alarmed the emperor, who asked Marina
what the angry Spaniard said. She explained as gently as she could,
beseeching him to accompany the white men, who would treat him with all
respect and kindness, while if he refused he would but expose himself to
violence, perhaps to death.

This last appeal shook the resolution of Montezuma; looking round for
support and sympathy, he saw only the stern faces and mail-clad forms of
the Spaniards, and felt that his hour had indeed come. In a scarcely
audible voice he consented to accompany them, and orders were given for
the royal litter to be brought. The nobles who bore and attended it
could hardly credit their senses, but now Montezuma had consented to go
pride made him wish to appear to go willingly. As the royal retinue
marched dejectedly down the avenue, escorted by the Spaniards, the
people ran together in crowds, declaring that the emperor had been
carried off by force, and a tumult would have arisen had not he himself
called out to them to disperse, since he was of his own accord visiting
his friends, and on reaching the Spanish quarters he sent out his nobles
to the mob with similar assurances, bidding them all return to their
homes.

He was received with ostentatious respect by the Spaniards, and chose
the apartments which pleased him best, which were speedily furnished
with tapestry, featherwork, and all other Indian luxuries. He was
attended by his own household, and his meals were served with the usual
pomp and ceremony, while not even the general himself approached him
without due obeisance, or sat down in his presence uninvited.
Nevertheless it was but too clear to his people that he was a priso