Page:Letters of Cortes to Emperor Charles V - Vol 2.djvu/138

, they finished it and took it to the market-place to station it on a sort of square theatre which stands in the middle, and which is built of stone and mortar and is about fourteen feet in height, and about thirty paces long from one corner to the other; when they celebrated their plays and festivals, the performers placed themselves on this where all the people in the market both above and below the arcades could see them. After the catapult was brought there, three or four days were occupied in placing it, and the Indians our friends threatened those of the city with it, telling them that with this engine we would kill them all. Although no other result was obtained (as indeed there was none) except the fright it caused, from which we thought the enemy would surrender, it would have been sufficient; the deception was a double one because neither the carpenters fulfilled their design nor did the defenders of the city (although they were much frightened) take any step to surrender, while I disguised the failure of the catapult by pretending that moved by compassion, we forbore to kill them all.

The next day, after placing the catapult, we returned to the city, and, as three or four days had passed without any fighting, we found the streets by which we passed full of women and children and other miserable people, who came out so emaciated and thin, that it was the greatest pity in the world to behold them, so I ordered our friends not to hurt them. But, none of the warriors appeared where any harm could reach them, though we saw them on the tops of their roofs, covered with the blankets they wear, and without weapons. I had them required that day to make peace, but their replies were inconclusive. As they occupied us most of the day with this, I sent them word that I intended to attack them and that they should withdraw all their people, otherwise I would permit our friends to kill them. They said they