Page:The Mastering of Mexico.djvu/128

98 beef bought at the butchers'. All these horrible deeds must end, said Cortes, and then we could be their friends and make them lords over other countries. The caciques and papas answered that it did not seem to them loyal to give up their idols and human sacrifices, for these gods of theirs gave them whatever good they had—good health, good harvests and everything else of which they stood in need.

Cortes and all of us found this answer very unsatisfactory. Their barbarities we could no longer bear to look upon, and we spoke together a long time, Cortes bringing to our minds many good and holy lessons, and saying in conclusion, "We can never accomplish any greater benefit for this people, and for the honor of God, than put out of the way sacrifices before these idols. The people may rise against us; yet even if it costs us our lives, the idols must come to the ground."

The caciques were beside themselves with rage when Cortes told them the idols must come down. They said if we so insulted their idols we should all perish with them. Cortes now lost patience—after what he had already several times told them about sacrifices and that their monsters were liars and deceivers, and he said either they or we must tear them down at once. He added that we were no longer friends, but enemies, and any opposition would cost