Page:The Mastering of Mexico.djvu/183

Rh Cortes by the hand and led him to the richly decorated apartment where he was to lodge. And he hung about the neck of our captain a rich necklace, most curiously wrought of golden crabs, astonishing the caciques of his suite by the honor he bestowed until he took leave, saying, "Malinche, you and your brothers must now do as If you were at home, and rest after your wearisome journey." He then returned to his own palace close by, while we divided our lodgings by companies, placed our cannon in advantageous position and so studied our orders that we could be ready at a moment's notice. We then sat down to a plentiful dinner which they spread before us. Thus was our memorable and daring entrance into the great city of Mexico on the 8th day of November, in the year of our Lord, 1519.

After Montezuma had dined and had learned that we, likewise, had eaten, he came with the pomp of a company of kinsmen to pay us a visit. Cortes, hearing of his approach, went to the middle of the hall to receive him, where Montezuma took our captain by the hand and seated him next himself on gold-wrought seats his followers had brought. The monarch then began to speak in most excellent fashion, saying first of all that he was delighted to entertain gentlemen so valiant as Cortes and all of us. A couple of years before he had had news of one captain who came to Chanpoton, and last year