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314 Arrived before Guatemoc, with tears and sighs the three messengers told what Cortes had said. Although the monarch was angry at the presumption of the message, he assembled his chiefs and the priests of the temple and told them he was inclined to make peace and end the war. Already, he said, the Mexicans had tried every mode of attack, and every kind of defence, and yet when they thought us conquered we returned with new vigor. Just now, he continued, a great host of allies had joined us, every town had declared against Mexico, our sloops had broken down the stakes, and his people were threatened with want of both food and water. Therefore he begged each councillor fearlessly to give his opinion; especially the papas should give theirs and tell what the gods Huitzilopochtli and Tezcatlipoca had said and promised.

"Great and mighty monarch," the councillors in effect replied, "you are our master. You have shown great power of mind and deserve to be a monarch by right. Peace is an excellent thing. But reflect. From the moment these teules set foot in this country and in this city, our affairs have been growing worse. Call to mind the presents the great Montezuma gave them, the services he did them; what he received in return; what your relative caciques received. All the gold and silver of this great city have wasted away. Men and women at Tepeaca