Page:The Mastering of Mexico.djvu/63

Rh The next Sunday, when Diego Velasquez was on his way to church, and in company with the principal persons of the town, he placed Cortes on his right side to do him honor. While they were on the road a jester, nicknamed Fool Cervantes, ran in front of the governor, playing pranks and cracking all sorts of jokes. "Alas! alas! my friend Diego," he cried, "what manner of captain have you chosen? He of Medellin in Estramadura! A captain to try his luck in no little way. Have care that he does not run off with your fleet, for you can see by his face he is terrible when once he begins."

As Fool Cervantes was running on in this strain, growing more and more severe, one of the favorites of Velasquez, walking by the side of Cortes, gave the fellow a cuff, crying, "Silence, thou drunken knave! I know this scandalous wit of thine never sprang in thy brain!" But, taking no notice of the blow, the fool still ran on, "Long life to my friend Diego and the valiant captain, Cortes! Master Diego, that you may not weep over your bargain, I must go myself with Cortes to those rich lands."

Nobody doubted for a moment but some kinsmen of the governor had hired the jester to utter these sayings, and to pass them off as wit. Everything the fool predicted, nevertheless, came true to the letter and goes to prove that often fools speak the truth. Still, it became in the end certain that the