Page:Vol 1 History of Mexico by H H Bancroft.djvu/542

422 But our mighty ones, whom you have outraged, shall yet give you your deserts. If they do not, we shall; nor shall they escape, the despicable ones of Tlascala, your slaves, who serve you as women and hire out the wives of their lords!" Thus raved the heart-broken.

So critical had become his condition on the second day that Alvarado appealed to Montezuma to exert his influence to stay the assailants, intimating that if the Spaniards perished so would the Aztec king. Montezuma's overtures were not received with enthusiasm by the people; nevertheless aggressive operations were reduced to desultory attacks. Tuvieron guerra con los yndios en esta Cibdad [sic] dos medios dias que fueron jueves e viernes.' Guerra casy dos dias.' Lopes and Flores, in Ramirez, Proceso contra Alvarado, 131, 134. Dieron bateria los Mexicanos á los Españoles siete dias, y los tuvieron cercados veinte y tres dias.' ''Sahagun, Hist. Conq''., 29. 'Cercados los españoles ocho dias.' Id. (ed. 1840), 105.Pelearo y combatieron la casa diez dias arreo.' ''Gomara, Hist. Mex''., 151. Torquemada explains this by assuming two days of fighting and eight days of close siege, with attacks upon all who sallied. i. 490. Sahagun states that Itzquauhtzin, governor of Tlatelulco, accompanied Montezuma to the roof and spoke to the people, representing that the Spaniards, as the mightier race, would inflict great injury on them unless they ceased to fight, and that the emperor would be murdered. The Mexicans responded with insults and missiles, but as the soldiers interposed their shields no harm was done. They appear to have stopped active operations, however. ''Hist. Conq''., 28-9. The insults and missiles belong no doubt to the later siege under Cortés. Duran states, however, that Montezuma was henceforth looked on as an accomplice of the Spaniards, and discarded as a ruler, it being resolved to kill him and his family. ''Hist. Ind''., MS., ii. 463. According to Oviedo the news came at this time of the victory over Narvaez, 'é Monteçuma mandó á los indios que dexassen de pelear é dexassen venir los otros chripstianos, porque á todos juntos matassen; é aquesto se cree que fué su intento.' iii. 512. That he may have urged this with intent or as a bait is not unlikely, but it should apply equally to Narvaez' ınen, since it appears that their defeat could not yet have been known. When known, however, it must have had its effect. 'Quando supieron nuestra vitoria, cessarõ de dalle guerra.' ''Bernal Diaz, Hist. Verdad''., 191. Yet Gomara writes that on learning of the large forces coming against them, the besiegers resumed the attack at one time. ''Hist. Mex''., 151. Water was greatly needed by the besieged, and again the good fortune of the Spaniards, which hardly ever forsook them, came to their aid. Digging, under inspiration or desperation, they struck fresh water within the fortress, and offered thanksgiving.