Page:Vol 1 History of Mexico by H H Bancroft.djvu/573

Rh with him. And when he came Montezuma said: "The end for me approaches, Malinche; it is even here. You cannot harm me further, nor help me if you would. I have given you all; you have taken all — my liberty, my kingdom, my life, and that which is more to me than kingdom, liberty, or life, the affection of my people, the love of my counsellors and friends; and respect — respect of self, and that sacred respect which, living or dead, is mine by inheritance, and by virtue of my office. But I would not upbraid you; I pray only that ruin will benefit you; I beg of you care for my children, and I conjure you to avenge me on my rebel subjects and their leaders."

Moved by the touching appeal, Cortés promised all that was asked of him, while remonstrating with the monarch for rejecting food and medicine. Montezuma then, in like manner, exhorted his nobles who were prisoners with him, and was touched by their sorrow for the sad state of the empire, and their manifestation of affection for himself. Father Olmedo, who had never relaxed his efforts for the captive's conversion, now pressed to his aid the general. But in vain. All else these beings maledict had taken from him; they should not now rob him of his religion. His faith was as dear to him, as true, as pure, as efficacious, as was theirs to them. Away with another's gods! Let each live and die by his He was high-priest, too, and for him to prove recreant to the national faith would overshadow all his former crimes combined. "What is this they would have of me?" he groaned within himself. Then turning suddenly to Olmedo, he asked, "Do Spaniards go to