Page:Young Folks History Of Mexico.pdf/240

 234 the air, but the wise and sagacious Xicotencatl repelled this insinuation with scorn. "Those men," he said, "who demand entrance into our city appear to be rather monsters cast up by the sea, because it could not endure them in its waters, than gods descended from heaven, as some have vainly imagined. Is it possible they can be gods, who so greedily covet gold and pleasures? And what should we not dread from them in a country so poor as this, when we are even destitute of salt? He wrongs the honor of the nation



who thinks it can be overcome by a handful of adventurers. If they are mortal, the arms of the Tlascallans will tell it to all the regions round; if they are immortal, there will always be time to appease their anger by homage, and to implore their mercy by repentance. Let their demand, therefore, be rejected; and if they dare enter by force, let our arms repel their temerity!"

After a long and stormy debate, it was decided finally to allow the strangers to enter, but at the same time to