HISTORY OF MEXICO. 



19 



out whofe protection they never would have dared to 

 advance fo near to that city. The Tlafcalans anfwered 

 in their turn, that the Mexicans, and all their partizans, 

 rather ought to have the name of women given them; 

 being fo fuperior in number, and yet never able to fub- 

 due the Tlafcalans. The Spaniards themfelves did not 

 efcape from infults of this kind. They were ironically 

 invited to enter Mexico to command there like lords, 

 and to enjoy all the pleafures of life. " Do you think, 

 " Chriftian," they faid to Cortes, " that things will 

 " go on in the fame way as they did laft time ? Per- 

 " haps you imagine there is another Montezuma reign- 

 " ing in Mexico devoted to your pleafures? Enter, 

 <c enter the court, where you will all be made a facri- 

 <c fice to the gods." During the engagements, which 

 they had in thofe fix days, the Spaniards entered that 

 fatal road, and approached to thofe memorable ditches, 

 where, nine months before, they had been fo cruelly 

 defeated. They found there a terrible refinance, and 

 in an inftant they apprehended to be utterly deftroyedj 

 for by being bufied in purfuing fome Mexican troops 

 who had come defignedly to infult them, and lead them 

 into danger, they found themfelves unexpectedly at- 

 tacked, from both quarters on the road, by fuch a nu- 

 merous enemy, that they with difficulty retreated, com- 

 bating mod furioufly until they came to the main land. 

 In this conflict five Spaniards were killed and many 

 wounded. Of the Mexicans, many were llain in this 

 and the other engagements. Cortes, difgufted with the 

 ill fuccefs of his expedition, returned with his army by 

 the fame road to Tezcuco, fuffering new infults from the 

 enemy in his march, who afcribed his retreat to fear 

 and cowardice. The Tlafcalans, who accompanied the 



Spaniards 



