HISTORY GF MEXICO. 



77 



upon a dagger which Cortes wore at his girdle, he add- 

 ed, < c with this dagger take that life from me which I 

 " have not loft in the defence of my kingdom." Cortes 

 ftrove to confole him, with many arguments, declaring 

 that he did not confider him as his prifoner, but the pri- 

 foner of the greateft monarch of Europe, from whofc 

 clemency he ought to truft, that not only the liberty 

 which he had loft, but alfo the throne of his illuftrious 

 anceftors, which he had fo worthily occupied and de- 

 fended, would be reftored to him. But what folace 

 could he have from fuch declarations, or what confidence 

 could he put in the words of Cortes, who had always 

 been his enemy, and after having feen that though the 

 friend and protector of Montezuma, both were not fuffi- 

 cient to fave to that monarch his crown, his liberty, or 

 his life? He defired of Cortes, that he would do no 

 hurt to his fubje&s; and Cortes in- return defired of 

 him, that he would command them all to furrender. 

 Both gave their orders, and both were inftantly obeyed. 

 It was ordered alfo, that all the Mexicans ftiould leave 

 the city without arms or baggage ; and according to the 

 affirmation of an eye-witnefs of the utmoft fincerity (r), 

 for three days and three nights all the three roads lead- 

 ing from the city were feen full of men, women, and 

 children ; feeble, emaciated, and dirty, who went to re- 

 cover 



(r) " Es verdad y juro amen que toda la laguna y cafas y barbacoas eftaban 

 llenas de cuerpos y cabezas de hombres muertos ; que yo no fe de que manera 

 lo efcriba; pues en las calles y en los mifmos patios de Tlatelolco no habia 

 otras cofas y no podiamos andar, lino entre cuerpos y cabezas de Indios muer- 

 tos. Yo he leido la deftrucion de Jerufalem; mas fi en ella hubo tanta mor- 

 tandad como efta yo no lo fe," &c. Bernal Diaz, chap. 156. of his hiftory. 

 Such expreflions, from an eye-witnefs of great fincerity, who was not given to 

 exaggeration, convey to us a juft idea of that horrid flaughter. We fufpect 

 that the Mexicans left the dead bodies unburied, that the ftench of them 

 might drive away the befiegers; as otherwife it is probable that on account of 

 their ftricl attention to funeral rites, they would have removed them all. 



