184 



HISTORY OF MEXICO. 



and on failure of brothers, of one of his grandfons* 

 This law was conftantly obferved until the fall of the 

 Mexican empire. 



While Chiinalpopoca found means to fix himfelf fe- 

 curely on the throne of Mexico, Ixtlilxochitl began to tot- 

 ter on that of Acolhuacan, The peace which Tezozo- 

 moc had demanded was a mere artifice to lull fufpicion 

 while he was more effe^lually purfuing his negociations. 

 The number of his party was daily obferved to increafe, 

 •while that of the Tezcucan diminiflied. This unfortunate 

 king found himfelf reduced to fuch extremity, that think- 

 ing himfelf infecure in his own court, he went wandering 

 through the neighbouring mountains, efcorted by a fmall 

 army, and accompanied by the lords of Huexotla and 

 Coatlichan, who were always faithful to him. The Te- 

 panecas, that they might diftrefs him to the utmofl, inter- 

 cepted the provifions which were carrying to his camp ; 

 by which his neceflities became fo great that he was 

 compelled at laft to beg provifions of his enemies. So 

 eafy is it to fall from the height of human felicity to the 

 loweft ftate of mifery. 



He fent one of his grandfons named Cehuacuecuenotzin^ 

 to Otompan, one of the rebel flates, to requefl the citi- 

 zens of it to fupply their king with the provifions he 

 flood in need of, and to admonifti them to abandon the 

 party of the rebels, and to call to their minds the loyalty 

 they had fworn. Cehuacuecuenotzin, well knew the 

 danger of the undertaking ; but fear being overcome by 

 the generofity of his fentiments, his fortitude of mind, 

 and fidelity to his fovereign, he fliewxd himfelf ready to 

 obey : I go my lord," hefaid, " to execute yourcom- 



mands, and to facrifice my life to the obedience which 



1 owe you. You cannot be infenfible hov/ much the 



" Otompauefe 



