HISTORY OF MEXICO. 



185 



Otompanefe are alienated from you by efpoufmg the 



part of your enemy. The whole country is occupi- 

 " cd by the Tepanecas, and every where dangerous ; 

 " my return is uncertain. But fliould I perifli in your 

 " fervice, and if the facrifice which I make you of my 



life is worthy of any recompenfe, I pray you to pro- 



te6l the two young children I leave behind." Thefe 

 words, which were accompanied with flrong marks of 

 feeling, touched the king's heart, who, in taking leave of 

 him, faid, " May our God accompany and return you 



fafe. Alas ! perhaps at your return, you may find what 

 " you fear for yourfeIf,,will have happened to m.e, the 



enemies being fo numerous who confpire againfl my 

 " life." Cihuacuecuenotzin proceeded without delay to 

 Otompan, but before he entered he knew that there 

 were, at that time, Tepanecas in the city, who were fent 

 by Tezozomoc, to publifh a proclamation ; he v/as not 

 however, difcouraged, but went intrepidly to the public 

 place where the Tepanecas had afTembled the people 

 to hear the proclamation, and after having faluted them 

 all gracioufly, he freely communicated his embaffy. 



The Otompanefe made a jeft of him and his demand, 

 but none of them dared to proceed farther, until a mean 

 perfon among them threw a ftone at him, exciting others 

 at the fame time to put him to death. The Tepanecas, 

 who continued ftill and filent, to obferve what refolution 

 the Otompanefe would take, perceiving now that they 

 - openly declared againfl the king of Acolhuacan, and his 

 ambaffador, cried out, Kill, kill, the traitor ! accompany- 

 ing their cries with throwing of ftones. Cihuacuecueno- 

 tzin, at firfl:, faced his enemies, but feeing himfelf over- 

 powered by numbers, and endeavouring to fave himfelf 

 by flight, was killed by a fliower of ftones. A chara6ler 

 Vol. 1. A a intitled 



