192 



HISTORY OF MEXICO. 



might replace himfclf on the throne. But although his 

 fubje6i:s loved him, and were delirous of feeing him in 

 pofTeffion of the kingdom, they durft not openly favour 

 his party from their fear of the tyrant. Among the fub- 

 jefts who were the neareft related to him, and had aban- 

 doned him,^were the lord of Chimalpan his uncle, and 

 Tecpanecatl the brother of his fecond wife Nezahualxo- 

 chitly of the royal line of Mexico. Perfevering in fuch 

 negociations, he arrived one evening at a village of the 

 province of Chaico, belonging to a lady and widow named 

 Tziltomiauh, He obferved that there was a plantation 

 of aloes, from which the widow extra£led wine, not only 

 for the ufe of her family, but alfo for fale, which was 

 ftri<^ly forbid by the Chechemecan code. He was fo 

 fired with zeal for the laws of his fathers, that he felt no 

 reftraint from the adverfity of his fortune, nor any other 

 confideration, but with his own hand put the delinquent 

 to death. An a6lion mofl: inconliderate and reprehen- 

 fible, in which prudence had a far lefs lhare than the 

 intemperate ardour of youth. This deed raifed a great 

 rumour in that province, and the lord of Chaico, who 

 was his enemy, and had been an accomplice in the 

 death of his father, ufed the utmofl: diligence to have 

 him in his power; but the prince, who forefaw the 

 confequences of his a£i:, had already placed himfelf in 

 fecurity. 



Eight years were now elapfed, during which Tezozo- 

 moc had poffeffed in peace the kingdom of Acolhuacan, 

 •claimed in vain by Nezahualcojotl, when fatal dreams 

 threw the tyrant into extreme perturbation. He dreamed 

 that Nezahualcojotl transformed into an eagle, opened 

 his bread and eat his heart ; and at another time, changed 

 into a lion, licked his body, and fucked his blood. He 



was 



