HISTORY OF MEXICO. 



199 



much in eftimation with them as the boaft of being cou- 

 rageous. Chimalpopoca felt fufEciently on the occafion, 

 and would have revenged the outrage j but he was un- 

 able. 



This difdainful a6l was foon fucceeded by a moll hein- 

 ous olFencc to his honour. The tyrant knew that among 

 the wives of the king of Mexico, there was one Angu- 

 larly beautiful : being inflamed by this occafion with 

 wicked defires, he determined to facrifice both ho- 

 nour and juftice to his palEon. To obtain his purpofc 

 he employed fome ladies of Tepaneca, and enjoined them 

 when they vifited, as they were accuftomed to do, that 

 Mexican lady, to invite her to fpend fome days of plea- 

 fure with them at Azcapozalco. Such vifits being fre- 

 quent among perfons of the firft rank, of different nations, 

 it was not difficult for the abandoned prince to gain the 

 opportunity he fo much longed for, to fatisfy his crimi- 

 nal paffion ; neither the tears nor efforts made by that 

 virtuous Mexican in defence of her honour, were fuffi- 

 cient to reftrain him : flie returned to Mexico with igno- 

 miny, and pierced with the moft affecting anguifli to 

 m.ourn with her hufband. The unfortunate king, either 

 that he might not farvive his difhonour, or that he might 

 not die in the hands of the tyrant, refolved to put an end 

 to his wretched life, by dying a facrifice in honour of his 

 God, Huitzilopochtli, as many pretended heroes of his 

 nation had done, believing fuch a death would cancel his 

 difhonour, at leaft fave hini from fome ignominious exit, 

 which he dreaded from his enemy. He communicated 

 this refolution to his courtiers, who applauded it, from 

 the extravagant ideas they entertained in matters of re- 

 ligion, and fome of them even were willing to partake of 

 the glory of fo barbarous a facrifice. 



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