208 



HISTORY OF MEXICO. 



" choofe a lord to govern you, and a father to protect 

 you. Imagine that for a little time the fun is eclipfed, 

 " and that the earth is darkened, but that hght will 

 " return again with the new king. It is of the greatefi: 

 importance that, without long conferences, we ele^t a 

 " prince who may re-eftablifli the honour of our nation, 

 may vindicate the wrongs done to it, and reftore to it 

 its ancient liberty." They proceeded quickly to the 

 cleclion, and chofe by unanimous confent prince Itzcoatl, 

 brother, by the father's fide, to the two preceding kings, 

 and natural fon of Acamapitzin by a flave. Whatever 

 the low condition of his mother took from his claim, the 

 nobility and reputation of his father, and, flill more, his 

 own virtues, fupplied ; of thefe he gave many proofs in 

 the poft of general of the Mexican armies which he had 

 filled for more than thirty years. He was allowed to be 

 the mofl: prudent, juft, and brave perfon of all the Mexi- 

 can nation. Being placed on the Tlatocaicpalli^ or royal 

 feat, he was faluted as king by all the nobles, with loud 

 acclamations. One of their orators then held a difcourfe 

 on the duties of a fovereign, in which, among other 

 things, he faid, " All, O great king and lord, all now 

 " feel themfelves dependent on you. On your flioul- 

 ders muft the orphans, the widows, and the aged be 

 fupported. Will you be capable of laying down and 

 abandoning this burden ? Will you permit the infants 

 *f who are yet walking on their four feet, to perifli by 

 " the hands of our enemies ? Courage, great lord, 

 begin and fpread your mantle that you may carry 

 the poor Mexicans on your back, who flatter them- 

 felves they will live fecure under the frefli fliade of 

 " your benignity." The ceremony being concluded, 

 they celebrated the acceflion of the new monarch, with 



balls 



