216 HISTORY OF MEXICO. 



who are the flower of the nation, will be fearlefs 

 enough to carry an embafly to the lord of the Tepa- 

 necas ?" They all looked at each other, but no one 

 durft oiFer to encounter the danger ; until Montezuma, 

 whom youthful intrepidity infpired, prefented himfelf, 

 faying, " I will carry the embalTy ; as death muft one 

 time or other be met with, it is of little moment whe- 

 ther to-day or to-morrow ; no better opportunity can 

 " prefent itfelf of dying with honour than the facrificing 

 " my life for the welfare of my nation ? Behold me, fir, 

 ready to execute your commands : order, and I obey." 

 The king, much pleafed with his courage, ordered him 

 to go and propofe peace to the tyrant, but to. accept of 

 diflionourable conditions. The valiant youth fet out 

 inftantly, and meeting with the Tepanecan guards^ per- 

 fuaded them to let him pafs with an embalTy of the utmofl 

 importance to their lord. Having prefented himfelf be- 

 fore the tyrant, in the name of his king and his nation, 

 he demanded peace on honourable terms. The tyrant 

 anfwered, that it was necefTary to deliberate with his 

 counfellors, but on the day following he would return a 

 decifive anfwer. Montezuma having afked him for pro- 

 tection and fecurity during his ftay, could obtain no other 

 than his own caution might procure him j upon which 

 he went back immediately to Mexico, promifing to re- 

 turn the day after. The little confidence he had in that 

 court, and the Ihortnefs of the journey, which did not 

 exceed four miles, muft unqueftionably have been his 

 motive for not flaying for the final anfwer of the tyrant. 

 He returned, therefore, to Azcapozalco the next day as 

 he had promifed, and having heard from the mouth of 

 Maxtlaton his refolution for war, he performed the ce- 

 re-monies commonly pradlifed by two lords who challenge 



each 



