220 



HISTORY OF MEXICO. 



they had been conquered, fome of them being even fo 

 mean-fpirited as to call out to their enemies, " O ye brave 

 " Tepanecas, lords of the continent, calm your indig- 

 " nation ; for now we furrender. Here before your eyes 

 we will facrifice our chiefs, to gain your pardon to our 

 " rafhnefs which their ambition has occafioned." The 

 king, the prince, the general, and nobles, were fo en- 

 raged at thefe fpeeches, that they would inftantly have 

 puniflied the cowards with death, had not the fear of 

 giving vi£^:ory to the enemy reflrained thera. DilTem- 

 bling their difpleafure, they exclaimed with one voice, 

 " Let us die with glory," and rufhed v^^ith fuch vigour 

 npon the enemy, that they repulfed them from a ditch 

 which they had gained, and made them retreat. Seeing 

 this advantage, the king began to encourage his people, 

 and the prince and general continued to perform fignal 

 a^ls of bravery. In the utmofl heat of the engagement 

 Montezuma encountered with the Tepanecan general, as 

 he was advancing full of pride from the terror his troops 

 ftruck into the Mexicans, and gave him fo furious a blow 

 on the head, that he fell dovv^n lifelefs at his feet. The 

 report of the vi6lory fpread immediately through the 

 whole field, and infpired the Mexicans with frefh cou- 

 rage : but the Tepanecas were fo difconcerted by the 

 death of their brave general MazatI, that they foon went 

 into confufion. Night coming on prevented the Mexi- 

 cans from purfuing their fuccefs : upon which both the 

 armies withdrew to their cities, the Mexicans full of cou- 

 rage, and impatient at not^'being able, from the dark- 

 iicfs of the night, to complete their victory ; the Tepane- 

 cas downcafl and dejected, though not altogether void 

 of hope to be revenged the following day. 



Maxtlaton, 



