HISTORY OF MEXICO. 277 



Befides the bravery which he had difplayed in feve- 

 ral battles, in which he held the pofl of general, he 

 was likewife a prieft, and much revered for his gravity, 

 his circumfpe6i:ion, and religion. He was a man of a 

 taciturn temper, extremely deliberate, not only in words, 

 but alfo in his a£lions ; and whenever he fpoke in the 

 royal council, of which he was a member, he was liftened 

 to with refpe^l. Notice of the eleftion being fent to the 

 two allied kings, they repaired inflantly to the court to 

 pay their compliments. Montezuma, being apprized of 

 it, alfo retired to the temple, appearing to think himfelf 

 unworthy of fo much honour. The nobility went there 

 to acquaint him with his being ele(5i:ed, and found him 

 fweeping the pavement of the temple. He was con- 

 ducted by a numerous attendance to the palace, where 

 the ele<5i:ors, with due folemnity, intimated the eleflion 

 had fallen on him as the fitted perfon to fill the throne 

 of Mexico. From thence he returned to the temple to 

 perform the ufual ceremonies, and as foon as they were 

 finiflied he received on the throne the homage of the 

 nobility, and heard the congratulatory harangues of the 

 orators. The firfl fpeech was made by Nezahualpilli, 

 king of Acolhuacan, which we prefent to our readers 

 fuch as it is preferved to us by the Mexicans. 



" The great good fortune," he faid, " of the Mexi- 



can monarchy is made manifefl from the unani- 

 " mity in your eledlion, and the uncommon applaufe 



with which it is celebrated by all. All have in truth 

 " reafon to celebrate it, for the kingdom of Mexico is 



arrived at fuch greatnefs, no lefs fortitude than your 

 " invincible heart poffefies, no lefs wifdom than that 

 " which in you we admire, would be fufficient to fup- 

 " port fo great a load. It is moft evident, how ftrong 



" the 



