278 



HISTORY OF MEXICO. 



the love is which the omnipotent God bears to this 



nation j as he has enlightened it, that it may difcern 

 " and choofe that which can be mod beneficial to it. 

 " Who is able to perfuade himfelf that he, who, as a 

 " private individual, has fearched into the myfteries of 

 " heaven will not now, when king, know the things 



of this earth, which will preferve the happinefs of his 

 " fubje^ls ? That he who on fo many ocoafions ha-s dif- 



played the greatnefs of his foul, will not now retain 



it when it is become moft nccelTary to him ? Who 



can believe, that where there is fo much courage, and 

 " fo much wifdom, the widow or the orphan will ever 

 " apply without relief? The Mexican empire has un- 

 " queftionably attained the height of its power, as the 



Creator of heaven has invefted you with fo much autho- 

 " rity as to infpire all thofe who behold you with awe and 



refpe61:. Rejoice, therefore, O happy land, that thou 

 " art deflined to have a prince who will not only be thy 

 " fupport, but will by his clemency prove a father and 

 " brother to his fubje6i:s. Thou haft, indeed, a king 



who will not feize the occafion of his exaltation to 

 " give himfelf up to luxury, and lie fluggiftily in bed, 

 " abandoned to paftimes and effeminate pleafures 5 his 



anxiety for thee rather will wake and agitate his bo- 

 " fom in the fofteft hour of repofe, nor will he be able 

 " to tafte food, or reliih the moft delicious morfel, while 



thy interefts are opprelfed or neglected. And do you, 

 " noble prince and moft powerful lord, be confident, and 

 " truft that the Creator of heaven, who has raifed you 



to fo high a dignity, will give you ftrength to dif- 



charge all the obligations which are annexed to it. He 

 " who has hitherto been fo liberal to you, will not now 



" be 



{b) This faying of Nezahualpilli appears to imply that Montezuma was en- 

 jg,-aged in the ftudy of aftronomy. 



