The Slave Sculptor — page 64: what you’re looking at

Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.

66 THE SLAVE SCULPTOR. Could the truth have been known, at that period of Cortez’s ca- reer, it would have shown that he would have gladly retreated from the capital, could he have seen even a possibility of escape. Hemmed in on all sides by unsurmountable obstacles he presented a beld and defiant front, apparently undaunted in his purpose, but in reality nching from the very desperation of his fortunes. He had accomplished one great achievement, and held a x werfal hostage for the future security of himself and his little army; yet, he did not pause, but went still further, and humbled the noble, gen- erous Aztec sovereign, down into the very dust. When Quauhpopoca, the guilty governor arrived, he was coolly re- ceived by his emperor, and referred to Cortez for examination — could he have done otherwise ? Here the Aztec noble was dealt with in a summary manner by the Spaniards, who intended to make a severe example of him, for the special benefit of the natives, hoping thereby to impress them with the might and importance of the power of the invaders. The governor and his accomplices were sentenced to be burnt alive, and the fagots were drawn by the emperor’s permission, from the royal arsenals around the feocallis. The piles were immense, and purposely arranged rtez, destroy as large an amount of the native Ser tig: nent a movement the populace looked on with a stupefied astonishment, supposing the great sacrifice of property, to be made by command of their soy- ereign. The crowning act of Cortez, on this cccasion, was a fair teristic of the man. While the preparations for the execution were going on, the general, attended by one soldier, bearing fetters in his hand, entered the apartment where Montezuma sat brooding over his misfortunes, and, with a severe aspect charged the monarch with having instigated the murders of which his subjects were about to suffer. He then ordered the soldier to place the shackles upon the emperor’s ankles, and coolly waited until it was done, then turned short upon his heel, and left the room. strack dumb, and offered no resistance. His faithful bathed in tears, offered their condolence. They even held his feet in their laps, and inserted portions of their garments between the royal ankles and the cold iron, but they could not reach the iron that had entered the monarch’s heart. Meanwhile, the execution went on, and the victims died with In- dian fortitude. Not one muscle moved during the awful ordeal When the fearful sentence had been executed, Cortez re-entered Montezuma’s presence, and kneeling down, removed the fetters, apologizing for the necessity of subjecting him to such punishment; while the sovereign, whose frown but a week before would have made the whole nation tremble, was now craven enough to thank bis comcdooks.com