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1 58 ~ro}lTEZU~I A.
was to lodge in the royal palace. "This palace be.
longs to you and your brethren," said the k ing. " Rest
aft er your fatigu es, and in a lit tle while I will visit
you agam. . "
4. That evening the Spaniards celebrated their
arrival in Mexico by a great· discharge of guns. As
their thunder shook the buildings of the city and
echoed away among the hills, and as the smoke rolled
up in volumes, the hearts of the Indians were filled
with dismay. Th ey had those in their midst who
could spread desolation through their fai r city, who
could call down thunderbolts to consum e th em !
5. Th e following day Cortes paid a visit to l\Iont
ezuma, Passing through courts wh ere fountain s of
crysta l water played by nigh t and day, under ceilings
hung with feath er draperies glowing with
colour, over mats of palm-leaf, through clouds of incense
and intoxicati ng perfumes, the Spaniards were
at last ushered into the royal presence.
G. Cortes soon entered on th e subject which was
uppermost in his thoughts-the conversion to Christianity
of l\Iontezuma and his people. Eloquently he
spoke to the heathen king of the wrong he did in
worshipping idols and st range gods ; eloquently he
begged him to accept the new religion he was sent
from Spain to teach.
7. All his eloquence was in vain . It soon became
clear that neith er the conquest nor the conversion of
l\Iexico would be possible while l\Iontezuma was on
the throne. To seize t he king's person was the only
course open. A few weeks later, having gained a~ l
audience of th e ki ng, Cortes talk ed playfully for a
time, r eceiving present s fr om l\Iontczuma, and gaining