CHAPTER IV.
When suspicious jealousy culminates in anger it is but a step tomalicious madness. In such a conflict of the passions reason is unableto hold its sway; especially is this true if the natural impulses ofthe heart are evil. The fatal step is taken and destruction inevitablyfollows upon the victim, and too often upon those who are innocentlythe cause.
Maddened at the sight of his supposed rival, and no longer theunimpassioned arbiter of a king's court, Maxtla, immediately on thewithdrawal of Prince Hualcoyotl, dismissed from his presence the chiefsand vassals about him, and retired to his own apartment, where, bygiving way to the dominant passions of his nature, he wrought himselfinto a very demon. In his terrible anger he resolved that Hualcoyotlshould die, and ordered a meeting of his privy council, whose duty itwas to pass upon the decisions of the king, to take place at once.
The council convened in a chamber set apart for that purpose. When themembers were all seated the king addressed them. He appeared unusuallystern and determined, and evidenced the deep, terrible, and inflexiblepurpose which moved him. He said:
"Your king has commanded your presence here at this hour to obtain yourapproval to a decree of death, which he has laid upon one who is amenace to our authority. Hualcoyotl, the prince of Tezcuco, is the onlysurviving heir to the Tezcucan crown. While he is permitted to live theTepanec supremacy over that nation will be as unstable as would ahabitation on yonder burning mountain.[3] The voice of the murmuringwind is not more distinct than is the murmur of repining anddisaffection which rises from among our subjugated vassals, theTezcucans, who would have this prince to rule over them. Shall we foldour arms and wait for the storm of insurrection and rebellion, whichhis existence makes possible, to sweep down upon and overwhelm us, orshall we be wise in precluding the possibility of such an event by hisremoval? The desolation of our kingdom would no doubt be attempted, andpossibly accomplished, should he be raised to power; and I warn you, ifaccomplished, more than Maxtla would find a grave beneath the ruins. Wemust strike, worthy chiefs, nobles, for self-preservation. Your kinghas decreed it--Hualcoyotl must die; are you prepared to approve thedecision?"
[3] Popocatepetl.
The members of the council felt that the king was in no humor to brookopposition, and as it was a personal as well as public considerationwith them the decree was confirmed.
It was decided, in accordance with the wishes of the king, to havethe prince put out of the way in a quiet manner. Agreeable to thisdecision, arrangements were made for a private party to be given by oneof the king's officers in Tezcuco, to which the prince was to have acordial and pressing invitation, and at which he was to be secretly putto death.
Itzalmo was informed of the diabolical plotting of the conspirators bya friend who was close to the king, and shrewdly defeated their designto assassinate his young master; but tradition says another perished inhis stead.
The failure of the plan to entrap the prince so enraged the king thathe threw off all disguise and publicly proclaimed the decree condemninghim to death. The execution of the mandate was imposed upon one of hischief officers, who was ordered to go with a party of soldiers toTezcuco, and there to enter the palace, seize the prince and put him todeath.
* * * * *
On the second day subsequent to the one on which the attempt was madeto create an opportunity in which to assassinate the prince--theconsummation of which was prevented by the old preceptor's cunning,Hualcoyotl was seated alone in his private apartment. There was anotable change in his appearance. The past few days, with theirimportant and, to him, momentous events, had made him seem older. Theyouthfulness and freshness of his former self were gone, and thesternness of a determined man had settled upon him.
The tzin had been gone several days, and the importance of his missionunder the light of recent developments was greatly heightened. Theprince felt that his friend's prediction relative to the king'sprobable conduct toward himself was likely to be verified; yet he hopedfor time, that organized resistance might be effected before extrememeasures were resorted to by his enemy. Still he was not sanguine: theuncertainty of the situation because of the meagerness of knowledgepossessed regarding the temper and disposition of his people was asource of discouragement. A consciousness of his present helplessstate, also, had its depressing effect. Hope, however, supported by astrong faith in the patriotism of his immediate friends sustained him.He could not work, and had fallen into one of his thoughtful moods. Hiscountenance was ever expressive of his emotions, the character of histhoughts being clearly reflected upon it. Now a dark cloud would coverhis face, its shadows deepened and intensified by the flashes of angrylight which gleamed from his dark eyes, plainly showing the feelingswhich agitated his troubled and fearless soul. Again, the subduinginfluence of more gentle thoughts would follow, and the hard lines uponhis countenance would pass away, giving place to a softened expressionwhich clearly said the nobler man within had risen, and that thoughtsaccording with his better nature held his mind.
Love of country, pity for his oppressed people, sorrow for those whoseloss he mourned, and affection for his immediate friends and companionswere ruling passions in him, and could not be repressed for any greatlength of time. So he sat and pondered, trains of thought the while,ladened with bitter and sweet, coursing their way across his activebrain, till suddenly he exclaimed: "Beware! O Maxtla, perfidiousmonster; the hunted ocelotl[4] may turn and rend you." With thesewords, which broke the spell, Hualcoyotl awoke from his reverie, littledreaming that at that very moment death was on his track and closelystealing to take him unaware.
[4] The Mexican tiger-cat.
The news of the issuing of the king's decree condemning the prince todeath had just reached Itzalmo; and, almost at the same moment in whichHualcoyotl uttered the exclamation which broke in on his reverie, aservant approached his door to say that the watchful old servitorwished to communicate with him.
"Inform Itzalmo that I will see him in his own apartment," said theprince, in answer to the message.
Hualcoyotl was greatly surprised on entering the old man's room to findhim very much agitated, and at once surmised that something of a veryserious nature was the matter; for Itzalmo was ever dignified andcomposed in his demeanor, seldom permitting anything to visibly disturbhim. After the accustomed civilities he addressed the prince:
"I have just received startling intelligence from our friends at thepalace of Maxtla to the effect, most noble prince, that your life is inimminent peril. The failure of the king's plan to entrap you two dayssince has so enraged his majesty that he has thrown off all restraint,and publicly proclaims your existence a menace to his authority, andthat it must be terminated. He has ordered an officer with a number ofsoldiers to come here and murder you--yes, murder you in your ownpalace. Your only safety lies in flight. Go at once, O Prince; for theymay come at any moment."
Hualcoyotl's habitual serenity was somewhat shaken by the knowledge ofhis public condemnation to death; but it was only for a moment, for hequickly recovered, and when Itzalmo finished speaking, said:
"You are a true friend to me, Itzalmo, but in your anxiety for thesafety of your prince forget your teachings. What you propose might bethe best thing to do; such a course, however, would not be inaccordance with my training; neither would it meet the approval of myfeelings. No, good friend, I'll turn my back upon no man. Let themcome--I will remain to receive them."
"You, O Hualcoyotl, prince of Tezcuco, forget your duty to your people,and remember only your pride of honor," remonstrated Itzalmo.
"My dear, good friend, I forget nothing, except that I am Maxtla'sslave," returned the prince, with flashing eyes. "If the gods forsakeus not," continued he, "Hualcoyotl, prince of Tezcuco, will yet meetthis monster king on equal terms, and when he does, the skill at armswhich thou hast taught shall serve him well; or, failing, leave him alifeless thing at Maxtla's feet! A truce to further discussion of thematter except as to
where and how these assassins are to be received."
Itzalmo was greatly discouraged by the prince's refusal to fly thepalace, but not less determined to do all in his power to save him. Itwas agreed that he should repair to the court and engage in a game ofball, trusting to his good luck and the cunning of the old tutor todeliver him from the dangers which encompassed him.
When the soldiers arrived they were received in the palace and informedthat Hualcoyotl was playing at ball in the court. This had the desiredeffect of leading the officer to infer that he had found the prince andhis household ignorant of the contemplated assassination of the former;thus rendering it less difficult for Itzalmo to further and accomplishany meditated plan looking to the frustration of the murderous designupon his young master's life.
When the soldiers reached the court they were received in a verycourteous manner by the prince, who said:
"The soldiers of Maxtla, the king, do me great honor in visiting mypalace at this time, and will add to my pleasure if they will enterwith me and partake of refreshments to relieve the fatigue of theirjourney."
The prince's demeanor was dignified and fearless, and his speech theessence of suavity, which threw the officer off his guard, who, feelingsecure in the ultimate accomplishment of his purpose, replied:
"Hualcoyotl, the prince, honors the king's service in extending to hissoldiers the hospitality of his board, and as the soldiers of the kingare not unlike other men, but, like other men, require sustenance, theyaccept the kind invitation."
The prince led the way to the banqueting hall, where the party wasseated and refreshments ordered to be served. The refreshments werebrought from an adjoining saloon, between which and the banqueting hallwas a broad, arched doorway, with hangings, or portieres, richlyadorned with gold and other trimmings, now drawn to each side and heldby ornamental holders.
It was the custom of the natives of Anahuac, when an honored guest wasbeing entertained, to place a burning censer in a conspicuous place andfeed it with aromatics during the time of entertainment. The censer, onthis occasion, was placed in the doorway between the banqueting halland saloon.
While the party were engaged in eating and drinking, the princesuddenly had occasion to call a servant. No servant responded to thecall, however, which seemed to arouse his ire. With an impatientgesture he arose from his place at the board and passed to the saloonas if in search of one. As he left the hall a fresh supply of aromaticswas thrown into the censer, sending up dense clouds of incense, whichenveloped him and filled the doorway, thus obscuring his movements fromthe eyes of the soldiers. At this moment a servant entered from anotherdirection, as if in answer to the prince's summons.
"Did my master call?" he inquired.
"He did," replied the officer, "and is now in search of you."
The servant busied himself about the table for a short time, and thentook a position at a respectful distance, apparently waiting hismaster's return.
The minutes went by and the prince did not return. It suddenly dawnedupon the mind of the officer that something was being done to thwarthim--that he had been duped; and, quickly rising from his seat, herushed into the saloon, followed by his men. No trace of the prince wasfound, and a general search of the palace was ordered. It provedfruitless, however, for the prince was not discovered, nor couldanything be learned from the servants concerning him. He had vanished,to all appearances, in the clouds of incense which enveloped him as hepassed from the banqueting hall to the saloon.
A Prince of Anahuac: A Histori-traditional Story Antedating the Aztec Empire Page 6
