A Prince of Anahuac: A Histori-traditional Story Antedating the Aztec Empire

by James A. Porter

  CHAPTER XXXVII.

  We pass over the ceremonies which made Hualcoyotl a king, except to saythat the occasion was of an exceptional character, and one that couldtake place only under conditions in which barbaric ideas of pomp andsplendor are brought into operation in the achievement of a climax atonce imposing and ostentatious. Many of the nobility from thesurrounding principalities were present to witness the grand pageant,among whom was the Aztec monarch, one of the line from which sprang thefirst and second Montezumas--possibly Itzcoatl, a son of the first. Hewas there not only as a witness of the pageantry, but to congratulatehis young kinsman, the Prince of Tezcuco, on his accession to thethrone of his ancestors; and, also--we may further presume--to seek animmediate alliance with him for the purpose of waging a war ofextermination against Maxtla, whose arbitrary and insolent conduct hadso wrought upon the feelings of the Mexican prince that he hadresolved, with the help of his neighbor, to destroy the power andinfluence of the Tepanec dynasty forever, by its complete subversion.

  Hualcoyotl could not be assured of a continued and uninterrupted reignso long as his powerful and mortal enemy was permitted to exercise hisdespotic and aggressive disposition, and readily consented to join hisroyal cousin, of Tenochtitlan, in a crusade against him.

  The first business of the new king, however, was the organization ofhis governmental household--the selection of his chief officials whoshould comprise his privy council. In filling the most exaltedpositions, he remembered those who had been his personal friends whenfriendship was at a premium with him. Itzalmo was made his chiefcounselor, Ixtlilchoatl his chief war officer, and Euetzin his chiefofficer of state. In the latter he invested unusual authority, placingin his charge all matters of a tribal character. Cacami was notforgotten, but, by his own expressed wish, assigned to an importantposition in the army, near the person of Ixtlilchoatl.

  Tezcot and Menke, who were in attendance at the ceremony ofenthronement, were pressed to unite their destiny with Tezcuco, but,preferring a life in the mountains to one of luxury at the capital oftheir newly acquired friends, declined to do so. This the appreciativeprince regretted, for he was anxious to express his gratitude, in somesubstantial manner, for the friendship they had shown him when he wasan outlawed wanderer--which he could do best by making them favoredretainers in his official retinue.

  Hualcoyotl was not too busy to think of carrying out his purpose ofmaking Itlza his queen, and now, that he was a king, sought, withoutdelay, an opportunity in which to communicate to her his intentions.

  The extensive conservatory, connected with the palace, of whichprevious mention has been made, was a favorite retreat of Itzla's,which the prince had discovered, and here he determined to find andacquaint her with his designs.

  At a certain hour on each day, in the afternoon, it was her custom togo into this pleasant and retired place alone. That she remainedunaccompanied while there may be doubted, however, since Cacami spentmuch of his time at the palace.

  On an afternoon only a few days subsequent to the crowning of theprince, Itlza entered the conservatory with light and eager step. Herface was brightened by a joyous gleaming which beamed from herbeautiful laughing eyes, and there was upon it an expression ofexpectancy, as if some pleasurable event was anticipated and near athand. She hummed, in monotone, a droll little theme of native music, asshe moved about the place on pleasure bent.

  Although the work of restoration had been commenced, and the erstwhilebeauty of the once enchanting resort had begun to reassert itself;still, traces of neglect, which had been permitted to creep over andmar a former perfection of arrangement, were present in theconservatory to disenchant the esthetical beholder. Yet, to a personwho might have been suspected of only seeking a means whereby to gainan end, as in Itlza's case, the imperfection was of little consequence.

  Presently, and without notice to the happy dreamer, she was broughtface to face with Hualcoyotl, who had come upon her unobserved. Shegreeted him courteously, yet was slightly confused and uneasy, as if apleasant anticipation had suddenly been broken in on.

  "Will you be seated, Itlza?" said he, graciously, directing her to alow bench a little distance away. "I have something of interest--atleast of interest to me, and which ought to be to yourself--to say toyou."

  What could the surprised and disquieted maiden do but comply? A requestfrom Hualcoyotl was to her a command, and she permitted herself to beconducted to the bench. When she was seated, he continued:

  "Are you happy, Itlza, in this palace home of mine?"

  "Your home is very enjoyable, and will be beautiful and full ofpleasantness when you are through with its improvement. I would be veryunappreciative not to enjoy it to the extent of being happy," shereplied, wondering to what the question would lead.

  "Yes, my home will be beautiful; but, Itlza, it will be like the cageof a bird, the one occupant of which is without a mate," he returned,looking at her with an expression of fondness, which, when she raisedher eyes inquiringly to his, she did not fail to comprehend. She becamemuch disturbed, but thought she must say something, and spoke asfollows:

  "The King of Tezcuco need not be long without a mate; for there is manya charming _cihuatl_ (woman) who would be pleased to come into hispalace home to reign as queen. He has only to command, and the mostbeautiful princesses in all the Anahuac will be his to choose from."

  "Itlza, have you forgotten the hours, long ago, when a lad and littlelass played and romped over the hills of Zelmonco?" he questioned. "Ifyou have forgotten, I am sorry; for I have not. Blissfully ignorantwere we then," he went on, "of the sorrows and griefs of the future;and happy in our innocent simplicity, thinking only of the joys andpleasures of an artless childhood."

  "No, I have not forgotten. Those were, indeed, happy times," shereplied, a frightened look covering her face.

  "In those times, Itlza, I thought of you as my future mate, and nowthat I am a man, with wisdom to choose, I would verify those boyishdreams by making you my queen. You will fill that place in my heart, aswell as in my palace, as no other can, though she were the greatestprincess of Anahuac; for, Itlza, I love you." He paused an instant towatch the effect of his declaration. "I would have you come to me," hecontinued, "not by command, but by choice. Will you be my queen,Itlza?"

  The graveness of the situation now dawned upon her mind with a terribleforce--Hualcoyotl had chosen her to be his queen. She was dumbfounded,and consternation was depicted on her face. She did not dare to lookup. The prince, after waiting a moment for a reply, again spoke:

  "You are silent, Itlza; have you nothing to say for the honor I amabout to confer upon you?"

  Recovering herself sufficiently to speak, she said, in a scared tone ofvoice:

  "Your proposal, O Hualcoyotl, has come upon me so suddenly that I amconfused; I was not expecting it. What says Teochma, my mother?"

  "That Itlza shall be Queen of Tezcuco," he replied, piquantly, beingdisappointed and displeased with her reception of his proposal.

  "It is all so sudden, so startling, I am overwhelmed with confusion.You will, I'm sure, O noblest of friends, give me time to think?" shequestioned, hoping to secure a respite, if only for a little time, thatshe might become reconciled to the inevitable, if such a thing werepossible.

  "Yes, I will give you time, Itlza--a few days, but I may not bedisappointed, for I have set my heart upon making you Queen ofTezcuco--my queen."

  Unobserved by the prince and Itlza, another person, a man, entered theconservatory, hurriedly and expectantly, but, on coming near to wherethey were, he heard the sound of someone talking, which caused him tostop and listen. His position was screened from observation by foliage,and, had he been so disposed, he might have remained an unseen listenerto what followed, but he did not. He recognized the prince's voice,and, although he could not see her, he felt sure it was Itlza he wasspeaking to. He caught the words, "for I have set my heart upon makingyou Queen of Tezcuco--my queen," and they fell upon his ear like thecrack of a fearful doom. He waited
to hear no more, but quickly turnedaway and left the place as hurriedly as he had entered it.

  Itlza gathered herself together for a final plea, and said:

  "I would not seem unkind or unappreciative toward the dear friend of mychildhood, whom I esteem above all men, and look upon almost as one ofmy own blood. You are like a brother to me, noble Hualcoyotl, but notlike a lover."

  "You will yet learn to love me, Itlza. You shall remain in my palace,and I will teach you," he rejoined, persuasively.

  "Is there not someone else, O prince, more worthy and lovable than I,who would be pleased to become your queen, whose love might be had forthe asking?" she pleaded, paying no attention to his persuasive tones.

  Hualcoyotl was inexorable. He had resolved on a purpose, and was not tobe dissuaded from pursuing it to the end. He said decidedly:

  "The King of Tezcuco may find others to love him, but not another to behis queen. You, O Itlza, my first and only love, shall fill that place.I am king--my word is law. I have said it. Be wise, O Itlza, in thismatter, and study to become the chief lady of the nation." As hefinished speaking he knelt on one knee, took her hand and pressed it tohis forehead--a mode of affectionate salutation, the kiss beingreserved for those who were endeared--after which action he turnedaway, leaving her to the terrible realization of the hopelessness ofher love for Cacami, and the certainty of a compulsory marriage withhim, which death alone could prevent.

  She was now alone, in the saddest sense, with no eye to witness theanguish of soul with which she was stricken, and to which she now gaveaway. Throwing herself prostrate upon the ground she forgot all elsebut her crushed hopes, and moaned in the agony of despair. She did notrealize the quick approach and presence of the one for the love of whomshe was now caused to suffer. He stood over her for a moment,contemplating her agony, while on his face was unmistakable evidence ofgreat distress of mind. Though strong in his manhood, he could notentirely restrain his feelings, and could not have been expected towhile his breast was being torn by a tempest of conflicting emotions.He presently kneeled at her side, and called softly:

  "Itlza!" At the sound of her name on her loved one's lips she arose,and, throwing herself into his arms, cried in accents of unutterablewoe:

  "Cacami! Cacami!"

  * * * * *

  The lovers had arranged for a meeting in the conservatory, and Itlza,happy in the anticipation of an hour of sweet converse with herbeloved, had come to fulfill her tryst, and, as we have seen, was metby the prince. Just when the latter, with mind wholly absorbed in theobject which had brought him to the conservatory, was becomingimpatient and imperative in his language at the unexpected evidence ofa disinclination on the part of the former to look with favor upon hisproposal to honor her above all other women, and she, too muchfrightened to think of anything save the terrible fact that heranticipations of a happy future with him she loved were about to beshipwrecked--forever swept away--Cacami, unheard by them, came upon theground in the joyful expectation of soon meeting the object of hislove. On discovering that Hualcoyotl was there ahead of him, talkingwith Itlza, and learning the significance of his presence from the fewwords which reached him, he was overwhelmed with amazement at thedisclosure. He could not in honor remain to hear another word, so,quickly turning on his heel, withdrew.

  The hopelessness of his suit with Itlza was at once apparent to theastounded lover; a king stood between them, and, according to law--anestablished fiat, especially favorable to rulers to protect them intheir family relations, particularly in the choice of a wife--deathwould be the consequence should he marry her, or even persist inmeeting her clandestinely and be detected in it.

  It would have been different had he made Itlza his affianced previousto her coming to the palace, even without the knowledge of the motherand brother; and possibly afterward had he anticipated the prince; butnow his chance was gone; and, O, how he regretted the delay. No one,save themselves, knew that they were lovers, so closely had theyguarded their secret; and since no pledge of troth had been exchanged,they must bide the result.

  How could he give her up? The more he reflected on the matter, thegreater became his distress of mind. He did not for a moment think ofItlza as a willing listener to the king's proposal to make her hisqueen, and he resolved to return to the conservatory so soon as hisroyal rival should depart from it, to condole with her, which he did,only to find her in the throes of an utter hopelessness. Theirdiscovery of each other, so full of woebegoneness, has been noted.

  The despairing maiden clung to her lover, pleadingly, as if he mighthave saved her from her impending fate. He held her to his breast in aclose embrace, and if endearing words and passionate kisses--the firsthe had dared to bestow--could have effected a relief to her overwroughtfeelings, they must have found it in his.

  "You must not be torn from me thus," he said, passionately, after shehad explained, between sobs and moans, how determined the prince was inhis purpose. "No, dear, sorrowing Laughing-eyes, death alone shallseparate us."

  "What, indeed, O Cacami, but death or submission is left for both ofus," moaned the hapless maiden.

  "You put it well and true, Itlza. I had not thought of death for you; Iwas thinking only of myself; but, alas! the result will be the same forboth of us. I should not ask of you so great a sacrifice. No, my poor,lorne love, I must give you up."

  "You shall not give me up, Cacami! Let it be mine to choose whether Iwill wear a crown, or cleave to you at the risk of death. It will be nofault of yours, then, if I should choose to die," she answered,determinedly.

  "What can I say? If I alone were held responsible I could quicklychoose; but you, poor darling, must suffer too."

  "If you can suffer for the love of me, why not I for a like reason? Ismy love less powerful than yours, that I am a woman? Cacami, you shallnot choose to cast me off, even if it be to save my life. The choice, Ipray you, shall be mine."

  "Then, if you will, choose wisely, Laughing-eyes; remembering that acrown and the love of a noble man are on one hand, while on the otherare only Cacami and death."

  "Yes, I will choose between you--the good king and Cacami--but it willnot be to trample on my love--my heart. No, not for a crown at thehands of so good a man as Hualcoyotl," she answered, earnestly.Continuing, she said: "I would not lead you to death, O Cacami, mylove; yet, I choose to go with you, even to that end."

  "Then be it so; we will stand or fall together," he returned, holdingher in a closer embrace.

  An idea at this instant occurred to Itlza, and, gathering a littlecourage from it, she said:

  "Why may we not escape to another country, Cacami, or to themountains--anywhere, so we be not separated?"

  "Hualcoyotl would find us though we were hidden in the fastness of thefarthest mountain. No, Laughing-eyes, there is hope only in marriage,and the kindness of the court which shall try us; otherwise it must beseparation or death," he replied, despondingly.

  "Then, let us wed. I will be your bride, though it be unto death," shesaid, creeping closer to him.

  "If you so decide, thus it shall be, my brave Laughing-eyes. We willwed, and, if need be, die together."

  "I vow to you, O Cacami, that naught but death shall part us, and,since thus to you I give my pledge, I pray you bind it with the seal oftroth," she said, trustingly, putting up her carmine-tinted lips toreceive the kiss which was to seal the sacred compact. Their lips met,and two souls were united unto death by one prolonged, loving embrace,from which they drew calmness--the calmness which is found in thestrength of a plighted faith, made enduring by the kiss, which, tothem, was a seal, indissoluble except by death.