CHAPTER V.
NIGHT AT THE CHALCAN'S.
The same day, in the evening, Xoli lay on a lounge by the fountain underhis portico. His position gave him the range of the rooms, which glowedlike day, and resounded with life. He could even distinguish theoccupations of some of his guests. In fair view a group was listening toa minstrel; beyond them he occasionally caught sight of girls dancing;and every moment peals of laughter floated out from the chambers ofplay. A number of persons, whose arms and attire published them of thenobler class, sat around the Chalcan in the screen of the curtains,conversing, or listlessly gazing out on the square.
Gradually Xoli's revery became more dreamy; sleep stole upon his senses,and shut out the lullaby of the fountain, and drowned the influence ofhis _cuisine_. His patrons after a while disappeared, and the watcherson the temples told the passing time without awakening him. Very happywas the Chalcan.
The slumber was yet strong upon him, when an old man and a girl came tothe portico. The former, decrepit and ragged, seated himself on thestep. Scanty hair hung in white locks over his face; and grasping astaff, he rested his head wearily upon his hands, and talked to himself.
The girl approached the Chalcan with the muffled tread of fear. She wasclad in the usual dress of her class,--a white chemise, with severalskirts short and embroidered, over which, after being crossed at thethroat, a red scarf dropped its tasseled ends nearly to her heels. Theneatness of the garments more than offset their cheapness. Above herforehead, in the fillet that held the mass of black hair off her face,leaving it fully exposed, there was the gleam of a common jewel;otherwise she was without ornament. In all beauty there is--nay, mustbe--an idea; so that a countenance to be handsome even, must in some wayat sight quicken a sentiment or stir a memory in the beholder. It was sohere. To look at the old man's guardian was to know that she had asorrow to tell, and to pity her before it was told; to be sure thatunder her tremulous anxiety there was a darksome story and anextraordinary purpose, the signs of which, too fine for the materialismof words, but plain to the sympathetic inner consciousness, lurked inthe corners of her mouth, looked from her great black eyes, and blentwith every action.
Gliding over the marble, she stopped behind the sleeper, and spoke,without awakening him; her voice was too like the murmur of thefountain. Frightened at the words, low as they were, she hesitated; buta look at the old man reassured her, and she called again. Xoli started.
"How now, mistress!" he said, angrily, reaching for her hand.
"I want to see Xoli, the Chalcan," she replied, escaping his touch.
"What have you to do with him?"
He sat up, and looked at her in wonder.
"What have you to do with him?" he repeated, in a kindlier tone.
Her face kindled with a sudden intelligence. "Xoli! The gods be praised!And their blessing on you, if you will do a kind deed for a countryman!"
"Well! But what beggar is that? Came he with you?"
"It is of him I would speak. Hear me!" she asked drawing near him again."He is poor, but a Chalcan. If you have memory of the city of yourbirth, be merciful to his child."
"His child! Who? Nay, it is a beggar's tale! Ho, fellow! How many timeshave I driven you away already! How dare you return!"
Slowly the old man raised his head from his staff, and turned his faceto the speaker; there was no light there: he was blind!
"By the holy fires, no trick this! Say on, girl. He is a Chalcan, yousaid."
"A countryman of yours,"--and her tears fell fast. "A hut is standingwhere the causeway leads from Chalco to Iztapalapan; it is my father's.He was happy under its roof; for, though blind and poor, he could hearmy mother's voice, which was the kindliest thing on earth to him. ButOur Mother called her on the coming of a bright morning, and since thenhe has asked for bread, when I had not a _tuna_[32] to give him. O Xoli!did you but know what it is to ask for bread, when there is none! I amhis child, and can think of but one way to quiet his cry." And shepaused, looking in his face for encouragement.
"Tell me your name, girl; tell me your name, then go on," he said, witha trembling lip, for his soul was clever.
At that instant the old man moaned querulously, "Yeteve, Yeteve!"
She went, and clasped his neck, and spoke to him soothingly. Xoli's eyesbecame humid; down in the depths of his heart an emotion grew strangelywarm.
"Yeteve, Yeteve!" he repeated, musingly, thinking the syllables soft andpretty. "Come; stand here again, Yeteve," said he, aloud, when thedotard was pacified. "He wants bread, you say: how would you supplyhim?"
"You are rich. You want many slaves; and the law permits the poor tosell themselves.[33] I would be your slave,--asking no price, exceptthat you give the beggar bread."
"A slave! Sell yourself!" he cried, in dismay. "A slave! Why, you arebeautiful, Yeteve, and have not bethought yourself that some day thegods may want you for a victim."
She was silent.
"What can you do? Dance? Sing? Can you weave soft veils and embroidergolden flowers, like ladies in the palaces? If you can, no slave inAnahuac will be so peerless; the lords will bid more cocoa than you cancarry; you will be rich."
"If so, then can I do all you have said."
And she ran, and embraced the old man, saying, "Patience, patience! In alittle while we will have bread, and be rich. Yes," she continued,returning to the Chalcan, "they taught me in the _teocallis_, where theywould have had me as priestess."
"It is good to be a priestess, Yeteve; you should have stayed there."
"But I did so love the little hut by the causeway. And I loved thebeggar, and they let me go."
"And now you wish to sell yourself? I want slaves, but not such as you,Yeteve. I want those who can work,--slaves whom the lash will hurt, butnot kill. Besides, you are worth more cocoa than I can spare. Keep backyour tears. I will do better than buy you myself. I will sell you, andto-night. Here in my house you shall dance for the bidders. I know themall. He shall be brave and rich and clever who buys,--clever and brave,and the owner of a palace, full of bread for the beggar, and love forYeteve."
Clapping his hands, a slave appeared at the door.
"Take yon beggar, and give him to eat. Lead him,--he is blind. Come,child, follow me."
He summoned his servants, and bade them publish the sale in everyapartment; then he led the girl to the hall used for the exhibition ofhis own dancing-girls. It was roomy and finely lighted; the floor was ofpolished marble; a blue drop-curtain extended across the northern end,in front of which were rows of stools, handsomely cushioned, forspectators. Music, measured for the dance, greeted the poor priestess,and had a magical effect upon her; her eyes brightened, a smile playedabout her mouth. Never was the chamber of the rich Chalcan graced by acreature fairer or more devoted.
"A priestess of the dance needs no teaching from me," said Xoli, pattingher flushed cheek. "Get ready; they are coming. Beware of the marble;and when I clap my hands, begin."
She looked around the hall once; not a point escaped her. Springing tothe great curtain, and throwing her robe away, she stood before it inher simple attire; and no studied effect of art could have been morebeautiful; motionless and lovely, against the relief of the bluebackground, she seemed actually _spirituelle_.
Upon the announcement of the auction, the patrons of the house hurriedto the scene. Voluntary renunciation of freedom was common enough amongthe poorer classes in Tenochtitlan, but a transaction of the kind underthe auspices of the rich broker was a novelty; so that curiosity andexpectation ran high. The nobles, as they arrived, occupied the space infront of the curtain, or seated themselves, marvelling at the expressionof her countenance.
The music had not ceased; and the bidders being gathered, Xoli, smilingwith satisfaction, stepped forward to give the signal, when an uproar ofmerriment announced the arrival of a party of the younger dignitaries ofthe court,--amongst them Iztlil', the Tezcucan, and Maxtla, chief of theguard,
the former showing signs of quick recovery from his wounds, thelatter superbly attired.
"Hold! What have we here?" cried the Tezcucan, surveying the girl. "Hasthis son of Chalco been robbing the palace?"
"The temples, my lord Iztlil'! He has robbed the temples! By all thegods, it is the priestess Yeteve!" answered Maxtla, amazed. "Say,Chalcan, what does priestess of the Blessed Lady in such unhallowedden?"
The broker explained.
"Good, good!" shouted the new-comers.
"Begin, Xoli! A thousand cocoa for the priestess,--millions of bread forthe beggar!" This from Maxtla.
"Only a thousand?" said Iztlil', scornfully. "Only a thousand? Fivethousand to begin with, more after she dances."
Xoli gave the signal, and the soul of the Chalcan girl broke forth inmotion. Dancing had been her _role_ in the religious rites of thetemple; many a time the pabas around the altar, allured by her matchlessgrace, had turned from the bleeding heart indifferent to its auguration.And she had always danced moved by no warmer impulse than duty; so thatthe prompting of the spirit in the presence of a strange auditory freeto express itself, like that she now faced, came to her for the firsttime. The dance chosen was one of the wild, quick, pulsating figureswont to be given in thanksgiving for favorable tokens from the deity.The steps were irregular and difficult; a great variety of posturing wasrequired; the head, arms, and feet had each their parts, all to berendered in harmony. At the commencement she was frightened by theecstasy that possessed her; suddenly the crowd vanished, and she sawonly the beggar, and him wanting bread. Then her form became divinelygifted; she bounded as if winged; advanced and retreated, a momentswaying like a reed, the next whirling like a leaf in a circling wind.The expression of her countenance throughout was so full of soul, sointense, rapt, and beautiful, that the lords were spell-bound. When thefigure was ended, there was an outburst of voices, some bidding, othersapplauding; though most of the spectators were silent from pity andadmiration.
Of the competitors the loudest was Iztlil'. In his excitement, he wouldhave sacrificed his province to become the owner of the girl. Maxtlaopposed him.
"Five thousand cocoa! Hear, Chalcan!" shouted the Tezcucan.
"A thousand better!" answered Maxtla, laughing at the cacique's rage.
"By all the gods, I will have her! Put me down a thousand quills ofgold!"
"A thousand quills above him! Not bread, but riches for the beggar!"replied Maxtla, half in derision.
"Two thousand,--only two thousand quills! More, noble lords! She isworth a palace!" sung Xoli, trembling with excitement; for in such largebids he saw an extraordinary loan. Just then, under the parted curtainof the principal doorway, he beheld one dear to every lover ofTenochtitlan; he stopped. All eyes turned in that direction, and ageneral exclamation followed,--"The 'tzin, the 'tzin!"
Guatamozin was in full military garb, and armed. As he lingered by thedoor to comprehend the scene, what with his height, brassy helm, andembossed shield, he looked like a Greek returned from Troy.
"Yeteve, the priestess!" he said. "Impossible!"
He strode to the front.
"How?" he said, placing his hand on her head. "Has Yeteve flown thetemple to become a slave?"
Up to this time, it would seem that, in the fixedness of her purpose,she had been blind to all but the beggar, and deaf to everything but themusic. Now she knelt at the feet of the noble Aztec, sobbingbroken-heartedly. The spectators were moved with sympathy,--all saveone.
"Who stays the sale? By all the gods, Chalcan, you shall proceed!"
Scarcely had the words been spoken, or the duller faculties understoodthem, before Guatamozin confronted the speaker, his javelin drawn, andhis shield in readiness. Naturally his countenance was womanly gentle;but the transition of feeling was mighty, and those looking upon himthen shrank with dread; it was as if their calm blue lake had in aninstant darkened with storm. Face to face he stood with the Tezcucan,the latter unprepared for combat, but in nowise daunted. In their angryattitude a seer might have read the destiny of Anahuac.
One thrust of the javelin would have sent the traitor to Mictlan; theEmpire, as well as the wrongs of the lover, called for it; but beforethe veterans, recovering from their panic, could rush between thefoemen, all the 'tzin's calmness returned.
"Xoli," he said, "a priestess belongs to the temple, and cannot be sold;such is the law. The sale would have sent your heart, and that of herpurchaser, to the Blessed Lady. Remove the girl. I will see that she istaken to a place of safety. Here is gold; give the beggar what he wants,and keep him until to-morrow.--And, my lords and brethren," he added,turning to the company, "I did not think to behave so unseemly. It isonly against the enemies of our country that we should turn our arms.Blood is sacred, and accursed is his hand who sheds that of a countrymanin petty quarrel. I pray you, forget all that has passed." And with alow obeisance to them, he walked away, taking with him the possibilityof further rencounter.
He had just arrived from his palace at Iztapalapan.
FOOTNOTES:
[32] A species of fig.
[33] Prescott, Conq. of Mexico.