CHAPTER XLIX.
Gloom and fear still beset the garrison at the palace of Axajacatl; andthe mutiny of soldiers, and fierce feuds among the cavaliers, were addedto other circumstances of distress. Those ancient veterans, who hadfollowed Don Hernan, from the first day of invasion, and who had sharedwith him so many privations and perils, were, in general, still true totheir oaths of obedience, and preserved through all trials, an apparent,if not a real composure of spirit, as well as a firm reliance on thewisdom of their leader. But the followers of Narvaez, uninured tocombat, and but lately acquainted with suffering--their sanguineexpectations of conquest without danger, and of wealth without labour,changed to a mere hope of disgraceful escape, and that hope, as they allfelt, founded, not in reason, but imagination,--turned their murmursinto the most bitter execrations, and these again into menaces. Theofficers, too, rendered peevish by discontent, and reckoning each thediscomfiture of his neighbour as the evidence of feebleness or fear,spoke to one another with sarcasms, and even sometimes to Don Hernanhimself with disrespect. The self-command of the general, however, neverdeserted him; he rebuked insult with tranquil indignation, and so farprevailed over his fiery subordinates, as to compose most of theirquarrels, without suffering them to be submitted to the ordeal ofhonour. One feud had arisen, nevertheless, which his skill could notallay; and all that he could effect by remonstrance, and evensupplication, was an agreement of the parties to postpone its finalarbitrement, until such time as the providence of heaven should conductthem afar from Tenochtitlan. The wrath engendered in the bosom of theTonatiuh, by the angry reproaches of De Morla, after their return fromthe battle of the Manta, had been inflamed by a new circumstance, which,though of a trivial nature, the pride of Alvarado and the resentment ofhis opponent had converted into an affair of importance.
There was among the many kinswomen of Montezuma, who shared hiscaptivity, (for the policy of the general had reduced nearly all theroyal blood to bonds,) a certain young maiden, a daughter of the lord ofColhuacan, and therefore a niece of the king; who, in the generalpartition which the nobler of the cavaliers had, in prospective, made ofthe Indian princesses, had fallen to the lot of Alvarado. In those daysof legitimacy, there was some degree of divinity allowed to hedge theperson of even a barbaric monarch; and happy was the hidalgo, who, byobtaining a royal maid for his wife, could rank himself, in imaginarydignity, with the princes of Christendom. At the present moment, thecompanions of Cortes had rather made their selections, than endeavouredto commend themselves to the favour of their mistresses;--dropping,thereby, so much of their reverence for royalty, as not to suppose theexistence of any will, or opposition, in the objects of their desire.The Dona Engracia, (her native title has entirely escaped thehistorians,) was, therefore, beloved by Don Pedro; but, not having beenmade acquainted with the hidalgo's flame, she stooped, at the firstpromptings of affection, to a destiny less brilliant and lofty. Herheart melted at the handsome visage of the young Fabueno; and thesecretary, flattered by the love of so noble a maiden, and emboldened byhis success in arms, did not scruple to become the rival of theTonatiuh. The rage of Don Pedro would have chastised, in blood, thepresumption of such a competitor; but De Morla, remembering the novice,did not hesitate, for his sake, to befriend his servant; and, when heavowed himself the champion of Lorenzo, he dreamed that he was about toavenge the fall of his brother-in-arms.
The result of this opposition to the humours of Alvarado, was a quarrel,so fierce and unappeasable, that, as has been said, all which thegeneral could effect, was a postponement of conflict; and when Don Pedrosurrendered the princess to her plebeian lover, it was with theassurance, that, as soon as the army had left the city and lake, heshould reckon her ransom out of the life-blood of his companion.
The discovery of the unfaithfulness of his betrothed, (for, in thislight did the cavaliers regard the captive princesses,) had been madethe preceding evening; and the angry contest of the cavaliers, and thearrangements for combat, occurred at the moment while Don Amador waslamenting the backwardness of his friends to support him, when he becamea captive.
To allay the heart-burnings of his officers, who had arrayed themselves,according to their friendships, on either side, the general caused histrumpets to sound, and bade all to prepare for an expedition of peril.He had, all along, eyed the great pyramid, frowning over his fortress,with peculiar anxiety. This was caused, in part, by his consciousness ofthe advantage it would give his enemies, as soon as they should dare toprofane its sanctity, by making it the theatre of conflict. This verymorning, it was made apparent, by the presence of many barbariansthronging up its sides, and by an occasional arrow or stone dischargedfrom its top, that the Mexicans were aware of its usefulness. Inaddition to this cause for attempting to gain possession of it, theleader was moved by a vague hope, that, once master of the holiest oftemples, he might obtain the same advantages, through the superstitionof his foes, which he had lately possessed, in the person of Montezuma,through their reverence for the king. He meditated an assault, andresolved to attempt it, before the pyramid should be covered withMexicans.
The strength of the army, both horse and foot, was straightway displayedupon the square; and the war-worn Christians once more marched againstthe triumphing infidel.
The knight of Calavar, sitting on his sable steed, with an air of morelife than was ordinary, appeared in this band; and the threeserving-men, with the secretary, followed at his back.