The apartment into which Juan now found himself introduced, was very
spacious; and, indeed, had the height of the ceiling corresponded in
proportion with the length and breadth, would have been esteemed vast.
Without being so low as to be decidedly mean, it was yet depressed
enough to show how little the principles of taste had extended among the
natives, to the art of architecture; or, what is equally probable, how
wisely provision was made against the earthquakes and other convulsions,
so naturally to be expected in a land of volcanoes.
The huge rafters of cedar, carved into strange and emblematic
arabesques, were supported, at intervals, by a double row of pillars of
the most grotesque shapes. On the walls were hung arras, on which were
painted rude scenes of battle and of sacrifice, with hieroglyphic
records of history, as well as choice maxims of virtue and policy,
selected from the compositions of that king, who had finished, and given
name to the habitation, long since founded by his ancestors. It was
lighted in a manner equally rare and magnificent. A considerable space
in the further or western wall, from which the tapestry was drawn aside,
was occupied by stone mullions of strange forms, between which were
fixed large translucent blocks of alabaster, such as we now behold in
the church windows of Puebla de los Angelos. Upon these were painted
many incomprehensible figures, which would have deformed the beauty of
the stone, but for the brilliancy and delicacy of their hues. As it was,
the strong glare of the evening sun, falling upon this transparent wall,
came through it, with the mellow lustre and harmonious tints of a
harvest-moon, shedding a soft but sufficient light over the whole
apartment, making what was harsh tender, and what was lovely almost
divine.[7]
[Footnote 7: Windows of this rich material were discovered in a Roman
villa at Pompeii. The effect of a lamp in an alabaster vase will be
familiar to the reader.]
On the left hand, were several narrow doors, opening upon a garden,
which was seen, sometimes, when the breeze stirred aside the curtains
that defended them; on the right, were others leading to certain
chambers, and carefully protected by a similar drapery.
The floor of this hall of audience was covered with mats stained with
various colours.
At the farther extremity of the apartment stood a group of Spanish
cavaliers, surrounding a platform of slight elevation, on which,
sumptuously dressed, and leaning upon a _camoncillo_, or chair of state,
stood Hernan Cortes. At his right hand, sitting and supported by two
gallant cavaliers, was his royal god-son, Ixtlilxochitl, now Don Hernan
Cortes, the king of Tezcuco;--a young man of mild aspect; at whose feet
sat his younger and more manly brother, Suchel, from whom was afterwards
derived one of the noble families of New Spain. On the left of the
general, were two Indians of a far nobler presence, and known by the
singular loftiness of their plumes, if not by the commanding sternness
of their visages, to be Tlascalans of high degree. They were, in fact,
the military chieftains Xicotencatl and Chichimecatl, men of renown not
only among their tribes, but the Spaniards. Behind each stood his page,
or esquire, bearing the great shield of ceremony, whereon were
emblazoned, in native heraldic devices, the various exploits of his
master.
Besides these distinguished barbarians, there were others of note among
the cavaliers, at the side of the platform.
All these several details of a spectacle both romantic and imposing,
were seen by Juan at a single glance; for, almost at the moment of his
entrance, a movement was made among those who stood on the left of the
platform, in the direction of the great Conquistador, as if they desired
to catch something that instant falling from his lips. As they left the
view thus open, Juan saw that Cortes, instead of speaking, was bending
his head and listening with eager interest to the senor Guzman, who had
ascended the platform, and was now whispering in his ear. At the same
moment, a prodigiously large dog, with shaggy coat, hanging lips, and
ferocious eyes, roused by the motion of the general, at whose feet he
had been sleeping, raised his head, and stared with the majestic gravity
of a lion, upon the speaker and his master.
There was something in the interested and agitated eagerness with which
the Captain-General drank in the words of Guzman, that went to the heart
of Lerma. He doubted not, that Don Francisco was, at that moment,
speaking of _him_,--of _his_ return to the society of Christians, and to
the arms of his benefactor,--for such had Cortes once been to him; and
he read in the varying play of Don Hernan's features, nothing but
refutation of the malign charges of Villafana, and full proof that the
general was not indifferent to the friend of former years.
As these thoughts entered his mind, he rushed forward, under their
impulse, with clasped hands, and with an exclamation that brought the
looks of all instantly upon him. The huge dog raised himself half up
from the platform, and uttered a savage growl. He advanced yet another
step, and the ferocious beast, with a roar that filled the whole
chamber, dashed furiously from the platform, as against an enemy not to
be doubted. The young man paused, but not at the opposition of the
animal: he had, that moment, caught the eye of Don Hernan, and his heart
failed as he beheld the frown of rage, and, as it seemed to him, hate,
with which he was regarded.
"Down, Befo!" cried Cortes, with a voice of thunder.
But Befo, who had leaped forward with such ferocious determination, had,
that instant, stopped before Juan, whom he now eyed with a look of
wonder and recognition. Then, suddenly fetching such a yelp of joy as
would have better become the playmate-cur of a child, than the grim
bloodhound of a soldier, he raised up his vast body, flung his paws upon
Juan's breast, and strove, evidently, to throw them round his body, in
the mode of human embrace, whining all the time with the most expressive
delight.
"Down, Befo! Thick-lips! thou cub of a false wolf!" repeated the
general, irefully, yet with an expression that would have suited better,
had he been commanding him to tear the youth to pieces; "Down, fool,
down! I will stick thee with my rapier."
As he spoke, he half drew his sword from the scabbard.
"Harm him not,--call him not away," cried Juan, with a thick voice; "for
by heaven and St. Mary, he is all, of a troop of Christian men, once my
friends, who have any joy to see an old companion return from bonds and
the grave!"
As the young man spoke, he flung his arms round the neck of the faithful
beast, and bending his head upon Befo's face, gave way to a passion of
tears.
"The shame of foul knaves and false companions be on you all!" cried the
flaming Gaspar, without a whit regarding the presence in which he spake.
His wrath was cut short, before it had been noticed by any but the
Ottomi, who stood gaping, at a distance, with looks of visible alarm,
first excited by the appearance of the dog.
Among most of the cavaliers now present, Juan had been once well known;
and however their affections might be chilled and their respect
destroyed, by untoward circumstances, there was something so painfully
reproachful in the spectacle of his tears, that a strong impression was
immediately produced among them. All seemed, at once, to remember, that
he had been once esteemed, notwithstanding his youth, of a bold heart
and manly bearing; and all seemed to remember also, that fourteen
months' suffering among unknown pagans, was worthy of some little
commiseration.
But there was one present of more fiery feelings and determination more
hasty than any of the Christians. The elder and taller of the Tlascalan
chiefs, distinguished as much by a haughty and darkly frowning visage as
by an Herculean frame, stepped down from the platform, and laid his hand
upon Juan's shoulder; in which position he stood, without speaking a
word, but expressing in his countenance the spirit of one who avowed
himself a patron and champion. The tall plume rustled like a waving
palm, as he raised up his head, and the look that he cast upon Cortes,
seemed to mingle defiance with disdain. But this hostile expression was
perhaps concealed by the approach of a cavalier of gallant appearance,
who stepped suddenly from the throng, and snatching up Juan's left hand
from the dog's neck, cried with hasty good-will,
"Santiago! (and the devil take all of us that have no better hearts than
a cur or a wild Indian!) I know no reason, certainly, why thou shouldst
be treated like a dog. God be with thee, Juan Lerma! I am glad thou art
alive; God bless thee: and so hold up thy head. If thou hast no better
raiment, I will give thee my fustian breeches and liver-coloured mantle,
as well as a good sword of iron, which I have to spare."
This quick-spoken and benevolent cavalier was no less a man than the
gallant Don Pedro de Alvarado, at this time called, almost universally,
in memory of his famous leap over the ditch of Tacuba, in the Night of
Sorrow, the _Capitan del Salto_. He gave place to another of still
greater renown, who would have been perhaps the first to extend his
hand, had he been as hasty of resolution as his more mercurial comrade.
This was the good cavalier Don Gonzalo de Sandoval, better esteemed for
his skill in arms than any peculiar elegance of conversation.
"Juan Lerma," said he, "I am not sorry thou art alive and well; and if
thou wilt make any use of the same, to put thee into more Christian
bravery, I will pray thee to take my gold chain, as well as six good
cotton shirts, which an Indian woman made me."
To these friendly salutations and bountiful offers, as well as the
advances of other cavaliers who now bustled around him, Juan replied
with a manner more expressive of indignation than gratitude. He was
ashamed of having exposed his weakness, and sensible that it was this
alone which had obtained him a charitable notice. He raised his head
proudly, as one who would not accept such compelled kindness, pushed
Befo to the floor, though still keeping a hand upon his neck,
acknowledged the presence of Xicotencal with a word, and turned towards
Cortes a countenance now quite composed, though not without a touch of
sorrowful resentment.
The emotion which had produced such an impression among the cavaliers,
was not without its effect even upon the Captain-General. His features
relaxed their angry severity, he stepped forwards; and when Juan lifted
up his eyes, he beheld a hand extended towards him, and heard the voice
of Cortes say, in tones of concession, though of embarrassment,
"God be with you--you do us wrong in this matter: as a Christian man
escaped from bondage, we are not unrejoiced to see you: as a soldier
returning from a delayed duty, we will declare our thoughts of you
anon."
There was nothing very gracious either in the words or tones of the
speaker; but they were unexpected. They swept away the proud and angry
resolutions of Juan, and restored to him the warm feelings of affection
and gratitude, with which he had ever been accustomed to regard the
general. He seized the proffered hand, pressed it to his lips, and
seemed about to throw himself at Don Hernan's feet, when suddenly a
noise was heard at a curtained door hard by, accompanied by what seemed
the smothered shriek of a woman. At this sound the young man started up,
with a look of fear, and yielded up the hand which was abruptly snatched
from his own. He gazed round him and plainly beheld the thick cloth
before the nearest passage, shaking, as if disturbed by the recent
passage of some one,--but nothing else. He perceived no new countenance
added to those of the many in audience, which were directed upon his
own, with an universal stare of wonder. His attention was recalled by
the voice of Cortes. He turned; the general was seated; a stern and iron
gravity had taken the place of relenting feeling on his visage; and it
was evident to the unfortunate Juan, that the hour of reconciliation had
passed away, and for ever. The cavaliers retreated,--the Tlascalan and
the dog were all that remained by his side; and, as if to make his
disgrace both undeniable and intolerable, the senor Guzman maintained,
throughout the whole scene, his post at the general's side, confronted
face to face with his fallen rival.
"We are ready to hear thee, Juan Lerma," said the Captain-General, with
a voice at once cold and commanding: "you went hence, to explore the
lands of the west, and the sea that rolls among them. We argue much
success, and great discoveries, from the time devoted to these purposes,
and from the discretion you evinced in pursuing them for a whole year
and more, rather than by returning with your forces, to share in the
dangerous fights of Mexico. What have you to say? You had some good
followers, both Christian and unconverted.--Stand thou aloof, Gaspar
Olea! I will presently speak with thee.--Hast thou brought none back
with thee but the Barba-Roxa,--Gaspar of the Red Beard?"
There was not a word in this address which did not sting the young man
to the heart; and the insulting insinuation which a portion of it
conveyed, was uttered in a tone of the most cutting sarcasm. He
trembled, reddened, clenched his hand in the shaggy coat of Befo,--who
still, though beckoned by Cortes, refused to leave the exile,--until the
animal whined with pain. Then, smothering his emotions, like one who
perceives that he is wronged, and, knowing that complaint will be
unavailing, is resolute to suffer with fortitude, he elevated his lofty
figure with tranquil dignity, looked upon Cortes with an aspect no
longer reproachful, and replied,
"Besides Gaspar, who is worthy of your excellency's confidence and
thanks, no one returns with me save the Ottomi, Ocelotzin,--the Tiger; a
man to whom should be accorded the praise of having saved the life of
Gaspar, which is valuable to your excellency, and my own,--which is
worthless."
As he spoke, he pointed to the ancient barbarian, who stepped forward
with the same affectionate smiles and grimaces which he had bestowed
upon the party at the cypress-tree, and with many uncouth gestures of
reverence, saying, in imperfect Castilian, after he had touched the
floor with his hand, and then kissed it,
"Ottomi I,--good friend, good rascal; but Ocelotzin no more.
I am Techeechee,[8] the Silent Dog,--the little dog without
voice,--Techeechee!"
[Footnote 8: _Techichi_--a native animal of the dog kind, which does not
bark. It was domesticated.]
As he spoke, he cast his eyes, with less of love than admiring fear,
upon the gigantic beast, whose voice was to him, as well as to his
countrymen, more terrible than the yell of the mountain tiger.
"I remember thee, good fellow," said the Captain-General.
Then, without bestowing any further present notice on him, he turned
again to Juan, speaking with the same cold and magisterial tones:
"And where, then, are the two Christians of La Mancha, and the seventy
warriors of Matlatzinco, who composed your party? the arms you carried?
and the four good horses entrusted to your charge?"
"Your excellency shall hear," said Juan, calmly: "The two Manchegos were
ill inclined to the expedition; and therein were my followers but
unfortunately selected."
"They were mutineers!" cried Gaspar, whose anger was not mollified by
being made a witness to the ill fate of his young captain: "they were
mutineers; and so the devil has them."
"Hah!" exclaimed Cortes, starting up, with what seemed angry joy: "didst
thou dare arrogate the privileges of a judge, and condemn a Christian
man to death?"
"I am guiltless of such presumption," said Juan. "To their
dissatisfaction, to their disobedience,--nay, to their frequent threats,
and open disregard of the commands your excellency had yourself imposed
upon us, not to provoke the Indians among whom we might be
journeying,--I adjudged no punishment but the assurance that your
excellency should certainly be made acquainted with their acts. With
much persuasion, I prevailed upon them to follow me, until we had
reached the sea, which it was your excellency's command I should first
examine."
"Ay!" said Cortes, again starting up, but with an air of exultation;
"thou hast found it then? and a port that may give shelter to ships of
burthen?"
"Not one port only, but many," said Juan, with a faltering voice,
mistaking the satisfaction of the leader for approbation. "In a space of
seventy leagues, (for so much of the coast was I able to survey,) there
are many harbours, exceedingly spacious, deep and secure; and some of
such excellence, that I question whether the world contains any others
to equal them. Near to some, there is much good ship timber, as well as
lands amazingly fertile and beautiful."
"This is well," said the Captain-General, coldly. "Thou hast well
devoted a year of time to the examination of seventy leagues of coast."
"Had that been the only subject of your excellency's orders," said
Lerma, "you should have had no cause for dissatisfaction. This
accomplished, it became me, as your excellency had commanded, to explore
those gold lands to the northwest, and discover that kingdom of
Huitzitzila, as it was erroneously called by Montezuma, which bordered
upon his dominions, and had ever maintained its independence by force of
arms."
At these words, many of the cavaliers looked surprised, as if made
acquainted with this article of Juan's instructions for the first time,
and some exchanged meaning glances, which were not lost on Cortes. He
frowned, and hastily exclaimed,
"You are wrong; I _commanded_ you not. That kingdom being at enmity with
Mexico, it was not fit your lives should be endangered, by rashly
adventuring within its confines. You were advised, if you should find we
had been deceived in the character of those infidels of Huitzitzila, to
make yourself acquainted with them and their country: but this was left
to your discretion."
"It is true," said Juan mildly, "your excellency did so advise me; and
the fault which I committed was in thinking that I should best please
you, by penetrating to that land, without much thought of difficulty or
danger. In this, as in other things, as Gaspar will be my witness, I was
opposed by those unhappy Manchegos; who deserted from me in the night,
carrying with them, (to replace a horse which they had lost in a river,)
the charger which your excellency had given to me for my own riding,--as
well as their arquebuses,--which was still more unfortunate; for
Gaspar's piece had been broken by a fall, and we were thus left without
firearms, with but one horse, and no better weapon to procure us food,
than mine own crossbow, and the arrows of the Matlatzincos."
"Now, by my conscience," said Cortes, "I know not which the more to
admire,--the good vigilance that allowed these knaves to escape, or the
rash-brained folly which led you to continue the expedition without
them!"
The sarcasm produced no change in Juan's visage. He seemed to have made
up his mind not only to endure injustice, but to expect it.
"Their desertion was neither unforeseen nor unopposed," he answered. "It
is my grief to say, that they forgot the obligations both of discipline
and Christianity, and desperately fired upon Gaspar and myself; whereby
they killed our remaining horse, and wounded myself in the side."
"And where then were thy knavish Indians, that thou didst not slay the
false traitors on the spot?" cried Cortes, with an indignation, which,
this time, had the right direction.
The answer to this added but another item of mischance to the young
man's story. The arts of the Manchegos had spread disaffection among his
Indian followers, many of whom had deserted with them. Following after
the mutineers, he was, shortly after, abandoned by the rest; and then
his little party, consisting only of Gaspar and the Ottomi, was
attacked, by hostile tribes, driven back upon the path, and finally
forced to take refuge in the dominions of that native monarch, whose
reputed grandeur and wealth had so long since excited the curiosity of
Don Hernan.
The relation of Lerma, though of such thrilling interest that it
absorbed the attention of all present, and even so wrought upon the mind
of Cortes, that he gradually discharged the severity of his countenance,
and even at last ceased altogether to interrupt it with sarcasm or
commentary of any kind, has too little, or at least too indirect a
connexion with the present history, to require it to be given in the
exile's words, or at any length. With the main facts,--his long
captivity and final escape,--the reader is already acquainted; and it is
not perhaps necessary to add more than that the kingdom of which so much
has been said, was that of Mechoacan, and that its capital Tzintzontzan,
(the Place of Hummingbirds,) corrupted by the Mexicans into Huitzitzila,
lies yet, though dwindled into the meanest of villages, upon the
beautiful lake Pascuaro. Juan knew nothing of the fate of the Manchegos.
By a comparison of dates, it was discovered that the sudden outbreaking
of hostilities, which had driven him into this remote land, had followed
almost immediately upon the tumults In Mexico, which had resulted in the
death of Montezuma and the expulsion of the Spaniards; and it was not
doubted, that the mutineers had met a miserable and speedy death. With
the account of lands of unexampled beauty and fertility, of rivers of
gold and hills of silver, we have nothing to do, except to remark that
it determined the fate of Mechoacan as certainly as if the order had
been uttered for its immediate subjugation. The whole account might have
been omitted, except that it was necessary, as the means of explaining
some of the feelings with which the young Lerma was regarded by the
general and his chief followers.
There is no eloquence so persuasive as that of distress, uttered without
complaint; and no story of hardship and peril fails of exciting
sympathy, when recounted with truth and modesty. Accordingly, the
narrative of the exile produced among the cavaliers a powerful
impression in his favour, which was heightened into admiration by the
consciousness that nothing but the greatest constancy of purpose, and
mental resources beyond those of ordinary men, could have conducted him
through his long and perilous enterprise. Many of those, who seemed to
remember with most interest the breach between the general and one who
had been formerly considered almost his adopted son, kept their eyes
curiously bent on Cortes; and they did not doubt, from the changes of
his countenance, that his better feelings were deeply engaged, and would
perhaps restore the young man to the confidence and affection which all
knew he had lost. This belief became universal, when, at the close of
the story, the Captain-General arose, and addressing the throng, said,
"Cavaliers and friends, we will free all present from the tedium of this
audience, saving only the gentlemen of the Secret Counsel, and these our
returned friends.--Nay, by my faith, Gaspar of the Red Beard, thou mayst
depart likewise, to speak thy adventures to thine old friends, which
thou art doubtless itching to do; or, if thou likest that better, get
thee to Antonio de Quinones, our Master of the Armory, and choose
thyself a good sword, buckler and breastplate. Thou art a true soldier,
and, by and by, I have somewhat to say to thee.--The knave has the gait
of an infidel!"
At this signal for breaking up the audience, which was pronounced with
the grave and easy authoritativeness of one long accustomed to command,
the individuals present, Christian and heathen, princes, chieftains, and
cavaliers, took their departure, leaving behind them Sandoval, Alvarado,
and a few other officers of high standing.
As Juan stood, embarrassed between hope and doubt, the senor Guzman
descended from the platform, and, passing him, said with a low voice and
a derisive smile,
"You mount, senor, and Bobadil neighs for you! It is better--the war is
equal."
So saying, he passed on.