o fast with his papas, and
to sacrifice to his gods, of whom he wished to know whether he was to
admit us into his metropolis or not. They pronounced in the affirmative,
as, when we were once there, he would be able to slay us at his
pleasure. His chief officers and papas were of the same opinion, and
thought that, if he did not admit us into the city, we might commence
hostilities against his subjects, and call in the assistance of the
Tlascallans, the Totonaque, and other tribes who were at enmity with the
Mexicans, and in alliance with us. To obviate all this, the surest way
would be to follow the wise counsel which Huitzilopochtli had given.

The day had now arrived which had been fixed for our departure, and,
just as we were about to break up our quarters, other ambassadors
arrived, with presents from Motecusuma.

CHAPTER LXXXV.

_How the powerful Motecusuma sends a valuable present in gold to us,
and the message which accompanied it, and how we all agree to
commence our march upon Mexico; and what further happened._

When Motecusuma was made acquainted with what we said concerning our
friendship towards him, and the confident manner in which we had
expressed ourselves, he again felt embarrassed, and was amazed at the
idea that nothing could be concealed from us, and that he might attack
us whenever he liked, within the city walls or in the open field, by day
or by night, it was all the same to us. He thought of our war with the
Tlascallans, of the battles we had fought at Potonchon, Tabasco,
Cingapacinga, and Cholulla, and grew quite perplexed and dispirited. He
several times altered his resolutions, until at last he determined upon
sending us six of his principal courtiers with a present in gold and
trinkets of various workmanship, worth altogether above 2000 pesos,
besides several packages of cotton stuffs most beautifully manufactured.

When these messengers were introduced into Cortes' presence, they
touched the ground with their hands, and kissed it, and thus addressed
our general, with signs of the deepest veneration: "Malinche! our ruler
and monarch, the mighty Motecusuma, sends you this present, and begs you
will accept of it with the same kind feeling he bears you and your
brothers: he at the same time desires us to express his regret for the
late occurrence at Cholulla, and to assure you it would be pleasing to
him if you would castigate that evil-minded and lying people more
sev