第1章

ThemoreunpronounceableoftheAztecnamesareshortenedinmanyinstancesoutofconsiderationforthepatienceofthereader；thus’Popocatapetl’becomes’Popo，’’Huitzelcoatl’becomes’Huitzel，’

TheprayerinChapterxxvi。isfreelyrenderedfromJourdanet’sFrenchtranslationofFrayBernardinodeSahagun’sHistoryofNewSpain，writtenshortlyaftertheconquestofMexico(BookVI，chap。v。)，towhichmonumentalworkandtoPrescott’sadmirablehistorytheauthorofthisromanceismuchindebted。

TheportentsdescribedasheraldingthefalloftheAztecEmpire，andmanyoftheincidentsandeventswrittenofinthisstory，suchastheannualpersonationofthegodTezcatlipocabyacaptivedistinguishedforhispersonalbeauty，anddestinedtosacrifice，areinthemainhistorical。

ThenoblespeechoftheEmperorGuatemoctothePrinceofTacubautteredwhiletheybothweresufferingbeneaththehandsoftheSpaniardsisalsoauthentic。

StrangeasweretheadventuresandescapesofThomasWingfield，onceofthisparish，whereofthesepagestell，yourowncanalmostequalthemintheselatterdays，and，sinceafellowfeelingmakesuskind，youatleasttheymaymovetoasighofsympathy。

Amongmanyadistantlandyouknowthatinwhichhelovedandfought，followingvengeanceandhisfate，andbyyoursideIsawitsrelicsanditspeoples，itsvolcansanditsvalleys。

Youknowevenwhereliesthetreasurewhich，threecenturiesandmoreago，hehelpedtobury，thecountlesstreasurethatanevilfortuneheldusbackfromseeking。

NowtheIndianshavetakenbacktheirsecret，andthoughmanymaysearch，nonewillliftthegravenstonethatsealsit，norshallthelightofdayshineagainuponthegoldenheadofMontezuma。

Sobeit！

ThewealthwhichCortesweptover，andhisSpaniardssinnedanddiedfor，isforeverhiddenyonderbytheshoresofthebitterlakewhosewatersgaveuptoyouthatancienthorror，theveritableandsleeplessgodofSacrifice，ofwhomI

wouldnotrobyou——and，formypart，Idonotregrettheloss。

Whatcannotbelost，whattomeseemofmoreworththanthedeadheroGuatemoc’sgemsandjarsofgold，arethememoriesoftruefriendshipshowntousfarawaybeneaththeshadowoftheSlumberingWoman，*anditisingratitudeforthesethatIaskpermissiontosetyournamewithinabookwhichwereitnotforyouwouldneverhavebeenwritten。

Iam，mydearJebb，

Alwayssincerelyyours，

Wornoutprematurelybyalifeofhardshipandextraordinaryadventure，Mr。JebbpassedawayonMarch18，1893，takingwithhimtherespectandaffectionofallwhohadthehonourofhisfriendship。

Theauthorhaslearnedwithpleasurethatthereadingofthistaleinproofandthefactofitsdedicationtohimselfaffordedhimsomeamusementandsatisfactionintheintervalsofhissufferings。

*ThevolcanoIzticcihuatlinMexico。

NowglorybetoGodwhohasgivenusthevictory！

Itistrue，thestrengthofSpainisshattered，hershipsaresunkorfled，theseahasswallowedhersoldiersandhersailorsbyhundredsandbythousands，andEnglandbreathesagain。

Theycametoconquer，tobringustothetortureandthestake——todotousfreeEnglishmenasCortesdidbytheIndiansofAnahuac。

Ourmanhoodtotheslavebench，ourdaughterstodishonour，oursoulstotheloving-kindnessofthepriest，ourwealthtotheEmperorandthePope！

Godhasansweredthemwithhiswinds，Drakehasansweredthemwithhisguns。

Theyaregone，andwiththemthegloryofSpain。

I，ThomasWingfield，heardthenewsto-dayonthisveryThursdayintheBungaymarket-place，whitherIwenttogossipandtoselltheappleswhichthesedreadfulgaleshaveleftme，astheyhanguponmytrees。

Beforetherehadbeenrumoursofthisandofthat，buthereinBungaywasamannamedYoung，oftheYoungsofYarmouth，whohadservedinoneoftheYarmouthshipsinthefightatGravelines，ayeandsailednorthaftertheSpaniardstilltheywerelostintheScottishseas。

Littlethingsleadtogreat，mensay，butheregreatthingsleadtolittle，forbecauseofthesetidingsitcomesaboutthatI，ThomasWingfield，oftheLodgeandtheparishofDitchinghaminthecountyofNorfolk，beingnowofagreatageandhavingonlyashorttimetolive，turntopenandink。

Tenyearsago，namely，intheyear1578，itpleasedherMajesty，ourgraciousQueenElizabeth，whoatthatdatevisitedthiscounty，thatIshouldbebroughtbeforeheratNorwich。

Thereandthen，sayingthatthefameofithadreachedher，shecommandedmetogivehersomeparticularsofthestoryofmylife，orratherofthosetwentyyears，moreorless，whichI

spentamongtheIndiansatthattimewhenCortesconqueredtheircountryofAnahuac，whichisnowknownasMexico。

ButalmostbeforeIcouldbeginmytale，itwastimeforhertostartforCosseytohuntthedeer，andshesaiditwasherwishthatIshouldwritethestorydownthatshemightreadit，andmoreoverthatifitwerebuthalfaswonderfulasitpromisedtobe，IshouldendmydaysasSirThomasWingfield。

TothisIansweredherMajestythatpenandinkweretoolsIhadnoskillin，yetIwouldbearhercommandinmind。

ThenImadeboldtogiveheragreatemeraldthatoncehadhunguponthebreastofMontezuma’sdaughter，andofmanyaprincessbeforeher，andatthesightofithereyesglistenedbrightlyasthegem，forthisQueenofourslovessuchcostlyplaythings。

Indeed，hadIsodesired，IthinkthatImightthenandtherehavestruckabargain，andsetthestoneagainstatitle；

butI，whoformanyyearshadbeentheprinceofagreattribe，hadnowishtobeaknight。

SoIkissedtheroyalhand，andsotightlydiditgripthegemwithinthattheknucklejointsshonewhite，andIwentmyways，comingbackhometothismyhousebytheWaveneyonthatsameday。

NowtheQueen’swishthatIshouldsetdownthestoryofmyliferemainedinmymind，andforlongIhavedesiredtodoitbeforelifeandstoryendtogether。

Thelabour，indeed，isgreattooneunusedtosuchtasks；butwhyshouldIfearlabourwhoamsoneartotheholidayofdeath？

IhaveseenthingsthatnootherEnglishmanhasseen，whichareworthytoberecorded；mylifehasbeenmoststrange，manyatimeithaspleasedGodtopreserveitwhenallseemedlost，andthisperchanceHehasdonethatthelessonofitmightbecomeknowntoothers。

ForthereisalessoninitandinthethingsthatIhaveseen，anditisthatnowrongcaneverbringaboutaright，thatwrongwillbreedwrongatlast，andbeitinmanorpeople，willfalluponthebrainthatthoughtitandthehandthatwroughtit。

LooknowatthefateofCortes——thatgreatmanwhomIhaveknownclothedwithpowerlikeagod。

Nearlyfortyyearsago，soIhaveheard，hediedpooranddisgracedinSpain；he，theconqueror——yes，andIhavelearnedalsothathissonDonMartinhasbeenputtothetortureinthatcitywhichthefatherwonwithsogreatcrueltiesforSpain。

Malinche，shewhomtheSpaniardsnamedMarina，thechiefandbestbelovedofallthewomenofthissameCortes，foretoldittohiminheranguishwhenafterallthathadbeen，aftershehadsomanytimespreservedhimandhissoldierstolookuponthesun，atthelasthedesertedher，givingherinmarriagetoDonJuanXaramillo。

LookagainatthefateofMarinaherself。

BecauseshelovedthismanCortes，orMalinche，astheIndiansnamedhimafterher，shebroughtevilonhernativeland；forwithoutheraidTenoctitlan，orMexico，astheycallitnow，hadneverbowedbeneaththeyokeofSpain——yes，sheforgotherhonourinherpassion。

Andwhatwasherreward，whatrightcametoherofherwrongdoing？

Thiswasherrewardatlast:tobegivenawayinmarriagetoanotherandalessermanwhenherbeautywaned，asaworn-outbeastissoldtoapoorermaster。

ConsideralsothefateofthosegreatpeoplesofthelandofAnahuac。

Theydidevilthatgoodmightcome。

Theysacrificedthelivesofthousandstotheirfalsegods，thattheirwealthmightincrease，andpeaceandprosperitybetheirsthroughoutthegenerations。

AndnowthetrueGodhasansweredthem。

ForwealthHehasgiventhemdesolation，forpeacetheswordoftheSpaniard，forprosperitytherackandthetormentandthedayofslavery。

Forthisitwasthattheydidsacrifice，offeringtheirownchildrenonthealtarsofHuitzelandofTezcat。

AndtheSpaniardsthemselves，whointhenameofmercyhavewroughtcrueltiesgreaterthananythatweredonebythebenightedAztecs，whointhenameofChristdailyviolateHislawtotheuttermostextreme，sayshalltheyprosper，shalltheirevil-doingbringthemwelfare？

Iamoldandcannotlivetoseethequestionanswered，thoughevennowitisinthewayofanswering。

YetIknowthattheirwickednessshallfallupontheirownheads，andIseemtoseethem，theproudestofthepeoplesoftheearth，bereftoffameandwealthandhonour，astarvelingremnanthappyinnothingsavetheirpast。

WhatDrakebeganatGravelinesGodwillfinishinmanyanotherplaceandtime，tillatlastSpainisofnomoreaccountandliesaslowastheempireofMontezumaliesto-day。

Thusitisinthesegreatinstancesofwhichalltheworldmayknow，andthusitiseveninthelifeofsohumbleamanasI，ThomasWingfield。

Heavenindeedhasbeenmercifultome，givingmetimetorepentmysins；yetmysinshavebeenvisitedonmyhead，onmewhotookHisprerogativeofvengeancefromthehandoftheMostHigh。

Itisjust，andbecauseitissoIwishtosetoutthematterofmylife’shistorythatothersmaylearnfromit。

Formanyyearsthishasbeeninmymind，asIhavesaid，thoughtospeaktruthitwasherMajestytheQueenwhofirstsettheseed。

Butonlyonthisday，whenIhaveheardforcertainofthefateoftheArmada，doesitbegintogrow，andwhocansayifeveritwillcometoflower？

Forthistidingshasstirredmestrangely，bringingbackmyyouthandthedeedsofloveandwarandwildadventurewhichIhavebeenmingledin，fightingformyownhandandforGuatemocandthepeopleoftheOtomieagainstthesesameSpaniards，astheyhavenotbeenbroughtbackformanyyears。

Indeed，itseemstome，andthisisnorarethingwiththeaged，asthoughthereinthefarpastmytruelifelay，andalltherestwerenothingbutadream。

FromthewindowoftheroomwhereinIwriteIcanseethepeacefulvalleyoftheWaveney。

Beyonditsstreamarethecommonlandsgoldenwithgorse，theruinedcastle，andtheredroofsofBungaytowngatheredaboutthetowerofSt。Mary’sChurch。

Yonderfarawayaretheking’sforestsofStoweandthefieldsofFlixtonAbbey；totherightthesteepbankisgreenwiththeEarshamoaks，totheleftthefastmarshlandsspottedwithcattlestretchontoBecclesandLowestoft，whilebehindmemygardensandorchardsriseinterracesuptheturfyhillthatinolddayswasknownastheEarl’sVineyard。

Alltheseareaboutme，andyetinthishourtheyareasthoughtheywerenot。

ForthevalleyoftheWaveneyIseethevaleofTenoctitlan，fortheslopesofStowethesnowyshapesofthevolcanoesPopoandIztac，forthespireofEarshamandthetowersofDitchingham，ofBungay，andofBeccles，thesoaringpyramidsofsacrificegleamingwiththesacredfires，andforthecattleinthemeadowsthehorsemenofCortessweepingtowar。

Itcomesbacktome；thatwaslife，therestisbutadream。

OncemoreIfeelyoung，and，shouldIbesparedsolong，IwillsetdownthestoryofmyyouthbeforeIamlaidinyonderchurchyardandlostintheworldofdreams。

LongagoIhadbegunit，butitwasonlyonlastChristmasDaythatmydearwifedied，andwhileshelivedIknewthatthistaskwasbetterleftundone。

Indeed，tobefrank，itwasthuswithmywife:

Shelovedme，Ibelieve，asfewmenhavethefortunetobeloved，andthereismuchinmypastthatjarreduponthisloveofhers，movinghertoajealousyofthedeadthatwasnotthelessdeepbecauseitwassogentleandsocloselycoupledwithforgiveness。