A Prince of Anahuac Part 45

Oza, though a freeman, was installed in the king's household as an over-servant, with liberal provisions for his comfort.

Kan, the weaver, whose cottage had given shelter to the prince at the time of his escape from the palace, and whose words, addressed to the Tepanec soldier, no doubt, in after years, proved a blessing to more than one Tezcucan subject, was not forgotten, but remembered in a substantial manner by the king.

Thus did Hualcoyotl remember all his friends.

One of the first acts performed by the prince on his accession to power was to extend amnesty to all those who had cast in their lot with Maxtla and his predecessor. It is written that he should have said: "A monarch may punish, but revenge is unworthy of him." Being averse to punishing, in this case, his alienated subjects were all restored to citizenship.

Soon after the restoration of the Tezcucan government a triple alliance was formed between the states of Mexico, Tezcuco, and Tlacopan for offensive and defensive purposes. In this alliance, which was never abrogated by the parties themselves, was undoubtedly to be found the incipiency of the great Aztec Empire, which ended with the downfall of the last Montezuma, and the supremacy of the Spaniards.

Hualcoyotl remained unmarried for many years, in consequence of his disappointment in not securing Itlza for his queen. He finally, however, determined to marry.

In referring to this chapter in his life we are impelled, out of regard for the many excellent qualities which history attributes to him, to disregard that portion of it which is prejudicial--the manner in which he secured his queen; a parallel case with that of David and Uriah, an account of which can be found in Prescott's "Conquest of Mexico."

As the years advanced, Oxie, the younger daughter of Tezcot and Xochitl, developed into a very attractive woman. Much of her time was spent at the home of Euetzin, and the king was often brought into intercourse with her.

The little episode of the bouquet of flowers at the hunter's home, when the prince was in hiding there, was not forgotten; and, from it, there grew a friendship, which finally ended in a declaration of preference, if not of love, from Hualcoyotl, and Oxie became one of his favorite wives.

The king had a great fondness for country life, which was to be seen in the many magnificent villas he possessed. These grand resorts were furnished with everything the heart could wish, to beautify and make them pleasant. His chief and favorite retreat was the villa of Tezcotzinco, so named, we opine, in honor of the hunters' chief, who, after the marriage of both his daughters, decided to become a subject of Hualcoyotl's, and was rewarded for it by having the t.i.tle of tzin conferred upon him, and his being established at the king's most attractive resort, where he lived to enjoy a good old age.

The ruins of Tezcotzinco have long been designated as the "Baths of Montezuma," which, there is reason for saying, is an erroneous application, perpetuated through the ignorance of the natives.

A description of the villa Tezcotzinco, as it existed in its ancient beauty and grandeur, according to traditional history, will be interesting in this connection, to give the reader some idea of the splendor and elegance of the great Indian Prince, Hualcoyotl's, manner of living.

The villa was situated on a cone-shaped hill, about two leagues from the city of Tezcuco. We here quote from the historian: "It was laid out in terraces, or hanging gardens, having a flight of steps five hundred and twenty in number, many of them hewn in the natural porphyry. In the garden on the summit was a reservoir of water, fed by an aqueduct that was carried over hill and valley for several miles on huge b.u.t.tresses of masonry. On a lower level there were three other reservoirs. From these copious basins the water was distributed in numerous channels through the gardens, or was made to tumble over the rocks in cascades.

In the depths below, marble porticoes and pavilions were erected, and baths excavated in the solid rock, which have become noted as the 'Baths of Montezuma.' The visitor made the descent by steps cut in the rock and polished so bright as to reflect like mirrors. Toward the base of the hill, in the midst of cedar groves, rose the royal villa, with its light arcades and airy halls."

Such was Tezcotzinco, the chief country seat of Prince Nezahualcoyotl, to which he often retired to throw off the cares of state, and recuperate his jaded spirits in the society of his favorite wives, of whom Oxie was one, and especially favored. Here he often entertained his royal brothers of Mexico and Tlacopan, and other close friends, in the pleasures of the chase through the grand forests that surrounded the villa, or in the milder pleasures of its paradisaical bowers and alluring shades.

The prince did everything he could to promote and broaden the intelligence of his people. Among other things, of an educational character, which he established, was a tribunal before which, on stated days, compositions of prose and poetry were recited by compet.i.tors for valuable prizes. The compositions in prose were restricted to the subjects of science and history; while the poems treated of moral and traditional topics.

The great benefit derived from this and similar inst.i.tutions was seen in the Tezcucan authors and orators, who stood far in advance of those of any other nation of Anahuac.

Prince Hualcoyotl himself was one of the most ill.u.s.trious of their writers, especially in compositions of a poetical nature. Such lines as the following are attributed to him by historians:

"If there are bounds to pleasure, the saddest life must also have an end.

Then weave the chaplet of flowers, and sing thy songs in praise of the all powerful G.o.d, for the glory of this world soon fadeth away.

Rejoice in the green freshness of the spring, for the day will soon come when thou shalt sigh for these joys in vain."

And again:

"The goods of this life, its glories and riches, are but lent to us; The substance is but an illusory shadow, and the things of today shall change on the coming of the morrow.

Then gather the fairest flowers from the gardens, to bind round thy brow, and seize the joys of the present ere they perish."

In the poetic thoughts which these lines represent we have the reflection of a mind endowed with beauty and simplicity--attributes of greatness; and, though surrounded by the darkness of ignorance and superst.i.tion, the man who possessed it lived to honor the high position he was born to fill, that of A Prince of Anahuac.