a dagger in the belt of Cortés. The general sought to reassure him, declaring that none could resist the Christian's God. He had performed his duty bravely, like a good prince, and should be treated as such.
Although the great end was thus accomplished, slaughter and pillage were continued until long after vespers. Before the troops withdrew to their respective camps, the prisoners, including the pretty empress, Tecuichpo, were conducted to safe quarters in Coyuhuacan. Shortly afterward a rain set in, aiding the efforts of the Spaniards to check the auxiliaries in their maraudings, and this, developing toward midnight into a furious storm with lightning and thunder, seemed to the homeless Mexicans to be the xiuhcoatl of Huitzilopochtli and the tumult of departing deities. To the conquerors this flashing and thundering of heaven's artillery was the salvo attending victory, which was celebrated in feasting and merriment till came late slumber with visions of gold, and lands, and vassals.
Thus ended Tuesday, the 13th of August 1521, sacred to St Hippolytus, and accordingly adopted by the conquerors as patron saint of the city. During colonial régime the day was annually celebrated by a solemn festival, wherein the leading citizens and officials rode on horseback in procession round the city,
venir en aquel estado, que ahora ficiese dél lo que yo quisiese.' Cortés, Cartas, 257. Diçiéndole que le diesse de puñaladas é lo matasse, porque no era raçon que viviesse en el mundo hombre que avia perdido lo que'l avia perdido,' adds Oviedo, iii. 422. Preguntáronle por los chripstianos, é dixo: No me preguntés esso; é si me quereys matar; matadme ya: que harto estoy de vivir,' says another version. Id., 517. Iria mui consolado adonde sus dioses estaban, especialmente haviendo muerto à manos de tal Capitan.' Herrerra, dec. iii. lib. ii. cap. vii. 'Why so stubborn?' is the way Duran opens the conversation on Cortés' part. Hist. Ind., MS., ii. 509. "Toglietemi con questo pugnale una vita, che non perdei nella difesa del mio Regno.' Clavigero, Storia Mess., iii. 230. See also Ixtlilxochitl and others. Writers generally go into ecstacy over this utterance. 'Magnanimo,' exclaims Peter Martyr, dec. v. cap. viii. 'Heroic,' ejaculates Bustamante in support of Chimalpain's encomium. Hist. Conq., ii. 75. Ce trait est digne du plus beau temps de la Grèce et de Rome.' Humboldt, Essai Pol., i. 193. 'A spirit worthy of an ancient Roman,' echoes Prescott, Mex., iii. 206. Bernal Diaz says the emperor wept, and with him his chiefs. Hist. Verdad., 155.
