Chapter I: Preface

The American Tableaux lay no claim to the respect and confidence, which is justly shown to authentic history; nor do they anticipate the ready favor usually accorded to high wrought romance. They are neither the one nor the other. The general outline is designed to be historical, and true to the characters of individuals, and the customs of nations and tribes; and the drapery in which it is arrayed is intended rather to illustrate the truth, and place it in bolder relief, than to weaken its force by irrelevant inventions. It is proposed rather to shade and color the naked sketches of history, and restore them to their natural setting and accompaniments, than to alter or distort them. The characters of history are usually stiff, cold, and statue-like, and their drapery, if they have any, is of the same marble rigidity with themselves. The Tableaux would transfer them to canvass in their natural colors, strongly relieved by a back-ground of familiar scenery and every day associations, and shaded or lightened, as the case may be, by the sorrows or joys of social life, and the cares or honors of public station. It may be presumptuous to hope that all this has been accomplished. It is safer to say, it has been attempted.

CONTENTS.

THE AZTEC PRINCESS.

CHAPTER I.
PAGE
BIRTH AND EARLY LIFE OF TECUICHPO. 15

The Horoscope--Faith in the revelations of
Astrology--Montezuma in his palace--The message
delivered--Resignation--Fatalism--Infancy of the
Princess--The slave Karee--Obtains her freedom--The
Chinampa--Genius and faith of Karee--Her devotion to the
Princess--Chivalry of the Aztecs.

CHAPTER II.

YOUTH OF THE PRINCESS--HER EARLY LOVE REVEALED--PROPHETIC
ANNOUNCEMENT, AND SUDDEN ARRIVAL OF THE SPANIARDS. 27

Superstitious forebodings of Montezuma--Loveliness of his
daughter--Her suitors--The Prince of
Tezcuco--Karee-o-than--A secret
revealed--Guatimozin--The ancient legend--The young
Pythoness--Her vision--Warning and appeal--The vision
realized--The pictured scroll--Agitation of Montezuma--A
second courier--The royal council--Courtesy to the
strangers--Splendid embassy--Their meeting with
Cortez--Munificent presents--Avarice of the
Spaniards--They make interest with the Totonacs, and
send proposals to Tlascala--Their proposal
rejected--They meet and conquer the Tlascalans--An
alliance formed--The compeers of
Cortez--Xicotencatl--The strength and weakness of the
Aztecs.