THE BRIDE OF
HUITZIL

An Aztec Legend

BY

HERVEY ALLEN

NEW YORK
James F. Drake, Inc.
1922

COPYRIGHT 1922,
BY
HERVEY ALLEN

To a dead child

THE BRIDE OF
HUITZIL

I

Here begins the first scroll with the sign of abundle of reeds tied about with a string,which is the symbol of fifty-two years.

In Anahuac there reigned a king
    Some fifty summers old,
    The bloody darling of his gods,
    Who sent him luck and gold
    And captives from a thousand fights,
    And victory in each war;
    No mercy kept within his heart—
    He trusted in his star.
    But doubts began to sap his mind,
    For he was growing old.
    The gods he feared might turn unkind;
    He gave them plundered gold
    And hung their images with hearts
    Like roses on a bride,
    And all the young slaves from the marts
    On Huitzil's altars died.[1]
    The priests got everything they sought.
    They said the gods were wroth;
    They had the rolls of tribute brought—
    Chose bales of twisted cloth,
    And cloaks of richest feather-work,
    And opals set in gilt,
    And many a keen obsidian knife
    With carved and curious hilt,
    And pearls for which their wives would quarrel,
    And bags of cochineal,
    And carefully matched and scarlet coral,
    And chests of yellow meal,
    And rainbow skins of quetzal birds,
    Lip jewels, and each a ring;
    And all they gave was doubtful words—
    No comfort to the king.
    Huitzil, they said, was sorely vexed;
    Tlaloc would send no rain;
    The more they kept the king perplexed
    The more they had to gain.
    "Gold I have given," said the king,
    "And victims for the feasts;
    What more is there that I can bring?"
    "Bring beauty!" said the priests.
    "Send runners swift to each cacique[2]
    With scrolls of your command;
    In hut and palace bid them seek
    Fair virgins through the land;
    Then bring them here and choose the maid
    Who most shall please your eyes,
    And have her as your bride arrayed,
    And led to sacrifice."

    So buzzing rumor rose and spread
    Like locusts through the land;
    The king would choose a wife, men said:
    And chiefs on every hand
    Snatched maidens from the cotton-looms,
    Girls, grinding maize for cakes,
    Captives for Tenochtitlan,
    The city 'mid five lakes.
    Across the causeways, borne by slaves,
    The trembling virgins came;
    They saw the Smoking Hill that laves[...