In the centre of the present empire of Mexico, and within the borders
of the beautiful country once inhabited by the ancestors of those wild and
splendid savages, the Comanchees, lies a chain of elevated mountains, whose
snowy peaks pierce the skies, leaving the vast fields of clouds floating midway
between them and the plains. Towards the south they make a majestic
curve, and enclose within their embrace a lake twelve leagues in circumference,
on the bright bosom of which, like an emerald cast upon a mirror,
rests the beautiful island of Alcolo, the seat of the Aztec empire. One of

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these mountains, which is called the peak of Ix, is loftier than the rest, and
on its inaccessible summit blazes a star-like point, which is said to be a
single diamond. This glittering apex is here called the `star of the Burning
Stone.' By day the dazzling point glows in the splendor of the cloudless
sun-light with all the dyes of the iris; by night its brightness is subdued,
and its light becomes pure and pale like the chastened radiance of the
moonbeam.

At the period of our story, this lake, with its central island and encircling
girdle of bright, snow-capped mountains, was the seat of an empire now no
more. From the midst of the fair island of Alcolo rose the proud city of Mexico,
its capital, gorgeous with golden domes, needle-like pinnacles, overlaid
with silver, majestic towers, and vast temples dedicated to the Sun, and to the
god of war; while through it, dividing it into two parts, flowed a broad artificial
river, which, for more than a league, reflected from its steel-like bosom
continuous lines of temples, palaces, and edifices of costly grandeur. Here
had been for ages the imperial palace and throne of the emperors, and here
still was the centre of wealth, power, and regal magnificence.

Ulyd, the last monarch of his race, and of the Aztec dynasty, now sat on
the throne of this glorious empire. He was haughty, cruel, and imperious.
His foot rested upon the necks of his many millions of subjects, and his
sceptre was converted into a sword, which was hourly bathed in human
blood. But Eylla, the only daughter of the sanguinary emperor, was
gentle as the dove in temper; fearless as the eagle of her house in spirit;
as darkly beautiful as Lyn, the Angel of Flowers; and as graceful in form and
motion as the antelope, that runs upon the mountains. The tyrant loved his
daughter, and that love was all that humanized his nature. In one of the
lesser streets of this gorgeous capital, near the water, lived a poor net-maker,
Macho by name, whose sole merit was his honesty, and whose only income
was the daily pittance earned by the toil of his hands. He had lost his
wife, but Heaven had tempered its judgments with mercy, and left him a
son and daughter, to share his labors and solace his old age. Montezuma,
which was the name of the youth, was now twenty-three years of age. His
stature was lofty, and his port noble; while the highest manly grace and
beauty were stamped upon his face and person. His dignity was that of
virtue; his beauty that of a gentle temper and a cheerful heart. He was
doated on by his father, idolized by his sister, honored and beloved by
all of his degree in the city; but despised, so closely had nature allied him
to them, by all the nobles of the court. Such was Montezuma at the period
of our story. His sister, Fatziza, was four years his junior. She was the
loveliest virgin that bent her knee to adore the rising sun in all the city of
Mexico. The night was not darker than her hair, nor the stars that gem it
brighter than her eyes. Her voice was low and musical as the love-note of
the Thu, when at twilight he woos his mate amid the dark branches of the
zampzin-tree, and when she sang the groves that overhung the canal would
ring vocal with the answering melody of the Tzire, the bulbul of Alcolo.
She was as happy as a bird from morning till night, and her cheerful face, as
she went about the humble but neat little cot of the old net-maker, looking
after her domestic affairs, made glad the hearts of all who looked upon her;
and no heart did her smile make more glad than that of her lover, Sismarqui,
the handsome son of Ota, the renowned embosser of shields, who lived in the
adjoining street.

It was on the same hour of the afternoon in which the events connected

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with the passage of the procession through the street leading from the
temple of the sun to the east gate occurred, that the beautiful Fatziza, ignorant
of what had happened, was seated on the little cane-balcony, that projected
above the sidewalk of the narrow street in which she lived. She was
arrayed in the neat, virgin attire becoming her condition, and her dark hair,
besides being plaited and bound with the usual fillet, was ornamented with a
simple white flower of the tepala, for it was near the time that Sismarqui
was wont to pass, on his way from the shop towards the imperial armory,
followed by his father's two apprentices, laden with the shields that had been
embossed that day. The little balcony in which she sat was not curiously
latticed and adorned with pictured, silken curtains, like the more spacious
verandahs that ornamented the houses of the better class of citizens, but
instead was protected by a screen of green net-work, netted by her own
fingers. It was now drawn aside, to admit more freely the breeze from the
water, so that if any among the passing crowd should chance to cast their
eyes upward, they could easily have discovered her; and many, indeed,
were the enamored youth, that stopped to linger and gaze upon her beauty,
as, unconscious of their admiration, she bent her face over a piece of useful
needlework, on which she was industriously employed.

Let it not be supposed, that it was female vanity that brought Fatziza to
sit so openly above her father's shop-door. In that paradisial climate,
where the air is ever mild and halmy, where summer weds with autumn
but to produce a spring of fruit and flowers in endless succession, the artificers,
and humbler citizens of that degree, knew no other apartment in
which to assemble for enjoying the evening time, than the light balconies
that shaded their shop-dwellings. Here Fatziza had sat from childhood,
evening after evening, and with a child's innocence of purpose she had now
taken her accustomed seat there this evening. She expected her lover too;
and at every third stitch in her needle-work, she glanced up the street to see
if he was yet coming. The street was called the Street of the Net-makers,
from the number of that craft dwelling in it, and terminated at the canal;
so that her father's house, being the last in it, one end of it overhung the
water. At this end was also a balcony, projecting from her brother's room,
and which, by a narrow terrace, was connected with that on the street where
she was seated. By going a few steps round this platform, therefore,
Fatziza could command a wide view of the gay canal, with its gilt and
painted barges, of every fantastic shape, whether of bird, beast, or fish, or of
fabled monster, moving in various directions upon its placid bosom, and an
extended line of the palaces of the Aztec noblemen on the opposite shore,
with the Temple of the Sun rising majestically in the midst of them; while in
the distance, the sky-piercing boundary of snowy peaks glittered in the
beams of the setting sun, as if helmed with gold. But she had seen this scene
every day of her life, and the canal had no charm for her eye, save when, at
the monthly feasts of the sun, she could behold, as she had thrice done, her
lover outstripping, in the aquatic race, fleets of competitors, and bearing off
from the steps of the island altar, the silver ore with which the high priest
rewarded the victor.

Her thoughts were running upon these achievements of her lover, when
suddenly the sound of steel ringing against steel arrested her ear, and she
looked up from her needle with a heightened glow, and with the exclamation,

`He is coming.'

But, instead of seeing Sismarqui, followed by the two apprentices bearing

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the shields, she beheld a young cavalier in light court-armor, such as was the
fashion for nobles to wear when not in battle, ambling on a black charger
down the street, at an easy, careless pace, as if listless of his time. His
sword, which glittered with its superb finish, and which, to show its matchless
polish, was passed naked through a ring at his girdle instead of a scabbard,
occasionally struck against the steel plates of his saddle-peak, as his
steed slightly started from side to side at the sudden appearance of maidens
drawn to their verandahs by the rare sight, in that quarter, of a knight of the
emperor's court; and Fatziza knew that it was this sound she had mistaken
for her lover's approach. Nevertheless, she did not drop her eyes again
upon her work, but with curiosity gazed upon the stranger as he slowly
came towards her. He wore an open stell helmet, fashioned like an eagle's
beak, the symbol of the sacred eagle of the house of Aztecs, and shaded by
a high and waving plume of snow-white feathers. His corslet was of the
finest steel, and yielded like velvet to the motions of his body. Across his
breast was bound a scarf of green and gold, and a short horseman's cloak
fell gracefully from his left shoulder to his stirrups. On his saddle-bow hung
a small courtier's shield, with a golden sun emblazoned in its centre. His
steed was covered with a transparent silver net, that descended to his small
symmetrical fetlocks, while massive chains of nicely fitting plates of gold ornamented
as well as mailed his chest.

These points of horse and rider drew but a momentary glance from the
maiden, who was familiar with the town-costume of the emperor's knights;
nor did the elegance of his figure, nor the finished grace with which he sat
his horse, nor the perfection of his manege elicit her admiration; for she
had seen cavaliers ride before as well as he; but what attracted her notice
was, that he wore, dropped from the front-piece of his helmet, a curtain or veil
of the finest steel, that concealed the upper part of his face as low down as
his mouth, which was of a most beautiful shape, and shaded by a raven-black
mustache. He wore no other beard, and his chin and lower part of his face
were those of a young and very handsome man. This demi-visor was woven
so openly as to permit vision, as his riding plainly showed, while it defeated
the closest scrutiny of observers. This mode of appearing forth masked,
altogether, she was aware, was not uncommon among the nobles and gay
young cavaliers of the highest rank in the city, but there was something in
the appearance of this horseman, that drew from the eye of the net-maker's
daughter more notice than she had in her maidenly propriety ever before
bestowed upon one of a rank so high above her. Perhaps it was that she
regarded him with more interest, inasmuch as she expected, when she looked
up, to have seen Sismarqui; and perhaps the extreme beauty of the part
of his face visible beneath the mask, caused her eyes to linger with curiosity,—
for he was indeed very handsome, so far as discoverable, — and a pleasant
smile dwelt upon his mouth, as he paced along the close street. Fatziza did
not reflect, as she gazed, that though she could not see his eyes, that they
beheld her, unconscious of their observation, and rested upon her beautiful
face with passionate delight. In a few steps further his ambling steed had
paced opposite to the balcony; and the maiden, as if she felt the hidden
gaze fixed upon her face, withdrew her eyes, and blushingly bent her head
over her work. To her surprise and alarm, the horseman, instead of passing
by towards a shaded path, which led between a row of gardens and the
canal, suddenly drew rein before the balcony, and laid his hand lightly
upon the balustrade; for so low was this humble maiden's boudoir,

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that, as he sat upon his horse, he was nearly on a level with her who sat
within it.

`A fair evening to thee, sweet mistress,' he said, in the courteous, yet
condescending tones, that became his bearing and her condition; `Nay, I
pr'y thee, draw not thy curtain. I would fain hold a moment's discourse
with thee.'

`Nay, my lord,' said Fatziza, with embarrassment, and looking still more
beautiful for her confusion, while her hand lingered on the band of the netting,
which she dared not drop in the face of one so superior to her, even
though his rude intrusion might well have excused her; but citizens of her
class had been from infancy accustomed to imperial slavery, and were hourly
exposed to the domineering whims and idle passions of the nobles, as well as
to the absolute will of their Emperor. Her life was in the young cavalier's
hands, and she trembled to anger him. `Nay, my lord; I am but a poor
net-maker's daughter,' was all she dared say, as she held the folds of the
screen in her arrested hand.

`Therefore shouldst thou feel the more grateful for the grace done thee.
By the bright diamond of Ix! thy eyes were never made to net coarse
threads together into fisher's nets; they are snares in themselves, that should
be cast to catch princes. There be many, both prince and noble, in Mexico,
would come to thy net, fair fisher.'

Fatziza dropped her head at this language, and let fall the heavy lias
over her dark eyes, till they were shaded from his view.

`Wilt thou then veil them, pretty one? Nay, 't is too late. Thou canst not
undo the mischief they have done. Pray, child, what is thy name?'

`Fatziza, my lord,' she replied, in a half-tone of fear.

`There is a sweet flower, called Fatziza, in the Princess Eylla's garden.
It hath a tall and graceful stalk; and its leaves, of the richest coral dye, are
folded two and two together, like a maiden's lips. Wert thou named
after it?'

`Nay, my good lord; allow me to retire.'

`Stay,' he said, quickly, placing his hand upon her wrist with just force
enough to detain her. `What a moulded hand! Tezcuco, the emperor's
sculptor, would give his famous statue of the Vichu for such a model for his
chisel. Were the ladies of the court to behold it, fair maid, thou wouldst be
the next virgin to be sacrificed to the Sun.'

Fatziza instantly shuddered, and the color fled her cheek.

`It makes thee tremble, child. 'T is true, the divinity will have none but
the loveliest; but it were a pity thou shouldst e'er be chosen as a victim.'

`The holy Avandu forbid!' she cried with clasped fingers.

`It is the holy Avandu, virgin, that alone claims such lovely victims as
thyself. But I see it gives thee pain. Let us discourse of love. I have an
idle half hour till the twilight deepen.'

`Nay, sir, I am but an humble artisan's daughter.'

`So, thou didst tell me before. Yet I would rather linger by thy balcony,
and look into thy sweet dark eyes, and listen to thy soft love-keyed voice,
than be the accepted wooer of any lady in the empire beneath the princess,
who scarce excels thee in charms.' As the young cavalier said this in the
easy, quiet tone which had characterized his manner from the first, he
seemed to be gazing upon her face through the links of his mask, with bold
admiration of the beauty he had so highly, yet so justly praised. Fatziza
seemed as if she should sink upon the floor of the veranda, for she felt
the danger of her position only as it could be appreciated by a maiden living

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beneath a government in which all below the rank of nobles were treated as
serfs and bondmen, possessing no right, either in their persons, goods, or
lives, and existing only at the caprice of a monarch, who, with his haughty
court was only withheld by indifference or satiety, from violating every tie
nature taught them to hold most sacred.

`Brave knight,' she said earnestly, while her eyes were fixed on him with
even more eloquence of pleading than flowed from her lips, `I beseech you
ride on and leave one whose companionship, even for the idle moment you
have given to it, will do thee dishonor with this noble princess, whom you
serve, while the regard you bestow on me will but bring affliction to my
father's roof. Go, I pray thee, sir, and take a poor maiden's thanks for
the honor you have now done her.'

`Gentle Fatziza, this earnest eloquence of thy tongue and eyes for me to
leave thee, is but flinging golden chains about my neck, to bind me closer.
Ah, there is a basalan within thy window! reach it hither! Dost thou play
on it?'

`To my father, when he asks for music,' she replied, overjoyed to be released
from the hold he had upon her hand, even to get the instrument for
him, which, fearing to disobey, she timidly placed in his hands.

He run his fingers lightly and skillfully over the chords of the basalan,
a rude instrument of three strings, not differing much from the Moorish
guitar, which was much used by the humbler classes, and said with a smile,
`Wouldst thou hear a knight sing a courtly ballad upon a basalan, before a
net-maker's balcony, fair mistress?'

`Nay, sir, put me not to ridicule before my own townswomen.'

`By the star Ula! where the soul of music hath her abode — I do not
mock thee, pretty mistress. Listen.' He thrummed two or three notes, and
shook his head. `Thy instrument is something rude — but if there be
melody in the strings, it shall come forth.'

He then placed the lesser end of the basalan against his breast, and
sweeping the strings rudely, but with bold and rapid touches, sung the following
song in a voice wonderfully full of rich, deep melody: —

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When he had ended, he handed back to her the instrument, saying, `Now,
pr'y thee, fair fisher's daughter, return me a song for mine?'

Fatziza had listened, till she forgot the unpleasantness of her situation, to
the stirring song of the free cavalier, and carefully had he noted the effect
of it upon her bounding bosom and brightening eye. His request at once
broke the charm. She stood silent and hesitating.

`Nay, then, if thou wilt not sing, coy maid, then thou shalt kiss me.'

He seized the hand in which she carelessly held the basalan, near his
reach, and drawing her towards him, rose in his stirrup, and pressed, ere
she could escape, a kiss upon her mouth. At the instant of this act of
knightly gallantry, a young man of a bold and free carriage made his appearance,
followed closely by two apprentices laden with shields. His eye
detected the purpose of the cavalier in rising in his stirrup, and, quicker
than lightning, he snatched two of the shields from the packs, and struck
them together with a loud crash. The sharp sound caused the horse to
rear so suddenly, that, ere the cavalier could recover his seat, he was thrown
from his saddle to the ground. On recovering his feet, he beheld the young
man in the act of replacing the shields, which at once explained the cause,
though not the motive of the rude clamor. He instantly leaped upon his
horse again, and, with his naked sword, spurred towards him. The
man instantly seized a shield upon which he received and shivered the
blade, and, with his other hand, caught the horse by the head, and skillfully
turned him aside from his person.

`Hold, Sismarqui! Harm him not, if thou lovest thy life and me!'
cried the maiden, who had witnessed this from the balcony, and knew well
the impatient spirit of her lover — for his eye, as he stood at the horse's
head, was fixed on the knight with vindictive menace, and his athletic frame
worked in its sinews, and writhed like that of the leopard-hound, ere he
bounds from the leash upon his prey.

The cavalier to whom the words of Fatziza had given the clue to the
young armorer's motive, in attempting to unhorse him, surveyed him steadily
in his turn, and his hand sought in his breast for the short dagger worn
by knights of his degree, which he half drew forth, and then replaced again.

`Not now, slave!' he said, in the low, deliberate tone of quiet rage. `I
shall remember thee. Thou hast been full bold to unhorse a knight for kissing
thy mistress. It had like to have been a dear kiss to me. Thou hast
taken care, as I shall do, that it shall be a dear one to thyself.'

Thus speaking, the horseman turned and rode towards the little balcony,
where stood Fatziza — pale, and anxious for the safety of her lover, whom
she felt had, in one brief moment, created an enemy of the most dangerous
description.

`Sweet fisher's — nay — 'tis sweet net-maker's daughter, I do remember,'
he said courteously, yet with an irony in his habitual haughty manner he
could ill suppress, `thou shouldst have given me the song.'

`O, thou wilt forgive him, my lord?'

`He hath broken my sword.'

`He shall give thee another of his own make, of finer temper.'

`But he hath unhorsed me. Shall he put me on my horse again, pretty
one?'

`Forgive him, sir.'

`Thou dost plead well and gracefully.'

`He is my lover.'

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`Therefore should I not forgive him.'

`Shame, Fatziza!' cried the proud young man; it ill becometh a maid
like thee to ask favor of a knight. I scorn his forgiveness, and despise his
hatred.'

`Ha! this is language from a slave.'

`Therefore do I use the only freedom a slave has — that of speech.'

`Fair mistress, shall I forgive him?'

`I need it not,' said the armorer, fiercely.

`Yes, yes, I pray thee —' interpleaded the maiden.

`Then I do forgive him, because it doth not please him that I should, and
that I have a mind to do thee a kindness. His favor, sweet maid, shall hang
on thine. So, if thou carest for him, thou wilt be less coy when next we
chance to meet. Fare thee well, beauteous Fatziza.'

With these words, portent with coming evil to her, he gave rein to his
steed, and riding forward, turned to the left, opposite the net-maker's house,
and disappeared slowly along a shaded path, between the gardens and the
canal.