CHAPTER VI

TEZCUCANS--THEIR GOLDEN AGE--ACCOMPLISHED PRINCES--DECLINE OF THEIR MONARCHY

The Alcolhuans or Tezcucans 176 Prince Nezahualcoyotl 177 His Persecution 178 His Hair-breadth Escapes 179 His wandering Life 180 Fidelity of his Subjects 181 Triumphs over his Enemies 182 Remarkable League 183 General Amnesty 183 The Tezcucan Code 184 Departments of Government 184 Council of Music 185 Its Censorial Office 185 Literary Taste 186 Tezcucan Bards 188 Royal Ode 188 Resources of Nezahualcoyotl 191 His magnificent Palace 192 His Gardens and Villas 193 Address of the Priest 195

His Baths 197 Luxurious Residence 198 Existing Remains of it 199 Royal Amours 200 Marriage of the King 202 Forest Laws 203 Strolling Adventures 204 Munificence of the Monarch 205 His Religion 206 Temple to the _Unknown God_ 208 Philosophic Retirement 209 His plaintive Verses 209 Last Hours of Nezahualcoyotl 211 His Character 213 Succeeded by Nezahualpilli 214 The Lady of Tula 215 Executes his Son 216 Effeminacy of the King 217 His consequent Misfortunes 217 Death of Nezahualpilli 218 Tezcucan Civilization 219 Criticism on Ixtlilxochitl’s Writings 220

ORIGIN OF THE MEXICAN CIVILIZATION--ANALOGIES WITH THE OLD WORLD

PRELIMINARY NOTICE

Speculations on the New World 225 Manner of its Population 225 Plato’s Atlantis 226 Modern Theory 227 Communication with the Old World 228 Origin of American Civilization 230 Plan of the Essay 231 Analogies suggested by the Mexicans to the Old World 232 Their Traditions of the Deluge 233 Resemble the Hebrew Accounts 234 Temple of Cholula 234 Analogy to the Tower of Babel 235 The Mexican Eve 236 The God Quetzalcoatl 236 Natural Errors of the Missionaries 237

The Cross in Anahuac 238 Eucharist and Baptism 239 Chroniclers strive for Coincidences 241 Argument drawn from these 242 Resemblance of social Usages 245 Analogies from Science 246 Chronological System 247 Hieroglyphics and Symbols 247 Adjustment of Time 248 Affinities of Language 248 Difficulties of Comparison 251 Traditions of Migration 252 Tests of their Truth 253 Physical Analogies 254 Architectural Remains 256 Destructive Spirit of the Spaniards 257 Ruins in Chiapa and Yucatan 258 Works of Art 259 Tools for Building 260 Little Resemblance to Egyptian Art 261 Sculpture 262 Hieroglyphics 263 Probable Age of these Monuments 265 Their probable Architects 267 Difficulties in forming a Conclusion 269 Ignorance of Iron and of Milk 270 Unsatisfactory Explanations 271 General Conclusions 272

## BOOK II

DISCOVERY OF MEXICO

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