of its energies, yet in Spain this was so effectually counteracted by the Inquisition, and other causes in the following century that the loss may be deemed irretrievable..

It cannot be denied that Spain at this period surpassed most of the nations of Europe in religious enthusiasm, or, to speak more correctly, in bigotry. This is doubtless imputable to the long war with the Moslems, and its recent glorious issue, which swelled every heart with exaltation, disposing it to consummate the triumphs of the Cross by purging the land from a heresy which, strange as it may seem, was scarcely less detested than that of Mohammed. Both the sovereigns partook largely of these feelings. With regard to Isabella, moreover, it must be borne constantly in mind that she had been used constantly to surrender her own judgment, in matters of conscience, to those spiritual guardians who were supposed in that age to be its rightful depositaries, and the only casuists who could safely determine the doubtful line of duty. Isabella's pious disposition, and her trembling solicitude to discharge her duty, at whatever cost of personal indignation, greatly enforced the precepts of education. In this way her very virtues became the source of her errors. Unfortunately she lived in an age and station which attached to these errors the most momentous consequences.- Ferdinand and Isabella.

IN SIGHT OF THE VALLEY AND CITY OF MEXICO.

The Spaniards, refreshed by a night's rest, succeeded in gaining the crest of the sierra of Ahualco, which stretches like a curtain between the two great mountains on the north and south. Their progress was now comparatively easy, and they marched forward with a buoyant step, as they felt they were treading the soil of Montezuma. They had not advanced far when, turning an angle of the sierra, they suddenly came on a view which more than compensated the toils of the preceding day. It was that of the valley of Mexico-or Tenochitlan, as more commonly called by the nativeswhich, with its picturesque assemblage of water, woodland, and cultivated plains, its shining cities and shadowy

hills, was spread out like some gay and gorgeous panorama before them.

In the highly rarefied atmosphere of these upper regions, even remote objects have a brilliancy of coloring and a distinctness of outline which seem to annihilate distance. Stretching far away at their feet were seen noble forests of oak, sycamore and cedar; and, beyond, yellow fields of maize and the towering maguey, intermingled with orchards and blooming gardens: for flowers-in such demand for their religious festivalswere even more abundant in this populous valley than in other parts of Anahuac. In the centre of the great basin were beheld the lakes, occupying then a much larger portion of the surface than at present; their borders thickly studded with towns and hamlets, and in the midst-like some Indian empress with her coronal of pearls-the fair city of Mexico, with her white towers and pyramidal temples, reposing, as it were, on the bosom of the waters-the far-famed "Venice of the Aztecs."

High over all rose the royal hill of Chapultepec, the residence of the Mexican monarchs, crowned with the same grove of gigantic cypresses which at this day fling their broad shadows over the land. In the distance, beyond the blue waters of the lake, and nearly screened by intervening foliage, was seen a shining speck the rival capital of Tezcuco; and, still further on, the dark belt of porphyry girdling the valley around like a rich setting which Nature has devised for the fairest of her jewels.

Such was the beautiful vision which broke on the eyes of the Conquistadors. And even now, when so sad a change has come over the scene; when the stately forests have been laid low; and the soil, unsheltered from the fierce radiance of a tropical sun, is in many places abandoned to sterility, when the waters have retired, leaving a broad and ghastly margin white with the incrustation of salts, while the cities and hamlets on their borders have mouldered into ruins; even now that desolation broods over the landscape, so indestructible are the lines of beauty which Nature has traced on its features, that no traveller, however cold, can gaze on

them with any other emotions than those of astonishment and rapture. What then must have been the emotions of the Spaniards when, after working their toilsome way into the upper air, the cloudy tabernacle parted before their eyes, and they beheld all these fair scenes in their pristine magnificence and beauty! It was like the spectacle which greeted the eyes of Moses from the summit of Pisgah; and, in the warm glow of their feelings, they cried out, "It is the Promised Land!"

But these feelings of admiration were very soon followed by others of a very different complexion, as they saw in all this the evidences of a civilization and power far superior to anything they had yet encountered. The more timid, disheartened by the prospect, shrunk from a contest so unequal, and demanded-as they had done on some former occasions-to be led back again to Vera Cruz. Such was not the effect produced on the sanguine spirit of the General. His avarice was sharpened by the display of the dazzling spoil at his feet; and if he felt a natural anxiety at the formidable odds, his confidence was renewed as he gazed on the lines of his veterans, whose weather-beaten visages and battered armor told of battles won and difficulties surmounted; while his bold barbarians, with appetites whetted by the view of their enemies' country, seemed like eagles on the mountains, ready to pounce upon their prey.

By argument, entreaty, and menace, Cortes endeavored to restore the faltering courage of the soldiers, urging them not to think of retreat, now that they had reached the goal for which they had panted, and the golden gates were opened to receive them. In these efforts he was well seconded by the brave cavaliers, who held honor as dear to them as fortune; until the dullest spirits caught somewhat of the enthusiasm of their leaders, and the General had the satisfaction to see his hesitating columns, with their usual buoyant step, once more on their march down the slopes of the sierra.-Conquest of Mexico.

THE LAST OF THE INCAS.

Elevated high above his vassals came the Inca Atahuallpa, borne on a sedan, or open litter, on which was a

sort of throne made of massive gold of inestimable value. The palanquin was lined with the richly colored plumes of tropical birds, and studded with shining plates of gold and silver. Round the monarch's neck was suspended a collar of emeralds of uncommon size and brilliancy. His short hair was decored with golden ornaments, and the imperial borla encircled his temples. The bearing of the Inca was sedate and dignified; and from his lofty station he looked down on the multitudes below with an air of composure, like one accustomed to command. As the leading lines of the procession entered the great square, they opened to the right and left for the royal retinue to pass. Everything was conducted with admirable order. The monarch was permitted to traverse the plaza in silence, and not a Spaniard was visible. When some five or six thousand of his people had entered the plaza, Atahuallpa halted, and, turning round with an inquiring look, demanded, “Where are the strangers?"

At this moment Fray Vincente de Valverde, a Dominican friar, Pizarro's chaplain, and afterward Bishop of Cuzco, came forward with his Breviary (or, as other accounts say, a Bible) in one hand and a crucifix in the other, and approaching the Inca told him that he came by order of his commander to expound to him the doctrines of the true faith, for which purpose the Spaniards had come from a great distance to his country. The Friar then explained, as clearly as he could, the mysterious doctrine of the Trinity; and, ascending high in his account, began with the creation of man, thence passed to his Fall, to his subsequent Redemption, to the Crucifixion, and the Ascension when the Saviour left the Apostle Peter as his vicegerent upon earth.

This power had been transmitted to the successors of the apostle-good and wise men who, under the title of Popes, held authority over all Powers and Potentates on earth. One of the last of these Popes had commissioned the Spanish Emperor-the most mighty monarch in the world—to conquer and convert the natives in this western hemisphere; and his general, Francisco Pizarro, had now come to execute this important mission. The Friar concluded with beseeching the Peruvian monarch

to receive him kindly, to abjure the errors of his own faith, and embrace that of the Christians, now proffered to him-the only one by which he could hope for salvation; and, furthermore to acknowledge himself a tributary of the Emperor Charles the Fifth who, in that event, would aid and protect him as his loyal vassal.

The eyes of the Indian monarch flashed fire, and his dark brow grew darker, as he replied, "I will be no man's tributary! I am greater than any prince upon earth. Your Emperor may be a great prince; I do not doubt it, when I see that he has sent his subjects so far across the waters; and I am willing to hold him as a brother. As for the Pope of whom you speak, he must be crazy to talk of giving away countries which do not belong to him. For my faith," he continued, "I will not change it.

Your own God, as you say, was put to death by the very men whom he created. But mine," he concluded, pointing to his deity-then alas! sinking in glory behind the mountains-" my God still lives in the heavens, and looks down on his children."

He then demanded of Valverde by what authority he had said these things. The Friar pointed as authority to the book which he held. Atahuallpa, taking it, turned over the pages a moment; then, as the insult which he had received probably flashed across his mind, he threw it down with vehemence and exclaimed, "Tell your comrades that they shall give me an account of their doings in my land. I will not go from here till they have made me full satisfaction for all the wrongs they have committed."

The Friar, greatly scandalized by the indignity offered to the sacred volume, stayed only to pick it up, and hastening to Pizarro, informed him of what had been done, exclaiming at the same time, "Do you not see that while we stand here wasting our breath in talking with this dog, full of pride as he is, the fields are filling with Indians? Set on at once! I absolve you."

Pizarro saw that the hour had come. He waved a white scarf in the air-the appointed signal. The fatal gun was fired from the fortress. Then, springing into the square, the Spanish captain and his followers shouted the old war-cry of “St. Jago and at them!" It was