I
1.High on the table-land of Mexico there once stood a beautiful city，which was built partly on the shores of a lake and partly on islands in the lake.The houses were built of stone，and were of great size.In the squares of the city stood beautiful temples，ornamented with silver and gold and jewels，the principal of which were the temple of the sun and the temple of the god of war.All round the lake the country was well cultivated，andproduced crops of cotton，maize，wheat，sugar，and coffee.Great roads led from the capital to the coasts of the Gulf of Mexico and of the Pacific Ocean.
2.The people who dwelt there were called Aztecs.They were very different from the other Indian tribes，who dwelt on the Atlantic coasts.They were highly civilized，and had a written language of their own.They were also powerful in war，and were acknowledged as masters by all the nations around.At the beginning of the sixteenth century，these wonderful people were at the height of their power.They were ruled over by a king called Montezuma，whom they loved and reverenced as a god.But in an evil hour the story of their great riches reached the ears of the cruel and greedy Spaniards，with whom the lust for gold was theruling passion .
3.In the fourteenth year of Montezuma‘s reign，there appeared off the coast of Mexico ships that roused the curiosity of the people.They were Spanish ships，filled with adventurers seeking for gold and precious stones in the unknown countries of the New World.Canoes laden with meats and fruits pushed off from the shore.The Spaniards received the natives kindly，and gave them some trifling presents.They then sailed away，promising to return the next year.The natives hastened to the capitalto tell the king about the visitors.They drew pictures of the ships and the men，and of all that they had seen.
4.The next year the Spanish fleet appeared again，and this time the great Spanish explorer Cortes was on board.Montezuma was troubled when he heard of their arrival，for there was a prophecy among the Aztecs that a white god should one day come and conquer the kingdom of Mexico.The council of the kingdom decided that it would be best to receive the Spaniards with all respect，and messengers were accordingly sent to offer presents，and congratulations on the safe arrival of the white god，from his servant Montezuma.
5.The presents were so magnificent that the Spaniards determined to see the splendours of the capital.No doubt their minds were set on the conquest of a country containing such stores of wealth.The messengers were sent back with a few holland shirts and some toys of little value，along with a message to the king that the Spaniards could not sail away without accomplishing their real object-that of visiting the great kingMontezuma and his famous capital.
6.In a week the ambassadors returned with large presents of gold，but with a firm message from the king that he refused to see the Spaniards，and that he wishedthem to return to Spain at once.The golden presents，however，had so excited the greed of the Spaniards that they cared not for such messages.“This is a rich and powerful prince indeed，”cried Cortes；“but it will go hard with us if we do not one day visit him in his capital.”
7.On the 16th of August 1519，Cortes started on his march to Mexico，just to see “what sort of a king the great Montezuma was，of whom they had heardso much”-this tyrannicalking before whom everysubject trembled，and who declined to be looked on by the Spaniards.From time to time messengers reached him from Montezuma urging him to return to his owncountry；but to all these Cortes replied courteouslybutfirmly，“It is my duty to the King of Spain，”and passed on.
8.With the first faint streak of dawn，on the 8th of November，Montezuma’s beautiful city of Mexico was reached by Cortes and his Spanish army.With beating hearts they gathered under their banners，their trumpets sounding，their eyes straining over the gorgeous sight that met their view.The sacred flames on the altars，dimly seen through the grey mists of the morning，showed the site of temples and towers.The palace was soon revealed in the glorious morning sunshine，as it poured over the wondrous valley.
9.Mexico was one of the most beautiful cities of the world.Situated on a great salt lake，but slightlydivided from a large fresh-water lake，the city seemedto sit upon the waters with her diademsof gleamingtowers，her expanse of flowery meadows，her circle of mountains all reflected in the innumerable mirrors framed by her courts，her palaces，her temples.No wonder the Spaniards looked with envy on the fair city；no wonder they coveted the boundless wealth of this newly-discovered kingdom.