And a woman's voice, I thought it was that of Otomie, answered:

'We are here.'

'O maidens of Anahuac,' said the man speaking from the darkness, 'and
you, O Tezcat, god among the gods, listen to my words. Maidens, a great
honour has been done to you, for by the very choice of heaven, you have
been endowed with the names, the lovelinesses, and the virtues of the
four great goddesses, and chosen to abide a while at the side of this
god, your maker and your master, who has been pleased to visit us for a
space before he seeks his home in the habitations of the Sun. See that
you show yourselves worthy of this honour. Comfort him and cherish him,
that he may forget his glory in your kindness, and when he returns to
his own place may take with him grateful memories and a good report of
your people. You have but a little while to live at his side in this
life, for already, like those of a caged bird, the wings of his spirit
beat against the bars of the flesh, and soon he will shake himself
free from us and you. Yet if you will, it is allowed to one of you to
accompany him to his home, sharing his flight to the Houses of the Sun.
But to all of you, whether you go also, or whether you stay to mourn him
during your life days, I say love and cherish him, be tender and gentle
towards him, for otherwise ruin shall overtake you here and hereafter,
and you and all of us will be ill spoken of in heaven. And you, O
Tezcat, we pray of you to accept these maidens, who bear the names and
wear the charms of your celestial consorts, for there are none more
beautiful or better born in the realms of Anahuac, and among them is
numbered the daughter of our king. They are not perfect indeed, for
perfection is known to you in the heavenly kingdoms only, since these
ladies are but shadows and symbols of the divine goddesses your true