Chapter 7: Act II Scene II Incomplete

Act II Scene I

Enters Cenzontl

Cenzontl: Our Lords thou hast seen, 
Alas, strangers to you ladies, gents
They remain, unknown, their names are,
Greet them as cousins from a foreign land.
Here enters the sons of Axayacatl.
Two brothers who contend inherited divine
Right to be named supreme to govern the valley of Mexico.
Who shall wear the imperial diadem and be named,
Supreme leader Huey Tlatoani?
Our choice forevermore will impact history 
Not only within our closed quarters
But will shape the world.

Enters Montezuma accompanied by Chicahua priest of Huitzilopochtli

Here enters Montezuma, whose deeds speak greatness.
Captured he, enemy fraction sans any aid,
Tribute and sacrifice ready to the gods disposed.

Enters Cuitlahuac Lord of Iztapalapa accompanied by Yolotl priest of Quetzalcoatl
 

Cuitláhuac of Iztapalapa, a son of whom his courage 
Has marked a new era of conquests, instilling 
Uncertainty to those whom Altepetls ambition opposed.

Enters Lord Ecatepec

Lord Ecatepec follows suite Matlacohuatl 
Feared imbues in his adversaries,
To those he highly esteems, is as 
A warm embrace to his friends.

Enter Lord Tlacopan
 

Tezozmic of Tlacopan reigns supreme,
Worthy warrior sans equal.
Itzquahuitzin of Tlatelolco holds the will of gods,
No true power he possesses, no right claim
To remain seated on the throne.

Enters Lord Texcoco

Cacamatzin sire & general of Mexico’s powerful army.
The potent weapon of Tenochtitlan,
Its immense power contained within its state
Can not be measured by deeds alone,
But his courage & short temperament.


Enters Lord Xochimilco

Last to whom we crown Lord
Of a birthing city, Omacatl Lord Xochimilco.
His artificial islands, are able to improve 
Agriculture feeds cities with maize, squash & beans.

 Exits Cenzontl.

Itzquahuitzin: 

Never before have we had to make Parliament

Of Altepetl Lords.

During peaceful days, Tlatoani's will rule above.

In Florid wars, Cuahutli & Ocelotl knights
Command expeditionary force.
What are we to make now, Lords.
No distinctive decision on whom
May be supreme leader of us all?
Through messengers our voices shared,
No common agreement may we care.
Opposition stands aloof, counter thoughts
Mark our rebellious minds, disagreeable 
Remarks incite many fights.
Messengers have become quarrelers
Thriving in controversial arguments.
No master in Mexico think alike!
Every head is a microcosmos ensuring
Learning lecture to cultivate wisdom
Or prejudice, if the heart corrupted 
Takes domain for what should be pure.
Civil Lords found equal footing
Only agreeable to two conditions set.
Ahuizotl's posterity are young to rule!
Both Cuahutemoc & Chimalpilli II,
Are children to whom their maturity 
Will prove most useful to our cause.
Their day is yet to come, their future 
Belongs not to us.
Prayed did we for providence divine,
A sign in good faith to bring forth
A name, to whom great king cite.
Twice a prayer heard, two men
Answered our doubts,
Axayacatl’s descendants
Are to whom our gratitude
Must ease our quarreling minds, 
Set our hearts, & relief our unhealed pangs.
Quetzalcoatl made its will renowned
& Huitzilopochtli calls forth its champion,
Lords elect a king of these noble warriors.

Yolotl priest of Quetzalcoatl and Cuitlahuac takes scene.

Yolotl: Sire, renowned Itzquahuitzin & present lords
Whom my outmost respect, trust & admiration 
I hold in the highest esteems of honor.
Under laws set by the gods etched 
Upon cornerstone of Teotihuacan;
A sickly Nanahuatzin undarted by fear
Jumped into the fire pit to transform 
Into an ever-lucent star.
Doubtful, a second golden geared Tecciztecatl
Wavered by an uneasiness conquering his heart.
Dived into the flames as Nanahuatzin was being consumed.
Twin suns were born causing the land to 
Engulf in flames, the god’s eyes 
Blinded by incandescent rays,
Embraced one another to be saved.
As no life could survive under unrelenting heat,
A wise god, a skilled archer released from 
It's celestial bow a black arrow,
Darker than the universe.
Wounding the second flame causing it to
Bleed its light away fading into the first night
Of an era set by the fifth sun.
Thus the moon was born & the first night.
But Nanahuatzin, refused to move,
Denied its natural movement across the sky.
It had tasted the blood of it's brotherly star
& demanded a sacrifice to be kept alive.

Ecatepec: We know of our ancestry, the reason 
We are called the children of the sun.
Why bring this history to our educated lords?
What dost thou attempt to relate eloquent priest?

Yolotl: It was by Quetzalcoatl's will, whom
He departed to the escarpments of hellish 
Ravines to liberate the bones of another 
Humanity destroyed by divinity.
He deemed human sacrifice unnecessary
On our current age & yet we uphold them
As necessary to maintain our days
From ever looming into despair.
It is, under this tale, that I ask noble lords,
To revolutionize our ways & ancient costumes
To discard archaic beliefs.
I propose, not a single reigning monarch avariciously
Should retain Tenochtitlan's throne
But two brothers are conjoined by regal duties.

There's a commotion in the court.

Yolotl: Huitzilopochtli's priests have their champion,
Montezuma to be dressed in regal robes,
While Cuitlahuac is whom we propose.
Instead of a double coronet worn in a single head.
Let us rejoice of a sibling coexistence
Where peace, prosperity & progress 
Dwell in the valley of Mexico.

Chicahua: Lords, this is naive thinking.
How can we have two lords different in ideals,
Opposite to each other as water and oil
Ever cooperate as one mind?
Unprecedented! Impossible to even conceive
Such proposal to our lords present.

Yolotl: Were not our deities who worked
As a single entity to defeat that aquatic 
Monster? Aye, the Cicapctli a terrible beast
Whom in length was thrice the size of 
A crocodile?
As one they fought to kill that terrible beast.
Now, impossible may seem to share
A double Xiuhuitzoli? (crown)

Chicahua: 'Twas Huitzilopochtli who willingly
Hewn off his foot to attract 
The beast of the primordial sea
& From its flesh have land formed.
Quetzalcoatl let his brother's pain 
Be the price for earth's creation.
Whom are we to thank for this
Ultimate offering more than
Huitzilopochtli whom demands
Mortals hearts to honor his torment.

Yolotl: A deliberate claim to have 
The dark god employed as hero
Of this epic feat, if such troubled
Hast caused him to let his
Priests boisterous comments on past deeds.
Then, he should have cut both feet!

Chicahua: Was it not Quetzalcoatl whom
Was once a king in Teotihuacan?
Was he not guilty of crimes
Caused by his pride?
Then loyal followers, where is the
Obsidian mirror to admire your robes?
Or perhaps is your head adorned 
Not enough with jewels or precious stones?
The cotton tilmatli thou wear must be
An expense only the preach can afford.
You speak of forbidding sacrifice,
Let be so! Sith, thou canst cast away
Vanities of vanity, & truly be a practitioner 
Of what philosophy you preach!

Itzquahuitzin: We have not gathered 
To be schooled on creation lessons.
Nor discredit past divine deeds.
We shall not insult one another
With our apparel or ornaments hanging 
By our ears, nor are we here
To discuss the fabric of our garments.
Have your champions be known
So we may elect a single man
As our leader & king.