“Thus always when its errand was of quick despatch,” the Prince continued. “But if its coming were for residence on earth, then its habit has been to adopt a man for its outward form, and enter into him, and speak by him; such was Moses, such Elijah, such were all the Prophets, and such”――he paused, then exclaimed shrilly――“such was Jesus Christ!” * * * * * THE PRAYER OF THE WANDERING JEW.¹ (FROM THE “PRINCE OF INDIA.”) ¹ Copyright, Harper & Bros. “GOD of Israel――my God!” he said, in a tone hardly more than speaking to himself. “These about me, my fellow-creatures, pray thee in the hope of life, I pray thee in the hope of death. I have come up from the sea, and the end was not there; now I will go into the Desert in search of it. Or if I must live, Lord, give me the happiness there is in serving thee. “Thou hast need of instruments of good: let me henceforth be one of them, that by working for thy honor, I may at last enjoy the peace of the blessed――Amen.” * * * * * DEATH OF MONTEZUMA.¹ (FROM “THE FAIR GOD.”) ¹ Copyright, Harper & Bros. THE king turned his pale face and fixed his gazing eyes upon the conqueror; and such power was there in the look that the latter added, with softening manner, “What I can do for thee I will do. I have always been thy true friend.” “O Malinche, I hear you, and your words make dying easy,” answered Montezuma, smiling faintly. With an effort he sought Cortes’ hand, and looking at Acatlan and Tecalco, continued: “Let me intrust these women and their children to you and your lord. Of all that which was mine but now is yours――lands, people, empire,――enough to save them from want and shame were small indeed. Promise me; in the hearing of all these, promise, Malinche.” Taint of anger was there no longer on the soul of the great Spaniard. “Rest thee, good king!” he said, with feeling. “Thy queens and their children shall be my wards. In the hearing of all these, I so swear.” The listener smiled again; his eyes closed, his hand fell down; and so still was he that they began to think him dead. Suddenly he stirred, and said faintly, but distinctly,―― “Nearer, uncles, nearer.” The old men bent over him, listening. “A message to Guatamozin,――to whom I give my last thought, as king. Say to him, that this lingering in death is no fault of his; the aim was true, but the arrow splintered upon leaving the bow. And lest the world hold him to account for my blood, hear me say, all of you, that I bade him do what he did. “And in sign that I love him, take my sceptre, and give it to him――” His voice fell away, yet the lips moved; lower the accents stooped,―― “Tula and the empire go with the sceptre,” he murmured, and they were his last words,――his will. A wail from the women pronounced him dead.