"At the beginning of the 16th century a band of Spaniards succeeded by guile to conquer Mexico, subjugating a hundred thousand Aztec warriors and a people who possessed wealth quite sufficient to buy the world." "According to tradition, a mysterious Apostle called the White God" " after vainly preaching love and compassion among the Aztecs, disappeared to the east." "However, the holy scriptures proclaimed that he would return at the beginning of 1500." "And the Spaniards took advantage of the fact that their arrival on Mexican soil corresponded with the date fixed by the legend for the long-awaited return of the white God." "Taloc, the great Priest, continued among the Aztecs the barbaric tradition of sacrificing burnt human offerings." ""The hour of sacrifice has come"." "On March 4th 1519, the Spaniards descended on the coast of the land that was later called 'Mexico'..." "Fernando Cortez the leader" "Alvarado the most valiant captain of Cortez" "Guatemoc, an Aztec prince, who people called "The Tiger"" "The Emperor of the Aztecs Montezuma the Magnificent" "Tezca the daughter of Montezuma" "In the enchanted gardens of Tezca..." ""I have come from afar, my cousin, to ask for your hand in marriage!"" ""Thou hast promised thy daughter, but she laughs of your promises!"" ""They come from the sea of foreigners... those who set fire to our temples and destroy our gods!"" ""Father, the year of prophecy!" "Perhaps they are the children of the White God!"" ""With these two heads of tribes, visit the foreigners... and by giving them precious gifts, persuade them to go!"" ""Every day in the temple, sacrifice a live virgin... until these foreigners have left our land"." "Tezca loved greatly her handmaid Maruna..." "Exalted by his cruel religious fervor, Taloc was to choose the first victim..." ""By choosing you, Maruna the gods give you a great honor!" "Prepare, as at dawn I will offer you in sacrifice"." "Inclined by an exquisite sense of humanity to a religion more evolved... and sensible, Tezca loathed the fierce ritual human sacrifices... practiced by the priests of her people." ""You are good and faithful, Maruna and I will not let you perish... even though I face the wrath of the Gods"." "And without delay..." "Taloc quivered, but his anger was in vain..." ""By order of the Emperor, no woman is to be let out from the gates of the city!"" ""Not one, but twenty girls will be sacrificed in place of your slave"." "At the Spanish encampment..." ""My king, Montezuma, sends you these humble gifts... and begs you to return to your homeland"." ""We do not want to be enemies but at all costs we must come into your city... because the Aztecs must bow down before the Cross"." ""You won't defeat Montezuma by force." "He fears no power other than the white God!"" "'You will present youself to the Aztecs as my ambassador, and tell them you are the son of this strange God whom they await!"" ""I am the son of the White God, and ask to be... conducted to the presence of your Emperor!"" ""We will take this stranger with us and and offer the victim to our Gods!"" "Onward to the royal palace of Montezuma..." "Often it was the small delicate hand of a woman... that upset the history of a country..." ""Already three human hearts I have given in burned offering to the Gods... to make the foreigners leave." "But a princess has challenged our gods and they now cry for: war... war... "." ""Montezuma!" "I am a descendant of the White god!" "..." "I come here to receive from you a tribute and to drive your people,... now lying in the darkness of idolatry, towards the Cross"." ""Aztecs!" "Will we bend to the will of the foreigner?"" ""If this is a God, my spear will not kill him..." "But if he is a man, he deserves death!"" ""Slave, tell me do you know... are the gods noble, strong and of gentle appearance?"" "Wounded, weary and tired, Alvarado found himself at Tezca's chambers..." ""If no one has entered here, oh princess, then can you... explain to me why there are traces of blood... on the wall of this room?"" "Then, myths, followed him to a hidden veranda apartment of Tezca, during the days of his convalescence..." ""Not far from here, my companions are waiting for me,... while I had almost forgotten my mission, sat lazing near you!"" ""Do not leave before the dawn of Domains!" "When the changing of the guard takes place,... my slave will guide you safely to your camp"." ""We have reached almost to the walls of the city... but we have found no trace of Alvarado"." "At the time of the silent stars..." ""This is the emblem of our faith and the symbol of our victory!"" ""Yes!" "I would like to be a Christian..." "if I could be your Christian!"" ""Thou shalt guide the stranger outside the city walls!"" ""Do you want to know where the Spaniard is hidden?"" ""I know that you have given asylum to the wounded Captain." "Where is he now?"" ""Guatemoc!" "You certainly do not want to marry a fallen woman!"" ""I Will marry your daughter as long as you, Montezuma,... promise to sacrifice this man to the gods, on the day of our wedding!"" ""In this sign we are victorious!"" ""Try to enter the Spanish camp... and deliver this cross to any of their Captains"." "Shortly after." "The treasure of Montezuma..." ""Soon you will wear this ring!" "..." "It is a gem that, since time immemorial,... has adorned all Aztec princesses on the day of their wedding"." ""And whoever possesses this ring, acquires great power!"" ""Magnificent, mighty God of Destiny and Death!" "..." "Will you forgive me and spare the life of the stranger?"" ""You have betrayed our God once already Tezca!" "..." "Do not hope to deceive him again!"" ""Nothing can save the stranger now!"" ""In the name of The White God, I ask that you release Captain Alvarado!"" ""You have burned our temples and profaned our gods!" "..." "Alvarado has to pay the penalty of your sacrilege!"" ""At dawn, your Captain will have to die on the votive altar!" "..." "Cortez, can't you try to save him?"" ""If you open the main gates to the fortress we will free Alvarado!"" ""But, after I have given you the way to save your captain,... you will leave the city without attempting to conquer it?" "You swear?"" "So, while Montezuma and his retinue ascend the great temple." ""In the name the Emperor, I order you to lower the drawbridge!"" "The Wedding ceremony is about to begin" ""Tell the princess to hurry up, her groom is waiting!"" ""When the sun touches your heart, then I will sacrifice you to the Gods!" ""In this sign we conquer!"" ""Fear not, father!" "The leader of the foreigners... has vowed to leave our land immediately!"" ""Cortez came to free Alvarado." "He and his men will leave now!"" ""After long months of struggle, we finally entered the city... not just to abandon it!"" ""Aztecs!" "If you kill even a single one of the Spaniards,... your Emperor will pay with his death for the price of that life!"" "The tragic ring of Aztec power." ""Oh you who have sold your people, listen!" "..." "Arid will be each land whereon thou shalt live!" "..." "The fields shall not bear grain to feed you!" "..." "The Sun will no more give light to your eyes!" "..." "And all the gods – even the Christian God!" "will forget you for all eternity!"" "Cortez, who held Montezuma prisoner, decided to gamble his last card." ""Order your people to lay down their arms,... or the White God will send thousands of men... to our aid, to destroy all the Aztecs!"" ""Oh my warriors, stop fighting!" "..." "The Spanish are no longer our enemies..." "Cortez and I have agreed to end the battle with honour!"" ""God of my fathers, forgive me!" "Forgive me!" "Death to these Christians!"" ""For our Gods and for our Homeland!" "Forward!" "Forward!"" "It was one of the strangest and fiercest battles in history..." "But after three days of desperate fighting, the guns and the Crusaders... defeated the Aztec Cavalry." "Thus a small band of soldiers decimated a powerful nation." ""No!" "I will not try to save myself!" "Since I have no more subjects to govern, let me die here at the side of my father, who died for his people!"" ""If you have to cut each others throats to possess this treasure... then to hell with it!"" ""Quickly!" "Tezca, you have a weapon!" "Strike!"" ""In this sign we are victorious!"" ""Tezca, the last of Montezuma, you are free!" "Go!" "And peace be with you!"" "Among the remote silence of the giant mountains." "is found asylum for the survivor of a dynasty of emperors." ""Leave Me!" "In my heart there is only hate!"" ""No!" "In your heart burns a passion stronger than hate." "Love!"" "Fragments of Antonnin Dvorak symphony the orchestra of the Berlin State Opera conducted by Otmar Suitner" "Musical composition and sound editing vvvladimirov"