This was but the beginning of the guiles and juggleries of Tezcatlipoca.  Transforming himself into the likeness of one of those Indians of the Maya race, called Toveyome,[1] he appeared, completely nude, in the market place of Tollan, having green peppers to sell.  Now Huemac, who was associated with Quetzalcoatl in the sovereignty of Tollan (although other myths apply this name directly to Quetzalcoatl, and this seems the correct version),[2] had an only daughter of surpassing beauty, whom many of the Toltecs had vainly sought in marriage.  This damsel looked forth on the market where Tezcatlipoca stood in his nakedness, and her virginal eyes fell upon the sign of his manhood.  Straightway an unconquerable longing seized her, a love so violent that she fell ill and seemed like to die.  Her women told her father the reason, and he sent forth and had the false Toveyo brought before him.  Huemac addressed him:—­

[Footnote 1:  Toveyome is the plural of toveyo, which Molina, in his dictionary, translates “foreigner, stranger.”  Sahagun says that it was applied particularly to the Huastecs, a Maya tribe living in the province of Panuco. Historia, etc., Lib. x, cap. xxix, Sec.8.]

[Footnote 2:  Huemac is a compound of uey, great, and maitl, hand.  Tezozomoc, Duran, and various other writers assign this name to Quetzalcoatl.]

“Whence come you?”

“My lord,” replied the Toveyo, “I am a stranger, and I have come to sell green peppers.”

“Why,” asked the king “do you not wear a maxtli (breech-cloth), and cover your nakedness with a garment?”

“My lord,” answered the stranger, “I follow the custom of my country.”

Then the king added:—­

“You have inspired in my daughter a longing; she is sick with desire; you must cure her.”

“Nay, my lord,” said the stranger, “this may not be.  Rather slay me here; I wish to die; for I am not worthy to hear such words, poor as I am, and seeking only to gain my bread by selling green peppers.”

But the king insisted, and said:—­

“Have no fear; you alone can restore my daughter; you must do so.”

Thereupon the attendants cut the sham Toveyo’s hair; they led him to the bath, and colored his body black; they placed a maxtli and a robe upon him, and the king said:—­

“Go in unto my daughter.”

Tezcatlipoca went in unto her, and she was healed from that hour.

Thus did the naked stranger become the son-in-law of the great king of Tula.  But the Toltecs were deeply angered that the maiden had given his black body the preference over their bright forms, and they plotted to have him slain.  He was placed in the front of battle, and then they left him alone to fight the enemy.  But he destroyed the opposing hosts and returned to Tula with a victory all the more brilliant for their desertion of him.