Ancient Nahuatl Poetry

Poem 1: Song at the Beginning

1I am wondering where I may gather some pretty, sweet flowers. Whom shall I ask ? Suppose that I ask the brilliant humming-bird, the emerald trembler ; suppose that I ask the yellow butterfly ; they will tell me, they know, where bloom the pretty, sweet flowers, whether I may gather them here in the laurel woods where dwell the tzinitzcan birds, or whether I may gather them in the flowery forests where the tlauquechol lives. There they may be plucked sparkling with dew, there they come forth in perfection. Perhaps there I shall see them if they have appeared ; I shall place them in the folds of my garment, and with them I shall greet the children, I shall make glad the nobles.

2Truly as I walk along I hear the rocks as it were replying to the sweet songs of the flowers ; truly the glittering, chattering water answers, the bird-green fountain, there it sings, it dashes forth, it sings again ; the mockingbird answers; perhaps the coyol bird answers, and many sweet singing birds scatter their songs around like music. They bless the earth pouring out their sweet voices.

3I said, I cried aloud, may I not cause you pain ye beloved ones, who are seated to listen ; may the brilliant humming-birds come soon. Whom do we seek, O noble poet ? I ask, I say : Where are the pretty, fragrant flowers with which I may make glad you my noble compeers ? Soon they will sing to me, " Here we will make thee to see, thou singer, truly wherewith thou shalt make glad the nobles, thy companions."

4They led me within a valley to a fertile spot, a flowery spot, where the dew spread out in glittering splendor, where I saw various lovely fragrant flowers,

5lovely odorous flowers, clothed with the dew, scattered around in rainbow glory, there they said to me, " Pluck the flowers, whichever thou wishest, mayest thou the singer be glad, and give them to thy friends, to the nobles, that they may rejoice on the earth."

6So I gathered in the folds of my garment the various fragrant flowers, delicate scented, delicious, and I said, may some of our people enter here, may very many of us be here ; and I thought I should go forth to announce to our friends that here all of us should rejoice in the different lovely, odorous flowers, and that we should cull the various sweet songs with which we might rejoice our friends here on earth, and the nobles in their grandeur and dignity.

7So I the singer gathered all the flowers to place them upon the nobles, to clothe them and put them in their hands ; and soon I lifted my voice in a worthy song glorifying the nobles before the face of the Cause of All, where there is no servitude.

8Where shall one pluck them ? Where gather the sweet flowers ? And how shall I attain that flowery land, that fertile land, where there is no servitude, nor affliction ? If one purchases it here on earth, it is only through submission to the Cause of All ; here on earth grief fills my soul as I recall where I the singer saw the flowery spot.

9And I said, truly there is no good spot here on earth, truly in some other bourne there is gladness ; For what good is this earth ? Truly there is another life in the hereafter. There may I go, there the sweet birds sing, there may I learn to know those good flowers, those sweet flowers, those delicious ones, which alone pleasurably, sweetly intoxicate, which alone pleasurably, sweetly intoxicate.

10Onihualcalac nicuicani nepapan xochitlalpan, huel teellelquixtican, tetlamachtican, oncan ahuach tonameyoquiauhtimani, oncan cuicuica in nepapan tlazototome, on cuicatlaza in coyoltototl cahuantimani inin tozquitzin in quellelquixtia in tloque in nahuaque yehuan Dios, ohuaya, ohuaya.

Poem 2: A Spring Song, an Otomi Song, a Plain Song

11I, the singer, have entered many flower gardens, places of pleasaunce, favored spots, where the dew spread out its glittering surface, where sang various lovely birds, where the coyol birds let fall their song, and spreading far around, their voices rejoiced the Cause of All, He who is God, ohuaya ! ohuaya !

12It is there that I the singer hear the very essence of song ; certainly not on earth has true poesy its birth ; certainly it is within the heavens that one hears the lovely coyol bird lift its voice, that the various quechol and zacuan birds speak together, there they certainly praise the Cause of All, ohuaya ! ohuaya !

13I, the singer, labor in spirit with what I heard, that it may lift up my memory, that it may go forth to those shining heavens, that my sighs may be borne on the wind and be permitted to enter where the yellow humming bird chants its praises in the heavens, ohuaya! ohuaya !

14And as in my thoughts I gaze around, truly no such sweet bird lifts its voice, truly the things made for the heavens by the Cause of All surpass all others, and unless my memory tends to things divine scarcely will it be possible to penetrate these and witness the wondrous sights in heaven, which rejoice the sweet heavenly birds before the face of the Cause of All.

15How much, alas, shall I weep on earth? Truly I have lived here in vain illusion ; I say that whatever is here on earth must end with our lives. May I be permitted to sing to thee, the Cause of All, there in the heaven, a dweller in thy mansion, there may my soul lift its voice and be seen with Thee and near Thee, Thou by whom we live, ohuaya ! ohuaya !

Poem 3: AnotJier Plain Song, to the Same Tune

16I, the singer, entered into the house strewn with flowers, where stood upright the emerald drum, where awaiting the Giver of Life the nobles strewed flowers around, the place where the head is bowed for lustration, the house of corrupt odors, where the burning fragrant incense spreads and penetrates, intoxicating our souls in the presence of the Cause of All.

17Where shall we obtain the fragrance which intoxicates our souls ? We do not yet know the various flowersongs with which we may rejoice the Cause of All, however desirous we are ; thou my friend, would that thou bring to my instrument various flowers, that thou shouldst clothe it in brilliant oco flowers, that thou shouldst offer them, and lift thy voice in a new and worthy song to rejoice the Cause of All.

18Wherefore should we recall while the soul is in life that our souls must be scattered hither and thither, and that wherever we go we are to be destroyed on earth ? Rather let us hide it, turn from it, and listen to some worthy new song ; delight thy soul with the pervading fragrance of flowers, as I the singer lift my voice in a new song that I may rejoice the Cause of All.

19Come hither, thou my friend, to where stands the drum, decked with flowers, gleaming with brightness,

20ticaya on xopaleuhtimani in oncan ic chialo ic malhuilo inipetl in icpal in tloque in nahuaque ; xic cahuaya in mixtecomatla xihualmocuepaya tohuan, xic ehua in yancuicatl nicuicani ic niquellelquixtia in tloque in tlaneciz inic moyollo caltitlan.

21green with the outspread plumes of the quetzal bird, where are looked for and cared for the seats near the Cause of All ; leave the place of night and clouds, turn hither with us, lift thy voice in the new song I sing so that I may rejoice the Cause of All, as the dawn approaches in the house of thy heart.

22Of what use is it that I frame my sad songs, that I recall to mind the youths, the beloved children, the precious relatives, the dear friends, famous and celebrated as they were on earth ? Who now hears their fame, their deeds ? Where can they find them ? All of us are but mortal, and our home is there in the Hereafter, where there is life without end.

Poem 4: An Otomi Song of the Mexicans

23I, the singer, polished my noble new song like a shining emerald, I arranged it like the voice of the tzinitzcan bird, I called to mind the essence of poetry, I set it in order like the chant of the zacuan bird, I mingled it with the beauty of the emerald, that I might make it appear like a rose bursting its bud, so that I might rejoice the Cause of All.

24I skillfully arranged my song like the lovely feathers of the zacuan bird, the tzinitzcan and the quechol ; I shall speak forth my song like the tinkling of golden bells ; my song is that which the miaua bird pours forth around him ; I lifted my voice and rained down flowers of speech before the face of the Cause of All.

25In the true spirit of song I lifted my voice through a trumpet of gold, I let fall from my lips a celestial song, I shall speak notes precious and brilliant as those of the miaua bird, I shall cause to blossom out a noble new song, I lifted my voice like the burning incense of flowers, so that I the singer might cause joy before the face of the Cause of All.

26The divine quechol bird answers me as I, the singer, sing, like the coyol bird, a noble new song, polished like a jewel, a turquoise, a shining emerald, darting green rays, a flower song of spring, spreading celestial fragrance, fresh with the dews of roses, thus have I the poet sung.

27I colored with skill, I mingled choice roses in a noble new song, polished like a jewel, etc. (as in v. 4).

28I was glorified, I was enriched, by the flower-sweet song as by the smoke of the poyomatl, my soul was contented, I trembled in spirit, I inhaled the sweetness, my soul was intoxicated, I inhaled the fragrance of delicious flowers in the place of riches, my soul was drunken with the flowers.

Poem 5: Another Plain Song of the Mexicans

29I alone will clothe thee with flowers, mine alone is the song which casts down our grief before God in thy house.

30True it is that my possessions shall perish, my friendships, their home and their house; thus I, O Yoyontzin, pour forth songs to the Giver of Life.

31Let the green quechol birds, let the tzinitzcan twine flowers for us, only dying and withered flowers, that we may clothe thee with flowers, thou ruler, thou Nezahualcoyotl.

32Ye youths and ye braves, skilled in wisdom, may you alone be our friends, while for a moment here we shall enjoy this house.

33For thy fame shall perish, Nopiltzin, and thou, Tezozomoc, where are thy songs? No more do I cry aloud, but rest tranquil that ye have gone to your homes.

34Ye whom I bewailed, I know nevermore, never again ; I am sad here on earth that ye have gone to your homes.

Poem 6: Another Chalco-song, a Poem of Tetlepan

35Alas, my friend, I was afflicted, I cried aloud on thy account to God. How much compassion hast thou for thy sen-ant in this world sent here by thee to be thy subject for the space of a day on this earth !

36However that may be, mayst thou so dispose my heart, that it may pass through this place of reckoning, without anger, without injury, and live a good life on earth.

37My heart knows how truly I weep for my friend, how truly as it lives on earth it cries aloud for thee, my friend, to God.

38Let thy soul awake and turn toward the south, toward the rising of the sun, rouse thy heart that it turn toward the field of battle, there let it win power and fame, the noble flowers which it will not grasp in vain ; adorned with a frontlet of quetzal feathers I went forth armed with sword and shield to the battlefield on earth, that I might merit these noble flowers with which we may rejoice as we wish our friends, as the Cause of All may reward and grant to us.

39Vainly, O friends, do we desire and seek where we may cull those noble flowers unless we fight with bared breasts, with the sweat of the brow, meriting these noble flowers, in bitter and painful war, for which the Cause of All will give reward.

Poem 7: Another

40What have you done, O you our friends, you Chiapanecs and Otomis, why have you grieved, that you were drunken with the wine which you took, that you were drunken ? Come hither and sing ; do not lie stretched out; arise, O friends, let us go to our houses here in this land of spring ; come forth from your drunkenness, see in what a difficult place you must take it.

41For formerly it was so on earth that the white wine was taken in difficult places, as on entering the battlefield, or, as it was said, where the stones were broken and destroyed, where were broken into fragments the lovely emeralds, the turquoises, the honored precious stones, the youths, the children ; therefore take the flowery white wine, O friends and brothers.

42Let us drink it in the flowery land, in our dwelling surrounded by the flowery earth and sky, where the fountains of the flowers send their sweetness abroad ; the delicious breath of the dewy flowers is in our homes in Chiapas ; there nobility and power make them glorious, and the war-flowers bloom over a fertile land.

43Is it possible, oh friends, that you do not hear us ? Let us go, let us go, let us pour forth the white wine, the wine of battle ; let us drink where the wine sweet as the dew of roses is set forth in our houses, let our souls be intoxicated with its sweetness ; enriched, steeped in delight, we shall soak up the water of the flowers in the place of riches, going forth to a land of flowers, a fertile spot. What have you done ? Come hither and listen to our songs, O friends.

Poem 8: Composed by a Certain Rider in Memory of

44Weeping, I, the singer, weave my song of flowers of sadness ; I call to memory the youths, the shards, the fragments, gone to the land of the dead ; once noble and powerful here on earth, the youths were dried up like feathers, were split into fragments like an emerald, before the face and in the sight of those who saw them on earth, and with the knowledge of the Cause of All.

45Alas ! alas ! I sing in grief as I recall the children. Would that I could turn back again ; would that I could grasp their hands once more ; would that I could call them forth from the land of the dead ; would that we could bring them again on earth, that they might rejoice and we rejoice, and that they might rejoice and delight the Giver of Life ; is it possible that we His servants should reject him or should be ungrateful ? Thus I weep in my heart as I, the singer, review my memories, recalling things sad and grievous.

46Would only that I knew they could hear me, there in the land of the dead, were I to sing some worthy song. Would that I could gladden them, that I could console the suffering and the torment of the children. How can it be learned ? Whence can I draw the inspiration ? They are not where I may follow them ; neither can I reach them with my calling as one here on earth.

Poem 9: An Otomi Song of Sadness

47i. To thee, the Cause of All, to thee I cried out in sadness, my sighs rose up before thy face ; I am afflicted here on earth, I suffer, I am wretched, never has joy been my lot, never good fortune ; my labor has been of no avail, certainly nothing here lessens one's suffering ; truly only to be with thee, near thee; may it be thy will that my soul shall rise to thee, may I pour out my tears to thee, before thee, O thou Giver of Life.

48Happy are those who walk in thy favor here on earth, who never neglect to offer up praise, nor, leaving till to-morrow, neglect thee, thou Cause of All, that thou mayest be known in all the earth ; I know that they shall live, I see that they are established, certainly they have drunk to forgetfulness while I am miserable, certainly I shall go to see the land of the dead, certainly we shall meet where all souls are contented.

49Never were any troubled in spirit on the earth who appealed to thee, who cried to thee, only for an instant were they cast down, truly thou caused them to rule as they ruled before: Take as an example on earth, O friend, the fever-stricken patient ; clothe thyself in the flowers of sadness, in the flowers of weeping, give praises in flowers of sighs that may carry you toward the Cause of All.

50I array myself with the jewels of saddest flowers ; in my hands are the weeping flowers of war ; I lift my voice in sad songs ; I offer a new and worthy song which is beautiful and melodious ; I weave songs fresh as the dew of flowers ; on my drum decked with precious stones and plumes I, the singer, keep time to my song, as I take it from those dwellers in the heavens, the zacuan bird, the beautiful tzinitzcan, the divine quechol, those melodious birds who give joy to the Cause of All.

Poem 10: A Spring Song of the Mexicans, a Plain Song

51My heart grieved, I, the singer, was afflicted, that these are the only flowers, the only songs which I can procure here on earth ; see how they speak of sickness and of death, how all go there to their homes, alas.

52Sometimes thou hast toiled and acquired skill, thou takest refuge in thy fame and renown on earth ; but see how vain they speak, alas.

53As many as live on earth, truly they go to God when they descend to the place where are their homes, alas.

54Alas, we miserable ones, may it happen when we die that \ve may see our friends, that we may be with them in grandeur and strength.

55Although He is the Creator, do not hope that the Giver of Life has sent you and has established you.

56Be ye grieved, ye of Tezcuco and Atecpan, that ye are intoxicated with gems and precious stones ; come forth to the light, come and believe.

Poem 12: A Spring Song, a Song of Exhortation,

57Because Certain Ones did not go to the War.

58I strike on my drum, I the skillful singer, that I may arouse, that I may fire our friends, who think of nothing, to whose minds plunged in sleep the dawn has not appeared, over whom are yet spread the dark clouds of night ; may I not call in vain and poorly, may they hear this song of the rosy dawn, poured abroad widely by the drum, ohe ! ohe !

59The divine flowers of dawn blossom forth, the war flowers of the Cause of All ; glittering with dew they scatter abroad their fragrance ; bring them hither that they be not hidden nor bloom in vain, that they may rejoice you our friends, and not in vain shall be the flowers, the living, colored, brilliant flowers.

60They intoxicate the soul, but they are only found, they blossom only on the lofty mountains, on the broad plains where glorious war finds its home. There is where the eagles gather in bands of sixties, there the tigers roar, there the various beloved stones rain down, there the various dear children are cut to pieces ; there the youths are split into shards and ground into fragments.

61Stoutly do those youths rejoice, laboring for the rose of the dawn that they may win it ; and in heaven, He, the only one, the noble one, pours down upon the youths strength and courage, that they may pluck the budding flowers of the pathway, that they may be intoxicated with the dew-damp flowers of the spirit.

62Know, my friend, that these are the only flowers which will give thee pleasure on earth ; mayest thou take them and make them ; O poor one, search out for thy children these flowers and songs. Look not hither without arrows, let all the youths lift up their voices, like

63Chimalxochitl, quauhpilolxochitl ic oquichtlamatimani in y antepilhuan xochicozcaocoxochitl ic mapantimanian, quitimaloao yectliya cuicatl, yectliya xochitl, imezo imelchiquiuh patiuh mochihuaya in quicelia on in teoatl tlachinolli ; y iantocnihuan tliliuhquitepeca in tiyaotehua huey otlipana, ma huel xoconmanao y ye mochimalo, huel xonicaon in ti quauhtliya ocelotla.

Poem 13: A Song of Huexotzinco

64Only sad flowers, sad songs, are here in Mexico, in Tlatilolco, in this place these alone are known, alas.

65It is well to know these, if only we may please the Giver of Life, lest we be destroyed, we his subjects, alas.

66We have angered Him, we are only wretched beings, slaves by blood ; we have seen and known affliction, alas.

67We are disturbed, we are embittered, thy servants here in Tlatilolco, deprived of food, made acquainted with affliction, we are fatigued with labor, O Giver of Life, alas.

68Weeping is with us, tears fall like rain, here in Tlatilolco ; as the Mexican women go down to the water, we beg of them for ourselves and our friends, alas.

69In anMexica ma xiquilnamiquican o yan zan topan quitemohuia y ellelon i mahuizo yehuan zan yehuan Dios, yehua anquin ye oncan in coyonacazco, ohuaya.

70Za can ye oncan zan quinchoquiz tlapaloa o anquihuitzmanatl incan yeuch motelchiuh on ya o anquin ye mochin, ha in tlayotlaqui, ah in tlacotzin, ah in tlacateuctli in oquichtzin y huihui ica ga ye con yacauhqui in Tenochtitlan, ohuaya.

71Even as the smoke, rising, lies in a cloud over Mount Atloyan, in Mexico, so does it happen unto us, O Giver of Life, alas.

72And you Mexicans, may you remember concerning us when you descend and suffer before the majesty of God, when there you shall howl like wolves.

73There, there will be only weeping as your greeting when you come, there you will be accursed, all of you, workers in filth, slaves, rulers or warriors, and thus Tenochtitlan will be deserted.

74Oh friends, do not weep, but know that sometime we shall have left behind us the things of Mexico, and then their water shall be made bitter and their food shall be made bitter, here in Tlatilolco, as never before, by the Giver of Life.

75The disdained and the slaves shall go forth with song ; but in a little while their oppressors shall be seen in the fire, amid the howling of wolves.

76Zan tzinitzcan impetlatl ipan, ohuaya ; on tzinitzcan iceliztoca oncan izan in ninentlamatia, in zan icnoxochicuicatica inocon ya temohua ya ohuaya, ohuaya.

77In canin nemiya icanon in nemitoconchia ye nican huehuetitlan a ayiahue, ye onnentlamacho, ye mocatlaocoyalo ay xopancaliteca, ohuaya, ohuaya.

78Zan ye nauhcampay ontlapepetlantoc, oncan onceliztoc in cozahuizxochitl, oncan nemi in Mexica in tepilhuan a ohuaya ohuaya.

Poem 14: XIV

79Only the tzinitzcan is in power, the tzinitzcan arouses me in my affliction, letting fall its songs like sad flowers.

80Wherever it wanders, wherever it lives, one awaits it here with the drum, in affliction, in distress, here in the house of spring.

81Who is the royal son ? Is not the royal son, the son of God, Jesus Christ, as was written in your writings, as was written in your songs ?

82Is not the flowery writing within the house of flowers that he shall come there from heaven ?

83Look around and wonder at this scene of many colored houses which God has created and endowed with life.

84They make us who are miserable to see the light among the flowers and songs of the fertile fields, they cause us to see those things which God has created and endowed with life.

85They dwell in the place of spring, in the place of spring, here within the broad fields, and only for our sakes does the turquoise-water fall in broken drops on the surface of the lake.

86Where it gleams forth in fourfold rays, where the fragrant yellow flowers bud, there live the Mexicans, the youths.

Poem 15: The Reign of Tezozomoctli

87From the land of the tzihuac bushes, from the land of the mezquite bushes, where was ancient Chicomoztoc, thence came all your rulers hither.

88Here unrolled itself the royal line of Colhuacan, here our nobles of Colhuacan, united with the Chichimecs.

89Sing for a little while concerning these, O children, the sovereign Huitzilihuitl, the judge Quauhxilotl, of our bold leader Tlalnahuacatl, of the proud bird Ixtlilxochitl, those who went forth, and conquered and ruled before God, and bewail Tezozomoctli.

90.A second time they left the mezquite bushes in Hue Tlalpan, obeying the order of God.

91They go where are the flowers, where they may gain grandeur and power, dividing asunder they leave the mountain Atloyan and Hue Tlalpan, obeying the order of the Giver of Life.

92It is cause of rejoicing, that I am enabled to see our rulers from all parts gathering together, arranging in order the. words of the Giver of Life, and that their souls are caused to see and to know that God is precious, wonderful, a sweet ointment, and that they are known as flowers of wise counsel in the affairs of war.

93There were Tochin, with many boats, the noble Acolmiztlan, the noble Catocih, Yohuallatonoc, and Cuetzpaltzin, and Iztaccoyotl, bold leaders from Tlaxcalla, and Coatziteuctli, and Huitlalotzin, famed as flowers on the field of battle.

94Chimal tenamitl oncan in nemohua yehua necalia huilotl oyahualla icahuaca yehuaya on canin ye nemi in tecpipiltin Xiuhtzin xayacamachani amehuano o anconahuiltia ipalnemohua ohuaya.

95In ma huel netotilo mannemamanaloya yaonahuac a on netlamachtiloyan ipan nechihuallano ohuaye in tepiltzin can ye mocuetlaca ohuaya, ohuaya.

96For what purpose do you make your rulers, men of Huexotzinco ? Look at Acolhuacan where the men of Huexotzinco are broken with toil, are trod upon like paving stones, and wander around the mountain Atloyan.

97There is a ceiba tree, a cypress tree, there stands a mezquite bush, strong as a cavern of stone, known as the Giver of Life.

98Ruler of men, Nopiltzin, Chicimec, O Tezozomoctli, why hast thou made us sick, why brought us to death, through not desiring to offer war and battle to Acolhuacan ?

991 1. But we lift up our voice and rejoice in the Giver of life ; the men of Colhuacan and the Mexican leader have ruined us, through not desiring to offer war and battle to Acolhuacan.

100The only joy on earth will be again to send the shield-flower, again to rejoice the Giver of Life ; already are discontented the faces of the workers in filth.

101Therefore you rejoice in the shield-flowers, the flowers of night, the flowers of battle; already are ye clothed, ye children of Quetzalmamatzin and Huitznahuacatl.

102Your shield and your wall of safety are where dwells the sweet joy of war, where it comes, and sings and lifts its voice, where dwell the nobles, the precious stones, making known their faces ; thus you give joy to the Giver of Life.

103Let your dancing, and banqueting be in the battle, there be your place of gain, your scene of action, where the noble youths perish.

1041 6. Quetzalipantica oyo huiloa ahuiltiloni ipalnemohuan yectlahuacan in tapalcayocan a ohuaya ohuaya.

1051 6. Dressed in their feathers they go rejoicing the Giver of Life to the excellent place, the place of shards.

106He lifted up his voice in our houses like a bird, that man of Huexotzinco, Iztaccoyotl.

1071 8. Whoever is aggrieved let him come forth with us against the men of Tlaxcallan, let him follow where the city of Huexotzinco lets drive its arrows.

108Our leaders will lay waste, they will destroy the land, and your children, O Huexotzincos, will have peace of mind.

109The mezquite was there, the tzihuac was there, the Giver of Life has set up the cypress ; be sad that evil has befallen Huexotzinco, that it stands alone in the land.

110In all parts there are destruction and desolation, no longer are there protection and safety, nor has the one only God heard the song ; therefore speak it again, you children ;

111That the words may be repeated, you children, and give joy to the Giver of Life at Tepeyacan.

112And since you are going, you Tlaxcallans, call upon Tlacomihuatzin that he may yet go to this divine war.

113The Chichimecs and the leaders and Iztaccoyotl have with difficulty and vain labor arranged and set in order their jewels and feathers.

114At Huexotzinco the ruler Ouiauhtzin hates the Mexicans, hates the Acolhuacans ; when shall we go to mix with them, to meet them ?

115Ay antlayocoya anquimitoa in amotahuan an teteuctin ayoquantzin ihuan a in tlepetztic in cacha ohuaya tzihuacpopoca yo huaya.

116O yohualli icahuacan teuctlin popoca ahuiltilon Dios ipalnemohuani : chimalli xochitl in cuecuepontimani in mahuiztli moteca molinian tlalticpac, ye nican ic xochimicohuayan in ixtlahuac itec a ohuaya ohuaya.

117The Acolhuacans were at Chalco, the Otomies were in your cornfields at Quauhquechollan, they laid them waste by the permission of God.

118The fields and hills are ravaged, the whole land has been laid waste.

119What remedy can they turn to ? Water and smoke have spoiled the land of the rulers ; they have gone back to Mictlan attaching themselves to the ruler Cacamatl. What remedy can they turn to ?

Poem 16: XVI

120It is a bitter grief to see so many of you,dear friends not walking with me in spirit on the earth, and written down with me ; that no more do I walk in company to the joyful and pleasant spots ; that nevermore in union with you do I journey to the same place.

121Truly I doubt in my heart if I really see you, dear friends ; Is there no one who will pray to the one only God that he take this error from your hearts ? Is no one there ? No one can live a second time on earth. Truly they live there within the heavens, there in a place of delight only.

122At night rises up the smoke of the warriors, a delight to the Lord the Giver of Life ; the shield-flower spreads abroad its leaves, marvelous deeds agitate the earth ; here is the place of the fatal flowers of death which cover the fields.

123Mixtli ye ehuatimani yehuaya moxoxopan ipalnemohuani ye oncan celiztimani a in quauhtlin ocelotl, ye oncan cueponio o in tepilhuan huiya in tlachinol, ohuaya ohuaya.

124In ma oc tonahuican antocnihuan ayiahue, ma oc xonahuiacan antepilhuan in ixtlahuatl itec, y nemoaquihuic zan tictotlanehuia o a in chimalli xochitl in tlachinoll, ohuaya, ohuaya, ohuaya.

125The battle is there, the beginning of the battle is in the open fields, the smoke of the warriors winds around and curls upward from the slaughter of the flowery war, ye friends and warriors of the Chichimecs.

126Let not my soul dread that open field; I earnestly desire the beginning of the slaughter, may thy soul long for the murderous strife.

127O you who are there in the battle, I earnestly desire the beginning of the slaughter, may thy soul long for the murderous strife.

128The cloud rises upward, rising into the blue sky of the Giver of Life ; there blossom forth prowess and daring, there, in the battle field, come the children to maturity.

129Let us rejoice, dear friends, and may ye rejoice, O children, within the open field, and going forth to it, let us revel amid the shield-flowers of the battle.

Poem 17: A Flower Song

130Where thou walkest, O singer, bring forth thy flowery drum, let it stand amid beauteous feathers, let it be placed in the midst of golden flowers ;

131That thou mayest rejoice the youths and the nobles in their grandeur.

132Wonderful indeed is it how the living song descended upon the drum, how it loosened its feathers and spread abroad the songs of the Giver of Life, and the coyol bird answered, spreading wide its notes, offering up its flowery songs of flowers.

133Wherever I hear those words, perhaps the Giver of Life is answering, as answers the coyol bird, spreading wide its notes, offering up its flowery song of flowers.

134It rains down precious stones and beauteous feathers rather than words ; it seems to be as one reveling in food, as one who truly knows the Giver of Life.

135Thus do the nobles glorify themselves with things of beauty, honor and delight, that they may please the one only god, though one knows not the dwelling of the Giver of Life, one knows not whether he is on earth.

136May I yet for a little while have time to revel in those precious and honorable youths; may I wreathe flowers for their nobility; may I here yet for a while wind the songs around the drum.

137I am a guest here among the rulers of Huexotzinco; I lift up my voice and sing of precious stones and emer-

138A in ilhuicac itic ompa yeya huitz in yectliyan xochitl yectliyan cuicatl y, conpolo antellel conpolo antotlayocol y in tlacazo yehuatl in Chichimecatl teuctli in teca yehuatzin ica xonahuiacan a ohuaya ohuaya.

139Maciuhtiao o in quinequi noyollo, zan chimalli xochitl mixochiuh ipalnemoani, quen conchihuaz noyollo yehua onentacico tonquizaco in tlalticpac a ohuaya ohuaya.

140Manton ahuiacan antocnihuan aya ma on nequech nahualo nican huiya a xochintlaticpac ontiyanemi yenican ayac quitlamitehuaz in xochitl in cuicatl in mani a ichan ipalnemohuani yi ao ailili yi ao aya hue aye ohuaya.

141aids ; I select from among the youths those for whom I shall wreathe the flowers of nobility.

142There comes from within the heavens a good flower, a good song, which will destroy your grief, destroy your sorrow ; therefore, Chief of the Chichimecs, be glad and rejoice.

143Here, delightful friendship, turning about with scarlet dyed wings, rains down its flowers, and the warriors and youths, holding in their 'hands the fragrant xilo flowers, walk about inhaling the sweet odor.

144II. The golden coyol bird sings sweetly to you, sweetly lifts its voice like a flower, like sweet flowers in your hand, as you converse and lift your voice in singing, etc.

145Even like the quechol bird to the Giver of Life, even as the herald of God, you have waited for the dawn, and gone forth singing ohui, etc.

146Although I wish that the Giver of Life shall give for flowers the shield-flower, how shall I grieve that your efforts have been in vain, that you have gone forth from the world.

147Even as I shall go forth into the place of decayed flowers, so sometime will it be with your fame and deeds on earth. Although they are flowers, although they are songs, how shall I grieve that your efforts have been in vain, that you have gone forth from the world.

148Let us be glad, dear friends, let us rejoice while we walk here on this flowery earth ; may the end never come of our flowers and songs, but may they continue in the mansion of the Giver of Life.

149In zan ca izqui xochitl in quetzalizqui xochitl pixahui ye nican xopancalaitec i tlacuilolcalitec, zan nimitzahahuiltiaya ohui.

150O anqui ye oncan Tlaxcala, ayahue, chalchiuhtetzilacuicatoque in huehuetitlan ohuaye, xochin poyon ayiahue Xicontencatl teuctli in Tizatlacatzin in camaxochitzin cuicatica y melelquiza xochiticaya on chielo itlatol ohuay icelteotl ohuaya.

151In nepapan xochiquahuitl onicac, aya, huehuetitlan a a yiahue, can canticaya quetzaltica malintimani, ya, yecxochitl motzetzeloaya ohuaya ohuaya.

1521 6. Yet a little while and your friends must pass from earth. What does friendship offer of enjoyment, when soon we shall no longer be known on earth ?

153This is the burden of my song, of the garland of flowers played on the flute, without equal in the place of the nobles.

1541 8. Within the house of flowers the Lord of the Waters, of the Gate of the Waters, answers thee, has answered thee.

155Where thou livest, my beloved, the Giver of Life sends down upon thee sometimes things of sadness ; but I, the singer, shall make thee glad in the place of difficulty, in the place of cumber.

156Here are the many flowers, the beauteous flowers, rained down within the house of spring, within its painted house, and I with them shall make thee glad.

157O, you there in Tlaxcala, you have played like sweet bells upon your drums, even like brilliantly colored flowers. There was Xicontecatl, lord of Tizatlan, the rosy-mouthed, whose songs gave joy like flowers, who listened to the words of the one only God.

158Thy house, O Giver of Life is in all places; its mats are of flowers, finely spun with flowers, where thy children pray to thee.

159A rain of various flowers falls where stands the drum, beauteous wreaths entwine it, sweet flowers are poured down around it.

160Where the brilliant scolopender basks, the coyol bird scatters abroad its songs, answering back the nobles, rejoicing in their prowess and might.

Poem 18: Here begin Songs for the Teponaztli

161Tico, tico, toco, toto, and as the song approaches the end, tiqid, titi, tito, tlti.

162At Tollan there stood the house of beams, there yet stands the house of plumed serpents left by Nacxitl Topiltzin; going forth weeping, our nobles went to where he was to perish, down there at Tlapallan.

163We went forth from Cholula by way of Poyauhtecatl, and ye went forth weeping down by the water toward Acallan.

164I come from Nonohualco as if I carried quechol birds to the place of the nobles ; I grieve that my lord has gone, garlanded with feathers; I am wretched like the last flower.

165With the falling down of mountains I wept, with the lifting up of sands I was wretched, that my lord had gone.

166At Tlapallan he was waited for, it was commanded that there he should sleep, thus being alone.

167In tetl, in quahuitl o on timicuilotehuac nachcan Tollan y inon can in otontlatoco Naxitl Topiltzin y aye polihuiz ye motoca ye ic ye chocaz in momacehual ay yo.

168In our battles my lord was garlanded with feathers ; we were commanded to go alone to Xicalanco.

169Alas ! and alas ! who will be in thy house to attire thee ? Who will be the ruler in thy house, left desolate here in Tollan, in Nonohualco ?

170After he was drunk, the ruler wept ; we glorified ourselves to be in thy dwelling.

171Misfortune and misery were written against us there in Tollan, that our leader Nacxitl Topiltzin was to be destroyed and thy subjects made to weep.

172We have left the turquoise houses, the serpent houses there in Tollan, where ruled our leader Nacxitl Topiltzin.

173Tico, toco, toco, tiquiti, quiti, qniti, quito ; where it is to turn back again.

174Resting amid parti-colored flowers I rejoiced; the many shining flowers came forth, blossomed, burst forth in honor of our mother Holy Mary.

175They sang as the beauteous season grew, that I am but a creature of the one only God, a work of his hands

176that he has made.

177Mayst thy soul walk in the light, mayst thou sing in the great book, mayst thou join the dance of the rulers as our father the bishop speaks in the great temple.

178God created thee, he caused thee to be born in a flowery place, and this new song to Holy Mary the bishop wrote for thee.

Poem 20: XX

179The Toltecs have been taken, alas, the book of their souls has come to an end, alas, everything of the Toltecs has reached its conclusion, no longer do I care to live here.

180Who will take me? Who will go with me ? I am ready to be taken, alas. All that was fresh, the perfume, my flowers, my songs, have gone along with them.

181Great is my affliction, weighty is my burden; I write out a new song concerning it, that some time I may speak it there where I shall go, a song to be known when I shall leave the earth, that my soul shall live after I have gone from here, that my fame shall live fresh in memory.

182I cried aloud, I looked about, I reflected how I might see the root of song, that I might plant it here on the earth, and that then it should make my soul to live. The sweet exhalations of the lovely flowers rose up uniting with our flowers ; one hears them growing as my song buds forth, filled with my words our flowers stand upright in the waters.

183But the flowers depart, their sweetness is divided and exhales, the fragrant poyomatl rains down its leaves where I the poet walk in sadness; one hears them growing, etc.

Poem 21: A Song of the Huexotzincos, Coming to

184Raining down writings for thy mind, O Montezuma, I come hither, I come raining them down, a very jester, a painted butterfly ; stringing together pretty objects, I seem to be as one cementing together precious stones, as I chant my song on my emerald flute, as I blow on my golden flute, ya ho, ay la, etc.

185Yes, I shall cause thy flowers to rejoice the Giver of Life, the God in heaven, as hither I come raining down my songs, ya ho.

186A sweet voiced flower is my mind, a sweet voiced flower is my drum, and I sing the words of this flowery book.

187Rejoice and be glad ye who live amid the flowers in the house of my great lord Montezuma, we must finish with this earth, we must finish with the sweet flowers, alas.

188At the Mount of Battle we bring forth our sweet and glittering flowers before God, plants having the lustre of the tiger, like the cry of the eagle, leaving glorious memory, such are the plants in this house.

189Alas ! in a little while there is an end before God to all living; let me therefore string together beauteous and yellow feathers, and mingling them with the dancing butterflies rain them down before you, scattering the words of my song like water dashed from flowers.

190I would that I could go there where lies the great blue water surging, and smoking and thundering, till after a time it retires again : I shall sing as the quetzal, the

191blue quechol, when I go back to Huexotzinco among the waters (or, and Atzalan).

192I shall follow them, I shall know them, my beloved Huexotzincos; the emerald quechol birds, the green quechol, the golden butterflies, and yellow birds, guard Huexotzinco among the waters (or, and Atzalan).

193Among the flowery waters, the golden waters, the emerald waters, at the junction of the waters which the blue duck rules moving her spangled tail.

194I the singer stand on high on the yellow rushes; let me go forth with noble songs and laden with flowers.