Rig Veda Americanus Sacred Songs of The Ancient Mexicans, With A Gloss in Nahuatl by Various
Rig Veda Americanus Sacred Songs of The Ancient Mexicans, With A Gloss in Nahuatl by Various
In accordance with the general object of this series of volumes—which is to furnish materials for study rather
than to offer completed studies—I have prepared for this number the text of the most ancient authentic record
of American religious lore. From its antiquity and character, I have ventured to call this little collection the
Rig Veda Americanus, after the similar cyclus of sacred hymns, which are the most venerable product of the
Aryan mind.
As for my attempted translation of these mystic chants I offer it with the utmost reserve. It would be the
height of temerity in me to pretend to have overcome difficulties which one so familiar with the ancient
Nahuatl as Father Sahagun intimated were beyond his powers. All that I hope to have achieved is, by the aid
of the Gloss—and not always in conformity to its suggestions—to give a general idea of the sense and purport
of the originals.
The desirability of preserving and publishing these texts seems to me to be manifest. They reveal to us the
undoubtedly authentic spirit of the ancient religion; they show us the language in its most archaic form; they
preserve references to various mythical cycli of importance to the historian; and they illustrate the alterations
in the spoken tongue adopted in the esoteric dialect of the priesthood. Such considerations will, I trust, attract
the attention of scholars to these fragments of a lost literature.
In the appended Vocabulary I have inserted only those words and expressions for which I can suggest
correct—or, at least, probable—renderings. Others will have to be left to future investigators.
Preface.                                                                                                             1
Contents.
     1. Preface
     2. Introduction
     3.
              1. Hymn of Huitzilopochtli
              2. War Song of the Huitznahuac
              3. Hymn of Tlaloc
              4. Hymn to the All-Mother
              5. Hymn to the Virgin Mother
              6. Hymn to the God of Fire
              7. Hymn of Mixcoatl
              8. Hymn to the God of Flowers
              9. Hymn to the Goddess of Artists
             10. Hymn to the God of Fishing
             11. Hymn of the Otomi Leader
             12. Hymn to the Goddess of Childbirth
             13. Hymn to the Mother of Mortals
             14. Hymn Sung at a Fast every Eight Years
             15. Hymn to a Night God
             16. Hymn to the Goddess of Food
             17. Hymn to the Gods of Wine
             18. Hymn to the Master of Waters
             19. Hymn to the God of Flowers
             20. Hymn to the God of Merchants
     4. Glossary
     5. Index
Contents.                                                2
List of Illustrations.
Xippe Totec, God of Silversmiths, in Full Costume,       Frontispiece
Priest of Xippe Totec, Drinking and Playing on a Drum,   Hymn XV
Chicomecoatl, Goddess of Food and Drink,                 Hymn XVI
Totochtin, the Rabbits, Gods of the Drunkards,           Hymn XVII
Atlaua, Singing and Dancing,                             Hymn XVIII
List of Illustrations.                                                  3
Introduction.
As in a previous number of the Library of Aboriginal American Literature I have discussed in detail the
character of the ancient Mexican poetry, I shall confine myself at present to the history of the present
collection. We owe its preservation to the untiring industry of Father Bernardino de Sahagun, one of the
earliest missionaries to Mexico, and the author of by far the most important work on the religion, manners and
customs of the ancient Mexicans.
By long residence and close application Sahagun acquired a complete mastery of the Nahuatl tongue. He
composed his celebrated Historia de las Cosas de la Nueva España primarily in the native language, and from
this original wrote out a Spanish translation, in some parts considerably abbreviated. This incomplete
reproduction is that which was published in Spanish by Lord Kingsborough and Bustamente, and in a French
rendering with useful notes by Dr. Jourdanet and M. Rémi Simeon.
So far as I know, the only complete copy of the Nahuatl original now in existence is that preserved in the
Bibliotheca Laurentio-Mediceana in Florence, where I examined it in April, 1889. It is a most elaborate and
beautiful MS., in three large volumes, containing thirteen hundred and seventy-eight illustrations, carefully
drawn by hand, mostly colored, illustrative of the native mythology, history, arts and usages, besides many
elaborate head and tail pieces to the chapters.
There is another Nahuatl MS. of Sahagun’s history in the private library of the King of Spain at Madrid,
which I examined in May, 1888, and of which I published a collation in the Mémoires de la Sociétè
Internationale des Américanistes, for that year. It is incomplete, embracing only the first six books of the
Historia, and should be considered merely as a borrador or preliminary sketch for the Florentine copy. It
contains, however, a certain amount of material not included in the latter, and has been peculiarly useful to me
in the preparation of the present volume, as not only affording another reading of the text, valuable for
comparison, but as furnishing a gloss or Nahuatl paraphrase of most of the hymns, which does not appear in
the Florentine MS. As evidently the older of the two, I have adopted the readings of the Madrid MS. as my
text, and given the variants of the Florentine MS. at the end of each hymn.
Neither MS. attempts any translation of the hymns. That at Madrid has no Spanish comment whatever, while
that at Florence places opposite the hymns the following remarks, which are also found in the printed copies,
near the close of the Appendix of the Second Book of the Historia:—
“It is an old trick of our enemy the Devil to try to conceal himself in order the better to compass his ends, in
accordance with the words of the Gospel, ‘He whose deeds are evil, shuns the light.’ Also on earth this enemy
of ours has provided himself with a dense wood and a ground, rough and filled with abysses, there to prepare
his wiles and to escape pursuit, as do wild beasts and venomous serpents. This wood and these abysses are the
songs which he has inspired for his service to be sung in his honor within the temples and outside of them; for
they are so artfully composed that they say what they will, but disclose only what the Devil commands, not
being rightly understood except by those to whom they are addressed. It is, in fact, well recognized that the
cave, wood or abysses in which this cursed enemy hides himself, are these songs or chants which he himself
composed, and which are sung to him without being understood except by those who are acquainted with this
sort of language. The consequence is that they sing what they please, war or peace, praise to the Devil or
contempt for Christ, and they cannot in the least be understood by other men.”
Lord Kingsborough says in a note in his voluminous work on the Antiquities of Mexico that this portion of
Sahagun’s text was destroyed by order of the Inquisition, and that there was a memorandum to that effect in
the Spanish original in the noble writer’s possession. This could scarcely have referred to a translation of the
hymns, for none such exists in any MS. I have consulted, or heard of; and Sahagun intimates in the passage
quoted above that he had made none, on account of the obscurity of the diction. Neither does any appear in the
Introduction.                                                                                                   4
                The Project Gutenberg eBook of Rig Veda Americanus by Daniel G. Brinton, editor
Florentine MS., where the text of the hymns is given in full, although the explanatory Gloss is omitted. This
last-mentioned fact has prevented me from correcting the text of the Gloss, which in some passages is
manifestly erroneous; but I have confined myself to reproducing it strictly according to the original MS.,
leaving its correction to those who will make use of it.
The Florentine MS. has five colored illustrations of the divinities, or their symbols, which are spoken of in the
chants. These are probably copied from the native hieroglyphic books in which, as we learn from Sahagun,
such ancient songs were preserved and transmitted. These illustrations I had copied with scrupulous fidelity
and reproduced by one of the photographic processes, for the present work.
Such is the history of this curious document, and with this brief introduction I submit it to those who will have
the patience and skill to unravel its manifold difficulties.
Introduction.                                                                                                   5
I. Vitzilopochtli icuic.
      1. Vitzilopuchi, yaquetlaya, yyaconay, ynohuihuihuia: anenicuic, toçiquemitla, yya, ayya, yya y ya uia,
         queyanoca, oya tonaqui, yyaya, yya, yya.
      2. Tetzauiztli ya mixtecatl, ce ymocxi pichauaztecatla pomaya, ouayyeo, ayyayya.
      3. Ay tlaxotla tenamitl yuitli macoc mupupuxotiuh, yautlatoa ya, ayyayyo, noteuh aya tepanquizqui
         mitoaya.
      4. Oya yeua uel mamauia, in tlaxotecatl teuhtla milacatzoaya, itlaxotecatl teuhtla milacatzoaya.
      5. Amanteca toyauan xinechoncentlalizquiuia ycalipan yauhtiua, xinechoncentlalizqui.
      6. Pipiteca toyauan xinechoncentlalizquiuia: ycalipan, yautiua, xinechoncentlalizqui.
      1. In ivitzilopochtli ayac nouiui, id est, ayac nechneneuilia, ayac iuhqui, in iuhqui. Anenicuic, id est,
         amo ca nen nonicuic, in quetzali, in chalchihuitl in ixquich ynotlatqui, toçiquemitl. Queyanoca oya
         tonaqui, id est, onocatonat, onocatlatuit.
      2. Q.n., tetzauiztli, id est, oquintetzauito, in mixteca inic oquiyaochiuhqui: oquimanilito in imicxi in
         pichauazteca, ioan in mixteca.
      3. Ay tlaxotla tenamitl, q.n., quitepeua inin tena in aquique yauchiuallo. Iuitli macoc, q.n., oncan
         quitema in tiçatl in ihuitl. Mopopuxotiuh yauhtlatuaya, q.n., inic mopopuxoticalaqui yauc, ioan, q.n.,
         yeuatl quitemaca y yauyutl quitemaceualtia, tepanquizqui, mitoayaqui yehuatl quichioa yauyutl.
      4. Oya yeua huel mamauia, q.n., çan oc momamauhtiaya in aya momochiua yauyutl. Teuhtla
         milacatzoaya q.n., in noteuh in opeuh yauyutl, aocac momauhtica iniquac ynoteuhtli moquetza
         ynoteuhtica tlayoa(lli).
      5. Amanteca toyauan, q.n., yn iyaoan yn aquique in cani omocentlalique ca in calipan in yautioa ca
         tlatlaz ynin cal.
      6. Pipiteca, toyaoan, xinechoncentlalizque, q.n., in pipiteca y yaoan mochiuhque. Yn calla in mochiua
         yauyutl in i calipan.
Translation.
The Hymn of Huitzilopochtli.
      1. Huitzilopochtli is first in rank, no one, no one is like unto him: not vainly do I sing (his praises)
         coming forth in the garb of our ancestors; I shine; I glitter.
      2. He is a terror to the Mixteca; he alone destroyed the Picha-Huasteca, he conquered them.
      3. The Dart-Hurler is an example to the city, as he sets to work. He who commands in battle is called the
         representative of my God.
      4. When he shouts aloud he inspires great terror, the divine hurler, the god turning himself in the
         combat, the divine hurler, the god turning himself in the combat.
      5. Amanteca, gather yourselves together with me in the house of war against your enemies, gather
         yourselves together with me.
      6. Pipiteca, gather yourselves together with me in the house of war against your enemies, gather
         yourselves together with me.
I. Vitzilopochtli icuic.                                                                                          6
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Notes.
Huitzilopochtli was the well-known war-god of the Azteca, whose functions are described by Sahagun
(Historia, Lib. I., cap. 1) and many other writers. The hymn here given is probably the tlaxotecuyotl, which
was chanted at the celebration of his feast in the fifteenth month of the Mexican calendar (see Sahagun,
Historia, Lib. II., cap. 34). The word means “his glory be established.” It was commenced at sunset and
repeated till sunrise.
1. “In the garb of our ancestors” (to-citli-quemitl). The high priest appeared in the insignia of Quetzalcoatl,
which, says Sahagun, “were very gorgeous.” (Hist., Lib. II., Appendix.)
2. Mixteca, plural of Mixtecatl, an inhabitant of Mixtecapan, near the Pacific. The Huasteca, a nation of Maya
lineage, lived on the Gulf coast.
3. The god was called the Hurler, as he was believed to hurl the lightning serpent (the xiuhcoatl).
5. Sahagun recites the legends about the Amanteca (Historia, Lib. IX., cap. 18). Here the name refers to the
inhabitants of the quarter called Amantlan.
6. Pipiteca, a nomen gentile, referring doubtless to a certain class of the hearers.
This hymn may be compared to another, descriptive of the same divinity, preserved in Sahagun’s MS. in
Madrid. It is as follows, with my translation by its side.
Vitzilopuchtli                 Huitzilopochtli,
Can maceualli                  Only a subject,
Can tlacatl catca.             Only a mortal was.
Naualli                        A magician,
Tetzauitl                      A terror,
Atlacacemelle                  A stirrer of strife,
Teixcuepani                    A deceiver,
Quiyocoyani in yaoyotl         A maker of war,
Yautecani                      An arranger of battles,
Yautlatoani;                   A lord of battles;
Ca itechpa mitoaya             And of him it was said
Tepan quitlaza                 That he hurled
In xiuhcoatl                   His flaming serpent,
Immamalhuaztli                 His fire stick;
Quitoznequi yaoyotl            Which means war,
Teoatl tlachinolli.            Blood and burning;
Auh iniquac ilhuiq’xtililoya   And when his festival was celebrated,
Malmicouaya                    Captives were slain,
Tlaaltilmicoaya                Washed slaves were slain,
Tealtilaya impochteca.         The merchants washed them.
Auh inic mochichiuaya:         And thus he was arrayed:
Xiuhtotonacoche catca          With head-dress of green feathers,
Xiuhcoanauale                  Holding his serpent torch,
Xiuhtlalpile                   Girded with a belt,
Matacaxe                       Bracelets upon his arms,
Tzitzile                       Wearing turquoises,
Notes.                                                                                                         7
             The Project Gutenberg eBook of Rig Veda Americanus by Daniel G. Brinton, editor
Notes.                                                                                                      8
II. Uitznaoac yautl icuic.
     1. Ahuia tlacochcalco notequioa ayayui nocaquia tlacatl, ya nechyapinauia, ayaca nomati, nitetzauiztli,
        auia, ayaca nomati niya, yautla, aquitoloc tlacochcalco notequioa, iuexcatlatoa ay nopilchan.
     2. Ihiya quetl tocuilechcatl quauiquemitl nepapan oc uitzetla.
     3. Huia oholopa telipuchtla, yuiyoc yn nomalli, ye nimauia, ye nimauia, yuiyoc yn nomalli.
     4. Huia uitznauac telepochtla yuiyoc, yn nomalli, ye nimauia, ye nimauia yuiyoc, ynomalli.
     5. Huia ytzicotla telipochtla, yuiyoc, yn nomalli, ye nimauia, ye nimauia, yuiyoc yn nomalli.
     6. Uitznauac teuaqui, machiyotla tetemoya, ahuia oyatonac, yahuia oyatonac, machiyotla tetemoya.
     7. Tocuilitla teuaqui, machiyotla tetemoya, ahuia oyatonac, yahuia oyatonac uia, machiyotla tetemoya.
     1. What ho! my work is in the hall of arms, I listen to no mortal, nor can any put me to shame, I know
        none such, I am the Terror, I know none other, I am where war is, my work is said to be in the hall of
        arms, let no one curse my children.
     2. Our adornment comes from out the south, it is varied in color as the clothing of the eagle.
     3. Ho! ho! abundance of youths doubly clothed, arrayed in feathers, are my captives, I deliver them up, I
        deliver them up, my captives arrayed in feathers.
     4. Ho! youths for the Huitznahuac, arrayed in feathers, these are my captives, I deliver them up, I deliver
        them up, arrayed in feathers, my captives.
     5. Youths from the south, arrayed in feathers, my captives, I deliver them up, I deliver them up, arrayed
        in feathers, my captives.
     6. The god enters, the Huitznahuac, he descends as an example, he shines forth, he shines forth,
        descending as an example.
     7. Adorned like us he enters as a god, he descends as an example, he shines forth, he shines forth,
        descending as an example.
Notes.
There is no Gloss to this hymn, but its signification seems clear. Huitznahuac was a name applied to several
edifices in the great temple at Tenochtitlan, as we are informed at length by Sahagun. The word is a locative
from huitznahua. This term means “magicians from the south” or “diviners with thorns,” and was applied in
the Quetzalcoatl mythical cyclus to the legendary enemies of Huitzilopochtli, whom he is said to have
destroyed as soon as he was born. (See my discussion of this myth in Proceedings of the American
Philosophical Society for 1887.) Apparently to perpetuate the memory of this exploit, the custom was, at the
festival of Huitzilopochtli, for the slaves who were to be sacrificed to form two bands, one representing the
Huitznahua and the other the partisans of the god, and to slaughter each other until the arrival of the god
Paynal put an end to the combat (Sahagun, Historia, Lib. II., cap. 34). The song here given belongs to this
portion of the ancient rite.
1. The tlacochcalli, “house of arrows” (tlacochtli, arrow, calli, house), was a large hall in the temple of
Huitzilopochtli where arrows, spears and other arms were kept (Sahagun, Lib. VIII., cap. 32).
2. The “adornment from the south” refers to the meaning of the name Huitznahua. (See Glossary.)
3. Sahagun (ubi sup.) informs us that the slaves condemned to die fought against free warriors, and when any
of the latter were captured they were promptly put to death by their captors.
Var. 1. Amopanitl.
Gloss.
     1. In Mexico the god appears; thy banner is unfolded in all directions, and no one weeps.
     2. I, the god, have returned again, I have turned again to the place of abundance of blood-sacrifices;
        there when the day grows old, I am beheld as a god.
     3. Thy work is that of a noble magician; truly thou hast made thyself to be of our flesh; thou hast made
        thyself, and who dare affront thee?
     4. Truly he who affronts me does not find himself well with me; my fathers took by the head the tigers
        and the serpents.
     5. In Tlalocan, in the verdant house, they play at ball, they cast the reeds.
     6. Go forth, go forth to where the clouds are spread abundantly, where the thick mist makes the cloudy
        house of Tlaloc.
     7. There with strong voice I rise up and cry aloud.
     8. Go ye forth to seek me, seek for the words which I have said, as I rise, a terrible one, and cry aloud.
     9. After four years they shall go forth, not to be known, not to be numbered, they shall descend to the
        beautiful house, to unite together and know the doctrine.
    10. Go forth, go forth to where the clouds are spread abundantly, where the thick mist makes the cloudy
        house of Tlaloc.
Notes.
The god Tlaloc shared with Huitzilopochtli the highest place in the Mexican Pantheon. He was the deity who
presided over the waters, the rains, the thunder and the lightning. The annual festival in his honor took place
about the time of corn-planting, and was intended to secure his favor for this all-important crop. Its details are
described at great length by Diego Duran, Historia de Nueva España, cap. 86, and Sahagun, Historia, Lib. II.,
cap. 25, and elsewhere. His name is derived from tlalli, earth. Tlalocan, referred to in v. 5, “the place
of Tlaloc,” was the name of a mountain east of Tenochtitlan, where the festival of the god was
celebrated; but it had also a mythical meaning, equivalent to “the earthly Paradise,” the abode
of happy souls.
It will be observed that v. 10 is a repetition of v. 6. The word ayauicalo refers to the ayauhcalli,
“house of mist,” the home of the rain god, which Sahagun informs us was represented at the
annual festival by four small buildings near the water’s edge, carefully disposed to face the four
cardinal points of the compass (Sahagun, ubi supra).
In v. 8 the expression tetzauhpilli (tetzauhqui, to frighten) may be explained by the figure of Tlaloc, whose
statue, says Duran, was that of un espantable monstruo, la cara muy fea (ibid.).
The compound in v. 10, nauhxiuhtica, “after four years,” appears to refer to the souls of the
departed brave ones, who, according to Aztec mythology, passed to the heaven for four years and after that
returned to the terrestrial Paradise,—the palace of Tlaloc. (See my paper, The Journey of the Soul, in
Proceedings of the Numismatic and Antiquarian Society of Philadelphia, 1883.)
     1. Ahuiya coçauic xochitla oya cueponca yeua tonana teumechaue moquiçican tamoanchan, auayye,
        auayya, yyao, yya, yyeo, aye ayo, ayy ayyaa.
     2. Coçauic xochitla oya moxocha yeua tonana, teumechaue, moquiçica tamoanchan, ouayye, auayya,
        yyao, yya, yyeo, ayo aye, ayya, ayyaa.
     3. Ahuia iztac xochitla, oya cueponca yeua tonana teumechaue moquiçica tamoanchan, ouayye, auayya,
        yyao yya, yyeo, ayeaye, ayya ayyaa.
     4. Ahuiya iztac xochitla oya moxocha yeua tonana teumechaue moquiçica tamoanchan, ouayye, auayya,
        yyao, yya, yyeo, aye aye, ayya ayyaa.
     5. Ahuia ohoya teutl ca teucontli paca tona aya, itzpapalotli, auayye, yyao, yya, yyeo, ayyaa.
     6. Ao, auatic ya itaca chicunauixtlauatla maçatl yyollo, ica mozcaltizqui tonan tlaltecutli, ayao, ayyao,
        ayyaa.
     7. Aho, ye yancuic tiçatla ye yancuic yuitla oya potoniloc yn auicacopa acatl xamontoca.
     8. Aho maçatl mochiuhca teutlalipan mitziya noittaco, yeua xiuhnello, yeua mimichan.
     1. Hail to our mother, who caused the yellow flowers to blossom, who scattered the seeds of the
        maguey, as she came forth from Paradise.
     2. Hail to our mother, who poured forth flowers in abundance, who scattered the seeds of the maguey, as
        she came forth from Paradise.
     3. Hail to our mother, who caused the yellow flowers to blossom, she who scattered the seeds of the
        maguey, as she came forth from Paradise.
     4. Hail to our mother, who poured forth white flowers in abundance, who scattered the seeds of the
        maguey, as she came forth from Paradise.
     5. Hail to the goddess who shines in the thorn bush like a bright butterfly.
     6. Ho! she is our mother, goddess of the earth, she supplies food in the desert to the wild beasts, and
        causes them to live.
     7. Thus, thus, you see her to be an ever-fresh model of liberality toward all flesh.
     8. And as you see the goddess of the earth do to the wild beasts, so also does she toward the green herbs
        and the fishes.
The goddess to whom this hymn is devoted was called Teteoinan, the Mother of the Gods, Toçi, our Mother
(maternal ancestor), and also by another name which signified “the Heart of the Earth,” the
latter being bestowed upon her, says Duran, because she was believed to be the cause of earthquakes. Her
general functions were those of a genius of fertility, extending both to the vegetable and the animal world.
Thus, she was the patroness of the native midwives and of women in childbirth (Sahagun). Her chief temple at
Tepeyacac was one of the most renowned in ancient Mexico, and it was a felicitous idea of the early
missionaries to have “Our Lady of Guadalupe” make her appearance on the immediate site of
this ancient fane already celebrated as the place of worship of the older female deity. The Codex Ramirez
makes her a daughter of the first King of Culhuacan.
1. Tamoanchan. This word Sahagun translates “we seek our homes,” while the Codex
Telleriano-Remensis gives the more intelligible rendering “there is their home whither they
descend,” and adds that it is synonymous with Xochitlycacan, “the place where the flowers are
lifted.” It was the mystical Paradise of the Aztecs, the Home of the Gods, and the happy realm of
departed souls. The Codex just quoted adds that the gods were born there, which explains the introduction of
the word into this hymn.
5. For teucontli (see Glossary) I should suggest teocomitl, a species of ornament, (cf. Sahagun, Historia, Lib.
II., cap. 37.)
Notes.                                                                                                      13
V. Chimalpanecatl icuic ioan tlaltecaua (nanotl).
     1. Q.n., yautlatolli ipa omixiuh ynanotl chimalipan in omixiuh, id est, ipa oquitlacatilli ynanotl in
        uitzilopochtli y yauyutl.
     2. Q.n., coatepec otepeuh tepetitla yc moxaual ioan y teueuel, id est, ichimal ic otepeuh aocac
        omoquichquetz iniquac peualoque coatepec a iniquac otlalli cuecuechiuh, id est, iquac opopoliuhque.
     1. Chimalipan was a virgin when she brought forth the adviser of battles; Chimalipan was a virgin when
        she brought forth the adviser of battles.
     2. On the Coatepec was her labor; on the mountain he ripened into age; as he became a man truly the
        earth was shaken, even as he became a man.
Notes.
The goddess Chimalipan is not mentioned by the authorities at my command; but from the tenor of the hymn
it is evident that the name is a synonym for the virgin mother of Huitzilopochtli, who is distinctly referred to
by his title Yautlatoani (see ante, p. 18). In the myth, she dwelt upon the Coatepetl, the Serpent Mountain, on
the site of Tulan. For a full discussion of this myth I refer to my inquiry, “Were the Toltecs an Historic
Nationality?” in Proceedings of the Amer. Phil. Soc. for Sept. 1887, and American Hero-Myths, chap.
11. (Phila., 1881).
The Gloss distinctly states that the mother of Huitzilopochtli is referred to in the hymn. We must regard
Chimalipan therefore as identical with Chimalman, who, according to another myth dwelt in Tula as a virgin,
and was divinely impregnated by the descending spirit of the All-father in the shape of a bunch of feathers.
In other myths she is mentioned as also the mother of the Huitznahua, the enemies and the brothers of
Huitzilopochtli, referred to in the second of this collection of chants.
     1. Huiya tzonimolco notauane ye namech maya pinauhtiz, tetemoca ye namech maya pinauhtiz.
     2. Xonca mecatla notecua icçotl mimilcatoc chicueyocan naualcalli nauali temoquetlaya.
     3. Huiya tzonimolco cuicotipeuhque, aya tzonimolco cuicotipeuhque, aya iztleica naual moquizcauia,
        iztlauan naual moquizca.
     4. Huia tzonimolco maceualli maya temacouia, oya tonaqui, oya tonaqui maceualli, maya temacouiya.
     5. Huiya tzonimolco xoxolcuicatl cacauantoc ya ayouica mocuiltonoaci tontecuitl moteicnelil mauiztli.
     6. Huiya ciuatontla xatenonotza, ayyauhcalcatl quiyauatla, xatenonotza.
Hymn to Ixcoçauhqui.
     1. In the Hall of Flames let me not put to shame my ancestors; descending there, let me not put you to
        shame.
     2. I fasten a rope to the sacred tree, I twist it in eight folds, that by it I, a magician, may descend to the
        magical house.
     3. Begin your song in the Hall of Flames; begin your song in the Hall of Flames; why does the magician
        not come forth? Why does he not rise up?
     4. Let his subjects assist in the Hall of Flames; he appears, he appears, let his subjects assist.
     5. Let the servants never cease the song in the Hall of Flames; let them rejoice greatly, let them dance
        wonderfully.
     6. Call ye for the woman with abundant hair, whose care is the mist and the rain, call ye for her.
Notes.
Ixcoçauhqui, “the Yellow Faced,” was the Mexican God of Fire. Torquemada gives as his
synonyms Xiuhtecutli, “Lord of Fire,” and Huehueteotl, “the Ancient God”
(Monarquia Indiana, Lib. VI., cap. 28). Elsewhere he identifies him with the Sun-god (Ibid., Lib. XIV., cap.
4). Sahagun describes his annual festival (Hist., Lib. II., cap. 38), and gives another of his names, Cueçaltzin,
a reverential form of cuezalotl, flame (Hist., Lib. I., cap. 13).
The tzonmolco so often referred to in this hymn was the sixty-fourth edifice in the great temple of
Tenochtitlan, and was devoted to the worship of Ixcoçauhqui (Sahagun). The word literally means
“the place of spreading hairs,” the rays or ornaments spreading from the head of the statue of
the god representing flames (Sahagun).
The reference in v. 6 seems to be to one of the women who were sacrificed at the festival, as related by
Sahagun (Lib. II., App.).
Notes.                                                                                                     16
VII. Mimixcoa icuic.
     1. Q.n., chicomoztoc oniualleuac çani aueponi, ichichimecatlatol, çani aueponi, çani, çani teyomi.
     2. Q.n., tziuactli in itlan oniualleuac çani aueponi, çani, çani teyomi.
     3. Oya nitemoc, q.n., onitemoc onitlacatl ipan ynotziuacmiuh; onitemoc ipan ynotziuacmiuh ça niman
        ipan nitlacat ynotlauitol ynomiuh.
     4. Q.n., onitemoc onitlacat inipan nomatlauacal ça niman ipan nitlacat.
     5. Y yacatlatol. Yc a a inya in chichimeca in chichimecatlatol.
     6. Q.n., yn tlataçica tictecazque totlach uncan ticuicazque noyehuatl in quetzalcocox.
Hymn of Mixcoatl.
     1. I come forth from Chicomoztoc, only to you, my friends, to you, honored ones.
     2. I come forth from Tziuactitlan, only to you my friends, only to you honored ones.
     3. I sought, I sought, in all directions I sought with my pack; in all directions I sought with my pack.
     4. I sought, I sought, in all directions I sought with my traveling net.
     5. I took them in hand, I took them in hand; yes, I took them in hand; yes, I took them in hand.
     6. In the ball ground I sang well and strong, like to the quetzal bird; I answered back to the god.
Notes.
“The Chichimecs,” says Sahagun (Hist., Lib. VI., cap. 7), “worshipped only one god,
called Mixcoatl.” The Anales de Cuauhtitlan speaks of Mixcoatl as one of the leaders of the ancient
Nahuas from their primitive home Chicomoztoc, the land of the Seven Caves. This is what is referred to in the
above hymn. In later times Mixcoatl became god of hunting and of the tornado, and his worship extended to
the Otomis.
Tzihuactitlan, “the land of the tzihuac bushes,” I have not found mentioned by any of the
Spanish authorities, but it is named in connection with Chicomoztoc in an ancient war-song given in my
Ancient Nahuatl Poetry, pp. 88 and 140.
The hymn appears to be in memory of the leadership of Mixcoatl in conducting the ancestors of the Nahua on
their long wanderings after leaving their pristine seats. It should be read in connection with the earlier pages
of the Annals of Cuauhtitlan.
The reduplicated form of the name, Mimixcoatl, is not found elsewhere, and appears to be a poetic license.
     1. Ye cuicaya tocniuaya ouaya yeo, ye cuicaya ye quetzalcoxcuxa yoaltica tlao çinteutla, oay.
     2. Çan quicaquiz nocuic ocoyoalle teumechaue, oquicaquiz nocuica in cipactonalla atilili, ouayya.
     3. Ayao, ayao, ayao, ayao, nitlanauati ay tlalocan tlamacazque, ayao, ayao, ayao.
     4. Ayao, ayao, ayao, tlalocan tlamacazque nitlanauati, aya, ayao, ayyao.
     5. Ao çani uallaçic, otli nepaniuia, cani çinteutla campa ye noyaz, campa otli nicyatoca ça oay.
     6. Ayao, aya, ayao, tlalocan tlamacazque, quiauiteteu, ayyao, aya, ayao.
Gloss.
Hymn to Xochipilli.
     1. O friends, the quetzal bird sings, it sings its song at midnight to Cinteotl.
     2. The god will surely hear my song by night, he will hear my song as the day begins to break.
     3. I send forth the priests to the house of Tlaloc.
     4. The priests to the house of Tlaloc do I send forth.
     5. I shall go forth, I shall join myself unto them, I shall go where is Cinteotl, I shall follow the path to
        him.
     6. The priests go forth to the house of Tlaloc, to the home of the gods of the plain.
Notes.
2. Cipactonalla, from cipactli, and tonalli, may refer to Cipactonal, the reputed discoverer of the Aztec
calendar. See Sahagun, Historia, Lib. IV., cap. I.
Var. 2. Icotochiquetzalla.
Gloss.
Hymn to Xochiquetzal.
     1. I, Xochiquetzal, go forth willingly to the dancing place by the water, going forth to the houses in
        Tamoanchan.
     2. Ye noble youths, ye priests who wept, seeking Xochiquetzal, go forth there where I am going.
Notes.
Xochiquetzal, “plumage of flowers,” was the deity of the artists, the painters, weavers,
engravers on metal, silver and goldsmiths, and of all who dealt in fine colors. Her figure was that of a young
woman with gay garments and jewelry (Duran, Historia, cap. 94). In the Codex Telleriano-Remensis she is
assigned as synonyms Ichpochtli, the Virgin, and Itzpapalotl, literally “the obsidian butterfly,”
but which was probably applied to a peculiar ornament of her idol.
The term atlayauican, which I have translated “the dancing place by the water,” appears to
refer to the “jar dance,” baile de las jicaras, which took place at the festival of the goddess, in
the month of October. Duran informs us this was executed at a spot by the shore of the lake. Ceremonial
bathing was carried on at the same festival, and these baths were considered to cleanse from sin, as well as
from physical pollution.
     1. Cotiuana, cotiuana, cali totoch maca huiya yyalimanico, oquixanimanico, tlacochcalico, oua, yya yya,
        matonicaya, matonicalico, oua yya yo, çana, çana, ayoueca niuia, çana canoya, ueca niuia, yya, yya,
        yyeuaya, çana, çana, yeucua niuia.
     2. Ye necuiliyaya, niuaya, niuaya, niuaya, ay ca nauh niuahuaya, niuaya, niuaya, ay ca nauh.
     3. Tlaixtotoca ye ca nauhtzini, tlaixtotoca ye ca nauhtzini, ayoaya, yoaya, ye ca nauhtzini.
     4. Aueya itzipana nomauilia, aueya itzipana nomauilia, aueya itzipana nomauilia.
In amimitl icuic yuh mitoa in ueli chichimeca cuic amo uel caquizti in quein quitoa in tonauatlatol ypa.
Hymn to Amimitl.
     1. Join together your hands in the house, take hands in the sequent course, let them spread forth, spread
        forth in the hall of arrows. Join hands, join hands in the house, for this, for this have I come, have I
        come.
     2. Yes, I have come, bringing four with me, yes I have come, four being with me.
     3. Four noble ones, carefully selected, four noble ones, carefully selected, yes, four noble ones.
     4. They personally appear before his face, they personally appear before his face, they personally appear
        before his face.
Notes.
The brief Gloss to this Hymn states that it is of ancient Chichimec origin and that it cannot well be rendered in
Nahuatl. Its language is exceedingly obscure, but it is evidently a dancing song.
The four noble ones referred to in vv. 3 and 4 probably refer to those characters in the Mexican sacred dances
called “the four auroras,” four actors clothed respectively in white, green, yellow and red
robes. See Diego Duran, Historia, cap. 87.
X. Amimitl icuic.                                                                                              20
XI. Otontecutli icuic.
Var. 2. Nonoualco.
Hymn of Olontecutli.
Notes.
The absence of a Gloss to this hymn adds to the difficulty of a translation. Otontecutli was the chief deity of
the Otomis, and the chant appears to be one of their war songs in their conflict with the Azteca. The name is a
compound of otomitl, an Otomi, and tecutli, ruler or lord. He is slightly referred to by Sahagun as “the
first ruler to govern the ancestors of the Otomis.” (Historia, Lib. X, cap. 29, sec. 5.)
Gloss.
Hymn to Ayopechcatl.
     1. Truly in whatever house there is a lying-in, Ayopechcatl takes charge of the child.
     2. Truly in whatever house there is a lying-in, Ayopechcatl takes charge of the child, there where it is
        weeping in the house.
     3. Come along and cry out, cry out, cry out, you new comer, come along and cry out.
     4. Come along and cry out, cry out, cry out, you little jewel, cry out.
Notes.
The name of Ayopechcatl does not appear among the divinities named by Sahagun, Duran or the other
authorities at my command. Her name indicates her function as the goddess of the child-bed and the neonatus,
and the above hymn establishes her claim to a place in the Aztec pantheon.
     1. Quaui, quaui, quilaztla, coaeztica xayaualoc uiuiya quauiuitl uitzalochpa chalima aueuetl ye colhoa.
     2. Huiya tonaca, acxolma centla teumilco chicauaztica, motlaquechizca.
     3. Uitztla, uitztla, nomactemi, uitztla, uitztla nomactemi, açan teumilco chicauaztica motlaquechizca.
     4. Malinalla nomactemi, açan teumilco chicauaztica motlaquechizca.
     5. A omei quauhtli, ye tonanaya chalmecatecutli ay tziuac y mauiztla nechyatetemilli, yeua nopiltzinaya
        mixcoatla.
     6. Ya tonani, yauçiuatzin, aya tonan yauçiuatzi aya y maca coliuacan y yuitla y potocaya.
     7. Ahuiya ye tonaquetli, yautlatocaya, ahuiya ye tonaquetli yautlatocaya moneuila no tlaca cenpoliuiz
        aya y maca coliuaca y yuitla y potocaya.
     8. Ahuia quauiuitl amo xayaualli onauiya yecoyametl amo xayaualli.
     1. Q.n., in quauhcihuatl, ic oxaualoc in coaetztli, ioan in quauhtli yhuitli in moteneua iquauhtzon, ipan
        iualuicoc yn umpa colhuacan.
     2. Q.n., inic motocaya çentli, in mochiuaya teumilpa, ichicauaztica inic tlatatacaya, inic tocaya.
     3. Uitztla, q.n., nomactemi nochicauaztica inic nitocaya, inic nitlatatacaya.
     4. Malinalla, uictli, q.n., uictica in tlachpanaya, id est, iceliniquia, yn uncan teumilpan auh ychicauaztica
        inic nitlatatacaya, inic tocaya.
     5. Q.n., matlactli omei quauhtli yn notonal innamona auh ynan nopilhoan in chalmeca xicuiti in tziuactli
        xinechtemilica.
     6. Q.n., in iyauciuatzin yn amona umpa nochan in coluaca auh in quauiuitl nictemaca ynic oquauhtiuac.
     7. Q.n., ca otonac ca otlatuic momochiua yauyutl ma tlamalo tlalpiliuiz nic temaca in quauiuitl.
     8. Q.n., aahuia yn otlamaloc in quauiuitl yc moxaua.
Hymn to Cihuacoatl.
     1. Quilaztli, plumed with eagle feathers, with the crest of eagles, painted with serpents’ blood,
        comes with her hoe, beating her drum, from Colhuacan.
     2. She alone, who is our flesh, goddess of the fields and shrubs, is strong to support us.
     3. With the hoe, with the hoe, with hands full, with the hoe, with hands full, the goddess of the fields is
        strong to support us.
     4. With a broom in her hands the goddess of the fields strongly supports us.
     5. Our mother is as twelve eagles, goddess of drum-beating, filling the fields of tzioac and maguey like
        our lord Mixcoatl.
     6. She is our mother, a goddess of war, our mother, a goddess of war, an example and a companion from
        the home of our ancestors (Colhuacan).
     7. She comes forth, she appears when war is waged, she protects us in war that we shall not be
        destroyed, an example and companion from the home of our ancestors.
     8. She comes adorned in the ancient manner with the eagle crest, in the ancient manner with the eagle
        crest.
Cihuacoatl was the mythical mother of the human race. Her name, generally translated “serpent
woman,” should be rendered “woman of twins” or “bearing twins,” as
the myth related that such was her fertility that she always bore two children at one lying-in. (Torquemada,
Monarquia Indiana, Lib. VI., cap. 31.) She was also known by the title Tonan or Tonantzin, “our
mother,” as in v. 5 and 6. Still another of her appellations was Quilaztli, which is given her in v. 1.
(Comp. Sahagun, Historia, Lib. VI., cap. 27.) She was essentially a goddess of fertility and reproduction. The
name cihuacoatl was also applied to one of the higher magistrates and war chiefs in the Aztec army
(Sahagun). Reference is made to this in v. 6. As a goddess of venerable antiquity, she is spoken of as coming
from Colhuacan, “the place of the old men,” or of the ancestors of the tribe. This name is
derived from coloa, to bend down, as an aged person, colli, an old man. (See my Ancient Nahuatl Poetry, pp.
172-3).
Notes.                                                                                                      24
XIV. Izcatqui yn cuicatl chicuexiuhtica meuaya iniquac atamalqualoya.
Var. 3. Çenteuteutl. 4. Uillachiualoia. 5. Oya tonazqui. 5. Tlapan. 10. Timotlalia. 11. Suchiquetzal. Ontlatoa
cholollan.
This is the Hymn which they sang every eight years when they fasted on bread and water.
     1. The flower in my heart blossoms and spreads abroad in the middle of the night.
     2. Tonan has satisfied her passion, the goddess Tlazolteotl has satisfied her passion.
     3. I, Cinteotl, was born in Paradise, I come from the place of flowers. I am the only flower, the new, the
        glorious one.
     4. Cinteotl was born from the water; he came born as a mortal, as a youth, from the cerulean home of the
        fishes, a new, a glorious god.
     5. He shone forth as the sun; his mother dwelt in the house of the dawn, varied in hue as the quechol
        bird, a new, a glorious flower.
     6. I came forth on the earth, even to the market place like a mortal, even I, Quetzalcoatl, great and
        glorious.
     7. Be ye happy under the flower-bush varied in hue as the quetzal bird; listen to the quechol singing to
        the gods; listen to the singing of the quechol along the river; hear its flute along the river in the house
        of the reeds.
     8. Alas! would that my flowers would cease from dying; our flesh is as flowers, even as flowers in the
        place of flowers.
     9. He plays at ball, he plays at ball, the servant of marvellous skill; he plays at ball, the precious servant;
        look at him; even the ruler of the nobles follows him to his house.
    10. O youths! O youths! follow the example of your ancestors; make yourselves equal to them in the ball
        count; establish yourselves in your houses.
    11. She goes to the mart, they carry Xochiquetzal to the mart; she speaks at Cholula; she startles my
        heart; she startles my heart; she has not finished, the priest knows her; where the merchants sell green
Notes.
In default of a Gloss to this hymn, the indispensable Sahagun again comes to our aid. He informs us in the
Appendix to the second book of his Historia that “When the Indians celebrated the festival called
atamalqualiztli, which took place every eight years, certain natives called Mazateca swallowed living serpents
and frogs, and received garments as a recompense for their daring.” We are not informed as to the
purpose of the festival, and its name, which signifies “eating bread made with water,” is
merely that of one of the regular systems of fasting in vogue in ancient Mexico. (See Sahagun, Lib. III., cap.
8.) The song before us appears to be a recitation calling on a number of the Nahua divinities.
This is the Hymn which they sang every eight years when they fasted on bread and water.                     26
XV. Xippe icuic, Totec, yoallauana.
     1. Q.n., yn ti yoallauana, ti xipe, totec, tleica in ti monequi in timoçuma, in timotlatia, id est, tleica in
        amo quiauiteocuitlaquemitl, xicmoquenti, q.n., ma quiaui, ma ualauh yn atl.
     2. Q.n., yn ti noteuh, otemoc in mauhoualla yn mauh; ay quetzalla ueuetl, id est, ye tlaquetzalpatia ye
        tlaxoxouia, ye xopantla. Ay quetzal xiuhcoatl nechia iqui no cauhquetl, id est, ca ye otechcauh yn
        mayanaliztli.
     3. Q.n., ma mauh, ma nipoliui yn ni yoatzin, id est, in catleuatl, yuhquin chalchiuitl noyollo. A
        teocuitlatl nocoyaitaz, q.n., in catleuatl achtomochiuaz ninoyolceuiz.
     4. Q.n., yn oteuh cequi tlatlacotyan in mochiua initonacayouh, auh in tlein tlatlacotyan achto mochiua
        mochi tlacatl achto mitzualmaca, auh iniquac ye omochimochiuh occeppa nomochi tlacatl
        mitzualmaca yn motonacayuh.
     1. The nightly drinking, why should I oppose it? Go forth and array yourselves in the golden garments,
        clothe yourselves in the glittering vestments.
     2. My god descended upon the water, into the beautiful glistening surface; he was as a lovely water
        cypress, as a beauteous green serpent; now I have left behind me my suffering.
     3. I go forth, I go forth about to destroy, I, Yoatzin; my soul is in the cerulean water; I am seen in the
        golden water; I shall appear unto mortals; I shall strengthen them for the words of war!
     4. My god appears as a mortal; O Yoatzin, thou art seen upon the mountains; I shall appear unto mortals;
        I shall strengthen them for the words of war.
Notes.
There is slight mention of the deity Xipe Totec in the Spanish writers. He was the patron divinity of the
silversmiths, and his festival, attended with peculiarly bloody rites, was celebrated in the first month of the
calendar. (Duran, Historia, cap. 87; Sahagun, Lib. I., cap. 18, Lib. II., cap. 21, etc.) Totec is named as one of
the companions of Quetzalcoatl, and an ancient divinity whose temple stood on the Tzatzitepec (see the Codex
Vaticanus; Tab. XII., in Kingsborough’s Mexico). His high priest was called Youallauan, “the
nocturnal tippler” (youalli, night, and tlauana, to drink to slight intoxication), and it was his duty to
tear out the hearts of the human victims (Sahagun, u.s.). The epithet Yoatzin, “noble
night-god,” bears some relation to the celebration of his rites at night.
Notes.                                                                                       28
XVI. Chicomecoatl icuic.
     1. Chicomollotzin xayameua, ximiçotica aca tona titech icnocauazqui tiyauia mochan tlallocan nouia.
     2. Xayameua ximiçotica aca tonan titech icnocauazqui tiyauian mochan tlallocan nouiya.
     1. Q.n., yn ti chicomolotl, id est, in ti centli ximeua, xiça, xixoa, ca otimouicaya in mochan tlallocan.
     2. Q.n., xayameua, id est, ximeua, xixua, xiça, ca otimouicaya in mochantzinco in tlallocan ca yuhquin ti
        tonatzon.
Hymn to Chicomecoatl.
     1. O noble Chicomolotl, arise, awake, leave us not unprotected on the way, conduct us to the home of
        Tlaloc.
     2. Arise, awake, leave us not unprotected on the way, conduct us to the home of Tlaloc.
Notes.
The goddess Chicomecoatl, “seven guests,” was the deity who presided over food and drink.
Hence in the first verse she is referred to as Chicomolotl, “seven ears of corn,” and is spoken
of as a guide to Tlalocan, or the home of abundance.
Father Duran, who gives a long chapter on this goddess (Historia, cap. 92), translates her name
“serpent of seven heads,” and adds that she was also called Chalciucihuatl, “Lady of
the Emerald,” and Xilonen, “goddess of the tender ears of maize.” Every kind of seed
and vegetable which served for food was under her guardianship, and hence her festival, held about the
middle of September, was particularly solemn. Her statue represented her as a girl of about twelve years old.
Notes.                                                                                        30
XVII. Totochtin incuic Tezcatzoncatl.
     1. Yyaha, yya yya, yya ayya, ayya ouiya, ayya yya, ayya yya, yyauiyya, ayya ayya, yya ayya, yya yya
        yye.
     2. Coliuacan mauizpan atlacatl ichana, yya ayya, yyayyo.
     3. Tezcatzonco tecpan teutl, macoc ye chocaya, auia, macaiui, macayui teutl, macoc yye chocaya.
     4. Auia axalaco tecpanteutl, macoc yye chocaya, macayui, macayui teutl, macoc yye chocaya.
     1. Y tlauelcuic, tlauelcuica.
     2. Coliuacan mauizpa tlacatlichana, q.n., in tlacatl, id est, octli ompa ichan ni colhoacan. Mauizpa, q.n.,
        temamauhtican.
     3. Tezcatzonco tecpanteutl, q.n., ye choca in omacoc teutl tezcatzonco tecpan, id est, octli.
        Quimonacayotia in teutl. Macaiui teutl, q.n., macamo omatoni in teutl, id est, octli, ye choca cayamo
        ynemac.
     4. Aia axalaco tecpanteutl, q.n., axala in tecpanteutl. Ye choca yn omacoc, id est, octli axalatecpan, ye
        choca in omacoc, macamo omaco ni ye choca cayamo ynemac.
Notes.
Tezcatzoncatl was one of the chief gods of the native inebriating liquor, the pulque. Its effects were
recognized as most disastrous, as is seen from his other names, Tequechmecaniani, “he who hangs
people,” and Teatlahuiani, “he who drowns people.” Sahagun remarks, “They
always regarded the pulque as a bad and dangerous article.” The word Totochtin, plural of tochtli,
rabbit, was applied to drunkards, and also to some of the deities of special forms of drunkenness.
The first verse is merely a series of lamentations. The second speaks of the sad effects of the pulque in ancient
times. (On Colhuacan see Notes to Hymn XIII.)
Notes.                                                                                        32
XVIII. Atlaua Icuic.
1. Neçaualcactla. 2. Itlamani. 4. Aitollaca acatl. Timalli. 5. Tetonac amo yolcana tlamacaz quin tetometl.
Gloss.
Notes.
Atlaua, mentioned by Olmos, who translates the word “Master of waters,” is a divinity of
whom little is known. The derivation from atlatl, arrow, would seem more appropriate to the words of this
hymn. Chalmecatl, used as a synonym in v. 1, appears to be from chalania, to beat, to strike, as a drum.
Hymn to Macuilxochitl.
     1. Yes, I shall go there to-night, to the house of flowers; I shall exercise the priestly office to-night.
     2. We labor in thy house, our mother, from dawn unto night, fulfilling the priestly office, laboring in the
        night.
     3. A dreadful god is our god Tezcatlipoca, he is the only god, he will answer us.
     4. His heart is in the Tezcatzontli; my god is not timid like a hare nor is he peaceable; I shall overturn, I
        shall penetrate the Mixcoatepec in Colhuacan.
     5. I sing, I play on an instrument, I am the noble instrument, the mirror; I am he who lifts the mirror; I
        cry aloud, intoxicated with the wine of the tuna.
Notes.
As before stated (Notes to Hymn VIII), Macuilxochitl is another title of the flower-god Xochipilli.
Gloss.
     1. Anomatia, q.n., amo nixpan in omito yauyutl inic otepeualoc tzocotzontla, amo nomatia in omito
        yauyutl.
     2. Pipitla aytoloc, q.n., ynic tepeualoc pipitla amo nicmati inic omito yauyutl, in cholotla ic otepeualloc
        amo nixpan ynic oyautlatolloc.
     3. Tonacayutl nicmaceuh, q.n., yn tonacayutl inic onicmaçeuh ayaxcan, onechualhuicaque in
        oquacuiloan in xochayutl, in çoqniayutl in teuelteca, quimilhui in iquintonaz tlatuiz anoquacuiloan
        ayezque. Xalli tepeuhya, id est, tlalocan. Quilmach chalchiuhpetlacalli in quitepeuh inic tepeuh.
     4. Chalchiuhpetlacalco ninaxcan, q.n., onca ninotlati in chalchiuh petlacalco. Ayaxcan
        ynechualhuicatiaque yn oquacuiloan atliyoloa in umpa tlallocan.
Hymn to Yacatecutli.
     1. I know not what is said, I know not what is said, what is said about Tzocotzontlan, I know not what is
        said about Tzocotzontlan.
     2. I know not what is said of Pipitlan, what is said of Pipitlan, nor what is said of Cholollan, what of
        Pipitlan, of Pipitlan.
     3. Now I seek our food, proceeding to eat it and to drink of the water, going to where the sand begins.
     4. Now I go to my beautiful house, there to eat my food, and to drink of the water, going to where the
        sand begins.
Notes.
The god Yacatecutli, whose name means “lord of travelers,” or “the lord who
guides,” was the divinity of the merchants. Sahagun (Historia, Lib. I, cap. 19) and Duran (Historia,
cap. 90) furnish us many particulars of his worship.
The hymn is extremely obscure, containing a number of archaic words, and my rendering is very doubtful.
The writer of the Gloss is, I think, also at fault in his paraphrase. The general purpose of the hymn seems to be
that of a death-song, chanted probably by the victims about to be sacrificed. They were given the sacred food
to eat, as described by Duran, and then prepared themselves to undergo death, hoping to go to “the
beautiful house,” which the Gloss explains as Tlalocan, the Terrestrial Paradise.
A
A,
       prefix, negative, or positive prefix, = atl, water.
Acatecunotzaya,
       XVIII, [3]. Equivalent, according to the Gloss, to onimitznotz.
Acatona,
       XVI, [1], [2]. For ac a tonan. See v. 2.
Acatonalaya,
       III, [5]. From acatl, reed (?).
Achalchiuhtla,
       XV, [3]. Comp. of atl, and chalchiuitl.
Achtoquetl,
       XV, [3], [4]. In the first place, first.
Acxolma,
       XIII, [2]. Apparently related to acxoyatl, wild laurel.
Açan,
       XIII, [3]. Much, many times.
Aça naxcan,
       XVIII, [5], [6]; XX, [3], [4]. Only now, for çan axcan.
Ahuia,
       II, [1]. An interjection.
Amanteca,
       I, [5]. Workers in mechanic arts (Molina), especially feathers (Sahagun).
Amapanitl,
       III, [1]. Panitl, banner, flag, with possessive pronoun.
Amo,
       adv., no, not, negative; pron., your.
Anauhcampa,
       III, [1]. “To all four quarters of the water,” i.e., in all directions.
Anneuaya,
       III, [2]. Poetic for in nehuatl, “ego ipse.”
Annotata,
       III, [4]. Poetic for in no-tauan, my forefathers.
Annotequina,
       III, [3]. According to the Gloss, equivalent to in tino teuh, thou my god.
Annoteua,
       III, [2]. Poetic for in no-teuh, my lord.
Anomatia,
       XX, [1]. Not to know, to be ignorant of.
Aoyequene,
       III, [1]. For aoc yequene, “and also no one.”
Apana,
       XV, [2]. Comp. of atl, water, and pani, upon, postpos.
Aquamotla,
       III, [5]. From quammomotla, to play ball (?).
Aquitoloc,
       II, [1]. A negative, itoa, to say, to tell, in the passive preterit.
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Ateucuitlatl,
         XV, [3]. Golden water. Comp. of atl, and teocuitlatl.
Atilili,
         VIII, [2]. Atilia, to become clear or light.
Atl,
         XIV, [4]. Water. In composition, a.
Atliyollo,
         XX, [3], [4]. From atli, to drink water. (?)
Aua,
         III, [7]. An interjection (?).
Auatic,
         IV, [6]. Mistress of the waters (atl, water).
A-uetztini,
         XI, [2]. From uetzi, to fall; “your fall,” “your destruction.”
Auiallo,
         XIV, [7]. From auia, to be content, to rejoice.
Axalaco,
         XVII, [4]. From axalli, a water plant, and loc. term. co.
Ayac,
         I, [1], et sæpe. Nobody, no one.
Ayauh,
         III, [6]. Fog, mist; compound form of ayauitl.
Ayauhcalcatl,
         VI, [6]. One who has charge of the mist. Compare tepancalcatl, a gardener.
Ayailicalo,
         III, [6]. From ayauh, calli, the house of mist, but the Gloss renders it by auicalo, the fresh, dewy
         house (cf. Sah., p. 150).
Aylhuiçolla,
         III, [2]. Derived by the Gloss from ilhuice, more, hence, to make to grow, to increase.
Ayouica,
         VI, [5]. For ayaic, never.
Aytoloc,
         XVIII, [4]; XX, [1], [2]. From itoa, to say, to tell, with negative prefix.
Ayya,
         I, [1], et sæpe; also in the forms yya, ya, yyo, yye, aya, ayyo, etc. An interjection, or shout.
C
Ca.
       1. And, also. 2. To be.
Ça, Çan,
       VII, [1]. Only, solely.
Cacauantoc,
       VI, [5]. Reduplicated from caua, to cease, stop, leave off.
Cacauatla,
       XI, [2]. “Among the cacao trees.”
Calli,
       I, [5], [6]. House; calipan, in the house.
Cana,
       XII, [1]. Somewhere.
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Cane,
          XII, [1]. For ca nel, and truly.
Caqui,
          VIII, [2]. To hear, to listen.
Caquia,
         II, [1]. From caqui, to hear.
Catlachtoquetl,
         III, [3]. Apparently compounded of the interrogative catli and tlacatl, man, mortal; what mortal?
Catella,
         III, [4]. For catel; who indeed?
Caua,
         XIV, [7]; XV, [2]. To cease, to stop; to surpass; to lay down.
Ce,
         I, [2]; XV, [4]. One, a, an.
Cenpoliuiz,
         XIII, [7]. From cempoliui, to perish wholly.
Centeutl,
         VII, [6]; VIII, [1], [5]; XIV, [4]; XIX, [3]. Prop. name. The god of maize.
Centla,
         XIII, [2]. For centli, ear of corn, dried corn.
Centlalia,
         I, [5], [6]. To assemble.
Chacalhoa,
         XIV, [11]. For chachaloa, to tinkle, to resound.
Chalchimamatlaco,
         XV, [2]. Compound of chalchiuitl, jade, turquoise; hence of that color; mama, to carry; ref. to betake
         oneself; atl, water; co, postposition.
Chalchimichuacan,
         XIV, [4]. “The cerulean home of the fishes.”
Chalchiuhecatl,
         XIV, [9]. From chalchiuitl, jade; metaphorically, anything precious.
Chalmecatl,
         XVIII, [1]. From chalani, to beat, to strike. Apparently a proper name.
Chalmecatecutli,
         XIII, [5]. “Ruler of the (drum) beaters.” Comp. v. 1.
Chalima,
         XIII, [1]. Apparently for chalani, to strike, to beat, especially a drum.
Chan,
         XVI, [1], [2]; XVII, [2]. House, home.
Chicauaztica,
         III, [6]; XIII, [2], [3]. Strongly, boldly, energetically.
Chicomoztoc,
         VII, [1]. “At the seven caves.” See Notes to Hymn VII.
Chicomollotzin,
         XVI, [1]. See Notes, p. 59.
Chicueyocan,
         VI, [2]. In eight folds. From chicuei, eight.
Chicunaui,
         IV, [6]. Nine; but used generally in the sense of “many,” “numerous.”
Chimal,
         XI, [2]. For chimalli, buckler, shield.
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Chimalticpac,
         XVIII, [3]. “Above the shield.”
Chipuchica,
         V, [1]. Metastasis for ichpochtica, from ichpochtli, virgin.
Chiua,
         III, [3]. To make, to form, to do.
Chocaya,
         III, [1], [7]. From choca, to weep, to cry out.
Chocayotica,
         XII, [2]. Adverbial from choca: “weepingly.”
Cholola,
         XIV, [11]; XX, [2]. Proper name. “Place of the fugitives.”
Cipactonalla,
         VIII, [2]. From tonalli, the sun, day. Perhaps a proper name.
Ciuatontla,
         VI, [6]. For ciuatontli, little woman.
Coatepec,
         V, [1]. At the Coatepetl, or Serpent Hill.
Cochina,
         XIV, [12]. From cochi, to sleep.
Colhoa,
         XIII, [1]. For Colhoacan, proper name.
Coliuacan,
         XVII, [2]; XIX, [4]. Proper name, for Colhoacan.
Cotiuana,
         X, [1]. Probably for xo(xi-on)titaana, tie hands, join hands.
Coçauic,
         IV, [1], [2]. Poetic for coztic, yellow; literally, “yellowed,” from coçauia.
Cozcapantica,
         XII, [1]. Adverbial, from cozcatl, a jewel, fig., an infant.
Cozcapilla,
         XII, [4]. From cozcatl, pilli, “jewel of a babe.”
Cuecuechiuia,
         V, [2]. From cuecuechoa, to shake.
Cuecuexi,
         XI, [3]. From cuecuechoa, to shake.
Cueponi,
         IV, [1], etc. To bloom, to blossom.
Cuicatl,
         I, [1], et sæpe. Hymn, song. In compos., cuic.
E
Eztlamiyaual,
       III, [2]. Apparently from eztli, blood, race, and tlamiauati, to surpass, to excel.
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H
Huia,
        II, [3]. See Ahuia.
Y
Y,
        [I]. For in (yn), he, it, the, that, etc.
Ya.
         See Ayya.
Yancuic,
         IV, [7]. New, fresh, green.
Yancuipilla,
         XII, [3]. New-born babe.
Yantata,
         XIV, [3]. An exclamation.
Yaquetlaya,
         I, [1]. Apparently a form of tlayacati, or of yaque, both from the root yac-, a point, a prominence, to
         be prominent. But the etymology is not clear.
Yauciuatzin,
         XIII, [6]. Yaotl-cihuatl-tzin, “the revered war-woman.”
Yauicaya,
         III, [2]. From yauh, to go.
Yauilili,
         XI, [5]. Causative form of yauh, “to cause to go,” to put to flight.
Yautiua,
         I, [5], [6]. Freq. from yaotia, to fight.
Yautlatoaquetl,
         XV, [3], [4]. See yautlatoaya.
Yautlatoaya,
         I, [3]; V. [1]. From yaotl, war, tlatoa, to speak. Yautlatoani, ruler in war, was one of the titles of
         Huitzilopochtli.
Yaxcana,
         III, [9]. Axcan, now. Axcatl, goods, property. Yaxca, his, its, property.
Yayalezqui,
         III, [7], [8]. Frequent. of yaliztli; to go and come, go back and forth.
Yca,
         IV, [6]. With which.
Icçotl,
         VI, [2]. A tree planted in front of temples. Its bark was used for mats (Sahagun).
Icnocaua,
         XVI, [1], [2]. To leave unprotected, as orphans.
Ye,
         VIII, [1]. Already, this, but, nevertheless.
Yecoa,
         XIII, [8]; XIV, [2]. 1. To have carnal connection. 2. To end, to finish.
Yeua,
         I, [4], etc. For yehuatl, he, it, that.
Ihuitl,
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         I, [3]; IV, [7]. A feather; met., a model, pattern.
Ihiya,
         II, [2]. Apparently for iye, yes, affirmative particle.
Ilhuiquetl,
         III, [8]. From ilhuia, to say, to call.
Iliuiz,
         XV, [5]. Thoughtlessly; with negative prefix a, not thoughtlessly.
Ymocxi,
         I, [2]. Poetic for in micti, from mictia, to slaughter.
Yoalticatla,
         VIII, [1]. Yoalli-ticatla, midnight.
Yoalli,
         XV, [1]. Night.
Yoatzin,
         XV, [3], [4]. Reverential of yoalli, night.
Yocoxquia,
         XIX, [4]. Peaceably, quietly.
Yolcan,
         XVIII, [5]. Place of birth.
Yolceuiz,
         XV, [3], [4]. To appease, to please.
Yollotl,
         IV, [6]. Heart, mind, center.
Itaca,
         IV, [6]. For itacatl, food, sustenance.
Iteamic,
         XIV, [11]. From itta, to see.
Itlani,
         XIV, [7]. See Tlani.
Itontecuitl,
         VI, [5]. Explained by the Gloss by in tetecuti, which I take to be an error for in teteuctin.
Itopanecauiloc,
         III, [9]. The Gloss gives ni topan. The verbal is a passive from caua, to leave, to abandon.
Itta,
         IV, [8]. To see, to esteem.
Ytzicotla,
         II, [5]. For uitzicotla, lit., place abounding in thorns; fig., the south.
Itzipana,
         X, [4]. Apparently a compound of ixtli, face, and pan, for the more usual ixpan, before, in front of;
         ixtli in comp. sometimes becomes itz, as in itzoca, “tener sucia la cara,” Molina,
         Vocabulario.
Itziueponi,
         XI, [4]. For itztle-cueponi, “resplendent with spears.”
Itzpapalotl,
         IV, [5]. “The obsidian butterfly,” an image of gold and feathers, worn as a royal
         insignia. See Sahagun, Lib. VII, Cap. 12.
Yua,
         III, [8]. To send.
Yuitla,
         XIII, [6]. See ihuitl.
Yuiyoc,
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         II, [3], [4], [5]. From yuiyotl, a feather, yuiyoa, to be dressed in feathers, or feather garments.
Ixtlauatl,
         IV, [6]. Open field, uncultivated region.
Yyaconay,
         I, [1]. For ayac-on-ay, as appears by the gloss.
Yya.
         See Ayya.
Izqui,
         XIV, [8]. As many as.
Iztac,
         IV, [3], [4]. White.
Iz tleica,
         VI, [3]; XV, [1]. “Here is why.” The interrogative changed into the predicative form.
         See Paredes, Compendio, p. 154.
M
Ma,
        VI, [1]. 1. Sign of negative, no, not. 2. Sign of imperative.
Macaiui,
        XVII, [3], [4]. From macoa, and i, to drink.
Maceualli,
        VI, [4]. Subjects, servants.
Maceuh,
        XX, [3]. From maceua, to seek for, to obtain.
Mach,
        XIV, [7]. Intensive particle.
Machiyotla,
        II, [6], [7]. For machiotl, sign, example.
Macoa,
        I, [3]; XVII, [3]. To aid, to assist.
Macxoyauh,
        XVIII, [3]. By the Gloss, for ma-xi-yauh, imper. of yauh, to go.
Malinalli,
        XIII, [4]. A broom.
Malli,
        II, [3], [4], [5]. Captive; one taken by hand.
Mama,
        XIV, [11]. To carry a load on the shoulders.
Mamalia,
        XIX, [4]. To penetrate.
Mamauia,
        I, [4]. To frighten, frequentative-causative, from maui, to fear.
Maololo,
        XIV, [12]. From ma-ololo, to cover with the hand.
Mati,
        II, [1]. To know.
Matiuia,
        XIV, [11]. For matihuia, from mati.
Matlauacal,
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        VII, [4]. A net-basket.
Ma-tonicaya,
        X, [1]. Let it shine, let it be bright; from tona.
Mauia,
        II, [3], [4], [5]. To give into the hands of, to deliver up.
Maui noyol,
        XIV, [11]. To fear in my heart.
Mauiztli,
        VI, [5], XIII, [5]. An honor (cosa de estima, Molina). A person of honor.
Mazatl,
        IV, [6]. (Doubtful.) Deer; any large wild animal.
Mecatla,
        VI, [2]. For mecatl, cord, rope.
Milacatzoa,
        I, [4]. Mo-ilacatzoa, to twine oneself, as a serpent around a tree; refers to the xiuhcoatl, fire-serpent,
        of Huitzilopochtli.
Mimicha,
        IV, [8]. Fish, for michin.
Mimilcatoc,
        VI, [2]. Twisted, twined.
Miquiyecauiz,
        XIV, [8]. Compound of miqui, to die, and yecaui, to cease; “to cease dying.”
Mitoaya,
        I, [3]. For mo-itoa-ya, it is said, they said.
Mixcoatepetl,
        XIX, [4]. The mountain or town of Mixcoatl.
Mixcoatl,
        XIII, [5]. A proper name.
Mixiui,
        XII, [1]. To accouch, to bear a child.
Mixtecatl,
        I, [2]. A proper name. The Mixteca lived on the Pacific coast, to the southwest, and were not of
        Nahuatl lineage.
Mixiuiloc,
        V, [1]. From mixiui, to accouch, to bear a child.
Mo-cuiltonoa,
        VI, [5]. To rejoice or enjoy greatly.
Moneçoya,
        XVIII, [3]. From neçi, to appear.
Mo-neuila,
        XIII, [7]. From eua, to rise up, to come forth.
Mo-quetzquetl,
        III, [1]. For m-oquequetz, frequent. of quetza; to flow forth, to run from and out. A poetic form, not
        uncommon.
Moquichtiuiui,
        V, [2]. Oquichuia, to suffer manfully.
Mo-teca,
        XIV, [9]. They assemble; impers. from teca, to place oneself, to lie down.
Moteua,
        XV, [4]. Perhaps from itoa, to say, “it is said.”
Mo-tlaquechizca,
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       XIII, [2], [3], [4]. Strengthened form of tlaquechia, to rest upon; to bear down upon; to press upon.
Mo-tlaqueuia,
       XI, [2]. To seek people, or to hire them to work injury to others.
Mo-tonacayouh,
       III, [3]. Our flesh; the usual form is tonacayo.
Moxayaual,
       V, [2]. From yaualoa, to wander about.
Moxocha,
       IV, [2], [4]. Probably a compound of moxochitl-cha-yaui, to sow flowers.
Mozcaltizqui,
       IV, [6]. From mo-izcali, to resuscitate, to animate.
N
Nacha,
        III, [7]. For nachcan, there, in that place.
Nacochtla,
        XIV, [11]. The ears.
Nahuia,
        III, [6]. From naui, four.
Nanquilia,
        VII, [6]; XIX, [3]. To answer.
Nauaco,
        XI, [5]. “With (my) skill.”
Naualpilli,
        III, [3]. “Master magician;” said by the Gloss to be a name of Tlaloc. Sahagun gives
        this as one of the gods of the goldsmiths (Lib. IX, cap. 18).
Naualachic,
        XIV, [9]. Skilfully; from naualchiua, to do something skilfully.
Nauaquia,
        XIV, [6]. Perhaps for nahuaque, an epithet of divinity.
Nauhxiuhtica,
        III, [9]. “After four years” (Molina).
Neçazualcactla,
        XVIII, [1]. From the Gloss equivalent to neçaualacautla, from neçaualiztli, fast, fasting, and caua, to
        leave.
Nechyatetemilli,
        XIII, [5]. Reverential of temi, to lie down, to fill.
Necuilia,
        X, [2]. To bring some one.
Nella,
        III, [3]. For nelli, truly.
Nen,
        adv. I, [1]. In vain, of no advantage.
Nenequia,
        XV, [1]. To oppose, to be angry with.
Nenoualico,
        XI, [2]. See Onoalico. Ne is the impersonal, pronominal prefix.
Nepaniui,
        VIII, [5]. To join, to unite oneself to.
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Nepanauia,
        III, [9]. Nepan, thither, and yauh, to go.
Nepapan,
        II, [2]; XIV, [5]. Diverse, varied.
Ne-qui-macui,
        VII, [5]. “I take them by the hand.” Explained by the Gloss to be an archaic
        (chicimeca) expression used in leading or guiding (in dance or song).
Niuaya,
        X, [2]. For ni-ihua-ya, I sent (some one).
Ni-yocoloc,
        III, [2]. Passive preterit from yocoya; yocolia, to be made, composed, created.
No.
        1. Possess, pron. my, mine. 2. Adv. also, yet.
Noca,
        I, [1]. Of me, my, mine.
Nohuihuihuia,
        I, [1]. Poetic form for neuiuilia, to equal some one.
Nomactemi,
        XIII, [3], [4]. No-maitl-c-temi, my hand it fills, = with full hands.
Nomauilia,
        X, [4]. To do a thing personally.
Nomiuh,
        XVIII, [4]. No-omitl, my bone, point, arrow.
Nopeltzin,
        XIII, [5]. No-pilli-tzin, “my revered lord.”
No-tauane,
        VI, [1]. Our fathers.
No-tecua,
        VI, [2]. For nic-tecuia, I tie it, I make it fast. The Gloss, amo-tecuhuan, is not intelligible.
No-teuh,
        I, [3]; XX, [2], [4]. “My god.”
Noyoco,
        XI, [5]. Apparently for niyoco, “with me alone.”
Noyollo,
        XV, [3]. From yollotl, heart, soul, courage, etc.
O
Oc,
        II, [2]. Yet, besides this.
Ocelocoatl,
        III, [4]. “Tiger snake.”
Ocoyoalle,
        VIII, [2]. “The night pine.” Apparently a proper name.
Ocutitlana,
        XI, [2]. “Among the pine woods.”
Oholopa,
        II, [3]. Poetic compound of ololoa, to cover, to dress, and oppa, twice.
Ollama,
        XIV, [9]. To play at ball; from olli, a ball.
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Olya,
        XVIII, [1]. A form from ololoa, to cover or clothe oneself.
Omei,
        XIII, [5]. For ome, two; the Gloss reads matlactli ome, twelve.
On,
        I, [1], et sæpe. A particle, merely euphonic, or signifying action at a distance.
Onca,
        sæpe. There.
Onoalico,
        XI, [1]. Proper name, derived from onoua, the impersonal form of onoc, and meaning “a
        peopled place,” a thickly inhabited spot. The terminal, co, is the postposition, at.
Opuchi,
        XVIII, [6]. “Left-handed;” by the Gloss = tiacauh, brave, valiant.
Oquixanimanico,
        X, [1]. A form in the second person plural, compounded of quiça and mani, “coming forth,
        scatter yourselves around.”
Otlacatqui,
        XIV, [3], [4]. Ilacati, to be born.
Otli,
        VIII, [5]. Path, road.
Ouayyeo,
        I, [2]. An interjection.
Oya,
        sæpe. 1. An interjection. 2. Preterit of yauh, to go.
Oyatonac,
        II, [6], [7]. For otonac, from tona, to shine.
Oztomecatl,
        XIV, [11]. A merchant.
P
Petlacalco,
         XX, [4]. From petlatl, mat, calli, house, and co, post-position.
Peua,
         VI, [3]. To begin.
Picha-huazteca,
         I, [2]. Proper name, “The frozen Huastecs,” perhaps those living on the high Sierra,
         who were the nearest to the Nahuas.
Pillachiualoyan,
         XIV, [4]. Locative from pilli-chiua, to engender offspring.
Piltzintecutli,
         IX, [2]; XIV, [9]. Lord of the youths or children, piltzintli.
Pipiteca,
         I, [6]. Those having charge of the spies, from pipia, to spy.
Pipitla,
         XX, [2]. Reduplicated locative from pilli, a child.
Pinauhtia,
         VI, [1]. To make ashamed.
Pinauia,
         II, [1]; III, [3], [4]. To affront, to put to shame; to censure, to blame.
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Poliuiz,
        XV, [3]. From poloa, to destroy.
Pomaya,
        I, [2]; XI, [1]. Apparently for panauia, to conquer.
Potocaya,
        XIII, [6], [7]. Potli, companion.
Potonia,
        IV, [7]; XIV, [10]. To be liberal, to give equally or freely; to adorn with feathers.
Poyauhtla,
        III, [6]. Among the fogs, from poctli, smoke, fog, mist; atl, water.
Pupuxotiuh,
        I, [3]. A gerundive form from popoxoa, to till, to work the soil; here used figuratively.
Q
Quacuillo,
        III, [4]; XX, [3]. From qua, to eat.
Quatonalla,
        XVIII, [1]. “Head bright,” the helmet on the head.
Quaui,
        XIII, [1]. A shortened form of quauiuitl, in the same verse; compound of quauhtli, eagle, iuitl, feather;
        a decoration explained in the Gloss, usually called the quauhtzontli, eagle crest.
Quauinochitla,
        XI, [2]. “Among the tuna trees.”
Quauiquemitl,
        II, [2]. From quauhtli, eagle, quemitl, clothing, garb.
Quechol,
        XIV, [5], [7]. A bird.
Quentia,
        XV, [1]. To dress oneself.
Quetl,
        II, [2]. Poetic for quetza, to rise, to come out of or from. See Gloss to III, 7.
Quetza,
        XIV, [6]. To arise from.
Quetzalaueuetl,
        XV, [2]. Of quetzal, beautiful, and aueuetl, the water cypress, fig. chief, lord.
Quetzalcalla,
        III, [9]. “The house of the quetzal,” beautiful as the quetzal bird. Explained in the
        Gloss to be the Place of Joy.
Quetzalcoatli,
        XI, [3]; XIV, [6]. Proper name.
Quetzalcocox,
        VII, [6]; VIII, [7]. The pheasant.
Queyamica,
        III, [8]. For quenamican, how there?
Queyanoca,
        I, [1]. According to the Gloss, equivalent to onoca, from onoc.
Quiauiteteu,
        VIII, [6]. Rain gods; quiauitl, rain; teteu, plural of teotl, god.
Quilaztla,
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        XIII, [1]. For Quilaztli, another name of Cihuacoatl.
Quilazteutl,
        XVIII, [2]. See Quilaztla.
Quinexaqui,
        VII, [1]. Explained by the Gloss by oniualleuac, I came quickly (eua, in composition, signifies
        precipitation). Hence it is a form from yauh, yaqui.
Quiyauatla,
        VI, [6]. Poetic for quiauitl, rain.
T
Tamoanchan,
        IV, [1], etc. “We seek our home,” a name applied to the Earthly Paradise. See p. 29.
Teacuitlaquemitl,
        XV, [1]. Golden garb.
Teca,
        III, [6]. To spread out, especially of liquids.
Tecpanteutl,
        XVII, [3], [4]. “Palace god.”
Teicnellili,
        VI, [5]. A benefit, an advantage.
Teizcaltequetl,
        III, [9]. That which gives wisdom and life. “Teizcali, cosa que da doctrina, y aviva, y da
        entendimiento” (Molina).
Telipuchtla,
        II, [3], [4], [5]. For telpochtli, a youth.
Temacouia,
        VI, [4]. From temaca, to give, to deliver into the hands of.
Temoquetl,
        III, [8]. From temoa, to seek, quiza, to go forth.
Tenamitl,
        I, [3]. The wall of a city; hence, a town or city.
Tepanecatl,
        XI, [3]. “Dweller in the palace.” A proper name.
Tepanquizqui,
        I, [3]. A substitute, one who represents another.
Tepetitlan,
        V, [2]. “Among the mountains.”
Tepeuh,
        XX, [3], [4]. From peua, to begin.
Tepeyocpa,
        XV, [4]. From tepetl, pan.
Tequiua,
        II, [1]; V, [2], From tequiutl, task, labor, but explained by the Gloss as equivalent to tepeua, to
        overthrow, to conquer.
Tetemoya,
        II, [6], [7]. Frequentative from temo, to descend, to come down, tetemo.
Tetoma,
        XVIII, [5]. From toma, to open, to send forth, to let loose.
Tezauhpilla,
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         III, [8]. “Master of fear.”
Tetzauiztli,
         I, [2]. An object which causes fear. A name of Huitzilopochtli. See Tezozomoc, Cronica Mexicana,
         cap. VI.
Teuaqui,
         II, [6], [7]. From teotl, god, aqui, to enter, to penetrate.
Teucontlipaca,
         IV, [5]. Explained by the Gloss as teucumitl icpac, upon the thorn bush teocumitl, espina grande,
         Molina). But I should think it to be a compound of teotl, conetl, icpac, “upon the son of the
         goddess.” The son of Teteunan was especially Centeotl, god of maize.
Teueuel,
         V, [2]. Poetic from ueue, the ancients, the elders.
Teumechaue,
         IV, [1], [2], [3], [4]; VIII, [2]; XIX, [2]. Perhaps from teo-ome-chayaue, “the twice divine
         seed-thrower,” or teometl-chayaue, the planter of the divine maguey.
Teumilco,
         XIII, [2]. From teotl, milli, co, “in the divine cornfield,” fig. reference to the
         battlefield.
Teutiualcoya,
         III, [2]. The Gloss reads teuitualcoya, from teotl, god, ittualo, passive of itta, to see.
Teu-tlaneuiloc,
         III, [1]. Explained by the Gloss as equivalent to onetlanauiloc, an impersonal, passive, preterit, from
         naua, “it was danced.” The peculiar sacred dance called tlanaua, performed by young
         girls, is described by Sahagun, Lib. II, cap. 24.
Teutlalipan,
         IV, [8]. In the divine earth.
Teyomi,
         VII, [1]. From teyo, esteemed, honored.
Tezcatlipuca,
         XIX, [2]. Proper name of a divinity.
Tezcatzintli,
         XIX, [5]. Proper name from tezcatl, mirror.
Tezcatzonco,
         XVII, [3]; XIX, [4]. Apparently the name of a part of the temple.
Tianquiz,
         XIV, [6]. The market place.
Tiçatl,
         IV, [7]. Chalk; fig., model, pattern.
Timalla,
         XVIII, [4]. Form of timalloa, to swell, to increase; fig., to rejoice, to glorify oneself.
Tlacaluaz,
         XIV, [7]. For tlacaluaztli, a blow-pipe.
Tlacati,
         XV, [3], [4]. For tlacatl.
Tlacatl,
         II, [1]; XIII, [7]. Mortal, creature, person.
Tlaçaz,
         XIX, [4]. From tlaça, to overturn.
Tlachco,
         XIV, [10]. The place of the ball play.
Tlachinaya,
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         XIV, [5]. From tlachia, to see.
Tlachtli,
         VII, [6]. The ball.
Tlacochcalco,
         II, [1]; X, [1]. From tlacochtli, arrow, or generally, weapon, calli, house, co, post-position, in
         “the hall of weapons,” or arsenal. It was a room in that part of the temple dedicated to
         Huitzilopochtli, and was filled with arrows, spears, etc. Sahagun, Lib. VIII, cap. 32.
Tlaçolteutla,
         XIV, [2]. Name of a Mexican goddess.
Tlacoyoalle,
         XIV, [1]. At midnight.
Tlacyaniuitza,
         IX, [1]. Probably for tlayauani ni-huitz, I come dancing, as a dancer.
Tlaixtotoca,
         X, [3]. Ixtotoca, to search for.
Tlalli,
         XIV, [10]. To place oneself; earth, ground.
Tlalocan,
         III, [5]; XVI, [1]. The home of Tlaloc. See p. 25.
Tlaloc tlamacazque,
         VIII, [3], [4], [6]. “Dispensers of the benefits of Tlaloc”; the name applied to the
         priests of this divinity.
Tlalpa,
         XIV, [6]. From tlalli, earth, and pan.
Tlaltecutli,
         IV, [6]. Tlalli, tecutli; lord of the earth or land.
Tlamacazecatlo,
         XIX, [2]. For tlamacaztecatl, one concerned with the priestly office.
Tlamocoyoualca,
         XIX, [1], [2]. Apparently from tlamaca, to serve.
Tlani,
         XIV, [7]. Below; i-tlani, below it.
Tlanuati,
         VIII, [3], [4]. To send.
Tlapani,
         XVIII, [2]. To break.
Tlapitza,
         XIV, [7]. A flute.
Tlapoalli,
         III, [9]. To number, to reckon.
Tlapomaya,
         see Pomaya.
Tlaquaua,
         XV, [3], [4]. To make strong, or hard.
Tlatia,
         XV, [1]. 1. To hide oneself. 2. To burn oneself.
Tlatoa,
         XIV, [7], [11]. To sing, to chant, to speak.
Tlatol,
         III, [8]. For tlatolli, speech, discourses, prayers.
Tlatonazqui,
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        XIV, [5]. From tona, to shine.
Tlauana,
        XV, [1]. To drink wine (octli),
Tlauia,
        XV, [1]. To appear red or shining.
Tlauizcalle,
        XIV, [5]; XIX, [2]. Master of the house of the dawn. The terminal ê signifies an active possessive.
Tlayauican,
        IX, [1]. The dancing-place; from tlayaua, to dance in a certain manner.
Tlaxotecatl teuhtla,
        I, [4]. See Tlaxotla.
Tlaxotla,
        I, [3]. Passive form from tlaça, to hurl, to throw. Huitzilopochtli was specifically “the
        hurler.” See Notes to Hymn I.
Toçiquemitl,
        I, [1]. From to-citli-quemitl, vestment of our ancestress.
Tocniuaya,
        VIII, [1]. To-icniuh, our friend.
Tocuilitla,
        II, [7]. See Tocuilechcatl.
Toçiuitica,
        XIV, [10]. From to-citli-yuitl, with adverbial ending; “in the feather garb of our
        ancestors.”
Tocuilechcatl,
        II, [2]. To, our, cuilia, to paint, adorn; “our adornment.”
To-naca,
        XIII, [2]. “Our flesh.”
Tonanaya,
        XIII, [5]. Reduplicated for tonaya, to shine forth.
Tonaqui,
        I, [1]. A form from tona, to shine.
Tonana,
        IV, [1]. “Our mother;” nantli.
Topaniaz,
        IX, [2]. The Gloss reads more correctly, no umpa niaz, “also there I shall go.”
Totoch,
        X, [1]; XVII, [title]. Tochtli, a rabbit; the name of a god of wine; also, of a day of the week.
Toyauan,
        I, [5], [6]. To-yauan, our enemies. (See Olmos. Gram., p. 25.)
Tozquiuaua,
        XIX, [5]. From tozquitl, voice.
Tzioac,
        XIII, [5]. For tzioactli, a sacred tree; here apparently fig. for a sacred person.
Tzioactitlan,
        VII, [2]. “In the tzihuac bushes;” the tzihuac was a kind of maguey of a sacred
        character. See my Ancient Nahuatl Poetry, p. 140.
Tziuaquimiuh,
        VII, [3]. “My havresac made of tzihuac fibres.”
Tzocotzontla,
        XX, [1]. From tzocoton, little, tzontli, hair.
Tzonimolco,
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       VI, [1]. “Where the hair spreads abroad.” The name of the hall sacred to the god of
       fire in the temple. The expression refers figuratively to the flames blazing upwards like hair from a
       head.
Tzotzonia,
       XIX, [5]. To play on an instrument.
U
Ualitla,
         XV, [4]. Comp. of uallauh and itla.
Uallaçic,
         VIII, [5]. From uallauh, to come, and acic, which adds the sense of approaching near.
Ualmeua,
         XII, [3]. To cry lustily.
Ueca,
         X, [1]. Far.
Uel, or Huel, adv.,
         I, [4]. Well.
Uelmatia,
         III, [4]. To appear well, to be well.
Ueponi,
         VII, [1]. Uepollotl, kin, relations.
Uexcaitoa,
         II, [1]. To offer harm, to curse.
Uicacapa,
         IV, [7]. Towards, to.
Uitzalochpan,
         XIII, [1]. Compound of huitz, to come, and tlaloa, to run.
Uitzetla,
         II, [2]. For uitzlan, in at the south, or the place of thorns.
Uitznauac,
         II, [4]. For Huitznauac. See Notes to Hymn II.
Uitztla,
         XIII, [3]. According to the Gloss to v. 4, this is a poetic form for uictli, a hoe, the native agricultural
         implement.
X
Xamontoca,
        IV, [7]. Xi-am-on-itta, from itta, to look, to see. Compare the Gloss.
Xatenonotza,
        VI, [6]. For xi-tenonotza, call ye upon, pray ye to.
Xayaualli,
        XIII, [8]. From xayaua, to adorn oneself in the ancient manner.
Xeliui,
        XVIII, [4]. To split, to divide.
Ximocaya,
        III, [9]. Rendered by the Gloss as equivalent to ximoayan, the Paradise of Souls; see my Ancient
        Nahuatl Poetry, p. 132.
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Ximiçotica,
        XVI, [1], [2]. From iça, to wake up, awake.
Xiuh,
        IV, [8]. Green; grass.
Xiuacalco,
        III, [5]. From xiuh, calli, co, in the green house; the Gloss explains it by acxoyacalco, “in the
        house of the wild laurel,” or decorated with wild laurel, a plant probably sacred to Tlaloc.
Xiuicoatl,
        XV, [2]. Grass snake, or green snake. From xiuitl, coatl.
Xiyanouia,
        III, [6]. Imperative from yauh, to go.
Xochinquauitl,
        XIV, [7]. The flower-tree.
Xochiquetzal,
        XIV, [11]. Proper name of a deity.
Xochitla,
        IV, [1], etc. Flowers, place of, or abundance of. From xochitl.
Xochitlicacan,
        XIV, [3], [5]. The place of flowers.
Xoconoctli,
        XIX, [5]. From xocotl, fruit, apple.
Xocoyeua,
        XIX, [5]. From xococtl, fruit.
Xolotl,
        XIV, [9]. A servant, a page.
Xoyauia,
        IX, [2]. From xoyaui, to begrime, to spoil; xoyauian, the place of blackness, or of decay.
Xoxolcuicatl,
        VI, [5]. From xolotl, servant, page, and cuicatl, song.
X                                                                                                             53
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             The Project Gutenberg eBook of Rig Veda Americanus by Daniel G. Brinton, editor
             1. hymn to, [A].
             2. functions of, [A].
    13. Cinteotl or Centeotl, the god, [A].
1. Dance:
1. Feathers:
               1. as ornaments, [A].
               2. symbol of the spirit, [A].
     2. Fertility, genius of, [A], [B].
     3. Fire, the Mexican god of, [A].
     4. Fire-stick, the, [A].
     5. Fish-spear, god of the, [A].
     6. “Five flowers,” the, a plant, [A], [B].
     7. Flames, the Hall of, [A].
     8. Flowers:
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            The Project Gutenberg eBook of Rig Veda Americanus by Daniel G. Brinton, editor
1. Gods:
1. Kingsborough, Lord:
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             The Project Gutenberg eBook of Rig Veda Americanus by Daniel G. Brinton, editor
1. Macuilxochitl:
             1. MSS., [A].
     3. Naualpilli, “noble magician,” a name of Tlaloc, [A].
     4. Night, the god of, [A], [B].
     5. Nonoalco, a place name, [A].
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             The Project Gutenberg eBook of Rig Veda Americanus by Daniel G. Brinton, editor
     1. Paradise, the terrestrial, [A], [B], [C], [D], [E].
     2. Paynal, the god, [A].
     3. Parturition, goddess of. See Childbirth.
     4. Picha-Huasteca, a tribe, [A], [B].
     5. Pipitlan, a place name, [A].
     6. Pipiteca, a nomen gentile, [A].
     7. Poetry, ancient Mexican, [A], [B], [C].
     8. Pulque, the god of, [A].
1. Tamoanchan:
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               The Project Gutenberg eBook of Rig Veda Americanus by Daniel G. Brinton, editor
     2. Teatlahuiani, a name of the god of the pulque, [A].
     3. Temple of Tenochtitlan, [A], [B].
     4. Tenochtitlan, ancient name of the city of Mexico, temple of, [A], [B].
     5. Tepeyacac, temple at, [A].
     6. Tequechmecaniani, a name of the god of drunkenness, [A].
     7. Teteuinan, hymn of, [A].
     8. Tezcatlipoca, the god, [A].
     9. Tezcatzoncatl, god of the pulque, [A].
1. War:
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            The Project Gutenberg eBook of Rig Veda Americanus by Daniel G. Brinton, editor
     3. Waters, master of the, [A].
     4. Woman, sacrifice of, [A].
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