Folio 37 verso
Translations and Transcriptions
Analytic Transcription
[Transcription of the Nahuatl (right-hand column) by James Lockhart:] [f. 37v.] cenca oalmotlaloa, cenca oalhuicini, motzatzatzilitivi: quitotivi. vallatotoca tlaxcaltecae, cempoaltecae. Auh in Mexica monaoatique, inic amo quinmottitizque, çā motlatizque, minaiazque, iuhquin tlalli mictimotecac, aocac naoati, tel hoallachielotoc in tlatzacuilcamac, yoan tepancamac, yoan tlacoiocco achi quicocoionique in tepantli, inic vmpa ontlachie: çan iehoan in otenoaque, in otentli quitocatoque in iuh quichiuhque:auh in calnepantla onoque amo iuh quichiuhque. Auhintla quimittani in cana quexquichtin mani, tepeuhtimani, in tiacaoan, ca iniol iuh tlamatizquia in Españoles:ca in mexica iehoan quipeoaltia, iehoan quitzintia, iehoan inpeoal in iauiotl. Auh in ie iuhqui in ocalaquito vei tecpan: niman ie icquitlatlaça in tlequiquiztli: auh in ie iuhqui, nimā ie ic oalquiça
English Translation
[Translation of the Nahuatl (right-hand column) by James Lockhart:] They came running very fast, making great haste, shouting as they went, saying,“Everyone is running along, oh Tlaxcalans, oh Cempoalans!” And the Mexica told each other that they would not show themselves to them, but hide themselves and take shelter, as though it were the middle of the night. No one made a sound, but everyone was looking out from doorway openings, openings in walls, and holes where they had pierced the walls a little in order to see out from there. Only those who had places at the side of the road, which followed the roadside, did this; those who lived in the interior of house complexes did not. If the Spaniards had seen how many warriors there were in places, piled together, they would have realized that the Mexica would start and commence the battle, that it would be on their initiative. And when they had entered the great palace, they fired the guns. When this happened, then [the Mexica] came out [Translation of the Spanish (left-hand column) by James Lockhart:] palace, they began to fire the guns to show their joy over those who had arrived and to inspire fear in the enemy. Then the Mexica began to show themselves, let out war cries, and fight against the Spaniards, hurling arrows and darts at them, and the Spaniards likewise began to fight, shooting arrows and firearms. Many Mexica were killed; all of the Spaniards' shots were very well aimed; there was never a shot that failed to kill someone. When the Mexica saw the damage they were receiving from the Spaniards, they began to zigzag to escape the guns, and to go sideways. They gave battle against the houses where the Spaniards were for four days straight. After these four days the Mexica captains chose many veteran soldiers and brave men, who climbed up on a cu, the one that was closest to the royal palace, and they hoisted two round beams up there, to hurl them down onto the palace in order to cause it to collapse so that they could enter.