You are here

Home » Analysis: Folio 78 verso

Folio 78 verso

Folio 78 verso

Translations and Transcriptions

Analytic Transcription

[Transcription of the Nahuatl (right-hand column) by James Lockhart:] [f. 78v.] pa anquitlachieltizque in īvicpa toiaovan, amo çan tlalpan anquimaiavizque cenca intech in anquitlaçazque: auh intla ce, anoço vme mominaz: auh in ano ce, anoço vme in maçiz toiaouh ca nel totlapoal, oc achitzin tinacazitztiazque, oc quenin quimonequiltiz in totecuio:* niman ie ic iauh in quetzalteculotl, in quetzalli iuhquin xexeliuhtiuh. Auh in oquittaque in toiaovan, iuhquin tepetl vitomi vel muchintin momauhtique in Españoles, cenca quinmauhti, iuhquin ma itla ipan quittaque: niman ic tlapanco tlecoc in quetzalteculotl. Auh in cequintin toiaovan in o vel quittaque moquetzque: niman ic quivalcuepque, quivaltocaque: ie no ceppa no quincuep quintocac in quetzalteculotl, ---------- *TOTECUIO. Several elements in the translation of the preceding speech are more than normally speculative.

English Translation

[Translation of the Nahuatl (right-hand column) by James Lockhart:] you are to aim it only at our enemies. You are not just to cast it on the ground, but hurl it very close to them. And if one or two of them are hit, or if one or two of our enemies are captured, then it is truly our fate that for a little while longer we will , while our lord so wishes.” Then the quetzal-owl went, with the quetzal feathers waving. When our enemies saw him, it was as though a mountain had fallen. Every one of the Spaniards was frightened, he intimidated them, they seemed to respect him a great deal. Then the quetzal-owl climbed up on the roof. But when some of our enemies had taken a good look at him they rose and turned him back, pursuing him. Then the quetzal-owl turned them again and pursued them. [Translation of the Spanish (left-hand column) by James Lockhart:] that our god wants to help us." After these words were said, the one who wore the insignia, together with the other four, began to go against the foe. When the enemies, Spaniards as well as Indians, saw them, great fright possessed them; it did not seem human to them. The one wearing the quetzaltecolotl device climbed up on a roof terrace. The enemies stopped to look at him and see what manner of thing it was; when they recognized that it was a man and not a demon, they attacked him, giving battle, and made him flee. The one with the quetzaltecolotl turned against them, with those who accompanied him, and made them flee. He climbed on the tlapanco again, where the Tlaxcalans had quetzales and items of gold that they had stolen, and he took them and leaped down from the tlapanco again. He received no harm whatever, nor could the enemies capture him; rather, those who accompanied him captured three of the enemy. For the time being the battle ceased, and they all returned to their huts. The following day they did not fight either. Here are given the