16. tlapalcayocan, "the place of shards," of broken pieces, i.e., the field of battle.
19. The word totomihuacan, which has already occurred in vv. 3 and 7, I have translated as referring to the war captains of the Mexican armies, called otomi (see Bandelier, On the Art of War of the Ancient Mexicans, p. 117). I am quite open for correction however.
27. in ipetl icpal; in a translation of an ancient song, Ixtlilxochitl renders the expression in ipetl icpal in teotl, "en el trono y tribunal de Dios," Historia Chichimeca, cap. 32.
29. Mictlan; the place of departed souls in Aztec mythology.
NOTES FOR SONG XVI.
In this stirring war-song, the poet reproaches his friends for their lukewarmness in the love of battle. He reminds them that life is transitory, and the dead rise not again, and that the greatest joy of the brave is on the ringing field of fray where warriors win renown. It is in the spirit of the Scotch harper:—
"'Twere worth ten years of peaceful life,
One hour of such a day."
1. Each verse terminates with an interjectional refrain. The frequent introduction of the particle on is intended to add strength and gravity to the oration.