“‘Of the kingdom’s subjugation
“‘By the men so fiercely bearded,
“‘Who on wooden birds all flying
“‘From the Eastern land come hither.
“‘There’s an ancient proverb also—
“‘Woman’s will is God’s will likewise—
“‘And the God’s will is redoubled
“‘When the woman is his mother.
“‘She it is that wakes my anger,
“‘She, the haughty queen of heaven,
“‘She, a pure and spotless virgin,
“‘Working charms and versed in magic.
“‘She protects the Spanish people,
“‘And we all at length must perish,
“‘I, the poorest of the godheads,
“‘And my poor, dear Mexico.’—
“When thou hast fulfill’d thy message,
Red-coat, let thy naked spirit
In a sandhole creep; sleep soundly
Out of sight of all my misery.
“This proud temple will be shatter’d,
“I myself shall in its ruins
“Disappear,—mere dust and rubbish,—
“No one e’er again will see me.
“Yet I shall not die; we godheads
“Grow as old as do the parrots,
“And we cast our skins, and like them
“Only change at times our feathers.
“To my foemen’s native country
“Which they give the name of Europe
“I shall fly away, beginning
“There a really new career.
“I’ll turn devil, and the god
“Then shall be a God-be-with-us;
“As my foemen’s evil spirit
“I can work as best may suit me.
“There my enemies I’ll trouble,
“And alarm them all with phantoms;
“As a foretaste of hell’s torments,
“Brimstone they shall smell in plenty.