[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.

[Amimitl], “the water-arrow,” or [“fish-spear,”] was, according to [Torquemada], especially worshipped at Cuitlahuac. He was god of fishing, and visited the subjects of his displeasure with diseases of a dropsical or watery character (Monarquia Indiana, Lib. VI., cap. 29). On slender and questionable grounds [Clavigero] identifies him with [Opochtli, the god of net makers and fishers with nets] (Storia Antica del Messico, Tom. II., p. 20).

[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.

[XI. Otontecutli icuic.]

  1. [Onoalico, onoalico, pomaya, yyaya, ayyo, ayyo, aya, aya, ayyo.]
  2. [Chimalocutitlana motlaqueuia auetzini nonoualico, quauinochitla, cacauatla motlaqueuia auetzini.]
  3. [Ni tepanecatli aya cuecuexi, ni quetzallicoatli aya cuecuexi.]
  4. [Cane ca ya itziueponi, cane ca ya itziueponi.]
  5. [Otomico, noyoco, nauaco, mexicame ya yauilili, noyoco, nauaco, mexicame ya.]
  6. [A chimalli aya, xa, xauino quiyauilili, noyoco, nauaco, mexicame ya.]

Var. 2. [Nonoualco].

[Hymn of Olontecutli.]

  1. At Nonoalco he rules, at Nonoalco, Oho! Oho!
  2. In the pine woods he prepares your destruction at Nonoalco, in the tuna woods, in the cacao woods he prepares your destruction.
  3. I, dweller in the palace, shook them; [I, Quetzalcoatl], shook them.
  4. There was a splendor of spears, a splendor of spears.
  5. With my captain, with my courage, with my skill, [the Mexicans] were put to flight; even the Mexicans, with my courage, with my skill.
  6. Go forth, ye shield bearers, put the Mexicans to flight with my courage, with my skill.