You are here

Folio 20 recto

Folio 20 recto

Translations and Transcriptions

Spanish Translation

[Translation of the Nahuatl into Spanish by Fr. Bernardino de Sahagún; transcription of the Spanish (left-hand column) by James Lockhart:] [f. 20r.] tecuçoma: oydo lo que dixeron entristeciose mucho, estaua cabizbaxo. no hablaua, estaua enmudecida casi fuera de si: a cabo de rato, dixolos: pues que emos de hazer varones nobles? ya estamos para perdernos, ya tenemos tragada la muerte! no emos de subirnos a alguna sierra ni emos de huyr! Mexicanos somos, ponernos emos a lo que viniere por la honrra de nuestra generacion mexicana: pesame de los viejos y viejas y de los niños y niñas que no tienen posibilidad ni discrecion para valerse donde los escaparan sus padres! Pues que emos de hazer? Nacido somos venga lo que viniere.

English Translation

[Translation of the Nahuatl (right-hand column) by James Lockhart:] those who had first gone with Tzihuacpopocatzin. And when the messengers got there, they told Moteucçoma what had happened and what they had seen. When Moteucçoma heard it, he just hung his head and sat there, not saying a word. He sat like someone on the verge of death; for a long time it was as though he had lost awareness. He answered them only by saying to them, “What can be done, oh men of unique valor? We have come to the end. We are resigned. Should we climb up in the mountains? But should we run away? We are Mexica. Will the Mexica state flourish [in exile]? Look at the sad condition of the poor old men and women, and the little children who know nothing yet. Where would they be taken? What answer is there? What can be done, whatever can be done? Where are we to go? We are resigned to whatever we will see, of whatever nature.” [Translation of the Spanish (left-hand column) by James Lockhart:] Moteucçoma's presence and he had heard what they sayd, he was greatly saddened. He sat with his head down; he did not speak, but was struck dumb and almost unconscious. After a while, he said to them, "Well, noble lords, what are we to do? We are about to be lost. We are already reconciled to our deaths. We will not climb some mountain or run away! We are Mexica, we will face what should come for the honor of our Mexica stock. I grieve for the old men and women, and for the little boys and girls who lack the possibility and discretion to take care of themselves. Where can their parents find escape for them? What are we to do, then? We are born [exist as we are]; let come what may."

Analytic Transcription

[Transcription of the Nahuatl (right-hand column) by James Lockhart:] [f. 20r.] in achto iaque in Tzioacpopocatzin. Auh in oacico iehoantin titlantin, iuh quipovilique in Motecuçoma in iuh mochiuh in iuh quittaque. In motecuçoma, in o iuh quicac, ça oaltolo ça oaltolotimotlali, oalquechpilo, oalquechpilotimotlali, aocmo oalnaoat, çan ontlanauhtimotlali, vecauhtica in iuhqui ontlapolo, ça ixquich inic quinoalnanquili: quinoalilhui, Quennel mocechtle* ca ie ic toncate, ca ie otictomacaque, cuix cacah tepetl tictlecavizque: auh cuix ticholozque ca timexica, cuix nellaontimaliviz in mexicaiutl, motolinia in icnoveve, in icnoilama: auh in piltzintli, in aia quimati, campa neviquililozque, quē nel, quē çannel nen, quē noçonel, campanel, ca ie tictomacaticate in çaço tlein, in çaço quenami in ticmaviçozque. ---------- *MOCECHTLE. Read "moceloquichtle."

Image

Spanish Translation

[Translation of the Nahuatl into Spanish by Fr. Bernardino de Sahagún; transcription of the Spanish (left-hand column) by James Lockhart:] [f. 20r.] tecuçoma: oydo lo que dixeron entristeciose mucho, estaua cabizbaxo. no hablaua, estaua enmudecida casi fuera de si: a cabo de rato, dixolos: pues que emos de hazer varones nobles? ya estamos para perdernos, ya tenemos tragada la muerte! no emos de subirnos a alguna sierra ni emos de huyr! Mexicanos somos, ponernos emos a lo que viniere por la honrra de nuestra generacion mexicana: pesame de los viejos y viejas y de los niños y niñas que no tienen posibilidad ni discrecion para valerse donde los escaparan sus padres! Pues que emos de hazer? Nacido somos venga lo que viniere.

English Translation

[Translation of the Nahuatl (right-hand column) by James Lockhart:] those who had first gone with Tzihuacpopocatzin. And when the messengers got there, they told Moteucçoma what had happened and what they had seen. When Moteucçoma heard it, he just hung his head and sat there, not saying a word. He sat like someone on the verge of death; for a long time it was as though he had lost awareness. He answered them only by saying to them, “What can be done, oh men of unique valor? We have come to the end. We are resigned. Should we climb up in the mountains? But should we run away? We are Mexica. Will the Mexica state flourish [in exile]? Look at the sad condition of the poor old men and women, and the little children who know nothing yet. Where would they be taken? What answer is there? What can be done, whatever can be done? Where are we to go? We are resigned to whatever we will see, of whatever nature.” [Translation of the Spanish (left-hand column) by James Lockhart:] Moteucçoma's presence and he had heard what they sayd, he was greatly saddened. He sat with his head down; he did not speak, but was struck dumb and almost unconscious. After a while, he said to them, "Well, noble lords, what are we to do? We are about to be lost. We are already reconciled to our deaths. We will not climb some mountain or run away! We are Mexica, we will face what should come for the honor of our Mexica stock. I grieve for the old men and women, and for the little boys and girls who lack the possibility and discretion to take care of themselves. Where can their parents find escape for them? What are we to do, then? We are born [exist as we are]; let come what may."

Analytic Transcription

[Transcription of the Nahuatl (right-hand column) by James Lockhart:] [f. 20r.] in achto iaque in Tzioacpopocatzin. Auh in oacico iehoantin titlantin, iuh quipovilique in Motecuçoma in iuh mochiuh in iuh quittaque. In motecuçoma, in o iuh quicac, ça oaltolo ça oaltolotimotlali, oalquechpilo, oalquechpilotimotlali, aocmo oalnaoat, çan ontlanauhtimotlali, vecauhtica in iuhqui ontlapolo, ça ixquich inic quinoalnanquili: quinoalilhui, Quennel mocechtle* ca ie ic toncate, ca ie otictomacaque, cuix cacah tepetl tictlecavizque: auh cuix ticholozque ca timexica, cuix nellaontimaliviz in mexicaiutl, motolinia in icnoveve, in icnoilama: auh in piltzintli, in aia quimati, campa neviquililozque, quē nel, quē çannel nen, quē noçonel, campanel, ca ie tictomacaticate in çaço tlein, in çaço quenami in ticmaviçozque. ---------- *MOCECHTLE. Read "moceloquichtle."

Image