Venice masks

Sunday 12 April 2015

A plain soing of the Mexicans - Nahuatl indian (anonymous)

I alone will clothe thee with flowers, mine alone is the song which casts down our grief before God in thy house.

True it is that my possessions shall perish, my friendships, their home and their house; thus I, O Yoyontzin, pour forth songs to the Giver of Life.

Let the green quechol birds, let the tzinitzcan twine flowers for us, only dying and withered flowers, that we may clothe thee with flowers, thou ruler, thou Nezahualcoyotl.

Ye youths and ye braves, skilled in wisdom, may you alone be our friends, while for a moment here we shall enjoy this house.

For thy fame shall perish, Nopiltzin, and thou, Tezozomoc, where are thy songs? No more do I cry aloud, but rest tranquil that ye have gone to your homes.

Ye whom I bewailed, I know nevermore, never again; I am sad here on earth that ye have gone to your homes.

Nahuatl indian (anonymous) c. 17th Century
Translated by Daniel G. Brinton

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