Page:IJAL vol 1.djvu/159

 NO. 2

��TEPECANO PRAYERS

��art sad. Therefore do I thus unbidden speak unto thee.

From afar God speaketh from his seven beautiful heavens. There did her father and her mother create her within the seven clouds ; within the beautiful green jicara where she was formed did she carry her hidden, until at last she appeared between the limbs, sor- rowfully weeping.

Then she arose and trod on the beautiful green carpet where she was formed in the image of her father and her mother. From there she arose and went observing within the five clouds, where she was formed of his beautiful green cloud. Then she arose, gaz- ing within the many-colored cloud and wept, cleansing it with her tears. Within the cloud will she run about, being formed of the five plumes of her Father from which spring the clouds and the rain. From within that cloud he speaketh and within the healthful cloud is answered. From there will she look in two directions, observing. From within the beautiful green broom-grass she cometh run- ning, being formed of the green cloud. She looketh down upon his green carpet, beauti- fully outspread with fog and drizzly rains. His carpet is verdantly spread out. From there he will draw his welcome drizzle with which he will purify his child. Thence will she arise and be formed of the great beauti- ful broom-grass. Within the green lake which she watcheth will she gaze. There will she be formed of the beautiful green cloud. She will gaze all around on the shores of the spark- ling lake, beautifully outspread, whence rise the clouds. From within these clouds flash the lightnings. There will she be formed of the healthful drizzle with which he will purify his little one. There she goeth about weep- ing, seeking her sorrow within the green lake. She will depart and will gaze about beneath the heavens. Here will she come to tread just as have her father and her mother walked. In the same likeness as were her parents created, so did they form their child, with

��sad tears. There will she appear, walking within the beautiful green cloud where will be formed the beautiful green bead which is the garment of the Father.

From there will she go beholding on his beau- tiful golden gray carpet beneath the beautiful gray heaven. There she arriveth where she will be formed with her beautiful gray plumes. Within the beautiful gray broom-grass will she gaze, purifying herself with her beauti- ful gray plumes, with which she came. Thus did she resemble her father and her mother. In the same likeness as were they formed, so also did they form their child. Then did she go beholding within the five beautiful clouds; there was she formed of the beautiful gray cloud.

Thence did she look to both sides round about beneath his heavens. She began to weep, running about amidst sad tears. With many forms of cloud is she created. Round about doth she gaze upon his carpet, looking to the west where she will be formed of his beautiful black cloud. As were formed her father and her mother, so with the same like- ness do they create her. Thence did he lift his graceful cloud with which he did purify her form. He sent succor and health in his cloud, thereby augmenting his spirit. So also doth he now send succor to him who will tread between this his altar. There will she gaze into the beautiful black lake where are seated her father and her mother. With his health will he purify and with his arrows will he cast out sickness and heat. Here, running sadly about, did she seek her sorrow. Thence will she arise with his five clouds and depart. She will gaze within the lake, beautifully spread out with rain and fog. From there ariseth the cloud within which flash the light- nings. Thence will she look upon his paths where she treadeth. With his health-giving cloud is she formed. All around doth she go wandering and weeping. Round about it raineth and showereth and cloudeth up and within the cloud flash the lightnings.

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