Translation:El Coloquio de los Doce

Here an Aztec addresses the missionaries:


 * Lords, respected lords: You have traveled much to get to this land.
 * Here in front of you,
 * we contemplate you, we ignorant people...
 * And now, what are we going to tell you?
 * What is what we must address to your ears?
 * Are we something indeed?
 * We are just vulgar people...
 * By means of a translator we will answer,
 * we will return the breath and the word
 * about the lord of the near and far. (ometeotl /omecihuatl)
 * It's by his word, that we risk ourselves,
 * that we put ourselves in danger...
 * Maybe this is our loss,
 * maybe is our destruction,
 * where are we going to be taken?
 * Where should we go?
 * We are vulgar people
 * we are perishable, we are mortal.
 * Let us die, let us perish,
 * since our gods are dead.
 * But there should be peace on your
 * hearts and your body,
 * Milords!
 * we will break a little,
 * we will show a little,
 * the secret, the ark of the lord, our God
 * You said
 * that we did not know
 * about the lord of the near and far,
 * about of one who created earth and sky.
 * you said
 * That our gods are not true.
 * This is a new word,
 * this that you have spoken.
 * This is why we are disturbed,
 * this is why we are annoyed.
 * Because our ancestors,
 * the ones that had been,
 * the ones that had lived on this earth,
 * they did not speak like that.
 * They give us the ways of life,
 * they take by true,
 * they give cult,
 * they honored the gods......
 * they teach us the ways of the cult,
 * all the ways to honor the gods.
 * That way we put the mouth on earth,
 * by them we bleed us,
 * we accomplished our votes,
 * we burn copal
 * and offered sacrifice.
 * they give cult,
 * they honored the gods......
 * they teach us the ways of the cult,
 * all the ways to honor the gods.
 * That way we put the mouth on earth,
 * by them we bleed us,
 * we accomplished our votes,
 * we burn copal
 * and offered sacrifice.
 * and offered sacrifice.

(....) (....) (....)
 * We know to whom we owe life.
 * To whom we owe birth,
 * to whom we owe to be beget
 * to whom we owe to grow,
 * and how to invoke...
 * Hear milords
 * do not harm your people.
 * Do not let disgrace to be carried,
 * to let it perish...
 * tranquil, and friendly,
 * take this account, milords,
 * of what is needed.
 * of what is needed.
 * Here are the ones who rule us,
 * the ones that take us,
 * the ones that have the world in charge.
 * Is it not enough that we are defeated?
 * that we are taken away?
 * that we are taken from our rulers?
 * If in this place we are to stand,
 * we will be prisoners.
 * So Do with us what you want,
 * This is what we have spoken,
 * what we answered,
 * to your breath,
 * to your word,
 * oh lords!
 * what we answered,
 * to your breath,
 * to your word,
 * oh lords!