Translation:El Coloquio de los Doce

by Anonymous

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.

(....)

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.

(....)

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!