y criador que os dé mucha paz y sosiego y contento todo el tiempo que vivierdes en esta vida, en el felicísimo estado en que estáis puesto para regir y gobernar la dignidad en que os ha puesto, el cual os está mirando desde el Cielo, y también os miran desde el Infierno, y acá en el mundo os miran todos vuestros vasallos y tienen puestos sus ojos en vos. Sabe nuestro señor Dios qué tanto tiempo habéis de regir este reino que os ha dado. Esperemos en él para ver qué es su voluntad, pues que él es gobernador y regidor que sabe todos los secretos y da todos los dones. ¡Oh, felicísimo señor, deseo viváis y reinéis por muchos años, amen!
\nLos señores siempre traían consigo muy espertos oradores para responder y hablar cuando fuese menester, y esto desde el principio de su electión, los cuales siempre andaban a su lado. Y cuando mandaba a algunos déstos que respondiese, decía lo que se sigue.
\nto grant you much peace, calm, and happiness for as long as you live, in this most happy condition in which you have been placed so that you may rule and govern the position in which he has placed you; for he is watching you from heaven, and they are also watching you from hell, while here in this world all your vassals are watching you and keep their eyes fixed on you. Our lord god knows how long you will rule this kingdom that he has given to you. Let us set our hopes on him, so that we may see what his will is, since he is the ruler and the governor who knows every secret and gives away every gift. Oh, most happy lord, I wish you to live and reign for many years, amen!”
\nThe lords would always bring along with them very expert orators so that they could give responses and speak when necessary; and this would take place from the very moment [the new lord] was elected. And [these orators] would always be by his side. And when he ordered one of them to give a response, he would deliver the following [speech].
\n[mjtz]motlamatcatlalili in totecujo, in tloque, naoaque: auh anca quen macujl, matlac qujmonequjltiz:
\nma ximotlacotili, ma ximotequjtili: ca ie oalitztotoc in topan, auh in mjctlan, auh in cemanaoac: ca ie oallachialotoc. Ma oc ie ie qujmomachitia in totecujo, cujx vel achitzin ticmotoctiliz in atl, in tepetl: ma oc titlatemachican totecoe, tlatoanje, nopiltzintzine: ma oc tictotemachilican in teiocoianj, in tehimatinj, in techichioanj. Tle ticmomachiticatzintli, tlacatle totecoe, tlatoanje: ma ximotlacotili, ma ximotequjtili.
\nAuh intla çan qujtlananqujlilia yn aqujn copochtia, qujtzcactia in tlatoanj. qujtoa.
\nour lord, the lord of the near, of the nigh, rest thee in peace. And in what possible manner will he determine in a short time?
\n“Perform thy office; do thy work; for already those above us and in the land of the dead rest watching, and already in all the world all remain looking.1 First of all, may our lord make known if perhaps thou mayest continue the city. Take heed, O our lord, O ruler, O my son! May we yet place our faith in Teyocoyani, Teimatini, Techichiuani. Take heed, O master, O our lord, O ruler. Perform thy office; do thy work.”
\nAnd if only he responded whom the ruler placed at his left, provided obsidian sandals, he said:2
\n