Growing Up in Texcoco

En naciendo el hijo daban el parabién á sus padres sus amigos y deudos, y aun llevaban presentes conforme á la calidad del padre, al cual era dado el ponelle nombre, cada uno como quería ó se le antojaba, dentro de cuatro días después de nacido, notificándolo á todos los que se hallaban presentes: dábanle una rodela y macana y arco y flecha; y á la hija su huso y rueca y otros aderezos de hilar y tejer; aunque los reyes y grandes señores tenían respeto á que fuese el nombre conforme á alguna cosa que en aquel tiempo había ó sucedía digna de memoria, ó la había ó acaecía natural ó accidental, de suerte que si hubo cometa lo nombraban Citlalpopoca, que se interpreta estrella que humea; y si eclipse de luna ó sol lo mismo, ó si se cayó algún cerro ó remaneció fuente de nuevo, lo mismo, casi queriendo perpetuar en esto la memoria de lo que entonces pasó.

On the son being born, his friends and kinsmen gave the congratulation to his parents, and even brought presents according to the quality of the father, to whom was given the naming of him, each one as he wished or fancied, within four days after being born, notifying it to all those who were present: they gave him a shield and macana and bow and arrow; and to the daughter her spindle and distaff and other gear for spinning and weaving; although the kings and great lords had regard that the name should be according to some thing that at that time there was or happened worthy of memory, or there was or happened natural or accidental, so that if there was a comet they named him Citlalpopoca, which is interpreted star that smokes; and if eclipse of moon or sun the same, or if some hill fell or a spring appeared anew, the same, as if wanting to perpetuate in this the memory of what then happened.

When a son was born, his parents' friends and relatives came to congratulate them, and even brought gifts suited to the father's rank. The father had the right to name the child, each as he liked or fancied, within four days of the birth, and he announced the name to all who were there. They gave a boy a shield and a club,1 a bow and arrows, and a girl her spindle and distaff and other tools for spinning and weaving. Kings and great lords, though, took care that the name should match something worth remembering that happened at the time, whether natural or by chance. So if there was a comet, they named the child Citlalpopoca, which means “smoking star.” They did the same if there was an eclipse of the moon or the sun, or if a hill collapsed or a new spring appeared. It was as if they wanted to preserve the memory of what happened then.

1. Macana, a wooden war club; Pomar uses the Spanish word.

Al hijo, en cayéndosele el ombligo se llevaba con gran cuidado á enterrar en tierra de enemigos, dando á entender en esto que por secreta propiedad apetecería por esto la guerra y el ejercicio militar.

The son's, on the navel falling off, was carried with great care to be buried in land of enemies, giving to understand in this that by secret property he would long for this war and the military exercise.

When a boy's navel cord fell off, it was carefully taken away and buried in enemy land. This meant that by some secret power he would long for war and the soldier's life.

Criaban los niños con regalo hasta que tenían entendimiento y uso de razón, y en conociéndosele los quitaban á las madres y llevaban luego á ciertas casas muy grandes que en los templos había, y allí eran enseñados por el sacerdote principal á todo ejercicio de virtud, honestidad y crianza, y especialmente en el arte militar, en lo cual ningún respeto les tenían; aunque fuesen los hijos legítimos del rey andaban con solamente unos pañetes de algodón con que cubrían las desvergüenzas, y unas mantas ásperas de nequén, sin diferenciar de los demás hijos de señores ó hidalgos ó plebeyos.

They raised the children with indulgence until they had understanding and use of reason, and on its being recognized in them they took them from the mothers and carried them at once to certain very large houses that there were in the temples, and there they were taught by the principal priest in all exercise of virtue, decency and breeding, and especially in the military art, in which they had no regard for them; although they were the legitimate sons of the king they went about with only some cotton loincloths with which they covered their shame, and some rough cloaks of nequén, without distinguishing from the other sons of lords or hidalgos or commoners.

They raised children gently until they could understand and reason. As soon as they saw that a child could, they took him from his mother and brought him to certain very large houses in the temples. There the chief priest taught them every exercise of virtue, decency and good manners, and above all the art of war. In this no one was given special treatment. Even the king's legitimate sons wore nothing but cotton loincloths to cover their private parts, and rough cloaks of nequén,2 no different from the other sons of lords, nobles or commoners.

2. Nequén, fiber from the leaves of the maguey (agave), woven into coarse cloth.

Hacíanlos dormir en esteras y con una ropa de nequén basta y muy gorda. En siendo después de media noche se levantaban, y lo primero que hacían era bañarse en agua fría, sin jamás dejarlo de hacer en tiempo de fríos ó calores, y luego tomaban escobas y barrían los templos y las casas y patios de ellos; y algunos por elección del sacerdote iban al monte por rama de abeto y por puyas para el culto y ceremonia que se dijo de los ídolos; y los demás, á lo menos los que eran ya mozuelos y los hombres ya hechos, cada uno tomaba un incensario de barro, que eran como grandes cucharas, y echando en ellos brasas de un grande fuego que toda la noche ardía, incensaban hacia el Oriente y hacia las demás partes referidas, y despiertos aguardaban que amaneciese.

They made them sleep on mats and with a cloth of nequén coarse and very thick. Being after midnight they rose, and the first thing they did was to bathe in cold water, without ever leaving off doing it in time of colds or heats, and then they took brooms and swept the temples and the houses and courtyards of them; and some by choice of the priest went to the mountain for branch of fir and for thorns for the worship and ceremony that was told of the idols; and the rest, at least those who were already youths and the grown men, each one took an incense burner of clay, which were like large spoons, and putting in them coals of a great fire that burned all night, they incensed toward the East and toward the other parts referred to, and awake they waited for it to dawn.

They made them sleep on mats, with a coarse, thick blanket of nequén. A little after midnight they got up. The first thing they did was bathe in cold water, and they never failed to do so, in cold weather or hot. Then they took brooms and swept the temples and their houses and courtyards. Some, chosen by the priest, went up the mountain for fir branches and for thorns, for the worship and rites of the idols that I have described.3 The rest, at least the older boys and grown men, each took a clay incense burner shaped like a large ladle. They filled them with coals from a great fire that burned all night and offered incense toward the east and the other directions I have mentioned. Then they waited, awake, for the dawn.

3. Earlier in his report Pomar describes how the temple priests drew blood from their arms, thighs or tongues and smeared it on fresh maguey thorns, laid on fir branches in the temples.

Hacían todo esto á fin de curtillos con los fríos y calores y poco sueño y poco comer para que habituados á ello, cuando se ofreciesen los trabajos en la guerra los sintiesen menos. A esta casa y á las demás venían los hijos del rey y los demás señores, y algunos de los plebeyos. Pasaban el día en enseñarles á bien hablar, á bien gobernar y á oir de justicia, y en pelear de rodela y macana, y con lanza con pedernal á manera de pica, y aunque no tan larga; y esto hacían los que ya tenían edad para ello.

They did all this to the end of hardening them with the colds and heats and little sleep and little eating, so that, habituated to it, when the labors in war offered themselves they would feel them less. To this house and to the others came the sons of the king and the other lords, and some of the commoners. They passed the day in teaching them to speak well, to govern well and to hear justice, and in fighting with shield and macana, and with lance with flint in the manner of pike, and though not so long; and this did those who already had age for it.

They did all this to toughen them against cold and heat, little sleep and little food, so that, being used to it, they would feel the hardships of war less. To this house and the others came the sons of the king and the other lords, and some sons of commoners. They spent the day learning to speak well, to govern well and to hear lawsuits, and to fight with shield and club, and with a flint-tipped spear like a pike, though not so long. That was for those who were old enough.

Otros se iban á la casa del canto y baile á deprender cantar y bailar: otros al juego de la pelota que se ha dicho, el cual estaba en la plaza pública,

Others went to the house of song and dance to learn to sing and dance: others to the game of the ball that has been told, which was in the public square,

Others went to the house of song and dance to learn to sing and dance.4 Others went to the ball game I have described,5 which was in the public square.

4. Elsewhere Pomar writes that nobles, and commoners too, strove to compose songs about the deeds of kings and famous men, and that a good composer was greatly honored, since the songs kept the memory of the past alive.
5. Pomar says the ball was made from the milky sap of a tree, boiled until it turned black, and that players struck it with the hip or thigh. The friars banned the game early on, thinking it involved spells and pacts with the devil.

de manera que los más de los hijos de los nobles y gente rica se criaban en estos ejercicios, cada uno conforme á la edad que tenía y á lo que más era aficionado.

so that most of the sons of the nobles and rich people were raised in these exercises, each one according to the age he had and to what he was most fond of.

So most of the sons of nobles and rich people were raised in these exercises, each according to his age and what he liked best.

Cuando erraban y excedían en algo en la casa donde se criaban ó en otra parte, pública ó secretamente, eran con mucha aspereza castigados de los sacerdotes mayores, porque les punzaban las orejas con puntas de maguey, ó los muslos ó molledos, ó los colgaban de los pies, y en el aire les daban humo á narices con ají, ó azotaban con ortigas. Todos sus yerros era en descuidarse de reverenciar á sus mayores, ó á sus padres, ó á los viejos ó maestros, ó si comían algo escondida y secretamente, aunque fuese de cosa que sus padres le hubiesen enviado, que les era vedado; pero algunos, de piedad, se lo llevaban ó enviaban, á lo menos las madres, porque lo que habían de comer había de ser por mano de su maestro, y esto habían de ser tortillas secas de maíz, sin otra vianda ni apetito, y tan limitado que solamente bastase á sustentarse, sin jamás hartarse. Su bebida era agua simple: comían dos veces al día, no en mesa ni en otro lugar para ello diputado, más de que los sacerdotes les arrojaban á cada uno una tortilla ó dos, como les parecía que habían menester, sin comedimiento ni crianza, aunque fuera el único sucesor y heredero del reino, sino como quien arroja pan á los perros.

When they erred and exceeded in something in the house where they were raised or in another part, publicly or secretly, they were with much harshness punished by the senior priests, because they pierced their ears with points of maguey, or the thighs or upper arms, or they hung them by the feet, and in the air gave them smoke to the nostrils with chili, or whipped with nettles. All their faults were in neglecting to revere their elders, or their parents, or the old men or teachers, or if they ate something hidden and secretly, even if it were of a thing that their parents had sent them, which was forbidden to them; but some, out of pity, carried or sent it to them, at least the mothers, because what they were to eat had to be from the hand of their teacher, and this had to be dry tortillas of maize, without other food or relish, and so limited that it only sufficed to sustain themselves, without ever being sated. Their drink was plain water: they ate twice a day, not at table nor in another place assigned for it, other than that the priests threw to each one a tortilla or two, as it seemed to them they had need, without courtesy or breeding, even if he were the only successor and heir of the kingdom, but as one who throws bread to the dogs.

When they did wrong or went too far in anything, in the house where they were raised or elsewhere, in public or in secret, the senior priests punished them very harshly. They pierced their ears with maguey thorns, or their thighs or arms. Or they hung them up by the feet and held their noses over the smoke of burning chili, or whipped them with nettles. Their faults were failing to show respect to their elders, their parents, the old men or their teachers, or eating something hidden and in secret, even food their parents had sent them, for this was forbidden. Still, some parents, out of pity, took or sent them food, at least the mothers. For what they ate had to come from the hand of their teacher: dry maize tortillas, with no other food or relish, and only just enough to keep them alive, never enough to fill them. Their drink was plain water. They ate twice a day, not at a table or in any place set aside for it. The priests simply tossed each one a tortilla or two, as much as they thought he needed, without courtesy or manners, even if he were the only heir to the kingdom, as one throws bread to the dogs.

En lo que más les persuadían era en lo de las armas, inclinándolos á ellas y dándoles á entender que por ellas y no por otro respeto habían de valer y tener, y que ellas les habían de dar el ser y valor, y no la grandeza de sus padres los reyes; á lo menos Nezahualcoyotzin y Nezahualpitzintli nunca jamás tuvieron consigo á sus hijos, sino muy niños, y cuando los venían á conocer era ya por valor de sus personas, y que por esto lo mereciesen conocer por padre.

In what most they persuaded them was in that of arms, inclining them to them and giving them to understand that by them and not by another respect they had to be worth and to have, and that they had to give them being and worth, and not the greatness of their fathers the kings; at least Nezahualcoyotzin and Nezahualpitzintli never ever had their sons with them, except very small, and when they came to know them it was already by worth of their persons, and that by this they should deserve to know him as father.

What they urged on them most was the use of arms. They turned them toward it and taught them that by arms, and nothing else, they would win worth and wealth, and that arms, not the greatness of their fathers the kings, would give them rank and merit. At least Nezahualcoyotzin and Nezahualpitzintli6 never kept their sons with them except when they were very small. When the fathers came to know them, it was already for their own worth, so that they would deserve to know him as their father.

6. Nezahualcoyotl, ruler of Texcoco and a famous poet, died in 1472. His son Nezahualpilli succeeded him. Pomar uses the respectful forms of their names, ending in -tzin and -tzintli.

Las mujeres cuando nacían, ó el padre ó la madre les ponía nombre, y el ombligo, á diferencia del del varon, enterraban junto á los fogones, dando á entender por esto que serían inclinadas á ser caseras, como les parecía que eran obligadas. Imponíanles sus madres á tejer, hilar y hacer de comer: algunas había que se inclinaban á tañer, cantar y bailar. Vivían honestas y recogidas, sirviendo á sus padres y madres. Casábanse demandadas á sus padres, y jamás convidaban con ellas. Procuraban de tener las calidades que se ha dicho para merecer ser deseadas; y ellos tenían respeto á esto para tomallas por mujeres. Dábanles dote sus padres como podían. Las hijas de los reyes casaban con reyes ó con señores: llevaban grandes dotes de pueblos, casas, tierras, esclavos, y otros muchos bienes y haberes.

The women, when they were born, either the father or the mother put a name on them, and the navel, unlike that of the male, they buried next to the hearths, giving to understand by this that they would be inclined to be home-keepers, as it seemed to them they were obliged. Their mothers trained them to weave, spin and make food: there were some who inclined to play, sing and dance. They lived modest and secluded, serving their fathers and mothers. They married asked for from their parents, and never did [the parents] offer them. They tried to have the qualities that have been said to deserve to be desired; and the men had regard to this to take them as wives. Their parents gave them dowry as they could. The daughters of the kings married with kings or with lords: they carried great dowries of towns, houses, lands, slaves, and many other goods and possessions.

When girls were born, the father or the mother named them. Unlike a boy's, a girl's navel cord was buried by the hearth, to show that she would be inclined to stay at home, as they thought women were bound to do. Their mothers set them to weaving, spinning and cooking. Some girls had a gift for playing music, singing and dancing. They lived modest and sheltered lives, serving their fathers and mothers. They were married when a man asked their parents for them; the parents never offered them. The girls tried to have the qualities I have described, to be worth wanting, and the men looked for these when choosing wives. Their parents gave them what dowries they could. Kings' daughters married kings or lords and brought great dowries of towns, houses, lands, slaves, and many other goods and riches.

La mayor parte de los hijos de la gente común se criaban en otras casas que había en la ciudad, que llamaban telpochcalli, que se interpreta “casa de mozos,” donde también eran enseñados á las mismas costumbres y doctrina que en las otras de los sacerdotes de los templos, salvo cosas de sus ceremonias. Los más de estos y sus padres se ocupaban en la labor de la tierra, en que ponían su principal fin, después del de las armas; y de estos salían algunos hombres muy valerosos que después eran traidos al gobierno del pueblo, y á otros cargos y dignidades.

The greater part of the sons of the common people were raised in other houses that there were in the city, which they called telpochcalli, which is interpreted “house of youths,” where they were also taught the same customs and doctrine as in the others of the priests of the temples, except things of their ceremonies. Most of these and their parents occupied themselves in the labor of the land, in which they put their principal end, after that of arms; and from these came forth some very valiant men who afterward were brought to the government of the town, and to other offices and dignities.

Most of the sons of the common people were raised in other houses in the city, called telpochcalli, which means “house of young men.” There they were taught the same customs and lessons as in the priests' houses at the temples, except for matters of their ceremonies. Most of these boys, and their fathers, worked the land, which was their main aim after war. And from among them came some very brave men, who were later brought into the government of the town and into other offices and honors.