y otro dia por la mañana llegamos a la calçada ancha y vamos Camino de Estapalapa, y desque vimos tantas çibdades y villas pobladas En el agua, y en tierra firme, otras grandes poblazones, y aquella Calçada tan derecha, y por nivel como yva a mexᶜᵒ nos quedamos admirados y deziamos que paresçia a las cosas de encantamiento que Cuentan En el libro de amadis, por las grandes torres, y Cues, y edifiçios, que tenian dentro En el agua, y todos de Calicanto, y avn algunos de nros soldados dezian, que si aquello que vian, si hera entre sueños, y no es de maravillar, que yo lo escriva aqui desta manera porque ay mucho que ponderar En ello que no se Como lo cuente, ver Cosas nunca oydas, ni vistas, ni avn soñadas Como viamos, pues desque llegamos çerca destapalapa, ver la grandeza de otros Caçiques, que nos salieron a rresçebir que fue el señor de aquel pueblo que se dezia Coadlabaca, y el señor de culuacan, que entranbos eran debdos muy çercanos del montezuma, y desque entramos en aquella çibdad dystapalapa de la manera de los palaçios donde nos aposentaron, de quan grandes y bien labrados heran, de canteria muy prima, y la madera de çedros, y de otros buenos arboles olorosos, Con grandes patios, E quartos, Cosas muy de ver, y entoldados, Con paramentos de algodon.— despues de bien visto todo aquello, fuimos a la huerta E xardin, que fue cosa muy admirable, vello y paseallo, que no me hartava de mirar la diversidad de arboles, y los olores que cada vno tenia, y andenes llenos de rrosas y flores, y muchos frutales y rrosales de la trra, y vn estanque de agua duçe y otra cosa, de ver, que podian entrar en el vergel grandes Canoas, desde la laguna, por vna abertura que tenian hecha, sin saltar en tierra, e todo muy encalado, y luzido, de muchas maneras de piedras y pinturas en ellas, que avia harto que ponderar, y de las aves de muchas diversidades y rraleas que entravan En el estanque. digo otra vez, que lo estuve mirando, que crey q̃ en el mũdo obiese otras trras desCubiertas Como estas, porq̃ en aq̃l tpo no avia peru ny memoria del. agora todo esta por el suelo perdido que no ay cosa en pie. luego otro dia de mañana, partimos destapalapa, muy aconpañados de aquellos grandes caçiques, que atras E dicho, yvamos por nra calçada adelante lo qual es ancha, de ocho pasos, y va tan derecha a la çibdad de mexᶜᵒ que me pareçe que no se torçia poco ni mucho, e puesto ques bien ancha, toda yva llena de aquellas gentes que no cabian, vnos que entravan en mexico y otros que salian, y los que nos venian a ver, que no nos podiamos rrodear de tantos como binyeron, porquestavan llenas las torres e Cues y En las canoas y de todas partes de la laguna, y no hera cosa de maravillar porque jamas avian visto cavallos ni honbres Como nosotros y de que vimos cosas tan admirables no sabiamos que nos dezir, o si era verdad lo que por delante pareçia, que por vna parte En tierra, avia grandes çibdades y En la laguna otras muchas, E viamoslo todo lleno de canoas, y en la calçada muchas puentes de trecho a trecho, y por delante estava la gran çibdad de mexico, y nosotros avn no llegavamos a quatrozientos soldados, y teniamos muy bien en la memoria las platicas E abisos que nos dixeron los de guaxoçingo E tascala y de tamanalco, y con otros muchos avisos q̃ nos avian dado para que nos guardasemos de Entrar En mexico, que nos avian de matar, desque dentro nos tuviesen. pasemos adelante, yvamos por nra calçada, ya que llegamos donde se aparta otra calçadilla que yva a Cuyuacan, ques otra çibdad, a donde Estavan vnas como torres, que heran sus adoratorios, vinieron muchos prinçipales y caçiques con muy rricas mantas sobre si, con galania de libreas diferençiadas. las de los vnos caçiques de los otros, y las calçadas llenas dellos, y aquellos grandes caçiques, Enbiava el gran monteçuma adelante, a rreçebirnos y ansi Como llegavan ante cortes dezian en su lengua que fuesemos bien venidos, y en señal de paz, tocavan con la mano En el suelo, y besavan la trra con la mesma mano. ansi questuvimos parados vn buen rrato, y desde alli se adelantaron, el Cacamaçi, señor de tezcuco, y el señor de yztapalapa, y el señor de tacuba, y el señor de cuyuacan, a Encontrarse, Con el gran monteçuma, que venia çerca, En rricas andas, aconpañado de otros grandes señores, y caçiques, q̃ tenian vasallos, ya que llegavamos çerca de mexᶜᵒ a donde estavan otras torrezillas, se apeo el gran monteçuma de las andas, y trayanle de braço, aquellos grandes caçiques, debajo de vn palio, muy rriquisimo, a maravilla, y la color de plumas verdes Con grandes labores de oro, con mucha argenteria y perlas, y piedras chalchivis, que colgavan de vnas como bordaduras que ovo mucho que mirar en ello, y el gran montezuma venia muy rricamente ataviado, segun su vsança y traya calçados vnos como cotaras, q̃ ansi se dize lo q̃ se calçan, las suelas de oro, y muy preçiada pedreria por ençima En ellas, E venian, sin aquellos quatro señores, otros quatro grandes caçiques, que trayan el palio sobre sus cabeças, y otros muchos señores, que venian delante del gran montezuma, barriendo el suelo por donde avia de pisar y le ponian mantas, porque no pisase la tierra. todos estos señores ni por pensamiento le miravan en la cara, sino los ojos bajos, e con mucho acato, eçeto aquellos quatro debdos, e sobrinos suyos, que lo llevavan de braço. e como cortes vio y entendio e le dixeron que venia el gran monteçuma, se apeo del cavallo, y desque llego çerca de monteçuma, a vna se hizieron grandes acatos, el monteçuma le dio el bien venido E nro cortes le rrespondio Con doña marina, quel fuese el muy bien estado, E paresçeme quel cortes con la lengua doña marina que yba junto a cortes le dava la mano derecha, y el monteçuma no la quiso, E se la dio al cortes y entonçes saco cortes vn collar que traya muy a mano de vnas piedras de vidrio, que ya he dicho que se dizen margaritas, que tienen dentro de si muchas labores, e diversidad de colores, y benia Ensartado En vnos cordones de oro con almizque, porque diezen buen olor y se le hecho al cuello al gran monteçuma y quando se le puso le yba abraçar y aquellos grandes señores que yvan con el montezuma detuvieron el braço a cortes que no le abraçase porq̃ lo tenyan por menospreçio y luego cortes con la lengua doña marina, le dixo, que holgava agora su coraçon, En aver visto vn tan gran prinçipe y que le tenia En gran md la venida de su persona a le rresçebir y las mds que le haze a la contina. quien pudiera agora dezir la multitud de honbres e mugeres, E muchachos, questavan En las calles, E açoteas, y en canoas, En aquellas açequias, que nos salian a mirar era cosa de notar que agora que lo estoy escriviendo se me rrepresenta todo delante de mis ojos, como si ayer fuera quando esto paso E boluamos a nra Entrada en mxᶜᵒ que nos llevaron aposentar a vnas grandes casas, donde avia Aposentos, para todos nosotros, que avian sido de su padre del gran monteçuma, que se dezia axayaca, y como llegamos y entramos En vn gran patio, luego tomo por la mano el gran monteçuma a nro capitan que alli le estuvo esperando, y le metio En el aposento y sala a donde avia de posar que le tenia muy rricamente adereçada, para segun su vsanza, y tenia aparejado vn muy rrico Collar de oro, de hechura de camarones, obra muy maravillosa, y el mismo monteçuma se le hecho al cuello a nro capitan Cortes, que tuvieron bien que mirar sus capitanes del gran fabor que le dio, y desque se lo ovo puesto, cortes le dio las graçias con nras lenguas, e dixo monteçuma, malinchi, en vra casa estays vos, E vros hermanos, descansa, y luego se fue a sus palaçios, que no estavan lexos y fue esta nra venturosa E atrevida Entrada, En la gran çibdad de tenustitan mexᶜᵒ a ocho dias del mes de novienbre, año de nro saluador Jesuxpo, de mill E quinientos, y diez, y nueve años —

The next morning we reached the broad causeway and went on toward Iztapalapa. We saw so many cities and towns standing in the water, more large towns on the shore, and that causeway running so straight and level toward Mexico. We were amazed, and we said it was like the enchanted things they tell of in the book of Amadis, because of the tall towers, cues, and buildings standing in the water, all of stone and mortar. Some of our soldiers even wondered aloud if it was all a dream. It is no wonder that I write it down this way. There is so much here to ponder that I hardly know how to put it into words: seeing things never heard of, never seen, and never even dreamed, as we saw them. As we drew near Iztapalapa, what splendor we saw in the other caciques who came out to receive us! They were the lord of that town, called Coadlabaca, and the lord of Culuacan, two close relatives of Montezuma. And once inside Iztapalapa, what palaces they gave us to stay in! So large and so well made, of very fine stonework, with cedar and other good sweet-smelling woods. They had great courtyards and rooms, well worth seeing, shaded with cotton awnings. After we had seen all that, we went out to the orchard and garden, a marvel to see and to stroll through. I never had enough of looking at the many kinds of trees and noticing the scent of each one. Its walks were lined with roses and other flowers, with many fruit trees and roses of that country, and there was a freshwater pond. Another thing worth seeing: large canoes could enter the garden straight from the lake, through a channel cut for them, with no need to step ashore. Everything was whitewashed and shining, with many kinds of stone and paintings on them, which gave us plenty to think about. And then there were all the different birds that came down to the pond. I say again: I stood and gazed at it, and I thought that no other lands like these would ever be discovered in the world, for in those days no one had heard of Peru. Now all of it lies on the ground, lost; nothing is left standing. Early the next morning we set out from Iztapalapa, escorted by many of the great caciques I have mentioned. We went on along our causeway. It is eight paces wide, and it heads for the city of Mexico so straight that I do not think it bent at all. Wide as it is, it was packed with more people than it could hold. Some were going into Mexico and others coming out, and others had come to see us, so many that we could hardly make our way through them. People crowded the towers and cues, and canoes came from every part of the lake. That is no wonder, for they had never seen horses, or men like us. Seeing such wonders, we were at a loss for words, and unsure whether what lay before us was real. There were great cities on the shore to one side, and many more out in the lake. The whole lake was covered with canoes, the causeway had many bridges along it, and straight ahead lay the great city of Mexico. And we were not even four hundred soldiers! We remembered very well the talk and warnings of the people of Guaxocingo, Tascala, and Tamanalco, and the many other warnings we had been given. We had been told to beware of entering Mexico, for they would kill us once they had us inside. Let us go on. We were marching along our causeway, and we came to the place where another, smaller causeway branches off to Cuyuacan, another city. There were some buildings like towers there, which were their shrines. Many chief men and caciques came there, wearing very rich cloaks, in fine liveries, each cacique's different from the others', and the causeways were full of them. These great caciques had been sent ahead by the great Montezuma to receive us. As each came before Cortés, he said in his language that we were welcome, and as a sign of peace he touched the ground with his hand and kissed the earth with that hand. So we halted there a good while. From there Cacamatzin, lord of Tezcuco, went ahead with the lords of Iztapalapa, Tacuba, and Cuyuacan to meet the great Montezuma. He was coming close behind in a rich litter, with other great lords and caciques who had vassals of their own. Close to Mexico, at a spot with more small towers, the great Montezuma stepped down from his litter. Those great caciques supported him by the arms, under a marvelously rich canopy of green feathers worked all over with gold, with much silver ornament, and with pearls and chalchivis stones hanging from a kind of border. There was a great deal to look at in it. The great Montezuma was very richly dressed in his own fashion. On his feet he wore a kind of sandal, cotaras as they call their footwear, with soles of gold and precious stones set on top. Besides those four lords, four more great caciques carried the canopy over their heads. Many other lords went before the great Montezuma, sweeping the path he would walk on and laying down cloths so that he would not step on the bare earth. Not one of these lords would even dream of looking him in the face. All kept their eyes down in deep reverence, except for those four relatives of his, his nephews, who supported him by the arms. When Cortés saw and understood that the great Montezuma was coming, for they told him so, he got down from his horse. When he came near Montezuma, the two of them bowed deeply to each other at the same moment. Montezuma welcomed him, and our Cortés answered through Doña Marina that he wished him very good health. I believe Cortés, speaking through Doña Marina, our interpreter, who stood beside him, held out his right hand. Montezuma did not want to take it, but he gave him his hand. Then Cortés took out a necklace he had ready at hand, of glass stones, which I have said are called margaritas, with many patterns and colors inside them. It was strung on gold cords with musk, to give it a sweet smell, and he put it around the great Montezuma's neck. When he had put it on him, he was about to embrace him, but those great lords who were with Montezuma held Cortés back by the arm so that he would not, for they thought it an insult. Then, speaking through Doña Marina, Cortés told him that his heart rejoiced now that he had seen so great a prince. He said he took it as a great honor that Montezuma had come in person to receive him, and thanked him for all the favors he was always doing him. Who could now describe the crowds of men, women, and boys in the streets, on the flat roofs, and in canoes on those canals, who came out to look at us? It was a remarkable thing. Now, as I write, I can see it all in front of me as if it had happened yesterday. But back to our entry into Mexico. We were lodged in some large houses with rooms enough for all of us. They had belonged to the great Montezuma's father, who was called Axayaca. When we arrived and entered a great courtyard, the great Montezuma, who was waiting there, at once took our captain by the hand. He led him into the room and hall where he was to stay, which had been very richly furnished for him in their fashion. He had ready a very rich necklace of gold, made in the shape of shrimps, a marvelous piece of work, and Montezuma hung it around our captain Cortés's neck with his own hands. His captains had much to wonder at in the great favor he showed him. When he had put it on him, Cortés thanked him through our interpreters, and Montezuma said, “Malinche, you and your brothers are at home here. Rest.” Then he left for his own palaces, close by. So it was that we made our fortunate, daring entry into Tenustitan Mexico, that great city, on the eighth day of November in the year of our Savior Jesus Christ 1519.

The next morning we reached the wide causeway, a road built across the water, and went on toward Iztapalapa. We saw so many cities and towns standing in the water, and more large towns on the shore. The causeway ran straight and level toward Mexico. We were amazed. We said it was like the magic places in the book of Amadís, a story of knights and spells. There were tall towers, temples, and buildings rising out of the water, all made of stone. Some of our soldiers even asked if it was all a dream. I hardly know how to put it into words. We were seeing things never heard of, never seen, and never even dreamed. Near Iztapalapa, two great lords came out to meet us, dressed in splendor. They were Cuitlahuac, the lord of that town, and the lord of Culhuacan. Both were close relatives of Moctezuma. In Iztapalapa they gave us palaces to stay in. They were huge and beautifully built, of fine stone and sweet-smelling cedar wood. The great courtyards and rooms were shaded with cotton cloth. Then we went out to the garden, a wonder to walk through. I never grew tired of looking at the many kinds of trees and smelling each one. The paths were lined with roses, flowers, and fruit trees, and there was a pond of fresh water. Big canoes could come into the garden straight from the lake, through a channel cut for them. Everything was painted white and shining. And so many kinds of birds came down to the pond! I stood and stared. I thought no other lands like these would ever be found in the world. Now all of it lies on the ground. Nothing is left standing. Early the next morning we left Iztapalapa, with many great lords around us. We went on along the causeway. It is eight paces wide. It runs so straight to Mexico that I do not think it bends at all. Wide as it was, it was packed with people. Some were going into the city, some were coming out, and many had come just to see us. We could hardly push our way through. People crowded the towers and temples, and canoes came from every part of the lake. They had never seen horses, or men like us. We did not know what to say. We could hardly believe what was in front of us. Great cities stood on the shore, and many more out in the lake. The lake was covered with canoes, and the causeway had many bridges. Straight ahead lay the great city of Mexico. And we were not even four hundred soldiers! We remembered the warnings of the people of Huexotzinco and Tlaxcala, and many others. They had told us not to go into Mexico. Once we were inside, they said, the people would kill us. We came to a place where a smaller causeway branches off to the city of Coyoacan. There were some towers there, which were shrines. Many chief men and lords came there in very rich cloaks. Each lord's people wore their own colors, and the causeways were full of them. The great Moctezuma had sent them ahead to welcome us. As each one came before Cortés, he said in his language that we were welcome. As a sign of peace, he touched the ground with his hand and kissed the earth with that hand. We waited there a good while. From there, four lords went ahead to meet the great Moctezuma. One was Cacama, the lord of Texcoco. Moctezuma was coming close behind, carried in a rich litter, a chair carried on poles. Near the city, Moctezuma stepped down. The great lords held him by the arms. Over him was a wonderful canopy of green feathers, worked all over with gold and silver. Pearls and green stones hung from its edge. Moctezuma was very richly dressed in his own way. On his feet he wore sandals with soles of gold, and precious stones on top. When Cortés was told that the great Moctezuma was coming, he got down from his horse. As they came near each other, the two of them bowed deeply at the same moment. Moctezuma welcomed him. Cortés answered through Doña Marina, his interpreter, who stood beside him. He wished Moctezuma very good health. I believe Cortés held out his right hand. Moctezuma did not want it, but it seems he gave him his hand. Then Cortés took out a necklace of colored glass beads, strung on gold cords and sweet with musk. He put it around Moctezuma's neck. He was about to hug him, but the great lords held Cortés back by the arm. To them, that would have been an insult. Then Cortés told him that his heart was glad to meet so great a prince. He said it was a great honor that Moctezuma had come in person to welcome him. Who could describe the crowds that came out to look at us? Men, women, and boys filled the streets and the flat roofs, and came in canoes on the canals. Now, as I write, I can see it all in front of me, as if it had happened yesterday. They gave us some large houses to stay in, with rooms for all of us. They had belonged to the great Moctezuma's father, Axayacatl. We came into a great courtyard, where the great Moctezuma was waiting. At once he took our captain by the hand and led him into the hall where he was to stay. It was richly furnished in their style. Moctezuma had ready a wonderful gold necklace, made in the shape of shrimps. With his own hands he hung it around Cortés's neck. Cortés thanked him through our interpreters. Moctezuma said, “Malinche, you and your brothers are at home here. Rest.” Malinche was what the people called Cortés. Then Moctezuma left for his own palaces nearby. And so we made our lucky and daring entry into that great city of Mexico, on November 8, 1519.

The next day, in the morning, we arrived at a broad Causeway, and continued our march towards Iztapalapa, and when we saw so many cities and villages built in the water and other great towns on dry land and that straight and level causeway going towards Mexico, we were amazed and said that it was like the enchantments they tell of in the legend of Amadis, on account of the great towers and cues and buildings rising from the water, and all built of masonry. And some of our soldiers even asked whether the things that we saw were not a dream? It is not to be wondered at that I here write it down in this manner, for there is so much to think over that I do not know how to describe it, seeing things as we did that had never been heard of or seen before, not even dreamed about. Thus, we arrived near Iztapalapa, to behold the splendour of the other Caciques who came out to meet us, who were the Lord of the town named Cuitlahuac, and the Lord of Culuacan, both of them near relations of Montezuma. And then when we entered that city of Iztapalapa, the appearance of the palaces in which they lodged us! How spacious and well built they were, of beautiful stone work and cedar wood, and the wood of other sweet scented trees, with great rooms and courts, wonderful to behold, covered with awnings of cotton cloth. When we had looked well at all of this, we went to the orchard and garden, which was such a wonderful thing to see and walk in, that I was never tired of looking at the diversity of the trees, and noting the scent which each one had, and the paths full of roses and flowers, and the many fruit trees and native roses, and the pond of fresh water. There was another thing to observe, that great canoes were able to pass into the garden from the lake through an opening that had been made so that there was no need for their occupants to land. And all was cemented and very splendid with many kinds of stone [monuments] with pictures on them, which gave much to think about. Then the birds of many kinds and breeds which came into the pond. I say again that I stood looking at it and thought that never in the world would there be discovered other lands such as these, for at that time there was no Peru, nor any thought of it. [Of all these wonders that I then beheld] to-day all is overthrown and lost, nothing left standing. EARLY next day we left Iztapalapa with a large escort of those great Caciques whom I have already mentioned. We proceeded along the Causeway which is here eight paces in width and runs so straight to the City of Mexico that it does not seem to me to turn either much or little, but, broad as it is, it was so crowded with people that there was hardly room for them all, some of them going to and others returning from Mexico, besides those who had come out to see us, so that we were hardly able to pass by the crowds of them that came; and the towers and cues were full of people as well as the canoes from all parts of the lake. It was not to be wondered at, for they had never before seen horses or men such as we are. Gazing on such wonderful sights, we did not know what to say, or whether what appeared before us was real, for on one side, on the land, there were great cities, and in the lake ever so many more, and the lake itself was crowded with canoes, and in the Causeway were many bridges at intervals, and in front of us stood the great City of Mexico, and we,—we did not even number four hundred soldiers! and we well remembered the words and warnings given us by the people of Huexotzingo and Tlaxcala and Tlamanalco, and the many other warnings that had been given that we should beware of entering Mexico, where they would kill us, as soon as they had us inside. But let us get on, and march along the Causeway. When we arrived where another small causeway branches off (leading to Coyoacan, which is another city) where there were some buildings like towers, which are their oratories, many more chieftains and Caciques approached clad in very rich mantles, the brilliant liveries of one chieftain differing from those of another, and the causeways were crowded with them. The Great Montezuma had sent these great Caciques in advance to receive us, and when they came before Cortés they bade us welcome in their language, and as a sign of peace, they touched their hands against the ground, and kissed the ground with the hand. There we halted for a good while, and Cacamatzin, the Lord of Texcoco, and the Lord of Iztapalapa and the Lord of Tacuba and the Lord of Coyoacan went on in advance to meet the Great Montezuma, who was approaching in a rich litter accompanied by other great Lords and Caciques, who owned vassals. When we arrived near to Mexico, where there were some other small towers, the Great Montezuma got down from his litter, and those great Caciques supported him with their arms beneath a marvellously rich canopy of green coloured feathers with much gold and silver embroidery and with pearls and chalchihuites suspended from a sort of bordering, which was wonderful to look at. The Great Montezuma was richly attired according to his usage, and he was shod with sandals [cotoras], for so they call what they wear on their feet, the soles were of gold and the upper part adorned with precious stones. Besides these four Chieftains, there were four other great Caciques, who supported the canopy over their heads, and many other Lords who walked before the Great Montezuma, sweeping the ground where he would tread and spreading cloths on it, so that he should not tread on the earth. Not one of these chieftains dared even to think of looking him in the face, but kept their eyes lowered with great reverence, except those four relations, his nephews, who supported him with their arms. When Cortés was told that the Great Montezuma was approaching, and he saw him coming, he dismounted from his horse, and when he was near Montezuma, they simultaneously paid great reverence to one another. Montezuma bade him welcome and our Cortés replied through Doña Marina wishing him very good health. And it seems to me that Cortés, through Doña Marina, offered him his right hand, and Montezuma did not wish to take it, but he did give his hand to Cortés and then Cortés brought out a necklace which he had ready at hand, made of glass stones, which I have already said are called Margaritas, which have within them many patterns of diverse colours, these were strung on a cord of gold and with musk so that it should have a sweet scent, and he placed it round the neck of the Great Montezuma and when he had so placed it he was going to embrace him, and those great Princes who accompained Montezuma held back Cortés by the arm so that he should not embrace him, for they considered it an indignity. Then Cortés through the mouth of Doña Marina told him that now his heart rejoiced at having seen such a great Prince, and that he took it as a great honour that he had come in person to meet him and had frequently shown him such favour. But who could now count the multitude of men and women and boys who were in the streets and on the azoteas, and in canoes on the canals, who had come out to see us. It was indeed wonderful, and, now that I am writing about it, it all comes before my eyes as though it had happened but yesterday. Let us return to our entry to Mexico. They took us to lodge in some large houses, where there were apartments for all of us, for they had belonged to the father of the Great Montezuma, who was named Axayaca, As soon as we arrived and entered into the great court, the Great Montezuma took our Captain by the hand, for he was there awaiting him, and led him to the apartment and saloon where he was to lodge, which was very richly adorned according to their usage, and he had at hand a very rich necklace made of golden crabs, a marvellous piece of work, and Montezuma himself placed it round the neck of our Captain Cortés, and greatly astonished his [own] Captains by the great honour that he was bestowing on him. When the necklace had been fastened, Cortés thanked Montezuma through our interpreters, and Montezuma replied—“Malinche you and your brethren are in your own house, rest awhile,” and then he went to his palaces which were not far away, So this was our lucky and daring entry into the great city of Tenochtitlan Mexico on the 8th day of November the year of our Saviour Jesus Christ 1519.