Partieron los Españoles de Itztapalapan todos aderezados á punto de guerra y en su ordenanza por escuadrones: fueron algunos de á caballo delante á descubrir si habia alguna celada; llevaban tambien dos lebreles delante: iba en la retaguardia D. Hernando Cortés con otros muchos Españoles todos armados y en su ordenanza, tras ellos iba el bagage y la artilleria en sus carretones; iban muchos Indios de guerra con todas sus armas, muchos tlaxcaltecas, y Huexotzincas: de esta manera ordenados entraron en México. En todo lo restante de este capítulo no se dice otra cosa sino la órden que llevaban los Españoles y los Indios amigos cuando entraron en México. En llegando los Españoles á aquel rio que está cabe las casas de Alvarado que se llama Xoluco, luego Mocthecuzoma se aparejó para irlos á recibir con muchos señores y principales, y nobles para recibir con paz y con honra á D. Hernando Cortés, y á los otros capitanes; tomaron muchas flores hermosas y olorosas hechas sartales, y en guirnaldas, y compuestas para las manos, y pusiéronlas en platos muy pintados y muy grandes hechos de calabazas, y tambien llevaron collares de oro y de piedras. Llegando Mocthecuzoma á los Españoles al lugar que llaman Vitzillan que es cabe el hospital de la Concepcion, luego allí el mismo Mocthecuzoma puso un collar de oro y de piedras al capitan D. Hernando Cortés, y dió flores y guirnaldas á todos los demas capitanes; habiendo dado el mismo Mocthecuzoma este presente como ellos lo usaban hacer, luego D. Hernando Cortés preguntó al mismo Mocthecuzoma, y Mocthecuzoma respondió: yo soy Mocthecuzoma, y entonces enhiestóse delante del capitan haciéndole gran reverencia, y enhiestóse luego de cara á cara del capitan cerca de él, y comenzole á hablar de esta manera. “¡O señor nuestro! seais muy bien venido, habeis llegado á vuestra tierra y á vuestro pueblo, y á vuestra casa México: habeis venido á sentaros en vuestro trono y en vuestra silla, el cual yo en vuestro nombre he poseido algunos dias. Otros señores (que ya son muertos) le tuvieron antes que yo, el uno que se llama Itzcoatl, el otro Mocthecuzoma el viejo, y el otro Axayacatl, y el otro Tizoc, y el otro Ahuitzotl. Yo el postrero de todos he venido á tener cargo y regir este vuestro pueblo de México, todos hemos traido acuestas á vuestra república, y á vuestros vasallos, los difuntos ya no pueden ver ni saber lo que ahora pasa; ¡pluguiera aquel por quien vivimos que alguno de ellos fuera vivo, y en su presencia aconteciera lo que acontece en la mia! Ellos estan ausentes señor nuestro, ni estoy dormido, ni soñando, con mis ojos veo vuestra cara y vuestra persona: dias ha que yo esperaba esto: dias ha que mi corazon estaba mirando aquellas partes por donde habeis venido; habeis salido de entre las nubes, y de entre las nieblas, lugar á todos escondido. Esto es por cierto lo que nos dejaron dicho los reyes que pasaron, que habiais de volver á reinar en estos reinos, y que habiades de asentaros en vuestro trono, y en vuestra silla: ahora veo que es verdad lo que nos dejaron dicho. Seais muy bien venido, trabajos habreis pasado viniendo tan largos caminos, descansad ahora, aquí está vuestra casa y vuestros palacios, tomadlos y descansad en ellos con todos vuestros capitanes y compañeros que han venido con vos.” Acabó Mocthecuzoma de decir su plática, y Marina declarola á D. Hernando Cortés; como este hubo entendido lo que habia dicho Mocthecuzoma, dijo á Marina: “Decidle á Mocthecuzoma que se consuele y huelgue y no haya temor, que yo le quiero mucho y todos los que conmigo vienen, y de nadie recibirá daño: hemos recibido gran contento en verle y conocerle, lo cual hemos deseado muchos dias há y se ha cumplido nuestro deseo: hemos venido á su casa México, de espacio nos veremos, y hablaremos.” Luego D. Hernando Cortés tomó por la mano á Mocthecuzoma, y se fueron ambos juntos á la par para las casas reales. Los señores que se hallaron presentes con Mocthecuzoma fueron los siguientes: el señor de Texcoco, que se llamaba Cacamatzin: el 2.° el señor de Tlacupan que se llamaba Tetlepanquetzatzin: el 3.° el que gobernaba en el Tlatilulco que se llamaba Itzquauhtzin: el 4.° el mayordomo de Mocthecuzoma que tenia puesto en el Tlatilulco que se llamaba Topantèmoctzin. Estos fueron mas principales, sin otros muchos menos principales Mexicanos que allí se hallaron, el uno de los cuales se llamaba Atlixcatzintlacateccatl, el otro Tepeoatzintlaeochculcatl, el otro Quetzalaztatzinticociaoacatl, otro Totomochtzinhecatempatiltzin, el otro Quappiatzin; todos estos cuando fue preso Mocthecuzoma le desampararon y se escondieron.

The Spaniards set out from Itztapalapan all ready for war, marching in order by squadrons. Some horsemen went ahead to see whether there was an ambush. They also took two greyhounds in front. In the rearguard came Don Hernando Cortés with many other Spaniards, all armed and in their ranks. Behind them came the baggage and the artillery on its carts. Many Indian warriors came too, with all their weapons, many Tlaxcaltecas and Huexotzincas. In this order they entered Mexico. The rest of this chapter says nothing else except the order in which the Spaniards and their Indian allies marched when they entered Mexico. As the Spaniards reached the stream called Xoluco, beside the houses of Alvarado, Mocthecuzoma made ready to go out and receive them. With him went many lords, chief men, and nobles, to receive Don Hernando Cortés and the other captains in peace and with honor. They took many beautiful, sweet-smelling flowers, made into strings and garlands and arranged to be held in the hand. They set them on great gourd dishes, brightly painted. They also brought collars of gold and precious stones. Mocthecuzoma met the Spaniards at the place called Vitzillan, beside the hospital of the Conception. There Mocthecuzoma himself put a collar of gold and precious stones on Captain Don Hernando Cortés, and gave flowers and garlands to all the other captains. When he had given this gift, as was their custom, Don Hernando Cortés asked him [who he was], and he answered, “I am Mocthecuzoma.” Then he drew himself up before the captain and bowed deeply to him. He drew himself up again, face to face with the captain and close to him, and began to speak to him like this. “O our lord, you are most welcome! You have come to your land, to your town, to your house, Mexico. You have come to sit on your throne, on your seat, which I have held for some days in your name. Other lords, who are now dead, held it before me: Itzcoatl, Mocthecuzoma the Elder, Axayacatl, Tizoc, and Ahuitzotl. I, the last of all, have come to take charge of this town of yours, Mexico, and to rule it. All of us have carried your realm and your vassals on our backs. The dead can no longer see or know what is happening now. If only he by whom we live had willed that one of them were alive, and that what is happening in my presence had happened in his! But they are gone, our lord. I am not asleep or dreaming. With my own eyes I see your face and your person. For a long time I have been waiting for this. For a long time my heart has been looking toward the lands you have come from. You have come out from among the clouds and the mists, a place hidden from everyone. This is surely what the kings who went before us told us: that you would return to reign in these kingdoms, and sit on your throne, on your seat. Now I see that what they told us is true. You are most welcome. You must have suffered hardships on such long roads. Rest now. Here is your house, and here are your palaces. Take them and rest in them with all your captains and companions who have come with you.” Mocthecuzoma finished his speech, and Marina interpreted it for Don Hernando Cortés. When Cortés had understood what Mocthecuzoma had said, he said to Marina, “Tell Mocthecuzoma to take comfort and be glad and have no fear. I love him dearly, and so do all who come with me, and no one will do him harm. We are very glad to see him and to know him, which we have wished for many days, and now our wish has come true. We have come to his house, Mexico. We will see each other and talk at our leisure.” Then Don Hernando Cortés took Mocthecuzoma by the hand, and the two of them walked together, side by side, to the royal houses. The lords who were there with Mocthecuzoma were these. The first was the lord of Texcoco, called Cacamatzin. The second was the lord of Tlacupan, called Tetlepanquetzatzin. The third was the governor of Tlatilulco, called Itzquauhtzin. The fourth was Mocthecuzoma's steward, whom he had placed in Tlatilulco, called Topantèmoctzin. These were the most important. Many other Mexicans of lesser rank were also there. One was called Atlixcatzintlacateccatl, another Tepeoatzintlaeochculcatl, another Quetzalaztatzinticociaoacatl, another Totomochtzinhecatempatiltzin, and another Quappiatzin. When Mocthecuzoma was taken prisoner, all of these men abandoned him and went into hiding.

The Spaniards set out from Iztapalapa, ready for war, marching in groups. Some horsemen rode ahead to look for an ambush. Two hunting dogs went in front too. At the back came Cortés with many other armed Spaniards. Behind them came the baggage and the cannons on carts. Many warriors from Tlaxcala and Huexotzinco marched with them. In this order they entered Mexico. The Spaniards reached a canal called Xoluco, on the edge of the city. Moctezuma got ready to go and meet them. Many lords and nobles went with him, to welcome Cortés and his captains in peace and with honor. They brought sweet-smelling flowers, made into strings and garlands. They set them on great painted dishes made from gourds. They also brought collars of gold and precious stones. Moctezuma met the Spaniards at a place called Huitzillan. He gave gifts, as was their custom. He himself put a collar of gold and precious stones on Cortés. He gave flowers to all the other captains. Then Cortés asked him who he was, and he answered, “I am Moctezuma.” He stood tall and bowed deeply. Then, face to face with Cortés, he began to speak. “O our lord, welcome! You have come to your land, your town, your house, Mexico. You have come to sit on your throne, which I have kept for a while in your name. Other lords held it before me. They are dead now. I am the last of these lords. I have come to rule this town of yours, Mexico. We have all carried your people on our backs. The dead cannot see what is happening now. If only the one by whom we live had let one of them live! Then this would happen in front of him, as it is happening in front of me. “But they are gone, our lord. I am not asleep or dreaming. With my own eyes I see your face. For a long time I have waited for this. For a long time my heart has looked toward the lands you came from. You have come out of the clouds and the mists, a place hidden from everyone. The kings before us told us this. They said you would come back to rule these lands and sit on your throne. Now I see that it is true. Welcome! You must be tired from such long roads. Rest now. Here is your house, and here are your palaces. Rest in them with all your captains and friends.” When Moctezuma had finished, Marina, Cortés's interpreter, told Cortés what he had said. Then Cortés said to Marina, “Tell Moctezuma to be glad and not to be afraid. I love him dearly, and so do all my men. No one will harm him. We are very happy to meet him. We have wished for this for many days. We have come to his house, Mexico. We will see each other and talk later, at our ease.” Then Cortés took Moctezuma by the hand, and the two of them walked side by side to the royal houses. These lords were with Moctezuma. The first was Cacama, lord of Texcoco. The second was the lord of Tlacopan. The third was the governor of Tlatelolco. The fourth was Moctezuma's steward in Tlatelolco. Many other Mexica lords of lower rank were there too. When Moctezuma was taken prisoner, all of these men left him and went into hiding.