Malintzin (Marina)

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.

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.

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.

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.