thood. Such considerations
will, I trust, attract the attention of scholars to these fragments of a
lost literature.

In the appended Vocabulary I have inserted only those words and
expressions for which I can suggest correct--or, at least,
probable--renderings. Others will have to be left to future
investigators.

CONTENTS.

Preface

Introduction

I. Hymn of Huitzilopochtli

II. War Song of the Huitznahuac

III. Hymn of Tlaloc

IV. Hymn to the All-Mother

V. Hymn to the Virgin Mother

VI. Hymn to the God of Fire

VII. Hymn of Mixcoatl

VIII. Hymn to the God of Flowers

IX. Hymn to the Goddess of Artists

X. Hymn to the God of Fishing

XI. Hymn of the Otomi Leader

XII. Hymn to the Goddess of Childbirth

XIII. Hymn to the Mother of Mortals

XIV. Hymn Sung at a Fast every Eight Years

XV. Hymn to a Night God

XVI. Hymn to the Goddess of Food

XVII. Hymn to the Gods of Wine

XVIII. Hymn to the Master of Waters

XIX. Hymn to the God of Flowers

XX. Hymn to the God of Merchants

Glossary

Index

LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS.

Xippe Totec, God of Silversmiths, in Full Costume, Frontispiece

Priest of Xippe Totec, Drinking and Playing on a Drum, Hymn XV

Chicomecoatl, Goddess of Food and Drink, Hymn XVI

Totochtin, the Rabbits, Gods of the Drunkards, Hymn XVII

Atlaua, Singing and Dancing, Hymn XVIII

INTRODUCTION.

As in a previous number of the Library of Aboriginal American Literature
I have discussed in detail the character of the ancient Mexican poetry,
I shall confine myself at present to the history of the present
collection. We owe its preservation to the untiring industry of Father
Bernardino de Sahagun, one of the earliest missionaries to Mexico, and
the author of by far the most important work on the religion, manners
and customs of the ancient Mexicans.

By long residence and close application Sahagun acquired a complete
mastery of the Nahuatl tongue. He composed his celebrated _Historia de
las Cosas de la Nueva Espana_ primarily in the native language, and from
this original wrote out a Spanish translation, in some parts
considerably abbreviated. This incomplete reproduction is that which was
published in Spanish by Lord Kingsborough and Bustamente, and in a
French rendering with useful notes by Dr. Jourdanet and M. Remi Simeon.

So far as I know, the only complete copy of the Nahuatl original now