MOTECUHZOMA
Ah, Tlacaelel, ghost limb of my father,
Who was a lord when I but governed dolls,
The foremost man once more at our grave council.
TLACAELEL
Those at life’s twilight like to rise at dawn.
Good day, Motecuhzoma, emperor
Of all the notable of known-of realms.
Enter CUITLAHUAC
MOTECUHZOMA
And here’s Cuitlahuac in his finest weeds,
With darkened circles under bloodshot eyes.
Well, little brother, you’re a paradox-
My junior for a senior senator!
CUITLAHUAC
Those two short years that separated us
Must have profoundly aged and seasoned you,
You point them out so often. But go on.
Motecuhzoma, happy new year, sir.
TLACAELEL
Good boy, Cuitlahuac. Stick it to the bully!
CUITLAHUAC
Lord Tlacaelel, you’ve out-fathered Father,
And middle age must curtsy to your years.
Enter a Priest of Tlaloc. Others trickle in, as many as may be.
MOTECUHZOMA
High priest of Tlaloc, come. How fares our god
Of fruitful springs and thunderstorm today?
PRIEST OF TLALOC
He banquets with your captive warriors’ souls,
And incense fumes his rosy breakfast, sire.
TLACAELEL
Your grace, you know the judgment we have reached
Regarding Hungry prince?
PRIEST OF TLALOC I have been briefed.
But here Texcoco’s king himself arrives.
Enter HUNGRY PRINCE.
MOTECUHZOMA
Well, Hungry Prince! Co-sovereign of Texcoco,
Comrade-in-arms, my true facsimile,
Who’s shared the ruling of our empire, welcome.
HUNGRY PRINCE
Hail, grand triumvir and my counterpart,
A bright new year, you lords of Mexico.
Our best regards from my side of the lake!
And yet, it is a Triple Alliance we lead.
Where’s brave Tlacopan’s king, our third accomplice?
MOTECUHZOMA
That languid chief seemed spent and in decline,
And, sadly, has been ordered back to bed;
Our trident’s but a single spear today.
But welcome all, and may we welcome here
The first day of a new, uncharted year.
PRIEST OF TLALOC
A New Year’s Day, which- due to the complex
And interlocking gears of calendars-
Comes only every fifty-second year.
Oct 3, 2016
Oct 3, 2016 at 11:52 PM UTC
MOTECUHZOMA
Ah, Tlacaelel, ghost limb of my father,
Who was a lord when I but governed dolls,
The foremost man once more at our grave council.
TLACAELEL
Those at life’s twilight like to rise at dawn.
Good day, Motecuhzoma, emperor
Of all the notable of known-of realms.
Enter CUITLAHUAC
MOTECUHZOMA
And here’s Cuitlahuac in his finest weeds,
With darkened circles under bloodshot eyes.
Well, little brother, you’re a paradox-
My junior for a senior senator!
CUITLAHUAC
Those two short years that separated us
Must have profoundly aged and seasoned you,
You point them out so often. But go on.
Motecuhzoma, happy new year, sir.
TLACAELEL
Good boy, Cuitlahuac. Stick it to the bully!
CUITLAHUAC
Lord Tlacaelel, you’ve out-fathered Father,
And middle age must curtsy to your years.
Enter a Priest of Tlaloc. Others trickle in, as many as may be.
MOTECUHZOMA
High priest of Tlaloc, come. How fares our god
Of fruitful springs and thunderstorm today?
PRIEST OF TLALOC
He banquets with your captive warriors’ souls,
And incense fumes his rosy breakfast, sire.
TLACAELEL
Your grace, you know the judgment we have reached
Regarding Hungry prince?
PRIEST OF TLALOC I have been briefed.
But here Texcoco’s king himself arrives.
Enter HUNGRY PRINCE.
MOTECUHZOMA
Well, Hungry Prince! Co-sovereign of Texcoco,
Comrade-in-arms, my true facsimile,
Who’s shared the ruling of our empire, welcome.
HUNGRY PRINCE
Hail, grand triumvir and my counterpart,
A bright new year, you lords of Mexico.
Our best regards from my side of the lake!
And yet, it is a Triple Alliance we lead.
Where’s brave Tlacopan’s king, our third accomplice?
MOTECUHZOMA
That languid chief seemed spent and in decline,
And, sadly, has been ordered back to bed;
Our trident’s but a single spear today.
But welcome all, and may we welcome here
The first day of a new, uncharted year.
PRIEST OF TLALOC
A New Year’s Day, which- due to the complex
And interlocking gears of calendars-
Comes only every fifty-second year.
