History of the Conquest of Mexico; vol. 4/4Prescott, William Hickling
History
History of the Conquest of Mexico; vol. 4/4
Prescott, William Hickling
Cortés, Hernán, 1485-1547; Mexico -- History -- Conquest, 1519-1540
to walk too slowly, and walking hastily causes a vicious habit of
restlessness and instability. Therefore neither walk very fast, nor
very slow; yet, when it shall be necessary to go with haste, do
so,--in this use your discretion. And when you may be obliged to
jump over a pool of water, do it with decency, that you may neither
appear clumsy nor light. When you are in the street, do not carry
your head much inclined, or your body bent; nor as little go with
your head very much raised; since it is a mark of ill breeding;
walk erect, and with your head slightly inclined. Do not have your
mouth covered, or your face, from shame, nor go looking like a
near-sighted person, nor, on your way, make fantastic movements
with your feet. Walk through the street quietly, and with
propriety. Another thing that you must attend to, my daughter, is,
that when you are in the street you do not go looking hither and
thither, nor turning your head to look at this and that; walk
neither looking at the skies nor on the ground. Do not look upon
those whom you meet with the eyes of an offended person, nor have
the appearance of being uneasy; but of one who looks upon all with
a serene countenance; doing this, you will give no one occasion of
being offended with you. Show a becoming countenance; that you may
neither appear morose, nor, on the other hand, too complaisant.
See, my daughter, that you give yourself no concern about the words
you may hear, in going through the street, nor pay any regard to
them, let those that come and go say what they will. Take care that
you neither answer nor speak, but act as if you neither heard nor
understood them; since, doing in this manner, no one will be able
to say with truth that you have said anything amiss. See, likewise,
my daughter, that you never paint your face, or stain it or your
lips with colors, in order to appear well; since this is a mark of
vile and unchaste women. Paints and coloring are things which bad
women use,--the immodest, who have lost all shame and even sense,
who are like fools and drunkards, and are called _rameras_
[prostitutes]. But, that your husband may not dislike you, adorn
yourself, wash yourself, and cleanse your clothes; and let this be
done with moderation; since if every day you wash yourself and your
clothes it will be said of you that you are over-nice--too
delicate; they will call you _tapepetzon tinemaxoch_.--My daughter,
this is the course you are to take; since in this manner the
ancestors from whom you spring brought us up. Those noble and
venerable dames, your grandmothers, told us not so many things as I
have told you,--they said but few words, and spoke thus: “Listen,
my daughters; in this world it is necessary to live with much
prudence and circumspection.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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