4. In the temple by the water-reeds the god aids those who call upon
him, he gives them to drink; the god aids those who cry unto him.


_Notes._

Tezcatzoncatl was one of the chief gods of the native inebriating
liquor, the pulque. Its effects were recognized as most disastrous, as
is seen from his other names, _Tequechmecaniani_, "he who hangs people,"
and _Teatlahuiani_, "he who drowns people." Sahagun remarks, "They
always regarded the pulque as a bad and dangerous article." The word
_Totochtin_, plural of _tochtli_, rabbit, was applied to drunkards, and
also to some of the deities of special forms of drunkenness.

The first verse is merely a series of lamentations. The second speaks of
the sad effects of the pulque in ancient times. (On Colhuacan see Notes
to Hymn XIII.)




[Illustration: ATLAUA, SINGING AND DANCING. HYMN XVIII.]




XVIII. _Atlaua Icuic._


1. Auia nichalmecatl, nichalmecatl, neçaualcautla, neçaualcautla, olya