) 



HISTORY OF MEXICO. 121 



" Be not greedy of the goods which thou haft. If 

 " thou feeft any thing prefented to another, give way 

 " to no mean fufpicions ; for the gods, to whom every 

 " good belongs, diftribute every thing as they pleafe. 

 " If thou wouldft avoid the difpleafure of others, let 

 " none meet with it from thee. 



" Guard againft improper familiarities with men ; 

 " nor yield to the guilty wifties of thy heart ; or thou 

 " wilt be the reproach of thy family, and wilt pollute 

 <c thy mind as mud does water. Keep not company 

 " with diflblute, lying, or idle women ; otherwife they 

 " will infallibly infect thee by their example. Attend 

 " upon thy family, and do not go on flight occafions 

 " out of thy houfe, nor be feen wandering through the 

 <c ftreets, or in the market-place ; for in fuch places 

 " thou wilt meet thy ruin. Remember that vice, like 

 <c a poifonous herb, brings death to thofe who tafle it ; 

 " and when it once harbours in the mind it is difficult 

 " to expel it. If in palling through the ftreets thou 

 " meeteft with a forward youth who appears agreeable 

 " to thee, give him no correfpondence, but diffemble 

 f 6 . and pafs on. If he fays any thing to thee, take no 

 <c heed of him nor his words ; and if he follows thee, 

 " turn not your face about to look at him, left rhat 

 <c might inflame his paflion more. If thou behaveft fo, 

 " he will foon turn and let thee proceed in peace. 



" Enter not, without fome urgent motive, into ano- 

 " ther's houfe, that nothing may be either faid or 

 " thought injurious to thy honour ; but if thou enter- 

 fiC eft into the houfe of thy relations, falute them with 

 " refpecl: and do not remain idle, bur immediately take 

 " up a fpindle to fpin, or do any other thing that oc- 

 <c curs. 



Vol. II. " When 



