202 



HISTORY OF MEXICO. 



flrong, that the ideas of them cannot be heightened, 

 particularly on the fubjeft of love. In fhort, all thofe 

 who have learned this language, and can judge of its 

 copioufnefs, regularity, and beautiful modes of fpeech, 

 are of opinion, that fuch a language cannot have been 

 fpoken by a barbarous people. 



A nation poffeffed of fo powerful a language, could 

 not want poets and orators. Thofe two arts were much 

 exercifed by the Mexicans, although they were very 

 far from knowing all their excellencies. Thofe who 

 were deftined to be orators, were inftru&ed from their 

 infancy in fpeaking properly, and learned to repeat by 

 memory the moft celebrated orations of their anceftors 

 that had been handed down from father to fon. Their 

 eloquence was employed principally in delivering em- 

 baffies, in councils, and congratulatory addreffes, which 

 they made to new kings. Although their mofl cele- 

 brated fpeakers are not to be compared with the ora- 

 tors of the poliftied nations of Europe, it is not to be 

 denied that their difcourfes were found, judicious, and 

 elegant, as may be perceived from thofe fpecimens of 

 their eloquence which are ftill extant. Even at pre- 

 fent, when they are reduced to a flate of great humilia- 

 tion, and retain not their ancient inftitutions, they make 

 harangues in their affemblies, which are fo full of good 

 fenfe and propriety, as to excite the admiration of all 

 thofe who hear them. 



The number of their public fpeakers was exceeded 

 by that of their poets. In their verfes they were atten- 

 tive to the cadence and meafure. Among the remains 

 which we have of their poetry, are fome verfes in which 

 between words that are fignificative, interje&ions, or 

 fyllables, are interpofed, devoid of any meaning, and 



only 



