| OCR Text |
Show SteT. IV. Exhortation of a Mcxi-:an .mot bet 10 her daughter. 11 I S 'T 0 R Y 0 F M E X I C 0. " the education they have given thee. If thou wilt .be virtuous, thy "example will put the wicked to {hame. No more, my fon; enough " has been fairl in difcharge of the duties of a father. With thcfc ·" counfels I w ifh to fortify thy mind. Refufe them not, nor act in ~' contradiCtion to them ; for on them thy life, and all thy luppinefs, " depend." uch were the inftruCl:ions which the Mexicans frequently inculcated to thtir {ons. Hufbandmen and mcrch~nts gave their fons other advice regarding their particuhr profefJi.on, which we, however, omit, not to prove tedious to our readers; but I cannot difJJenfe with tranfcribing one of the exhortations made ufc of by mothers to their dat~ gltters, as it illufirates their mode of education and manners. " My daughter," faid the mother, " born of my fubftan ce, brought " forth with my pains, and nourifl1cd with my milk, I have endea" volll·ed to bring thee up wjth the greate.fi: poilible care, and thy " f.1ther has wrought and poli{hed thee like an emerald, th :l.t thou " mayefi appear in the eyes of metl a jewel uf virtue. S rive al" ways to be good; foi.· otherwife who will have thee for a wife? thou " wilt .be rejected by every one. Life is a thorny laborious path, and " it is necetTary to exert all our powers to obtain the goods which the · " gods are willing to yield to us ; we mufl: not therefore be lazy or " negligent, but dil tgent in every thing. Be orderly and take pains ·" to manage the reconomy of thy hou1e.. Give \"'ater to thy hufband " for his hands, and make bread for thy fam ily. Wherever thou goeft, "' go with modefty and compofure, without hurrying thy !tcps, or " laughing with thofe whom thou meeteft, neither fi xing thy looks " upon them, nor cafl:ing thy eyes thoughtldly, firfl: to 011<.: lid , " and then to another. that thy reputation · may not be fullicd; but ·" give a courteous aniwer to thofe who falute and put any qudl:ion " to th ee. " Employ tbyfelf diligently in fpinning and weaving, in [ewing an rl ·" embroidering; for by thefe arts thou wilt gain d1:ecm, and all " the necefiaries of food and clothing. Do not give thyfdf too " much to fleep, nor feek the D1ade, but go in the open ;\ir and there " rcpofe thyfelf; for dFeminacy brings along with it idlenefs and "' other vices. " In H I S T 0 R Y 0 F M E- X I C 0. ·"'In · whatever thou dodt, encourage not evil . thoughts ; but at,, .tend folely to the fervice of the gods; and the giving comfort to " thy parent . If thy father or thy mother calls thee, do not il:ay to be " ' c:~lled twice ; but go infl:antly to know their pleafure, that thou. "' mayft not difoblige them l>y Downc(s . Return no infolent anfwers, "' nor D1ew any want o compliance; but if thou canfi not do what they H command, make a moddt cxcufc. If another is called and does not " come quickly; cume thou, hear what is ordered, and do it well " Never offur thyiclf to do that which thou canfl: not do. Deceive. " ' no perfon, for the gods fee ali thy acrions. Live in peace with every, '~ body, and love every one iincercly and hone:f1:ly, that thou maye.fi: be " beloved by them in return. " Be not greedy of the g<>ods which thou hafi. . lf thou feeil: any, " thing prcfentcd to another, give way to no mean fufpicions; for the " gods, to whom every good belongs, difiribute every thing as they " pkafe. If thou wouldft avoid the difpleafure of others, let none '' meet wi th it from thee. " Guard againfl: improper familiarities with men; nor yield to the " guilty wifl1es of thy heart ; or thou wilt be the reproach of thy f.'l" mily, and will. pollute. thy mind as mud does watet·. Keep not com ... " pany with di flolute, lying, or idle .wQmcn; otherwife they will in ... " fal1ibly infeCl: thee by their example. Attend. upon thy family, and clo " not go n Dight occaiions out of thy.houfe, nor be feen wandering " throngh ·the ftrects, or in the market-place; for in fuch places thou " wilt meet thy min. Remember that vice, .like . a poiionous herb) " brings death to tl:cofe who taO:e it; ancl when it once harbours in " the mind it is dillicult to expel it . . If in pat1ing· through the fi rcets . " thou meet {l: with a forward youth who appe.u·s agreeab le to thee, . " give him no corrc(p ndcncc, . but diOemble and pals on. If he .f.1ys " any thi n3 to thee, take no heed of him nor his words; and if " he follows thee, t llrn not your fa e about to look nt him, ld1 that " might in flame his p;,i1i.on more. If thou bchavcJl [o, he will loon " lllm and let t hcc proceed m peace. " · :" ntcr not, without fame nrgent motive, into another's houfe, " th ·t nothing may be eithet· faid or tllought· injurious to thy honour ; 41 but if thou entcrcil into tl1e houic of thy relations, .f.1lutt: thcn1 with " refpcO: 3'35- BOOK VII~ ~ |
