that it “drinks,” or is saturated by, the mists and vapours of the night season, which are believed to emanate from the moon.48 Indeed, dew is believed to be caused by the moon,49 which is regarded as the great source of all moisture, as the sun is the great source of all heat.50
Xipe is here entreated by the young maize-plant to don his golden garment, the rain, as, indeed, one translation of this song states it to be, taking a reasonable liberty with the original. When the rain comes the cypress glitters like a quetzal-feather, a Mexican euphuism for a glittering gem, or anything very precious. The xiuhcoatl, or fire-serpent, is the terrible weapon of Uitzilopochtli, with which he