They offered him the _pulque_, but he refused, saying that he was sick, and, moreover, that it would weaken his judgment and might cause his death.

They urged him to dip but the tip of his finger in it to taste it; he complied, but even so little of the magic liquor overthrew his self control, and taking the bowl he quaffed a full draught and was drunk.

Then these perverse men ridiculed him, and cried out:-- "You feel finely now, my son; sing us a song; sing, worthy priest." Thereupon Quetzalcoatl began to sing, as follows:-- "My pretty house, my coral house, I call it Zacuan by name; And must I leave it, do you say?
Oh my, oh me, and ah for shame."[1] [Footnote 1: The original is-- Quetzal, quetzal, no calli, Zacuan, no callin tapach No callin nic yacahuaz An ya, an ya, an quilmach.
Literally-- Beautiful, beautiful (is) my house Zacuan, my house of coral; My house, I must leave it.
Alas, alas, they say.
Zacuan, instead of being a proper name, may mean a rich yellow leather from the bird called _zacuantototl_.] As the fumes of the liquor still further disordered his reason, he called his attendants and bade them hasten to his sister Quetzalpetlatl, who dwelt on the Mountain Nonoalco, and bring her, that she too might taste the divine liquor.

The attendants hurried off and said to his sister:-- "Noble lady, we have come for you.

The high priest Quetzalcoatl awaits you.