Theosophical University Press Online Edition THE HUNAHPÚ CODEX
Hun Bátz and Hun Chouén having been destroyed by conversion into
simians, the Third Age comes to a close and this ends the long
cycle of Quiché-Maya prehistory. We have seen that the
disappearance of her firstborn grieves Ixmucané; but Hunahpú and
Ixbalamqué console her, pointing out that they will now take
their older brothers' place, an improvement inasmuch as they
will now provide for her. Then the twins declared what they
would do to maintain their prestige with their grandmother and
their mother. They will cultivate the milpas: "Only we shall sow
the seed," they tell the grandmother emphatically. "We are
staying here to support our mother, Ixquic, and you our
grandmother, Ixmucané. We will substitute for our older
brothers," they said. Then they picked up their hatchets, hoes,
and clubs, and went off with their blowguns on their shoulders.
When they left the house, they requested their grandmother to
bring them their meal when the sun was at