Dancing, Resurrecting, Burning Buildings

Then they summoned Descended and Ascended, with whom word had been left
by the boys. And the Xibalbans divined of them what was to be done with their bones.
Thus according to their word, the bones were ground up and strewn along the course of
the river. But they did not go far away; they just straightaway sank there beneath the
water. And when they appeared again, it was as chosen boys, for thus they had become.

ON the fifth day they appeared again. People saw them in the river, for the two of
them appeared like people-fish. Now when their faces were seen by the Xibalbans, they
made a search for them in the rivers.

And on the very next day, they appeared again as two poor orphans. They wore
rags in front and rags on their backs. Rags were thus all they had to cover themselves.
But they did not act according to their appearance when they were seen by the Xibalbans.
For they did the Dance of the Whippoorwill and the Dance of the Weasel. They danced
the Armadillo and the Centipede. They danced the Injury, for many marvels they did
then. They set fire to a house as if it were truly burning, then immediately recreated it
again as the Xibalbans watched with admiration.

Then again they sacrificed themselves. One of them would die, surely throwing
himself down in death. Then having been killed, he would immediately be revived. And
the Xibalbans simply watched them while they did it. Now all of this was merely the
groundwork for the defeat of the Xibalbans at their hands.

AT length the news of their dances came to the ears of the lords One Death and
Seven Death. And when they had heard of it, they said:

“Who are these two poor orphans? Is it truly delightful? Is it true that their
dancing and all that they do is beautiful?”


- Popol Vuh