Flutes and Drums

Thus Hunahpu and Xbalanque called back to them:

“Loosen your loincloths and retie the long end below your bellies. Pull out the
tail end behind you. Then you will be able to walk freely,” they were told by their
younger brothers.

“Fine,” they said.

And so they pulled out the ends of their loincloths, and these immediately
became tails. They appeared just like spider monkeys. Thus they went up into the tops of
the trees there in the small mountains and the great mountains. They went out into the
forests, howling and chattering loudly in the branches of the trees.

Thus was the defeat of One Batz and One Chouen at the hands of Hunahpu and
Xbalanque. It was merely by their enchantments that it was done.

Now when they arrived back at their home, they spoke with their grandmother
and mother:

“Our grandmother, something has happened to our older brothers. Their faces
have changed. They go about like animals now,” they said.

“If you have done something to your older brothers, you will cause me misery and
anguish. Let this not be what you have done to your older brothers, my grandsons,” said
the Grandmother to Hunahpu and Xbalanque.

They replied then to their grandmother:

“Do not grieve, our grandmother. You shall see again the faces of our older
brothers. They will come back. But this is a test for you, our grandmother. Please do not
laugh, for we will test their fate,” they said.

Thus they began to play the flute. They played “Hunahpu Spider Monkey” on the
flute.

THEN they began to sing, to play the flute, and to play the drum. And when
they had taken up their flute and their drum, the Grandmother sat down with them as
well. Thus they played the flute, calling them with the music. In song they called out their
names, with the music whose name is “Hunahpu Spider Monkey.”

Then arrived One Batz and One Chouen, dancing as they came. But when the
Grandmother looked at them, she saw their ugly faces and laughed, for she could not
contain her laughter.

Therefore they immediately went away. Their faces could not be seen anymore,
for they had gone back into the forest.

“What now will you do, our grandmother? We shall try it four times in all. Only
three times more we shall call them with flute music and song. But you must truly
contain your laughter when we try it again,” said Hunahpu and Xbalanque.

Then they played the flute again, and again they came dancing in the middle of
the house patio. Animatedly they did it, tempting their grandmother to laughter.

Thus immediately the Grandmother began to laugh again. For the faces of the
spider monkeys were truly funny. They were paunchy and naked below their chests.
And when they came, she laughed a great deal, which made them depart again into the
mountains.

“Surely, what more can we do, our grandmother? This third time we shall try it
again,” said Hunahpu and Xbalanque.

Thus they played the flute again, and again they came dancing. But this time the
Grandmother was able to contain well her laughter. They therefore scampered on the
wall. Their mouths were very red, and their faces were foolish. Their mouths were
puckered and bushy. Their faces were silly, and they snorted at them. Now when
she saw this, the Grandmother again burst out laughing. Never again were their faces
seen because of the laughter of their grandmother.

“But this once more, our grandmother, we shall call upon them.”

Thus for the fourth time they played their flutes again, but this time they did not
come back. Instead they remained out in the forest.

Thus they spoke to their grandmother:

“We tried, our grandmother, and at first they came back. We have tried to call
them back again. But do not grieve. We are your grandsons, and we are here. Just love
our mother, O grandmother.

“Our older brothers will be remembered. Thus be it so. They were given names
and also given titles. One Batz and One Chouen shall be called upon,” said Hunahpu and
Xbalanque.

And since that time they have been called upon by the flautists and the singers.
The ancient ones also called upon them, they who were the writers and the carvers. A
long time ago, they became animals. They became spider monkeys because of their pride,
for they had abused their younger brothers according to the dictates of their hearts. Thus
they were ruined. One Batz and One Chouen were lost, becoming animals. Thus their
community and their home is now among the flautists and the singers. For great were
their accomplishments when they dwelt with their grandmother and their mother.


- Popol Vuh