Apu Ollantay

A Drama of the Time of the Incas

Sovereigns Of Peru
About A.D. 1470

Contents

First Reduced To Writing By Dr. Valdez, Cuba Of Sicuani A.D. 1770

The Original Manuscript Copied By Dr. Justo Pastor Justiniani

This Justiniani Text Copied At Laris, In April 1863, By Clements R. Markham

A Free Translation Into English By Sir Clements Markham, K.C.B. [1910]

INTRODUCTION

The drama was cultivated by the Incas, and dramatic performances were enacted before them. Garcilasso de la Vega, Molina, and Salcamayhua are the authorities who received and have recorded the information given by the Amautas respecting the Inca drama. Some of these dramas, and portions of others, were preserved in the memories of members of Inca and Amauta families. The Spanish priests, especially the Jesuits of Juli, soon discovered the dramatic aptitude of the people. Plays were composed and acted, under priestly auspices, which contained songs and other fragments of the ancient Inca drama. These plays were called ‘Autos Sacramentales.’

But complete Inca dramas were also preserved in the memories of members of the Amauta caste and, until the rebellion of 1781, they were acted. The drama of Ollantay was first reduced to writing and arranged for acting by Dr. Don Antonio Valdez, the Cura of Tinto. It was acted before his friend José Gabriel Condorcanqui[1] in about 1775. Taking the name of his maternal ancestor, the Inca Tupac Amaru, the ill-fated Condorcanqui rose in rebellion, was defeated, taken, and put to death under torture, in the great square of Cuzco. In the monstrous sentence ‘the representation of dramas as well as all other festivals which the Indians celebrate in memory of their Incas’ was prohibited.[2] This is a clear proof that before 1781 these Quichua dramas were acted.

The original manuscript of Valdez was copied by his friend Don Justo Pastor Justiniani, and this copy was inherited by his son. There was another copy in the convent of San Domingo at Cuzco, but it is corrupt, and there are several omissions and mistakes of a copyist. Dr. Valdez died, at a very advanced age, in 1816. In 1853 the original manuscript was in the possession of his nephew and heir, Don Narciso Cuentas of Tinta.

The Justiniani copy was, in 1853, in the possession of Dr. Don Pablo Justiniani, Cura of Laris, and son of Don Justo Pastor Justiniani. He is a descendant of the Incas.[3] In April 1853 I went to Laris, a secluded valley of the Andes, and made a careful copy of the drama of Ollantay. From this Justiniani text my first very faulty line-for-line translation was made in 1871, as well as the present free translation.

The first printed notice of Ollantay appeared in the Museo Erudito, Nos. 5 to 9, published at Cuzco in 1837, and edited by Don José Palacios. The next account of the drama, with extracts, was in the ‘Antiguedades Peruanas,’ a work published in 1851 jointly by Dr. von Tschudi and Don Mariaiao Rivero of Arequipa. The complete text, from the copy in the convent of San Domingo at Cuzco, was first published at Vienna in 1853 by Dr. von Tschudi in his ‘Die Kechua Sprache. It was obtained for him by Dr. Ruggendas of Munich. The manuscript was a corrupt version, and in very bad condition, in parts illegible from damp. In 1868 Don José Barranca published a Spanish translation, from the Dominican text of von Tschudi. The learned Swiss naturalist, von Tschudi, published a revised edition of his translation at Vienna in 1875, with a parallel German translation. In 1871 I printed the Justiniani text with a literal, line-for-line translation, but with many mistakes, since corrected; and in 1874, a Peruvian, Don José Fernandez Nodal, published the Quichua text with a Spanish translation.

In 1878 Gavino Pacheco Zegarra published his version of Ollantay, with a free translation in French. His text is a manuscript of the drama which he found in his uncle’s library. Zegarra, as a native of Peru whose language was Quichua, had great advantages. He was a very severe, and often unfair, critic of his predecessors.

The work of Zegarra is, however, exceedingly valuable. He was not only a Quichua scholar, but also accomplished and well read. His notes on special words and on the construction of sentences are often very interesting. But his conclusions respecting several passages which are in the Justiniani text, but not in the others, are certainly erroneous. Thus he entirely spoils the dialogue between the Uillac Uma and Piqui Chaqui by omitting the humorous part contained in the Justiniani text; and makes other similar omissions merely because the passages are not in his text. Zegarra gives a useful vocabulary at the end of all the words which occur in the drama.

The great drawback to the study of Zegarra’s work is that he invented a number of letters to express the various modifications of sound as they appealed to his ear. No one else can use them, while they render the reading of his own works difficult and intolerably tiresome.

The last publication of a text of Ollantay was by the Rev. J. H. Gybbon Spilsbury, at Buenos Ayres in 1907, accompanied by Spanish, English, and French translations in parallel columns.

There is truth in what Zegarra says, that the attempts to translate line for line, by von Tschudi and myself, ‘fail to convey a proper idea of the original drama to European readers, the result being alike contrary to the genius of the modern languages of Europe and to that of the Quichua language.’ Zegarra accordingly gives a very free translation in French.

In the present translation I believe that I have always preserved the sense of the original, without necessarily binding myself to the words. The original is in octosyllabic lines. Songs and important speeches are in quatrains of octosyllabic lines, the first and last rhyming, and the second and third. I have endeavoured to keep to octosyllabic lines as far as possible, because they give a better idea of the original; and I have also tried to preserve the form of the songs and speeches.

The drama opens towards the close of the reign of the Inca Pachacuti, the greatest of all the Incas, and the scene is laid at Cuzco or at Ollantay-tampu, in the valley of the Vilcamayu. The story turns on the love of a great chief, but not of the blood-royal, with a daughter of the Inca. This would not have been prohibited in former reigns, for the marriage of a sister by the sovereign or his heir, and the marriage of princesses only with princes of the blood-royal, were rules first introduced by Pachacuti.[4] His imperial power and greatness led him to endeavour to raise the royal family far above all others.

The play opens with a dialogue between Ollantay and Piqui Chaqui, his page, a witty and humorous lad. Ollantay talks of his love for the Princess Cusi Coyllur, and wants Piqui Chaqui to take a message to her, while the page dwells on the danger of loving in such a quarter, and evades the question of taking a message. Then to them enters the Uillac Uma, or High Priest of the Sun, who remonstrates with Ollantay—a scene of great solemnity, and very effective.

The next scene is in the Queen’s palace. Anahuarqui, the Queen, is discovered with the Princess Cusi Coyllur, who bitterly laments the absence of Ollantay. To them enters the Inca Pachacuti, quite ignorant that his daughter has not only married Ollantay in secret, but that she is actually with child by him. Her mother keeps her secret. The Inca indulges in extravagant expressions of love for his daughter. Then boys and girls enter dancing and singing a harvest song. Another very melancholy yarahui is sung; both capable of being turned by the Princess into presages of the fate of herself and her husband.

In the third scene Ollantay prefers his suit to the Inca Pachacuti in octosyllabic quatrains, the first and last lines rhyming, and the second and third. His suit is rejected with scorn and contempt. Ollantay next appears on the heights above Cuzco. In a soliloquy he declares himself the implacable enemy of Cuzco and the Inca. Then Piqui Chaqui arrives with the news that the Queen’s palace is empty, and abandoned, and that Cusi Coyllur has quite disappeared; while search is being made for Ollantay. While they are together a song is sung behind some rocks, in praise of Cusi Coyllur’s beauty. Then the sound of clarions and people approaching is heard, and Ollantay and Piqui Chaqui take to flight. The next scene finds the Inca enraged at the escape of Ollantay, and ordering his general Rumi-ñaui to march at once, and make him prisoner. To them enters a chasqui, or messenger, bringing the news that Ollantay has collected a great army at Ollantay-tampu, and that the rebels have proclaimed him Inca.

The second act opens with a grand scene in the hall of the fortress-palace of Ollantay-tampu. Ollantay is proclaimed Inca by the people, and he appoints the Mountain Chief, Urco Huaranca, general of his army. Urco Huaranca explains the dispositions he has made to oppose the army advancing from Cuzco, and his plan of defence. In the next scene Rumi-ñaui, as a fugitive in the mountains, describes his defeat and the complete success of the strategy of Ollantay and Urco Huaranca. His soliloquy is in the octosyllabic quatrains. The last scene of the second act is in the gardens of the Convent of Virgins of the Sun. A young girl is standing by a gate which opens on the street. This, as afterwards appears, is Yma Sumac, the daughter of Ollantay and Cusi Coyllur, aged ten, but ignorant of her parentage. To her enters Pitu Salla, an attendant, who chides her for being so fond of looking out at the gate. The conversation which follows shows that Yma Sumac detests the convent and refuses to take the vows. She also has heard the moans of some sufferer, and importunes Pitu Salla to tell her who it is. Yma Sumac goes as Mama Ccacca enters and cross examines Pitu Salla on her progress in persuading Yma Sumac to adopt convent life. This Mama Ccacca is one of the Matrons or Mama Cuna, and she is also the jailer of Cusi Coyllur.

The third act opens with an amusing scene between the Uillac Uma and Piqui Chaqui, who meet in a street in Cuzco. Piqui Chaqui wants to get news, but to tell nothing, and in this he succeeds. The death of Inca Pachacuti is announced to him, and the accession of Tupac Yupanqui, and with this news he departs.

Next there is an interview between the new Inca Tupac Yupanqui, the Uillac Uma, and the defeated general Rumi-ñaui, who promises to retrieve the former disaster and bring the rebels to Cuzco, dead or alive. It after wards appears that the scheme of Rumi-ñaui was one of treachery. He intended to conceal his troops in eaves and gorges near Ollantay-tampu ready to rush in, when a signal was made. Rumi-ñaui then cut and slashed his face, covered himself with mud, and appeared at the gates of Ollantay-tampu, declaring that he had received this treatment from the new Inca, and imploring protection.[5] Ollantay received him with the greatest kindness and hospitality. In a few days Ollantay and his people celebrated the Raymi or great festival of the sun with much rejoicing and drinking. Rumi-ñaui pretended to join in the festivities, but when most of them were wrapped in drunken sleep, he opened the gates, let in his own men, and made them all prisoners.

There is next another scene in the garden of the convent, in which Yma Sumac importunes Pitu Salla to tell her the secret of the prisoner. Pitu Salla at last yields and opens a stone door. Cusi Coyllur is discovered, fastened to a wall, and in a dying state. She had been imprisoned, by order of her father, Inca Pachacuti on the birth of Yma Sumac. She is restored with food and water, and the relationship is discovered when Cusi Coyllur hears the child’s name, for she had given it to her.

Next the Inca Tupac Yupanqui is discovered in the great hall of his palace, seated on his tiana or throne, with the Uillac Uma in attendance. To them enters a chasqui, or messenger, who describes the result of Rumi-ñaui’s treachery in octosyllabic quatrains. Rumi-ñaui himself enters and receives the thanks of his sovereign. Then the prisoners are brought in guarded-Ollantay, Hanco Huayllu, Urco Huaranca, and Piqui Chaqui. The Inca upbraids them for their treason. He then asks the Uillac Uma for his judgment. The High Priest recommends mercy. Rumi-ñaui advises immediate execution: The Inca seems to concur and they are ordered off, when suddenly the Inca cries ‘Stop.’ He causes them all to be released, appoints Ollantay to the highest post in the empire next to himself, and Urco Huaranca to a high command. There are rejoicings, and in the midst of it all Yma Sumac forces her way into the hall, and throws herself at the Inca’s feet, entreating him to save her mother from death. The Inca hands over the matter to Ollantay, but this Yma Sumac will not have, and, the Uillac Uma intervening, the Inca consents to go with the child.

The final scene is in the gardens of the convent. The Inca enters with Yma Sumac, followed by the whole strength of the company. Mama Ccacca is ordered to open the stone door and Cusi Coyllur is brought out. She proves to be the sister of the Inca and the wife of Ollantay. There are explanations, and all ends happily.

Of the antiquity of the drama of Ollantay there is now no question. General Mitre wrote an elaborate paper on its authenticity, raising several points to prove that it was of modern origin. But every point he raised has been satisfactorily refuted. At the same time there are many other points, some of them referred to by Zegarra, which establish the antiquity of the drama beyond any doubt. The antiquity of the name Ollantay-tampu, applied to the fortress in memory of the drama, is proved by its use in the narratives of Molina (1560) and of Salcamayhua.

An able review of the literature connected with the drama of Ollantay was written by Don E. Larrabure y Unanue, the present Vice-President of Peru, who considers that Ollantay would make a good acting play with magnificent scenic effects.

MS. TEXTS.

1. The original text of Valdez. In 1853 the property of Don Narciso Cuentas of Tinta, heir of Dr. Valdez.

2. The Justiniani text. In 1853 at Laris. Copy of the Valdez text.

3. Markham’s copy of the Justiniani text (printed 1871).

4. Rosas copy of the Justiniani text.

5. Copy in the convent of San Domingo at Cuzco (the Dominican text).

6. Von Tschudi’s copy of the Dominican text (printed 1853).

7. Text of Zegarra (printed 1878).

8. Second text of von Tschudi.

9. Text of Spilsbury.

10. Text of Sahuaraura penes Dr. Gonzalez de la Rosa.

There is light thrown upon the name Ollantay by the evidence taken during the journey of the Viceroy Toledo from Jauja to Cuzco, from November 1570 to March 1571. He wanted information respecting the origin of the Inca government, and 200 witnesses were examined, the parentage or lineage of each witness being recorded. Among these we find six witnesses of the Antasayac ayllu. Sayac means a station or division, Antais a small town near Cuzco. The names of the six Anta witnesses were,

ANCAILLO; USCA; HUACRO; MANCOY; AUCA PURI; ULLANTAY;
Besides ANTONIO PACROTRICA and PUNICU PAUCAR, Chiefs of Anta.

We thus find that the name of Ollantay belonged to Anta. Now the Incas were under great obligations to the chief of Anta, for that chief had rescued the eldest son of Inca Rocca from the chief of Ayamarca, and had restored him to his father. For this great service the chief of Anta was declared to be a noble of the highest rank and cousin to the Inca family. Moreover, the daughter of the Anta chief was married to the Inca Uira-cocha, and was the mother of Pachacuti. Assuming, as seems probable, that Ollantay was a son of the chief of Anta, he would be a cousin of the Inca, and of very high rank, though not an agnate of the reigning family. This, I take it, is what is intended. Pachacuti desired to raise his family high above all others, and that, consequently, there should be no marriages with subjects even of the highest rank; and his excessive severity on the transgression of his rule by his daughter is thus explained.

OLLANTAY

ACTS AND SCENES

ACT 1.

Sc. 1.—Open space near Cuzco.
Ollantay, Piqui Chaqui, Uillac Uma.

Sc. 2.—Hall in the Colcampata.
Anahuarqui, Cusi Coyllur, Inca Pachacuti, Boys and Girls, Singers.

Sc. 3.—Hall in the Inca’s palace.
Pachacuti, Rumi-ñaui, Ollantay.

Sc. 4.—Height above Cuzco.
Ollantay, Piqui Chaqui, Unseen Singer.

Sc. 5.—Hall in the Inca’s palace.
Pachacuti, Rumi-ñaui, and a Chasqui.

ACT II.

Sc. 1.—Ollantay-tampu Hall.
Ollantay, Urco Huaranca, Hanco Huayllu, People and Soldiers.

Sc. 2.—A wild place in the mountains.
Rumi-ñaui’s soliloquy.

Sc. 3.—Gardens of the Virgins.
Yma Sumac, Pitu Salla, Mama Ccacca.

ACT III.

Sc. 1.—Pampa Maroni at Cuzco.
Uillac Uma and Piqui Chaqui.

Sc. 2.—Palace of Tupac Yupanqui.
Tupac Yupanqui, Uillac Uma, Rumi-ñaui.

Sc. 3.—Ollantay-tampu, Terrace.
Rumi-ñaui, Ollantay, Guards.

Sc. 4.—House of Virgins, Corridor.
Yma Sumac, Pitu Salla.

Sc. 5.—House of Virgins, Garden.
Yma Sumac, Pitu Salla, Cusi Coyllur.

Sc. 6.—Palace of Tupac Yupanqui.
Tupac Yupanqui, Uillac Uma, a Chasqui, Rumi-ñaui, Ollantay, Urco Huaranca, Hanco Huayllu, Piqui Chaqui, Chiefs and Guards, then Yma Sumac.

Sc. 7.—House of Virgins, Garden.
All of Scene 6, and Mama Ccacca, Cusi Coyllur, Pitu Salla.

SCENE

In Cuzco and its environs, and Ollantay-tampu

DRAMATIS PERSONAE

APU OLLANTAY.—General of Anti-suyu, the eastern province of the empire. A young chief, but not of the blood-royal. His rank was that of a Tucuyricuo or Viceroy. The name occurs among the witnesses examined by order of the Viceroy Toledo, being one of the six of the Antasayac ayllu.

PACHACUTI.—The Sovereign Inca.

TUPAC YUPANQUI.—Sovereign. Inca, son and heir of Pachacuti.

RUMI-ÑAUI.—A great chief, General of Colla-suyu. The word means ‘Stone-eye.’

UILLAC UMA.—High Priest of the Sun. The word Uma means head, and Uillac, a councillor and diviner.

URCO HUARANCA.—A chief. The words mean ‘Mountain Chief.’ The word huaranca means 1000; hence, Chief of a Thousand.

HANCO HUAYLLU AUQUI.—An old officer, of the blood-royal.

PIQUI CHAQUI.—Page to Ollantay. The words mean ‘fleet-footed.’

ANAHUARQUI.—The Ccoya or Queen, wife of Pachacuti.

CUSI COYLLUR ÑUSTA.—A Princess, daughter of Pachacuti. The words mean ‘the joyful star.’

YMA SUMAC.—Daughter of Cusi Coyllur. The words mean ‘How beautiful.’

PITU SALLA.—A girl, companion of Yma Sumac.

CCACCA MAMA.—A matron of Virgins of the Sun. Jailer of Cusi Coyllur.

Nobles, captains, soldiers, boys and girls dancing, singers, attendants, messengers or Chasqui.

ACT I

SCENE 1

An open space near the junction of the two torrents of Cuzco, the Huatanay and Tullumayu or Rodadero, called Pumap Chupan, just outside the gardens of the Sun. The Temple of the Sun beyond the gardens, and the Sacsahuaman hill surmounted by the fortress, rising in the distance. The palace of Colcampata on the hillside.

(Enter OLLANTAY L. [in a gilded tunic, breeches of llama sinews, usutas or shoes of llama hide, a red mantle of ccompi or fine cloth, and the chucu or head-dress of his rank, holding a battle-axe (champi) and club (macana)] and PIQUI CHAQUI coming up from the back R. [in a coarse brown tunic of auasca or llama cloth, girdle used as a sling, and chucu or head-dress of a Cuzqueño].)

OLLANTAY.
Where, young fleet-foot, hast thou been?
Hast thou the starry Ñusta seen?

PIQUI CHAQUI.
The Sun forbids such sacrilege
’Tis not for me to see the star.
Dost thou, my master, fear no ill,
Thine eyes upon the Inca’s child?

OLLANTAY.
In spite of all I swear to love
That tender dove, that lovely star;
My heart is as a lamb[6] with her,
And ever will her presence seek.

PIQUI CHAQUI.
Such thoughts are prompted by Supay[7];
That evil being possesses thee.
All round are beauteous girls to choose
Before old age, and weakness come.
If the great Inca knew thy plot
And what thou seekest to attain,
Thy head would fall by his command,
Thy body would be quickly burnt.

OLLANTAY.
Boy, do not dare to cross me thus.
One more such word and thou shalt die.
These hands will tear thee limb from limb,
If still thy councils are so base.

PIQUI CHAQUI.
Well! treat thy servant as a dog,
But do not night and day repeat,
‘Piqui Chaqui! swift of foot!
Go once more to seek the star.’

OLLANTAY.
Have I not already said
That e’en if death’s fell scythe[8] was here,
If mountains should oppose my path
Like two fierce foes[9] who block the way,
Yet will I fight all these combined
And risk all else to gain my end,
And whether it be life or death
I’ll cast myself at Coyllur’s feet.

PIQUI CHAQUI.
But if Supay himself should come?

OLLANTAY.
I’d strike the evil spirit down.

PIQUI CHAQUI.
If thou shouldst only see his nose,
Thou wouldst not speak as thou dost now.

OLLANTAY.
Now, Piqui Chaqui, speak the truth,
Seek not evasion or deceit.
Dost thou not already know,
Of all the flowers in the field,
Not one can equal my Princess?

PIQUI CHAQUI.
Still, my master, thou dost rave.
I think I never saw thy love.
Stay! was it her who yesterday
Came forth with slow and faltering steps
And sought a solitary[10] path[11]?
If so, ’tis true she’s like the sun,
The moon less beauteous than her face.[12]

OLLANTAY.
It surely was my dearest love.
How beautiful, how bright is she
This very moment thou must go
And take my message to the Star.

PIQUI CHAQUI.
I dare not, master; in the day,
I fear to pass the palace gate.
With all the splendour of the court,
I could not tell her from the rest.

OLLANTAY.
Didst thou not say thou sawest her?

PIQUI CHAQUI.
I said so, but it was not sense.
A star can only shine at night
Only at night could I be sure.

OLLANTAY.
Begone, thou lazy good-for-nought.
The joyful star that I adore,
If placed in presence of the Sun,
Would shine as brightly as before.

PIQUI CHAQUI.
Lo! some person hither comes,
Perhaps an old crone seeking alms;
Yes! Look! he quite resembles one.
Lot him the dangerous message take.
Send it by him, O noble Chief!
From me they would not hear the tale;
Thy page is but a humble lad.

(Enter the UILLAC UMA, or High Priest of the Sun, at the back, arms raised to the Sun. In a grey tunic and black mantle from the shoulders to the ground, a long knife in his belt, the undress chucu on his head.)

UILLAC UMA.
O giver of all warmth and light
O Sun! I fall and worship thee.
For thee the victims are prepared,
A thousand llamas and their lambs
Are ready for thy festal day.
The sacred fire’ll lap their blood,
In thy dread presence, mighty one,
After long fast[13] thy victims fall.

OLLANTAY.
Who comes hither, Piqui Chaqui?
Yes, ’tis the holy Uillac Uma;
He brings his tools of augury.
No puma[14] more astute and wise
I hate that ancient conjurer
Who prophesies of evil things,
I feel the evils he foretells;
’Tis he who ever brings ill-luck.

PIQUI CHAQUI.
Silence, master, do not speak,
The old man doubly is informed;
Fore-knowing every word you say,
Already he has guessed it all.

(He lies down on a bank.)

OLLANTAY.
(aside)
He sees me. I must speak to him.

(The Uillac Uma comes forward.)

O Uillac Uma, Great High Priest,
I bow before thee with respect
May the skies be clear for thee,
And brightest sunshine meet thine eyes.

UILLAC UMA.
Brave Ollantay! Princely one!
May all the teeming land be thine;
May thy far-reaching arm of might
Reduce the wide-spread universe.

OLLANTAY.
Old man! thine aspect causes fear,
Thy presence here some ill forebodes;
All round thee dead men’s bones appear,
Baskets, flowers, sacrifice.
All men when they see thy face
Are filled with terror and alarm.
What means it all? why comest thou?
It wants some months before the least.
Is it that the Inca is ill?
Perchance hast thou some thought divined
Which soon will turn to flowing blood.
Why comest thou? the Sun’s great day,
The Moon’s libations are not yet
The moon has not yet nearly reached
The solemn time for sacrifice.
Uillac Uma. Why dost thou these questions put,
In tones of anger and reproach?
Am I, forsooth, thy humble slave?
That I know all I’ll quickly prove.

OLLANTAY.
My beating heart is filled with dread,
Beholding thee so suddenly;
Perchance thy coming is a sign,
Of evils overtaking me.

UILLAC UMA.
Fear not, Ollantay! not for that,
The High Priest comes to thee this day.
It is perhaps for love of thee,
That, as a straw is blown by wind,
A friend, this day, encounters thee.
Speak to me as to a friend,
Hide nothing from my scrutiny.
This day I come to offer thee
A last and most momentous choice
’Tis nothing less than life or death.

OLLANTAY.
Then make thy words more clear to me,
That I may understand the choice;
Till now ’tis but a tangled skein,
Unravel it that I may know.

UILLAC UMA.
’Tis well. Now listen, warlike. Chief:
My science has enabled me,
To learn and see all hidden things
Unknown to other mortal men.
My power will enable me
To make of thee a greater prince.
I brought thee up from tender years,
And cherished thee with love and care
I now would guide thee in the right,
And ward off all that threatens thee.
As chief of Anti-suyu now,
The people venerate thy name;
Thy Sovereign trusts and honours thee,
E’en to sharing half his realm.
From all the rest he chose thee out,
And placed all power in thy hands;
He made thy armies great and strong,
And strengthened thee against thy foes
How numerous soe’er they be,
They have been hunted down by thee.
Are these good reasons for thy wish,
To wound thy Sovereign to the heart?
His daughter is beloved by thee;
Thy passion thou wouldst fain indulge,
Lawless and forbidden though it be.
I call upon thee, stop in time,
Tear this folly from thy heart.
If thy passion is immense,
Still let honour hold its place.
You reel, you stagger on the brink
I’d snatch thee from the very edge.
Thou knowest well it cannot be,
The Inca never would consent.
If thou didst e’en propose it now,
He would be overcome with rage;
From favoured prince and trusted chief,
Thou wouldst descend to lowest rank.

OLLANTAY.
How is it that thou canst surely know
What still is hidden in my heart?
Her mother only knows my love,
Yet thou revealest all to me.

UILLAC UMA.
I read thy secret on the moon,
As if upon the Quipu knots;
And what thou wouldst most surely hide,
Is plain to me as all the rest.

OLLANTAY.
In my heart I had divined
That thou wouldst search me through and through
Thou knowest all, O Councillor,
And wilt thou now desert thy son?

UILLAC UMA.
How oft we mortals heedless drink,
A certain death from golden cup
Recall to mind how ills befall,
And that a stubborn heart ’s the cause.

OLLANTAY.
(kneeling).
Plunge that dagger in my breast,
Thou holdst it ready in thy belt;
Cut out my sad and broken heart
I ask the favour at thy feet.

UILLAC UMA.
(to Piqui Chaqui).
Gather me that flower, boy.

(Piqui Chaqui gives him a withered flower and lies down again, pretending to sleep.)

(To Ollantay).
Behold, it is quite dead and dry.
Once more behold! e’en now it weeps,
It weeps. The water flows from it.

(Water flows out of the flower.)

OLLANTAY.
More easy for the barren rocks
Or for sand to send forth water,
Than that I should cease to love
The fair princess, the joyful star.

UILLAC UMA.
Put a seed into the ground,
It multiplies a hundredfold;
The more thy crime shall grow and swell,
The greater far thy sudden fall.

OLLANTAY.
Once for all, I now confess
To thee, O great and mighty Priest;
Now learn my fault. To thee I speak,
Since thou hast torn it from my heart.
The lasso to tie me is long,
’Tis ready to twist round my throat
Yet its threads are woven with gold,
It avenges a brilliant crime.
Cusi Coyllur e’en now is my wife,
Already we’re bound and are one;
My blood now runs in her veins,
E’en now I am noble as she.
Her mother has knowledge of all,
The Queen can attest what I say;
Let me tell all this to the King,
I pray for thy help and advice.
I will speak without fear and with force,
He may perhaps give way to his rage
Yet he may consider my youth,
May remember the battles I’ve fought;
The record is carved on my club.

(Holds up his macana.)

He may think of his enemies crushed,
The thousands I’ve thrown at his feet.

UILLAC UMA.
Young Prince! thy words are too bold,
Thou hast twisted the thread of thy fate—
Beware, before ’tis too late;
Disentangle and weave it afresh,
Go alone to speak to the King,
Alone bear the blow that you seek;
Above all let thy words be but few,
And say them with deepest respect;
Be it life, be it death that you find,
I will never forget thee, my son.

(Walks up and exit.)

OLLANTAY.
Ollantay, thou art a man,
No place in thy heart for fear;
Cusi Coyllur, surround me with light.
Piqui Chaqui, where art thou?

PIQUI CHAQUI.
(jumping up).
I was asleep, my master,
And dreaming of evil things.

OLLANTAY.
Of what?

PIQUI CHAQUI.
Of a fox with a rope round its neck.

OLLANTAY.
Sure enough, thou art the fox.

PIQUI CHAQUI.
It is true that my nose is growing finer,
And my ears a good deal longer.

OLLANTAY.
Come, lead me to the Coyllur.

PIQUI CHAQUI.
It is still daylight.

(Exeunt.)

SCENE 2

A great hall in the Colcampata, then the palace of the Queen or Ccoya Anahuarqui. In the centre of the back scene a doorway, and seen through it gardens with the snowy peak of Vilcanota in the distance. Walls covered with golden slabs. On either side of the doorway three recesses, with household gods in the shape of maize-cobs and llamas, and gold vases in them. On R. a golden tiana or throne. On L. two lower seats covered with cushions of fine woollen cloth.

(ANAHUARQUI, the Queen or Ccoya (in blue chucu, white cotton bodice, and red mantle secured by a golden topu or pin, set with emeralds, and a blue skirt), and the princess CUSI COYLLUR (in a chucu, with feathers of the tunqui, white bodice and skirt, and grey mantle with topu, set with pearls) discovered seated.)

ANAHUARQUI.
Since when art thou feeling so sad,
Cusi Coyllur! great Inti’s prunelle?[15]
Since when hast thou lost all thy joy,
Thy smile and thy once merry laugh?
Tears of grief now pour down my face,
As I watch and mourn over my child;
Thy grief makes me ready to die.
Thy union filled thee with joy,
Already you’re really his wife.
Is he not the man of thy choice?
O daughter, devotedly loved,
Why plunged in such terrible grief?

(Cusi Coyllur has had her face hidden in the pillows. She now rises to her feet, throwing up her arms.)

CUSI COYLLUR.
O my mother! O most gracious Queen!
How can my tears o’er cease to flow,
How can my bitter sighs surcease,
While the valiant Chief I worship
For many days and sleepless nights,
All heedless of my tender years,
Seems quite to have forgotten me?
He has turned his regard from his wife
And no longer seeks for his love.
O my mother! O most gracious Queen!
O my husband so beloved!
Since the day when I last saw my love
The moon has been hidden from view;
The sun shines no more as of old,
In rising it rolls among mist;
At night the stars are all dim,
All nature seems sad and distressed
The comet with fiery tail,
Announces my sorrow and grief
Surrounded by darkness and tears,
Evil auguries fill me with fears.
O my mother! O most gracious Queen!
O my husband so beloved!

ANAHUARQUI.
Compose thyself and dry thine eyes,
The King, thy father, has arrived.
Thou lovest Ollantay, my child?

(Enter the INCA PACHACUTI. On his head the mascapaycha, with the llautu or imperial fringe. A tunic of cotton embroidered with gold; on his breast the golden breastplate representing the sun, surrounded by the calendar of months. Round his waist the fourfold belt of tocapu. A crimson mantle of fine vicuna wool, fastened on his shoulders by golden puma’s heads. Shoes of cloth of gold. He sits down on the golden tiana.)

INCA PACHACUTI.
Cusi Coyllur! Star of joy,
Most lovely of my progeny!
Thou symbol of parental love—
Thy lips are like the huayruru.[16]
Rest upon thy father’s breast,
Repose, my child, within mine arms.

(Cusi Coyllur comes across. They embrace.)

Unwind thyself, my precious one,
A thread of gold within the woof.
All my happiness rests upon thee,
Thou art my greatest delight.
Thine eyes are lovely and bright,
As the rays of my father the Sun.
When thy lips are moving to speak,
When thine eyelids are raised with a smile,
The wide world is fairly entranced.
Thy breathing embalms the fresh air;
Without thee thy father would pine,
Life to him would be dreary and waste.
He seeks for thy happiness, child,
Thy welfare is ever his care.

(Cusi Coyllur throws herself at his feet.)

CUSI COYLLUR.
O father, thy kindness to me
I feel; and embracing thy knees
All the grief of thy daughter will cease,
At peace when protected by thee.

PACHACUTI.
How is this! my daughter before me
On knees at my feet, and in tears?
I fear some evil is near—
Such emotion must needs be explained.

CUSI COYLLUR.
The star does weep before Inti,
The limpid tears wash grief away.

PACHACUTI.
Rise, my beloved, my star,
Thy place is on thy dear father’s knee.

(Cusi Coyllur rises and sits on a stool by her father. An attendant approaches.)

ATTENDANT.
O King! thy servants come to please thee.

PACHACUTI.
Let them all enter.

(Boys and girls enter dancing. After the dance they sing a harvest song.)

Thou must not feed,
O Tuyallay,[17]
In Ñusta’s field,
O Tuyallay.
Thou must not rob,
O Tuyallay,
The harvest maize,
O Tuyallay.
The grains are white,
O Tuyallay,
So sweet for food,
O Tuyallay.
The fruit is sweet,
O Tuyallay,
The leaves are green
O Tuyallay;
But the trap is set,
O Tuyallay.
The lime is there,
O Tuyallay.
We’ll cut thy claws,
O Tuyallay,
To seize thee quick,
O Tuyallay.
Ask Piscaca,[18]
O Tuyallay,
Nailed on a branch,
O Tuyallay.
Where is her heart,
O Tuyallay?
Where her plumes,
O Tuyallay?
She is cut up,
O Tuyallay,
For stealing grain,
O Tuyallay.
See the fate,
O Tuyallay,
Of robber birds,
O Tuyallay.

PACHACUTI.
Cusi Coyllur, remain thou here,
Thy mother’s palace is thy home
Fail not to amuse thyself,
Surrounded by thy maiden friends.

(Exeunt the Inca Pachacuti, the Ccoya Anahuarqui, and attendants.)

CUSI COYLLUR.
I should better like a sadder song.
My dearest friends, the last you sang
To me foreshadowed evil things;[19]
You who sang it leave me now.

(Exeunt boys and girls, except one girl who sings.)

Two loving birds are in despair,[20]
They moan, they weep, they sigh;
For snow has fallen on the pair,
To hollow tree they fly.
But lo! one dove is left alone
And mourns her cruel fate;
She makes a sad and piteous moan,
Alone without a mate.
She fears her friend is dead and gone—
Confirmed in her belief,
Her sorrow finds relief in song,
And thus she tells her grief.
‘Sweet mate! Alas, where art thou now?
I miss thine eyes so bright,
Thy feet upon the tender bough,
Thy breast so pure and bright.’
She wanders forth from stone to stone,
She seeks her mate in vain;
‘My love! my love!’ she makes her moan,
She falls, she dies in pain.

CUSI COYLLUR.
That yarahui is too sad,
Leave me alone.

(Exit the girl who sang the yarahui.)

Now my tears can freely flow.

SCENE 3

Great hall in the palace of Pachacuti. The INCA, as before, discovered seated on a golden tiana L. Enter to him R. OLLANTAY and RUMI-ÑAUI.

PACHACUTI.
The time has arrived, O great Chiefs,
To decide on the coming campaign.
The spring is approaching us now,
And our army must start for the war.
To the province of Colla[21] we march—
There is news of Chayanta’s[22] advance.
The enemies muster in strength,
They sharpen their arrows and spears.

OLLANTAY.
O King, that wild rabble untaught
Can never resist thine array;
Cuzco alone with its height
Is a barrier that cannot be stormed.
Twenty four thousand of mine,
With their champis[23] selected with care,
Impatiently wait for the sign,
The sound of the beat of my drums,[24]
The strains of my clarion and fife.

PACHACUTI.
Strive then to stir them to fight,
Arouse them to join in the fray,
Lest some should desire to yield,
To escape the effusion of blood.

RUMI-ÑAUI.
The enemies gather in force,
The Yuncas[25] are called to their aid;
They have put on their garbs for the war,
And have stopped up the principal roads.
All this is to hide their defects—
The men of Chayanta are base.
We hear they’re destroying the roads,
But we can force open the way;
Our llamas are laden with food—
We are ready to traverse the wilds.

PACHACUTI.
Are you really ready to start
To punish those angry snakes?
But first you must give them a chance
To surrender, retiring in peace,
So that blood may not flow without cause,
That no deaths of my soldiers befall.

OLLANTAY.
I am ready to march with my men,
Every detail prepared and in place,
But alas! I am heavy with care,
Almost mad with anxious suspense.

PACHACUTI.
Speak, Ollantay. Tell thy wish—
’Tis granted, e’en my royal fringe.

OLLANTAY.
Hear me in secret, O King.

PACHACUTI.
(to Rumi-ñaui).
Noble Chief of Colla, retire;
Seek repose in thy house for a time.
I will call thee before very long,
Having need of thy valour and skill.

RUMI-ÑAUI.
With respect I obey thy command.

(Exit Rumi-ñaui.)

OLLANTAY.
Thou knowest, O most gracious Lord,
That I have served thee from a youth,
Have worked with fortitude and truth,
Thy treasured praise was my reward.[26]
All dangers I have gladly met,
For thee I always watched by night,
For thee was forward in the fight,
My forehead ever bathed in sweat.
For thee I’ve been a savage foe,
Urging my Antis[27] not to spare,
But kill and fill the land with fear,
And make the blood of conquered flow.
My name is as a dreaded rope,[28]
I’ve made the hardy Yuncas[29] yield,
By me the fate of Chancas[30] sealed,
They are thy thralls without a hope.
’Twas I who struck the fatal blow,
When warlike Huancavilca[31] rose,
Disturbing thy august repose,
And laid the mighty traitor low.
Ollantay ever led the van,
Wherever men were doomed to die;
When stubborn foes were forced to fly,
Ollantay ever was the man.
Now every tribe bows down to thee—
Some nations peacefully were led,
Those that resist their blood is shed—
But all, O King, was due to me.
O Sovereign Inca, great and brave,
Rewards I know were also mine,
My gratitude and thanks are thine,
To me the golden axe you gave.
Inca! thou gavest me command
And rule o’er all the Anti race,
To me they ever yield with grace,
And thine, great King, is all their land
My deeds, my merits are thine own
To thee alone my work is due.
For one more favour I would sue,
My faithful service—thy renown.

(Ollantay kneels before the Inca.)

Thy thrall: I bow to thy behest,
Thy fiat now will seal my fate.
O King, my services are great,
I pray thee grant one last request.
I ask for Cusi Coyllur’s hand
If the Ñusta’s[32] love I’ve won.
O King! you’ll have a faithful son,
Fearless, well tried, at thy command.

PACHACUTI.
Ollantay, thou dost now presume.
Thou art a subject, nothing more.
Remember, bold one, who thou art,
And learn to keep thy proper place.

OLLANTAY.
Strike me to the heart.

PACHACUTI.
’Tis for me to see to that,
And not for thee to choose.
Thy presumption is absurd. Be gone!

(Ollantay rises and exit R.)

SCENE 4

A rocky height above Cuzco to the NE. Distant view of the city of Cuzco and of the Sacsahuaman hill, crowned by the fortress.

(Enter OLLANTAY armed.)

OLLANTAY.
Alas, Ollantay! Ollantay!
Thou master of so many lands,
Insulted by him thou servedst well.
O my thrice-beloved Coyllur,
Thee too I shall lose for ever.
O the void[33] within my heart,
O my princess! O precious dove!
Cuzco! O thou beautiful city!
Henceforth behold thine enemy.
I’ll bare thy breast to stab thy heart,
And throw it as food for condors;
Thy cruel Inca I will slay.
I will call my men in thousands,
The Antis will be assembled,
Collected as with a lasso.
All will be trained, all fully armed,
I will guide them to Sacsahuaman.
They will be as a cloud of curses,
When flames rise to the heavens.
Cuzco shall sleep on a bloody couch,
The King shall perish in its fall;
Then shall my insulter see
How numerous are my followers.
When thou, proud King, art at my feet,
We then shall see if thou wilt say,
‘Thou art too base for Coyllur’s hand.’
Not then will I bow down and ask,
For I, not thou, will be the King—
Yet, until then, let prudence rule.

(Enter PIQUI CHAQUI from back, R.)

Piqui Chaqui, go back with speed,
Tell the Princess I come to-night.

PIQUI CHAQUI.
I have only just come from there—
The palace was deserted quite,
No soul to tell me what had passed,
Not even a dog[34] was there.
All the doors were closed and fastened,
Except the principal doorway,
And that was left without a guard.

OLLANTAY.
And the servants?

PIQUI CHAQUI.
Even the mice had fled and gone,
For nothing had been left to eat.
Only an owl was brooding there,
Uttering its cry of evil omen.

OLLANTAY.
Perhaps then her father has taken her,
To hide her in his palace bounds.

PIQUI CHAQUI.
The Inca may have strangled her;
Her mother too has disappeared.

OLLANTAY.
Did no one ask for me
Before you went away?

PIQUI CHAQUI.
Near a thousand men are seeking
For you, and all are enemies,
Armed with their miserable clubs.

OLLANTAY.
If they all arose against me,
With this arm I’d fight them all
No one yet has beat this hand,
Wielding the champi sharp and true.

PIQUI CHAQUI.
I too would like to give a stroke
At least, if my enemy was unarmed.

OLLANTAY.
To whom?

PIQUI CHAQUI.
I mean that Urco Huaranca chief,
Who lately was in search of thee.

OLLANTAY.
Perhaps the Inca sends him here
If so my anger is aroused.

PIQUI CHAQUI.
Not from the King, I am assured,
He cometh of his own accord
And yet he is an ignoble man.

OLLANTAY.
He has left Cuzco, I believe;
My own heart tells me it is so
I’m sure that owl announces it.
We’ll take to the hills, at once.

PIQUI CHAQUI.
But wilt thou abandon the Star?

OLLANTAY.
What can I do, alas!
Since she has disappeared?
Alas, my dove! my sweet princess.

(Music heard among the rocks.)

PIQUI CHAQUI.
Listen to that yarahui,
The sound comes from somewhere near.

(They sit on rocks.)

SONG

In a moment I lost my beloved,
She was gone, and I never knew where;
I sought her in fields and in woods,
Asking all if they’d seen the Coyllur.
Her face was so lovely and fair,
They called her the beautiful Star.
No one else can be taken for her,
With her beauty no girl can compare.
Both the sun and the moon seem to shine,
Resplendent they shine from a height,
Their rays to her beauty resign
Their brilliant light with delight.
Her hair is a soft raven black,
Her tresses are bound with gold thread,
They fall in long folds down her back,
And add charm to her beautiful head.
Her eyelashes brighten her face,
Two rainbows less brilliant and fair,
Her eyes full of mercy and grace,
With nought but two, suns can compare.
The eyelids with arrows concealed,
Gaily shoot their rays into the heart
They open, lo! beauty revealed,
Pierces through like a glittering dart.
Her cheeks Achancara[35] on snow,
Her face more fair than the dawn,
From her mouth the laughter doth flow,
Between pearls as bright as the morn.
Smooth as crystal and spotlessly clear
Is her throat, like the corn in a sheaf
Her bosoms, which scarcely appear,
Like flowers concealed by a leaf.
Her beautiful hand is a sight,
As it rests from all dangers secure,
Her fingers transparently white,
Like icicles spotless and pure.

OLLANTAY.
(rising).
That singer, unseen and unknown,
Has declared Coyllur’s beauty and grace;
He should fly hence, where grief overwhelms.
O Princess! O loveliest Star,
I alone am the cause of thy death,
I also should die with my love.

PIQUI CHAQUI.
Perhaps thy star has passed away,
For the heavens are sombre and grey.

OLLANTAY.
When they know that their Chief has fled,
My people will rise at my call,
They will leave the tyrant in crowds
And he will be nearly alone.

PIQUI CHAQUI.
Thou hast love and affection from men,
For thy kindness endears thee to all,
For thy hand’s always open with gifts,
And is closely shut only to me.

OLLANTAY.
Of what hast thou need?

PIQUI CHAQUI.
What? the means to got this and that,
To offer a gift to my girl,
To let others see what I have,
So that I may be held in esteem.

OLLANTAY.
Be as brave as thou art covetous,
And all the world will fear thee.

PIQUI CHAQUI.
My face is not suited for that;
Always gay and ready to laugh,
My features are not shaped that way.
To look brave! not becoming to me.
What clarions sound on the hills?
It quickly cometh near to us.

(Both look out at different sides.)

OLLANTAY.
I doubt not those who seek me—come,
Let us depart and quickly march.

PIQUI CHAQUI.
When flight is the word, I am here.

(Exeunt.)

SCENE 5

The great hall of the palace of Pachacuti. The INCA, as before, seated on the tiana. Enter to him RUMI-ÑAUI.

PACHACUTI.
I ordered a search to be made,
But Ollantay was not to be found.
My rage I can scarcely control—
Hast thou found this infamous wretch?

RUMI-ÑAUI.
His fear makes him hide from thy wrath.

PACHACUTI.
Take a thousand men fully armed,
And at once commence the pursuit.

RUMI-ÑAUI.
Who can tell what direction to take?
Three days have gone by since his flight,
Perchance he’s concealed in some house,
And till now he is there, safely hid.

(Enter a chasqui or messenger with quipus.)

Behold, O King, a messenger
From Urubamba he has come.

CHASQUI.
I was ordered to come to my King,
Swift as the wind, and behold me.

PACHACUTI.
What news bringest thou?

CHASQUI.
This quipu will tell thee, O King.

PACHACUTI.
Examine it, O Rumi-ñaui.

RUMI-ÑAUI.
Behold the llanta, and the knots[36]
Announce the number of his men.

PACHACUTI.
(to Chasqui).
And thou, what hast thou seen?

CHASQUI.
’Tis said that all the Anti host
Received Ollantay with acclaim;
Many have seen, and they recount,
Ollantay wears the royal fringe.

RUMI-ÑAUI.
The quipu record says the same.

PACHACUTI.
Scarcely can I restrain my rage!
Brave chief, commence thy march at once,
Before the traitor gathers strength.
If thy force is not enough,
Add fifty thousand men of mine.
Advance at once with lightning speed,
And halt not till the foe is reached.

RUMI-ÑAUI.
To-morrow sees me on the route,
I go to call the troops at once
The rebels on the Colla road,
I drive them flying down the rocks.
Thine enemy I bring to thee,
Dead or alive, Ollantay falls.
Meanwhile, O Inca, mighty Lord,
Rest and rely upon thy thrall.

(Exeunt.)

END OF ACT I.

ACT II

SCENE 1

Ollantay-tampu. Hall of the fortress-palace. Back scene seven immense stone, slabs, resting on them a monolith right across. Above masonry. At sides masonry with recesses; in the R. centre a great doorway. A golden tiana against the central slab.

(Enter OLLANTAY and URCO HUARANCA, both fully armed.)

URCO HUARANCA.
Ollantay, thou hast been proclaimed
By all the Antis as their Lord.
The women weep, as you will see—
They lose their husbands and their sons,
Ordered to the Chayanta war.
When will there be a final stop
To distant wars? Year after year
They send us all to far-off lands,
Where blood is made to flow like rain.
The King himself is well supplied
With coca and all kinds of food.
What cares he that his people starve?
Crossing the wilds our llamas die,
Our feet are wounded by the thorns,
And if we would not die of thirst
We carry water on our backs.

OLLANTAY.
Gallant friends! Ye hear those words,
Ye listen to the mountain chief.
Filled with compassion for my men,
I thus, with sore and heavy heart,
Have spoken to the cruel king:
‘The Anti-suyu must have rest;
All her best men shan’t die for thee,
By battle, fire, and disease—
They die in numbers terrible.
How many men have ne’er returned,
How many chiefs have met their death
For enterprises far away?’
For this I left the Inca’s court,[37]
Saying that we must rest in peace;
Lot none of us forsake our hearths,
And if the Inca still persists,
Proclaim with him a mortal feud.

(Enter HANCO HUAYLLU, several chiefs, and a great crowd of soldiers and people.)

PEOPLE.
Long live our king, Ollantay
Bring forth the standard and the fringe,
Invest him with the crimson fringe
In Tampu now the Inca reigns,
He rises like the star of day.

(The chiefs, soldiers, and people range them selves round. Ollantay is seated on the tiana by Hanco Huayllu, an aged Auqui or Prince.)

HANCO HUAYLLU.
Receive from me the royal fringe,
’Tis given by the people’s will.
Uilcanota[38] is a distant land,
Yet, even now, her people come
To range themselves beneath thy law.

(Ollantay is invested with the fringe. He rises.)

OLLANTAY.
Urco Huaranca, thee I name
Of Anti-suyu Chief and Lord;
Receive the arrows and the plume,

(Gives them.)

Henceforth thou art our general.

PEOPLE.
Long life to the Mountain Chief.

OLLANTAY.
Hanco Huayllu,[39] of all my lords
Thou art most venerable and wise,
Being kin to the august High Priest,
It is my wish that thou shouldst give
The ring unto the Mountain Chief.

(Urco Huaranca kneels, and Hanco Huayllu addresses him.)

HANCO HUAYLLU.
This ring around thy finger’s placed
That thou mayst feel, and ne’er forget,
That when in fight thou art engaged,
Clemency becomes a hero chief.

URCO HUARANCA.
A thousand times, illustrious king,
I bless thee for thy trust in me.

HANCO HUAYLLU.
Behold the valiant Mountain Chief,
Now fully armed from head to foot,
And bristling like the quiscahuan,[40]
Accoutred as becomes a knight.

(Turning to Urco Huaranca.)

Ne’er let thine enemies take thee in rear
Man of the Puna,[41] it ne’er can be said
You fled or trembled as a reed.

URCO HUARANCA.
Hear me, warriors of the Andes!
Already we have a valiant king,
It might be he will be attacked;
’Tis said th’ old Inca sends a force,
The men of Cuzco now advance.
We have not a single day to lose;
Call from the heights our Puna men,
Prepare their arms without delay,
Make Tampu strong with rampart walls,
No outlet leave without a guard;
On hill slopes gather pois’nous herbs
To shoot our arrows, carrying death.

OLLANTAY.
(to Urco Huaranca).
Select the chiefs!
Fix all the posts for different tribes;
Our foes keep marching without sleep—
Contrive to check them by surprise.
The compi[42] ruse may cause their flight.

URCO HUARANCA.
Thirty thousand brave Antis are here,
Amongst them no weakling is found;
Apu Maruti,[43] the mighty in war,
From high Uilcapampa[44] will come,
On steep Tinquiqueru[45] he’ll stand
To march when the signal appears;
On the opposite side of the stream
Prince Chara[46] has mustered his force;
In the gorge Charamuni[47] I post
Ten thousand armed Antis on watch;
Another such force is in wait
On the left, in the vale of Pachar.[48]
We are ready to meet our foes,
We await them with resolute calm;
They will march in their confident pride
Until their retreat is cut off,
Then the trumpet of war shall resound,
From the mountains the stones shall pour down,
Great blocks will be hurled from above.
The Huancas[49] are crushed or dispersed,
Then the knife shall do its fell work,
All will perish by blows from our hands,
Our arrows will follow their flight.

PEOPLE and SOLDIERS.
It is well! It is very well!

(Cheers and martial music.)

(Exeunt.)

SCENE 2

A wild place the mountains. Distant view of Ollantay-tampu.

(Enter Rumi-ñaui, torn and ragged, and covered with blood, with two attendants.)

RUMI-ÑAUI.
Ah! Rumi-ñaui—Rumi-ñaui,[50]
Thou art a fated rolling stone,[51]
Escaped indeed, but quite alone,
And this is now thy yarahui.
Ollantay posted on the height,
Thou couldst not either fight or see,
Thy men did quickly fall or flee;
No room was there to move or fight.
Thou knowest now thy heart did beat
And flutter like a butterfly;
Thy skill thou couldst not then apply,
No course was left thee but retreat.
They had recourse to a surprise,
Our warriors immolated quite.
Ah! that alone could turn thee white—
From shame like that, canst e’er arise?
By thousands did thy warriors fall,
I hardly could alone escape,
With open mouth fell death did gape,
A great disaster did befall.
Holding that traitor to be brave,
I sought to meet him face to face—
Rushing to seek him with my mace,
I nearly found a warrior’s grave.
My army then was near the hill,
When suddenly the massive stones
Came crashing down, with cries and moans,
While clarions sounded loud and shrill.
A rain of stones both great and small
Down on the crowd of warriors crashed,
On every side destruction flashed,
Thy heart the slaughter did appal.
Like a strong flood the blood did flow,
Inundating the ravine;
So sad a sight thou ne’er hast seen—
No man survived to strike a blow.
O thou who art by this disgraced,
What figure canst thou ever show
Before the king, who seeks to know
The truth, which must be faced?
’Tis better far myself to kill,
Or losing every scrap of hope,
To hang my body with this rope.

(Takes a sling off his cap—going.)

Yet may it not be useful still?

(Turns again.)

When bold Ollantay’s end has come.[52]

(Exit.)

SCENE 3

A garden in the house of the Virgins of the Sun. Chilca shrubs and mulli trees (Schinus Molle) with panicles of red berries. The walls of the house at the back, with a door. A gate (L.) opening on the street.

(YMA SUMAC discovered at the gate looking out. To her enters (R.) PITU SALLA. Both dressed in white with golden belts.)

PITU SALLA.
Yma Sumac, do not approach
So near that gate, and so often;
It might arouse the Mother’s wrath.
Thy name, which is so dear to me,
Will surely pass from mouth to mouth.
Honour shall be shown to chosen ones,[53]
Who wish to close the outer gate.
Amuse thyself within the walls,
And no one then can say a word.
Think well what you can find within—
It gives you all you can desire,
Of dresses, gold, and dainty food.
Thou art beloved by every one,
E’en Virgins of the royal blood.
The Mothers love to carry thee,
They give thee kisses and caress—
You they prefer to all the rest.
What more could any one desire,
Than always to remain with them,
Destined to be servant of the Sun?
In contemplating Him there’s peace.

YMA SUMAC.
Pitu Salla, ever you repeat
The same thing and the same advice;
I will open to thee my whole heart,
And say exactly what I think.
Know that to me this court and house
Are insupportable—no less;
The place oppresses—frightens me—
Each day I curse my destiny.
The faces of all the Mama Cuna
Fill me with hatred and disgust,
And from the place they make me sit,
Nothing else is visible.
Around me there is nothing bright,
All are weeping and ne’er cease
If I could ever have my way,
No person should remain within.
I see the people pass outside,
Laughing as they walk along.
The reason it is plain to see—
They are not mewed and cloistered here.
Is it because I have no mother,
That I am kept a prisoner?
Or is it I’m a rich novice?
Then from to-day I would be poor.
Last night I could not get to sleep,
I wandered down a garden walk;
In the dead silence of the night,
I heard one mourn. A bitter cry,
As one who sought and prayed for death.
On every side I looked about,
My hair almost on end with fright,
Trembling, I cried, ‘Who canst thou be?’
Then the voice murmured these sad words:
‘O Sun, release me from this place!’
And this, amidst such sighs and groans!
I searched about, but nothing found—
The grass was rustling in the wind.
I joined my tears to that sad sound,
My heart was torn with trembling fear.
When now the recollection comes,
I’m filled with sorrow and with dread.
You know now why I hate this place.
Speak no more, my dearest friend,
Of reasons for remaining here.

PITU SALLA.
At least go in. The Mother may appear.

YMA SUMAC.
But pleasant is the light of day.

(Exit, R.)