Apu Ollantay Part 17

Piqui Chaqui! Take care!

Piqui Chaqui.

But you will not listen!

I am turning blind, My ears are getting deaf, My grandmother is dead, My mother is left alone.

Rumi-naui.

Where is Ollantay? Tell me.

Piqui Chaqui.

I am in want of bread, And the Paccays[55] are not ripe.

I have a long journey to-day-- The desert is very far off.

Rumi-naui.

If you continue to vex me I will take your life.

Piqui Chaqui.

Ollantay, is it? He is at work.

Ollantay! He is building a wall, With very small stones indeed; They are brought by little dwarfs-- So small that to be a man's size They have to climb on each other's backs.

But tell me, O friend of the King,[56]

Why art thou in such long clothes, Trailing like the wings of a sick bird[57]-- As they are black it is better.

Rumi-naui.

Hast thou not seen already That Cuzco is plunged in grief?

The great Inca Pachacuti[58] is dead, All the people are in mourning, Every soul is shedding tears.

Piqui Chaqui.

Who, then, succeeds to the place Which Pachacuti has left vacant?

If Tupac Yupanqui succeeds, That Prince is the youngest There are some others older.[59]

Rumi-naui.

All Cuzco has elected him, For the late king chose him, Giving him the royal fringe; We could elect no other.

Piqui Chaqui.

I hasten to bring my bed here.[60]

(Exit running.)

SCENE 2

Great hall of the palace of Tupac Yupanqui. The INCA seated on golden tiana (C.).

(Enter the HIGH PRIEST or UILLAC UMA, with priests and chosen Virgins of the Sun. The INCA dressed as his father. Uillac Uma in full dress, wearing the huampar chucu. Virgins in white with gold belts and diadems.

They range themselves by the throne (L.). Then enter RUMI-NAUI and a crowd of chiefs, all in full dress, ranging themselves by the throne (R.).)

Tupac Yupanqui.

This day, O Councillors and Chiefs, Let all receive my benison; You Holy Virgins of the Sun[61]

Receive our father's tenderest care.

The realm, rejoicing, hails me king; From deep recesses of my heart I swear to seek the good of all.

Uillac Uma.

To-day the smoke of many beasts Ascends on high towards the sun, The Deity with joy accepts The sacrifice of prayer and praise.

We found in ashes of the birds Our only Inca, King, and Lord, In the great llama sacrifice; All there beheld an eagle's form, We opened it for augury, But lo! the heart and entrails gone.

The eagle Anti-suyu means-- To thy allegiance they return.