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.