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.