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Piqui Chaqui.
Must it be that evermore The Antis must all perish thus? Alas! then let the branches burn What pouring out of blood is here.[FN#75]
Rumi-naui.
Silence, rash man, nor dare to speak,
[FN#75] Piqui Chaqui had an inkling that the Inca had expressed dislike at the shedding of blood. He ventured to say these words in the faint hope that they might remind the Inca of this dislike.
(General lamentation outside.)
Having been rolled just like a stone, My heart has now become a stone.[FN#76]
[FN#76] Rumi-naui at it again: for ever ringing changes on his name rumi, a stone.
Tupac Yupanqui.
Know that tocarpus are prepared. Remove those traitors from my sight, Let them all perish, and at once.
Rumi-naui.
Take these three men without delay To the dreaded execution stakes; Secure them with unyielding ropes, And hurl them from the lofty rocks.
Tupac Yupanqui.
Stop! Cast off their bonds.
(The guards unbind them. They all kneel.)
(To Ollantay, kneeling).
Rise from thy knees; come to my side.
(Rises.)
Now thou hast seen death very near, You that have shown ingratitude, Learn how mercy flows from my heart; I will raise thee higher than before. Thou wert Chief of Anti-suyu, Now see how far my love will go; I make thee Chief in permanence. Receive this plume[FN#77] as general, This arrow[FN#77] emblem of command.[FN#78]
[FN#77] The plume and the arrow were the insignia of a general.
[FN#78] Rather a staggerer for Rumi-naui! Perhaps, too, the change is too sudden, and infringes the probabilities. Tupac Yupanqui may have thought that his father had been unjust and that there were excuses. It is known that the young Inca was indignant at some other cruelties of his father. As a magnanimous warrior he may have despised the treacherous methods of Rumi-naui. He may have valued Ollantay's known valour and ability, and have been loth to lose his services. All these considerations may have influenced him more or less. The rebels were the best men he had.
Tupac Yupanqui (to the Uillac Uma).
Thou mighty Pontiff of the Sun, Robe him in the regal dress. Raise up the others from their knees, And free them from the doom of death.
(Urco Huaranca, Hanco Huayllu, and Piqui Chaqui rise, the latter looking much relieved. The Uillac Uma places the robe on Ollantay's shoulders.)
Uillac Uma.
Ollantay, learn to recognise Tupac Yupanqui's generous mind; From this day forth be thou his friend, And bless his magnanimity. This ring contains my potent charm, For this I place it on thy hand.
(Gives him a ring, or bracelet.)
This mace receive, 'tis from the king,
(Gives him a mace (champi).)
It is his gracious gift to thee.
Ollantay.
With tears I shall nearly consume That mace thus presented to me; I am tenfold the great Inca's slave, In this world no equal is found, My heart's fibres his latchets shall be; From this moment my body and soul To his service alone shall belong.
Tupac Yupanqui.
Now, Mountain Chief! come near to me, Ollantay is given the arrow and plume, Though to me he gave fury and war. Notwithstanding all that has passed He continues the Andean chief, And will lead his rebels to peace; Thee also I choose for the plume; From this day thou art a great chief, And never forget in thy thoughts, I saved thee from death and disgrace.
Urco Huaranca.
Great King and most merciful Lord, But now, expecting my death, I am ever thy most faithful slave.
(Uillac Uma gives him the plume and arrow.)
Uillac Uma.
O Urco, the Inca has made A great and a powerful chief, And grants thee with marvellous grace The arrow and also the plume.
Rumi-naui.
Illustrious King, I venture to ask, Will Anti-suyu have two chiefs.
Tupac Yupanqui.
There will not be two, O Rumi-naui The Mountain Chief will rule the Antis; In Cuzco Ollantay will reign— As Viceroy deputed by me His duties will call him to act As ruler throughout the whole realm.
Ollantay.
O King! thou dost raise me too high, A man without service or claim; I am thy obedient slave— Mayst thou live for a thousand years.
Tupac Yupanqui.
The mascapaycha now bring forth, And to it the llautu attach. Uillac Uma, adorn him with these, And proclaim his state to the world. Yes, Ollantay shall stand in my place, Raised up like the star of the morn, For Colla this month I shall start; All preparations are made. In Cuzco Ollantay will stay, My Ranti[FN#79] and Viceroy and friend.
[FN#79] Ranti, a deputy.
Ollantay.
I would fain, O magnanimous King, Follow thee in the Chayanta war; Thou knowest my love for such work. Peaceful Cuzco is not to my taste, I prefer to be thy Canari,[FN#80] To march in the van of thy force, And not to be left in the rear.
[FN#80] Canari, a warlike tribe of Indians, in the south part of the kingdom of Quito. They were first conquered by Tupac Yupanqui, and they became devoted to him.
Tupac Yupanqui.
Thou shouldst find the wife of thy choice, And with her reign happily here In Cuzco; repose without care; Rest here while I'm absent in war.
Ollantay.
Great King, thy sorrowful slave Already had chosen a wife.
Tupac Yupanqui.
How is it I know not of this? It should be reported to me. I will load her with suitable gifts; Why was this concealed from my eyes?
Ollantay.
In Cuzco itself disappeared That sweet and adorable dove; One day she did rest in my arms, And the next no more to be seen. In grief I made search far and near, Earth seemed to have swallowed her up, To have buried her far from my sight; O such, mighty King, is my grief.
Tupac Yupanqui.
Ollantay! afflict not thyself, For now thou must take up thy place Without turning thy eyes from thy work.
(To Uillac Uma.)
High priest, obey my command.
(The Uillac Uma goes to the wings (R.) and addresses the people outside.)
Uillac Uma.
O people, hear what I say: The Inca, our King and our Lord, Thus declares his imperial will: Ollantay shall reign in his place.
People outside.
Ollantay Ranti! Ollantay Ranti!
(Shouts and acclamations.)
Tupac Yupanqui (to Rumi-naui and other chiefs.)
You also render him homage.
Rumi-naui.
Prince Ollantay! Incap Ranti! Thy promotion gives me joy. All the Antis now released, Return rejoicing to their homes.
(He and all the Chiefs bow to Ollantay.)
Guards without.
You cannot pass. Go back! go back! Voice without. Why, is this a festive day? Let me pass. I must see the king; I pray you do not stop me, Do not drive me from the door; If you stop me I shall die. Have a care. You will kill me.
Tupac Yupanqui.
What noise is that without?
Guard.
It is a young girl who comes weeping And insists upon seeing the king.
Tupac Yupanqui.
Let her come in.
(Enter Yma Sumac.)
Yma Sumac.
Which is the Inca, my lord, That I may kneel down at his feet?
Uillac Uma.
Who art thou, charming maid? Behold the King.
(Yma Sumac throws herself at the King's feet.)
Yma Sumac. O my King! be thou my father, Snatch from evil thy poor servant. Extend thy royal hand to me. O merciful child of the Sun, My mother is dying at this hour In a foul and loathsome cave; She is killed in cruel martyrdom— Alas I she is bathed in her own blood.
Tupac Yupanqui.
What inhumanity, poor child! Ollantay, take this case in hand.
Ollantay.
Young maiden, take me quickly there; We will see who it is that suffers.
Yma Sumac.
No, sir. Not so. It is the King himself Should go with me. Perhaps he may recognise her;
(To Ollantay.)
For you, I know not who you are. O King, arise, do not delay, I fear my mother breathes her last, At least may be in mortal pain; O Inca! Father! grant my prayer.
Uillac Uma.
Illustrious King, thou wilt consent; Let us all seek this luckless one— Thou canst release from cruel bonds. Lot us go, O King!
Tupac Yupanqui (rising).
Come all! Come all! In midst of reconciliations This young maid assaults my heart.
(Exeunt.)
SCENE 7
The garden in the palace of Virgins of the Sun (same scene as Act III, Scene 5). Stone door more visible.
(Enter the INCA TUPAC YUPANQUI with YMA SUMAC, OLLANTAY, UILLAC UMA and RUMI nAUI; URCO HUARANCA, HANCO HUAYLLU and PIQUI CHAQUI in the background.)
Tupac Yupanqui.
But this is the Aclla Huasi;[FN#81] My child, art thou not mistaken? Where is thy imprisoned mother?
[FN#81] Aclla, chosen; Huasi, house: palace of the Virgins of the sun.
Yma Sumac.
In a dungeon within these bounds My mother has suffered for years, Perhaps even now she is dead.
(She points to the stone door.)
Tupac Yupanqui.
What door is this?
(Enter MAMA CCACCA and PITU SALLA. Mama Ccacca kneels and kisses the Inca's hand.)
Mama Ccacca.
Is it a dream or reality, That I behold my sovereign? Tupac Yupanqui. Open that door.
(Mama Ccacca opens the door.)
(CUSI COYLLUR discovered chained and fainting, with a puma and a snake, one on each side of her.)
Yma Sumac.
O my mother, I feared to find That you had already passed away; Pitu Salla! Haste. Bring water. Perhaps my dove may still revive.
(Exit Pitu Salla.)
Tupac Yupanqui.
What horrid cavern do I see? Who is this woman? what means it? What cruel wretch thus tortures her? What means that chain bound around her? Mama Ccacca, come near to me What hast thou to say to this? Is it the effect of malice That this poor creature lingers here?
Mama Ccacca.
It was thy father's dread command; A punishment for lawless love.
Tupac Yupanqui.
Begone! begone! harder than rock.[FN#82] Turn out that puma and the snake,[FN#83] Break down that door of carved stone.
[FN#82] Ccacca means a rock.
[FN#83] My former translation, and those of Barranca and Tschudi, treated puma and amaru (snake) as epithets applied to Mama Ccacca. Zegarra considers that the puma and snake were intended to be actually in the dungeon, and I believe he is right. The puma would not have hurt his fellow-prisoner. Unpleasant animals were occasionally put into the prisons of criminals. The Incas kept pumas as pets.
(To Mama Ccacca.)
Let me not see thy face again. A woman living as a bat; This child has brought it all to light.
(Enter Pitu Salla with water. She sprinkles it over Cusi Coyllur, who revives.)
Cusi Coyllur.
Where am I? who are these people? Yma Sumac, my beloved child, Come to me, my most precious dove. Who are all these men before me?
(She begins to faint again and is restored by water.)
Yma Sumac.
Fear not, my mother, 'tis the King; The King himself comes to see you. The great Yupanqui is now here. Speak to him. Awake from thy trance.
Tupac Yupanqui.
My heart is torn and sorrowful At sight of so much misery. Who art thou, my poor sufferer? Child, tell me now thy mother's name?
Yma Sumac.
Father! Inca! Clement Prince! Have those cruel bonds removed.
The Uillac Uma.
It is for me to remove them, And to relieve this sore distress.
(Cuts the rope fastening Cusi Coyllur to the wall.)
Ollantay (to Yma Sumac).
What is thy mother's name?
Yma Sumac.
Her name was once Cusi Coyllur, But it seems a mistake. Her joy Was gone when she was prisoned here.
Ollantay.
O renowned King, great Yupanqui, In her you see my long lost wife.
(Prostrates himself before the Inca.)
Tupac Yupanqui.
It all appears a dream to me. The 'Star'! my sister![FN#84] and thy wife. O sister! what newly found joy. O Cusi Coyllur, my sister, Come here to me, and embrace me, Now thou art delivered from woe.
[FN#84] The early Incas never married their sisters or relations. Pachacuti's mother was daughter of the chief of Anta. His wife, Anahuarqui, was no relation. But the wife of Tupac Yupanqui was his sister Mama Ocllo.
(Music.)
Thou hast found thy loving brother; Joy calms the anguish of my heart.
(Embraces Cusi Coyllur.)
Cusi Coyllur.
Alas! my brother, now you know The cruel tortures I endured During those years of agony; Thy compassion now has saved me.
Tupac Yupanqui.
Who art thou, dove, that hast suffered? For what sin were you prisoned here? Thou mightest have lost thy reason. Thy face is worn, thy beauty gone, Thy looks as one risen from death.
Ollantay.
Cusi Coyllur, I had lost thee, Thou wast quite hidden from my sight, But thou art brought again to life— Thy father should have killed us both. My whole heart is torn with sorrow. Star of joy, where is now thy joy? Where now thy beauty as a star? Art thou under thy father's curse?
Cusi Coyllur.
Ollantay, for ten dreary years That dungeon has kept us apart; But now, united for new life, Some happiness may yet be ours. Yupanqui makes joy succeed grief, He may well count[FN#85] for many years.
[FN#85] A play upon the word yupanqui, which means literally, 'you will count.' The word was a title of the Incas, meaning, 'you will count as virtuous, brave,' &c.
Uillac Uma.
Bring new robes to dress the princess.
(They put on her royal robes. The High Priest kisses her hand.)
Tupac Yupanqui.
Ollantay, behold thy royal wife, Honour and cherish her henceforth. And thou, Yma Sumac, come to me, I enlace you in the thread of love; Thou art the pure essence of Coyllur.
(Embraces her.)
Ollantay.
Thou art our protector, great King, Thy noble hands disperse our grief; Thou art our faith and only hope— Thou workest by virtue's force.
Tupac Yupanqui.
Thy wife is now in thy arms; All sorrow now should disappear, Joy, new born, shall take its place.
(Acclamations from the Chiefs, and Piqui Chaqui. Music: huancars (drums), pincullus (flutes), and pututus (clarions).)
THE END |
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