Apu Ollantay | Page 8

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?[FN#15] Since when hast thou lost all thy joy, Thy smile and
thy once merry laugh?

[FN#15] Intip llirpun, 'apple of the sun's eye.' There is no English
equivalent that is suitable.

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,