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Act Iii. Scene 2

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"Apu Ollantay", by Clements Markham, [1910],

p. 382

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-aui \"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 1

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.

p. 383

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.

(\"Bowing to the Inca".
)

Thus I, thy augur, prophesy.

("Acclamation".) ["Exeunt all but" Uillac Uma "and" Rumi-aui.

"Tupac Yupanqui" ("turning to" Rumi-aui). Behold the Hanan-suyu Chief

Who let the enemy escape,

Who led to almost certain death

So many thousands of my men.

"Rumi-aui". Before his death thy father knew

Disaster had befallen me;

'Tis true, O King, it was my fault,

Like a stone 1 I gave my orders,

And volleying stones soon beat me down;

It was with stones I had to fight,

And in the end they crushed my men.

Oh! grant me, Lord, a single chance,

Give perfect freedom to my plans,

Myself will to the fortress march,

And I will leave it desolate.

"Tupac Yupanqui". For thee to strive with all thy might,

For thee thine honour to regain,

For thou shalt ne'er command my men

Unless thy worthiness is proved.

p. 384

\"Uillac Uma". Not many days shall pass, O King,

E'er all the Antis are subdued.

I've seen it in the "quipu" roll,

Haste! Haste! thou Rumi Tunqui. 1

[
\"Exeunt".

Footnotes

382:1
\"Intic Huamin Caccunan" ("Intic Huarminca Caycuna", correct), 'Ye women of the Sun.' Zegarra thought, on the authority of Garcilasso de la Vega, that these could not be select Virgins of the Sun, because the virgins were never allowed outside their convent, and not even women might enter. He is clearly wrong. Much higher authorities than Garcilasso, as regards this point, especially Valera, tell us that the virgins were treated with the greatest honour and respect. They took part in great receptions and festivals, and when they passed along the streets they had a guard of honour.

383:1
Rumi. He keeps playing upon his name.

384:1
Again playing upon the name of Rumi-aui. The High Priest calls for haste, so he substitutes "Tunqui" for aui (eye), the "tunqui" ("Rupicola Peruviana") being one of the most beautiful birds in the forests.
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