Rumi-ñaui. His fear makes him hide from thy wrath,
Pachacuti. Take a thousand men fully armed,
And at once commence the pursuit.
Rumi-ñaui. Who can tell what direction to take?
Three days have gone by since his flight,
Perchance he's concealed in some house,
And till now he is there, safely hid.
(Enter a chasqui or messenger with quipus.)
Behold, O King, a messenger;
From Urubamba he has come.
Chasqui. I was ordered to come to my King,
Swift as the wind, and behold me.
Pachacuti. What news bringest thou?
Chasqui. This quipu will tell thee, King.
Pachacuti. Examine it, O Rumi-ñaui.
Rumi-ñaui. Behold the llanta, and the knots[1]
Announce the number of his men.
Pachacuti (to Chasqui). And thou, what hast thou seen?
Chasqui. 'Tis said that all the Anti host
Received Ollantay with acclaim;
Many have seen, and they recount,
Ollantay wears the royal fringe.
Rumi-ñaui. The quipu record says the same.
Pachacuti. Scarcely can I restrain my rage!
Brave chief, commence thy march at once,
Before the traitor gathers strength.
If thy force is not enough,
Add fifty thousand men of mine.
Advance at once with lightning speed,
And halt not till the foe is reached.
Rumi-ñaui. To-morrow sees me on the route,
- ↑ The llanta is the main rope of the quipu, about a yard long. The small cords of llama wool, of various colours, denoting different subjects, each with various kinds of knots, recording numbers.
