SCENE II
SOLILOQUY OF RUMI-ÑAUI
373
Ollantay posted on the height,
Thou couldst not either fight or see,
Thy men did quickly fall or flee;
No room was there to move or fight.
Thou couldst not either fight or see,
Thy men did quickly fall or flee;
No room was there to move or fight.
Thou knowest now thy heart did beat
And flutter like a butterfly;
Thy skill thou couldst not then apply,
No course was left thee but retreat.
And flutter like a butterfly;
Thy skill thou couldst not then apply,
No course was left thee but retreat.
They had recourse to a surprise,
Our warriors immolated quite.
Ah! that alone could turn thee white—
From shame like that, canst e'er arise?
Our warriors immolated quite.
Ah! that alone could turn thee white—
From shame like that, canst e'er arise?
By thousands did thy warriors fall,
I hardly could alone escape,
With open mouth fell death did gape,
A great disaster did befall.
I hardly could alone escape,
With open mouth fell death did gape,
A great disaster did befall.
Holding that traitor to be brave,
I sought to meet him face to face—
Rushing to seek him with my mace,
I nearly found a warrior's grave.
I sought to meet him face to face—
Rushing to seek him with my mace,
I nearly found a warrior's grave.
My army then was near the hill,
When suddenly the massive stones
Came crashing down, with cries and moans,
While clarions sounded loud and shrill.
When suddenly the massive stones
Came crashing down, with cries and moans,
While clarions sounded loud and shrill.
- ↑ Rumi, a stone.
original Quichua, has recourse to octosyllabic quatrains, the first and last lines rhyming, and the second and third.