Thou art a fated rolling stone,[1]
Escaped indeed, but quite alone,
And this is now thy yardhui.
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 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.
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?
By thousands did thy warriors fall,
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.
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.
- ↑ Rumi, a stone.
original Quichua, has recourse to octosyllabic quatrains, the first and last lines rhyming, and the second and third.
