- (Enter Ollantay with guards, R. front.)
Rumi-ñaui. A thousand times I thee salute,
Ollantay, great and puissant king!
Have pity on a fugitive
Who seeks a refuge here with thee.
Ollantay. Who art thou, man? Approach nearer.
Who has thus ill-treated thee?
Were such deep and fearful wounds
Caused by a fall, or what mishap?
Rumi-ñaui. Thou knowest me, mighty chief.
I am that stone that fell down once,
But now I fall before thy feet;
O Inca! mercy! Raise me up!
- (Kneels.)
Ollantay. Art thou the noble Rumi-ñaui,
Great Chief and Lord of Hanan-suyu?
Rumi-ñaui. Yes, I was that well-known Chief—
A bleeding fugitive to-day.
Ollantay. Rise, comrade mine. Let us embrace.
- (Rises.)
Who has dared to treat thee thus,
And who has brought thee here to me
Within my fortress, on my hearth?
- (To attendants.)
Bring new clothes for my oldest friend.
[Exit an attendant.
How is it that thou art alone?
Camest thou not fearing death?
Rumi-ñaui. A new king reigns in Cuzco now—
Tupac Yupanqui is installed.
Against the universal wish,
He rose upon a wave of blood;
Safety he sees in headless trunks,
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