SECOND ACT

Drums, trumpets and voices within

Some: To arms, to arms!Others War, war!Some Caciques, to the wallOthers To the wall, Spaniards!Some: War, war!Others To arms, to arms!

Tucapel enters, fleeing

Tucapel: If there weren’t a chronicler 1425who flees battlesthere’d be no way to know about themnor be able to tell about them.And, well, this is the rolethat falls to me; while they go on 1430over there as usual, I,hidden among these branches,as usual too, I haveto be here to see how today’s affair comes out; for up to now 1435they only shout loudly. . .

Some To arms, to arms!

Drums within

Others: War, war!Some: Long live Peru!Others: Long live Spain!Tucapel: Oh, if only lord Sun would wish

that my contrymen could win 1440victory, and I my wishto be able to go home,not so much because any husband rests in his own,as to give myself the pleasure 1445of quarreling with Glauca!Since the Spaniard,capturing me in my homeland,went with me—I don’t know how—to some foreign lands 1450where his language and mine

made such a mishmashthat now it’s neither mine nor his,although it’s enough for usto understand each other, and, supplied with men, ships and arms, 1455he and his people turned againto sail to these beaches,where, landing, they havemowed through the battlefields 1460that lie between Callao and Cuzco,whose great court they assault today,

Drums withinthey have never given me the chanceto escape, for two reasons:one, to serve as their marching guide 1465to get around swamps and lagoonsand the other, so I won’t go to tellhow short of munitions and of food they are. 1470So, for both reasons,they guard me so carefullythat they order anyone who sees mestray should kill me. And so I have to wait for a day when 1475they make them go running backto the sea. But I don’t thinkthat today is the one I wait for,since in this changeable mess,they only repeat… 1480

All: To arms! To arms! War! War!Tucapel: What can be seen from here

is that although the high pointsof the city are covered withIndians, the Spaniards are not 1485disheartened by that,however much they not onlyshoot floods of arrows from the parapets, but alsotear apart the mountainsides, 1490rolling pieces down over them.Let some man say it, sincehe falls from the highest laddersaying…

Uproar and drums within, and Pizarro enters, falling down, with a sword and buckler

Mother of God, 1495may your mercy protect me!

Within

Almagro: Go help remove him;Don’t let these barbarians brag that their ferocitycould triumph over him 1500even in death.

Enter Candía and Almagro and soldiers and Pizarro stands up by himself

Candía and Almagro: Pizarro!Pizarro Friends!C. and A. What is this misfortune?Pizarro Nothing.Tucapel: (As long as you don’t bury him Aside

together with Luis Quijada,this is a trifle, Let’s get backto important things.)

Candía How is it possible that the blowof the boulder and the fall sparedyour life?

Pizarro: What surprises you 1510if he who calls on the Virgin Maryis saved from even greater risks,her mercy demonstrating--sinceshe protects us in Peru,repeating the favors 1515she did us in New Spain--how much she considersherself served by these conquests,so that a greater sun may be adoredin the arms of a greater daybreak? 1520And since she preserves my lifeso that I will again devote itto her service, come along, friends,let’s go back to scaling the walls,for we will enter the city of Cuzco 1525today if we first break this fortress, beforeGuáscar comes in person with enormousforces to its assistance tomorrow. 1530

Almagro: Who doubts it, if in expectation

of the propagation of the faithand the glorification of the crossand in María’s honor,the invocation of her name 1535by you and Pedro de Candía,since we see that in the mountainslike a prodigious treethat conquers wild animals, 1540an infinite number of Indians alreadyworship it?

Pizarro Wellwith those two faiths,what is there to fear. Come along, Spaniards,to arms again!

These three and the soldiers exit, and drums are beaten. Speaking within,

Indians: To arms!again, strong caciques ! 1545

Some: Long live Peru!Others: Long life Spain!All: To arms, to arms! War, war!Tucapel: Since chroniclers are never good

where arrows reach 1550in these events, what will I do with myself, and more so, seeingthat they attack with so much furythat I will have to cry over my ruinationif they sing victoryfor in winning I am left 1555in my country without my countryand if I want to leave, it endangersmy life? Oh, curses onthat priestess,since going back to look for her 1560with Yupanqui, I was the onehurt, and since she doesn’t regret / repent?anything! Oh, that there isn’t one,among all the devils the Spaniardssay speak through our idols, 1565who at the cost of my life and soulwould tell me what I have to do!

Idolatry enters, invisible to Tucapel

Idolatry: Yes there is; since you call her,

as that is the reason thatGod lengthens your chain.Come with me, Tucapel,and I will put in your house;(because what matters to meif that the stolen victim is returned to the altar of the sun.) 1575

Tucapel: What are you, who grabs mewithout my seeing you?

Idolatry: She who,shortening the distance between Cuzco and the valley of Copacabana, 1580your homeland, can take you without the most vigilantguards seeing you, just for the price of yourdoing for me first, on the waythe errand my anxieties 1585command you to do.

Tucapel If you have so much power,why don’t you do it yourself, whydo you try to have a man do it?

Idolatry BecauseI cannot oppose, face to face 1590my opponent. And thus, Ihave to avail myselfof a man, for he, possessedby me and giving me entry,suffices to commit crimes 1595that the devil cannot do (alone).

Tucapel: And how will I go?Idolatry By my lending you my wings.Tucapel: How?Idolatry Like this.

Ministers with whomIdolatry prepares her empirecarry my hope on the wind!

Tucapel Then I’m your hope?Idoltary You are the one who is to accomplish it.

Tucapel disappears on a hoist

for imbuing in you the fierce 1610spirit of my rage,the voice will be yoursbut the words mine, when

the passions of this battle 1615dictate my wrath. Anduntil then, let the echo resound in two separate parts, somesaying here…

Within drum call to arms and voices

Some To arms! To arms!Idolatry And other repeating over there . . .

Another drum in the distance, on the march

Others: Halt! and pass the word!Idolatry: With which, amidst horrors and

vengeance, commotion anduproar, I will say, influencingboth at the same time,

Some: To arms, to arms! War, war! 1620Others: Halt! and pass the word!

With this repetition, a drum call to arms sounding on one side andthe marching drum call on the other, Idolatry disappears and the Inka enters with as many Indians as possible, armed in their style, and the Priest

Inka: Since night, covered with dark shadows, is taking awaythe day, at the food of thismountain our people can recoverfrom the fatigue of marchingso that new spirittomorrow at dawn,we may give sight to 1630the city, calling thebesiegers to pitched battle,now that aiding and freeing itobliges me to come in person

Enter Yupanqui

Yupanqui I am at your feet.Inka Oh Yupanqui, how welcome

you are!Yupanqui He who comes to kiss

your fleet is blessed.

Inka: What is Atabaliba’sresponse?

Yupanqui Reports had 1640already informed himof the incredible invasionthat the Spaniards have madeand before hearing your message,he said that he himself would cometo give you reinforcements.

Inka: How ashamed I am to hear that,offended that four naked,barefoot and hungry men have’ 1650put my people in such confusionthat I have to make use of mybrother and my enemy, only onaccount of the advantage thathis artificial lightning has over ourquivers! Just considering thatcounting the forces in both companies,there are a thousand natives for 1660every Spaniard, I lose my mind, my life, my soul and I don’t know. . . Leave me alone,go away, all of you; my heart istorn out, and I don’t want anyone 1665to see in my face the expressionof wrath without seeing that of vengeance.

Yupanqui: What strange furor seizes his senses? 1670Sacerdote: I only know that these days

he is distressed.. .The Indian soldiers and the priest leaveInka: Don’t you leave,

Yupanqui.Yupanqui I am always heedful

of what you command me to do.Inka: Listen, since only with you

can my anguish rest.Since the day—woe is me!—that I sent you to freethat priestess, it has beennothing but misfortune for me/ 1680Despite ordering youafterward to leave her to her fate,it was enough for the sun to place the blame for the first request on me, for in punishment, he brings so many 1685

strange people against meas if failing afterwards wereon my account.

Yupanqui Since wanting to blockone sacrifice offends him, 1690why not order that another onethe same as that to gratifyhis feelings?

Inka: Becausewhen I try that, the priestsof the sun declare 1695that his sacred rites orderthat once the lot has been cast,so that no favoritism or passionmight excuse the womanon whom it falls, no other lot 1700can be cast until she herselfis the one sacrificed. And, ‘apart from their observances,how could a women 1705attempt such a difficult flight?

Yupanqui If it is easy, your majesty, fortwo men to love such a rare beauty,and easy for two who love to have the same thought, 1710why does it amaze you that anothershould try to same, and that…?

Inka: Be quiet. Jealousy is a great sufferingfor disdain to make itjoin with other jealousywhen it alone is enough to kill;but not me, since I am not jealous.

Yupanqui: Why not?Inka: In confidence that

there was no second loverhere.

Yupanqui: How do you know that? 1720Inka: If a sovereign deity who

for centuries nourished mytransformation so threatensmy life, how could he, being a sovereign deity,leave without fear of another?

Yupanqui: Well said,(Let him remain in ignorance, Aside

as it’s good for me that he neverunderstands that there was another lover. 1730Doubtless she, either disagreeing or desperate, fled the temple.)

Inka That isnot the wonder, but rather than she could hide herself so well that 1735such varied efforts have not found her.What center could be protecting her?

Yupanqui: (That is what I cannot say. Oh, beloved Guacolda, how true it is, 1740since he who loves you cannot sayeither the hamlet that hides younor the clothing that disguises you.

Inka: Since hope that the Sun will besoothed rest on her appearing,so that my forces triumph,now that everyone has given up 1750finding her, do me the courtesyof being he who, starting today,finds new methods of searching for her.

Yupanqui Igive you my word, your majesty,--having helped you in the battle this morning, that it isn’t rightfor me to disappear on theevening of a battle,-- to go to look for her with suchdesire, care and yearning that 1760I will not rest nor sleep norrelax until I find her. And thus, if you find memissing, do not ask about mewhereabouts, because I am insearch for Guacolda 1765

Inka: Embrace me again; I entrust this courtesy toyou in good faith.

Yupanqui He thinks that I willfind her, although her precautions say…

within

Voices: Let the depths of the woodlands 1770hide us, since our homelandexpels us from its heart!

Inka: What confused voices arethose that seem to speak inher name, since they say…. 1775

Voices: May the mountains serve as tombs,may they bury us alive ratherthan as slaves!

Inka: Ah, guards!What are those voices?

The priest enters

Priest Those of troops who desert, 1780with their wives and children and elders, who come fleeing from the mountainsin a thousand squadrons seeking shelter forthemselves/

Inka: But what couldcause them to fall into such 1785chaos?

Tucapel: Listen, and you’ll know.Inka: You must bear bad news

since you get ahead of everyone.Who are you?

Tucapel: I’m that same native that the first Spaniard 1790to set foot on this beachcaptured. I went with himand returned with himwithout being able to free myself, untiltoday’s confusion gave me an open door.While the Spaniards, having entered thecity by force, placate their insatiable 1800double hunger for wealth and food,meantime, to save their lives, thenatives abandon the city, leavingtheir possessions, families, and homespowerless to look at it longerthan in the zeal they dedicate to takethe idols out of the temples so that their statues may be withdrawn 1810without offense to them tothe custody and careof the supreme place of worshipof the sun that is Copacabana.In short, achieving my wish 1815

in today’s confusion, I’ve come,without my speed being in orderto bring bad news, because perhaps a better scheme can make them good, 1820by which a loss so great may turninto a greater gain. The most important leadersof that Spanish rabble,with most of their soldiers 1825are staying in the palace ofthe Inkas. This has, to guard against the watersthat flood the city’s streets and plazas, 1830an underground passage that drainsnear here, whose mouth,unknown by men so recently arrived 1835is necessarily unguarded at this hour.And if, through it, choosing the most famous leader, you have him go into the passage, with the most important people, 1840carrying dry kindling and hidden fire on their backs, don’t doubt that if it catches fire at the base,if will spread like wildfire, 1845since all of its rare architectureis made of precious woods.And more so if at the same time you orderthat arrows be permeated,instead of by poisonous plants 1850with tarred cords, that hanging fromthe shaft between stone and feather,cut through the air and measuring the distance by height, have them 1855set them on fire on shooting them,since the roofs are bituminous mixtures of bulrushes and straw,every flying arrow will necessarily be 1860a live coal, let them be our lightningtoo, wherever they fall.And since perhaps a lofty spirit whomoves my voice, inflames my breast 1865advances me to give you this warningand this scheme, don’t scorn it,believing that he who speaks to youis not the one who speaks, for although thevoice is mine, the words are not mine. 1870

Exits

Inka: Listen, wait, Stop him.Priest It’s impossible, f not even the wind

can reach him,Inka: Yupanqui,

this advice testifies well, sincehe sends it by such new and strange 1875pathways, that the sun is no longer angry.And it seems that heaven reserved such a grave undertaking for you, since it waited until you came 1880to have it carried out, choosefrom among all the troops thosewho are most trustworthy, andleave to carry out the surprise, 1885and as your rearguard, so that you may have a safe withdrawal from any danger, I will go with the main force, guarding you from behind. 1890

Yupanqui I kiss your feet for such an honor,for in war, it is clearthat he who obeys does not serve as much as he who commands gives honor.(I go to obey you; although Aside 1895fearing that Tucapel may go where Guacolda is, in Glauca’s hut.Oh, love, let her hide herself withouthis seeing her!)

Exits

Inka: Let the army 1900march without a call to arms, in mutesilence. (Sacred deity, although I continuedin my affection, do not continue in your revenge,for when illusions and phantasms disillusion me about your being mynatural father, in the end they do notdisillusion me about your being mynatural god, and to be the son of a god,being an adopted one is enough, 1910to be the greatest monarch in the world.)Let the camp march so silentlythat not even the muted trumpet gives

the order.

All exit, and Pizarro, Almagro, Candía and soldiers enter

Almagro: Since the sentinels 1915now stand doubled, you can, forwhat remains of the nightsleep.

Pizaroo Vigilancefrom a heroic heart,the less it sleeps, the more it rests. 1920Nor will I attribute this human propensity only to sleep, butrather I will be writingwhat remains of the night,because it is obligatory 1925that the news of such aglorious feat as we haveaccomplished today get to Spain,and that the two majesties,Carlos, who rests in Yuste 1930and Felipe, who rules in hisname, may know, that it istime to add to their crowned crestof their Catholic arms 1935the columns of Peruthat fixed over the waterssurpass with the plus ultrathe non ultra of Hercules.

Candía: While you spend the rest of thenight sleepless, Almagro 1940and I will patrol the palacewith separate squadrons.

Almagro: And it willnot be a difficult courtesy, for its goldenrichness and its supreme grandeurmore delight than tire us. 1945

Each one leave by a separate door

Pizarro: Bring me the writing materials andthe writing desk. Let the letter bewritten, so that my brother Fernando can depart with it, 1950as soon as….

Within:

Voices: Fire! Fire!Pizarro: But who put the city and

the palace in such confusion?I’ll go to see what causes it.

Candía enters

Candía: What could cause it, if the 1955whole palace is a volcano,aborting smoke and exhaling firefrom the center of the earth?It began in underground vaults,and undoubtedly the barbarians 1960had them mined.

Pizarro Let’s go to control it.Candía That will be impossible this way,

because the fire has reachedthese doors.

Pizarro Then let’s go 1965that other way.

Almagro enters

Almagro: Wait,not only . . .

Within

Voices: Fire! Fire!Almago is the fire cutting off the exit

but you will go from facing one blazeto another when you go out. 1970Flaming arrows so inflame the sky and air that like shooting stars,straying from their sphere,like falcons of fire they soar up,and swoop down as hawks on fireto catch their prey.

Candía We are lost,since there is no one to defend uswhen the whole city cries outthe general conflagration. 1980

Spaniards within

Some I’m aflame!Others: I am burning!Some: Blessed Virgin,….Others Virgin Mother, . . .Some: Mary Immaculate,….Others: Mary, full of grace,….All: Help us, have mercy!Pizarro Oh, Spaniards, 1985

how well your faith testifiesthat she alone is the Cape ofGood Hope in storms!I will go to die with all,so that my cries with everyoneadd to her acclamation. 1990

Candía Now that death finds us,let it be with her sweet nameon our lips.

Leaving, the three speak, and all within

All: Virgin Mother!Mary Immaculate, 1995Help us, have mercy!

They exit, and the Inka, Yupanqui and all the natives enter

Inka: Since youleave the operation so happilyaccomplished, so that there isno noble bravery suchthat a Spanish salamander 2000should dare to emerge from the fire,have the city besieged, and letanyone who comes out meetthe flames of our arrows.

Yupanqui: Who could come out, with notan atom that is not burning,and their wailing now soundswith voices so faintthat they can scarcely be heard?

Within, low and at a distance all these voices

Pizarro: Chosen daughter without blemish, 2010

of the Father…Candía Mother of the Son,

virgin and fertile,. . .Almagro: Chaste

virgin, wife of the HolySpirit,….

Pizarro: You save us.Candía & Almagro: You favor us.All: You 2015

succor and shelter us.Inka: Who is this person to whom they appeal.Yupanqui: Someone who does not answer themInka: Be quiet,

and let us listen again,since their suffering sounds so good. 2020

Music on high

Music: “He who places his hopes with Marynot only saves his life from the riskof great fires, but also his soul.”

Yupanqui: What is this? Sad laments fromone instant to another turn into 2025sweet harmonies of softsonorous voices?

Shawms play, and from above where the music is, a cloud made as a throne painted with seraphim descends, and on it two angels who, kneeling, carry an image of Our Lady of Copacabana, with the baby Jesus in her hands. And as it begins to be revealed, and as long as the movement lasts, until it disappears, the cloud will be snowing, as will all the upper part of the stage

Inka: It is not that, not only thatthat astonishes and dumbfounds us,for the prodigy advances 2030from the ear to the sight.Don’t you see, don’t you see that the heavenstear open their blue veilsand from them a shining clouddescends over the whole fire,raining snowflakes and dewwith which it puts out itsoperation?

Yupanqui: Even more do I see,for I see that the cloud that descends 2040

garnished with bands of goldand mother-of-pearl flowers,is that of a lovely woman,who, crowned with stars brings the sun over her shouldersand bears the moon at her feet; 2045a lovely child she carries too,in her arms. Who ever saw a bettersun born in the middle of the night,the son of a better dawn, 2050to whom with brighter light,sing better birds?

Music: “He who places his hopes with Marynot only saves his life from the riskof great fires, but also his soul.”

Inka: I try to see her, but scarcely 2055does my sight lift its eyes to herwhen a dew blinds me

Priest: The same things happensto all of us, for a gentle dustof fine soft sand 2060leaves us blind

Some: What a wonder!Others: What a marvel

Some stumble against others, as if blind

Inka: What magicyou might better say! And since there isno human power against her,resort to the divine. 2065

Priest Since all our statuesare now in Copacabanalet us all go to Copacabanato plead with all of themfor clemency.

Inka: We must look for it 2070against she who put out a fireand burns us with another one..

All exit except Yupanqui

Yupanqui: I’ll flee with everyone, but not

from fear that she causes me,but because I know in myself 2075that I don’t deserve to look at her.But although I don’t look at her,I carry the image of her so fixedin my mind, that it will bea living character of my soul. 2080

Exits. Now as the cloud passes, Spaniards enter hearing voices as from above

Angel 1: Catholic Spaniards,now Mary calms the fire,which lost its violenceagainst her in Moses’ burning bush.

Angel 2: Live and triumph, for it is time 2085that for a better sun to dawnin these mountains, in the armsof a better dawn.

Together: And let América know the faith of Spain.

Music: “He who places his hopes with Mary 2090not only saves his life from the riskof great fires, but also his soul.”

The cloud disappears

Pizarro: Since we see the fire put outso miraculously, a great blessingdue to our appeal to Mary and inher now, and since now Guascargoes fleeing from her sight,let us follow to reach him, and sayin collective thanks, 2100“If Mary is with us,who can stand against us?”

All: To arms, to arms! War, war!Some Let America see!Others And let Spain see!

Music and all: “He who places his hopes with Marynot only saves his life from the riskof great fires, but also his soul.”

All: War, war! To arms, to arms!

Drums and trumpets sound at the same time as the music and the representation. All exit and Idolatry enters as if hearing far away and repeating with all the voices

Idolatry: “He who places his hopes with Marynot only saves his life from the risk 2110of great fires, but also his soul.”

It is clear to see,since when I thought I hadaccomplished my schemein seeing the city burning, 2115it not only did (not)finish off the Spaniardsbut increased their faith,and to overturn and destraythat of the natives, since blindly,fear grows in themand courage in the others,seeing their pleas accepted;with which my tyranichalmonarchy is shrinking 2125for today only Copacabanais Idolatry’s court.

They have withdrawn mewith my idols to her, butnot I will not for thatgive myself up for beaten,for obstinately, my spirit hasnever been capable of correcting itself,it can see itself defeated,but not give itself up defeated. 2135

To that effect, since themany statues in which they worship meare now in Copacabana,in them my replies will infuse so much

anger, wrath and vengeancethat I dare (to think) that myhopes are reborn.

And this, following the designthat a loving passionnot remove the horror andbloodiness of my worship,

from my sacrifices, todayGuáscan will know about Guacolda, to makeif I give this present to the sun,

my victory greater;for if it was hatred of the cross,now it is of her and of the lightthat Mary brought with her. 2155

Guacolda enters, dressed as a peasant, with Glauca, as if talking between them ?(to herself)?

Let Guacolda be safein the hidden hamlet whereI see her, and let her trust her luckto the rustic and lowly attireto see herself free of me; 2160for although misfortune hasno need of mediation, I’ll knowhow to have her found there.

Exits

Glauca: Your sadness is obvious.

Guacolda: Glauca, my friend,how can I stop fearing my sad fate?

Glauca Seeing how safe you aredisguised as a peasant girl,and on top of that, shut inwhere no one ever comeslooking for me, andnot letting yourself be seen,nor anyone else but meable to know who you arenor who has you here, itseems that you mistrust me.

Guacolda: Don’t believe that, for I have alreadyseen how much your loyalty is worth.Knowing that you were born the daughter of old servants in 2180Yupangui’s house, and that in yourfirst fortunes, you grew up with him,and knowing that he married you toTucapel, a servant as well, and gave youthis farmhouse to live with him,if not wealthy, in comfort; knowing thatthe day he had to trust someone, there

could be no one more reliable than 2190you, for your gratitude to him,and because you lived alone,since your husband was so longabsent, what reason could there be 2195to distrust you?And so you’ll believethat worry doesn’t concern me,you should know that my sorrow is not that, bur rather something that would be goodonly for me to see Yupanqui, the heavens deny even that tomy esquiva fortune,for he had hardly left me herewhen Guáscar sent him to Atabaliba.I have heard nothing about him, and hisabsence being love’s undoingnot even that is my greatestworry, but rather fearinghe might have died in such an unheavalas the news that all those who go fleeingfrom Cuzco to Capacabana give us,throughout this whole district whereI am, only in the confidence thatno one searches for the criminalwhere the crime was committed.

Glauca: I don’t know which of the twoextremes is greater, your fear or mine.

Guacolda: How is that?Glauca: That one cruel and

contrary suffering is ours, since you don’t 2225know anything about Yupanqui, nordo I about Tucapel either;and in such chilly torment,mine surely is greater,because you worry that he may be dead,and I fear that Tucapel may be alive.Guacolda:

Guacolda: Are you really saying that?Glauca: If you knew

what a husband who is alwaysa husband is, you would saythat and a lot more; 2235it’s seeing him come in all puffed upsaying. . .

Tucapel enters

Tucapel: Glauca, set the table,and bring dinner fast;although I’m not tired—

because traveling on rented devils is great,still, even when not walkingdoesn’t tire, not eating does.

Glauca: What am I seeing?Guacolda: (My fortune, Aside

they are going to find me, 2245because it isn’t possible for me to hide!)

Glauca: After so much time,is this the way to come backto your home?

Tucapel: You’re right.Give me a hug of welcome, 2250but don’t make a habit of it;because a new arrivals’ hugisn’t the owner’s embrace,but a surplus onewith apprentice’s wages. 2255

Glauca: However it is,it satisfies my wishto see you alive.

Tucapel: What do I see?Let my imagination run again.

Beautiful priestess, 2260however you disguise yourself,the clouds of a peasant’s dresscan’t obscure the sun;Now I see that you arethe deity whose mercies-- 2265in pity at seeing thatgoing back with Yupanquito look for you at the seashore,caused my sufferings--have looked for me and freed mefrom the captivity in which 2270I was held. And since, in exchangefor carrying out the advicethat your words inspired in me,you add one favor to another;

since not content at finding mefree in my home,you also keep your promisethat when I reached it,I would know who you were. 2280Now that I know that, and I know you know how,favored by the sun,to work such great miracles,let me kiss your feet, sinceI am not paying such a great debt,at least I recognize you.

Guacolda: What, sir, are you saying? What are you doing?Glauca: He went away a simpleton and comes back crazy.Guacolda: When have I ever spoken to you?

When did my words dictate 2290that you undertake anything in my name,and promise you that you wouldfind me in my house?

Tucapel: Don’t pretend with me,because I already know that goddesses 2295do good and don’t want to boast that they do it.Glauca, this lovely wonderwho, not disdaining to trod 2300the ever humble thresholdof our lodging, scorns mytelling her generosity,is the one to whom I owe my life.Come her, then, to kneel at 2305her feet in gratitudethat she brings me back to your arms.

Glauca: Tucapel, don’t let captureso confuse your reasoning;this villager is my sister 2310who came to keep me companyin your absence.

Tucapel How quicklyyou take her side, fawningly polite, when you see what her pleasure is! 2315But it’s one thing for herto modestly withhold namingher prodigies and for you totry to accommodate her,and another for the two of you 2320to oblige me to silence themungratefully.

Let the world know my fortune . . .Shouting

Residents of these valleys,inhabitants of these forests!

Guacolda: Don’t summon them.Glauca Don’t call them 2325Tucapel: What not? Everyone should

share in such good fortune.Shouting

Your old companion Tucapelcalls you to congratulate himon his good fortune; come one 2330and all!

Villagers (villeins, peasants) within

One: Don’t you hearhis calls?

All: Yes.Uno Well let’s all

go to see and talk to him.

Several peasants enter

All: Tucapel, a warm welcometo you.

Tucapel: Embracing all of you 2335is my best welcome.

Peasant 1: Since the day you went missingat the shore, we thoughtyou were dead.

Tucapel God keep youfor your kindness.

Peasant 2: Is it possible 2340we are really seeing you?

Tucapel: Do you seehow late it seems to you I’ve come?Well, it was through the air,thanks to this goddess.Don’t hide, don’t move away; 2345it’s right that the greatmercy you showed meshould be known. Come here,come so that everyone can give you 2350thanks on my behalf.

All: All of us, at your feet, revere you

for having sheltered and brought him to us.

Guacolda: (Heavens, Asidewho could ever have avoided 2355such a mischance as this?)

Glauca: (We’ve Asidewrecked the whole secretif they recognize her.)

The peasants, aside

Peasant 1: (If my wishesdon’t deceive me, isn’t shethat priestess who fled from the temple 2360in order not to be sacrificed?

Peasant 2: Yes, andwhom Guáscar is making suchefforts to find that he is offeringgreat rewards to whoever can tell him 2365of her whereabouts.

Peasant 3: We have a greatopportunity to get rich by telling himthat she’s here, because according towhat the people who are going onahead, he’s coming to Copacabana 2370to placate the wrath of the sun,in order to go back to the battle.

Peasant 1: Since these hamlets are on the route,let’s go out to meet him to give him 2375the news.

Peasant 2: Let’s hide our intent.Peasant 3: Tucapel, you deserve a rest;

we’ll talk after a while.Tucapel: You will hear of extraordinary events.

Now go with God.All: Goodbye. 2380

Peasants exit

Tucapel: Glauca, what fine food do you haveto offer such a guest?

Glauca: I’m right to say,hearing your nonsense,that you went away a simpleton and come back a lunatic; she is, didn’t you 2385hear me?. . . my sister!

Tucapel: You heard me too,that it’s useless to try to please herAnd if you, to carry on with your flattery, 2390don’t entertain her, I’ll know enoughto bring her stuff for a banquet,since at least we are in a place for 2395such gluttony that we won’t lackfor corn tortillas and chocolate.

Tucapel exits

Guacolda: How could my misfortunes have beengreater? Now it’s neither possiblefor me to stay here or to leave: 2400to stay, in case word of who I amspreads; nor to leave, because I don’tknow where Yupanqui could find me.

Glauca: Only one method occurs to me.Guacolda: What is it?Glauca, Here me aside, in case he comes back. 2405

Glauca and Guacolda talk aside, and Yupanqui enters

Yupanqui: (Moving obsession, you are foreverputting before me that lovely deitythat I saw lighting the sky.Stop, stop following me 2410at least a little while, in which you agreethat living entranced in no tostop living as a lover.)My beautiful Guacolda,If others make centuries the minutesof absence, don’t—alas!—be amazedthat I, finding them made centurieshave made them eternities,embrace me a thousand times. 2420

Guacolda: The good fortune of seeing you, Yupanqui,is so great, so immense, that it necessarilysurprises me; because to persuade asad person that there is gladness is not easy. 2425You come at a fortune time,because although your presencewould always be pleasing to me,because with the same feelings,the minutes were centuries long 2430for me as well, I could never see you

at a better time.Yupanqui Why is that?Guacolda: Because

Tucapel has come, worse in behaviorand better in language, and I don’t knowon what advice, he is convinced thatI am the one who mercifully took himout of his slavery. With which, 2440trying to show himself grateful,he has killed me--the fault of an ignorant friend, killing with good intentions—so that now 2445hiding myself here is impossible. Consider where your might take me,since now, if it hadn’t been for your coming,I was going to the remote solitudeof the most unsettled mountains, 2450in whose wilderness either thewrath of a lion or the clevernessof a snake would find me beforethe ministers of Guáscar or the sun. 2455

Yupanqui: Don’t doubt that I seek attentivelyto take you away to where our love, without animosity reaching us,may celebrate the loving peace 2460of our wedding. . .(Oh, lovely divine subject! Asidedo not draw me so much after you;I will follow you. . .)

Guacolda: Won’t you go on?Yupanqui: Yes, my dear; let me recover myself. 2465Glauca: (All who come see not to bring Aside

their right minds with them.)Yupanqui: As I say, to be able to celebrate

the peace of our wedding,I took advantage of Atabaliba 2470whom I informed completely.He, for the daughter of one who followed his faction so much,taking me at my word that I would live in his vassalage, 2475offered me blessed assurance.Having so sworn, I left him, inconfidence of which I have preparedthe trip. So come with me; 2480(if not, it’s that another beauty Aside

is now hampering my going with you.)Guacolda: What happiness! Glauca, give me

an embrace, and goodbye.Glauca: My heaven

keep you well.Exit

Guacolda: Fearfully 2485I follow your steps.

Yupanqui: What do you fear?For even if putting you in safetyweren’t an obligation for me,honoring my word to take you to the presence 2490of the one to whom I gave it would oblige me.

As they exit while saying these verses, Guáscar Inca, the Priest, the peasants and as many natives as possible enter, hearing them

Inka: It wasn’t necessaryfor me to hear that to be aware ofyour courtesies and to reveal your loyalty, 2495Yupanqui, in fulfiling. . .

Guacolda: (Shameful sorrow!) AsideYupanqui: (Strange misfortune!) AsideInka: . . . the promise you made me,

to be he who would endeavorto bring this unfortunate woman tomy presence. And those peasants did not come from the side of the roadin vain to tell me that she was here; I foresawthat it was you who would find her;for which reason the news moved meto come ahead so that I might be thefirst to admire her and to embrace you.

Guacolda: (What suffering!) AsideYupanqui: (Now there is nothing Aside 2510

left here but to die in the act.)Inka: Unfortunate, sorrowful beauty

who, timid and inconstantly disdain,in being the wife of the wun,the greatest blessing; 2515he knows that however much I would have given to find you, beforeI saw you, I would give afterwards for not having come to find you.

A higher cause, that you cannot know,nor can anyone know, is that which obliges me,to my regret, to restore its sacrifice to the altar,its victim to the tabernacle. 2525Take her to the temple; for today,without waiting the legal days,she has to die. What are you waiting for?Remove her from my sight;(for I fear that I the melted crystals Aside 2530that are often a living adornmentof a less beautiful countenancemay touch me.)

Guacolda: Before . . .Yupanqui: (Woe is me!)Guacolda: …. I come to die,

you have to listen to me. 2535Inka: What can you say to me, when

as a facile apostate, you havecommitted the most sacrilegiousoutrage against the sun?

Guacolda: Although I could have recourseto the repugnance it creates for allnatural law, that a god shoulddrink human blood, and that withinthe same law, a believer shoulddie and a believer should kill, 2545I will not do so, for althoughin my reasoning it is just, I do not wishto scandalize, and thus, I make an appeal to another. My father,whom you have had exiled 2550on account of your enmity withAtabaliba, knowing that I felt inclinedto the love of a noble cacique of an opposing lineage,brought me by force to the temple where,as long as he was not missing,I have lived, despite being secretlymarried before. 2559And so, not being able to bea priestess, the lot couldn’t fall to me,and that natural judgment couldremove me without committing a crime.

Inka: Let one single reason suffice 22565against those being truthsand not invented excuses.

Who would be so noble and fortunate that as husband and loverhe could merit both blessings 2570and treacherously let you diein such suffering?And thus, as long as you do not declarewho it is, and let him die in punishmentfor kidnapping you and hiding you, 2575violating the temple in the one offense,and in the other, my royal edicts,it would be futile to allowyour appeal.

Guacolda: It would be more futileadvised of the risk to him, 2580for me to tell who it is, since freeinghim from such an offensive deathwill make mine gentle.

Inka: You are resolved to that?Guacolda Yes.Inka: Yupanqui, she does not know 2585

how much compassion she removeswith the jealousy she adds.You persuade her to saywho it is, since she makes her offense less grave by that, 2590and it could be that the appealmight save her.

Yupanqui: Why, your majesty,do you want me to wear myself outpersuading her,if my telling you is easier, 2595as the price that she live?

Inka: Then you know the accomplice?Yupanqui: Yes, your majesty.Inka: All my happiness

comes from you,and today the greatest is knowing 2600who is such a cowardly aggressoron whom I will not be avengedwithout tearing out his heart.What are you waiting for, then? Who is he?

Yupanqui: Me.Inka: What are you saying?Yupanqui: Do not be amazed, 2605

since it was you who taught methe means for hiding and stealing,

when you told me to kidnap her for you.Inka: How, treacherous vassal, 2610

false friend, infamous servantcould you offend the trustI had in you?

Guacolda: Do not insult him,it isn’t him.

Yupanqui: Yes it is.Guacolda: It isn’t;

because I, hoping to free myself, 2615pretended to have a husband I don’t have,and he, hoping that you would temperyour wrath if it were he, told you that.And thus, what are you waiting for? Take mewhere, as the price that he may live, 2620I may bathe the alter in withred blood.

Yupanqui: It is me; take meto where I may pour outdissolved coral that will moreilluminate than stain the alter, 2625as the price that she may live.

Inka: If both steadfastly wish it,now that as a priestess the punishment does not apply to her,let it apply to her for havingdesecrated the temple. Let 2630the two of them die equally. What are you waiting for? Take them away from here!

As they are taken away, they get loose and embrace

Yupanqui: Before,sweet wife, . . .

Guacolda: Beloved lord . . .Yupanqui . . . I dieGuacolda: . . . I am finished, 2635Yupanqui: . . . let me die happy seeing you.Guacolda: . . . I am happy with embracing you.Inka: Remove them! Separate them!

They are separated and again freeing themselves, they seek each other

Yupanqui: Sad punishment! Guacolda: Grave sorrow!Yupanqui: But although all may force me, . . 2640

Guacolda: But although all may drag me away, . . .Yupanqui: . . . I will return . . .Guacolda . . . I will go . . Both: to give (you) a last farewell.Guacolda: Noble lord!Yupanqui: Beloved wife! 2645Inka: That my misfortune should suffer this!

Take them away, I say again,where they can neither see nor speak to each other.

Guacolda: Until I lose sight of him,I will tie myself to this tree trunk.

She embraces a cross

Yupanqui: I will entangle myself in this tree 2650until I can no longer see her.

He embrances another tree

Guacolda: And since it was not by chancethat you know how to conquer wild animals,for which reason they have set you upin so many places , . . . 2655

Yupanqui: And plane tree, not by chance are you the one in whom I see the imagethat I have had as if engraved in my soulsince I saw her, . . .

They try to detach them and cannot

Guacolda: . . . help me, since you havesuch great power over beasts, and men who use cruelty are beasts.

Yupanqui: . . . shelter me, since in you herradiant light reveals itself to me. 2665

Guacolda: Ill-fated loving husband, . . .Yupanqui: Star-crossed loving wife, . . .Guacolda: . . .goodbye!Yupanqui: . . . goodbye!Inka: How is it

you let them see and talk to each other?Some: Because there is no force sufficient 2670

to separate her, sir, from the trunk.Others: Because to move him, there is no

strength that can uproot him.Inca: Heavens, does everything have to be

wonders in these valleys ofCopacabana every timeI set foot in its borders?O sovereign sun that I adorehet do not call my father,with what could I appease youif bringing you two victimsinstead of one is not enough?Answer me. What would placate you toward me, so that I might carry outyour orders?

Idolatry enters

Idolatry: (That he kill them, Aside 2685is what I will tell him.)

Inca: If you used to give mea thousand answers in one statue,why today in the thousand statutesthat they bring to your temple doyou still not give me a response? 2690

Idolatry: I will give you one.Inca: What a noteworthy blessing,

since already appeased, you responds. What should I do, tell me?

Idolatry: Give them . . .(. . . death, I was going to say, and AsideI cannot say it.)

Inca: Do not keep your decree 2695a secret, when you see meready to carry it out.

Idolatry: If you wish . . . (I cannot continue Asidebecause in trying to declare it,I have a noose around my neckand an asp in my heart.)If you claim . . (It is impossible Asidefor me to speak through my idolsnow that they are twice bronze andjade, still, hard and silent; 2705with which all all my senseslie yet more like a statue.)

Inca: If you begin to speak to me, whydo you not continue? And if it is to give meto understand that until they die,I do not deserve your protection,since it is not easy to separate

the two of them from the tree trunks,let the sacrilegous lovers dieshot by arrows. Shoot them in the chest. 2715

Guacolda: Tree, since you bring such power , , ,Yupanqui: Deity, since you have such power. . .Guacolda: . . . shelter me.Yupanqui: . . . protect me.

They both disappear on two trees, with thunder and the sound of an earthquake

Inca: What are you waiting for? Fire, I say! 2720One: Against whom, if the air is blinding,

the same dust , the same sand blinds us as before?

Earthquake and drums at the same time. Spaniards within

All: To arms, to arms! War, war!Inca If the Spaniard comes pursuing me,

who doubts that he is coming with whoever spreads to the winds fogsthat blind sight and snow thatquassh firesI cannot take a step today that is not 2730tripping over my cadaver,and since (to resist that)there is no force or power that is sufficientto the temple!

Exits

Some To the mountains!Others To the jungle!All: Without a doubt—heavens!—the God

of these Christians is greatsince he works so many wonders.

They exit, fleeing. Spaniards speaking within

Pizarro After them, Spaniards!All: After them!Pizarro: Let them die before they find shelter

in the brambles!Idolatry Heavens, moon 2740Idolatry:                sun, stars, forests, seas! 

Wasn’t it enough to silence me,

but also to deprive me myself?But, is it suprising to seesuch wonders against methe day that she seeks shelterin the cross, and he the protectionof the plane tree, that is an attributeof María, whose image itcarries fixed in its heart?Let my resentment not bedaunted by that; and since I amthe spirit of storms,let my breath infect the air,my rage freeze the fruits,my anger burn the crops so

` that with all of them dyingwith the blunt knives ofplagues, thirst and hunger,before they accept Christin ages to come, tosee a better sun that is bornin the arms of a better dawn. 2765