Engleski jezik 2 (N.V)

Read the rest of the text and do exercises I-VI

Conquest of Peru

The following selection is taken from the work of the nineteenth-century American historian, William H. Prescott. The first part describes the Inca ruler, Atahuallpa, and his followers, and the second tells the story of how Pizarro treacherously captured the ruler.

It was not long before sunset when the van of the royal procession entered the gates of the city. First came some hundreds of the menials, employed to clear the path of every obstacle, and singing songs of triumph as they came, “which in our ears”, says one of the Conquerors, “sounded like the songs of hell”. Then followed other bodies of different ranks, and dressed in different liveries. Some wore a showy stuff, checkered white and red, like the squares of a chess board. Others were clad in pure white, bearing hammers or maces of silver or copper; and the guards, together with those in immediate attendance on the prince, were distinguished by a rich azure livery, and a profusion of gay ornaments

– while the large pendants attached to the ears indicated the Peruvian noble. Elevated high above his vassals came the Inca Atahuallpa, borne on a sedan or open litter, on which was a sort of throne made of massive gold of inestimable value. The palanquin was lined with the richly-coloured plumes of tropical birds and studded with shining plates of gold and silver, the monarch’s attire was much richer than on the proceeding evening. Round his neck was suspended a collar of emeralds of uncommon size and brilliancy. His short hair was decorated with golden ornaments, and the imperial borla (silk diadem) encircled his temples. The bearing of the Inca was sedate and dignified; and from his lofty station he looked down on the multitudes below with an air of composure, like one accustomed to command. [...]

Pizarro saw that the hour had come. He waved a white scarf in the air, the appointed signal. The fatal gun was fired from the fortress. Then, springing into the square, the Spanish captain and his followers shouted the old war-cry of “St. Jago” at them. It was answered by the battle-cry of every Spaniard in the city, as, rushing from the avenues of the great halls in which they were concealed, they poured into the plaza, horse and foot, each in his own dark column, and threw themselves into the midst of the Indian crowd. The latter, taken by surprise, stunned by the report of artillery and muskets, the echoes of which reverberated like thunder from the surrounding building, and blinded by the smoke which rolled in sulphurous volumes along the square, were seized with a panic. They knew not whether to fly for refuge from the coming ruin. Nobles and commoners – all were trampled down under the fierce charge of the cavalry, who dealt their blows, right and left without sparing, while their swords, flashing through the thick gloom, carried dismay into the hearts of the wretched natives, who now for the first time saw the horse and his rider in all their terrors. They made no resistance, as, indeed, they had no weapons with which to make it. Every avenue to escape was closed, for the entrance to the square was choked up with the dead bodies of men who had perished in vain efforts to fly; and such was the agony of the survivors under the terrible pressure of the assailants that a large body of Indians, by

their convulsive struggles, burst through the wall of stone and dried clay which formed part of the boundary of the plaza! It fell, leaving an opening of more than a hundred paces, through which multitudes now found their way into the country, still hotly pursued by the cavalry, who, leaping the fallen rubbish, hung on the rear of the fugitives striking them down in all directions.

Meanwhile the fight, or rather massacre, continued both around the Inca, whose person was the great object of the assault. [...]

The Indian monarch, stunned and bewildered, saw his faithful subjects falling around him without fully comprehending his situation. The litter on which he rode heaved to and fro, as the mighty press swayed backwards and forwards [...]. But Pizarro, who was nearest the monarch, called out, with stentorian voice, "Let no one who values his life strike at the Inca", and, stretching out his arm to shield him, received a wound on the hand from one of his own men – the only wound received by a Spaniard in the action. The struggle now became fiercer than ever round the royal litter. It reeled more and more, and at length ... it was overturned. The Indian prince would have come with violence to the ground had not his fall been broken by the efforts of Pizzaro and some of the cavaliers, who caught him in their arms. The imperial borla was instantly snatched from his temples by a soldier named Estate, and the unhappy monarch, strongly secured, was removed to a neighboring building, where he was carefully guarded.

All attempt at resistance now ceased. The fate of the Inca soon spread over town and country. The charm which might have held the Peruvians together was dissolved. Every man thought only of his own safety.

Prescott, W. H. (2007). History of the Conquest of Peru. New York: Cosimo Classics.

I Supply the missing forms of the following words (if the form exists):

noun	verb	adjective
procession
profusion
composure
assailant
	comprehend
	subvert
	suspend
		dignified

II Match the words on the left with the synonymous words or explanations on the right and use them in the sentences below.

treacherously	disappointment / shock / consternation
attire	deceitfully
sedate	clothing / dress / outfit
lofty	high / elevated / patronizing / dignified
dismay	calm / dignified / composed

1. Should we trust the country that attacked us so ?

2. The approach, however, appears to have paid off.

3. The elegant square was shaded by palms.

4. He looked up at her in .

5. They were dressed in their finest .

III Explain and illustrate the different meanings of the following words:

litter

1.

2. process / procession

1.

2.

IV Use the correct preposition.

• to stumble the rich empire

• to shout somebody

• to be accustomed command

• to pour the plaza

• to be taken surprise

• to be blinded the smoke

• to be seized panic

• vain

• length

• an attempt resistance

• short duration