Myths, Legends and Peruvian Stories (Mitos, Leyendas y Cuentos Peruanos)
Selections and Notes by José María Arguedas and Francisco Izquierdo Ríos
Sierra – Mitos (Mountain – Myth)
024. El Hombre Dormido (The Sleeping Man)
Collected in Arequipa, capital of the Department of the same name, by Delma Pacheco, a fourth-year high school student at the “Miguel Grau” National School of Magdalena Nueva, Lima.
On the road to Jesús there is a hill where one can see a man who looks to be asleep; this began in the following manner: An indigenous warrior rose up against the Inca; on seeing himself getting harassed, he wanted to flee, taking the road leading to Jesús; but as the road was very long and the end was not yet in sight, this indigenous man, dispirited by fatigue, fell asleep on the slopes of a hill; as he had turned against the Inca, he was punished by their Father the Sun, who plunged the rebel into an eternal sleep.
That is why many people who go to the large thermal spring of Jesús can see this indigenous man on the hill, where he seems to be resting after a long walk.
—– VOCABULARY —–
Perseguir – (to run after) to pursue, to follow, to chase; (to try to accomplish) to pursue; (to pester) to harass; (to oppress) to persecute
Abatido – (crestfallen) dejected, depressed, downhearted, despondent, dispirited
Cansancio – (fatigue) tiredness, weariness; (tedium) boredom
Faltar – (to not attend; used with “a”) to miss, to not turn up at, to be absent from, to be off; (to be absent) to be missing; (to be scarce); (to remain); (to default on; used with “a”) to break, to not keep; (to insult, used with “a”) to be rude to
Sumir – (to descend) to plunge, to sink; (to submerge) to plunge; (to make a dent in) to dent
Sumirse – (to fall into depression) to sink into, to become lost; (to get a dent in) to get dented; (to become hollow) to sink; (to draw back in fear) to cower
Rebelde – (disobedient) rebellious, unruly; (political) rebel; (hard to control) unmanageable; (medicine) persistent, stubborn; (legal) defaulting; (person in rebellion) rebel; (legal) defaulter
Termal – thermal; hot (spring)
Descansar – (to take a break) to rest, to have a break, to take it easy; (to be asleep) to sleep, to nap; (to be buried) to rest; (agriculture) to rest
Caminata – (walk) long walk; hike; ramble