A SKETCH 



OF 



THE ARAUCANA, 



A HE Poem opens with the following exposition of the subject: 



I SING not love of ladies, nor of sights 

 Devis'd for gentle dames by courteous knights ; 

 Nor feasts, nor tourneys, nor that tender care 

 Which prompts the Gallant to regale the Fair ; 

 But the bold deeds of Valour's fav'rite train, 

 Those undegenerate sons of warlike Spain, 

 Who made Arauco their stern laws embrace, 

 And bent beneath their yoke her untam'd race. 

 Of tribes distinguish'd in the field I sing; 

 Of nations who disdain the name of King; 

 Courage, that danger only taught to grow. 

 And challenge honour from a generous foe; 

 And persevering toils of purest fame, 

 And feats that aggrandize the Spanish name: 

 For the brave actions of the vanquibh'd spread 

 The brightest glory round the victor's head. 



The Poet devotes his first Canto to the description of that part 

 of the New World which forms the scene of his action, and is 

 called Arauco, a district in the province of Chile. He paints the 

 singular character and various customs of its warlike inhabitants 

 with great clearness and spirit. In many points they bear a strik- 

 ing resemblance to the ancient Germans, as they are drawn by 

 the strong jjencil of Tacitus. The first Canto closes with a brief 

 account how this martial pi evince v/as subdued by a Spanish oñi- 



