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While clouds of missile death, discharg'd behind, 

 Fell on the ground, or sung upon the wind, 

 As wintry gusts the dai-kened fields assail, 

 And o'er the rallies sweep the sounding hail. 

 A deep merass at length their flight withstood. 

 On them the hunters flew athirst for blood : 

 While those that lagg'd the hindmost in the chace 

 Their shouting fellows mark'd with deep disgrace. 

 The Chaplain soon was slain, the savage crew 

 With contumelious blows Valdivia drew, 

 Where met in dire divan the seniors sate 

 With general sentence to pronounce his fate. 



Caupolican, who wish'd to see his foe, 

 A living trophy of his overthrow, 

 With lordly look and haughty threat beg^n 

 To question and insult the ruin'd man. 

 With abject mien, and supplication low, 

 The captive try'd to melt the cruel foe ; 

 Imploring life, and oft devoutly swore 

 To Chili's tribes their freedom to restore ; 

 Nor e'er, if mercy met his prayers again, 

 With slavish bonds to gall the hardy train. 

 *Tis said the General's heart began to melt, 

 And all a transient glow of pity felt ; 

 But one, to whom the doubtful Chief apply'd 

 For prompt advice, with soul relentless cry'd: 

 " Say, will you to a captive's prayer resign 

 The noble fruits of many a bold design ? 

 This arm will soon annul the deep disgrace :* 

 Then lifting in both hands a ponderous mace, 

 With sudden fury struck his kneeling foe, 

 And sent his spirit to the shades below. 

 As when a bull is seen for slaughter bound. 

 Whose mournful lowings fill the region round, 

 While crowding near, with unrelenting eyes, 

 The cruel train admire his mighty size. 

 The stern assassin lifts his murd'rous mace, 

 And, marking with his eye the mortal place, 

 His brain-pan smites, and lays him on the soil. 

 Then from his members tears the recking spoil. 

 The cruel Indian thus, tho' chill'd with age, 

 Ou the defenceless victim spent his rage. 



