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As slowly on they fil'd a Knight behind, 

 With single valour check'd their foes combin'd ; 

 The ridge was skirted by a gloomy wood, 

 Thro' this the Avarriors past by fate pursued, 

 Full in the track behind. A friendly slave 

 They met at last, who to Almagro gave 

 A billet, which with better hopes before 

 This trusty servant from Valdivia bore. 

 To fix their rendezvous, but bore in vain ; 

 And now, the triumphs of the barb'rous train 

 Return'd, with all the marks of fear to tell. 

 And how the great Valdivia fought and fell ; 

 His people's fall, the castle's overthrow, 

 He told, a sad variety of woe. 



The champions heard the news with thrilling pain, 

 And, marching onward, found a narrow plain ; 

 By east and west, and on the northern side 

 High fenc'd, the south alone a pass supply'd. 

 Hither they bent their course, retiring slow, 

 Still on their rearward hang th' insulting foe. 

 In lengthen'd files they haste, behind, before, 

 And thro' the tangled wood their prey explore : 

 And now they reach the plain, and full in sight 

 Their destin'd victims view with stern delight ; 

 While all the vailles ring with loud alarms, 

 Calling afar the scatter'd bands to arms. 

 Now in two squadrons form'd, the savage crew 

 Come onward, and the deadly fight renew. 

 Vain was the hope the champions saw to fly, 

 To force the passage they resolv'd, or die. 

 The bold Lincoya led the hostile band ; 

 Whose formidable wings on either hand 

 \'\'ere spread, while mixt with fifes, the savage yell 

 Of thousands seem 'd the harmony of hell. 



Onward the Spaniards came, sedate and slow, 

 Nor yet their buoyant hearts the hope forego 

 To turn those notes of joy to wailing strains, 

 And with barbarian slaughter heap the plains. 

 Undaunted at the formidable view. 

 Alike they reck'd the many, or the few ; 

 As men long us'd to foil superior force 

 With skill combin'd, on fam'd Europa's shoves. 



