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out to him on it the various nations of the earth ; after which he 

 conducts him to the road leading to the Spanish camp, where 

 his soldiers were anxiously seeking him. The Spaniards in vain 

 attempt to soothe and to terrify the Araucanians into peace ; and 

 finding the importance of their present post, they determine to 

 strengthen it. Ercilla proceeds with a party to the city of Im- 

 perial, to provide necessai'ies for this purpose. On his return, 

 as he is marching through the country of some pacifick Indians, he 

 discovers, at tlie close of day, a distrest female, who attempts to 

 fly, but is overtaken by Ercilla. 



CANTO XXVIII. 



THE fair fugitive, whom our Poet describes as singularly beau- 

 tiful, relates her story. She tells him her name is Glaura, the 

 daughter of an opulent Chieftain, with whom she lived most hap- 

 pily, till a brother of her father's, who frequently resided with him, 

 persecuted her with an unwarrantable passion ; — that she in vain 

 represented to him the impious nature of his love ; — he persisted 

 in his frantick attachment, and, on the appearance of a hostile 

 party of Spaniards, rushed forth to die in her defence, intreating 

 her to receive his departing spirit. He fell in the action ; her fa- 

 ther shared the same fate : she herself escaped at a postern gate 

 into the woods. Two negroes, laden with spoil, discovered, and 

 seized her. Her cries brought a young Indian, named Cariolano, 

 to her rescue : he shot an arrow into the heart of the first ruffian, 

 and stabbed the second. Glaura expressed her gratitude by re- 

 ceiving her young deliverer as her husband. Before they could 

 I'egain a place of safety, they were alarmed by the approach of 

 Spaniards. The generous Youth intreated Glaura to conceal her- 

 self in a tree, while he ventured to meet the enemy. In her teri-or 

 she submitted to this expedient, which, on recovery from her pa- 

 nick, she bitterly repented ; for, when she issued from her retreat, 

 she sought in vain for Cariolano, and supposed, from the clamour 

 she had heard, that he must have perished. She continued to 

 wander in this wretched state of mind, still unable to hear any 

 tidings of her protector. While the fair Indian thus closes her 

 narrative, Ercilla is alarmed by the approach of a large party of 

 Barbarians. One of his faithful Indian attendants, whom he had 

 nitely attached to him, intreats him to escape with the utmoit 



