62 



haste ; adding, that he can save hun from pursuit by his know- 

 ledge of the country; and that he will risque his own life most 

 willingly, to preserve that of Ercilla. Glaura bursts into an agony 

 of joy, in discovering her lost Cariolano in this faithful attendant* 

 Ercilla exclaims, " Adieu, my friends ; I give you both your li- 

 " berty, which is all I have at present to bestow," and rejoins his 

 little troop. Before he enters on the account of what followed, he 

 relates the circumstance by which he attached Cariolano te his 

 service ; whom he had found alone, as he himself was marching 

 with a small party, and a few prisoners that he had taken. The 

 Youth at first defended himself, shot two Spaniards with his 

 arrows, and continued to resist the numbers that pressed upon him 

 with his mantle and his dagger, evading their blows by his extreme 

 agility, and wounding several. Ercilla generously rushed into his 

 rescue, and declared he deserved a reward for his uncommon 

 bravery, instead of being destroyed so unfairly. The Youth, in 

 consequence of this treatment, flung down his dagger, and became 

 the affectionate attendant of Ercilla. Our Poet, after relating this 

 incident, returns to the scene where his party was surprized in a 

 hollow road, and severely galled by the enemy, who attacked them 

 with showers of stones from the higher ground. Ercilla forces his 

 way up the precipice, and after dispersingpart of the Indian force, 

 effects his escape with a few followers; but all are wounded, and 

 obliged to leave their baggage in the possession of their numerous 

 enemies. 



CANTO XXIX. 



OPENS with an encomium on the love of our country, and tlie 

 signal proofs of this virtue which the Araucanians displayed ; 

 who, notwithstanding their loss of four great battles in the space 

 of three months, still continue firm in their resolution of defending 

 their liberty. Caupolican proposes, in a publick assembly, to set 

 fire to their own habitations, and leave themselves no alternative, 

 but that of killing or being killed. The Chieftains all agree in _ 

 this desperate determination. Tucapel, before they proceed to 

 action against the Spaniards, insists on terniinatiug his difference 

 with Rengo, a rival Chieftain, by a single combat. A plain is ap- 

 pointed for this purpose : all the people of Arauco assemble as 

 spectators : the Chiefs appear in complete urmour, and engage in 

 a most olisliiiate and bloody conflict. 



