9 



Haste ye to cast these hated bonds away» 



In this the vigour of your souls display ; if 



Nor blindly lavish, from your country's veins, 



Blood that may yet redeem her from her chains. 



" E*en while I thus lament, I still admire 

 The fervour of your souls ; they give me fire : 

 But justly trembling at their fatal bent, 

 I dread some dire calamitous event ; 

 Lest in your rage Dissension's frantick hand 

 Should cut the sinews of our native land. 

 If such its doom, my thread (;f being burst, 

 And let your old compeer expire the first ! 

 Shall this shrunk frame, thus bow'd by age's weight, 

 Live the weak witness of a nation's fate ? 

 No ; let som^! friendly sword, with kind relief. 

 Forbid its sinking in that scene of grief. 

 Happy whose eyes in timely darkness close, 

 Sav'd from that worst of sights, his country's woes ! 

 Yet, while I can, I make your weal my care. 

 And for the publick good my thoughts declare. 



" Equal ye are in courage and in worth ; 

 Heaven has assign 'd to all an equal birth : 

 In wealth, in power, and majesty of soul. 

 Each Chief seems worthy of the world's control. 

 These gracious gifts, not gratefully beheld. 

 To this dire strife your daring minds impell'd. 



" But on your generous valour T depend, 

 That all our country's woes will swiftly end. 

 A Leader still our present state demands, 

 To guide t© vengeance our impatient bands j ' 

 Fit for this hardy task that Chief I deem, 

 Who longest may sustain a massive beam : 

 Your rank is equal, let your force be try'd 

 And for the strongest let his strength decide.'* 



The Chieftains acquiesce in this proposal. The beam is pro- 

 duced, and of a size so enormous, that the Poet declares himself 

 afraid to specify its weight. The fii'st Chieftahis who engage in 

 the trial support it cn their shoulders five and six hours each ; 

 Tucapel fourteen ; and Lincoya more than double that number ; 

 when the assembly, considering his strength as almost supernatu- 

 ral, is eager to bestow on him the title of General : hut jn the 



Vol. IL ,b 



