51 



CANTO XV. 



THE Poet proceeds to describe the sharp contest which the un- 

 daunted Indians still maintained in their fort : they refuse quarter, 

 which is offered them by the Spanish Leader, and all resolutely 

 perish with their brave and beloved Lautaro. The Poet then resumes 

 his account of the naval expedition from Peru to Chili ; and concludes 

 the^ canto with a spirited description of a storm, which attacked 

 the vessels as they arrived in sight of the province to which they 

 were steering. 



CANTO XVL 



THE storm abates. The Spaniards land, and fortify them- 

 selves on an island near the country of the Araucanians. The latter 

 hold a council of war in the valley of Ongolmo. Caupolican, their 

 General, proposes to attack the Spaniards in their new post. The 

 elder Chieftains dissuade him from the design. A quarrel ensues 

 between Tucapel and the aged Peteguelen : they are appeased by 

 a speech of the venerable Colocólo ; by whose advice a spirited 

 and adroit young Indian, named Millalanco, is dispatched, as a 

 peaceful ambassador, to learn the situation and designs of the 

 Spaniards. He embarks in a large galley with oars, and soon ar- 

 rives at the island. He surveys the Spanish implements of war 

 with astonishment, and is conducted to the tent of the General, 

 Don Garcia. 



CANTO XVII & xvnr. 



THE Indian addresses the Spanish officers with a proposal of 

 peace and amity. He is dismissed with presents. The Chieftains, 

 on his return, pretend to relinquish hostilities ; but prepare secret- 

 ly for war. The Spaniards remain unmolested on the island dur- 

 ing the stormy season. They send a select party of an hundred 

 and thirty, including our Poet, to raise a fort on tiie continent : 

 these execute their commission with infinite dispatch, and all the 

 Spanish troops remove to this new post. The Araucanians are 

 alarmed. An intrepid Youth, named Gracolano, proposes to the 

 Indian General Caupolican, to storm the fort. The Indians ad- 

 vance near it, under shelter of the night. The Poet describes a 



