63 



CANTO XXX. 



AFTER many dreadful wounds on each side, the two Chieftains, 

 closing with each other, fall together, and, after a fruitless struggle 

 for victory, remain speechless on the ground. Caupolican, who 

 presided as judge of the combat, descends from his seat, and 

 finding some signs of life in each, orders them to be carried to 

 their respective tents. They recovei', and are reconciled. The 

 Spaniards, leaving a garrison in their new fort, under a captain 

 named Reynoso, had proceeded to the city of Iihperial. Caupoli- 

 can endeavours to take advantage of this event. He employs an 

 artful Indian, named Pran, to examine the state of the fort. Pran 

 insinuates himself among the Indian servants belonging to the 

 Spaniards. He views the fort, and endeavours to persuade a 

 servile Indian, named Andresillo, to admit Caupolican and his 

 forces while the Spaniards are sleeping. Andresillo promises to 

 meet Caupolican in secret, and converse with him on this project. 



CANTO XXXI. 



OPENS with a spirited invective against treachery in war, and 

 particularly those traitoi's who betray their country. Andresillo 

 reveals all that had passed to his Spanish captain ; who promises 

 him a great reward if he will assist in making the stratagem of the 

 Indians an instrument of destruction to those who contrived it. 

 They concert a plan for this purpose. Andresillo meets Caupoli- 

 can in secret, and promises to introduce the Indian forces into the 

 fort when the Spaniards are sleeping in the heat of the day. Pran 

 is sent forward, to learn from Andresillo if all things are quiet, 

 just before the hour appointed for the assault. He examines the 

 state of the fort, and, finding the Spaniards apparently unprepared 

 for defence, hastens back to the Indian General, who advances by 

 a quick and silent march. The Spaniards in the interim point all 

 their guns, and prepare for the most bloody resistance. 



CANTO XXXII. 



AFTER a panegyrick on clemency, and a noble censure of those 

 enormous cruelties, by which his countrymen sullied their military 



