Where speed the foes?
INDIAN.
Along the southern main,
Have passed the vultures of accursed Spain.
CHIEF.
Ruin pursue them on the distant flood,
And be their deadly portion—blood for blood!
INDIAN.
When, round and red, the moon shall next arise,
The chiefs attend the midnight sacrifice 220
In Encol's wood, where the great wizard dwells,
Who wakes the dead man by his thrilling spells;
Thee,[205] Ulmen of the Mountains, they command
To lift the hatchet for thy native land;
Whilst in dread circle, round the sere-wood smoke,
The mighty gods of vengeance they invoke;
And call the spirits of their fathers slain,
To nerve their lifted arm, and curse devoted Spain.
So spoke the scout of war;—and o'er the dew,
Onward along the craggy valley, flew. 230
Then the stern warrior sang his song of death—
And blew his conch, that all the glens beneath
Echoed, and rushing from the hollow wood,
Soon at his side three hundred warriors stood.
WARRIOR.
Children, who for his country dares to die?
Three hundred brandished spears shone to the sky:
We perish, or we leave our country free;
Father, our blood for Chili and for thee!
The mountain-chief essayed his club to wield,
And shook the dust indignant from the shield. 240
Then spoke:—