The Araucaniad

“In our hands we hold the victory And a thousand boons of nature, Swamps, lagoons, and miry marshes, Tangled, rough, and rock-ribbed mountains. Here fight best the Araucanians; Spaniards in their walls fight better. Any man attacked on home ground Is a worthier, wiser warrior.

“Polity uncloaked will teach you How to strike the mark most surely, And for just amends now let us Wait in places of our choosing. In the world there’s none to challenge Right and reason that defend us. If they seem afraid to seek us, In their lairs we’ll stalk our quarry.”

Like two boars, huge, wild and bristling, That escape pursuing beaters, Harried by the eager stragglers Craving blood of forest creatures, So they fled; as Irish greyhounds Bend the weeds, the wind’s pace-setters, No less light their legs, no fainter Their desire, foes dogged the Christians.

Not two Decii, who bartered Life away to save their homeland, Curtius, Scaevola, nor Horace, Not Leonidas nor peers like Philo, Fulvius, Cincinnatus, Marcus, Sergius or Marcellus, Furius, Scaeva or Dentatus Match these redskins as fanatics.

Tell me what they did that equalled E’er the deed of this barbarian?

Who e’er heard of such heroics Sung or read from ancient scriptures, That the side that was victorious Should be whirled about and vanquished, That a single savage stripling By his might and courage only Should snatch off from hands of Christians Such a victory, such a triumph?

Certain doom and rage for dying Gave our troops so strange a potence That inopportune and noxious Voices rang: “Spain, Spain, to victory!” Finally the Araucanians Turned their backs, apparent losers, But by harsh relentless Chaos Oddly cards of chance were shuffled.

“Oh companions, crowned with lustre, Sceptred with the rod of prudence, Now you see the shameless realm where Flags blow in the wind to taunt us, War unleashed and faith discarded. Every pact is violated; In my ears I hear hoarse trumpets; I see fires the Devil lighted.

forgetting duty’s summons From the path direct they wandered, Taking roads