To the sweet sound of my harmonious lyre, Shepherds, I pray you lend attentive ear, The hallowed breath of the Castalian choir Breathing therein and in my voice ye'll hear: Lo! it will make you wonder and admire With souls enraptured and with happy fear, What time I do recount to you on earth The geniuses that Heaven claims for their worth. It is my purpose but of those to sing Of whose life Fate hath not yet cut the thread, Of those who rightly merit ye should bring Their ashes to this place when they are dead, Where, despite busy Time on hasty wing, Through this praiseworthy duty renderèd By you, for countless years may live their fame, Their radiant work, and their renownèd name. And he who doth with righteous title merit Of high renown to win a noble store, Is DON ALONSO;[118] he 'tis doth inherit From holy Phoebus heavenly wisdom's flower, In whom shineth with lofty glow the spirit Of warlike Mars, and his unrivalled power, LEIVA his surname in whose glorious sound Italy, Spain herself, hath lustre found. Arauco's wars and Spanish worth hath sung Another who the name ALONSO hath. Far hath he wandered all the realms among Where Glaucus dwells, and felt his furious wrath; His voice was not untuned, nor was his tongue, For full of strange and wondrous grace were both, Wherefore ERCILLA[119] doth deserve to gain Memorial everlasting in this plain. Of JUAN DE SILVA[120] I to you declare That he deserves all glory and all praise, Not only for that Phoebus holds him dear, But for the worth that is in him always; Thereto his works a testimony clear Will be, wherein his intellect doth blaze With brightness which illumineth the eyes Of fools, dazzling at times the keen and wise. Be the rich number of my list increased By him to whom Heaven doth such favour show That by the breath of Phoebus is his breast Sustained, and by Mars' valour here below; Thou matchest Homer, if thou purposest To write, thy pen unto such heights doth go, DIEGO OSORIO,[121] that to all mankind Truly is known thy loftiness of mind. By all the ways whereby much-speaking fame A cavalier illustrious can praise, By these it doth his glorious worth proclaim, His deeds the while setting his name ablaze; His lively wit, his virtue doth inflame More than one tongue from height to height to raise FRANCISCO DE MENDOZA'S[122] high career, Nor doth the flight of time bring them to fear.