Soon as Almagro heard applauding fame 115 The triumphs of Peruvia, loud proclaim, Unconquer'd Chili's vale he swift forsakes, And his bold course to distant Cusco takes; Shuns Andes' icy shower, its chilling snows, The arrowy gale that on its summit blows; 120 A burning desart undismay'd he past, And meets the ardours of the fiery blast. Now as along the sultry waste they move, The keenest pang of raging thirst they prove: No cooling fruit its grateful juice distils, 125 Nor flows one balmy drop from crystal rills; For nature sickens in th' oppressive beam, That shrinks the vernal bud, and dries the stream; While horror, as his giant stature grows, O'er the drear void his spreading shadow throws. 130 Almagro's band now pale, and fainting stray, While death oft barr'd the sinking warrior's way: At length the chief divides his martial force, And bids Alphonso, by a sep'rate course, Lead o'er the hideous desart half his train-- 135 "And search, he cried, this drear, uncultur'd plain: "Perchance some fruitage withering in the breeze, "The pains of lessen'd numbers may appease; "Or Heav'n in pity, from some genial shower, "On the parch'd lip one precious drop may pour." 140 Not far the troops of young Alphonso went, When sudden, from a rising hill's ascent, They view a valley, fed by fertile springs, Which Andes from his lofty summit flings; Where summer's flowers their mingled odours shed, 145 And wildly bloom, a waste by beauty spread-- To the charm'd warrior's eye, the vernal scene That 'mid the howling desart, smil'd serene, Appear'd like nature rising from the breast Of chaos, in her infant graces drest; 150 When warbling angels hail'd the lovely birth, And stoop'd from heav'n to bless the new-born earth.