And now Alphonso, and his martial band, On the rich border of the valley stand; They quaff the limpid stream with eager haste, 155 And the pure juice that swells the fruitage taste; Then give to balmy rest the night's still hours, Fann'd by the sighing gale that shuts the flowers. Soon as the purple beam of morning glows, Refresh'd from all their toils, the warriors rose; 160 And saw the gentle natives of the mead Search the clear currents for the golden seed; Which from the mountain's height with headlong sweep The torrents bear, in many a shining heap-- Iberia's sons beheld with anxious brow 165 The tempting lure, then breathe th' unpitying vow O'er those fair lawns to pour a sanguine flood, And dye those lucid streams with waves of blood. Thus, while the humming bird in beauty drest, Enchanting offspring of the ardent West, 170 Attunes his soothing song to notes of love, Mild as the murmurs of the mourning dove; While his soft plumage glows with brighter hues, And while with tender bill he sips the dews, The savage Condor, on terrific wings, 175 From Andes' frozen steep relentless springs; And quiv'ring in his fangs, his hapless prey Drops his gay plume, and sighs his soul away. 178 PERU. CANTO THE FIFTH. THE ARGUMENT. _Character of_ Zamor, _a Bard--his passion for_ Aciloe, _daughter of the Cazique who rules the valley--the Peruvian tribe prepare to defend themselves--a battle--the Peruvians are vanquished_--Aciloe's _father is made a prisoner, and_ Zamor _is supposed to have fallen in the engagement_--Alphonso _becomes enamoured of_ Aciloe--_offers to marry her; she rejects him--in revenge he puts her father to the torture--she appears to consent, in order to save him--meets_ Zamor _in a wood_--Las Casas _joins them--leads the two lovers to_ Alphonso, _and obtains their freedom_--Zamor _conducts_ Aciloe _and her father to Chili--a reflection on the influence of Poetry over the human mind._ PERU. CANTO THE FIFTH.