[Sidenote: Quality of _Lima fundada_] _Lima fundada_, in ten cantos embracing somewhat more than ten thousand lines, treats of the conquest of Peru from Pizarro’s invasion to the overthrow of Almagro. In order that the thought may seem to move on an exalted plane, and the stanzas differentiate themselves from ordinary prose, the statements of fact are often made vague and roundabout, and the narration is abundantly sprinkled with intensifying adjectives. The hero is always “the great Pizarro” or “the great marquis,” and the soldiers are the “illustrious troops.” Large numbers of Grecian mythological characters are drawn into the service; the names of Ulysses, Alcibiades, Trajan and Socrates are woven familiarly into the lines; and the impression is made that the author knew too much to be a successful poet. Persons who seek for an elevated and inspiring form of genuine poetry in these three hundred and eighty pages of verses will hardly find it. [Sidenote: _Armas antárticas_] The twenty cantos of _Armas antárticas_ constitute a document that is properly classed with _Lima fundada_. It was written by Juan de Mira. Unless printed since my latest information concerning it, it is still in manuscript in the National Library of Madrid. It was probably written in Lima between 1612 and 1615, and the writer’s aim appears to have been to prevent the deeds of the Spaniards in conquering, pacifying and defending Peru from “remaining hidden in the darkness of forgetfulness.”[158] The opening octave makes a general announcement of the author’s theme: Las armas y proezas militares De españoles católicos valientes, Que por ignotos y soberbios mares Fueron a dominar remotas gentes, Poniendo al verbo eterno en los altares De oráculos gentílicos, espanto Eran del indio, ahora mudos, canto.[159] [Sidenote: Gathering the ransom] And the following lines describe the gathering of the gold for Atahualpa’s ransom: ... al instante Chasquis despacha el inca a diferentes Partes, para quel oro rutilante Traigan con brevedad todas sus gentes; No hay noble, no hay cacique, no hay infante, No hay niños, no hay mujeres, no hay sirvientes Que así como las próvidas hormigas No traigan a la sala sus espigas.[160] V [Sidenote: Missions of the Llanos]