Who till the shores of Amazon's long stream.-- When first the power of Europe here attained, Vast empires, kingdoms, cities, palaces And polished nations stock'd the fertile land. 120 Who has not heard of Cusco, Lima, and The town of Mexico--huge cities form'd From Indian architecture; ere the arms Of haughty Spain disturb'd the peaceful soil?-- But here, amid this northern dark domain, 125 No towns were seen to rise.--No arts were here; The tribes unskill'd to raise the lofty mast, Or force the daring prow thro' adverse waves, Gazed on the pregnant soil, and craved alone Life from the unaided genius of the ground,-- 130 This indicates they were a different race; From whom descended, 'tis not ours to say-- That power, no doubt, who furnish'd trees, and plants, And animals to this vast continent, Spoke into being man among the rest,-- 135 But what a change is here!--what arts arise! What towns and capitals! how commerce waves Her gaudy flags, where silence reign'd before! _Acasto_ Speak, learned Eugenio, for I've heard you tell The dismal story, and the cause that brought 140 The first adventurers to these western shores! The glorious cause that urged our fathers first To visit climes unknown, and wilder woods Than e'er Tartarian or Norwegian saw, And with fair culture to adorn a soil 145 That never felt the industrious swain before. _Eugenio_