The Araucaniad

Alonso de Ercilla’s Prologue

[ 5 ] Alonso de Ercilla’s Prologue Had I thought that the effort which I have expended on this work would so little relieve me of the fear of publishing it, of myself I know for certain that I would not have had the spirit to carry out the project. However, considering that it is an authentic history concerning things of war, to which there are so many devotees , I have resolved to print it, being thereto aided by the importunings of many witnesses who figured in the most of it, and by the grievance that some Spaniards might receive, should their exploits be left in perpetual silence for lack of one to write them; not because these deeds are trivial, but because the land is so remote and so secluded, being the last which the Spaniards trod from the direction of Peru, that almost no account of it may be had, and because of the unseasonableness and little time that there is to write due to the business of war, which allows no opportunity for it. So, whatever hours I might steal, I spent upon this book, which for greater veracity and authenticity was composed at height of war, and in the very passes and sites where I wrote many times on leather for lack of paper, and on scraps of letters, some so small that they barely contained six verses, joined together later at the cost of no little effort. For this reason, and because of the humility with which this work is launched, as a foundling in such poor swaddling clothes, accompanied by the zeal and the intention with which it is engendered, I hope that the one who may read the faults it bears will be so generous as to accept it on sufferance. And should it seem to some that I show myself somewhat inclined toward the side of the Araucanians, treating of their affairs and prowesses more extensively than is required for barbarians, we might look at their upbringing, their customs, their methods of warfare and the exercise thereof, and we should see that many have not outstripped them, and that few are those who with such constancy and firmness have defended their land against such fierce enemies as are the Spaniards. Forsooth, it is cause for wonder, though the Araucanians possess no more than twenty leagues of boundaries, nor have within all their bournes a village built, or wall, or fortress for their defense, or arms, at least defensive arms, which long-drawn-out war and Spaniards have wasted and consumed, that on smooth plains unshielded, surrounded by three Spanish settlements and two central fortresses, with pure valor and obstinate determination they have redeemed and sustained their freedom, shedding in sacrifice to it as much blood of their own as Spanish blood. Hence may it truthfully be said that there are few places unstained with gore and unpeopled with bones, and that few are the dead who leave no successors to carry their opinions forward, since the sons, desiring to avenge their slain fathers, accelerating the course of the years with the natural rage that moves them, and the valor that is their heritage, taking arms before due [ 6 ] The Araucaniad season, offer themselves to the austerities of war. So great is the dearth of people because of the foison of the fallen in this ordeal that in order to brace and swell the squadrons, the women also go to war, and sometimes fighting like men, with great courage yield themselves unto death. All of this I have wished to offer in proof and warranty of the valor of these people, worthy of greater praise than I shall be able to give with my verses. And then, as I stated above, there is now in Spain a number of persons who participated in many engagements whereof I write. To them I remit the defense of my work in this part and commend it to those who may read it. ...