The Sixth Canto

     Of the revisions made by Helen Maria Williams between "Peru" and "Peruvian Tales," the sixth Canto, titled "Cora" underwent the most change. For the most part, the types of lines that were removed by HMW pertain to character descriptions and scenery. Most of the excisions made  were similar to lines 117-120, wherein she describes birds singing and the beauty of the atmosphere. While these lines add to the atmosphere of the story, they aren't exactly necessary. However, some of the lines, like those from 215-232, provide a great deal of insight into both Williams and the characters she's writing about. In these lines, Williams is going into deeper detail regarding Cora's "sensibility." It's hard to say what kind of effect the removal of these lines had on the poem as a whole.

     What's more interesting is HMW's decision to remove the lines that focused on the descriptions of characters, particularly Pizarro and Capac. For instance, lines 177-180 in "Peru:" "But vainly from his lips these accents part, Nor move Pizarro's cold, relentless heart, That never trembled to the suff'rer's sigh" have been removed for "Peruvian Tales." Considering the important role that Pizarro plays as the primary antagonist, it is interesting that HMW would choose to leave this description out.

     In terms of Capac, HMW cuts several lines describing his emotional state. Lines 3-6 of "Peru," wherein Capac's "anxious woe" have been cut. The four lines that described Capac's emotional turmoil from lines 31-34 have been edited down to only two lines. Furthermore, around lines 110 of "Peruvian Tales" HMW forgoes calling Capac "wretched" when he looks at his child.

Questions:
1) Why did HMW choose to revise her descriptions of Capac and Pizarro?
2) How did her revisions reflect changing opinions?