Rosara's Chain. Conclusion Poem by Alicia LeFanu

ONE morn, when Twilight, matron grey,
Hung fondly yet o'er infant Day,
Sudden, with tempered radiance bright,
Throughout the Hall a rosy light
Beams forth:- Amid the yielding air,
ROSARA moves, divinely fair.
Soft Pity's diamond drops obscure
Her eyes, of liquid azure, pure;
Benevolence, with Angel smile,
Illumes her lovely lips the while.
Her lucid robes, of dazzling white,
Her FAVOURITE FLOWER display to sight.

Enwreathed her glittering tresses round,
Her head a ROSY GARLAND crowned.
Her waist the BLUSHING GEMS entwined,
And round her arms encircling wind.
Her wreathed sceptre o'er his head
She waved; its magic force it shed.
The Prince, again to Life restored,
His sweet deliverer adored.
'Pay not to me (she said, and sighed).
'The homage, that you once denied.
'Think not, ROSARA comes again
'Your will, your wishes to restrain.
'No- when my science deep revealed
'The adventure long your Fate concealed,
'I flew, self-prompted, to your aid,
'Nor hope, nor wish to be repaid.

'Your happiness I seek alone.
'Ah! fly MIRANDA'S fatal throne.
'Ask you her fault? each somewhere errs,
'And boundless SELFISHNESS is hers.
'Survey these statued forms around.
'On them alone my truth I found.
'Observe yon HERO of the plains,
'Whose hand a laurel crown sustains.
'Not far the time, in arms he shone,
'And bore to her his trophies won.
'Ah fatal gift! the ruthless fair
'Thus fixed her Triumph, his Despair.
'Yon groupes of beauteous Nymphs divine
'No GRACES are, or MUSES nine,
'(As to your erring eye appears)
'Companions of her early years.

'She caught them in the aspect all,
'That best adorned her sumptuous hall.
'Yon maid who, on her harp reclined,
'Appears the LYRIC MUSE designed,
'Once, in gay pleasure's youthful hour,
'Could call forth notes of sweetest power.
'A victim to her matchless grace,
'In Sculpture now her charms we trace.
'First in the nimble race to shine,
'Unmatched HIPPOLITA , was thine.
'Now in the conscious marble white,
'An emblem still, you seem of flight.
'Mute is yon graceful HUNTER'S horn,
'Transfixed, no more he hails the morn.
'That HOARY SAGE , who seems to mark
'The treasured lore of science dark,

'Her tutor once, in times long past,
'Is now in stony semblance cast,
'With scenes more mirthful to contrast.
'Brief let me be- another's joy,
'Or woe, she views with equal eye,
'When to HERSELF they can impart
'A pleasure in her favourite art.'
Then thus AMANTOR , bending low,
'Hear me, benign Enchantress, now;
'Completed be thy generous deed,
'And each inglorious captive freed!
'Then may I hope repentant strain
'Your gracious pardon may obtain,
'And give me, once again a part,
'An interest, in that gentle heart.
In vain he reads the fair-one's eyes,
There Pity, but Denial, lies;

But, when in Mercy's cause he pleads,
Thus free her gracious mandate speeds.
'Let those who in enchantment mourn,
'To life and all its joys return!'
And, Oh! obedient to the sound,
How different smiled the scene around.
The hall, within whose drear domain
A stilly silence wont to reign,
Ere passed a fleeting moment, rung
With Pleasure's wild, entrancing song;
And Heroes, Youths, and Maidens bright,
Proclaimed their thanks with rapt delight.
Throughout the region's wide extent,
Her words the bonds of magic rent.
In frolic sports, beneath her eye,
The forest train express their joy.

All living nature at her feet
Their Lovely Benefactress greet.
Soft transports fill ROSARA'S heart,
And to her face such charms impart,
To the fond youth, beyond compare
She shines 'the Fairest of the Fair.'
For never does the bosom know
Approving Love's most thrilling glow,
So sure, as when it sees its choice
Confirmed by Rapture's general voice,
And grateful crouds, with joint acclaim,
Extol the adored, the sainted name.
Contemplating the Angelic Maid
In Mercy's every charm arrayed,
'Sure if PERFECTION dwells not here
'None yet have reached its height so near!'

But soon returns the thought again,
'For me those charms must shine in vain.
'And will not Penitence avail?
'Will tears to win forgiveness fail?'
Now each delighted, grateful guest,
From thraldom freed at his request,
To the proud fair united kneel,
And plead the rover's cause with zeal.
While Pity's voice her heart assails,
Triumphant LOVE at length prevails.
She smiles, she yields, she owns his power,
Soft Peace descending blessed the hour.
The approving Heavens auspicious shine,
The air is filled with breath divine,
More lucid glories gild the sky,
And all is Transport, Life, and Joy.

The enamoured Youth to grace restored,
Receives the Nymph his soul adored.
For, though, in all his wanderings round,
Pursuing still an empty sound,
By wonder, passion, fancy fired,
He oft was charmed, had oft admired,
Yet still, his heart's best, truest flame
Was hers, beyond all other claim.
Their conquering friends, with joyous state,
Now lead from out the Palace gate,
And, guided by the jocund hours,
Conduct them to the ROSY BOWERS .
There, 'mid the Loves and Graces bland,
ROSARA yields her willing hand.
The grateful Prince, supremely blest,
Now lives alone to joy and rest;

While cold SUSPICION'S cruel dart
No more invades ROSARA'S Heart.
She seeks his truth alone to bind
In silken Fetters of the Mind,
By Love's enchanting finger twined.
Whether the EMERALD ISLANDS fair,
Or ROSY BOWERS demand his care,
Still, while in sweet ROSARA'S sight,
In every scene he meets delight.
Yet, if one moment's anxious care,
Those beauties damp that charm him there,
If transient error's passing cloud
That heavenly brow one instant shroud,
He raves not at relentless Fate,
That ne'er did faultless nymph create.
Her failings, balanced with his own,
Seem specks on snowy surface shown.

'Let me (he cries) the good enjoy,
'That Heaven bestows with slight alloy.
'Nor still with over-anxious thought
'Investigate each trifling fault.
'In fair ROSARA is combined
'Each winning grace of form and mind.
'Defects minute no more I scan,
'PERFECTION WAS NOT MADE FOR MAN ,'

THE END.