Rosara's Chain. The Golden Mines. Poem by Alicia LeFanu

[Running head: AVARICE]

As still, with Hope's delusion gay,
AMANTOR traced his devious way,
A stately Palace rose to view;
The walls were gold of shining hue;
The cement gems, whose brilliant rays
In various lights and colours blaze.
The Prince now touched a golden door,
With sparkling diamonds studded o'er;
It opes: a garden meets his eye,
With flowers adorned of every dye.
More pleasing in his sight appear
An arbour's beauteous branches near;

Whose half-concealing leaves among,
The grape's ambrosial clusters hung.
A glowing bunch, with thirsty lip,
He cropt the juice divine to sip.
But false the semblance that invites;
Jasper with Amethyst unites,
And Emerald's luxuriant green,
To form the tempting, mimic scene.
'Vain gems,' with sighs AMANTOR says,
'Ah, what avail your purpling rays?
'Can you the thirsty soul revive,
'Or bid the Fainting Wanderer live?'
A blooming rose next charm'd his sight;
He seized the prize with quick delight:
But ah! no scent the leaves disclose,
Each petal bright a ruby glows.

He finds each flower, in every part,
Of gems is formed with wondrous art.
All here Surprise and Praise command,
But nought is lovely Nature's hand.
As still the Prince his path pursued,
A river's rolling tide he viewed,
On whose transparent, silvery breast
A stately bark was seen to rest:
More splendid far, than that of yore
The bright Egyptian charmer bore.
As on the sails the sun-beams played,
A golden radiance they betrayed;
While dames appeared with vestures bright,
Whose robes diffused a dazzling light.
High on the deck, intent they stood,
To lure the inmates of the flood.

The bait ensnares, with treacherous bribe,
Gay myriads of the scaly tribe.
Their youthful charms his eye approved:-
While pleased he gazed, and gazing, loved,
His heedless step the margin leaves;
The flood his floating form receives.
Vain are his efforts, proudly strong,
The current whirls him swift along.
Now weaker grow, now fainter still,
How vain the swimmer's boasted skill!
And now no longer beats his heart,
From Light and Life he seems to part.
And is each blissful prospect fled
By Youth, and Hope, and Fancy fed!
And does the flower, that Morning eyed
In Pride of Love, and Glory's pride,

That raised to Heaven its shining crest,
Now mournful sweep the river's breast!
And shall no sigh thy fate reprove!
Ah, yes, it breathes from faithful Love:
The conscious gale that sigh shall bring,
The rose's fragrance loads its wing,
The mournful breeze the stream shall calm,
Its sweets thy Memory shall embalm!
Yet Heaven relents, nor seals his doom:
Lo, rescued from a watery tomb,
At length, the youth his eyes re-opes
To pleasing scenes, and new-born hopes.
Within the royal barge he lies,
Where beauteous nymphs around him rise.
While one, of prouder charms possest,
Who moves their Sovereign Fair confest,

Thus speaks: ' 'Twas ours thy life to save,
'With joy the timely aid we gave.
'Thee, gentle Stranger, we invite
'To scenes of grandeur and delight,
'Where, in unrivalled splendour, shines
'The PRINCESS of the GOLDEN MINES' .
The youth replies, 'Bright Maid, in me
'The sport of Love and Fate you see,
'My realms I quit, where Nature smiles
'Luxuriant in the EMERALD ISLES ,
'A Bride to seek, from coast to coast,
'Who proud Perfection's charms can boast.'
The story caught her willing ear:
(Who would not be the Faultless Fair?)
The watery sports delight no more,
Together now they seek the shore,

Together reach the splendid seat,
Where Ease, and Wealth, and Beauty meet.
To deck the banquet nymphs prepared
With scaly spoil that morn ensnared;
But, when AMANTOR sought in these
His taste, as well as sight, to please,
Each time, his fruitless efforts fail,
Of gold is formed each shining scale,
From jewels gleams the empurpled mail.
The Princess smiles: 'Here, be it known,
'We value real worth alone.
'No dainties of the vulgar board
'Our rich and sumptuous feasts afford;
'These, taught by secret springs to move,
'Amid the waves appear to rove:
'By wondrous art our lines attract,
'And thus the Angler's part we act.'

And now, in gay succession placed,
Untasted viands deck the feast,
By artful imitation made;
And soon the rich dessert is laid;
Where fruits of amber, gems and gold,
Th' unsated Stranger may behold.
At length, with pity-beaming eyes,
A lovely maid, attendant, cries,
'Perchance our weary, travelled guest
'Mislikes our bright, but sparing feast;
'And on the board would joy to find
The humble meal of plainer kind.'
' 'Tis well,' the haughty fair one said,
'Ye slaves, the homely banquet spread.'-
But poor the feast, and ill-supplied,
For plenty suits not sordid Pride!

'Zarina, charm the social hour
'With music's sweet, enlivening power.'
Thus spoke the Princess - At the sound
The obsequious virgins throng around:
And see the happy youth prepare,
The joys of melody to share.
But Ostentation here denies
Whate'er the Minstrel's art supplies.
No wood, nor ivory, wire, or string,
Produce the notes that softly ring;
With rich and brilliant ore alone
Each instrument resplendent shone.
In concert joined with voices sweet,
Bright golden bells their chimes repeat;
From silver-chorded lyres around,
Is drawn a feebly dulcet sound;

And thus, in splendour's useless boast,
The powers of harmony are lost.
'Now show my guest,' AURELIA cries,
'My stately domes that proudly rise-
'To each apartment lead the way.'
With willing smile, the nymphs obey.
In vain AMANTOR'S polished mind,
With knowledge rich, and taste refined,
Amid the gaudy scene would trace
The arts, that should a sovereign grace.
No Painter claimed the immortal wreath,
No Sculptor taught the stone to breathe,
No Bard his heaven-taught descant raised,
Genius was here unloved, unpraised.
Yet still the matchless Palace shines
With metal rich from golden mines;

Which, finely wrought, or tissued bright,
Above, around, still meets the sight.
Each maiden, freed from harsh constraint,
Now ventures forth her soft complaint.
' 'Tis Avarice, inhuman guest,
'That reigns in stern AURELIA'S breast.
'Whate'er all-bounteous Heaven supplies,
'Her iron rule to us denies:
'No youthful joy our bosoms feel-
'And what Reward awaits our zeal?
'These robes, with gold and diamonds graced,
'But cover hearts with care oppressed.
'Each pleasing product Nature lends,
'Or art creates, far, far she sends,
'For gold exchanged; we mourn our fate,
'Enthralled in barren, cumbrous state,

'Convenience, Pleasure, names forgot,
'Attend not on our hapless lot.'
AMANTOR sighs the scene to view,
But finds the painful picture true.
Yet still the bright and royal Fair
Selects him her peculiar care,
And new delights would still devise,
To gild each moment as it flies.
'To you, much-favoured Youth, I show
'The wonders of my mines below.'
'Twas thus with smiles the fair one said,
And to the deep recesses led,
Where diamonds sparkle, gold is found.
Or argent treasures rich abound.
There, far from light, from ease, and joy,
Uncounted slaves their hours employ

In nosiome , ever-growing toil,
To swell their sovereign's golden spoil.
The unpeopled land, and desert coast
In vain lament their children lost.
With tenderest sympathy impressed,
The kneeling Prince the Maid addressed.
'Sure Pity dwells in looks so fair,
'Oh, spare your wretched people, spare!
'From labour's irksome bondage freed,
'Restore the shepherd to the mead;
'By speedy grace, to all be given
'The smiles of earth, the airs of Heaven!'
'Peace, peace vain Youth!' the Dame replied,
And darts a look of sternest pride,
While angry frowns at once efface
Each winning charm, and tender grace.

'Oh, Avarice accurst!' he cries,
'Ye hapless slaves, accept my sighs!'
'Discourse so bold no more I bear!
'Guard him, ye slaves, for ever here,
'Deprived of Day's enchanting smile,
'His Life preserved for endless toil!'
She spoke, and seeking realms of light,
Her victim leaves to endless night.
A martyr true to Mercy's cause,
He yields to Fate's oppressive laws.
In vain for him the all-cheering sun
Full many a glorious period run.
As now, his dreary way he sought,
To tempt some far removed vault,
An ancient slave attracts his eyes.-
'Does the dim light deceive?' he cries:

'To meet the sage sure Fate ordains,
'Who freed me from ROSARA'S CHAINS !'
'See here,' replies the virtuous Bard,
'My faithful friendship's sad reward!
'As thee I sought, thy steps to guide,
'Or share thy fortune's various tide,
'Behold me in a luckless hour,
'Betrayed to stern AURELIA'S power;
'Thence, to her mines a captive driven,
'But freed at length by favouring Heaven.
'To 'scape unnoticed, under ground,
'A secret pass by me is found.
'What says my loved, my valued friend,
'Will he my happy flight attend?
'May these, the partners of my care,'
AMANTOR cries, 'my fortune share?'

With looks that sad regret inspire,
The Sage restrains his generous fire.
'Their minds, by bondage long debased,
'The charms of freedom could not taste:
'The sordid fears their bosoms feel,
'Might yet my well-formed plan reveal.'
'Then,' cries the youth, 'no more delay.'
The Bard points out the devious way;
At length they hail the chearful day.