University of Virginia Library

All Night in Tears the pensive Merchant lay,
And often wish'd, and fear'd the coming Day;
Till, on the Hills, the rising Sun display'd
His golden Beams, and chas'd away the Shade:
Harmonious Birds salute his chearful Rays,
And hail the rosy Morn with joyful Lays;
While, stretch'd upon the Ground, Avaro moans,
Answ'ring their tuneful Songs with piercing Groans.

Not distant far from where the Youth was laid,
A purling Stream, in pleasing Murmurs, play'd;
And, by the Margin of the crystal Flood,
Two Rows of Trees in beauteous Order stood;
Whose Branches form'd a pendent Arch above,
Diffusing gloomy Verdure o'er the Grove.
An Indian Princess hither daily came,
Pleas'd with the grateful Shade, and cooling Stream:
She now was walking to her lov'd Retreat,
And heard the mourning Youth lament his Fate:
Fix'd in Amaze, a-while she list'ning stood;
Then swift approach'd him, rushing thro' the Wood.
Th' affrighted Merchant rose with gazing Eyes,
And tim'rous Looks, that testify'd Surprize:
Backward he starts; the Dame, with equal Fears,
Recedes as fast, and wonders what appears:
Yet, bolder grown, she soon advanc'd again,
Smit with the Beauty of the godlike Man:
His Dress, and fair Complexion, charm'd her Sight;
Each glowing Feature gave her new Delight;
While Love and Pity both arose within,
And kindled in her Soul a Flame unseen.
With equal Joy Avaro now survey'd
The native Graces of the Negro Maid:
He view'd her Arms, with various Ribbands bound;
Her downy Head, with painted Feathers crown'd;
With Bredes, and lucid Shells, in Circles strung,
Which shone refulgent, as they round her hung.

As when, in splendid Robes, a courtly Maid
Begins the Dance at Ball or Masquerade;
The Pearls and Di'monds shine with mingled Light,
And glitt'ring Pendants blaze against the Sight.

So shone the beauteous Shells around her Waist,
And sparkling Gems, that deck'd her jetty Breast;
All which Avaro's gazing Eyes pursue,
Charm'd with her lovely Shape, disclos'd to View:
Each Limb appears in just Proportion made,
With Elegance thro' ev'ry Part display'd:
And now his Cares dissolve, new Passions move;
And Nature intimates, the Change is Love.

Not far remote, a cooling Grot was made,
In which the Virgin often sought a Shade:
Thick Shrubs, and fruitful Vines, around it grew;
And none, except herself, the Mansion knew.
To this obscure Recess the Royal Dame,
Rejoicing, with her lovely Captive came:
Then, from the Branches, with officious Haste,
She plucks the Fruits, which yield a sweet Repast:
That done, she, with her Bow, explores the Wood;
Pierc'd with her Shaft, the Fowl resigns his Blood.
Then back she hastens to her cool Retreat,
And for Avaro dress'd the grateful Meat:
To slake his Thirst, she next directs his Way,
Where crystal Streams in wild Meanders stray:
Nor lets him there, expos'd to Foes, remain;
But to the Cave conducts him safe again.

So doats Amanda on the Merchant, while
She scorns the Lovers of her native Isle:
For all the Heroes of her Country strove,
With Emulation, to attract her Love;
And, when they could the painted Fowls insnare,
Or pierce the savage Beast in sylvan War,
The Skins and Feathers, Trophies of their Fame,
They gave for Presents to the Royal Dame;
All which she to her lov'd Avaro brought,
And with them gaily deck'd his shining Grot:
The spotted Panther here she hung; and there,
With Paws extended, frown'd the shaggy Bear;
Here gaudy Plumes appear, in Lustre bright;
There Shells and Pearls diffuse a sparkling Light.

As when, to grace some Royal Prince's Hall,
The skilful Painter animates the Wall;
Here warlike Heroes frown in Martial Arms,
There a soft Nymph displays her blushing Charms
A pleasing Landscape next invites our Eye,
And the Room glows with sweet Variety.

Yet, still to give her Lover more Delight,
(Lest what he daily saw, should pall the Sight)
When Sol with Purple cloath'd the Western Sky,
And Shades extended shew'd the Ev'ning nigh,
She to some verdant Grove the Youth convey'd,
Where Nightingales harmonious Music made:
Soft Flow'rets were their Couch; and, all around,
Diffusive Sweets perfum'd the fragrant Ground.
There oft she would his snowy Bosom bare,
Oft round her Fingers wind his silver Hair;
Charm'd with the Contrast, which their Colours made,
More pleasing than the Tulip's Light and Shade.
Nor was the Youth insensible; but soon
Repaid her Love, by shewing of his own:
Oft would his Bosom heave with speaking Sighs;
Oft would he gaze, and languish with his Eyes:
Now on her panting Breast his Head repose,
To meet his Head her panting Breast arose;
While in her Soul ecstatic Raptures glow'd,
And her fond Arms believ'd they clasp'd a God.

So liv'd the happy Pair, observ'd by none,
Till both had learnt a Language of their own;
In which the Youth, one Ev'ning, in the Shade,
Beguiles the harmless unsuspicious Maid;
Leans on her Breast, and, with a Kiss, betrays;
Then vents his specious Fraud in Words like these:

Witness, ye Gods, and all ye Blest above,
(For Ye can witness best, how well I love)
If e'er, among our blooming Nymphs, I knew
Such Pleasures, as my Soul receives from you!
O dear Amanda! could I but, with thee,
Once more my happy native Country see,
You should not there in lonely Caves retreat,
Nor trace the burning Sands with naked Feet;
Your Limbs, which now the Sun and Wind invade,
Should neatly be in softest Silks array'd;
In gilded Houses gaily should you ride,
By Horses drawn, which prancing Side by Side,
Neigh, foam, and champ the Bit with graceful Pride;
Our Time, in Pomp and Peace, should slide away,
And blooming Pleasures crown the smiling Day;
And, when the setting Sun forsook the Skies,
Approaching Night should but increase our Joys:
We would not on the chilling Ground embrace,
Nor Foes, as now, should interrupt our Peace;
But both reposing on some easy Bed,
Soft, as the fleecy Down, that decks thy Head,
The sportive God of Love should round us play,
While we, in Raptures, pass'd the Night away:
Then let us carefully, my Dear, explore
The Haven, where I first approach'd the Shore.
Perhaps we shall some floating Ship survey,
Safe to conduct us o'er the watry Way:
Nor let the foaming Waves your Steps retard;
I'll guard you o'er, and be a faithful Guard.

How oft, alas! is Innocence betray'd,
When Love invites, and Flatterers persuade?
How could the Dame, a Stranger to Deceit,
Imagine such a heav'nly Form a Cheat?
She paus'd, she sigh'd; then, with a pensive Look,
Half loth, and half consenting, thus she spoke:

Once has Avaro scap'd the raging Main:
Why would you tempt the fickle Seas again?
To seek new Dangers, when in Safety here,
Would but provoke the Deities you fear—
Sometimes, I own, we've been surpriz'd by Foes,
Whose nightly Walks have wak'd you from Repose:
Yet still I guard your sacred Life secure,
And always will—What can Amanda more?

Thus said, she clasp'd him in her loving Arms,
Embrac'd his Neck, and doated on his Charms:
And now both shew their Passions in their Look,
And now Connubial Hymen both invoke;
In sportive Joys they clos'd the genial Day,
While Philomela sung the Nuptial Lay;
Till soon the Youth reclin'd upon her Breast,
And golden Slumbers seal'd their Eyes to Rest.