“What sought they thus afar?
Bright jewels of the mine,
The wealth of seas, the spoils of war?
They sought a faith's pure shrine.”

— Felicia Hemans

Stanza 9.
The Landing of the Pilgrim Fathers http://www.poetry-archive.com/h/landing_of_the_pilgrim_fathers.html (1826)

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Felicia Hemans 17

English poet 1793–1835

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Context: It is said he made his earth-journey, and lost
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“And do not think, my boy, that because I, impulsively broke forth in jubillations over Shakspeare, that, therefore, I am of the number of the snobs who burn their tuns of rancid fat at his shrine. No, I would stand afar off & alone, & burn some pure Palm oil, the product of some overtopping trunk.”

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“What sought they thus afar?Bright jewels of the mine,The wealth of seas, the spoils of war?They sought a faith's pure shrine.”

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Felicia Hemans 17

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“What sought they thus afar?
Bright jewels of the mine,
The wealth of seas, the spoils of war?
They sought a faith's pure shrine.”