Chapter X: Gold!

In the sand, lo! something to the sun Replied with brilliant lustre; as I brushed The dust away, I saw that it was gold!-- A solid bar of gold--and yet so weak Was I, I could not move it from its place. I would have given then the bar of gold To buy a crust, but could not. So we passed, And came where five great rivers went their ways. Which should we follow? One I knew Led to the tree of life, but all the rest Went back to death. Here a dead bird we found, And tearing off its gaudy plumage, ate. Upon occasional trees grew strange sparse fruits, And these sustained us as we wandered on. Along the banks for many a mile we went By each of these five rivers, then returned. So all my hope was dead, and long I prayed That I might live to see my land again.