T H E B O O K O F FA I RY P O ET RY

E DI T ED B Y DO RA OW EN

I LL U ST R ATED BY WAR W I CK GO BLE

L O N G M N S G A N D C O A , R E E N . W N 3 9 P A T E R N O S T E R R O , L O D O N

V E m EE NE W YORK FOURTH A NUE 30 STR T,

B OMBAY CALCUTTA AND MAD R AS , ,

CO N TE N TS

PAR T I

F airy Stories

‘ I b om as tke Rkym er

Tam lane

K ilrneny

Ali ce B rand

Tbe F erlie

Tbe F airies

‘ Yke La raeaun or F air Slooernaker p , y Tine F a iries of tbe Caldon-Low Yke F a iry Well of Lagnanay Tipe K elpie ofCorrievreekan

’ Tine B rownie of B ledn ojk

Goklin M arket

' La B elle Dam e Sans M erei

Tlie F orsa ken M m a n er 3 F ront Th e Co m ing of fi rlkil r

21 F air Revel be ore tloe com in o Gu inevere y , f g f From Th e P assing of Ar tlanr M erlin and tbe F ay Vivian

Tire Veairies

Wk a t tbe Toys do a t Nigb t

P ix Work v y

B erries

P eak and P u ke V i TH E B OOK OF FAIRY POIE

The H o ney -Robbers The Three B eggars

The Lo ve- Ta lker

The H ills of R uel The H os t of the Air

The Stolen Child

PAR T II

a a an d F iry Songs , D nces ,

’ Th e F a iries Dance

’ The Elves Dance ’ The Urchins Dance Old So ng F a iry Revels Th e F airy Queen R obin Go od-fellow ’ Ariel s Songs

F airy Orders for theNfigh t a w ' Th e E nch anter Caliban plagu ed by Fam e; ’ F a iry Scenes from M idsum m er Night s Dre The Eigh th Nim ph all Song Th e Elfin Pedlar Songs fro m P rince B righ tkin

The Noo n Call

So ng fro m Th e Culprit F ay Owlspiegle and Coc kledernoy F a iry Song CONTENTS V ii

PAGE F airies o n the Sea-sh ore The Co nceited Elf So ng of F our F airies Two F airies in a Garden The Merm aid Th e Merm an The Sea -fa iries

The M o on Child

’ Mider s Song F a iry Lu llaby ’ The F airies Lullaby A F aery Song

PAR T III

F airyland an d F airy Lore

’ The F airies F arewell Nim phidia the Court of F a iry Lirope the B righ t Chris tm as Tide

0 th n I see e , The F a iry B anquet The Fairy M usic ians ’ Ob on s F east er , The F airy K ing Qu een M ab

The F a iries

The B a to M ab the F a ir egg r , y — From the Nigh t P iece to j u lia Good Lu ck befriend thee viii THE B OOK OF FAIRY POETRY

Som e say no evil thing

So m etim es with secure deli h t , g

Dam on the M ower

B enigh ted Travellers The Elfi n Ga thering P op ular Rhym es of Sco tland Friday Th e F ou n tain of th e F airies F rom The Plea of the M idsum m er F a iries

Flower-F airies

The Elf Toper Lob Lie by the Fire The F a iry Lough

The Tru ants

The R uin

From the H ills of Drea m

Dream s within Dream s

Th e Lords of Sh adow Th e Nigh tingale in F airyla nd F ro m A Vision ofM erm a ids The F airy B oy ’ Children children don t or et , , f g The F a iry M inister Goblin Feet The Last F ay The H orns of Elfland LIST O F COLOURED PLATES

FR OM DR AW INGS BY W AR W ICK GOBLE

' ACI'NG PAGE And sweetl sin in round abou t th bed , y g g y ,

Str l t r bl s n l n F ew a l hei e sings o thy s eepi g h ead . rontispiece [See Page I S9!

un o d t n r nd The d deer w oe wi h m an e bla ,

And cowered benea th her lily hand.

’ o l Will ye gang wi m e t the Eflyn K nowe .

Down to the ro cks where the serpents creep .

B uy from u s with a golden curl.

Three spirits m ad with joy

Co m e dashing down on a tall wayside flower.

h do et awa down u nder round Oh t ey g y g , ’ I n hollow pleazen where they can t be vo und .

I nstead of crust a peaco ck pie.

— ll Sea nym phs h ourly ring his kne

- - hear them din don bell. H ark now I , g g ,

ake when som e vile thin is n ar . W , g e

F or the Nhu tilus is m y boa t ” I n which I over the wa ters float. X TH E B OOK OF POETRY

And I sh ould look like a fountain ofgold .

Wh a tform she pleased each thing would take ’ ”

Tha t e er she did behold .

’ B u t P u ck was sea ted on a spider s thread . — And the p adding feet of m any gnom es a com ing P A R T I

Fairy Sto rie s FAI RY BREAD

COM E U e e 0 t ee t p h r , dus y f H e e a b e a to e at r is f iry r d , H e e m e t m r in y r iring roo , C e m a i e hildr n , you y d n O n th e golde n sm ell of b room An d th e sh ade of pin e And e a e e ate e wh n you h v n w ll , t Fairy s orie s hear and tell .

R . L. STEVENSON. Thom as th e Rhym er

TRU E Thomas lay on H u ntlie bank ’ A ferlie spied he wi his c c Ther e he saw a lady bright C e d th e om ri ing down by Eildon Tree .

’ Her 0 - l skirt was the grass green si k, Her mantle o ’ the velvet fine ’ At ilka t ett of her horse s mane

Hung fifty siller bells and nine .

’ e h e Tru Thomas , pu d aff his cap , e h is And lout d low down to knee, M Hail to thee, ary, Queen of Heaven ” Fo r t b e h y peer on earth could never .

0 0 sh e no, no , Thomas , said, That name does not belong to m e ’ ’ 0 Elfland I m but the Queen fair , That hither have come to visit thee .

” sh e Harp and carp , Thomas , said ’ Harp and carp along wi m e

And if ye dare to kiss my lips,

Sure of your bodie I shall be .

e W o e Betid me weal, betide me , That weird shall never daunton me . ’ e kiss d th e l Syn he has her on ips, All undern eath th e Eildon Tree .

’ ” e wi m e sh e Now, y maun go , said ’ e wi Now, Thomas, y maun go me e e e m e e And y maun s rv sev n years , e Through weal or wo e as m ay chance to b . ’ She s mounted on her milk -white st eed ; ’ ’ And she s t a en Th omas up behind ’ a e e And y , whene er her bridl rang, e The steed gaed swift r than the Wind .

0 e they rad on , and farther on The steed gaed swifter than the Wind ’ reach d Until they a desert wide,

And living land was left behind .

sh e Now, Thomas , light doun , light doun , said, And lean your head upon my knee e e Abide y th re a little space , l o And I wi l shew y u ferlies three .

0 o u see ye not y narrow road , ’ So thick beset Wi thorns and briars P th e That is path of righteousness , fe Though after it but w enquires .

see And ye not yon braid braid road , That lies across the lily leven th e That is path of wickedness , Though some call it the road to h eaven .

see e o n And not y y bonny road, That winds about the ferny brae Elfland That is the road to fair ,

Where thou and I this night maun gae .

h an d But , Thomas , ye sall your tongue, Whatever ye may hear or see Elfin- For , speak ye word in land , ’ ’ Ye ll n e er win back to your ain countrie .

0 e th y rade on , and further on, And they waded rivers abune the knee saw And they neither sun nor moon ,

But they heard the roaring of a sea. TAMLANE

It was mirk, mirk night , there was nae starlight , They wad ed through red blude to the knee ’ ’ Fo r a the blude that s shed on the e arth ’ 0 Rins through the springs that countrie .

Syne they came to a garden green ’ And sh e pu d an apple frae a tree sh e Take this for thy wages , Thomas , said e l It will give thee the tongu that can never ee .

” M th ea h o m as y tongue is my ain, he said A g u d ely gift ye wad gie to me I neither dought to buy or sell

At fair or tryst where I might be .

I dought neither speak to prince or peer, Nor ask of grace from fair ladye ” th e sh e Now, haud y peac , Thomas , said, ” Fo r sa so as I y, must it be .

He has gotten a coat of the even cloth , ’ And a pair 0 shoon of the velvet gree n e ame And till sev n years were come and g , True Th omas on earth was never seem

Tam lan e

’ O , I forbid ye , maidens a ,

Who are sae sweet and fair , Cart erh au h To come or gae by g ,

F o r young Tam lan e is there .

F air Janet sat within her bower , S ewing her silken seam , t o Cart erh au h And wished be in g ,

Amang the leaves sae green . ’ ’ Carterh au h And she s awa to g , a h e As quickly s s may .

’ ’ Sh e -flo w er hadna pu d a wild , A flower but barely three, e Tam lane When up he start d, young , a-b e Says Lady, let

’ e u f t i’ What gars y p the lowers , Jane What gars ye break the tree 3 e e Carterh au h Or why com y to g , ’ Without the leave 0 me i

’ u sh e O I will p the flowers , says , e e And I will br ak the tre , Cart erh au h And I will come to g , ‘ ’ ” And ask nae leave 0 thee .

’ ’ sh e e h er e But when cam to fath r s ha , Sh e looked sae wan and pale They thought the lady had gotten a fright

Or with sickness sair did ail .

in e e k O g my Lov w re an earthly night , As h e is elfin an gay, I wadna gie my ain true Love Fo r ony lord that we hae

’ ’ Sh e prink d h ersell and p reen d h ersell ’ ae 0 By the light the moon , ’ awa Cart erh au h And she s to g , ’ To speak wi young Tam lane .

’ No sh e sooner had pu d a leaf , e A l af but only twae, Tam lane When up he started, young , ’ Says, Lady, thou pu s nae mae TAMLANE

0 l Tam lane sh e te l me truth, says, A word ye mauna lee e Were ev r ye in a holy chapel, ’ Or sain d in Ch ristent ee

’ l The truth I ll tel to thee , Janet , A word I winna lee ’ ’ I am a knight s and a lady s son , ’ as ai d And w s n as well as thee .

l But once it fe l upon a day,

As hunting I did ride, ’ As e o n l I rad east and o er y hil , e Strang chance did me betide .

There blew a drowsy, drowsy wind, m e e Dead sleep upon f ll , Th e Queen of Fairies sh e was there r And took me to h e sell .

An d never would I tire, J In fairy-land to dwell But aye at every seven years They pay the teind to hell ’ And though the Queen mak s much 0 ’ l b e I fear twil mysell .

’ ’ - w it s To morro night Hallowe en ,

Our fairy court will ride, Through England and through Scotland And through the world sae wide

And if that ye wad borrow me,

At Miles Cross ye maun bide .

’ Ye ll gae into the Miles Moss Atween twelve hours and o n e ’ e Tak holy wat r in your hand, And cast a compass roun 5 7 ) THE B OOK OF FAIRY POETRY

Tam lan e But how shall I ken thee, , n Or how shall I thee k aw,

Amang sae mony unearthly knights , The like I never saw

The first court that comes along Ye ’ll let them a ’ pass by The second court that comes along S alute them reverently .

The third court that comes along

Is clad in robes of green , ’ ’ ’ 0 And it s the head court them a , And in it rides the Queen

And I upon a milk-white steed Wi a bright star in my crown Because I am a christened knight

They gave me that renown .

M y right hand will be gloved , Janet , My left hand will be bare And when ye see these tokens ’ Ye ll ken that I am there .

’ n Ye ll seize upon me at a spri g, I ’ll ’ And to the ground fa , ’ ’ And then ye ll hear a ru efu cry ’ Tam lane That he s awa .

’ They ll turn me cauld in your arms , Janet , As ice on a frozen lake h an d But me fast , let me not pass , in G ye would be my maik .

’ They ll turn me in your arms , J An adder and an aske ’ They ll turn me in your arms , Janet , A bayle that burns fast

1 0 THE B OOK OF FAIRY POETRY

’ ’ 0 F Up then and spak the Queen airies , ’ ’ 0 Out a bush o rye , She ’s ta ’en awa the bonniest knight In a ’ my companie

’ Tam lan e But had I kenn d , , she says , “ ’ b o rro w d A lady wad thee , ’ ’ w ad t wa I ta en out thy grey e en, ’ ’ Pu t t a in w e en o tree .

’ Tam lane Had I but kenn d , , she says , ’ Before we cam frae hame, ’ ’ 0 I wad ta en out your heart flesh , u t P in a heart of stane .

Had I but had the wit yestreen

That I have coft this day, I ’d paid my teind seven times to hell ’ Ere you d been won away I

K ilm e n y

’ The Thirteenth B ard s Song

BONNY K ilm eny gaed up the glen ; ’ D u n eira 3 m en But it wasna to meet , th e Nor the rosy monk of isle to see,

Fo r K ilm eny w as pure as pure could be . was i It only to hear the yorl n sing , ’ And p u the cress -flo w er round the spring h -b err e The scarlet ypp and the hind y , And the nut that hung frae the hazel tree

For Kilm eny was pure as pure could be . ’ ’ But lang may her minny look o er the wa And lang may she seek i ’ the greenwood shaw ’ Du n eira Lang the laird o blame, e Kilm en And lang , lang gre t or y come hame K I LME NY 1 1

h f W en many a day had come and led , was When grief grew calm , and hope dead , ’ K ilm en s When mass for y soul had been sung , ’ th e ra d th e - l When bedesman had p y and dead bel rung, l Late, late in a gloaming , when all was stil ,

When the fringe was red on the westlin hill, ’ Th e wood was sere , the moon i the wane , ’ ’ Th e reek o the cot hung o er the plain , Lik e a little wee cloud in the world its lane ’ Wh en th e ingle lowed wi an eiry leme Kilm en Late, late in the gloaming y came hame

Kil m en Kilm en 3 y, y, where have you been Lang h ae we sought baith holt and dean B y linn , by ford, by greenwood tree , see Yet you are halesome and fair to . ’ Wh ere gat ye that jo u p o the lily sheen 3 ’ That bonnie snood o the birk sae green 3 And e 3 thos roses , the fairest that ever were seen Kilm en Kilm en du 3 y, y, where have y been

’ ’ Kilm en lo o k d wi y up a lovely grace, ’ Bu t nae smile was seen on K ilm eny s face ll As sti was her look, and as still was her e e , As th e e stillness that lay on the em rant lea ,

Or th e mist that sleeps on a waveless sea . F o r Kihn en sh e y had been , kenned not where , And Kilm eny had seen what sh e could not declar e Kilm en th e y had been where cock never crew,

h . W ere the rain never fell, and the wind never blew

But it seemed as the harp of the sky had rung, i And the a rs of heaven played round her tongue , Wh sh e en spoke of the lovely forms she had seen, And a land Wh ere sin had never been

A land of love and a land of light , su n Withouten , or moon , or night ’ e e Wh r the river swa d a living stream , And th e light a pure and cloudless beam Th e e land of vision , it would s em ,

l e . A stil , an verlasting dream And down in yon greenwood he walks his lane .

Kilm en In that green wene y lay, ’ ’ Her bosom h ap d wi fi o w eret s gay

But the air was soft , and the silence deep , K lm e And bonny i ny fell sound asleep . ’ ’ o en d e e She kenned nae mair , nor p her , ’ ak d Till w by the hymns of a far c o u ntrye .

Sh e k sae woke on a couch of sil slim , All striped wi’ the bars of the rainbow’s rim

And lovely beings round were rife , Who erst had travelled mortal life ’ And aye they smiled and gan to speer , What spirit has brought this mortal here 3

Lang have I j ourneyed the world wide , A meek and reverend fere replied

Baith night and day I have watched the fair .

Eident a thousand years and mair . ’ ilk Yes , I have watched o er degree, Wherever blooms fem initye

And sinless virgin , free of stain

In mind and body, found I nane . Never since th e banquet of time F n ound I a virgi in her prime , l Til late this bonny maiden I saw, As spotless as th e morning snaW Full twenty years she has lived as free As the spirits that soj ourn in this c o u ntrye I h ave brought her away from th e snares of men ” That sin or death sh e never may ken .

sae They clasped her waist , and her hands fair , e kem m ed Th y kissed her cheeks , and they her hai K I LME NY 1 3

And round came many a blooming fere , ’ S K ilm en aying, Bonny y, ye re welcome here Women are free d of the litt and scorn O blessed be the day Kilm eny was born

Now shall the land of the spirits see , Now shall it ken what a woman may be M any a lang year , in sorrow and pain , M ’ any a lang year through the world we ve gane , C - ommissioned to watch fair woman kind, ’ o F r it s they Who nurse the immortal mind . W e have watched their steps as the dawning shone , An d deep in the greenwood walks alone i e By l ly bow r and silken bed , ’ Th e V iewless tears have o er them shed

Have soothed their ardent minds to sleep ,

Or left the couch of love to weep . We ! e e have seen we have s en but the time maun com , And th e angels will weep at the day of doom

0 would th e fairest of mortal kind A e y keep these holy truths in mind, That kindred spirits their motions se e Wh o x watch their ways with an ious e e, And griev e for the guilt of h u m anitye ’ 0 th e e , sweet to Heaven maid n s prayer , And the sigh that heaves a bosom sae fair And dear to Heaven the words of truth ’ And th e praise of virtue frae beauty s mouth th e V And dear to iewless forms of air , Th e mind that kythes as the body fair

Kilm en ! O, bonny y free frae stain, e e e If v r you se k the world again , sin That world of , of sorrow, and fear, 0 tell of the j oys that are waiting here And t ell of the signs yo u shall shortly see th e are n o w Of times that , and the times that

e Kilm en Th y lifted y, they led her away, And sh e walke d in th e light of a sunless d ay 1 4 THE B OOK OF FAIRY POETRY

sk The y was a dome of crystal bright , l The fountain of vision , and fountain of ight Th e emerant fields were of dazzling glow,

And the flowers of everlasting blow . th e Then deep in stream her body they laid , That her youth and her beauty never might fade ’ sm il d saw And they on Heaven , when they her lie

In the stream of life that wandered by . sh e And heard a song, she heard it sung ’ Sh e sae ken d not where , but sweetly it rung ,

It fell on the ear like a dream of the morn , O blest be the day Kilm eny was born I

Now shall the land of the spirits see , Now shall it ken what a woman may b e w The sun that shines on the orld sae bright , A borrowed gleid frae the fountain of light sk And the moon that sleeks the y sae dun ,

Like a gouden bow or a beamless sun , S nae hall wear away and be seen mair , e An d the angels shall miss th m travelling the air .

But lang , lang after , baith nicht and day, Wh en the su n and the world have ely ed away h W en the sinner has gane to his waesome doom , Kilm eny shall smile in eternal bloom

sh e They bore her away, wist not how, Fo r she felt not arm nor rest below

But so swift they wained her through the light , ’Twas like the motion of sound or sight

They seemed to split the gales of air ,

And yet nor gale nor breeze was there . w Unnumbered groves belo them grew, flew They came, they passed , and backward , e Lik floods of blossoms gliding on ,

A moment seen , in a moment gone . 0 V , never vales to mortal iew ’ Appeared like those o er which they flew,

That land to human spirits given , Th e lowermost vales of the storied heaven F e V rom th nce they can iew the world below, K I LME NY 1 5

’ t e And heaven s blue gates wi h sapphir s glow . e et Mor glory y unmeet to know .

h er e They bore far to a mountain gre n, se e e To what mortal n ver had seen , e And th y seated her high on a purple sward, An d bade her heed what she saw and heard, An d note the changes the spirits wrought ,

For now she lived in the land of thought . Sh e sh e saw su n looked, and nor nor skies , Bu t a crystal dom e of a thousand dyes Sh e saw looked, and she nae land aright ,

But an endless whirl of glory and light ,

And radiant beings went and came, svvift er th e e Far than wind, or link d flame . ’ She hid her e en frae the dazzling V iew

Sh e w as . looked again , and the scene new

Sh e saw su n a in a summer sky , And clouds of amber sailing by

A lovely land beneath her lay, And that land had glens and mountains grey ; l r And that land had va leys and hoa y piles ,

And marled seas and a thousand isles . I ts its fields were speckled , forests green , e And its lakes w re all of a dazzling sheen , e Lik magic mirrors , where slumbering lay su n sk The , and the y, and the cloudlet grey h W ich heaved and trembled and gently swung, On every shore they seemed to be hung Fo r there they were seen on their downward plain A thousand times and a thousand again n n e In wi di g lak , and placid firth, e Littl peaceful heavens in the bosom of earth .

Kilm en y sighed and seemed to grieve , Fo r sh e found her heart to that land did cleave Sh e saw th e corn wav e on the vale Sh e saw the deer run down the dale Sh e saw th e the plaid and broad Claymore, 1 6 THE B OOK OF FAIRY POETRY

An d the brows that the badge of freedom bore, sh e th e And she thought had seen land before .

Kilm en saw But to sing the sights y , ’ So far surpassing nature s law, ’ Th e w ad singer s voice sink away, a w ad And the string of his h rp cease to play . saw But she till the sorrows of man were by, An d all was love and harmony

Till the stars of heaven fell calmly away, i L ke flakes of snaw on a winter day .

Then Kilm eny begged again to see

' left in The friends she had her ain countrie , sh e b To tell of the place where had een , And the glories that lay in the land unseen

To warn the living maidens fair , ’ The loved of heaven , the spirits care , That all whose minds u nm eled remain

Shall bloom in beauty when time is g am e .

With distant music , soft and deep , They lulled K ilm eny sound asleep sh e And when she awakened, lay her lane,

All . happed with flowers , in the greenwood wene

When seven long years had come and fled , w as m When grief cal , and hope was dead , ’ Kilm en s When scarce was remembered y name , ’ lo am in Kilm en Late , late in a g y came hame .

And O , her beauty was fair to see , But still and steadfast was her e e

Such beauty bard may never declare , Fo r there was no pride nor passion there And the soft desire of maiden ’s een

In that mild face could never b e seen . se m ar Her y was the lily flower , And her cheek the moss-rose in the shower e And her voice like the distant melody , ea That floats along the twilight s .

K I LME NY 1 7

sh e th e But loved to raike lanely glen , An d e keep afar fra the haunts of men,

Her holy hymns unheard to sing,

To suck the flowers, and drink the spring

But wherever her peaceful form appeared , The wild beasts of the hill were cheered Th e bl t h el th e wolf played y y round field, Th e k lordly bison lowed , and neeled Th e dun deer wooed with manner bland,

And cowered beneath her lily hand . An d th e when at eve woodlands rung, Wh en hymns of other worlds sh e sung

In ecstasy of sweet devotion , 0 th e w as , then glen all in motion

The wild beasts of the forest came , b u h t s e Broke from their g and faulds the tam , o ved h And g around , c armed and amazed

Even the dull cattle crooned and gazed,

And murmured, and looked with anxious pain

Fo r som ething the mystery to explain . Th e buzzard came with the throstle-cock The corby left h er houf in the rock ’ Th e blackbird alang wi the eagle flew ’ Th e hind came tripping o er the d ew Th e th e wolf and kid their raike began , And th e tod and th e lamb and the leveret ran Th e h em e hawk and the attour th m hung, And th e merle and th e mavis fo rh o o yed their young e And all in . a peaceful ring wer hurled I t was like an eve in a sinless world

h d a W en a month and a y had come and gane , Kilm eny sought the greenwood wene e th e e Th re laid her down on leaves sae gr en ,

And Kilm eny on earth was never mair seen . But O l the words that fell frae h er mouth e e W r words of wonder , and words of truth all But the land were in fear and dread,

Fo r th ey kendna whether sh e was living or dead . 1 8 THE B OOK OF FAIRY POETRY

w sh e d It asna her hame , and coul na remain Sh e a left this world of sorrow and p in ,

And returned to the land of thought again . E H c JAM S o c .

Alice Brand

M is ERRY it in the good greenwood , “ e n Wh n the mavis and merle are singi g, th e c r When deer sweeps by, and the hounds are in y ’ And the hunter s horn is ringing .

0 Al ice Brand , my native land Is lost for love of yo u we b And must hold y wood and wold,

As outlaws wont to do .

’ 0 w all so Alice , t as for thy locks bright , ’ And twas all for thine eyes so blue , th e l e That on night of our luck ss flight ,

Thy broth er bold I slew .

No w must I teach to hew the b e ech Th e hand that held the glaive, Fo r e leav s to spread our lowly bed ,

An d stakes to fenc e our cave .

l And for vest of pal , thy fingers small,

That wont on harp to stray, ’ slau h t er d ee A cloak must shear from the g d r, ” To keep the cold away.

0 Richard if my brother died , ’Twas but a fatal chance Fo r l was dark ing the battle tried,

And fortun e sped the lanc e . ALICE B RAND 1 9

l If pal and vair no more I wear, th e Nor thou crimson sheen , ’ th e e As warm , we ll say, is russ t grey, As gay the forest green .

b e And , Richard , if our lot hard, An d d lost thy native lan , ll e h er Ri Sti Alic has own chard , ” And he his Alice Brand .

’ ’ Tis tis e merry, merry, in good gr enwood , So b lithe Lady Al ice is singing ’ ’ e On the beech s prid , and oak s brown side, ’ R axe Lord ich ard s is ringing .

e Up spok the moody Elfin King, ’ wo n d th e Who within hill, ’ i e th e ru in d L k wind in porch of a church ,

His voice was ghostly shrill .

Wh y sounds yon stroke on b eech and ’ Our moonlight circle s screen 3 e e th e e Or who comes h re to chas de r, Belo v e d of our Elfin Queen 3 Or wh o may dar e on wold to wear ’ Th e fairi e s fatal green 3

Up , Urgan , up to yon mortal hie ’ Fo r thou we rt ch rist en d man fl For cross or sign thou wilt not y, ’ Fo r m tt er u d word or ban .

’ th e e th e with er d Lay on him curs of heart , Th e curs e of the sleepless eye ll h e Ti wish and pray that his life would part , ” e e Nor y t find leave to di .

’ ’ m e r Tis r y , tis merry, in good greenwood, ’ Though th e birds have still d th eir singing Th e e e e e v ning blaz doth Alice rais , And Richard is fagots bringing . 20 TH E B OOK OF FAIRY POETRY

r p Urgan starts , that hideous dwa f ,

Before Lord Richard stands , ’ ’ as c ro ss d b less d And , he and himself ,

I fear not s gn , quoth the grisly elf , i ” That is made with bloody hands .

e Al But out th n spoke she , ice Brand ,

That woman , void of fear ’ And if there s blood upon his hand , ’ ” Tis but th e blood of deer .

No w loud thou liest , thou bold of mood

It cleaves unto his hand, o wn The stain of thine kindly blood,

The blood of Eth ert Brand .

’ ste d Then forward pp she, Alice Brand,

And made the holy sign , ’ R ’ And if there s blood on ichard s hand ,

A spotless hand is mine .

D And I conjure thee , emon elf, D By Him whom emons fear , u s To show whence thou art thyself, And what thin e errand here 3 ALICE B RAND 2 1

’ Tis F - merry , tis merry, in airy land,

When fairy birds are singing , ’ Wh e en the court doth ride by their monarch s sid , With bit and bridle ringing

And gaily shines th e Fairy-land all is i But gl stening show, Like the idle gleam that D ecember ’s beam a C n dart on ice and snow .

And fading , like that varied gleam ,

Is our inconstant shape,

Who now like knight and lady seem ,

And now like dwarf and ape .

was It between the night and day, h F W en the airy King has power , That I sunk down in a sinful fray ’ ’ snat c h d And , twixt life and death , was away

To the j oyless Elfin bower .

But wist I of a woman bold , Wh o thrice my brow durst sign, I might regain my mortal mold,

As fair a form as thine .

’ — ’ She c ro ss d him once sh e c ro ss d him twic e That lady was so brave

The fouler grew his goblin hue ,

The darker grew the cave .

’ c ro ss d i She him thr ce, that lady bold He rose beneath her hand S The fairest knight on cottish mold, Eth ert Her brother , Brand

M o erry it is in g od greenwood, Wh en the mavis and merle are singing, D e But merrier were they in unfermlin grey,

When all the b ells were ringing .

WALTER SCOTT . 2 2 TH E B OOK OF FAIRY POETRY

The Ferlie

’ A F ERLI E cam b en to me yestreen ’ ’ A lady j imp an sma , ’ ’ Wi - e a milk whit snood an a kirtle green, ’ ’ el e e en Y low an roun w re her bonny , ’ sh e 3 And said, Will ye come awa

’ wi Elfl n e Will ye gang me to the y Know , ’ To milk our queenie s coo 3 ” ’ s Na , na , quo I , I maun shear my heep , ’ ’ I ve my barn to bigg, an my corn to reap , ” Sae I canna come th e noo .

Th e e e e as sh e e f rli skirl d turn d to gae, Fo r elf sh e an angry was , ’ wilfu O a man maun hae his way, ’ ’ ’ ’ An I mak sm a doot but ye ll ru e th e day ’ ” e That ye wo u ldna gang wi m .

e e O , anc again will ye sp ir at me ’ ’ ’ An I ll aiblins com e awa 3 ’ ” ’ I ll e sh e O com aga n to your yetts , quo , i — Wh en broom blaws bricht on yon rowan tree ’ ’ ’ An th e laverock sings i th snaw

GRAH AM R. TOMSON .

The Fairies

UP the airy mountain , D own the rushy glen , ’ We daren t go a-hunting F o r fear of little men k l Wee fol , good fo k, Trooping all together G reen jacket , red cap , And white owl’s feather

THE FAIRIES‘ 23

Down along the rocky shore S ome make their home, They live on crispy pancakes Of yellow tide- foam Some in the reeds th e Of black mountain lake , — With frogs for their watch dogs ,

All night awake .

High on the hill -top Th e old King sits He is now so old and gray ’ H e s nigh lost his wits . With a bridge of white mist Co lu m b kill he crosses , On his stately j ourneys From Slieveleag u e to Rosses Or going up with music On cold starry nights To su p with the Queen

Of the g ay Northern Lights .

They stole little Bridget Fo r s even years long When sh e came down again

Her fri ends were all gone .

They took her lightly back,

Between the night and morrow,

They thought that she was fast asleep ,

But sh e w as dead with sorrow . They have kept her ever sinc e D eep within the lake , fla - On a bed of g leaves ,

Watching till sh e wake .

B - y the craggy hill side,

Through the mosses bare, They have planted thorn- trees

Fo r ple asur e here and there . As dig them up in spite , He shall find their sharpest thorns

In his bed at night .

Up the airy mountain D own the rushy glen , ’ We daren t go a-hunting Fo r fear of little men

Wee folk, good folk , Trooping all together G reen j acket , red cap , And white owl ’s feather

I I AM W LL ALLINGHAM .

Lu rac au n ai m a The p , or F ry Shoe ker TT LI LE Cowboy, what have you heard, Up on the lonely rath ’s green mound 3 Only the plaintive yellow bird S ighing in sultry fields around, C - e e hary, chary, chary, chee Only the grasshopper and the bee 3 - - Tip tap , rip rap , Tick- a-tack-too S carlet leather , sewn together ,

This will make a shoe .

Left , right , pull it tight , Summer days are warm

Underground in winter , Laughing at the storm | 9 7

Lay your ear close to the hill . D o you not catch the tiny clamour elfin Busy click of an hammer , Voice of the Lu p rac au n singing shrill As he merrily plies his trade 3 He ’s a span LUP R ACAUN SH 2 5 , OR FAIRY OEMAKER

And a quarter in height . Get him in sight , hold him tight , And you ’re a made M an

d a You watch your cattle the summer y, Su p on potatoes , sleep in the hay

How would you like to roll in your carriage , Look for a duchess ’s daughter in marriage 3 — I Seize the Shoemaker then you m ay a— Big boots hunting ,

Sandals in the hall,

White for a wedding feast ,

Pink for a ball .

This way, that way, So we make a shoe Getting rich every stitch Tick—tack-too ’l 28 THE B OOK OF F AIRY POETRY

And some they played with the water , And rolled it down the hill ’ l And this , they said, shal speedily turn The poor old miller ’s mill

Fo r there has been no water , Ever since the first of M ay And a busy m an shall the miller be By the dawning of the day l

h o w Oh, the miller , he will laugh, ’ When he sees the mill- dam rise l l l The j ol y old mil er , how he wi l laugh , Till the tears fill both his eyes

And some they seized the little winds , l That sounded over the hil , An d h is each put a horn into mouth , And blew so sharp and shrill

’ ‘ s And there, said they, the merry wind go , Away from every horn 5 And those shall clear the mildew dank ’ From the blind old widow s corn .

Oh , the poor blind old widow sh e so Though has been blind long , ’ ’ e She ll be merry enough when the mildew s gon , ’ And the corn stands stifl and strong .

i And some they brought the brown l ntseed, And flung it down from the Lo w ’ And this , said they, by the sunrise , In the weaver ’s croft shall grow

Oh , the poor, lame weaver,

How will he laugh outright , When he sees his dwindling flax-fi eld All full of flowers by night TH E F AIRIES OF THE CALDON-LOW 2 9

e And then upspoke a browni , With a long beard on h is chin ’ e t o w I hav spun up all the , said he ,

And I want some more to spin .

’ I ve spun a piece of hempen cloth , And I want to spin another ’ l e M r A ittle she t for a y s bed, An d an apron for her mother

w And ith that I could not help but laugh, And I laughed out loud and free C -Lo w And then on the top of the aldon ,

Ther e was no one left but me .

th e Lo w And all on the top of Caldon , Th e mists were cold and grey, An d nothin g I saw but the mossy stones

That round about me lay .

- But , as I came down from the hill top ,

I heard , afar below, H o w w as busy the j olly miller , And how m erry the wheel did go . And I peeped into the widow’s field And was , sure enough , seen The yellow ears of the mildewed c o m

All standing stifl and green .

b ’ And down y the weaver s cot I stole, To see if the flax were high saw W But I the eaver at his gate , With the good news in his eye

No w is , this all I heard , mother, And all that I did se e

So, prithee , make my bed, mother, ’ ” For I m tired as I can be . MARY HOWITT . 30 TH E B OOK OF FAIRY POETRY

The Fairy W ell o f Lagm an ay

M l OURNFULLY, sing mournful y

O listen , Ellen , sister dear I s there no help at all for me, But only ceaseless sigh and tear 3 Wh y did not he who left me here, With stolen hope steal memory 3 l O listen , El en , sister dear , M ( ournfully, sing mournfully) ’ I ll Sleam ish i l go away to h l , ’ th e I ll pluck fairy hawthorn tree, And let the spirits work their will ill I care not if for good or , So they but lay the memory Wh ich all my heart I S haunting still ! M ( ournfully, sing mournfully) Th e F il airies are a s ent race , And pale as lily flowers to see h I care not for a blanc ed face, e Nor wandering in a dreaming plac , So I but banish memory I W ish I were with Anna Grace I M l ournful y, sing mournfully

Hearken to my tale of w o e ’Twas thus to weeping Ellen Con

Her sister said in accents low,

Her only sister , Una bawn ’ ‘ Twas in their bed before the dawn , sad And Ellen answered and slow,

Oh Una , Una , be not drawn (Hearken to my tale of woe)

To this unholy grief I pray, Wh ich makes me sick at heart to know, And I will help you if I m ay — The Fairy Well of Lagnanay

’ Una Una thou may st call, Sister sad 1 but lith or limb (Save us all from Fairy thrall Never again of Una bawn Where no w sh e walks in dreamy hall Shall eye of mortal look upon w as Oh can it be the guard gone , That better guard than shield or wall 3 Who knows on earth save Tu rlagh Daune 3 (Save us all from Fairy thrall Behold th e banks are green and bare NO pit is here wherein to fall — ar Aye the fount you well may stare , 1s But nought save pebbles smooth there , And small streams twirling one and all ’ ra r Hie thee home , and be thy p y Save us all from Fairy thrall F SAMUEL ERGUSON .

The K elpie o f Co rrie v re c k an

H 1: th e mounted his steed of water clear , And sat on his saddle of sea-weed sere

He held his bridle of strings of pearl, D u g out of the depths where the sea - snakes

He put on his vest of the whirlpool froth , S oft and dainty as velvet cloth , ’ d o nn d And his mantle of sand so white , ’ And g rasp d his sword of the coral bright .

’ all0 d And away he g p , a horseman free, S sea purring his steed through the stormy , Clearing the billows with bound and leap ’ Away, away, o er the foaming deep THE KELPIE OF COR R I E VR E CK AN 33

’ ’ B Sc arb a s y rock, by Lunga s shore, Garvelo c h By isles where the breakers roar, ’ ’ h is d ash d With horse s hoofs he the spray, Bu And on to Loch y, away, away

h e On to Loch Buy all day rode , ’ ’ reach d And the shore as sunset glow d , ’ And sto pp d to hear the sounds of j oy M o That rose from the hills and glens of y .

Th e M a morrow was y, and on the green ’ ’ Belt an E en They d lit the fire of ,

And danced around , and piled it high — dr With peat and heather and pine logs y .

’ la d a A piper p y lightsome reel, And timed the dance with toe and heel ’ lo o k d While wives on , as lad and lass ’ Trod it merrily o er the grass .

An d Jessie (fickle and fair was she) Sat with Evan beneath a tree , t And smiled wi h mingled love and pride,

And half agreed to be his bride .

’ ’ The Kelpie gallo P d o er the green

He seemed a knight of noble mien , An d Old and young stood up to see , ’ o d er d And w n who the knight could be .

His, flowing locks were auburn bright , ’ flash d t His cheeks were ruddy, his eyes ligh

And as he sprang from his good gray steed , ’ He lo o k d a gallant youth indeed .

’ k And Jessie s fic le heart beat high , ’ As sh e caught the stranger s glancing eye ” Ah l sh e And when he smiled, wel , thought , I wish this knight came courting me 3 4 THE B OOK OF F AIRY POETRY He took two steps towards her seat 0 3 Wilt thou be mine , maiden sweet ’ - si h d He took her lily white hand, and g M aiden , maiden , be my bride

’ ’ b lu sh d wh is er d And Jessie , and p soft Meet me to—night when the moon ’s aloft ’ ’ d ream d I ve , fair knight , long time of thee ” I thought thou camest courting me .

’ dis la d When the moon her yellow horn p y , Alone to the trysting went the maid

When all the stars were shining bright ,

Alone to the trysting went the knight .

I have loved thee long, I have loved thee well, M aiden , oh more than words can tell M i aiden , thine eyes l ke diamonds shine M aiden , maiden , be thou mine

’ ’ F sir I ll air , thy suit ne er deny m Though poor my lot , y hopes are high I scorn a lover of lo w degree l None but a knight sha l marry me .

so e He took her by the hand whit , And gave her a ring of the gold so bright M aiden , whose eyes like diamonds shine ’ M no w th o u rt aiden , maiden , mine

He lifted her on his steed of gray,

And they rode till morning away, away

Over the mountain and over the moor , - And over the rocks , to the dark sea shore .

We have ridden east , we have ridden west ’ I m weary, fair knight , and I fain would rest . Sa l sea 3 y, is thy dwel ing beyond the Hast thou a good ship waiting for me 3

TH E B ROWNIE OF B LE DNOCH 35

I have no dwelling beyond the sea , I have no good ship waiting for thee m e Thou shalt sleep with on a couch of foam ,

And the depths of the ocean shall be thy home .

The gray steed plunged in the billows clear, ’ And the maiden s shrieks were sad to hear . M aiden , whose eyes like diamonds shine ’ M no w th o u rt ! aiden , maiden, mine

- w Loud the cold sea blast did blo , ’ As they sank mid the angry waves below e Down to the rocks where the s rpents creep, d Twice five hundre fathoms deep .

At morn a fisherman , sailing by, Saw her pale corpse floating high He knew the maid by her yellow hair o And her lily skin s soft and fair .

’ Sc arb a s Under a rock on shore,

Where the Wild winds sigh and the breakers roar,

They dug her a grave by the water clear, - Among the sea weed salt and sere .

’ Beltan E en And every year at , 110 The Kelpie ga ps across the green ,

On a steed as fleet as the wintry wind, ’ With Jessie s mournful ghost behind .

CH ARLES MACKAY .

The Brow nie o f Bledn o c h

’ TH ERE to -en cam a strange Wight our town , ’ An the fi ent a body did him ken

He tirled na lang , but he glided ben ’ Wi . a dreary, dreary hum 36 TH E B OOK OF F AIRY POETRY

li ’ His face did glare ke the glow O the west , ’ When the d ru m lie cloud has it half o erc ast ’ ’ th e stru li Or gg n moon when she s sair distrest . ’ - O sirs , twas Aiken drum .

b au ldest I trow the stood aback, ’ Wi a gape an ’ a glower till their lugs did crack As the shapeless phantom mum ’ling spak Hae ye wark for Aiken -drum 3

’ b airnies Oh , had ye seen the fright , u n irth l As they stared at this wild and y y Wight , ’ stauk et As he in tween the dark and the light , ran ed ik - And g out , A en drum

The black dog, growling, cowered his tail, ’ The lassie swarfed, loot fa the pail ’ Rob s lingle brak as he mendit the flail, ’ - At the sight 0 Aiken drum .

His matted head on his breast did rest , ’ A lang blue beard w an e red down like a vest ’ 0 h is c c ex rest But the glare hath nae bard p , ’ - Nor the skim es O Aiken drum .

’ Roun his hairy form there was naething seen ’ th e But a philabeg o rashes green , ’ An his kn otted kn ees played aye knoit between What a sight was Aiken-drum

w au ch ie On his arms three claws did meet , ’ As they trailed on the grun by his t aeless feet ’ ’ E en the old gudeman himsel did sweat - To look at Aiken drum .

’ n But he drew a score , himsel did sai was The auld wife tried, but her tongue gane

While the young one closer clasped her wean , - And turned frae Aiken drum .

3 8 THE B OOK OF FAIRY POETRY

’ But the wenches skirled H e s no be here His eldritch look gars us swarf wi’ fear ’ th e fi ent l An a ane wil the house come near , ’ ” 0 — If they think but Aiken drum .

Puir c lipm alab o rs ye hae little wit ’ ’ lo et 3 Is t na Hal as now, an the crap out y ’ ’ ’ Sae she silenced them a wi a stamp 0 her fit i 3 - S t w a i . yer down , A ken drum

’ ’ Roun a that side what wark w as dun e ’ ’ th e By the streamer s gleam , or the glance o moon ’ A word, or a wish , an the brownie cam sune, ’ ae h el f as - S p u w Aiken drum .

’ Bledn o c h C On banks , an on crystal ree, Fo r mony a day a toiled Wight was he ’ e While the bairns played harmless roun his kn e, ae w as - S social Aiken drum .

’ ’ - fu ri ish But a new made Wife, o pp freaks , F ’ ’ ond o a things feat for the first five weeks , ’ ’ Laid a mouldy pair 0 her ain man s breeks ’ e - By the brose o Aik n drum . N 3 9 GOBLI . MARKET

Let the learned decide when they convene What spell was him an ’ the breeks between Fo r frae that day forth he was nae mair seen , ’ - An sair missed was Aiken drum .

w as b a Th rieve He heard y herd gaun by , ’ n o w Crying Lang , lang may I greet an grieve ’ Fo r , alas I hae gotten baith fee an leave ” - i . Oh , luckless A ken drum

WI LLI AM NICHOLSON .

Goblin Market

MORNING and evening Maids heard the goblins cry b u Come y our orchard fruits , C ome buy, come buy

Apples and quinces ,

Lemons and oranges , Plump unpecked cherries;

Melons and raspberries , Bloom-down - cheeked p eaches — Swart headed mulberries , — Wild free born cranberries , C - rab apples , dewberries , P - ine apples , blackberries ,

Apricots , strawberries All ripe together

In summer weather , b Morns that pass y, Fair eves that fly C ome buy, come buy

Our grapes fresh from the vine ,

Pomegranates full and fine , D ates and sharp bullaces ,

Rare pears and greengages , D amsons and bilberries , Taste them and try 40 THE B OOK OF FAIRY POETRY

C urrants and gooseberries , -fire— Bright like barberries , F igs to fill your mouth , C S itrons from the outh , Sweet to tongue and sound ”

C . ome buy, come buy

Evening by evening

Among the brookside rushes ,

Laura bowed her head to hear, Lizzie veiled her blushes Crouching close together h e In t cooling weather ,

With clasping arms and cautioning lips ,

With tingling cheeks and finger tips . ” Lie close, Laura said, Pricking up her golden head

We must not look at goblin men , We must not buy their fruits Who knows upon what soil they fed Their hungry thirsty roots 3 C ome buy, call the goblins

Hobbling down the glen . ” u Oh , cried Lizzie , Laura , La ra

You should not peep at goblin men .

Lizzie covered up her eyes, Covered close lest they should look

Laura reared her glossy head, And whispered like the restless brook

Look, Lizzie, look, Lizzie ,

D own the glen tramp little men .

One hauls a basket ,

One bears a plate , One lugs a golden dish

Of many pounds weight . How fair the vine must grow Whose grapes are so luscious H OW warm the wind must blow

Through those fruit bushes . ” NO , said Lizzie No , no, no GO B LIN MARKET 41

Their Offers should not charm us , h ” T eir evil gifts would harm us . Sh e thrust a dimpled finger

In each ear , Shut eyes and ran Curious Laura chose to linger

Wondering at each merchant man . ’ One had a cat s face,

One whisked a tail, ’ One tramped at a rat s pace ,

One crawled like a snail, O n e like a wombat prowled obtuse and

One like a ratel tumbled hurry skurry . Sh e heard a voice like voice of doves Cooing all together They sounded kind and full of loves

In the pleasant weather .

Laura stretched her gleaming — Like a rush imbedded swan , k l Li e a ily from the beck, l Like a moon it poplar branch , Like a vessel at the launch

When its last restraint is gone .

Backwards up the m ossy glen

Turned and trooped the goblin men ,

With their shrill repeated cry, ” Come buy , come buy . When they reached where Laura was

They stood stock still upon the moss,

Leering at each other , Brother with queer brother S e ignalling ach other ,

Brother with sly brother .

One set his basket down, One reared his plate One began to weave a crown

Of tendrils , leaves and rough nuts brown (M en sell not such in any town) 42 TH E B OOK OF F AIRY POETRY

On e heaved the golden weight Of dish and fruit to offer her ” C w as c r . ome buy, come buy, still their y

Laura stared but did not stir, Longed but had no money The whisk—tailed merchant bade her taste

In tones as smooth as honey, ’ u rr d The cat faced p , The rat -paced spoke a word - was e Of welcome, and the snail paced even h ard ; One parrot—voiced and j olly Cried Pretty Goblin still for Pretty Polly

One whistled like a bird .

But sweet tooth Laura spoke I n haste G ood folk, I have no coin ; To take were to purloin

I have no copper in my purse,

I have no silver either, And all my gold is on the furze That shakes in windy weather ” Above the rusty heather .

You have much gold upon your head, They answered all together

Buy from us with a golden curl . h e S clipped a precious golden lock, Sh e e dropped a tear more rare than p arl , Then sucked their fruit globes fair or red S weeter than honey from the rock, S — tronger than man rej oicing wine, Clearer than water flowed that j uice Sh e never tasted such before, How should it cloy with length of u se 3 Sh e sucked and sucked and sucked the more Fruits which that unknown orchard bore Sh e sucked until her lips were sore Then flung the emptied rinds away But gathered up one kernel- stone And knew not w as it night or day

As sh e turned home alone .

THE B OOK OF FAIRY POETRY

e r Whereon they grow , and pure the wav they d ink

With lilies at the brink , - And sugar sweet their sap .

b e Golden head y golden h ad, Like two pigeons in one ne st F ’ olded in each other s wings, They lay down in their curtained bed

Like two blossoms on one stem , ’ e two —fall n Lik flakes of new snow, Like two wan ds of ivory

Tipped with gold for awful kings . M oon and stars gazed in at them ,

Wind sang to them lullaby,

Lumbering owls forbore to fly, Not a bat flapped to and fro Round their rest Cheek to cheek and bre ast to breast

Locked together in one nest .

Early in the morning When the first cock crowed his warning k Neat li e bees , as sweet and busy, Laura ros e with Lizzie F k o etched in honey, mil ed the c ws , set Aired and to rights the house,

Kneaded cakes of whitest wheat , Cakes for dainty mouths to eat

Next churned butter , whipped up cream , F ed their poultry, sat and sewed Talked as modest maidens should

Lizzie with an open heart , Laura in an absent dream , o n e One content , sick in part ’ l One warbling for the mere bright day s de ight,

One longing for the night .

At length slow evening came They went with pitchers to the reedy brook e Lizzi most placid in her look,

Laura most like a leaping flame . GOB LIN MARKET 45

They drew the gurgling water from its deep Lizzi e plucked purple and rich golden flags Then turning hom ewards said The sunset flushes Those furthest loftiest crags C ome, Laura , not another maiden lags ,

No wilful squirrel wags ,

The beasts and birds are fast asleep . But Laura loitered still among the rushes

And said the bank was steep .

th e was a And said hour e rly still, ’ Th e d ew fall n not , the wind not chill t Lis ening ever , but not catching c r st o m ar The y cry, C e e om buy, com buy, With its iterated jingle Of sugar -baited words Not for all her watching Once discerning even one goblin

Racing , whisking , tumbling , hobbling Let alone the herds r That used to t am p along the glen ,

In groups or single , — Of brisk fruit merchant men .

0 Till Lizzie urged , Laura , come I hear the fruit—call but I dare not look You should not loiter longer at this brook

Com e with me home .

The stars rise, the moon bends her arc , lo ww o rrn Each g Winks her spark, Let us get home before the night grows dark Fo r clouds m ay gather

Though this is summer Weather , Pu t out the lights and drench us through 3 Then if we lost our w ay What should we do Laura turned cold as stone a To find her Sister heard th t cry alone,

That goblin cry,

e e b u . Com buy our fruits , com y 46 THE B OOK OF F AIRY POETRY Must she then buy no more such dainty fruits 3 M sh e ust no more that succous pasture find, Gone deaf and blind 3 Her tree of life drooped from the root ’ Sh e said not one word in her heart s sore ache

But peering through the dimness , naught discerning, th e w a Trudged home , her pitcher dripping all y ; SO crept to bed, and lay Silent till Lizzie slept i Then sat up n a passionate yearning ,

And gnashed her teeth for baulked desire , and wept

As if her heart would break .

Day after day, night after night , Laura kept watch in vain

In sullen silence of exceeding pain . Sh e never caught again the goblin cry C ome buy, come buy Sh e never spied the goblin men Hawking their fruits along the glen But when the noon waxed bright Her hair grew thin and gray Sh e as dwindled, the fair full moon doth turn To swift decay and burn

Her fire away .

One day remembering her kernel- stone Sh e set it by a wall that faced the south D ewed it with tears , hoped for a root , Watched for a waxing shoot But there cam e none su n It never saw the , It never felt the trickling moisture run While with sunk eyes and faded mouth Sh e dreamed of melons , as a traveller sees False waves in desert drouth - With shade of leaf crowned trees, san dfu l e And burns the thirstier in the breez . GOB LIN MARKET 47

Sh e no more swept the house ,

Tended the fowls or cows , F etched honey, kneaded cakes of wheat , Brought water from the brook But sat down listless in th e chimney- nook

And would not eat .

Tender Lizzie could not bear To watch her sister ’s cankerous care

Yet not to share . Sh e night and morning Caught the goblins ’ cry C a ome buy our orch rd fruits , C ome buy, come buy

Beside the brook, along the glen , Sh e heard the tramp of goblin men The voice and stir Poor Laura could not hear

Longed to buy fruit to comfort her ,

But feared to pay too clear . Sh e thought of Jeanie in her grave, Who should hav e been a bride But who for j oys brides hope to have Fell sick and died

In her gay prime ,

In earliest Winter time ,

With the first glazing rime , With the first snow-fall of crisp Winter

Till Laura dwindling Seemed knocking at D eath ’s door Then Lizzie weighed no more Better and worse

But put a silver penny in her purse ,

Kissed Laura , crossed the heath with

At twilight , halted by the brook And for the first time in her life

Began to listen and look . 48 THE B OOK OF F AIRY POETRY Laughed every goblin When they spied her peeping C ame towards her hobbling , F lying, running , leaping, Pu fli n g and blowing, C huckling, clapping , crowing , C lucking and gobbling , M opping and mowing , F ull of airs and graces , P wr ulling y faces,

Demure grimaces , Cat - - like and rat like , — Ratel and wombat like , S i - na l paced in a hurry, P - W arrot voiced and histler ,

Helter skelter, hurry skurry, C hattering like magpies , Flu tt erin e g lik pigeons , G fi sh es liding like ,

Hugged her and kissed her , Squeezed and caressed her S tretched up their dishes , Panniers and plates Look at our apples R usset and dun ,

Bob at our cherries ,

Bite at our peaches, C itrons and dates , G rapes for the asking , Pears red with basking

Out in the sun , Plums on their twigs

Pluck them and suck them . fi ’ P s . omegranates , g

G l ood fo k, said Lizzie , Mindful of Jeanie Give me much and many

Held out her apron ,

Tossed them her penny . GOB LIN MARKET 49

Nay, take a seat with us ” Honour and eat with us , They answered grinning

Our feast is but beginning .

Night yet is early, d ew - Warm and pearly, Wakeful and starry Such fruits as these No man can carry ;

Half their bloom would fly, d ew Half their would dry,

Half their flavour would pass by . Sit u s down and feast with , w Be elcome guest with us ,

Cheer you and rest with us .

Thank you , said Lizzie But one waits At home alone for me So i w thout further parleying , If you will not sell me any

Of your fruits though much and many, Give me back my silver penny ” I tossed you for a fee .

They began to scratch their pates ,

No longer wagging , purring ,

But visibly demurring ,

Grunting and snarling . One l cal ed her proud , C - ross grained , uncivil

Their tones waxed loud,

Their looks were evil . Lashin g their tails

They trod and hustled her,

Elbowed and j ostled her , C lawed with their nails ,

Barking , mewing, hissing , mocking ,

Tore her gown and soiled her stocking ,

Twitched her hair out by the roots , S tamped upon her tender feet , Held her hands and squeezed their fruits

Against h er mouth to make her eat . 5 0 THE B OOK OF F AIRY POETRY

White and golden Lizzie stood, flo o d Like a lily in a , Like a rock of blue-veined stone

Lashed by tides obstreperously, Like a beacon left alone

In a hoary roaring sea , S fi re ending up a golden , Like a fruit—crowned orange- tree Whit e with blossoms honey- sweet S ore beset by wasp and bee, Like a royal virgin town Topped with gilded dome and spire Clos e beleaguered by a fleet

Mad to tug her standard down .

One may lead a horse to water,

Twenty cannot make him drink . ff Though the goblins cu ed and caught her , C oaxed and fought her ,

Bullied and besought her, S as cratched her, pinched her black ink,

Kicked and knocked her, M u a led arid mocked her , Lizzie uttered not a word Would not Open lip from lip Lest they should cram a mouthful in But laughed in heart to feel the drip s ru e d Of juice that y pp all her face ,

And lodged in dimples of her chin ,

And streaked her neck which quaked like curd . At last the evil people Worn out by her resistance F lung back her penny, kicked their fruit

Along whichever road they took, Not leaving root or stone or shoot

Some writhed into the ground , Some dived into the brook

With ring and ripple, Some scudded on the gale without a sound,

Some vanished in the distance .

5 2 THE B OOK OF F AIRY POETRY

Sh e clung about her sister , Kissed and kissed and kissed her Tears once again k Refreshed her shrun en eyes , Dropping like rain After long sultry drouth S haking with aguish fear, and pain , Sh e kissed and kissed her with a hungry mouth .

Her lips began to scorch , w as That juice wormwood to her tongue, She loathed the feast

Writhing as one possessed she leaped and sung ,

Rent all her robe, and wrung

Her hands in lamentable haste,

And beat her breast . Her locks streamed like th e torch e Born by a racer at full speed, i Or l ke the mane of horses in their flight , Or like an eagle when she stems the light S traight toward the sun ,

Or like a caged thing freed,

Or like a flying flag when armies run .

S wift fire spread through her veins , knocked Met the fire smoul derin g there And overbore its lesser flame Sh e gorged on bitterness without a name

Ah l fool, to choose such part Of soul- consuming care S e nse failed in the mortal strife Like the watch—tower of a town

Which an earthquake shatters down , - Like a lightning stricken mast , Like a wind-uprooted tree S pun about , Like a foam-topped waterspout C ast down headlong in the sea , She fell at last GO B LIN MARKET 5 3 P leasure past and anguish past, Is it death or is it life 3

e Lif out of death . i That night long L zzie watched by her, ’ e Count d her pulse s flagging stir, F fo r elt her breath ,

Held water to her lips , and cooled her face With tears and fanning leaves e But when the first birds chirped about their aves , And early reapers plodded to the place

Of golden sheaves , And d ew -wet grass so Bowed in the morning winds brisk to pass, And n ew buds with n ew d ay - k e i m Opened of cup li l lies on the strea ,

Laura awoke as from a dream ,

Laughed in the innocent old way, Hugged Lizzie but not twice or thrice Her g leaming locks showed not o n e thread of gray Her breath was sweet as M ay

And light danced in her eyes .

o Days , weeks , m nths , years , Af w e ter ards , when both wer wives With children of their o wn - t Their mother hearts beset wi h fears , Their lives bound up in tender lives Laura would call the little ones l And tel them of her early prime, Those pl easant days long gone Of not-returning time k Would tal about the haunted glen, — e The wicked, quaint fruit m rchant men , Their fruits like honey to the throat But poison in the blood (M en sell not such in any town Would tell them h o w her Si ster stood I n a de dly peril to do her good, An d win th e fiery antidote 5 4 TH E B OOK OF F AIRY POETRY

Then j oining hands to little hands

Would bid them cling together, Fo r there is no friend like a sister In calm or stormy weather wa To cheer one on the tedious y,

To fetch one if one goes astray,

To lift one if one totters down ,

To strengthen whilst one stands . CHRISTINA ROSSETTI .

La Belle D am e S ans Merci

0 T n -at— WHA can ail thee , k ight arms , Alone and palely loitering ’ e h as with er d The sedg from the lake ,

And no birds sing .

0 -at - what can ail thee , knight arms — SO haggard an d so woe begone 3 ’ The squirrel s granary is full , ’ And the harvest s done .

I see a lily on th y brow d ew With anguish moist and fever , And on thy cheeks a fading rose

Fast withereth too .

I met a lady in the meads , ’ F l —a u l beautiful faery s child, w as Her hair long, her foot was light ,

And her eyes were wild .

I made a garland for her head, e And bracelets too, and fragrant zon ’ Sh e lo o k d as e at me she did lov ,

And made sweet moan . LA B ELLE DAME S ANS MERCI 5 5

set I her on my pacing steed, n saw And nothi g else all day long, Fo r sh e sidelong would bend , and sing ’ A faery s song .

e Sh found me roots of relish sweet , An d d ew honey Wild , and manna , And sure in language strange sh e said ” I love thee true .

h e elfin S took me to her grot , ’ sh e si h d f And there wept , and g ull sore, And there I shut h er Wild wild eyes

With kisses four . 5 6 THE B OOK OF F AIRY POETRY

sh e l And there lul ed me asleep , ’ — And there I d re am d Ah woe betide ’ The latest dream I ever d ream d ’ On the cold hill s side .

saw I pale kings and princes too, P — ale warriors , death pale were they all They cried La Belle Dame sans Merci Hath thee in thrall

I saw their starved lips in the gloam

With horrid warning gaped wide ,

And I awoke and found me here , ’ On the cold hill s side .

And this is why I soj ourn here ,

Alone and palely loitering , ’ with er d e Though the sedge is from the lak ,

And no birds sing .

JOHN KEATS .

The Fors aken Merm an

C OME , dear children , let us away ; Down and away below

Now my brothers call from the bay,

Now the great winds shoreward blow, Now the salt tides seaward flow

Now the wild white horses play , C hamp and chafe and toss in the spray,

Children dear , let us away W a This way, this y

Call her on ce before you g o Call once yet In a voice that sh e will know Margaret Margaret ’ Children s voices should be clear ’ (Call once more)to a mother s ear ; THE F ORSAKEN MERMAN 5 7 , C ’ hildren s voices , Wild with pain Surely sh e wili come again ! Call her once and come away ! This way, this way M other dear , we cannot stay

The wild white horses foam and fret . Margaret Margaret

C ome , dear children , come away down Call no more ’ wall d One last look at the white town , And the lit tle grey church on th e windy shore ; Then come down ! She will not come though yo u call all day 1 Come away, come away

C hildren dear , was it yesterday We heard the sweet bells over the bay 3 th e In caverns where we lay, Through the surf and through the swell The far- o ff sound of a silver bell 3

S - and strewn caverns , cool and deep , Wh ere the winds are all asleep h W ere the spent lights quiver and gleam ,

Where the salt weed sways in the stream , e — Wher the sea beasts , ranged all round , Feed I n the ooze of their pasture-ground ; se a- Where the snakes coil and twine, I n Dry their mail and bask the brine ,

Where great whales come sailing by,

Sail and sail , with unshut eye, Round the world for ever and aye 3 When did music come this way 3 C 3 hildren dear, was it yesterday

C hildren dear , was it yesterday (Call yet once)that sh e went away 3 sh e Once sate With you and me , 5 8 THE B OOK OF F AIRY POETRY

On a red gold throne in the heart of the sea ,

And the youngest sate on her knee . ’ Sh e c o m b d its bright hair , and tended it well, - o When down swung the sound of a far ff bell . ’ ’ Sh e sigh d she lo o k d up through the clear green sea Sh e said I must go , for my kinsfolk pray - In the little grey church on the shore to day . ’ Twill be Easter- time in the world— ah me M And I lose my poor soul , erman here With thee . Go I said up , dear heart , through the waves Sa th sea- y y prayer , and come back to the kind caves h e Sh e s th e . smiled , went up through the surf in bay C w as 3 hildren dear, it yesterday

C 3 hildren dear, were we long alone sea The grows stormy, the little ones moan ” sa Long prayers , I said , in the world they y C ome I said and we rose through the surf in the bay .

We went up the beach , by the sandy down ’ h sea- -w all d w W ere the stocks bloom , to the white to n

Through the narrow paved streets , Where all was still,

To the little grey church on the windy hill . F rom the church came a murmur of folk at their prayers ,

But we stood without in the cold blowing airs .

We climbed on the graves , on the stones worn With rains,

And we gazed up the aisle through the small leaded panes . Sh e sate by the pillar w e saw her clear M e argar t , hist come quick , we are here D ” ear heart , I said , we are long alone sea The grows stormy, the little ones moan sh e But , ah , gave me never a look , ’ Fo r her eyes were se al d to the holy book

Loud prays the priest shut stands the door . C ome away, children , call no more C ome away, come down , call no more

n Dow , down , down D own to the depths of the sea Sh e sits at her Wheel in the humming town , l Singing most j oyful y.

60 THE B OOK OF F AIRY POETRY

t When clear falls the moonligh , When spring-tides are lo w Wh en sweet airs com e seaward ’ F st arr d rom heaths with broom , And high rocks throw mildly ’ On the b lanc h d sands a gloom i Up the still, gl stening beaches , w e Up the creeks will hie, Over banks of bright seaweed - The ebb tide leaves dry . m - We will gaze , fro the sand hills,

At the white , sleeping town At th e church on the hill- side

And then come back down . Singing There dwells a loved But cruel is sh e Sh e left lonely for ever ” sea The kings of the . M TT E A H W ARNOLD .

“ Fro m The Co m ing o f Arthur

BU T let me tell thee no w another tale ’ Fo r M sa Bleys , our erlin s master , as they y, D ied but of late , and sent his cry to me,

To hear him speak before he left his life . th e Shrunk like a fairy Changeling lay mage, ’ An d when I ent er d told me that himself M And erlin ever served about the king ,

Uther , before he died, and on the night When Uther in Tint agil past away M oaning and wailing for an heir, the two aassin Left the still king , and p g forth to breathe, Then from the castle gateway by the chasm ’ — Descending thro the dismal night a night In which the bounds of heaven and earth were lost so Beheld, high upon the dreary deeps ’ seem d It in heaven , a ship , the shape thereof “ F ROM TH E COMING OF ARTH UR ” 61

’ W in d A dragon g , and all from stem to stem

Bright With a shining people on the decks ,

And gone as soon as seen . And then the two ’ D wat c h d se a ropt to the cove, and the great fall, e Wave aft r wave, each mightier than the last , l Ti l last , a ninth one, gathering half the deep w And full of voices , slo ly rose and plunged th e w as Roaring , and all wave in a flame : And down the wave and in the flame was borne M i ’ A naked babe, and rode to erl n s feet , st o o t th e Who p and caught babe, and cried The King Her e is an heir for Uther And the fringe t Of that grea breaker, sweeping up the strand, ’ Lash d e at the Wizard as he spak the word,

And all at once all round him rose in fire,

So that the child and he were clothed in fire . ’ And fo llo w d presently thereafter calm, ’ F sk ree y and stars And this same child, he said , Is h e who reigns nor could I part in peace ’ e d Till this wer told . An saying this the seer ’ Went thro the strait and dreadful pass of death , ’ Not ever to be q u estio n d any mor e Save on th e further side but when I met ’ M ask d erlin , and him if these things were truth The shining dragon and the naked child D escending in the glory of the seas ’ ’ H e lau h d answ er d g as is his wont , and me i ‘Of Old In riddl ng triplets time , and said

n su n sk Rain , rai , and a rainbow in the y A young man will b e Wiser b y and by ’ An old man s wit may wander ere he die . su n Rain , rain , and a rainbow on the lea And truth is this to me, and that to thee

And truth or clothed or naked let it be . su n Rain , , and rain and the free blossom blows Su n su n is 3 , rain , and and where he who knows ’ From th e great deep to the great deep he goes .

ALFRED TEN NY SO N . 6 2 THE B OOK OF FAIRY POETRY

A a f th e m o f F iry Revel, be ore co ing Guinevere

He said

That as he rode , an hour or maybe twain

After the sunset , down the coast , he heard S — trange music , and he paused, and turning there All down the lonely coast of Lyonnesse , - Each with a beacon star upon his head, W —i And with a ild sea l ght about his feet , We saw them— headland after headland flame F ar on into the rich heart of the west An d in the light the white mermaiden swam — An d strong man breasted things stood from the sea ’ An d sent a deep sea -voice thro all the land To which the little sloes of chasm and cleft

M i . ade answer , sounding l ke a distant horn SO — said my father yea , and furthermore, l dim lit Next morning, whi e he past the woods Himself beheld three spirits mad with j oy Come dashing down on a tall swayside flower

That shook beneath them , as the thistle shakes When three gray linnets wrangle for the seed An d still at evenings on before his horse The flickering fairy—circle wheeled and broke i F w as . ly ng , for all the land full of life

And when at last he came to Camelot , A wreath of airy dancers hand in hand Swung round the lighted lantern of the hall And in the hall itself was such a feast As never man had dreamed fo r every knight Had whatsoever meat he longed for served By hands unseen and even as he said Down I n the cellars merry bloated things ’ Sh o u lder d the spigot , straddling on the butts While the wine ran so glad were spirits and men

B efore the coming of the sin ful Queen . ALFRED TENNYSON .

FROM “ TH E P AS S ING OF ARTH UR ” 63

From The Passing o f Arthu r

THEN saw they h o w there hove a dusky barge D ark as a funeral scarf from stem to stern , Beneath them and descending they were ware

That all the decks were dense with stately forms , — — — b e Black stoled, black hooded, like a dream y thes Three Queens with crowns of gold and from them rose ’ A cry that sh iver d to the tingling Stars

And, as it were one voice , an agony t l Of lamentation , like a Wind hat shril s

All night in a waste land, where no one comes ,

Or hath come, since the making of the world .

’ m u rm u r d P Then Arthur , lace me in the barge

So to the barge they came . There those three Queens

Pu t . forth their hands , and took the King, and wept

But she , that rose the tallest of them all

And fairest , laid his head upon her lap , ’ sh att er d And loosed the casque , and chafed his hands , u And called him by his name, complaining lo d, And dropping bitter tears against his brow Striped with dark blood for all his face was White ’ with er d And colourless , and like the moon Smote by the fr esh beam of the springing east ’ And all h is greaves and cuisses d ash d with drops Of onset and the light and lustrous curls That made his forehead like a rising sun — ’ High from the dais - throne were p arc h d with dust

Or , clotted into points and hanging loose, ’ Mix d with the knightly growth that fringed his lips . ’ So like a sh att er d column lay the King

Not like that Arthur who , with lance in rest , F rom spur to plume a star of tournament , S ’ C hot thro the lists at amelot , and charged

e th e i . Befor eyes of ladies , and of k ngs 64 THE B OOK OF F AIRY POETRY

Then loudly cried the bold Sir Bedivere 3 Ah my Lord Arthur , whither shall I go Where shall I hide my forehead and my eyes 3 F o r no w I see the true old times are dead ,

When every morning brought a noble chance ,

And every chance brought out a noble knight . Such times have not since been the light that led

The holy Elders with the gift of myrrh . But no w the whole Round Table is dissolved Which was an image of the mighty world

And I , the last , go forth companionless ,

And the days darken round me , and the years

n ew . Among men , strange faces , other minds

And slowly answered Arthur from the barge n ew The old order changeth , yielding place to , Go d And fulfils himself in many ways ,

Lest one good custom should corrupt the world . Comfort thyself what comfort is in me 3 i I have l ved my life , and that which I have done M a y He Within himself make pure but thou ,

If thou shouldst never see my face again , M Pray for my soul . ore things are wrought by prayer

Of. W Than this world dreams herefore , let thy voice

Rise like a fountain for me night and day . Fo r What are men better than sheep or goats i That nourish a blind l fe within the brain , wi i If, kno ng God, they l ft not hands of prayer Both for themselves and those wh o call them friend Fo r so the whole round earth is every way

Bound b y gold chains about the feet of Go d . a But no w farewell . I am going a long w y With these thou seest— if indeed I go (Fo r all my mind is clouded with a doubt) To the island-valley of Avilion

Where falls not hail, or rain , or any snow, Nor ever Winds blow loudly but it lies ’ D —m ead o w d - eep , happy, fair with orchard lawns ’ An d c ro wn d sea bowery hollows with summer , ” Where I will heal me of m y grievous wound .

6 6 THE B OOK OF F AIRY POETRY To rest ungloved on her green riding—dress o ff The other warded the drooping boughs .

But still she chatted on , with her blue eyes ’ ’ Fix d M . full on erlin s face , her stately prize ’ ’ Her haviour had the morning s fresh clear grace, The spirit of the woods w as in her face Sh e looked so Witching fair , that learned Wight F orgot his craft , and his best wits took flight ,

And he grew fond , and eager to obey

His mistress , use her empire as she may .

They came to where the brushwood ceased , and day P ’ ’ eer d twixt the stems and the ground broke away,

In a sloped sward down to a brawling brook . And up as high as where they stood to look ’ On the brook s farther side w as clear but then

The underwood and trees began again . This open glen was studded thick with thorns saw Then white with blossom and you the horns , ’ - Through last year s fern , of the shy fallow deer

Who come at noon down to the water here . You saw the bright - eyed squirrels dart along Under the thorns on the green sward and strong

The blackbird whistled from the dingles near , And the weird c h ippping of the woodpecker

Rang lonelily and sharp the sky was fair , ’ r And a fresh breath of spring sti r d everyw here . ’ ’ M V st 0 d l e s erlin and ivian pp on the p brow, To gaze on the light sea of leaf and bough

Which glistering plays all round them , lone and mild,

As if to itself the quiet forest smiled . -t O Upon the brow p grew a thorn , and here ’ m o ss d saw e The grass was dry and , and you cl ar Across the hollow ; white an em o nies ’ St arr d the cool turf, and clumps of primroses

Ran out from the dark underwood behind . - No fairer resting place a man could find . M sh e Here let us halt , said erlin then and

Nodded, and tied her palfrey to a tree . THE VE AI R I E S 67

They sate them down together , and a sleep F l M el upon erlin , more like death , so deep . V Her finger on her lips , then ivian rose, ’ —lo c k d And from her brown head the wimple throws,

And takes it in her hand, and waves it over ’ b lo sso m d — and The thorn tree her sleeping lover .

Nine times she waved the fluttering wimple round, And made a little plot of magic ground An d in that daisied circle , as men say, Is Merlin prisoner till th e judgment - day But sh e herself whither she will can rove Fo r ‘ sh e was passing weary of his love . M TT D A HEW ARNOL .

TH E Y EA I R I E S

SIMON AN ’ SAMEL

’ ’ eair Sim on . There s What the vo k do call a v y ring ’ ’

e . Out th re, lo k zee Why, tis an oddish thing .

Ah . h o Sam el . zoo do seem I wunder w do come I m eake 3 What is it that do it , I do wonder ’d ’ Sim on . h an Be g if I can tell , I m sure But zome D o zay do come by ligh t n en when do thunder ’ An zome do say sich rings as thik ring there is , ’ D o - 0 veairies grow in dancen tracks little ,

' ’ ’ That in the nights o zu m m er or 0 Spring D o v e et come by moonlight , when noo other ’ D o tread the dewy grass , but theirs , an meet ’ An dance away together in a ring . ’ ’ o fiddlestic k Sam el. An wh d ye think do work the 3 v eair 3 A little y too , or else wold Nick ’ eairies l Sim on . v Why, they do zay , that at the bal , ’ ’ — ’ There s nar a fiddle that s a hear d at all ; But they do play upon a little pipe A— ’ ’ meade o kexes or O straws , dead ripe , A—stuck in row (zome short an ’ longer zome) ’ ’ ’ Wi 0 — slime o snails , or bits plum tree gum, 68 THE B OOK OF F AIRY POETRY

’ m eake h An sich music that to ear it sound, ’ ’ l You d stick so still s a po lard o the ground . ’ Sam el . 3 th e ase l What do em dance Tis plain by green whee s , ’ ’ They don t frisk in an out in dree-hand reels ’ Vo r 0 th ease 0 else, instead here girt round , ’ ’ They d cut us out a figure aight , d ye know . ’ Sim o n . v eet Oh they ha jigs to fit their little , w o u ld en l They dance, you know, at their fine bal ’ ’ ’ The dree an vo w r han reels that we do sprawl ’ k in . An ick about , when we men do meet ’ ’ Sam el . An zoo have zome vo k, in their midnight rambles, ’ A—c atc d v eairies th ease h n . the , then , in gambols ’

Sim on . o ff lik Why, yes but they be any shot , ’ ’ a- SO so o n s a man s comen near the spot . a l - r e S m e . But in the day time where do v eai i s hide 3 h w o m es 3 v eairies 3 Where be their , then where do bide

Sim on . 1 Oh they do get away down under ground , ’ e a e In hollow pl z n where they can t be v o u n d . ram fer But still my g , many years agoo, ’ ’ liv d Grenle - d eair (He at y farm , and milk a y), ’ th e l If what wolder vo k do tel is true,

Wo o n e m o rnen early v o u n d a v eairy . ’ ’ i th e b Sam l . 0 w w o 3 e An did he st p , then , good wold y Or did he soon contrive to slip aw o y 3 ’ - Sim on . Wh all a y, when the vo k were asleep , bed, ’ ’ Th e v e airies a- us d to come, as tis zaid, ’ th e c w o ld Avore vire wer , an dance an hour ’ Or two at dead 0 night upon the vlo o r Var u tt eren they, by only a word ’ Or charm , can come down chimney lik a bird ’ Or draw their bodies out so long an narrow, ’ That they can vle e d ro u gh keyholes lik an arrow . ’ w o o n e An zoo midnight , when the moon did drow ’ d ro u h vlo o r His light g window, roun the below, ’ ’ ’ An crickets roun the bricken he th did zing, They come an ’ danced about the hall in ring ’ ’ t a d dro u h e s An pp , g littl holes noo eyes could py ’ ’ - A kag 0 poor aunt s mead a stannen by . ’ ’ ’ w o o ne o m d rink d so c o u ld en An much, he mind

‘ The word h e wer to zay to m eake en small

WHAT THE TOYS DO AT NIGHT 69

’ a-d ath er d He got zoo, that after all ’ ’ Out t others went an left en back behind . ’ ’ An after he d a- beat about his head i Agean the keyhole t ll he were half dead, He laid down all along upon the vlo o r il ram fer T l g , comen down , unlocked the door An ’ then he zeed en (’twer enough to frighten en) ’ ’ ’

0 lik li h t en en . Bolt out door , an down the road g

WILLIAM BARNES .

W hat th e Toys do at Night

th e LOOKING from the window in the middle of night , ki ’ Loo ng at the garden in the moon s delicious light ,

Looking at the little lawn that must itself surprise ,

Shining like a silver thing beneath the silver skies ,

Looking at the pretty buds that are so fast asleep , ’ Each is shut so very tight I m sure it cannot peep i - Each coquettish rosebud, each l ttle lily cup , ’ Nid, nid, noddin , just as if it never could wake up .

’ — so th e Nid, nid, noddin , fast asleep slips night away ’ — ’ Nid, nid , noddin , cunning things I think it s only play As —Oh h o w sl the clocks are striking twelve , extremely y All F the blossoms Open wide, and out the airies fly

Out the little fairies fly upon their scented wings, Float about and shake themselves—delicious little things All n o w the blossoms shut again and I think, perhaps , - Lily cup and blushing rose may really take their naps . Out the little fairies fly and flutter in the air h o w th e Oh , lovely is world, with moonlight everywhere M i li r oonl ght , moon ght eve ywhere and in its tender gleam P retty fairies poised about , like fairies in a dream .

3 See Oh , what are they waiting for how they look about , ’ Bec k nin as e g at the windows , if something should com out 7 0 THE B OOK OF F AIRY POETRY

th eI r I m atl ent Stamping p feet , they gather into bands , ’ Bec k nI n g at the windows With their little eager hands .

Then a window opens yes a window in the house u — Not a living creature p I have not heard a mous e . all o ne In the world, can any either guess or plan 3 What came from the window then No , no one ever can

e x Wood n horses , wa en dollies , soldiers , wood and tin Noah ’s Ark of birds and beasties tops that hum and spin Little china tea-things and delightful dinner sets - l Trumpets , drums and baby houses , ba ls in coloured nets

th e m Through window Open wide, they make their solemn arch , th e - l i All along gravel wa k, beneath the trell sed arch All - along the gravel walk the stately columns pass , And th e toys and fairies meet upon the silver grass

7 2 THE B OOK OF F AIRY POETRY

Out of cupboard, down from rafter,

Through the chimney, with soft laughter .

Tapping panels , creaking doors , D - ropping daisies through elf bores , S a- etting silver bells jingle,

Leaping lightly to the ingle .

flo w er—k One, with black hair notted, S a- its spinning, while the dinning e Wheel mak s music to her song . t O hers to the dairy throng , S a-flu tt er kimming , with light wings ,

Richest cream for sweetest butter .

One mounts bareback on a broom ,

Rides it up and down the room , S weeping , sweeping merrily,

As the west wind sweeps the sea.

Then they circle round the fire , Dreaming by the embers gleaming SO e they sit with clasp d knees , k Rocking , roc ing at their ease ,

Till one brings , with dainty care , l ’ Mol y s bowl of creamy fare .

Dipping flowers in her cup , So the merry fairies su p Si p and laugh , and laugh and tip

Loving cups from lip to lip .

Then they see the maidens comin g

Through the clover, revels over . M ll Me M i y, g and arion

Laugh to find their labours done, D o fl their garlands , j est and joke, And forget the fairy folk Hiding in the dark above M Only olly , quick to love , P rays for pixies , with kind eyes P x P . i ies , barred from aradise F LORENCE HARRISON . B ERRIES

Berries

THERE w as an Old woman Went blackberry pickin g Along the hedges

From Weep to Wicking . Half a p o ttl

No more she had got , When out steps a Fairy From her green grot l And says , Wel , Jill, ’ ’ Would e e pick e e mo 3 An d sh e Jill, curtseys ,

And looks just so . ” Be o ff F , says the airy,

As quick as you can , Over the meadows

To the little green lane , That dips to the h ayfi eld s Of Farmer Grimes I ’ve berried those hedges A score of times Bushel on bushel ’ ’ e e l I ll promise , Jil , This side of supper ’ If e e pick with a will . Sh e glints very bright , And Speaks h er fair 10 Then , and behold

She had faded in air .

Be sur e Old Goodie She trots betimes Over the meadows

To Farmer Grimes . And never was queen With j ewellery rich 4 THE B OOK OF F AIRY P OETRY As those same hedges From twig to ditch ’ D u tc h m en s c o flers Like , F e ruit , thorn , and flow r They shone like William ’ e And Mary s bow r . And be sure Old Goodie e W nt back to Weep , So tired with her basket

Sh e scarce could creep . Wh en sh e comes in the dusk h er To cottage door, There’s Towser wagging As e n ver b efore , To see h is Missus So glad to be Come from her fruit-picking

Back to he . As soon as next morning w as Dawn grey , The pot on th e hob Was simm ering away And all in a stew And a hugger-mugger Towser and Jill A— l boi ing of sugar , And the dark clear fruit F That from aerie came, Fo r syrup and j elly

And blackberry jam . Twelve j olly gallipots Jill put by

And one little teeny one, On e inch high And that she ’s hidden

A good thumb deep , Half w ay over

From Wicking to Weep . WALTER MARE . PEAK AND PUKE 7 5

Peak an d Puke

FROM h is cradle in the glamourie w e e They have stolen my brother , Housed a Changeling in his sw addling s Fo r e to fret min o w n poor mother . Pules it in the candle - light ’ Wi so a cheek lean and white , Ch inkling up its eyne so wee ’ Wailing shrill at her an me . It we ’ll neither rock nor tend S Till the Silent ilent send, Lapping in their waes ome arms

Him they stole with spells and charms , Till th ey take this Changeling creature Back to its own fairy nature Cr ! as Cry y as long may be , Ye shall ne’er be woman ’s baby T M WAL ER DE LA ARE .

The H oney-Robbers

E e F Gim m u l Mel TH RE wer two airies , and , ’ Loved Earth Man s honey passing well Oft at th e hives of h is tame bees

They would their sugary thirst appease .

e e Wh n ev n began to darken to night , l They would hie along in the fading ight , elf- With locked hair and scarlet lips , An d e small stone knives to slit the sk ps , So softly not a bee inside

Should hear the woven straw divide . And th en with sly and greedy thumbs

Would rifle the sweet honeycombs . And drowsily drone to drone would say w a A cold, cold wind blows in this y 7 6 THE B OOK OF F AIRY P OETRY

An d the great Queen would turn her head F rom face to face , astonished,

And, though her maids with comb and brush

Would comb and soothe and whisper , Hush About the hive would shrilly go — A keening keening , to and fro At which those robbers ’neath the trees — Would taunt and mock the honey bees , And through their sticky teeth would buzz

Just as an angry hornet does . Gim m u l M el And when this and this , e svvilled fill Had munch d and sucked and their , Or ever Man ’s first cock could crow F M ’ Back to their aerie ounds they d go, th e Edging across twilight air ,

Thieves of a guise remotely fair .

WALTER DE LA MARE .

The Three Beggars

’ TwAs autumn daybreak gold and wild, ’ St ffl While past Ann s grey tower they shu ed, Three beggars spied a fairy-child fl In crimson mantle muf ed .

Th e daybreak lighted up her fac e All a - pink, and sharp , and emer ld eyed Sh e looked on them a little space, And shrill as hautboy cried 0 three tall footsore men of rags i see Which walk ng this gold morn I , What will ye give me from your bags Fo r fairy kisses three 3

The first , that was a reddish man Out of his bundle takes a crust St An n La , by the tombstones of , ’ e There s fee, if fee y must

7 8 THE B OOK OF F AIRY P OETRY

The Love-Talker

I KNOW not what way he came , no shadow fell behind, But all the Sighing rushes swayed bene ath a fairy wind

The thrush ceased its singing , a mist crept about tw o — We clung together with the world shut out .

lo w Beyond the ghostly mist I could hear my cattle , c o w The little from Ballina , clean as driven snow, c o w I nish eer The dun from Kerry, the roan from , — Oh , pitiful their calling and his whispers in my ear

His eyes were a fire his words were a snare ’ I cried my mother s name, but no help was there S I made the blessed ign then he gave a dreary moan ,

b . A wisp of cloud went floating y, and I stood alone E H A T N CARBERY .

The H ills o f Ruel

OVER the hills and far away I s That the tune I heard one day , When heather-drowsy I lay and listened — And watched where the stealthy sea tide glistened .

Beside me there on th e Hills of Ruel An old man stooped and gathered fuel

And I asked him this if his son were dead, As k G the fol in lendaruel all said , How could he still believe that never Duncan had crossed the shadowy river 3 Forth from his breast the old man drew A lute that once on a rowan tree grew THE H ILLS OF RUE L 7 9

And, speaking no words, began to play ” Over the hills and far away .

h o w But do you know, I said, thereafter, That Duncan h as heard the fairy- laughter 3 How do you know he has followed the cruel Honey- sweet folk of the Hills of Ruel 3 3 How do I know the old man said , S ’ ure I knew well my boy s not dead , Fo r late on the morrow they hid him , there l Where the black earth moistens his yel ow hair,

I saw him alow on the moor close by, l I watched him low on the hil side lie, ’ ’ lau h in An I heard him g wild up there, ’ l l ’ An ta k, talk , ta kin beneath his hair Fo r down h is face his long hair lay saw w as - But I it cold and ashen gray, ’ ’ A lau h in l was y, g and ta kin wild he , ’ S An that to a hadow out on the grass , S A hadow that made my blood go chill,

F o r its . , never like have I seen on the hill ’ An the moon came up , and the Stars grew white, ’ ’ An the hills grew black in the bloom o the night . ’ - An I watched till the death star sank in the moon , ’ m o o nm aid m o o nwh it e An the fled with her shoon , Then the Shadow that was on the moorside there Rose up and shook its shadowy hair D And uncan he laughed no more, but grey As the rainy dust of a rainy day,

Went over the hills and far away .

Over the hills and far away

That is the tune I heard one day . 0 that I too might hear the cru el - Honey sweet folk of the Hills of Ruel .

FIONA MACLEOD . 80 THE B OOK OF F AIRY P OETRY

The H o s t o f th e Air

O ’DRISCOLL drove with a song The wild duck and the drake From the tall and tufted reeds

Of the drear Hart Lake .

And he saw h o w the reeds grew dark

At the coming of night tide , And he dreamed of the long dim hair

Of Bridget his bride .

He heard while he sang and dreamed

A piper piping away, w as i i And never p p ng so sad,

And never w as piping so gay .

An d he saw young men and young girls Who danced on a level place

And Bridget his bride among them , ad With a s and a gay face .

n The da cers crowded about him ,

And many a sweet thing said, And a young man brought him red wine

And a young girl white bread .

e Bridg t drew him by the sleeve, y from the merry bands To old men playing at cards

With a twinkling Of ancient hands .

The bread and the wine had a doom , Fo r these were the host of the air H e sat and played in a dream

Of her long dim hair .

82 THE B OOK OF FAIRY P OETRY

Weaving olden dances , Mingling hands and mingling glances Till the moon has taken flight To and fro we leap

And chase the frothy bubbles , Wh ile the world is full Of troubles

And is anxious in its Sleep . Com e awa O h u m an child y , To the wa ters a nd the wild

With a a r h and in h and f e y , , ’ F or the world s m ore fu ll of weeping than understand.

Where the wandering water gushes G —Car From the hills above len , In pools among the rushes

That scarce could bathe a star , We seek for slumbering trout And whispering in their ears Give them unquiet dreams Leaning softly out From ferns that drop the ir tears

Over the young streams , Com awa O h um an child e y , To the wa ters a nd th e wild

With a aer h and in h a nd f y , , ’ n a u nd stand For the world s m orefu ll of weepi g th n er .

’ u s Away with he s going , The solemn - eyed He ’ll hear no more the lowing Of the calves on the warm hillside ; Or the kettle on the hob S ing peace into his breast , Or see the brown mice bob - Round and round the oatmeal chest . F or he co m s the h u m an child e , , To the wa ters and the wild With a aer h and in h and f y , , d s and From a world m orefull of weeping th an ca n un er t .

. T . W . B YEA S P AR T I I

F ir So n s D n c e s and T lk a y g , a , a BE no t a e a th e e e f rd isl is full of nois s,

S and ee t a t at e e t an d t no t . ounds sw irs, h giv d ligh , hur Som etim e s a thousand twangling instrum en ts W h u m ab t m e e a and m et m e e ill ou in rs so i s voic s, T at I t e h ad ake a te ee h if h n w d f r long sl p , W l m ake m e ee a a an d t e eam i l sl p g in h n , in dr ing, Th e m et t e an d S e clouds, hough , would op n how rich s ’ Re a to m e t at e I w ak d dy drop upon h , wh n , I cried to dre am again .

TH E FAIRY AND H I S MASTER

d o Ariel. Be e c an sa Com e an for you y, , g , And b eat e t e and so so r h wic cry, , Ea o n e t to e ch , ripping on his , W m and m e ill b e h ere wi th o p ow

DO e m e m a te 3 . you lov , s r no

A e . P ro ero . Dea m e ate m rly, y d lic ri l

SH AKESP EA RE .

86 THE B OOK OF FAIRY P OETRY

Old Song

’ LET u s in a lover s round Circle all this hallowed ground S oftly, softly trip and go, - The light foot Fairies j et it so . F e orward th n, and back again, e Here and there and everywher ,

Winding to and fro, Skipping high a nd louting lo w i And , l ke lovers , hand in hand,

March around and make a stand .

Fairy Revels

Om nes . P e inch him , pinch him , black and blu , Saucy mortals must not view is What the queen of stars doing,

Nor pry into our fairy wooing . Pinch him blue And pinch him black Let him not lack h im e red Sharp nails to pinch blu and , Till sleep h as rocked his addlehead . Fo r o e 4 F airy . the trespass he hath d n ’ Spots o er all his flesh shall run . i h is Kiss Endymion , k ss eyes ,

Then to our midnight h eidegyes. JOHN LYLY .

The Fairy Queen

COME, follow, follow me , r You , fai y elves that be

Which circle on the green, e b Com follow Ma your queen . ’ Hand in hand let s dance around,

Fo r this place is fairy ground . TH E FAIRY QUEEN 87

When mortals are at rest , And snoring in their nest n U heard, and unespied, Through key-holes w e do glide

Over tables , Stools , and shelves ,

We trip it with our fairy elves .

And , if the house be foul w With platt er , dish , or bo l, we Up stairs nimbly creep , And find th e sluts asleep There we pinch their arms and thighs

e e . Non escapes , nor none espi s

e But if the house be sw pt ,

And from uncleanness kept , We e prais the household maid, And duly sh e is paid Fo r we u se before w e go ‘ r e e To d 0p a t ster in her Sho .

’ Upon a m ushroom s head Our tabl e-cloth we spread

A grain of rye , or wheat , I s e we manch t , which eat Pearly drops of d ew we drink ’ In acorn cups fill d to the brink .

Th e brains of nightingales , t i Wi h unctuous fat of sna ls , ’ s (1 Between two cockle stew , ’ ’ I s meat that s easily c h ew d i Ta ls of worms , and marrow of mice, ’ D O make a dish that s wondrous nice .

Th e fl grasshopper, gnat and y, Serve for our minstrelsy G e w e e l rac said , danc a whi e , And so the time b eguile th e e And if moon doth hide her h ad, — e b ed Th e glow worm lights us hom to . 88 THE B OOK OF F AIRY P OETRY

On t 0 ps of dewy grass So nimbly do we pass The young and tender s talk Ne ’er bends when we do walk

Yet in the morning may be seen , e w Wher e the night before have been .

Robin Good -fellow

F r ROM Obe on , in fairy land ,

The king of ghosts and shadows there, Mad is C Robin I , at h ommand , - Am sent to view the night sports here . What revel rout

Is kept about , r In eve y corner where I go, ’ o ersee I will , b e And merry , e And mak good sport , with ho, ho, ho

More swift than lightning can I fly o w Ab ut this aery elkin soon , ’ n And, . a minute s space, descry ’ Each thing that s done below the moon . ’ There s not a hag , h l Or ghost s a l wag , c r Or y, ware Goblins where I go But Robin I e s Th ir feats will py, e d m And s n them ho e, with ho, ho, ho .

’ s Whene er uch wanderers I meet , AS from their night sports they trudge home With counterfeiting voice I greet

And call them on , with me to roam ’ ’ Thro woods, thro lakes , ’ ’ Th r-o bogs , thro brakes ;

9 0 THE B OOK OF F AIRY P OETRY

If to repay, e Th y do delay,

Abroad amongst them then I go , An d night by night , I them aflrigh t

With pinchings , dreams , and ho ,

When lazy queans have nought to do, But study h o w to cog and lie e To make d bate and mischief too , Twix t one another secretly

I mark their gloze ,

And it disclose, To them whom they have wronged so

When I have done, e I get me gon ,

And leave them scolding, ho, ho , ho

When men do traps and engines set - In loop holes , where the vermin creep ,

Who from their folds and houses get , e Their ducks , and geese, and lambs and she p s I py the gin ,

And enter in , And seem a vermin taken so But when they there Approach me near

I leap out laughing, ho , ho , ho

l l y wel s and ri ls , in meadows green; B — We nightly dance our hey day guise And to our fair king and ueen y — q We chant our moon light minstrelsies .

When larks gin sing, Away we fling An d e bab s new born steal as we go , And elves in bed e We l ave instead , An d wend us laughing, ho , ho, ho ARIEL ’S SONGS 9 1

’ From hag- bred Merlin s time have I ’ Thus nightly revell d to and fro An d for my pranks men call me by - The name of Robin Good fellow . Fiend s , ghosts , and sprites ,

Who haunt the nights , The b ags and goblins do me know An d beldame s old My feats have told Vale Vale So , ho , ho , ho

Ariel ’s Songs

E b e e e WH RE the sucks , ther suck I In a cowslip ’s bell I lie Ther e I couch when owls do cry On the bat ’s back I do fly After summer merrily M errily, merrily, shall I live now, Under th e blossom that hangs on the

a:

Com e unto these yellow sands And then take hands ’ ’ Co u rt sied kiss d when you have , and , (The wild waves whist) Foot it featly here and there

And , sweet sprites , the burden bear .

Hark, hark

B ow h wow h . g , g Th e watch-dogs bark

B ow h wow h . g , g

Hark , hark I hear Th e strain of strutting c h antic lere -a— - Cry , cock doodle doo .

>X< Full fathom five thy father li es Of h is bon es are coral made 9 2 THE B OOK OF F AIRY POETRY

Those are pearls , that were his eyes

Nothing of him that doth fade , But doth su ffer a sea-change

Into something rich and strange . Sea-nymphs hourly ring his knell — - l . Hark now I hear them , ding dong, bel Din -don bell g g , .

SHAKESPEARE .

Fairy Orders fo r th e Night

FAI RI Es , black, grey, green , and white, - h You moon s ine revellers , and shades of night ,

You orphan heirs of fixed destiny, fli e o c . Attend your , and your quality — C O . rier Hobgoblin , make the fairy yes

Elves , list your names silence , you airy toys . Crick t c h im nies e , to Windsor shalt thou leap ’ ’ fin d st u nrak d Where fires thou , and hearths unswept , There pinch the maids as blue as bilberry

Our radiant queen hates sluts and sluttery . ’ P ede -GO Where s you , and where you find a maid,

That , ere she sleep , has thrice her prayers said,

Raise up the organs of her fantasy, Sleep sh e as sound as careless infancy

But those as sleep , and think not on their sins , P inch them , arms , legs , backs , shoulders , Sides , and shins .

About , about

Search Windsor Castle , elves , within and out S trew good luck, ouphes , on every sacred room l That it may stand til the perpetual doom , ’ e as In stat wholesome, as in state tis fit th e Worthy the owner, and owner it . The several chairs of order look you scour

With juice of balm , and every precious flower

Each fair instalment , coat , and several crest ,

With royal blazon , evermore be blest — And nightly, meadow fairies , look you sing , ’ n Like to the Garter s compass, in a ri g

TH E ENCHAN TER 93

e The xpressure that it bears , green let it be , More f ertile- fresh than all the field to see H oni so it u i m al ense And, g y p , write ,

In emerald tufts , flowers purple, blue , and white

Like sapphire, pearl, and rich embroidery , ’ Buckled below fair kn ighthood s bending knee F u se airies flowers for their charactery, ’ ’ Away ; disperse But , till tis one o clock,

Our dance of custom , round about the oak

Of Herne the hunter , let us not forget . P e ray you , lock hand in hand ; yourselves in ord r - And twenty glow worms shall our lanterns be ,

To guide our measure round about the tree .

S HAKESPEAR E.

The Ench ant er

P ro . ll s Ye elves of hi s , brook , standing lakes , and groves

And ye, that on the sands with printless foot

Do chase the ebbing Neptune , and do fly him , — When he comes back ; you demy puppets , that - th e - By moon shine do green sour ringlets make,

Whereof the ewe not bites and you , whose pastime I S to make midnight-mushrooms ; that rejoice To hear the solemn curfew by whose aid — ’ (Weak masters though you be) I have b e dim m d ’ - sun c all d n i The noon tide , forth the muti ous w nds, ’ ’ And twixt the green se a and the azu r d vault Set roaring war to the dread rattling thunder i ’ Have I given fire, and r fted Jove s stout oak ’ With h is o wn bolt the strong-b as d promontory ’ Have I m ade shake and by the spurs pluck d up

The pine, and cedar graves , at my command, ’ e w ak d Hav their sleepers oped, and led them forth By my so potent art But this rough m agic k ’ e re u ir d I her abjure and, when I have q S no w ome heavenly musick, (which even I do,

To work mine end upon their senses , that 94 THE B OOK OF F AIRY POETRY

h ’ f This airy c arm is for , I ll break my sta f,

Bury it certain fathoms in the earth , An d deeper than did ever plummet sound, ’ I ll drown my book .

SHAKESPEARE .

C aliban plagued by Fairies

En ter with a burd n o C e wood . ALIBAN , f A no s u nd r ard i e ofth e he .

a C l. All the infections that the su n sucks up F P l rom bogs , fens , flats , on rosper fal , and make him

- By inch meal a disease His spirits hear me, ’

n . And yet I eeds must curse But they ll nor pinch, F ’ right me with urchin shows , pitch me i the mire, fi re - th e Nor lead me, like a brand , in dark w a Out of my y, unless he bid them but Fo r every trifle are they set upon me S ometime like apes , that moe and chatter at me, - And after , bite me then like hedge hogs , which Lie — w a tumbling in my bare foot y, and mount

9 6 THE B OOK OF F AIRY POETRY

’ i A lovely boy, stol n from an Indian k ng Sh e never had so sweet a changeling And j ealous Oberon would have the child

Knight of his train, to trace the forests wild sh e But , perforce , withholds the loved boy, C rowns him with flowers , and makes him all her j oy

And now they never meet in grove , or green , - By fountain clear , or Spangled star light sheen , all But they do square , that their elves , for fear , C reep into acorn cups , and hide them there . F at Either I mistake your shape and making quite .

Or else you are that shrewd and knavish sprite, ’ Call d G : Robin oodfellow are you not he, That fright the maidens of th e villagery S k kim mil and sometimes labour in the quern , And bootless make the breathless housewife churn And sometimes make the drink to bear no barm M - 3 islead night wanderers , laughing at their harm i P Those that Hobgobl n call you , and sweet uck,

You do their work, and they shall have good luck Are not you he 3 ’ P u ck s e ak st . Thou p aright

I am that merry wanderer of the night .

I j est to Oberon , and make him smile, - When I a fat and bean fed horse beguile, Neighing in likeness of a silly foal ’ And sometime lurk I in a gossip s bowl, In very liken ess of a roasted crab sh e And, when drinks , against her lips I bob , ’ — And on her with er d d ew lap pour the ale . l The wisest aunt , tel ing the saddest tale, Sometime for three-foot stool m ist aketh me sh e Then slip I from her , and down topples , ta ilor l And cries , and fal s into a cough

And then the whole quire hold their hips , and laugh

And waxen in their mirth , and neeze , and swear

A merrier hour was never wasted there .

F . But room , airy, here comes Oberon F A d — ’ ai . n here my mistress Would that he were gone MID SUMMER NIGHT’S DREAM 9 7

En ter a t one door with his train and OBERON , , , T a t ano th er wit rs h he . TI ANIA, ,

’ Ill m et b Obe . y moonlight , proud Titania .

Tita . 3 F What , j ealous Oberon airy, skip hence

I have forsworn his bed and company . ' Am Obe. 3 Tarry, rash wanton not I thy lord

Tita . Then I must be thy lady But I know ’ When thou hast stol n away from fairy land, C sat And in the shape of orin all day, P laying on pipes of corn , and versing love

P l . Wh To amorous hil ida y art thou here , Come from th e farthest steep of India 3 t th e But that , forsoo h, bouncing Amazon , ’ b u skin d i e i Your m str ss , and your warr or love, TO Theseus must b e wedded and you come

To give their bed jo y and prosperity . H o Obe . w canst thou thus , for shame, Titania , e m Glanc at y credit with Hippolyta , Knowing I know thy love to Theseus 3 l h t Didst thou not lead him through the g immering nig , ' ZE le b h is And make him with fair g reak faith, e 3 With Ariadn , and Antiopa are Tita . These the forgeries of j ealousy ’ e e e e S And n v r sinc the middle summ r spring, M et w e ll on hi , in dale, forest , or mead, e b By pav d fountain; or y rushy brook, th e Or on beached margent of the sea , e th e d To danc our ringlets to whistling win , ’ But with thy brawls thou hast distu rb d our sport . e th e Therefor winds , piping to us in vain , ’ e su c k d As in r venge , have up from the sea C i I n ontagious fogs ; which fall ng the land , e eltih so Have very p g river made proud, That th ey have overborne their continents ’ Th e o x stretc h d I n hath therefore his yoke vain , Th e ploughman lost his sweat and the green corn ’ Hath rotted ere h is youth at t ain d a beard Th e e in e fold stands mpty the drown d field , G 9 8 THE B OOK OF F AIRY POETRY And crows are fatted with the murrain flock The nine men ’s morris is fill’d up with mud

And the quaint mazes in the wanton green , F o r lack of tread, are undistinguishable The human mortals want their winter here No night is no w with hymn or carol blest

Therefore the moon , the governess of floods, P ale in her anger , washes all the air That rh e um atic k diseases do abound w e And thorough this distemperature , see The seasons alter hoary-headed frosts Fall in the fresh lap of the crimson rose ’ Old H em s And on y chin , and icy crown , An Odorous Chaplet of sweet summer buds I s , as in mockery, set The spring , the summer ,

The childing autumn , angry winter , change ’ Their wonted liveries and the mazed world ,

By their increase , now knows not which is which And this same progeny of evils comes F rom our debate , from our dissension

We are their parents and original . D o o Obe . you amend it then it lies in y u Wh y should Titania cross her Oberon 3

I do but beg a little changeling boy,

To b e my henchman .

Tita . Set your heart at rest ,

The fairy land buys not the child of me . His mother was a vot ’ress of my order

And , in the spiced Indian air , by night , ’ Full Often hath sh e g o ssip d by my side ’ sat e And with me on Neptun s yellow sands , Marking the embarked traders on the flood sh e But , being mortal , of that boy did die

And, for her sake, I do rear up her boy

And, for her sake, I will not part with him . H o 3 Obe . w long within this wood intend you stay ’ - Tita . P a d . erchance , till after Theseus wedding y

If you will patiently dance in our round ,

And see our moonlight revels , go with us

If not , shun me, and I will spare your haunts .

1 00 THE B OOK OF FAIRY POETRY l (Be it on lion, bear , or wolf , or bul ,

On meddling monkey, or on busy ape , )

Sh e shall pursue it with the soul of love . An d ere I take this charm o ff from her sight As ( I can take it with another herb , ) ’ I ll make her render up her page to me . — [Re enter PUCK .

th e 3 . Hast thou flower there Welcome, wanderer

P u ck . A is . y, there it

Obe . . I pray thee , give it me k e h I now a bank Wh reon the wild t yme blows , Where o x-lips and the nodding violet grows - Quite over canopied with lush woodbine , - With sweet musk roses, and with eglantine

There sleeps Titania , some time of the night , ’ Lu ll d in these flowers with dances and delight ’ enam ell d And there the snake throws her skin , Weed wide enough to wrap a fairy in I ’ll And with the juice of this streak her eyes ,

And make her full of hateful fantasies . [Exeunt

r Ano ther p a t of the Wo od .

Enter T with her train . TI ANIA,

Tita . n o w Come, a roundel, and a fairy song

Then , for the third part of a minute, hence S e - om , to kill cankers in the musk rose buds S war - i ome, with rear mice for their leathern w ngs ,

To make my small elves coats and some, keep back h a The clamorous owl, t t nightly hoots and wonders At our quaint spirits Sing m e no w asleep

o fli c es . Then to your , and let me rest

SONG

I ai Yo u s o tted snak s with doubl ton u F . p e , e g e, Th orn h d e-h o s be no t seen y e g g , N wts and blind-worm s do no wron e , , g Com e no t near o ur fa iry queen

102 TH E B OOK OF FAIRY POETRY

’ Re-enter P a nd TT with an Ass s head . UCK , BO OM

’ ’

P u c k . I ll follow you , I ll lead you about a round ,

Through bog , through bush , through brake, through I ’ll Sometime a horse be , sometime a hound,

A hog , a headless bear , sometime a fire

And neigh , and bark, and grunt , and roar, and burn ,

. Exit. Like horse , hound, hog, bear , fire, at every turn [ TT sin s [BO OM g .

Tita . m e 3 W ki n What angel wakes from my flowery bed [ a g . TT sin s in [BO OM g ag a .

Tita . i I pray thee, gentle mortal, sing aga n ’ M is en am o u r d ine ear much of thy note, SO is min e eye enthralled to thy shape ’ And thy fair virtue s force perforce doth move me,

sa . On the first view, to y, to swear , I love thee Out of this wood do not desire to go

Thou shalt remain here, whether thou wilt or no . I am a spirit of no common rate Th e summer still doth tend upon my state ,

And I do love thee therefore , go with me ’ I ll give thee fairies to attend on thee

And they shall fetch thee jewels from the deep , And sing , while thou on pressed flowers dost sleep so And I will purge thy mortal grossness ,

That thou shalt like an airy Spirit g o . Peas—blossom Cobweb Moth and Mustard- seed

n t our E erf Fairies .

F I at Ready.

2 F a t . And I .

F . 3 a t . And I 4 F a t Where shall w e i Tita . Be k nd and courteous to this gentleman I n h is l I n Hop wa ks , and gambol his eyes F eed him with apricocks and dewberries ,

With purple grapes , green figs , and mulberries - The honey bags steal from the humble bees , - And, for night tapers , crop their waxen thighs , MIDSUMMER NIGHT’S DREAM 103

’ th e - And light them at fiery glow worm s eyes , e To hav my love to bed , and to arise th e And pluck wings from painted butterflies , To fan the moon-beams from his sleeping eyes

Nod to him , elves , and do him courtesies . F I a i . ! Hail, mortal

2 F ai . Hail F a i 3 . Hail ! F a i 4. . Hail ! a m Tit . Come wait upon him lead him to y bower . Th e m oon , methinks , looks with a watery eye sh e e And when weeps , weeps very little flower, e Lamenting some enforc d chastity . ’

E unt. Tie m t . xe up y love s tongue, bring him silen ly [

no ther art o t Wo d A p f he o .

Enter OBERON .

’

Obe . b e awak d I wonder , if Titania C Then , what it was that next ame in her eye ,

Which sh e must dote on in extremity . P Enter UCK . — e m . 3 Her comes y messenger How now, mad spirit What night - rule now about this haunted grove 3 is M . P uck . y mistress with a monster in love

Near to her close and consecrated bower , sh e was While in her dull and sleeping hour ,

A crew of patches, rude mechanicals ,

That work for bread upon Athenian stalls ,

Were met together to rehearse a play, ’ Int e nded for great Theseus nuptial day . l - The shal owest thick skin of that barren sort , Wh o P yramus presented, in their sport ’ Fo rso o k e ent er d his scen , and in a brake

’ When I did him at this advantage take , An ass ’s nowl I fixed on his head h is b e Anon , Thisbe must answered, m im ic k s And forth my comes When they him py, As e e wild g es that the creeping fowler eye , 1 04 TH E B OOK OF FAIRY P OETRY

- Or russet pated choughs , many in sort , Rising and cawing at the gun ’s report S sk ever themselves , and madly sweep the y So h is , at sight , away his fellows fly ’ ’ And , at our stamp , here o er and o er one falls t He murder cries , and help from A hens calls .

Their sense, thus weak, lost with their fears, thus Strong , Made senseless things begin to do them wrong F o r briers and thorns at their apparel snatch S ome, sleeves some, hats from yielders all things catch .

I led them on in this distracted fear, And left sweet Pyramus translated there e When in that moment (so it cam to pass, ) ’ ’

wak d lo v d ass. Titania , and straightway an

Obe . This falls out better than I could devise . ’ I ll to my queen , and beg her Indian boy And then I will her charmed eye release ’

F . rom monster s view, and all things shall be peace M P uck . y fairy lord, this must be done with haste ’ F o r night s swift dragons cut the clouds full fast , And yonder shines Aurora ’s harbinger s At whose approach , ghost , wandering here and there, - Troop home to church yards and the spirits all, - That in cross ways and floods have burial, Already to their wormy beds are gone Fo r fear lest day should look their shames upon , w They ilfully themselves exile from light , ’ a e - And must for y consort with black brow d night . Ob e. But we are spirits of anot her sort ’ I with the Morning s Love have Oft made Sport

And, like a forester , the groves may tread, e Ev n till the eastern gate , all fiery red,

Opening on Neptune with fair blessed beams , — Turns into yellow gold his salt green streams . d But , notwithstanding , haste ; make no elay

m a ff . Exit OB We y e ect this business yet ere day [ E .

P u ck . Up and down , up and down I will lead them up and down I am icar ’d in field and town

G . oblin, lead them up and down

1 06 TH E B OOK OF F AIRY P OETRY

Was wont to swell, like round and orient pearls , ’ S n o w flo wret s tood within the pretty eyes ,

Like tears , that did their own disgrace bewail .

When I had, at my pleasure , taunted her, ’ b e d And She , in mild terms , gg my patience , I then did ask of her her changeling child sh e Which straight gave me , and her fairy sent

To bear him to my bower in fairy land .

And now I have the boy, I will undo

This hateful imperfection of her eyes . P And, gentle uck, take this transformed scalp From o ff the h ead of this Athenian swain

That he awaking when the others do , M ay all to Athens back again repair ’ And think no more of this night s accidents , But as th e fierce vexation of a dream . But first I will release the fairy queen . as Be , thou wast wont to be Tou chin her e es with an rb [ g y he . See as , thou wast wont to see Dian ’s bud o ’er Cupid ’s flower

Hath such force and blessed power .

Now, my Titania wake you , my sweet queen . Tita M e . y Oberon what visions have I se n ’ e am o r Methought I w as n u d of an ass .

Obe . There lies your love . H o w Tita . came these things to pass 3 0 h o w n o w , mine eyes do loathe his visage b e — R o O e . S ff . ilence, a whil obin , take this head l Titania , musick ca l and strike more dead

Than common sleep , of all these five the sense .

M as c arm eth . Tita . h usick, ho musick , such sleep ’ ’ k st P u ck . w a o wn Now, when thou , with thine fool s eyes pee} Still u Obe . S . m sick . : , ound musick [ ! Come , my queen

take hands with me ,

And rock the ground Whereon these sleepers be .

Now thou and I are n ew in amity .

P u ck . F airy king , attend and mark ;

I do hear th e morning lark . THE EIGHTH NI MPH ALL 107

ad Obe . s Then , my queen , in silence , Trip we after the night ’s shade

We the globe can compass soon , ’ an d rin Swift er than the W g moon .

Tita . C ome , my lord and in our flight , h o w Tell me it came this night , w as That I sleeping here found , Exeunt With these mortals , on the ground . [ SH AKESPEA R E .

The Eight h Nim ph all

A N m h is m arried to a F a y p y , Grea t re ara tio ns or the da p p f y , All rites nu tials the recit ou of p y e y ,

To the bridal and invite y ou .

r t a ed 3 M e ill . But will our Tita w this fay - Cla ia . . Yea , and to morrow is the day w sh e M ertilla . But h y should bestow herself Upon this dw arfish fairy elf 3

Cla ia . Why, by her smallness , you may find F That she is of the airy kind , And therefore apt to choose her make Whence sh e did her beginning take ’ h e s Besides deft and wondrous airy, An d of th e noblest of the Faery

Chief of the crickets of much fame ,

In Faery a most ancient name . ’ But to be brief, tis clearly done

The pretty wench is wooed and w o n .

Cloris . If this be so , let us provide The ornaments to fit our bride Queen M ab will look Sh e should be drest In thos e attires we think our best ’ The refore some curious things let s give her r e E e to her spouse w her deliver . ’ M ertilla . I ll have a j ewel for her ear (Which for my sake I ’ll have her wear) 108 TH E B OOK OF F AIRY P OETRY

’ Tsh all be a dewdrop , and therein , C Of upids I will have a twin , Which struggling with their wings shall break

The bubble, out of which shall leak So sweet a liquor as shall move l Each thing that smel s to be in love .

Claia . Believe me , girls , this will be fine, And to this pendant then take mine

A cup in fashion of a fly, ’ e e Of the lynx s piercing y ,

Wherein there sticks a sunny ray, S hot in through the clearest day, Whose brightness Venus ’ self did move

Therein to put her drink of Love, Which for more strength sh e did distil ’ w as e The limbeck a pho nix quill . ’ At this cup s delicious brink,

A fly approaching but to drink, Like amber or some precious gum

It transparent doth become . ’ or s Fo r Cl i . j ewels for her ears she s sped

But for a dressing for her head , I think for her I have a tire

That all fairies shall admire . l - The yellows in the ful blown rose,

Which in the top it doth enclose, Like drops of gold ore shall be hung Upon her tresses and among Those scattered seeds (the eye to please) The Wings of the cantharides ’ ’ With some 0 th rainbow that doth rail Those moons in the peacock ’s tail Whose dainty colours being mixt fixt With the other beauties, and so , Her lovely tresses shall appear

As though upon a flame they were . sh e And to be sure shall be gay, ’ l We l take those feathers from the j ay,

About her eyes in circlets set , ’ To be our Tita s coronet .

1 10 THE B OOK OF F AIRY P OETRY And to this bird to make a set

The mavis , merle and robinet ,

The lark, the linnet and the thrush

That make a quire of every bush . But for still music we will keep

The wren and titmouse, which to sleep Shall sing the bride when she ’s alone The rest into their chambers gone ;

And like those upon ropes that walk, On gossamer from stalk to stalk The tripping fairy tricks shall play

The evening of the wedding day . Thus far we handsomely have gone Now for our Prothalamion M Or arriage song , of all the rest

A thing that much must grace our feast . Let us practise then to sing it Ere We before the assembly bring it We in dialogues must do it

Then , my dainty girls , set to it .

Cla ia . This day must Tita married be

C se e . ome , nymphs , this nuptial let us sa 3 M er tilla . But is it certain that ye y Will sh e we d the noble fay 3 s Clori . Sprinkle the dainty flowers with dews Such as the gods at banquets use Let herbs and weeds turn all to roses And make proud the posts with posies S hoot your sweets into the air, C harge the morning to be fair , Fo r Cla ia . our Tita is this day r M e tilla . }To be married to a fay . b e Claia . By whom then shall our bride led To the temple to be wed 3 r M e tilla . Only by yourself and I Who that roomth should else supply 3

Clo is . C r ome, bright girls , come altogether ff And bring all your o erings hither , Ye most brave and buxom bevy All your goodly graces levy THE E IGHTH NI MP H ALL 1 1 1 Come in maj esty and state

Our bridal here to celebrate . F M ertilla . or our Tita is this day

laia . M C } arried to a noble fay . ’ ill t a Cla ia . Whose lot w be the w y to strow On which to church our bride must go 3 ’

M er tilla . fi t st That , I think, as of all

To lively Lelip a will fall .

Cloris . Summon all the sweets that are To this nuptial to repair

Till with their throngs themselves they smother, S trongly stifling one another , And at last they all consume

And vanish in one rich perfume . F M er tilla . or our Tita is this day

M . Cla ia . } arried to a noble fay is M er tilla . sh e But coming back when wed , Who breaks the cake above her head 3 ’ laia ert illa C . M That shall , for she s tallest ,

And our Tita is the smallest .

Cloris . V iolins , strike up aloud , Pl y the gittern , scour the crowd Let the nimble hand belabour The whistling pipe and drumbling tabor To the full the bagpipe rack

Till the swelling leather crack . Fo r M ertilla . our Tita is this day M arried to a noble fay .

Cla ia . But when to dine she takes her seat What shall be our Tita ’s meat 3

M er tilla . as The gods this feast to begin,

Have sent of their ambrosia in . ’

Cloris . Then serve we up the straw s rich berry, The Resp as and Elisian cherry The virgin honey from the flowers In Hybla wrought in Flora ’s bowers F ull bowls of nectar , and no girl C arouse but in dissolved pearl . Fo r i M ertilla . our Tita s this day M arried to a noble fay . 1 12 THE B OOK OF F AIRY POETRY

i Cloris . In masques , in dances and del ght , And rear banquets Spend the night w e Then about the room ramble ,

Scatter nuts and for them scramble ,

Over stools and tables tumble,

Never think of noise nor rumble . Fo r M er tilla . our Tita is this day

}M . Claia . arried to a noble fay D MICHAEL RAYTON .

WE fire , that are of purer ,

Imitate the starry quire,

f Who, in their nightly watch ul Spheres ,

Lead in swift round the months and years . finn The sounds and seas , with all their y drove , No w to the moon in wavering morrice move And on the tawny sands and shelves

Trip the pert fairies and the dapper elves , - By dimpled brook and fountain brim , — The wood nymphs , decked with daisies trim , Their merry wakes and pastimes keep What hath night to do with sleep 3 JOHN MILTON .

1 1 4 THE B OOK OF F AIRY POETRY Who wants a cap Of crim son grand 3 By great good hap I ’ve one on hand ’ sir — a C - Look, ock s comb , flowering red, ’ sir Tis just the thing , , for your head

Who wants a frock Of vestal h u e 3 Or snowy smock 3

F 3 a r maid, do you i — 0 me a Ladysm o c k so white ’ Your bosom s self is not more bright

Who wants to sport A slender limb 3 ’ I ve every sort Of hose for him e e Both scarlet , strip d, and y llow ones This Woodbine makes such pantaloons P RINCE B R I GH TK I N 1 1 5 Who wants—(hush hush A box of paint 3 ’Twill give a blush Yet leave no taint fill’d This Rose with natural rouge is , ’ From its o wn dewy leaves distill d .

e e Th n lady and gentlemen fays, com buy You never will meet such a merchant as I GEORGE DARLEY .

“ f m B ri h tk in Songs ro Prince g .

A F or st n F air land SCENE e i y .

DAWN .

First Fair F y . AIRIES and Elves Shadows of night P ale and grow thin , ’ Branches are stirr d Rous e up yourselves

Sing to the light , F airies , begin , ’ Hark, there s a bird

Fo r Sec ond . dreams are now fading, Old thoughts I n new morni ng Dull spectres and goblins

To dungeon must fly . s The tarry night changeth, I ts low Stars are setting, Its lofty stars dwindle

And hide in the sky .

F irst. F airies , awake Light on the hills Blossom and grass Tr emble with d ew i; 1 16 THE B OOK OF F AIRY P OETRY

G th e ambols snake , M l erry bird shril s , - Honey bees pass ,

Morning is new .

Second P . ure j oy of the cloudlets , All rippled in crimson Afar over world ’s edge ’ The night - fear is ro ll d ; 0 look h o w the Great One Uplifts himself kingly At once the wide morning Is flooded with gold

F airies , arouse Mix with your song H ar let p and pipe ,

Thrilling and clear . Swarm on the boughs Chant in a throng M orning is ripe,

Waiting to hear .

Second . The merle and the Skylark

Will hush for our chorus, Of Quick wavelets music , Begin them anon Good—luck comes to all things That hear us and hearken Our myriads of voices

Commingling in one .

General Chorus. G olden , golden

Light unfolding ,

Busily, merrily, work and play,

In flowery meadows , — And forest shadows , All the length of a summer d ay All the length of a summer d ay !

1 18 THE B OOK OF F AIRY P OETRY

“ Song from The Culprit F ay

OUPH E and goblin imp and sprite Elf of eve and starry Fay ’ Ye that love the moon s soft light , — Hither hither wend your way ; e Twine y in a jocund ring , S ing and trip it merrily ,

Hand to hand , and wing to wing, — Round th e wild witch hazel tree .

Hail the wanderer again , t With dance and song, and lu e and P h is ure wing and strong his chain ,

And doubly bright his fairy fire . e Twine y in an airy round, Brush the d ew and print th e lea k S ip and gambol, hop and bound , - Round the wild witch hazel tree .

e The be tle guards our holy ground , e He flies about this haunted plac ,

And if mortal there be found , H e hums in his ears and flaps his face - The leaf harp sounds our roundelay, The owlet ’s eyes our lanterns be

Thus we sing , and dance, and play, - Round the wild witch hazel tree .

- But hark from tower on tree top high , h as The sentry elf his call made , is e sk A streak in the East rn y, Shapes of moonlight flit and fade - ’ The hill tops gleam in morning s spring, k The S ylark shakes his dappled wing, — th e The day glimpse glimmers on lawn,

Fa s e . The cock has crowed , and the y are gon J . RODMAN DRAKE . OWLS P IE GLE AND COCKLE DEMOY 1 19

Ow lspiegle an d Co c kle de m o y

O ls ie l kl ed em o w e . Co c p g y ,

M b o . y boy, my y

Cockled o . em . y Here, father , here

’ No w the polestar s red and burning, ’ And the witch s spindle turning ,

Appear , appear Co c kled em o y M b o m Y y, y boy , ’ We ll sport u s here Our gambols play Like elve and fay e And domin er, 1 20 THE B OOK OF F AIRY POETRY

l Laugh , frolic , and frisk til the morning appear . Lift latch— Open clasp Shoot bolt— and burst hasp Co c kl edem o y M b o y boy, my y, What wilt thou do that will give thee j oy 3 Wilt thou ride on the midnight owl 3

No , for the weather is stormy and foul . Co c kledem o y M y boy, my boy, What wilt thou do that can give thee j oy 3

With a needle for sword, and a thimble for a hat , Wilt thou fight a traverse with the castle cat 3

c t . Oh no she has laws , and I like not hat Co c kled em o y M b o y y, my boy , What Shall we do that can give thee jo y 3 ’ Shall w e go seek for a cuckoo s nest 3 ’ ’ That s best , that s best

About , about ,

Like an elvish scout , ’ ’ h im o u t . The cuckoo s a gull , and we ll soon find Co ckled em o h O e y, my p , my care, no w 0 e 3 Where art thou , tell me wher Sk Up in the y ,

On the bonny dragonfly, C ome , father , come you too Sh e has four wings , and strength enow, t o And her long body has room for w .

WALTER SCOTT .

F airy Song WHAT I am I must not show What I am thou couldst not kn ow Som ething betwixt heaven and hell Something that neither stood nor fell Something that through thy wit or will — May work thee good may work thee ill .

1 2 2 TH E B OOK OF F AIRY POETRY

Mine is the step that bids th e earth G e iv to the iris flower its birth ,

And mine the golden cup to hide, e th e h u e Wh re last faint of the rainbow died . th e Search depths of an Indian mine , Wh ere are th e colours to match with mine 3

Chorus . w e e Dance round , for the gal is bringing

Songs the summer rose is Singing .

’ ird F a r Th i y . I float on the breath of a minstrel s

Or the wandering sounds of a distant flute, Linger I over th e tones that swell From the pink-veined chords of an ocean- shell ’ e I lov the skylark s morning hymn , e Or the nightingal heard at the twilight dim , ’ e The cho, the fountain s melody, l These, oh these are the spe ls for me

oru Ch s . Hail to th e summer night of June ee e S yond r h as risen our ladye moon .

ur F M F o th a iry . y palace is in the coral cave Set with spars by th e ocean wave e Would y have gems , then seek them there , s There found I the pearl that bind my hair . I and the wind together can roam O th e e ver green waves and th ir white foam , See , I have got this silver shell, M ark how my breath will its smallness swell , Fo r the Nautilus is my boat In which I over the waters float sea The moon is shining over the , Who is th ere will come and sail with me 3

is Choru s of F a iries . Our noontide sleep on leaf and flower e are Our r vels held in a moonlit hour,

1 24 THE B OOK OF F AIRY POETRY

Happy, happy glowing fire

Dazzling bowers of soft retire , ’ n o u rish d Ever let my wing , k ’ Li e a bat s , still wandering , F aintly fan your fiery Spaces ,

Spirit sole in deadly places . n In u haunted roar and blaze ,

Open eyes that never daze , Let me see the myriad shapes

Of men and beasts , and fish , and apes , P ortray d in many a fiery den , And wrought by spumy bitumen

On the deep intenser roof,

Arched every way aloof ,

Let me breathe upon their skies , An d anger their live tapestries F ree from cold , and every care ,

Of chilly rain , and shivering air . Spirit of Fire away ! away ! Or your very roundelay Will sear my plumage newly budded F rom its quilled sheath , all studded With the self—same dews that fell - On th e M ay grown Asphodel . Spirit of Fire—away away Spirit of Fire—away away Z - ephyr , blue eyed fairy, turn , — And see my cool sedge buried urn , Where it rests its mossy brim ’ Mid water - min t and cresses dim An d the flowers , in sweet troubles , Lift their eyes above the bubbles, e Like our Queen , when she would pleas

will . To sleep , and Oberon tease - F Love me , blue eyed airy true,

Soothly I am Sick for you . Gentle Bre am a by the first V iolet young nature nurst ,

I I e will bath myself with thee, So yo u sometimes follow me SONG OF F OUR F AIRIES 125

To my home, far , far, in west , Beyond the nimble-wheeled quest Of the golden - browed su n ’ Come with me, o er tops of trees ,

To my fragrant palaces , Where they ever floating are Beneath the cherish of a star ’ Call d V wh o l esper , with si ver veil ll Ever hides his bri iance pale, ’ Ever gently-d ro w s d doth keep F Twilight for the ayes to sleep . Fear not that your watery hair Will thirst in drouthy ringlets ther e ; Clouds of stored summer rains

Thou shalt taste , before the stains n Of the mountai soil they take ,

And too unlucent for thee make . F I love thee, crystal airy, true Sooth I am as sick for you e F Out , y aguish airies , out C hilly lovers , what a rout e Keep y with your frozen breath,

Colder than the mortal death . — D u sketh a Adder eyed , speak, S hall we leave these, and go seek ’ e l In . the earth s wide ntrai s old Couches warm as theirs are cold 3

O for a fiery gloom and thee, D u sketh a so , enchantingly ’ Freckle-wing d and lizard- sided S By thee, prite , will I be guided I care not for cold or heat F rost and flame, or sparks , or sleet, To my essence are the same

But I honour more the flame . S F prite of ire, I follow thee

Wheresoever it may be,

To the torrid spouts and fountains , Underneath earth—quaked mountains

Or, at thy supreme desire, 1 26 TH E B OOK OF FAIRY P OETRY Touch the very pulse of fire

With my bare unlidded eyes . Sweet Du sketh a paradis e Off S , ye icy pirits , fly Frosty creatures of the sky

Breathe upon them , fiery sprite Away away to our delight

GO , feed on icicles , while we - Bedded in tongue flam es will be . Lead m e to these feverous glooms , Sprite of Fire Me to the blooms - Z Blue eyed ephyr, of those flowers , Far in the west where the M ay-cloud lowers V all And the beams of still esper, when winds are th e Are shed through the rain and milder mist, And twilight your floating bowers . JOHN KEATS

Tw o Fairies in a Garden

1 Elf 3 . Whither goest, brother — 2 . The sun is weak to warm myself ’ In a thick red tulip s core . Wh ither thou 3

Till d ay be To the di m and deep snow- palace - l Of the closest lily cha ice, ’ Where is v eil d the light of noon ’ To be like m y Lady s moon . 3 Thou art of the day, I ween

2 w . Yet I not diso n our Queen, ’ e Nor at Lys am backward found, When the mighty Feast comes round

TWO FAIRIES I N A GARDEN 1 27

When Sh e spreads abroad her power To proclaim a midnight hour Fo r the pale blue Fays like thee And the ruddy Elves like me To mingle in a charmed ring With a perfect welcoming th e — Guarded from moon stroke cold,

And wisp that scares us on the wold .

S I s wift that Night drawing near, When your abrupt and j ovial cheer, M I n o u r i ixes m sty dance ,

Meeting else by rarest chance . ’ We love dark u nd ew d recesses

Of the leafy wildernesses , ’ in flo w r Or to hide some cold , ’ Sh elt er d from the sunlight hour , ” a And more fllic tiv e mortal eye .

s Gladly, gladly, do I py

Human children playing nigh , F so eel , and must you , the grace

Of a loving human face . Els e why come you in this plac e 3 S O , my ister, if we might Show ourselves to mortal sight Far more often if they knew Half the friendly turns we do e Even now, a gentl thought a e Would p y my servic dimly wrought , w - Round these inding garden walks , ’ F flo r ruits and w s and leaves and stalks . P aler favourites of the noon , Can ye give or take such boon 3

C hantings, Brother, hear you might , Softly sung through still of night Calling from the weird North k Dreams li e distant echoes forth, 1 28 THE B OOK OF F AIRY POETRY

’ l c u rt ain d Ti l through shades they creep , To inlay the gloomy floor of sleep Fo r - e babes , and souls that babe lik are So w e bless them from afar

Like a faint but favouring star . — But tell m e h o w in fields or bowers Thou hast spent these morning hours 3

2 l e . Through the ta l hedge I hav been , S w l e hado y wal of crusted gre n ,

Within whose heart the birds are s een . Speeding swiftly thence away - To the crowning chestnut Spray, ’ I w at c h d a Tyrant steal along Would slay the sweet Thrush in her song sh e o ff Warned, soon broke from Singing, w e i There left the branchlet Swing ng .

Whispering Robin , down the walk , i News of pois ng , pouncing Hawk, The Sycamore I next must Strew - e On every leaf with honey d w . n o w And hither from clouds I run , ” Fo r all my morning work is done .

su n Alas , I wither in the , Witless drawn to leave my nest Ere the day be laid to rest But to- night w e lightly troop By the young Moon ’s silver hoop Weaving wide our later ranks As on evening river—banks Shifting clouds of midges glance Through mazes of their airy danc e 0 o u 0 see might y come , might you ’ All our sh ado w d revelry

Yet the next night shall be rarer,

Next and next and next , still fairer e We are waxing very night , Till our joy be full and bright

1 30 TH E B OOK OF F AIRY P OETRY

Of fre akish mischief and annoyance

In the universal j oyance , One Of whom I saw of late ’ ee d — As I p p through window grate, (Under roof I may not enter)

Haunt the housewife to torment her,

Tangle up her skein of silk,

Throw a mouse into her milk,

Hide her thimble, scorch her roast , Quickly driv e her mad almost ’ v ex d And I too , because I would

Hav e brought her succour if I could . — sa 3 But where shall this be holden , y F ar away 3

0 , far away,

Over river must we fly, th e Over sea and the mountain high ,

Over city , seen afar k lo w Li e a and misty star , Soon beneath us glittering - e . Lik million spark worms But our wing , ’ s fli c e Fo r the flight will ne er u . S F ' ome are training littermice, ” I a Silve r Moth .

Beware How I ’ll thrid the vaulted air D - fl A ragon y with glassy wings , e - Born besid the meadow springs , - That can arrow swiftly glide, Thorough the glowing eventide - l Nor at twilight fal grow slack,

Shall bear me on his long blue back . D ew— stars , meteors of the night , Ma ff y not strike him with a right, e He can n edle through the wood, ’ e e - n e That s lik a gre n earth chai d cloud, TWO FAIR IES IN A GARDEN 1 31

M - ountain summits deftly rake, D ’ raw swift line o er plain and lake . L sc o If at y I be last ,

Other elves must j ourney fast . ” Lu a vo !

Elf , , , ' But I rede Of all your Herbs take special heed . M Our istress tholes no garden flowers ,

Though we have freedom of these bowers .

Tell me what you mean to treasure, ’ Each in s atom 3

G -o f-P e old leasur , M Plu m eseed F - edic , , ountain arrow, V — ervain , Hungry grass , and Yarrow, M ” Quatrefoil and elilot .

e These are well . And I hav got M F F oonwort and the ilmy ern , ’ ath er d G nicely on the turn . W0 to Fairy that shall bring ff Bugloss for an O ering, -flax of th e Toad , Barley Wall , ’ Enchanter s Nightshade, worst of all . — i Oh, brother, hush I faint w th fear ” A mortal footstep threatens near .

e see Non can us, none can hear

Yet , to make thee less afraid, ’ e a ra d Hush w both s thou hast p y . I will seek th e verse to sp ell m flo w I 3 l Written round y dark bel , SO F r l To sing at sunset . , a ewe l WILLIAM ALLINGHAM . 132 THE B OOK OF F AIRY POETRY

The Merm aid

Who would be

A mermaid fair ,

Singing alone , Combing h er hair sea Under the , In a golden curl

With a comb of pearl, On a throne 3

I would b e a mermaid fa1r I would sing to mys elf the whole of the day With a comb of pearl I would comb my hair ’ as c o m b d sa And still I I would Sing and y, Who is it love s m e 3 who loves m e not 3 I would comb my hair till my ringlets would fall lo w Low adown , adown , From unde r my starry sea-bud crown

Low adown , and around, And I should look like a fountain of gold Springing alone

With a shrill inner sound, Over the throne In th e midst of the hall Till that great sea-snake under the sea From h is coiled sleeps in the central deeps Would slowly trail himself sevenfold

Round the hall where I sate, and look in at the gate

With his large calm eyes for the love of me . And all the mermen under th e sea Would feel their immortality

Die in their hearts for the love of me .

TH E MERMAN 133

3

But at night I would wander away, away, I would fling on each side my lo w -flo wing locks And lightly vault from the throne and play

With the mermen in . and out of the rocks

We would run to and fro , and hide and seek, se a- l On the broad wolds in the crimson she ls ,

Whose silvery spikes are nighest the sea .

But if any came near I would call, and shriek , And adown the steep like a wave I would leap From the diamond-ledges that jut from the dells ’ Fo r kiss d I would not be by all who would list , Of the bold merry mermen under the sea w o o They would sue me, and me, and flatter me In the purple t vviligh t s under the sea

But the king of them all would carry me, win Woo me , and me , and marry me , In the branching jaspers under the sea Then all the dry pied things that be In th e hueless mosses under the sea m Would curl round y silver feet silently,

All looking up for the love of me .

And if I should carol aloud , from aloft

All things that are forked, and horned , and soft

Would lean out from the hollow sphere of the sea ,

All looking down for the love of me . ALFRED TE N NY SO N .

The Merm an

Wh o would be

A merman bold, S itting alone , S inging alone , e Und r the sea , With a crown of On a thron e 3 134 TH E B OOK OF F AIRY P OETRY

I would be a merman bold I would sit and sing th e whole of the day I would fill the sea -halls with a voice of power But at night I would roam abroad and play

With the mermaids in and out of the rocks , Dressin g their hair with the white sea-flo wer And holding them back by their flowing locks i e th e sea I would k ss th m often under , ’ And kiss them again till they kiss d me

Laughingly, laughingly An d then we would wander away, away - - To the pale green sea groves straight and high,

Chasing each other merrily .

There would be neither moon nor star But the wave would make music above us afar Low thunder and light in th e magic night

Neither moon nor star . We would call aloud in the dreamy dells , Call to each other and whoop and c ry All night , merrily, merrily i e They would pelt me w th starry Spangles and sh lls , e Laughing and clapping their hands betw en,

All night , merrily, merrily But I would throw to them back in mine Turkis and agate and alm o n din e Th en leaping out upon them unseen sea I would kiss them often under the , ’ And kiss them again till they kiss d m e

Laughingly, laughingly . Oh what a happy life were mine Under th e hollow-hung ocean green Soft are the moss-beds under the sea

We . would live merrily, merrily ALFRED TE NNYSON .

1 36 THE B OOK OF F AIRY P OETRY Here it is only the mew that wails We will sing to you all the day M ariner, mariner , furl your sails , F o r here are the blissful downs and dales ,

And merrily, merrily carol the gales ,

And the spangle dances in bight and bay, And the rainbow forms and flies on the land Over the islands free And the rainbow lives in the curve of the sand se e Hither , co me hither and

And the rainbow hangs on the poising wave ,

And sweet is the colour of cove and cave, And Sweet Shall your welcome be

O hither , come hither, and be our lords, Fo r merry brides are we

We will kiss sweet kisses , and speak sweet words 0 listen , listen , your eyes shall glisten With pleasure and love and jubile e

O listen , listen, your eyes shall glisten When the sharp clear twang of the golden chords

Runs up the ridged sea . Who can light on as happy a shore All ’ ’ 3 the world o er , all the world o er 3 : Whither away listen and stay mariner , mariner , ALFRED

The Moon Child A LITTLE lonely child am I That have not any soul Go d made me but a homeless wave,

Without a goal .

was A seal my father , a seal That once was man M was y mother loved him, though he ’ Neath mortal ban . MIDER ’S S ONG 1 37

He took a wave and drowned her, Sh e took a wave and lifted him

And I was born where shadows are, ’ ea- I the s depths dim .

All through the sunny blue- sweet hours I swim and glide in waters green Never by day the mournful shores

By me are seen .

But when the gloom is on the wave A shell unto the shore I bring And then upon the rocks I sit

And plaintive sing .

0 is what this wild song I sing, With meanings strange and dim 3 NO soul am I , a wave am I , ’ - And sing the Moon child s hymn . F IONA MACLEOD .

Mider ’s Song

H o w beautiful they are, The lordly ones

Who dwell in the hills ,

In the hollow hills .

They have faces like flowers And their breath is wind That blows over grass

Filled with dewy clove r .

Their limbs are more white Than shafts of moonshine They are more fleet th e M Than arch wind . 138 TH E B OOK OF FAIRY POETRY

They laugh and are glad And are t errible Whe n their lances shake ee Every green r d quivers .

H o w e are beautiful th y , H o w beautiful, The lordly ones

In the hollow hills .

I would go back C To the ountry of the Young, An d see again Of S e The lances the he ,

As they, keep their hosting With laughing cries In pale places

Under the moon . F M IONA ACLEOD .

Fairy Lullaby

(Old h as)

0 WOMAN , washing by the river ! Hushaby, babe not mine My woeful wail wilt pity never 3

i . Hushaby, babe not m ne d a was A year this y I snatched for ever,

i . Hushaby, babe not m ne th e e l - - e h To gre n hil fort where thorn tre s s iver, Hushaby, babe not mine . Sh o h een Sh o h e en Sh o h een S o h ee , , , h n, Sh o -h u - sh o -h u - lo, lo, Sh o h een Sh o h een Sh o h een sh o h een , , , ’

0 . Tis not thou , my baby,

1 40 THE B OOK OF FAIRY POETRY

’ The Fairies Lullaby

WM b M )

M Y e mirth and merrim nt , soft and sweet art thou , Child o f the race of Conn art thou M art y mirth and merriment , soft and sweet thou,

Of the race of Coll and Conn art thou .

M y smooth green rush , my laughter sweet , M y little plant in the rocky cleft , Were it not for the spell on thy tiny feet no t Thou wouldst here be left ,

Not thou .

C011 Of the race of and Conn art thou , My laughter sweet and low art thou As o u m y crow on y knee,

I would lift you with me , Were it not for the mark that is on your feet

I would lift you away , and away with me .

E . Trans . HALL .

A Faery Song

WE Old who are , old and gay, 0 so old s n Thou a ds of years , thousands of years , If all were told

G ive to these children, new from the world, Silené e and love — th e And the long dew dropping hours of night, And th e stars above A F AERY SONG

G e n ew ive to thes children from the world , e Rest far from m n . I s n e 3 anythi g better , anything bett r Tell u s it then

are Us who old, old and gay, 0 so old s Thousands of year , thousands of years ,

If all were told .

. TS . W . B YEA

TH E H ORSEMAN.

I H EA R D a horsem an Ride over th e hill Th e m e ea oon shon cl r, Th e night w as still H is e m w as e h l silv r, An d p ale was h e An d th e horse h e rod e W as of ivory . WALT R MA RE E DE LA .

Y n Ariel. o u fools I a d m y fellows Are m iniste rs of fate th e e le m e n ts ' ’ Of m are tem er d m a as e who your swords p , y w ll ’ W th e t b e-m o c k d—at tab ound loud winds, or wi h s s K th e t - ate as m ill s ill closing w rs, di inish ’ O n e dowle that s in m y plum e m y fe llow-m iniste rs Are ke e b e li invuln ra l .

SH A KESP EA R E. ’ The Fairies Farew ell FAREW ELL rewards and fairies Good housewives now may say For now foul Sluts in dairies Do fare as well as the y

And though they sweep their hearths no less

Than maids were wont to do, Yet who of late for cleanliness Finds Sixpence in her shoe 3 1 46 THE B OOK OF FAIRY P OETRY At morning and at evening both You merry were and glad So little care of sleep and sloth

These pretty ladies had . When Tom cam e home from labour C lki Or iss to mi ng rose,

Then merrily went their tabor ,

And nimbly went their toes .

Witness those rings and roundelays e Of th irs , which yet remain , Were footed in queen Mary’s days

On many a grassy plain . But since of late Elizabeth And later James came in

They never danced on any heath , e As when th time hath b een .

A tell-tale in their company Th ey never could endur e And whoso kept not secretly was u nish e d Their mirth , p su r e It was a just and christian deed To pinch such black and blue O how th e commonwealth doth need Such justices as you C BISHOP ORBET.

Nim ph idia th e Court o f F airy

The F airy P ala ce

T HIS palace standeth in the air,

By necromancy placed there , That it no tempest needs to fear ’ Which way so e er it blow it

And somewhat southward toward the noon,

Whence lies a way up to the moon , And thence the fairies can as soon P th e t ass to earth below I .

1 48 TH E B OOK OF FAIRY POETRY

And puts him on a coat of mail, ’ Which was of a fish s scale, That when his fo e should him assail NO point should be prevailing ’ is was s H rapier a hornet sting , It was a very dangerous thing Fo r if h e chanced to hurt th e King

It would b e long in healing .

’ His e w as ee a helm t a b tle s he d, M ost horrible and full of dread , Th at able w as to Strike one dead

‘ Yet did it well becom e him ’ e And for a plume a hors s hair , h W ich , being tossed with the air , Had force to strike his foe with fear And turn h is weapon from him .

set Himself he on an earwig , Yet e h is scarc he on back could get , SO oft and high h e did corvet Ere he himself could settle H e made him turn and Stop and bound , To gallop and to trot th e round H e e an scarc could stand on y ground , e e He was so full Of m ttl .

MI D- J CHAEL RAYTON.

Liro p e th e Bright

’ THESE sprightly gallants lo v d a lass Called Liro p e the bright In the whole world there scarcely w as

So delicate a Wight . There was no beauty so divin e e That ver nymph did grace , But it beyond itself did shin e

In her more heavenly face . What form sh e pleased each thing would ’ That e er sh e did b ehold ;

1 5 0 THE B OOK OF FAIRY POETRY Drawn with a team of little atomies ’ Athwart men s nos e s as they lie asleep ’ Her wagon spokes made of long spinners legs th e Of The cover , of wings grasshoppers ’ Th e traces , of the smallest spider s web ’ th e m The collars , of moonshine s watery bea s ’ H er whip , of cricket s bone, the lash , of film - Her wagoner , a small grey coated gnat , so as Not half big a round little worm , Pric ked ' fro m the lazy finger of a maid is Her chariot an empty hazel nut , M th e ade by joiner squirrel, or old grub , ’ Time out of mind the fairies c o ac h m akers. An d sh e in this state gallops night by night , ’ n e Through lovers brai s , and then they dream of lov ’ ’ On courtiers knees that dream on c o u rt sies straight ’ ’ e e wh o O er lawy rs fing rs , straight dream on fees ’ ’ k O er ladies lips , who straight on isses dream M ab l Which oft the angry with b isters plagues , e Because their breaths with swe tmeats tainted are . ’ ’ Som etim es sh e gallops o er a courtier s nose An d then dreams he of smelling out a suit ’ e sh e tith e i s And som time comes with a p g tail, ’ ’ k n as a Tic li g a parson s nose lies asleep , e e e Th n he dreams of another b en fic . ’ ’ S e om time she driveth o er a soldier s neck,

And then dreams he of cutting foreign throats , S Of breaches , ambuscadoes , panish blades , Of healths five fathoms deep and then anon

Drums in his ear, at which he starts and wakes An d two being thus frighted, swears a prayer or , M ab And . sleeps again This is that very , That plaits the manes of hors es in the night And bakes the elf -locks in foul sluttish hairs

e . Which , once untangled, much misfortun bodes

WILLIAM SHAKESPEARE . THE FA IRY B ANQUET 1 5 1

The Fairy B anq uet THESE twain By a round little hole had soon descried

A trim feat room , about a fathom wide,

As much in height , and twice as much in length,

Out of the main rock cut by artful strength . - w as — The two leaved door of the mother pearl , F Hinged and nailed with gold . ull many a girl

Of the sweet fairy line , wrought in the loom

That fitted those rich hangings clad the room .

Th e floor could of respect complain no loss ,

But neatly covered with discoloured moss ,

Woven into stories , might for such a piece V e e e i with the richest carp ts brought from Greec . le w as n o w A litt mushroom (that grown thinner, By b eing one time shaven for the dinner S ’ Of one of pain s grave grandees , and that day ’ ’ Out of h is greatness larder stol n away)

w ax - This mushroom (on a frame of y pight , Wh erein was wrought th e strange and cruel fight

Betwixt the troublous commonwealth of flies , And the sly spider with industrious thighs) Served for a table then a little elf s (If possible, far lesser than it elf), o - Br ught in the covering made of white rose leaves, ’ And (wrought together with the Spinner s sleaves) ’ Met in th e table s middle in right angles Th e trenchers were o f little silver Spangles ’ The salt , the small bone of a fish s back, Whereon in little w as expressed the wrack e Of that deplor d mouse, from whence hath sprung That furious battl e Homer whilom sung so Betwixt the frogs and mice neatly wrought ,

You could not work it lesser in a thought . 15 2 THE B OOK OF F AIRY POETRY

b Then on the table , for their read, was put — The milk white kernels of the hazel- nut

The ewer and basin were , as fitting well, A periwinkle and a cockle- shell lasses u re The g p , and thinner than we can See - V from the sea betrothed enetian , Were all of ice not made to overlast

One supper , and betwixt two cowslips cast

A prettier fashion hath not yet been told,

So so . neat the glass was , and feat the mould A little Spruce elf then (just of the set Of the French dancer or such marionette) C lad in a suit of rush , woven like a mat , ’ A monkshood flo w r ' th en serving for a hat Under a cloak made of the spider ’s loom This fairy (with them held a lusty groom)

Brought in his bottles neater were there none . - And every bottle was a cherry stone . - To each a seed pearl served for a screw, And most of them were filled with early d ew S e ome choic r ones , as for the king most meet , — ’ Held mel dew and the honeysuckle s sweet .

The F airy Musicians

TH E w as - treble a three mouthed grasshopper, Well-tutored by a skilful chorister

An ancient master , that did use to play

The friskings which the lambs do danc e in May. l And long time was the chiefest cal ed to sing, Wh en on the plains the fairies made a ring — Then a held cricket , with a note full clean , S weet and unforced and softly sung the mean ,

To whose accord, and with no mickle labour, A pretty fairy played upon a tabor — The case was of a hazel nut , the heads ’ A bat s Wing dressed, the snares were silver threads

1 5 4 THE B OOK OF F AIRY P OETRY

Of sugared rush , and eats the sag ’ And well b e-strutted b e e s sweet bag Gladding h is palate with some store ’ Of emmets eggs what would he more, ’ Bu t beards of mice, a newt s stewed thigh,

A bloated earwig , and a fly ’ - With the red capped worm , that s shut

Within the concave of a nut ,

Brown as his tooth . A little moth , Late fattened in a piece of cloth ’ r With withered che ries , mandrake s ears , ’ ’ Mole s eyes ; to these the slain stag s tears l The unctuous dewlaps of a snai , Th e broke-heart of a nightingale ’ O erc o m e I n music with a wine Ne ’er ravished from the flattering vine But gently pressed from the soft side th e Of most sweet and dainty bride ,

Brought in a dainty daisy, which He fully q u afls up to bewitch

His blood to height this done, commended

Grace b y h is priest the feast is ended .

ROBERT HERRIC K .

The Fairy K ing WHEN the monthly horned queen Grew j ealous that the stars had seen ’ Her rising from Endymion s arms , In rag e sh e threw h er misty charms

Into the bosom of the night ,

To dim their curious , prying sight dw arfish Then did the fairy elves , a h e s Having first ttired t m elves , Prepare to dress their Oberon King In light robes fit for revelling e With a cobweb shirt mor thin , e Than ever spider sinc could spin , TH E F AIRY KING 1 55

a w Ble ched to the whiteness of the sno , By the stormy winds that blow In the vast and frozen air

NO so so . shirt half fine , fair

A rich waistcoat they did bring, ’ Made of the trout -fly s gilded wing ’ At which his elfship gan to fret , Swearing it would make him sweat Even with its weight he needs would wear w A waistcoat wrought of do ny hair , ’ New shaven from an eunuch s chin , ’ ’ le as d l That p him wel , twas wondrous The outside of his doublet w as ’ ’ M -leav d lo v d ade of the four , true , grass C so hanged into fine a gloss ,

With the oil of crispy moss, It made a rainbow in the night , Which gave a lustre passing light On eve ry seam there w as a lace ’ Drawn by th e unctuous snail s slow pace ’ ’ th e fi n st u r st To which , p silver thread

C e ke . ompar d, did look li dull pale lead Each button w as a Sparkling eye ’ ’ Ta en from th e speckled! adder s fry th e And for coolness next skin , ’ i Twas w th White poppy lined Within . e was His breeches of the fleec wrought , Which from COlc h o s Jason brought fin e Spun into so a yarn,

No mortal Wight might it discern , e b e h er W aved y Arachn on loom ,

Just before sh e had her doom . A rich mantle he did wear , Made of tinsel gossamer Beflo w ered over with a few Diamond stars of morning dew ’ Dye d crimson in a maiden s blush ’ — ’ Lin d with humble bee s soft plush . ’ His w as all cap of ladies love, So l e wondrous ight that it would mov , 1 5 6 THE B OOK OF F AIRY POETRY If any humming gnat or fly ’ Bu zz d the air in passing by . About his neck a wreath of pearl D ropt from the eyes of some poor girl, P sh e inched , because had forgot

To leave clean water in the pot . ’ And for s feather he did wear, ’ Old Nisus fatal purple hair , The sword y-girded to his thigh Was smallest blade of finest rye A pair of buskins they did bring ’ c o wlad s Of the y coral wing, ’ Powdered o er with spots of j et , ’ And lin d with purple violet . H is belt w as made of myrtle leaves P laited in small curious threaves , l ’ Beset with amber cows ip s studs ,

And fringed about with daisy buds , h is In which bugle horn was hung , ’ M th e ade of babbling Echo s tongue , — Which set unto his moon burnt lip h is He winds, and then fairies Skip ’ e At that the lazy dron gan sound,

And each did trip a fairy round . SI R E TEW SIM ON S ARD .

Ql e en M ab

is Mab F THIS , the mistress airy, d That oth nightly rob the dairy, e And can h lp or hurt the churning, As sh e please without discerning .

es She that pinches country wench ,

If they rub not clean their benches, And with sharper nails remembers When they rake not up their embers

1 5 8 THE B OOK OF F AIRY P OETRY

The Fairies

I F Mab ye will with find grace , Set each platter in his place

Rake the fire up , and get

su n set . Water in , ere be

Wash your pails and cleanse your dairies , Sluts are loathsome to the fairies S so weep your house Who doth not , M a b will pinch her by the toe . T E ROBER H RRICK .

a to M ab th e Fa The Begg r , iry Queen

P G LEASE your race , from out your store ’ o n e Give an alms to that s poor,

That your mickle may have mo re . ’ Black I m grown for want of meat , G ive me then an ant to eat , Or the cleft ear of a mouse ’ Ov er-sour d in drink of souse

Or , sweet lady, reach to me The abdomen of a bee ’ Or commend a cricket s hip , h u c kso n Or his , to my scrip

Give for bread, a little bit ’ Of a pease that gins to chit ,

And m y full thanks take for it . F - ’ lour of fuz balls , that s too good Fo r a man in needy-hood But the meal of mill - dust can Well content a craving man Any orts the elves refuse ’ Well will serve the beggar s use . But if this may seem too much Fo r an alms , then give me such “ GOOD LUCK BEFRIEND THEE 15 9 Little bits that nestle there ’ ’ r In the p ris n e s pannier . So a blessing light upon

You , and mighty Oberon That yo u plenty last till wh en

I return your alms again . ROBERT HERRICK .

From th e Night -Piece to Julia

H ER e e - y s the glow worm lend thee, The shooting stars attend thee

And the elves also, Wh ose little eyes glow

e th e . Lik sparks of fire, befriend thee

’ ’ -O -th - m is- No Will Wisp light thee, Nor snake or slow-worm bite thee

But on , on thy way, i Not mak ng a stay, ’ Since ghost the re s non e to affright thee . ROBERT HERRICK .

Good Luck befriend thee

GOOD luck befriend thee, Son for at thy birth

The faery ladies danced upon the hearth . The drowsy nurse hath sworn sh e did them Spy t e lie Come ripping to the room Wher thou didst ,

And, sweetly singing round about thy bed, S e trew all their bl ssings on thy sleeping head . Sh e e heard them give the this , that thou shouldst F e rom ey s of mortals walk invisible . JOHN MILTON . 160 THE B OOK OF F AIRY P OETRY

Som e s ay no evil t hing

S sa l OME y no evil thing that wa ks by night , b In fog or fire, y lake or moorish fen ,

Blue meagre hag , or stubborn unlaid ghost , h is e That breaks magic chains at curfew tim ,

No goblin or swart faery of the mine, ’ Hath hurtful power o er true virginity .

JOHN MILTON .

m t m w t s l t So e i es , i h ecure de igh

S T OME IMES , with secure delight , Th e upland hamlets will invite , th e e When merry b lls ring round, And j ocund rebecks sound To many a yo uth and many a maid I n th e e Dancing chequer d Shade , And young and old come forth to play i On a sunshine hol day, Till the live-long daylight fail - Then to the spicy nut brown ale,

With stories told of many a feat ,

H o w Faery Mab the junkets eat . sh e She was pinched, and pulled, said ’ b e Friar s And , by lantern led , Tells h o w the drudging goblin sweat TO - set earn his cream bowl duly , o n e When in night , ere glimpse of morn, His shadowy flail hath threshed the corn That ten day—labourers could not end

Then lies him down , the lubber fiend, ’ all 3 e And, stretched out the chimney l ngth, fire Basks at the his hairy strength , - h e And crop full out of doors flings,

Ere the first cock his matin rings . JOHN MILTON .

1 62 THE B OOK OF F AIRY POETRY Fainter than that which seems to roar ’ - On the moon s silver sanded shore , When through th e silence of the night

Is heard the ebb and flow of light . 0 O e ! shut the eye , and p the ear D o ea you not hear, or think you h r , A wide hush o ’er the woodland pass Like distant waving fields of grass 3 V — h o oices ho a band is coming , a- Loud as ten thousand bees humming , Or ranks of little merry m en Tro m b o nin g deeply from the glen ,

And now as if they changed , and rung - Their citterns small , and riband slung , Over their gallant shoulders hung A chant a chant that swoons and swells Like soft Winds jangling meadow-bells

m 1xt - But with whoops , and infant laughter,

Shouts following o ne another after .

S - mall Shouts , indeed, as wild bees knew

h o w ll . Both to hum, and ho o too What is the living meadow sown 3 With dragon teeth , as long agone Or is an army on the plains t 3 Of this sweet clime , to fight wi h cranes

Helmet and hauberk, pike and lance, Gorget and glaive through th e long grass glance - - ff-m en Red men , and blue men , and bu , small, - l Loud mouthed captains , and ensigns tal , G - - renadiers , light bobs , inch people all, They come they come with martial blore Clearing a terrible path b efore ’ Ru fll e - the high peaked flags i the wind , M - ourn the long answering trumpets behind, Telling h o w deep the close files are st alv w ar Make way for the . art sons of f- e Hurrah the buf cheeked bugl band, Each with a loud reed in his hand TH E ELFIN GATHERING 163

Hurrah the pattering company, Each with a drum- bell at his knee Hurrah the sash-capt cymbal swingers Hurrah th e klingle-klangle ringers ! - Hurrah ! hurrah the elf knights enter, Each with his grasshopper at a canter is H tough spear of a wild oat made, H is good sword of a grassy blade,

H is buckram suit of shining laurel, H is Shield of bark, embossed with coral See how th e plumy champion keeps H is proud steed clambering on his hips , ’ inn d With foaming j aw p to his breast , — li e Blood rol ng yes , and arched crest ’ Over h is and h is rider s head

A broad sheet butterfly banner spread .

Hard on the prancing heels of these Com e on th e pigmy Th yad es M imics and mummers , masqueraders, flu tist s e Soft , and swe t serenaders ’ Gu it arr n e i g o er the lev l green , Or tapping the parched tambourine, i As sway ng to, and swaying fro,

Over the stooping flowers they go , That laugh within their greeny breasts e To feel such light fe t on their crests , An d even themselves a-dancing seem

Under the weight that presses them . But hark the trumpet ’s royal clangour Strik es silence with a voice of anger th e su n Raising its broad mouth to ,

As he would bring Apollo down , in - n — The backed , swol , elf Winder fills With it s great roar the fairy hills

Each woodland tuft for terror shakes ,

The field mouse in her mansion quakes , — l th e The heart struck wren fal s through branches , Wide star es th e e arwig on h is haunch es 164 THE B OOK OF F A IRY P OETRY

F rom trees , which mortals take for flowers , Leaves of all hues fall OH in showers 80 th e strong blast , the voice so dread, ’Twould wake the very fairy dead E E G ORG DARLEY .

Popular Rhym es o f Scotland

’ Will-o -tbe-Wisp S ’ l PUNKY, Spunky, ye re a j umping ight , ’ Ye ne er tak home the school -weans right ; th e w - But through rough moss , and o re the hag pen , Ye drown the ill anes i n your watery den !

’ Gin ye ca me imp or elf ,

I rede ye, look weel to yourself ’ Gin ye ca me fairy, I ’ll work ye muckle tarrie ’ Gin gude neighbour ye ca me, Then gude neighbour I will b e ’ But gin ye ca me seely Wight , ’ I ll be your fri end both day and

f l ’ He wha i ls the fairies green, Nae luck again shall hae ’ h e l And wha spil s the fairies ring, Betide him want and wae For weirdless days and weary nights Are h is till h is deeing day

Friday

THIS is the day when the fairy kind Sit e we ping alone for their hopeless lot , - w d And the wood maiden sighs to the Sighing in , And th e mermaiden weeps in her crystal grot Fo r is d a th e this a y that deed was wrought ,

In which we have neither part nor share ,

1 66 TH E B OOK OF F AIRY P OETRY

! — Their marble basins , and cool green arcades ’ o erarc h in Of tall g sycamores , to throw Athwart the dappled path their dancing shades; t With timid coneys cropping h e green blades .

And there were crystal pools , peopled with fish , i Argent and gold and some of Tyrian sk n , Some crimson—barr’d —and ever at a wish They ros e obsequious till the wave grew thi As glass upon their backs , and then dived in, Quenching their ardent scales in watery gloom ’ Wh ilst others with fresh hues ro w d forth to win M e — so y changeabl regard, for we doom

Things born of thought to vanish or to bloom .

And there were many birds of many dyes , F l rom tree to tree stil faring to and fro ,

And stately peacocks with their splendid eyes , An d gorgeous ph easants with their golden glow k b o w Li e Iris just bedabbled in her , W Besides some vocalists , ithout a name, o f That t on fairy errands come and go, w With accents magical ; and all ere tame, ’ And peckled at my hand where er I cam e .

i And for my sylvan company, in l eu P Of ampinea with her lively peers , Sat Queen Titania with her pretty crew, i i elfin All in the r liveries quaint, w th gears , Fo r sh e l was gracious to my chi dish years , And made me free of her enchanted round e sh e Wh refore this dreamy scene still endears , u And plants her court pon a verdant mound, F enced with umbrageous woods and g roves profound .

Ah sh e was me, cries , ever moonlight seen So clear and tender for our midnight trips 3

Go some one forth , and with a trump convene — My lieges all Away the goblin skips tw o A pace or apart , and deftly strips

168 THE B OOK OF FAIRY POETRY

Flow er-Fairies

F -FAI RI Es— LOWER have you found them, ’ When the summer s dusk is falling, With the glow-worms watching round them Have you heard them softly calling 3

S ilent stand they through the noonlight , flo w er- In their shapes , fair and quiet But they hie them forth by moonlight

Ready then to sing and riot .

h I have heard them ; I have seen t em, Light from their bright petals raying

And the trees bent down to screen them ,

Great , wise trees , too old for playing .

all Hundreds of them , together , Flashing flocks of flying fairies;

Crowding through the summer weather , S eeking where the coolest air is .

ll And they te the trees that know them,

As upon their boughs they hover, h Of the t ings that chance below them ,

How the Ros e h as a new lover .

And the gay Rose laughs , protesting, ” Neighbour Lily is as fickle .

Then they search where birds are nesting,

And their feathers softly tickle .

Then away they all dance , sweeping,

Having drunk their fill of gladness . - But the trees , their night watch keeping,

Thrill with tender, pitying sadness LOB LIE B Y THE FIRE 16 9

Fo r D they know of bleak ecemb er , Wh e is en each bough left cold and bar , Wh en they only shall remember

The bright visits of the fairies ,

When the roses and the lilies S e hall be gone , to come back nev r , From the land where all so still is

That they sleep and sleep for ever .

PHILIP BOURKE MARSTON .

The Elf Toper

EACH twilight - come At‘ beetle-drum Fo r a- nectar he hunting goes , The twisted bine

He stoops for wine , ff Or sups it fresh from o the rose .

From night to morn His amber horn l r - He fil s at eve y honey fountain , And draineth up Each flowery cup

That brims with balm on mead or mountain . D GEORGE ARLEY .

Lob Lie by th e Fire

H E squats by the fire h is - On three legged stool, When all in the house e With slumb r are full .

And he warms h is great hands e Hanging loos from each knee, And h e whistles as soft As the night wind at sea. 1 7 0 TH E B OOK OF F AIRY POETRY

Fo r his work now is done All the water is sweet w He has turned each bro n loaf ,

And breathed magic on it .

Th e milk in th e pan And the bacon on b e am H e h as u m spelled with his th b ,

And bewitched has th e dream .

e Not a mous , not a moth , sat Not a spider but , And quaked as it wondered ’ What next he d be at .

No w hunched by the fire lo w While the embers burn , H e nods until daybreak, ' And at daybreak he ll go .

’ Soon th e first cock will light From his perch and point high H is beak at th e Ploughb o y Grown pale in the sky ; And crow will he shrill as Then , meek a mouse , Lob will ris e up and s h u fll e

Straigh t out of the house .

His supper for breakfast Fo r wages h is work And to warm his great b and s

Just an hour in the mirk . WALTE R DE LA MARE .

1 7 2 TH E B OOK OF F AIRY POETRY

The primroses scattered by April, M The stars of the wide ilky Way, Cannot outnumber the hosts of the children

Magic hath stolen away .

The buttercup green of the meadows ,

The snow of the blossoming may, Lovelier are not than the legion of children

Magic hath stolen away .

e The wav s tossing surf in the moonbeam , e The albatross lon on the spray , Alone know the tears wept in vain for the children

Magic hath stolen away .

In vain for at hush of the evening , h l W en the stars twink e into the grey, Se ems to echo the far - away calling of children

Magic hath stolen away .

WALTER DE LA MARE .

The Ruin

WHEN the last colours of the d ay

Have from their burning ebbed away,

About that ruin , cold and lone, The cricket shrills from Stone to stone ’ And scattering o er its darkened green ,

Bands of the fairies may be seen , C e hattering like grasshopp rs , their feet Dancing a thistledown dance round it While the great gold of the mild moon

Tinges their tiny acorn shoon .

WALTER D E LA MARE . DREAMS WITHIN DREAMS

Fro m th e H ills o f Dre am

ACROSS th e silent stream e th e - Wher slumber shadows go, From th e dim blue Hills of Dre am e e I have heard th w st wind blow .

Who hath seen that fragrant land, Who hath seen that unscanned west 3 Only th e listless hand

And th e u npu lsing breast .

But when the west wind blows see - I moon lances gleam , Where th e Host of Faerie flows Athwart th e Hills of Dream .

And a strange song I have heard

By a shadowy stream , And th e singing of a snow-white bird e D e On th Hills of r am . FIONA MACLEOD .

Dream s w ithin Dre am s

VE e ee F I HA gon out and s n the lands of aery, And e e hav found sorrow and peac and beauty there, e kn o ne e And hav not own from the other , but found ach

e l e . Lov ly and gracious a ike, delicat and fair

e are i e o ne e sh e I s Th y ch ldr n of moth r, that called Longing , ” D e e e o ne m e e sir , Lov , told and another , her secr t name “ ’ I s m e are o ne Wisdo and another, th y not three but And e e e are w another, touch th m not , s ek th m not , they ind ” and flame . 1 7 4 THE B OOK OF F AIRY P OETRY

I have come back from the hidden , silent lands of Faery And have forgotten the music of its ancient streams n And now flame and wind and the long , grey, wanderi g wave e e i e And b auty and peac and sorrow are dreams w thin dr am s . F IONA MACLEOD .

The Lords o f Sh adow

’ WHERE th e water whispers 1n id the shadowy rowan-trees I have heard the Hidden People like th e hum of swarmin g bees And when the moon h as risen and the brown burn glisters grey

I have seen the Green Host marching in laughing disarray . Dalua then must sure have blown a sudden magic air Or with the mystic d ew have sealed m y eyes from seeing fair Fo r the great Lords of Shadow wh o tread the deeps of night e Ar no frail puny folk who move in dread of mortal sight .

Fo r F0 01 sure Dalua laughed alow, Dalua the fairy , ’ Wh en with his wildfire eyes he saw me neath the rowan-shadowed pool His l n e touch can make the chords of life a bitter j ang i g tun , Th e e e h is t e false glows true, the tru glows fals , beneath moon id

rune .

th e The laughter of Hidden Host is terrible to hear , The Hounds of Death would harry me at lifting of a spear Mayhap Dalua made for me the hum of swarming bees ‘ - And sealed my eyes with d ew beneath th e shadowy rowan trees . F M IONA ACLEOD .

The Nightingale in Fairyland

THOU wast not born for death , immortal Bird No hungry generations tread thee down The voice I hear this passing night was heard In ancient days by emperor and clown Perhaps the self-same song that found a path sad Through the heart of Ruth , when sick for

17 6 THE B OOK OF F AIRY P OETRY D ancing gaily F ree from sorrow,

Under dancing summer skies , Wh ere no grim mysterious morrow

Ever comes to terrorise . ’ MOIRA O NEILL

’ l l t f t Chi dren , chi dren, don orge

’ CHILDREN , children , don t forget

Th ere are elves and fairies yet .

Where the knotty hawthorn grows

Look for prints of fairy toes . Where the grassy rings are green

Moonlight dances shall be seen .

Watch and Wait O lucky you, If you find a fairy shoe F o r a ransom he will pay,

Hobbling barefoot all the day .

Lay it on his mushroom seat ,

w a . Wish your wish , and go your y

If your wish should be discreet ,

at a R W . Never fe but he will p y . DO A O EN GOBLIN F EET 1 7 7

The Fairy Minister P P EOPLE of eace A peaceful man, was h e Well worthy of your love , G Who, while the roaring arry ran - Of D Red with the life blood undee , h W ile coats were turning , crowns were falling, l Wandered along his valley stil , And heard your mystic voices calling — From fairy knowe and haunted hill . saw h e He heard, he , knew too well - The secrets of your fairy clan .

You stole him from the haunted dell , as Who nevermore w seen of man .

Now far from heaven , and safe from hell, Of Unknown earth , he wanders free . Would that he might return and tell Of his mysterious company Fo r we have tired the Folk of Peace NO morn they tax our c o m and oil

Their dances on the moorland cease,

The Brownie stints h is wonted toil . No more shall any shepherd meet - The ladies of the fairy clan , Nor are their deathly kisses sweet

On lips of any earthly man . e n o w And half I nvy him , who C C ’ lothed in her ourt s enchanted green, By moonlit loch or mountain ’s brow

Is Chaplain to the Fairy Queen .

ANDREW LANG .

Goblin Feet

I AM o ff down the road Where the fairy lanterns glowed And the little pretty flitt erm ic e are flying A slender band of grey

It runs creepily away, a- And the hedges and the grasses are Sighing, 1 7 8 THE B OOK OF FAIRY POETRY

The air is full of wings And of blundering beetle -things o u wi That warn y th their whirring and their humming . O I hear the tiny horns Of enchanted lepr echauns And the padding feet of many gnomes a-coming

O the lights O th e gleams O the little tinkly sounds O the rustle of their no seless little robes —i O th e echo of their feet o ftheir little happy feet

O their swinging lamps in little starlit globes .

I must follow in their train — Down the crooked fairy lane th e — e Where coney rabbits long ago hav g one , An d Where silverly they sing In a moving moonlit ri ng - All a twinkle with the j ewels they have on . They are fading round the turn Where the glow-worms palely burn An d the echo of their padding feet is dying ’ O it s knocking at my heart Let me go 0 let m e start o r -fl i F the little magic hours are all a y ng .

O the warmth O the hum O the colours in th e dark O the gauzy W ngs of golden honey-flies i — O th e music of their feet o f their dancing goblin fe et

O the magic O the sorrow when it dies . R J . R. . TOLKIEN .

The Last F ay

I HAVE wandered where the cuckoo fills The woodland with h er magic voice I have wandered on the brows of hills Where the last heavenward larks rej oice

THE LAST F AY 1 7 9

Far th e I have wandered by wave, i By shadowy loch and sway ng stream, But never hav e I found th e grave Of e e him who mad me a wand ring Dream . If I could find that lonely place l e e And him who ies asleep th r in , ’ I d bow my head and kiss h is face e e And sle p and rest and peac would win .

H e made me , he who lies asleep Hidden I n som e forgotten spot Where winds sweep and rains weep And foot of wayfarer cometh not H e M made me, erlin , ages ago , H e shaped me in an idle hour, H e made a heart of fire to glow And hid it in an April shower Fo r I am but a shower that calls

A thin sweet song of rain , and pass Even the wind-whirled leaf that falls

Lingers awhile within the grass ,

But I am blown from hill to vale, ’ From vale to hill like a bird s cry That shepherds hear a far -o ff wail - l And wood fo k as a drowsy sigh .

w M . And I am tired, hom erlin made I would lie down in the heart of Jun e And fall asleep in a leafy shade And wake not till in the Faery Moon M l r erlin sha l ise our lord and king , M an To leave for aye the tribes of , An d let th e clarion summons ring i The k ngdom of the Immortal Clan . If but in some green place I ’d see An —ik ancient , tangled, moss l e beard And half-buried boulder of a knee I should not flutte r away afeare d 1 80 THE B OOK OF FAIRY P OETRY

o f cr With leap joy, with low glad y I ’d sink besid e the sleeper fair He would not g ru dg e m y fading SI gh '

In the ancient stillness brooding there .

FIONA MACLEOD .

The H orns o f Elflan d

TH E splendour falls on castle wall s And snowy summits old in story The long light shakes across the lakes And the wild cataract leaps in glory set fl I n Blow, bugle, blow, the wild echoes y g ,

Blow, bugle ; answer, echoes , dying, dying, dying .

O hark, O hear how thin and clear,

And thinner, clearer , farther going 0 sweet and far from cliff and sear The horns of Elfland faintly blowing

Blow, let us hear the purple glens replying

w . Blow, bugle ans er, echoes, dying , dying , dying N ALFRED TENNYSO .

P r i n ted i n Gr ea t B r ita in

Tu r nb u ll S r i n b u r b h ea s , E d g h