But scant he lays him on the floor, When hollow winds remove the door, And, trembling, rocks the ground : And, well I ween to count. aright, At once a hundred tapers light On all the walls around. Now sounding tongues assail his ear, But (trust me, Gentles!) never yet Or half so rich, before; The country lent the sweet perfumes, The sea the pearl, the sky the plumes, The town its silken store. Now whilst he gaz'd, a gallant, drest In flaunting robes above the rest, With awful accent cry'd; What mortal of a wretched mind, Whose sighs infect the balmy wind, At this the swain, whose vent'rous soul No fears of magic art controul, Advanc'd in open sight; "Nor have I cause of dreed, he said, "Who view, by no presumption led, "Your revels of the night. ""Twas grief, for scorn of faithful love,. "Which made my steps unweeting rove "Amid the nightly dew." ""Tis well, the gallant cries again, "We fairies never injure men "Who dare to tell us true. "Exalt thy love-dejected heart, "Be mine the task, or ere we part, "To make thee grief resign; "Now take the pleasure of thy chaunce; "Whilst I with MAB, my partner, daunce, "Be little MABLE thine." He spoke, and all a sudden there The rest their fairy partners found: With EDWIN of the Green. The dauncing past, the board was laid, And siker such a feast was made, As heart and lip desire; Withouten hands the dishes fly, The glasses with a wish come nigh, And with a wish retire. But now, to please the fairy king, Full every deal they laugh and sing, Some wind and tumble like an ape, And other some transmute their shape Till one at last, that ROBIN hight, And full against the beam he flung, Where by the back the youth he hung To spraul unneath the roof. From thence," Reverse my charm,” he cries, "And let it fairly now suffice "The gambol has been shown." But OBERON answers with a smile, "Content thee, EDWIN, for a while, "The 'vantage is thine own." Here ended all the phantom-play; They smelt the fresh approach of day, And heard a cock to crow; The whirling wind that bore the crowd Ilas clapp'd the door, and whistled loud, To warn them all to go. Then screaming all at once they fly, And all at once the tapers dye; Poor EDWIN falls to floor: Forlorn his state, and dark the place, Was never wight in such a case But soon as Dan APOLLO rose, Ilis honest tongue and steady mind Which made him want success. |