THE CULPRIT FAY. For he thought upon her looks so meek, And he thought of the light flush on her cheek; Never again might he bask and lie On that sweet cheek and moonlight eye; To think upon his virgin bride, Was worth all heaven, and earth beside. XXXIV. "Lady," he cried, "I have sworn to-night, And called the sylphs who hovered there, And bade them fly and bring him straight, Of clouds condensed, a sable car. Then round him cast the shadowy shroud, XXXV. Borne afar on the wings of the blast, XXXVI. The star is yet in the vault of heaven, But it rocks in the summer gale; And now 't is fitful and uneven, And now 't is deadly pale; And now 't is wrapped in sulphur-smoke, As swift as the glance of the arrowy lance As swift as the wind in its train behind 543 The fiends of the clouds are bellowing loud, While the cloud-fiends fly from the blaze; He watches each flake till its sparks expire, And rides in the light of its rays. But he drove his steed to the lightning's speed, And caught a glimmering spark; Ouphe and goblin! imp and sprite! Sing and trip it merrily, Hail the wanderer again With dance and song, and lute and lyre; Pure his wing and strong his chain, And doubly bright his fairy fire. Twine ye in an airy round, Brush the dew and print the lea; Skip and gambol, hop and bound, Round the wild witch-hazel tree. The beetle guards our holy ground, He 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. |