"By the rushy-fringèd bank Where grows the Willow and the Osier dank, Thick set with Agat, and the azurn sheen That in the channell strayes, Thus I set my printless feet That bends not as I tread, JOHN MILTON 139 NOW THE HUNGRY LION ROARS "Now the hungry Lyon rores, And the Wolfe behowls the Moone: I am sent with broome before, To sweep the dust behinde the doore." "Through the house give glimmering light, Everie Elfe and Fairie spright Hop as light as bird from brier! . . ." WILLIAM SHAKESPEARE 140 THE FAIRIES FEAST ... Awn. Who feasts tonight? Some Elves. Prince Olbin is troth-plight To Rosalind, daughter of the Faery Queen. Other Elves. She's a mannikin changeling; her name shows it. Other Elves. We have heard tell; that she as dream is fair. Awn. Other Elves. And Eglantine should wedded be this night, Moth. Howt. I was there and saw it: on hoar roots, sweet; ... Other, with flower-cups many-hewed, had dight Whence come ye foothot? One of the new-come Elves. O Awn, O Howt! Not past a league from hence, lies close-cropped plot, Where purple milkworts blow, which conies haunt, haunt, Elves. Awn. Elves. Awn. Elves. Amidst the windy heath. We saw gnomes dance dance There; that not bigger been than harvest mice. feast: Though in them there none utterance is of speech. Be those our mother's cousins, dainty of grace: We saw of living herb, intressed with moss, Other, in gossamer bowers, wonne underclod. And each gnome held in hand a looking glass; Wherein he keeked, and kissed oft the Moons face. Are they a faery offspring, without sex, They'd wings on their flit feet; That seemed, in their oft shining, glancing drops Wherein be some congealed as adamant. We stooped to gaze (a neighbour tussock hid On sight so fair: their beauty being such, |