FAIRY ELVES, Whose midnight revels by a forest side, Or fountain, some belated Peasant sees, Or dreams he sees; while over-head the moon Sits arbitress, and nearer to the earth Wheels her pale course. They, on their mirth and dance Intent, with jocund music charm his ear; At once with joy and fear his heart rebounds. Paradise Lost, i. 78x. THE PERSONS. SIR JOHN BONNITON. MEN. ADAM, a farmer, father to Jamie and Ann, and tenant to Sir John. JAMIE, a young shepherd, Adam's son, in love with Jean: SYMON, his friend, in love with Ann. MASS JAMES, the minister. HERD BOY. A SHEPHERD. WOMEN. CATHARINE, Adam's wife. ANN, her daughter, sister to Jamie. JEAN, a young woman stolen in her infancy by the Fairies MAB the Queen. BOB. Other Fairies. FAIRIES.. The SCENE is laid near Lanark ; sometimes in a Cavë behind the Bonniton Lin, sometimes in Bonniton House, in Adam's cottage, and the neighbourhood. The time of action within twenty-four hours. The period near the close of the 16th Century. THE FALLS OF CLYDE: OR, THE FAIRIES. ACT I. SCENE I Wi' louder sound the torrent seems to roar, Here's Adam's house---we'll through the window look, Catharine, awaking from sleep. CUT short the prayer, gudeman! Ann, who has just waked. He's fall'n asleep! • Canis domesticus, cauda sinistrorsum recurvata, impudentissimus, saepe (noctû praesertim vel advenâ accedente) latrans; sed, arrepto lapide, facile fugiens.B. Syft. Quad. 83. Catharine. Tuts! stupid body-But there's nane can keep Frae sleeping; he's sae langsome that ilk night And how it swam, and rested on a hill; Brought back a leaf, and show'd the tide did ebb: Wha wi' his beam cam' on the folk pell-mell; An' how this creeshy rascal too was slain, By a wee hird, that slung at him a stane: (Adam is waken'd, rubs his een, and then shakes Adam. Rise up, man !—It's a sin and shame to sleep In time o' prayers; up, ye lazy sheep! Hooft, cough. Oh, sirs! your corrupt nature !-whan ye eat, May see folk sleep in time o' prayer and grace! Frae prayer, to steer the sweens. Catharine. Deed! I could not Do less, for they were sticking to the pot. Set in the supper, Ann. Ann, going to the dresser. The cat * has lick'd the milk: Is there nae mair? Adam. I saw her at it in the time o' prayer. Catharine. Could ye nae spoken then? Adam. I threw my bonnet at her, which did miss, And cried, hiss tae cat! plague on ye! hiss! She stood a bonny wee, then ran away, But cam' again when I began to pray: But peace will reign in stable, barn, and byre. Ann. What's this amang the sweens? no, sure its not! My father's thrown his bonnet in the pot !! * Felis Catus cauda elongata, fufco-annulata.-Lin. Syft. Nat. p. 62. Catus---eques arborum.-Klein. Quad. p. 75. |