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, Renown'd for pinching maids by night, 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 Has clapp'd the door, and whistled loud, To warn them all to go. 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 Through all the land before. But soon as Dan APOLLO rose, His honest tongue and steady mind Which made him want success. 9 With lusty livelyhed he talks, He seems a dauncing as he walks, His story soon took wind; And beauteous EDITH sees the youth, Without a bunch behind. The story told, Sir TOPAZ mov'd, At close of eve he leaves his home, All on the gloomy plain. As there he bides, it so befell, The wind came rustling down a dell, Up spring the tapers as before, And music fills the hall. But certes sorely sunk with woe Sir TOPAZ sees the Elphin show, His spirits in him dye: When OBERON cries, "A man is near, "A mortal passion, cleeped fear, "Hangs flagging in the sky." With that Sir TOPAZ, hapless youth! Intreats them pity graunt; For als he been a mister wight "Ah losell vile, at once they roar : "And little skill'd of fairie lore, Thy cause to come, we know: "Now has thy kestrell courage fell; "And fairies, since a lye you tell, "Are free to work thee woe." Then WILL, who bears the wispy fire To trail the swains amongst the mire, The caitiff upward flung; There, like a tortoise in a shop, He dangled from the chamber-top, The revel now proceeds apace, The time with frolic mirth beguile, Till all the rout retreat. By this the stars began to wink, They shriek, they fly, the tapers sink, And down y-drops the knight: For never spell by fairie laid With strong enchantment bound a glade Beyond the length of night. G |