A book of English poetry; ed. by T. Shorter

126 POICB OP' J)IAOTNATION A!ft> ?.A111CT,

.faq iottp.

l.

CoME, follow, follow me,

Ye fairy elves that be

Light tripping o'er the green,

Cotoe follow .Mab, your queen ;

H1md in h&Dd we'll diUl~ around,

For this place is fairy ground.

When mortals are at rest,

And snoring in their nest,

Unheard and unespied

Through the key-holes we do glide;

OYer tables, stools, and shelves,

We trip it with our £airy elves.

Then o'er a mushroom'a head

Our table-cloth we apread ;

A grain ofryo or wheat

The diet that we eat:

PeMly drove of dew we drink,

In acorn-cupe fill\l to the brink.

The gra.sehopper, gnat, and tty,

Serve for· our minstrelsy.

Grace aai~ we danoe awhile,

And so tlae time beguile ;

And, if the moon doth hide bel' hekl,

The glow-worm lights us home to bed.

O'er tops of dewy grasa

So nimbly do we pass,

The youg a.lld tender stalk

Ne'er bends wht>re W1l do walk;

Yet in the morning may be aeen

Wbere we the night before have been..

lL

Tm: fairy beam upon you,

The stArs to glisten on you ;

A noon of light

In the noon of night

Slu.nsP&uu:,

'l'ill the fire..dn.ke hath o'ergone you,