At this the swain, whose venturous soul No fears of magic art control, Advanced in open sight; "Nor have I cause of dread," he said, "Who view by no presumption led Your revels of the night. ""Twas grief, for scorn of faithful love, Which made my steps unweeting rove Amid the nightly dew." ""Tis well-" the gallant cries again; "Exalt thy love-dejected heart, Be mine the task, or ere we part To make thee grief resign; Nor take the pleasure of thy chaunce; Whilst I with Mab, my partner, daunce, Be little Mable thine." He spoke, and all a sudden there The dauneing past, the board was laid, And siker such a feast was made As heart and lip desire; Withouten hands the dishes fly, The glasses with a wish come nigh, But now to please the fairie king, Some wind and tumble like an ape, Till one at last, that Robin hight, Has hent him up aloof; And full against the beam he flung, 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. Then screaming all at once they fly, Forlorn his state, and dark the place, But soon as Dan Apollo rose, His honest tongue and steady mind Which made him want success. With lusty livelyhed he talks, His story soon took wind; And beauteous Edith sees the youth Endow'd with courage, sense, and truth, Without a hunch behind. The story told, Sir Topaz moved, At close of eve he leaves his home, And wends to find the ruin'd dome As there he bides, it so befel, The wind came rustling down à dell, But certes, solely sunk with woe, With that, Sir Topaz, hapless youth! 1 "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; Then Will, who bears the wispy fire, There like a tortoise in a shop He dangled from the chamber top, The revel now proceeds apace, By this the stars began to wink, They shriek, they fly, the tapers sink, And down ydrops the knight; For never spell by fairie laid With strong enchantment bound a glade Beyond the length of night. |