A FAIRY TALE IN THE Antient ENGLISH Stile. N Britain's ifle and Arthur's days, IN When midnight Fairies daunc'd the maze, Liv'd Edwin of the green; Edwin, I wis, a gentle youth, Endow'd with courage, fenfe, and truth,. His mountain back mote well be faid, To measure height against his head, And lift itself above; Yet spite of all that nature did To make his uncouth form forbid, This creature dar'd to love. He He felt the charms of Edith's eyes, Nor wanted hope to gain the prize, Cou'd ladies look within; But one Sir Topaz drefs'd with art, Edwin, if right I read my fong, All in the moony light; 'Twas near an old inchanted court, Where sportive fairies made refort To revel out the night. His heart was drear, his hope was crofs'd, 'Twas late, 'twas far, the path was loft That reach'd the neighbour-town ; With weary fteps he quits the fhades, And drops his limbs adown. But But fcant he lays him on the floor, On all the walls around. Now founding tongues affail his ear, Come prankling o'er the place. But (truft me Gentles!) never yet Or half fo rich before; The country lent the fweet perfumes, The fea, the pearl, the fky, the plumes, The town its filken ftore. Now Now whilst he gaz'd, a Gallant dreft With awful accent cry'd ; What mortal of a wretched mind, Whose fighs infect the balmy wind, At this the fwain, whose vent❜rous foul Advanc'd in open fight; "Nor have I caufe of dreed, he faid, "Who view by no prefumption led "Your revels of the night. " 'Twas grief, for fcorn of faithful love, "Which made my fteps unweeting rove "Amid the nightly dew." 'Tis well the Gallant cries again, We fairies never injure men Who dare to tell us true. Exalt thy love-dejected heart, Be mine the task, or ere we part, To make thee grief refign; Now take the pleasure of thy chaunce; He spoke, and all a fudden there The Monarch leads the Queen: The dauncing paft, the board was laid, As heart and lip defire, Withouten hands the dishes fly, The glaffes with a wish come nigh, And with a wish retire. But |