Publisher's Synopsis
This historic book may have numerous typos and missing text. Purchasers can download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. Not indexed. Not illustrated. 1877 edition. Excerpt: ...1 watch'd a tyrant steal along Would slay the sweet thrush in her song; Warn'd, she soon broke off from singing; There we left the branchlet swinging. Whispering robin, down the walk, News of poising, pouncing hawk, The sycamore I next must strew On every leaf with honey dew. And hither now from clouds I run; For all my morning work is done." "Alas, I wither in the sun, Witless drawn to leave my nest Ere the day be laid to rest! But to-night we lightly troop By the young moon's silver hoop; Weaving wide our later ranks As on evening river-banks Shifting crowds of midges glance Through mazes of their airy dance: O might you come, O might you see All our shadow'd revelry! Yet the next night shall be rarer, Next and next and next, still fairer We are waxing every night, Till our joy be full and bright; Then as slowly do we wane With gentle loss that makes no pain. For thus are we with life endued: Ye, I trow, have rougher food." "Yes: with fragrant soul we're fed Of every flower whose cheek is red, Shunning yellow, blue, and white: And southward go, at the nightingale's flight. Many the faery nations be. O! how I long, I long to see The mooned midnight of our feast Flushing amber through the east, When every cap in Elfendom Into that great ring shall come, Owf and Elf and Fairy blended, Till th' imperial time be ended! Even those fantastic Sprites Lay aside their dear delights Of freakish mischief and annoyance In the universal joyance, One of whom I saw of late As I peep'd through window-grate, (Under roof I may not enter) Haunt the housewife to torment her; Tangle up her skeins of silk, Throw a mouse into her milk, Hide her thimble, scorch her roast, Quickly drive her mad almost; And I too vex'd, because I would Have brought her succour if I...