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Through fairy hills and fairy dales。
But when a bad child goes to bed；
From left to right she weaves her rings；
And then it dreams all through the night
Of only ugly horrid things！
Then lions come with glaring eyes；
And tigers growl； a dreadful noise；
And ogres draw their cruel knives；
To shed the blood of girls and boys。
Then stormy waves rush on to drown；
Or raging flames come scorching round；
Fierce dragons hover in the air；
And serpents crawl along the ground。
Then wicked children wake and weep；
And wish the long black gloom away；
But good ones love the dark； and find
The night as pleasant as the day。
Thomas Hood ＇1799…1845＇
THE FAIRIES OF THE CALDON…LOW
A Midsummer Legend
〃And where have you been； my Mary；
And where have you been from me？〃
〃I've been to the top of the Caldon…Low；
The midsummer night to see！〃
〃And what did you see； my Mary；
All up on the Caldon…Low？〃
〃I saw the glad sunshine come down；
And I saw the merry winds blow。〃
〃And what did you hear； my Mary；
All up on the Caldon…Hill？〃
〃I heard the drops of the water made；
And the ears of the green corn fill。〃
〃Oh； tell me all； my Mary …
All … all that ever you know；
For you must have seen the fairies
Last night on the Caldon…Low！〃
〃Then take me on your knee； mother；
And listen； mother of mine：
A hundred fairies danced last night；
And the harpers they were nine。
〃And their harp…strings rang so merrily
To their dancing feet so small；
But； oh！ the words of their talking
Were merrier far than all！〃
〃And what were the words； my Mary；
That you did hear them say？〃
〃I'll tell you all； my mother；
But let me have my way。
〃Some of them played with the water；
And rolled it down the hill；
'And this；' they said； 'shall speedily turn
The poor old miller's mill。
〃'For there has been no water
Ever since the first of May；
And a busy man will the miller be
At the dawning of the day！
〃'Oh！ the miller； how he will laugh；
When he sees the mill…dam rise！
The jolly old miller； how he will laugh；
Till the tears fill both his eyes！'
〃And some they seized the little winds；
That sounded over the hill；
And each put a horn into his mouth；
And blew both loud and shrill：
〃'And there；' said they； 'the merry winds go
Away from every horn；
And they shall clear the mildew dank
From the blind old widow's corn：
〃'Oh； the poor blind widow …
Though she has been blind so long；
She'll be merry enough when the mildew's gone；
And the corn stands tall and strong！'
〃And some they brought the brown linseed
And flung it down the Low：
'And this；' said they； 'by the sunrise
In the weaver's croft shall grow！
〃'Oh； the poor lame weaver！
How will he laugh outright
When he sees his dwindling flax…field
All full of flowers by night！'
〃And then outspoke a brownie；
With a long beard on his chin：
'I have spun up all the tow；' said he；
'And I want some more to spin。
〃'I've spun a piece of hempen cloth
And I want to spin another …
A little sheet for Mary's bed；
And an apron for her mother！'
〃With that I could not help but laugh；
And I laughed out loud and free；
And then on the top of the Caldon…Low
There was no one left but me。
〃And all on the top of the Caldon…Low
The mists were cold and gray；
And nothing I saw but the mossy stones
That round about me lay。
〃But； coming down from the hill…top；
I heard； afar below；
How busy the jolly miller was；
And how merry the wheel did go！
〃And I peeped into the widow's field；
And； sure enough； was seen
The yellow ears of the mildewed corn
All standing stout and green。
〃And down the weaver's croft I stole；
To see if the flax were sprung；
And I met the weaver at his gate
With the good news on his tongue！
〃Now； this is all I heard； mother；
And all that I did see；
So； prithee； make my bed； mother；
For I'm tired as I can be！〃
Mary Howitt ＇1799…1888＇
THE FAIRIES
Up the airy mountain；
Down the rushy glen；
We daren't go a…hunting
For fear of little men；
Wee folk； good folk；
Trooping all together；
Green jacket； red cap；
And white owl's feather！
Down along the rocky shore
Some make their home；
They live on crispy pancakes
Of yellow tide…foam；
Some in the reeds
Of the black mountain lake；
With frogs for their watch…dogs；
All night awake。
High on the hill…top
The old King sits；
He is now so old and gray
He's nigh lost his wits。
With a bridge of white mist
Columbkill he crosses；
On his stately journeys
From Slieveleague to Rosses；
Or going up with music
On cold starry nights
To sup with the Queen
Of the gay Northern Lights。
They stole little Bridget
For seven years long；
When she came down again
Her friends were all gone。
They took her lightly back；
Between the night and morrow；
They thought that she was fast asleep；
But she was dead with sorrow。
They have kept her ever since
Deep within the lake；
On a bed of flag…leaves；
Watching till she wake。
By the craggy hill…side；
Through the mosses bare；
They have planted thorn…trees
For pleasure here and there。
If any man so daring
As dig them up in spite；
He shall find their sharpest thorns
In his bed at night。
Up the airy mountain；
Down the rushy glen；
We daren't go a…hunting
For fear of little men；
Wee folk； good folk；
Trooping all together；
Green jacket； red cap；
And white owl's feather！
William Allingham ＇1824…1889＇
THE FAIRY THRALL
On gossamer nights when the moon is low；
And stars in the mist are hiding；
Over the hill where the foxgloves grow
You may see the fairies riding。
Kling！ Klang！ Kling！
Their stirrups and their bridles ring；
And their horns are loud and their bugles blow；
When the moon is low。
They sweep through the night like a whistling wind；
They pass and have left no traces；
But one of them lingers far behind
The flight of the fairy faces。
She makes no moan；
She sorrows in the dark alone；
She wails for the love of human kind；
Like a whistling wind。
〃Ah！ why did I roam where the elfins ride；
Their glimmering steps to follow？
They bore me far from my loved one's side；
To wander o'er hill and hollow。
Kling！ Klang！ Kling！
Their stirrups and their bridles ring；
But my heart is cold in the cold night…tide；
Where the elfins ride。〃
Mary C。 G。 Byron ＇1861…
FAREWELL TO THE FAIRIES
Farewell； rewards and fairies！
Good housewives now may say；
For now foul sluts in dairies
Do fare as well as they。
And though they sweep their hearths no less
Than maids were wont to do；
Yet who of late； for cleanliness；
Finds sixpence in her shoe？
Lament； lament； old abbeys；
The fairies' lost command！
They did but change priests' babies；
But some have change