按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！
The fairies' lost command！
They did but change priests' babies；
But some have changed your land；
And all your children sprung from thence；
Are now grown Puritanes；
Who live as changelings ever since；
For love of your demains。
At morning and at evening both
You merry were and glad；
So little care of sleep or sloth
These pretty ladies had；
When Tom came home from labor；
Or Ciss to milking rose；
Then merrily merrily went their tabor
And nimbly went their toes。
Witness those rings and roundelays
Of theirs； which yet remain；
Were footed in Queen Mary's days
On many a grassy plain；
But since of late； Elizabeth；
And later； James came in；
They never danced on any heath
As when the time hath been。
By which we note the fairies
Were of the old profession；
Their songs were Ave…Maries；
Their dances were procession。
But now； alas！ they all are dead；
Or gone beyond the seas；
Or farther for religion fled；
Or else they take their ease。
A tell…tale in their company
They never could endure；
And whoso kept not secretly
Their mirth； was punished sure；
It was a just and Christian deed
To pinch such black and blue：
Oh； how the Commonwealth doth need
Such justices as you！
Richard Corbet ＇1582…1635＇
THE FAIRY FOLK
Come cuddle close in daddy's coat
Beside the fire so bright；
And hear about the fairy folk
That wander in the night。
For when the stars are shining clear
And all the world is still；
They float across the silver moon
From hill to cloudy hill。
Their caps of red； their cloaks of green；
Are hung with silver bells；
And when they're shaken with the wind
Their merry ringing swells。
And riding on the crimson moth；
With black spots on her wings；
They guide them down the purple sky
With golden bridle rings。
They love to visit girls and boys
To see how sweet they sleep；
To stand beside their cosy cots
And at their faces peep。
For in the whole of fairy…land
They have no finer sight
Than little children sleeping sound
With faces rosy bright。
On tip…toe crowding round their heads；
When bright the moonlight beams；
They whisper little tender words
That fill their minds with dreams；
And when they see a sunny smile；
With lightest finger tips
They lay a hundred kisses sweet
Upon the ruddy lips。
And then the little spotted moths
Spread out their crimson wings；
And bear away the fairy crowd
With shaking bridle rings。
Come； bairnies； hide in daddy's coat；
Beside the fire so bright …
Perhaps the little fairy folk
Will visit you to…night。
Robert Bird ＇1867…
THE FAIRY BOOK
When Mother takes the Fairy Book
And we curl up to hear；
'Tis 〃All aboard for Fairyland！〃
Which seems to be so near。
For soon we reach the pleasant place
Of Once Upon a Time；
Where birdies sing the hour of day；
And flowers talk in rhyme；
Where Bobby is a velvet Prince；
And where I am a Queen；
Where one can talk with animals；
And walk about unseen；
Where Little People live in nuts；
And ride on butterflies；
And wonders kindly come to pass
Before your very eyes；
Where candy grows on every bush；
And playthings on the trees；
And visitors pick basketfuls
As often as they please。
It is the nicest time of day …
Though Bedtime is so near； …
When Mother takes the Fairy Book
And we curl up to hear。
Abbie Farwell Brown ＇1875…1927＇
THE VISITOR
The white goat Amaryllis；
She wandered at her will
At time of daffodillies
Afar and up the hill：
We hunted and we holloa'd
And back she came at dawn；
But what d'you think had followed？ …
A little； pagan Faun！
His face was like a berry。
His ears were high and pricked：
Tip…tap … his hoofs came merry
As up the path he clicked；
A junket for his winning
We set in dairy delf；
He eat it … peart and grinning
As Christian as yourself！
He stayed about the steading
A fortnight； say； or more；
A blanket for his bedding
We spread beside the door；
And when the cocks crowed clearly
Before the dawn was ripe；
He'd call the milkmaids cheerly
Upon a reedy pipe！
That fortnight of his staying
The work went smooth as silk：
The hens were all in laying；
The cows were all in milk；
And then … and then one morning
The maids woke up at day
Without his oaten warning； …
And found he'd gone away。
He left no trace behind him；
But still the milkmaids deem
That they； perhaps； may find him
With butter and with cream：
Beside the door they set them
In bowl and golden pat；
But no one comes to get them …
Unless； maybe； the cat。
The white goat Amaryllis；
She wanders at her will
At time of daffodillies；
Away up Woolcombe hill；
She stays until the morrow；
Then back she comes at dawn；
But never … to our sorrow …
The little； pagan Faun。
Patrick R。 Chalmers ＇18
THE LITTLE ELF
I met a little Elf…man； once；
Down where the lilies blow。
I asked him why he was so small；
And why he didn't grow。
He slightly frowned； and with his eye
He looked me through and through。
〃I'm quite as big for me；〃 said he；
〃As you are big for you。〃
John Kendrick Bangs ＇1862…1922＇
THE SATYRS AND THE MOON
Within the wood behind the hill
The moon got tangled in the trees。
Her splendor made the branches thrill
And thrilled the breeze。
The satyrs in the grotto bent
Their heads to see the wondrous sight。
〃It is a god in banishment
That stirs the night。〃
The little satyr looked and guessed：
〃It is an apple that one sees；
Brought from that garden of the West …
Hesperides。〃
〃It is a cyclops' glaring eye。〃
〃A temple dome from Babylon。〃
〃A Titan's cup of ivory。〃
〃A little sun。〃
The tiny satyr jumped for joy；
And kicked hoofs in utmost glee。
〃It is a wondrous silver toy …
Bring it to me！〃
A great wind whistled through the blue
And caught the moon and tossed it high；
A bubble of pale fire it flew
Across the sky。
The satyrs gasped and looked and smiled；
And wagged their heads from side to side；
Except their shaggy little child；
Who cried and cried。
Herbert S。 Gorman ＇1893…
THE CHILDREN
THE CHILDREN
When the lessons and tasks are all ended；
And the school for the day is dismissed；
The little ones gather around me；
To bid me good night and be kissed；
Oh； the little white arms that encircle
My neck in their tender embrace！
Oh； the smiles that are halos of heaven；
Shedding sunshine of love on my face！
And when they are gone； I sit dreaming
Of my childhood too lovely to last； …
Of joy that my heart will remember；
While it wakes to the pulse of the past；
Ere the world and its wickedness made me
A partner of sorrow and sin；
When the glory of God was about me；
And the glory of gladness within。
Al