2. “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. Oh! how I long, I long to see The moonèd midnight of our Feast, Flushing amber through the east, When every cap in Elfindom 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 could. —But where shall this be holden, say? Far away?” 1. “O, far away, Over river must we fly, Over the sea, and the mountain high, Over city, seen afar Like a low and misty star,— Soon beneath us glittering Like million spark-worms. But our wing, For the flight will ne’er suffice. Some are training Flittermice, I a Silver Moth.” 2. “Be ware How I’ll thrid the vaulted air! A Dragon-fly with glassy wings, Born beside the meadow-springs, That can arrow-swiftly glide Thorough the glowing eventide, Nor at twilight-fall grow slack, Shall bear me on his long blue back. Dew-stars, meteors of the night, May not strike him with affright, He can needle through the wood, That’s like a green earth-chainèd cloud, Mountain-summits deftly rake, Draw swift line o’er plain and lake. If at Lysco I be last, Other elves must journey fast. Lu a vo!” 1. “But, Elf, I rede, Of all your Herbs take special heed. Our Mistress tholes no garden flowers, Though we have freedom of these bowers. Tell me what you mean to treasure, Each in ’s atom?” 2. “Gold-of-Pleasure, Medic, Plumeseed, Fountain-arrow, Vervain, Hungry-grass, and Yarrow, Quatrefoil and Melilot.” 1. “These are well. And I have got Moonwort and the Filmy Fern, Gather’d nicely on the turn. Wo to Fairy that shall bring Bugloss for an offering, Toad-flax, Barley of the Wall, Enchanter’s Nightshade, worst of all. —Oh, brother, hush! I faint with fear! A mortal footstep threatens near.” 2. “None can see us, none can hear. Yet, to make thee less afraid, Hush we both as thou hast pray’d. I will seek the verse to spell Written round my dark flow’r’s bell, To sing at sunset. So, Farewell!” WILLIAM ALLINGHAM. ELFIN SONG. I.