And ye, the fairiest of all the fairies? 7th Fairy. We are most ethereal sprites, Draped in merging rainbow lights. Perfume is our dainty food; Ever varying is our mood. Sometimes in a rose we shine; Now a girl's face make divine For her sweetheart, lying hid In her blush, or her eyelid: Unfelt we swing upon a hair: To be lovely's our sole care. Sylvia. Titania waves her wand. O, will she speak? Titania. All manner of delight attend your loves: That you are lovers tasks no intuition: And we rejoice to think Cythera's son His ancient craft plies with unbated skill, Though there be some who hold he fled long since For ever from his earthly hunting-ground, While a usurper courses his preserves-- A hideous dwarf, disguised, who blindness feigns And shoots forged bolts that are indeed of gold, But cast in Hades, of no heavenly ore, Lacking love's temper, and sweet-poisoned barb. Truth has its part herein, sad sooth to tell; For many a fight has Cupid with his foe, And much the issue of their war is feared In skyey quarters: well it is for you That ye are lovers orthodox and true. Every good wish is in this that I say-- May you be lovers till your dying day. Wilt thou say something to them, Oberon? Oberon. Bless you, fair lovers--_benedicite_. Kind damsels, let me kiss you. Titania. Nay--why, then, If thou wilt kiss the maids, I'll kiss the men. [They do accordingly. Oberon. Mortals, farewell for ever and a day. To-night we fairies wend the wide world round; And this our visitation each new May To summer sweetness mellows air and ground. The winds kiss from our lips a perfumed spoil, And store the pillaged wealth in woods and bowers; Each fairy footstep swift impregns the soil, And in our wake we leave a foam of flowers. In orchard blossoms from our odoured hair We shake rich drops that flavour all the fruit; Nor lacks the grain our much-availing care! Each thing is blessed where comes a fairy foot: We bless all bridals true, all love that's chaste.-- Now, fairies, to the sea with utmost haste! [Oberon, Titania, and the Fairies go out. Puck. Every trick that erst I played On horse or ox, on man or maid, On jealous husband, grandam old; On timid wight, or braggart bold, On lazy slut, or busy lass-- To whom I through the keyhole pass, Pinching slattern black and blue, A tester dropping in thrift's shoe-- To-night I merrily repeat, And all sight and hearing cheat. Willy-wisp, spoorn, hag, or faun, Urchin, changeling, pixy, pan, All these shapes and names I bear, Pressing like a dread nightmare Full-fed losels, half-awake, Rustling like the fierce fire-drake, Shouting loud the whole night long Witching spell or laughing song. Voice. Come, come, come along!