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! [Illustration] THE ELF SINGING. [Illustration] AN Elf sat on a twig, He was not very big, He sang a little song, He did not think it wrong; But he was on a Wizard's ground, Who hated all sweet sound. Elf, Elf, Take care of yourself! He's coming behind you, To seize you and bind you, And stifle your song. The Wizard! the Wizard! He changes his shape In crawling along, An ugly old ape, A poisonous lizard, A spotted spider, A wormy glider, The Wizard! the Wizard! He's up on the bough, He'll bite through your gizzard He's close to you now! [Illustration] The Elf went on with his song, It grew more clear and strong, It lifted him into air, He floated singing away, With rainbows in his hair; While the Wizard-worm from his creep Made a sudden leap, Fell down into a hole, And, ere his magic word he could say, Was eaten up by a Mole. THE FAIRY KING. _"High on the hill-top The old King sits; He is now so old and gray He's nigh lost his wits."_ THE Fairy King was old. He met the Witch of the Wold. "Ah ha, King!" quoth she, "Now thou art old like me." "Nay, Witch!" quoth he, "I am not old like thee." The King took off his crown, It almost bent him down; His age was too great To carry such a weight. "Give it here!" she said, And clapt it on her head. Crown sank to ground; The Witch no more was found. Then sweet spring-songs were sung, The Fairy King grew young, His crown was made of flowers, He lived in woods and bowers. [Illustration] CHORUS OF FAIRIES. GOLDEN, golden, Light unfolding, Busily, merrily, work and play, In flowery meadows, And forest shadows, All the length of a Summer day! All the length of a Summer day! Sprightly, lightly, Sing we rightly, Moments brightly hurry away; Fruit-tree blossoms, And roses' bosoms,-- Clear blue sky of a Summer day! Dear blue sky of a Summer day! Springlets, brooklets, Greeny nooklets, Hill and Valley, and salt sea-spray, Comrade rovers, Fairy lovers,-- All the length of a Summer day All the livelong Summer day! [Illustration] [Illustration] ROBIN REDBREAST.