In days of old, when Arthur filled the throne, Whose acts and fame to foreign lands were blown; The king of elves, and little fairy queen, Gambolled on heaths, and danced on every green; And where the jolly troop had led the round, The grass unbidden rose, and marked the ground. Nor darkling did they dance;[204] the silver light } Of Phœbe served to guide their steps aright, } And, with their tripping pleased, prolonged the night. } Her beams they followed, where at full she played, } Nor longer than she shed her horns they staid, } From thence with airy flight to foreign lands conveyed. } Above the rest our Britain held they dear; } More solemnly they kept their Sabbaths here, } And made more spacious rings, and revelled half the year. } I speak of ancient times; for now the swain, } Returning late, may pass the woods in vain, } And never hope to see the nightly train; } In vain the dairy now with mints is dressed, } The dairy-maid expects no fairy guest } To skim the bowls, and after pay the feast. } She sighs, and shakes her empty shoes in vain, No silver penny to reward her pain; For priests, with prayers, and other godly gear, Have made the merry goblins disappear; And where they played their merry pranks before, Have sprinkled holy water on the floor; And friars, that through the wealthy regions run, Thick as the motes that twinkle in the sun, Resort to farmers rich, and bless their halls, And exorcise the beds, and cross the walls: This makes the fairy quires forsake the place, When once 'tis hallowed with the rites of grace. But in the walks, where wicked elves have been, } The learning of the parish now is seen; } The midnight parson, posting o'er the green, } With gown tucked up to wakes; for Sunday next, } With humming ale encouraging his text; } Nor wants the holy leer to country-girl betwixt. } From fiends and imps he sets the village free, There haunts not any incubus but he. The maids and women need no danger fear To walk by night, and sanctity so near; For by some haycock, or some shady thorn, He bids his beads both even-song and morn.[205] It so befel in this king Arthur's reign, } A lusty knight was pricking o'er the plain; } A bachelor he was, and of the courtly train. } It happened as he rode, a damsel gay, In russet robes, to market took her way; Soon on the girl he cast an amorous eye; So straight she walked, and on her pasterns high: If seeing her behind he liked her pace, Now turning short, he better liked her face. He lights in haste, and, full of youthful fire, By force accomplished his obscene desire. This done, away he rode, not unespied, For, swarming at his back, the country cried; And, once in view, they never lost the sight,