"

At this the swain, whose vent'rous soul No fears of magic art control,

Advanc'd in open sight;

"Nor have I cause of dreed," he said, Who view, by no presumption led, Your revels of the night.

"'Twas grief, for scorn of faithful love, Which made my steps unweeting rove Amid the nightly dew."

""Tis well-❞ the gallant cries again, We fairies never injure men

Who dare to tell us true.

"Exalt thy love-dejected heart, Be mine the task, or ere we part To make thee grief resign;

Now take the pleasure of thy chaunce; Whilst I with Mab, my partner, daunce, Be little Mable thine."

He spoke, and all a sudden there
Light music floats in wanton air;

The monarch leads the queen:
The rest their fairie partners found:
And Mable trimly tript the ground

With Edwin of the Green.

The dauncing past, the board was laid,
And siker such a feast was made

As heart and lip desire.
Withouten hands the dishes fly,
The glasses with a wish come nigh,
And with a wish retire.

But now to please the fairie king,
Full ev'ry deal they laugh and sing,
And antic feats devise;

Some wind and tumble like an ape,
And other some transmute their shape
In Edwin's wond'ring eyes:

Till one at last, that Robin hight,
Renown'd for pinching maids by night,

Has hent him up aloof;

And full against the beam he flung,
Where by the back the youth he hung
To spraul unneath the roof.

From thence, "Reverse my charm!" he cries, "And let it fairly now suffice

The gambol has been shown."

But Oberon answers with a smile, "Content thee, Edwin, for a while,

The vantage is thine own."

At this the swain, whose vent'rous soul No fears of magic art control, Advanc'd in open sight;

"Nor have I cause of dreed," he said, "Who view, by no presumption led, Your revels of the night.

"'Twas grief, for scorn of faithful love, Which made my steps unweeting rove Amid the nightly dew."

""Tis well-" the gallant cries again,
We fairies never injure men
Who dare to tell us true.

"Exalt thy love-dejected heart, Be mine the task, or ere we part

To make thee grief resign;

Now take the pleasure of thy chaunce; Whilst I with Mab, my partner, daunce, Be little Mable thine."

He spoke, and all a sudden there
Light music floats in wanton air;

The monarch leads the queen:
The rest their fairie partners found:
And Mable trimly tript the ground

With Edwin of the Green.

The dauncing past, the board was laid,
And siker such a feast was made

As heart and lip desire.
Withouten hands the dishes fly,
The glasses with a wish come nigh,
And with a wish retire.

But now to please the fairie king,
Full ev'ry deal they laugh and sing,
And antic feats devise;

Some wind and tumble like an ape,
And other some transmute their shape
In Edwin's wond'ring eyes:

Till one at last, that Robin hight,
Renown'd for pinching maids by night,
Has hent him up aloof;

And full against the beam he flung,
Where by the back the youth he hung
To spraul unneath the roof.

From thence, "Reverse my charm!" he cries, "And let it fairly now suffice

The gambol has been shown."

But Oberon answers with a smile,
"Content thee, Edwin, for a while,
The vantage is thine own."

Here ended all the phantom play;
They smelt the fresh approach of day,
And heard a cock to crow;

The whirling wind that bore the crowd
Has clapp'd the door, and whistled loud,
To warn them all to go.

Then screaming all at once they fly,
And all at once the tapers die;

Poor Edwin falls to floor;

Forlorn his state, and dark the place.
Was never wight in such a case
Through all the land before.

But soon as Dan Apollo rose,
Full jolly creature home he goes,
He feels his back the less;
His honest tongue and steady mind
Had rid him of the lump behind,
Which made him want success.

With lusty livelyhed he talks,
He seems a dauncing as he walks,
His story soon took wind;

And beauteous Edith sees the youth

Endow'd with courage, sense, and truth,

Without a bunch behind.