44 THE CULPRIT FAY. For he thought upon her looks so meek, And he thought of the light flush on her cheek; Never again might he bask and lie On that sweet cheek and moonlight eye, But in his dreams her form to see, To clasp her in his revery, To think upon his virgin bride, Was worth all heaven and earth beside. XXXIV. “Lady,” he cried, “I have sworn to-night, On the word of a fairy knight, To do my sentence-task aright; My honour scarce is free from stain, Its mandate must be answered now." But she led him to the palace gate, And called the sylphs who hovered there, With charm and spell she blessed it there, Then round him cast the shadowy shroud, THE CULPRIT FAY. And pressed his hand as she bade him fly XXXV. Borne afar on the wings of the blast, And backed his firefly steed again, The streaming of the rocket-light. 45 46 THE CULPRIT FAY. As swift as the glance of the arrowy lance As swift as the wind in its trail behind The fiends of the clouds are bellowing loud, He gallops unhurt in the shower of fire, While the cloud-fiends fly from the blaze; He watches each flake till its sparks expire, And rides in the light of its rays. But he drove his steed to the lightning's speed, Then wheeled around to the fairy ground, Ouphe and goblin! imp and sprite! Twine ye in a jocund ring, Sing and trip it merrily, Hand to hand, and wing to wing, Round the wild witch-hazel tree. Hail the wanderer again, With dance and song, and lute and lyre, |