40 THE CULPRIT FAY. Howling the misty spectres flew, They rend the air with frightful cries, For he has gained the welkin blue, And the land of clouds beneath him lies XXIX. Up to the cope careering swift In breathless motion fast, Fleet as the swallow cuts the drift, O! it was sweet in the clear moonlight, To meet the thousand eyes of night, And feel the cooling breath of heaven; But the Elfin made no stop or stay Till he came to the bank of the milky-way, Then he checked his courser's foot, And watched for the glimpse of the planet-shoot. XXX. Sudden along the snowy tide That swelled to meet their footsteps' fall, THE CULPRIT FAY. The sylphs of heaven were seen to glide, Attired in sunset's crimson pall; Around the Fay they weave the dance, To where through clouds of amber seen, XXXI. But oh! how fair the shape that lay She seemed to the entranced Fay Her mantle was the purple rolled "Twas tied with threads of dawning gold, 41 42 THE CULPRIT FAY. Her face was like the lily roon That veils the vestal planet's hue; Her eyes, two beamlets from the moon, Her hair is like the sunny beam, And the diamond gems which round it gleam, Are the pure drops of dewy even That ne'er have left their native heaven. XXXII. She raised her eyes to the wondering sprite, And they leaped with smiles, for well I ween Never before in the bowers of light Had the form of an earthly Fay been seen. Long she looked in his tiny face; Long with his butterfly cloak she played; She smoothed his wings of azure lace, And as he told in accents low She story of his love and wo, She felt new pains in her bosom rise, And the tear-drop started in her eyes. And "O, sweet spirit of earth," she cried, "Return no more to your woodland height, But ever here with me abide In the land of everlasting light! Within the fleecy drift we'll lie, We'll hang upon the rainbow's rim; THE CULPRIT FAY. 43 And all the jewels of the sky Around thy brow shall brightly beam! That rolls its whitening foam aboon, We'll rest on Orion's starry belt, And I will bid my sylphs to sing The song that makes the dew-mist melt; Of silvery moonshine's lengthened ray; XXXIII. She was lovely and fair to see, 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, But she led him to the palace gate, And called the sylphs who hovered there, With charm and spell she blessed it there, |