4 Edwin (if right I read my song) With slighted passion paced along, All in the moony light: 'Twas near an old enchanted court, Where sportive Faeries made resort To revel out the night.
5 His heart was drear, his hope was cross'd, 'Twas late, 'twas farr, the path was lost That reach'd the neighbour-town; With weary steps he quits the shades, Resolved, the darkling dome he treads, And drops his limbs adown.
6 But scant he lays him on the floor, When hollow winds remove the door, A trembling rocks the ground: And (well I ween to count aright) At once an hundred tapers light On all the walls around.
7 Now sounding tongues assail his ear, Now sounding feet approachen near, And now the sounds increase: And from the corner where he lay He sees a train, profusely gay, Come prankling o'er the place.
8 But trust me, gentles! never yet Was dight a masquing half so neat, Or half so rich before; The country lent the sweet perfumes, The sea the pearl, the sky the plumes, The town its silken store.
9 Now whilst he gazed, a gallant dress'd In flaunting robes above the rest, With awful accent cried: What mortal of a wretched mind, Whose sighs infect the balmy wind, Has here presumed to hide?
10 At this the swain, whose venturous soul No fears of magic art control, Advanced in open sight: Nor have I cause of dread, he said, Who view, by no presumption led, Your revels of the night.
11 'Twas grief, for scorn of faithful love, Which made my steps unweeting rove Amid the nightly dew. 'Tis well, the gallant cries again, We Faeries never injure men Who dare to tell us true.
12 Exalt thy love-dejected heart, Be mine the task, or e'er 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.
13 He spoke, and all a-sudden there Light music floats in wanton air; The monarch leads the queen: The rest their Faerie partners found, And Mable trimly tripp'd the ground With Edwin of the green.
14 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.
15 But now, to please the Faerie King, Full every 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 wondering eyes.