lyrical poems-第8节

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latry；　Where　he　of　god…heads　has　such　store；　As　Rome's　Pantheon　had　not　more。　His　house　of　Rimmon　this　he　calls；　Girt　with　small　bones；　instead　of　walls。　First　in　a　niche；　more　black　than　jet；　His　idol…cricket　there　is　set；　Then　in　a　polish'd　oval　by　There　stands　his　idol…beetle…fly；　Next；　in　an　arch；　akin　to　this；　His　idol…canker　seated　is。　Then　in　a　round；　is　placed　by　these　His　golden　god；　Cantharides。　So　that　where'er　ye　look；　ye　see　No　capital；　no　cornice　free；　Or　frieze；　from　this　fine　frippery。　Now　this　the　Fairies　would　have　known；　Theirs　is　a　mixt　religion：　And　some　have　heard　the　elves　it　call　Part　Pagan；　part　Papistical。　If　unto　me　all　tongues　were　granted；　I　could　not　speak　the　saints　here　painted。　Saint　Tit；　Saint　Nit；　Saint　Is；　Saint　Itis；　Who　'gainst　Mab's　state　placed　here　right　is。　Saint　Will　o'　th'　Wisp；　of　no　great　bigness；　But；　alias；　call'd　here　FATUUS　IGNIS。　Saint　Frip；　Saint　Trip；　Saint　Fill；　Saint　Filly；　Neither　those　other　saint…ships　will　I　Here　go　about　for　to　recite　Their　number；　almost　infinite；　Which；　one　by　one；　here　set　down　are　In　this　most　curious　calendar。

First；　at　the　entrance　of　the　gate；　A　little　puppet…priest　doth　wait；　Who　squeaks　to　all　the　comers　there；　'Favour　your　tongues；　who　enter　here。　'Pure　hands　bring　hither；　without　stain。'　A　second　pules；　'Hence；　hence；　profane！'　Hard　by；　i'　th'　shell　of　half　a　nut；　The　holy…water　there　is　put；　A　little　brush　of　squirrels'　hairs；　Composed　of　odd；　not　even　pairs；　Stands　in　the　platter；　or　close　by；　To　purge　the　fairy　family。　Near　to　the　altar　stands　the　priest；　There　offering　up　the　holy…grist；　Ducking　in　mood　and　perfect　tense；　With　（much　good　do't　him）　reverence。　The　altar　is　not　here　four…square；　Nor　in　a　form　triangular；　Nor　made　of　glass；　or　wood；　or　stone；　But　of　a　little　transverse　bone；　Which　boys　and　bruckel'd　children　call　（Playing　for　points　and　pins）　cockall。　Whose　linen…drapery　is　a　thin；　Subtile；　and　ductile　codling's　skin；　Which　o'er　the　board　is　smoothly　spread　With　little　seal…work　damasked。　The　fringe　that　circumbinds　it；　too；　Is　spangle…work　of　trembling　dew；　Which；　gently　gleaming；　makes　a　show；　Like　frost…work　glitt'ring　on　the　snow。　Upon　this　fetuous　board　doth　stand　Something　for　shew…bread；　and　at　hand　（Just　in　the　middle　of　the　altar）　Upon　an　end；　the　Fairy…psalter；　Graced　with　the　trout…flies'　curious　wings；　Which　serve　for　watchet　ribbonings。　Now；　we　must　know；　the　elves　are　led　Right　by　the　Rubric；　which　they　read：　And　if　report　of　them　be　true；　They　have　their　text　for　what　they　do；　Ay；　and　their　book　of　canons　too。　And；　as　Sir　Thomas　Parson　tells；　They　have　their　book　of　articles；　And　if　that　Fairy　knight　not　lies　They　have　their　book　of　homilies；　And　other　Scriptures；　that　design　A　short；　but　righteous　discipline。　The　bason　stands　the　board　upon　To　take　the　free…oblation；　A　little　pin…dust；　which　they　hold　More　precious　than　we　prize　our　gold；　Which　charity　they　give　to　many　Poor　of　the　parish；　if　there's　any。　Upon　the　ends　of　these　neat　rails；　Hatch'd　with　the　silver…light　of　snails；　The　elves；　in　formal　manner；　fix　Two　pure　and　holy　candlesticks；　In　either　which　a　tall　small　bent　Burns　for　the　altar's　ornament。　For　sanctity；　they　have；　to　these；　Their　curious　copes　and　surplices　Of　cleanest　cobweb；　hanging　by　In　their　religious　vestery。　They　have　their　ash…pans　and　their　brooms；　To　purge　the　chapel　and　the　rooms；　Their　many　mumbling　mass…priests　here；　And　many　a　dapper　chorister。　Their　ush'ring　vergers　here　likewise；　Their　canons　and　their　chaunteries；　Of　cloister…monks　they　have　enow；　Ay；　and　their　abbey…lubbers　too：　And　if　their　legend　do　not　lie；　They　much　affect　the　papacy；　And　since　the　last　is　dead；　there's　hope　Elve　Boniface　shall　next　be　Pope。　They　have　their　cups　and　chalices；　Their　pardons　and　indulgences；　Their　beads　of　nits；　bells；　books；　and　wax…　Candles；　forsooth；　and　other　knacks；　Their　holy　oil；　their　fasting…spittle；　Their　sacred　salt　here；　not　a　little。　Dry　chips；　old　shoes；　rags；　grease；　and　bones；　Beside　their　fumigations。　Many　a　trifle；　too；　and　trinket；　And　for　what　use；　scarce　man　would　think　it。　Next　then；　upon　the　chanter's　side　An　apple's…core　is　hung　up　dried；　With　rattling　kernels；　which　is　rung　To　call　to　morn　and　even…song。　The　saint；　to　which　the　most　he　prays　And　offers　incense　nights　and　days；　The　lady　of　the　lobster　is；　Whose　foot…pace　he　doth　stroke　and　kiss；　And；　humbly；　chives　of　saffron　brings　For　his　most　cheerful　offerings。　When；　after　these；　he's　paid　his　vows；　He　lowly　to　the　altar　bows；　And　then　he　dons　the　silk…worm's　shed；　Like　a　Turk's　turban　on　his　head；　And　reverently　departeth　thence；　Hid　in　a　cloud　of　frankincense；　And　by　the　glow…worm's　light　well　guided；　Goes　to　the　Feast　that's　now　provided。


*40*

OBERON'S　FEAST

SHAPCOT！　　TO　THE　THE　FAIRY　STATE　I　WITH　DISCRETION　DEDICATE：　BECAUSE　THOU　PRIZEST　THINGS　THAT　ARE　CURIOUS　AND　UNFAMILIAR。　TAKE　FIRST　THE　FEAST；　THESE　DISHES　GONE；　WE'LL　SEE　THE　FAIRY　COURT　ANON。

A　little　mushroom…table　spread；　After　short　prayers；　they　set　on　bread；　A　moon…parch'd　grain　of　purest　wheat；　With　some　small　glitt'ring　grit；　to　eat　His　choice　bits　with；　then　in　a　trice　They　make　a　feast　less　great　than　nice。　But　all　this　while　his　eye　is　served；　We　must　not　think　his　ear　was　sterved；　But　that　there　was　in　place　to　stir　His　spleen；　the　chirring　grasshopper；　The　merry　cricket；　puling　fly；　The　piping　gnat　for　minstrelsy。　And　now；　we　must　imagine　first；　The　elves　present；　to　quench　his　thirst；　A　pure　seed…pearl　of　infant　dew；　Brought　and　besweeten'd　in　a　blue　And　pregnant　violet；　which　done；　His　kitling　eyes　begin　to　run　Quite　through　the　table；　where　he　spies　The　horns　of　papery　butterflies；　Of　which　he　eats；　and　tastes　a　little　Of　that　we　call　the　cuckoo's　spittle；　A　little　fuz…ball　pudding　stands　By；　yet　not　blessed　by　his　hands；　That　was　too　coarse；　but　then　forthwith　He　ventures　boldly　on　the　pith　Of　sugar'd　rush；　and　eats　the　sagge　And　well…bestrutted　bees'　sweet　bag；　Gladding　his　palate　with　some　store　Of　emmets'　eggs；　what　would　he　more？　But　beards　of　mice；　a　newt's　stew'd　thigh；　A　bloated　earwig；　and　a　fly；　With　the　red…capt　worm；　that's　shut　Within　the　concave　of　a　nut；　Brown　as　his　tooth。　　A　little　moth；　Late　fatten'd　in　a　piece　of　cloth；　With　wither'd　cherries；　mandrakes'　ears；　Moles'　eyes：　　to　these　the　slain　stag's　tears；　The　unctuous　dewlaps　of　a　snail；　The　broke…heart　of　a　nightingale　O'ercome　in　music；　with　a　wine　Ne'er　ravish'd　from　the　flattering　vine；　But　gently　prest　from　the　soft　side　Of　the　most　sweet　and　dainty　bride；　Brought　in　a　dainty　daisy；　which　He　fully　quaffs　up；　to　bewitch　His　blood　to　height；　this　done；　commended　Grace　by　his　priest；　The　feast　is　ended。


*41*

THE　BEGGAR　TO　MAB；　THE　FAIRY　QUEEN

Please　your　Grace；　from　out　your　store　Give　an　alms　to　one　that's　poor；　That　your　mickle　may　have　more。　Black　I'm　grown　for　want　of　meat；　Give　me　then　an　ant　to　eat；　Or　the　cleft　ear　of　a　mouse　Over…sour'd　in　drink　of　souce；　Or；　sweet　lady；　reach　to　me　The　abdomen　of　a　bee；　Or　commend　a　cricket's　hip；　Or　his　huckson；　to　my　scrip；　Give　for　bread；　a　little　bit　Of　a　pease　that　'gins　to　chit；　And　my　full　thanks　take　for　it。　Flour　of　fuz…balls；　that's　too　good　For　a　man　in　needy…hood；　But　the　meal　of　mill…dust　can　Well　content　a　craving　man；　Any　orts　the　elves　refuse　Well　will　serve　the　beggar's　use。　But　if　this　may　seem　too　much　For　an　alms；　then　give　me　such　Little　bits　that　nestle　there　In　the　pris'ner's　pannier。　So　a　blessing　light　upon　You；　and　mighty　Oberon；　That　your　plenty　last　till　when　I　return　your　alms　again。


*42*

THE　HAG

The　Hag　is　astride；　This　night　for　to　ride；　The　devil　and　she　together；　Through　thick　and　through　thin；　Now　out；　and　then　in；　Though　ne'er　so　foul　be　the　weather。

A　thorn　or　a　bur　She　takes　for　a　spur；　With　a　lash　of　a　bramble　she　rides　now；　Through　brakes　and　through　briars；　O'er　ditches　and　mires；　She　follows　the　spirit　that　guides　now。

No　beast；　for　his　food；　Dares　now　range　the　wood；　But　hush'd　in　his　lair　he　lies　lurking；　While　mischiefs；　by　these；　On　land　and　on　seas；　At　noon　of　night　are　a…working。

The　storm　will　arise；　And　trouble　the　skies　This　night；　and；　more　for　the　wonder；　The　ghost　from　the　tomb　Affrighted　shall　come；　Call'd　out　by　the　clap　of　the　thunder。


*43*

THE　MAD　MAID'S　SONG

Good　morrow　to　the　day　so　fair；　Good　morning；　sir；　to　you；　Good　morrow　to　mine　own　torn　hair；　Bedabbled　with　the　dew。

Good　morning　to　this　primrose　too；　Good　morrow　to　each　maid；　That　will　with　flowers　the　tomb　bestrew　Wherein　my　Love　is　laid。

Ah！　　woe　is　me；　woe；　woe　is　me；　Alack　and　well…a…day！　For　pity；　sir；　find　out　that　bee；　Which　bore　my　Love　away。

I'll　seek　him　in　your　bonnet　brave；　I'll　seek　him　in　your　eyes；　Nay；　now　I　think　they've　made　his　grave　I'　th'　bed　of　strawberries。

I'll　seek　him　there；　I　know；　ere　this；　The　cold；　cold　earth　doth　shake　him；　But　I　will　go；　or　send　a　kiss　By　you；　sir；　to　awake　him。

Pray　hurt　him　not；　though　he　be　dead；　He　knows　well　who　do　love　him；　And　who　with　green　turfs　rear　his　head；　And　who　do　rudely　move　him。

He's　soft　and　tender；　pray　take　heed；　With　bands　of　cowslips　bind　him；　And　bring　him　home；but　'tis　decreed　That　I　shall　never　find　him。


*44*

THE　CHEAT　OF　CUPID；　OR；　THE　UNGENTLE　GUEST

One　si