 | Mansoul or The Riddle of the World |  |
When giants and though long-aged, deceased at length,
Which not immortal were; I find it writ,
Succeeded in their room, blithe faerie-folk.
Which not immortal were; I find it writ,
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And was in this wise that it came to pass:
Had fays affrighted Moons unwonted murk,
Men call Eclipse, of Fayfolks' Seer long sith;
In whose breast wisdom of the ages dwelled,
Forecast; who of old time predicted thus,
In Faerie Land, which then was on the Main;
With other signs of dread, to then be seen.
Should fire-faxed star blaze sudden out in heaven.
Under whose long drawn dreadful dragon-train;
Conjunction should of planets trine, be seen.
Had fays affrighted Moons unwonted murk,
Men call Eclipse, of Fayfolks' Seer long sith;
In whose breast wisdom of the ages dwelled,
Forecast; who of old time predicted thus,
In Faerie Land, which then was on the Main;
With other signs of dread, to then be seen.
Should fire-faxed star blaze sudden out in heaven.
Under whose long drawn dreadful dragon-train;
Conjunction should of planets trine, be seen.
Saying, Thén should be the foredetermined end,
Of Faerie Nation, in their Ancient Seats.
In which hap, only who had skill to ride,
The airs steep pathways, might be saved alive:
To Westward Isle, beyond swart wandering waves.
Of Faerie Nation, in their Ancient Seats.
In which hap, only who had skill to ride,
The airs steep pathways, might be saved alive:
To Westward Isle, beyond swart wandering waves.
A panic-terror seized the little folk;
Seeing all these things, even now to come to pass.
Cry of that faerie multitude on Mainland;
Like babble was of a flock of chattering stares,
Gathered to Autumn flight, in úntilled mead.
In that great jeopardy, all whó could leap and run,
Caught up their budgets, busked them over the Foam.
Some on snatcht broad leaves, many on branches green:
Which, when they had put on their wishing-caps;
Turned under them to flying quilts and mats.
Seeing all these things, even now to come to pass.
Cry of that faerie multitude on Mainland;
Like babble was of a flock of chattering stares,
Gathered to Autumn flight, in úntilled mead.
In that great jeopardy, all whó could leap and run,
Caught up their budgets, busked them over the Foam.
172
Which, when they had put on their wishing-caps;
Turned under them to flying quilts and mats.
Ravished from Earth, they over seas sped West;
They sail the Sky, under dim Stars they pass,
Whereby they hold their course. Yet buffeting gusts
Beat some unlucky wights back 'mongst cloud-steeps;
Which lost their ways, 't is thought were such blown forth,
To other shores: that were not heard-of sith.
They sail the Sky, under dim Stars they pass,
Whereby they hold their course. Yet buffeting gusts
Beat some unlucky wights back 'mongst cloud-steeps;
Which lost their ways, 't is thought were such blown forth,
To other shores: that were not heard-of sith.
Nathless main elfen multitude safely o'erpassed;
As many as spied, the white Isles cliffs, from height.
On Albans Plain, the most have lighted sound.
A few mistiding bruised their crooked shanks:
Some even have crazed their crowns.
As many as spied, the white Isles cliffs, from height.
On Albans Plain, the most have lighted sound.
A few mistiding bruised their crooked shanks:
Some even have crazed their crowns.
Those highflyers thus,
From riding clouds and wind, borne to fast land;
Goodfellows and Hearties, seizin take thereof;
Plucking their little hands'-full blades of grass;
They set, for badges, in their long piked caps.
Each no more with him hath of household-stuff;
Than that stived in the budget on his back.
This Land, whose white rocks guide-light to them lent,
In perilous ferry aloft, they Albion name.
From riding clouds and wind, borne to fast land;
Goodfellows and Hearties, seizin take thereof;
Plucking their little hands'-full blades of grass;
They set, for badges, in their long piked caps.
Each no more with him hath of household-stuff;
Than that stived in the budget on his back.
This Land, whose white rocks guide-light to them lent,
173
When day is made anon, that goodly Plain,
Where faeries busy everywhere are seen.
For bonnets red and mantles blue, gay field
Seemed, many hewed, of wavering butterflies;
Mongst thousand blossoms ruffled of dawn wind.
The birds be singing, the wild woods are ringing:
'T is Time of the new leaf, when those arrive;
In Land wherein they hope anew to live.
Where faeries busy everywhere are seen.
For bonnets red and mantles blue, gay field
Seemed, many hewed, of wavering butterflies;
Mongst thousand blossoms ruffled of dawn wind.
The birds be singing, the wild woods are ringing:
'T is Time of the new leaf, when those arrive;
In Land wherein they hope anew to live.
| Mansoul or The Riddle of the World | |