 | Mansoul or The Riddle of the World |  |
The Moon is sailing bright, High Queen of Heaven,
Amongst clear stars, Her Face as crystal glass.
And ón a bank, neath blossomed haythorn sweet;
I an ássize see of long-robed magistrates;
Wise solemn rime-beards: with Wakerobin, Reeve,
And Horn, Chief Magistrate. Crook-backed, seem the most;
Under grave weight of ancient precedents.
Amongst clear stars, Her Face as crystal glass.
And ón a bank, neath blossomed haythorn sweet;
I an ássize see of long-robed magistrates;
Wise solemn rime-beards: with Wakerobin, Reeve,
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Under grave weight of ancient precedents.
The cause they try, as I perceive, tonight;
Preferred is, gainst one Eavesdrop, found, false elf,
In precinct lurking of their Parliament-house;
(Bower of white wands, was yester seemly wrought;)
To pilfer secrets of the Commonwealth.
The Indictment heard, the Statute is rehearsed.
That Crime is grave; the Punishment thereof,
Tempered with Mercy, is the Offenders death.
Preferred is, gainst one Eavesdrop, found, false elf,
In precinct lurking of their Parliament-house;
(Bower of white wands, was yester seemly wrought;)
To pilfer secrets of the Commonwealth.
The Indictment heard, the Statute is rehearsed.
That Crime is grave; the Punishment thereof,
Tempered with Mercy, is the Offenders death.
The Accused, betwixt two armed elves is led in,
Trembling and pale. The judgment of the Court;
Is, that be naked bound his quivering flesh
Upon an emmets hill, from dawn till dusk.
Trembling and pale. The judgment of the Court;
Is, that be naked bound his quivering flesh
Upon an emmets hill, from dawn till dusk.
Then Eavesdrops wife, Dame Pipit, as in this,
Accused to be his faults Suggesteress;
One known to be a baneful sorceress;
Cited: is by the Apparitor led forth.
She as testify many doth the Moonbeams ride;
And can, and oft, to common detriment doth,
Suppress. The learned Justices consult.
Then they pronounce, Dame Pipit be submersed.
Accused to be his faults Suggesteress;
One known to be a baneful sorceress;
Cited: is by the Apparitor led forth.
She as testify many doth the Moonbeams ride;
And can, and oft, to common detriment doth,
Suppress. The learned Justices consult.
Then they pronounce, Dame Pipit be submersed.
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Turned thence my gaze, I a still sequestered place
Beheld on other part, nigh Oberons Court;
Fenced round with river-reeds, from common view;
Wherein were sitting ladies of the Queen.
A pageantry before them fays present.
Beheld on other part, nigh Oberons Court;
Fenced round with river-reeds, from common view;
Wherein were sitting ladies of the Queen.
A pageantry before them fays present.
'Tis known, mongst faerie-folk, be certain few;
Can make their little statures less at will;
Nay, and even themselves transform, by magic spell.
Some saw I ride, on napes of butterflies;
And rein them, at their pleasure, as their steeds.
Other that were dance-maidens, saw I mount,
By ladders, unto copweb cables stretcht,
Taut, and well stayed, twixt blue-spined thistle-tops.
Thereon strange tip-toed masteries they showed forth.
Sate other, ready-climbed, on neighbour-stalks;
To play, when these should cease, their mimic parts.
Can make their little statures less at will;
Nay, and even themselves transform, by magic spell.
Some saw I ride, on napes of butterflies;
And rein them, at their pleasure, as their steeds.
Other that were dance-maidens, saw I mount,
By ladders, unto copweb cables stretcht,
Taut, and well stayed, twixt blue-spined thistle-tops.
Thereon strange tip-toed masteries they showed forth.
Sate other, ready-climbed, on neighbour-stalks;
To play, when these should cease, their mimic parts.
The first descended; climb those in their room.
The Spectacle that new valiant troop present
Tonight; is flight, o'er seas flood, to New Land:
And how, in air, they warred, with cruel beaks
Of birds of prey; and like were to be cast
Away, in hail and mist and ravishing blasts.
The whiles they played, on-lookers held their breaths:
Till that those seemed on Albions cliffs to light.
Remembering, then they their late perils past;
Them matter felt, of mirths delightful pain,
Which lightens hearts.
The Spectacle that new valiant troop present
Tonight; is flight, o'er seas flood, to New Land:
And how, in air, they warred, with cruel beaks
Of birds of prey; and like were to be cast
Away, in hail and mist and ravishing blasts.
The whiles they played, on-lookers held their breaths:
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Remembering, then they their late perils past;
Them matter felt, of mirths delightful pain,
Which lightens hearts.
| Mansoul or The Riddle of the World | |