 | Mansoul or The Riddle of the World |  |
Sith those sent to their kinsfolk, who sailed o'er;
Strong plough-carles part, part hewers in Albans woods:
That soon then of their bills and axes ring;
And rush, (once singing-trees of sacred bírds;)
Great stems, that lifted to the stars their heads.
To whóse lives, wédded lives were of wood-sprites.
And shelter found their agéd arms beneath
The forest beasts.
Strong plough-carles part, part hewers in Albans woods:
That soon then of their bills and axes ring;
And rush, (once singing-trees of sacred bírds;)
Great stems, that lifted to the stars their heads.
To whóse lives, wédded lives were of wood-sprites.
And shelter found their agéd arms beneath
The forest beasts.
And all, that might build men
Hewen walls to dwell in; and for crooked ribs
Of their warfaring ships. A kin whose mouths,
Were full of oaths of horrible import.
And whose much clanging of their steeple-bells;
From day to day, effrayed fays' gentle ears.
Whence, seen they, in no wise, might away with such;
Elves mostly have now forsaken Albions heaths.
Hewen walls to dwell in; and for crooked ribs
Of their warfaring ships. A kin whose mouths,
Were full of oaths of horrible import.
And whose much clanging of their steeple-bells;
From day to day, effrayed fays' gentle ears.
190
Elves mostly have now forsaken Albions heaths.
| Mansoul or The Riddle of the World | |