The Complete Poetical Works of Robert Buchanan In Two Volumes. With a Portrait |
 | I. |
 | II. |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
THE FAIRY QUEEN.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
 | The Complete Poetical Works of Robert Buchanan |  |
THE FAIRY QUEEN.
On the silent Bridge, at dead of night,
I met the Fairy Queen,—
I knew her well by the elfin light
In the depths of her woeful een.
I met the Fairy Queen,—
I knew her well by the elfin light
In the depths of her woeful een.
Tho' the robe she wore was ragged and rent
And her form was bent and old,
Her hair in the gleam o' the gas was sprent
With glimmers of fairy gold.
And her form was bent and old,
Her hair in the gleam o' the gas was sprent
With glimmers of fairy gold.
‘What makest thou here in the streets of Rome?’
And softly answer'd she:
‘Hungry and cold on the streets I come,
Keeping my Jubilee!
And softly answer'd she:
‘Hungry and cold on the streets I come,
Keeping my Jubilee!
‘The crown I wore in the days of old
I have pawn'd in the Mart,’ she said,
‘And I sell my kiss for a piece of gold
To buy my little ones bread!
I have pawn'd in the Mart,’ she said,
‘And I sell my kiss for a piece of gold
To buy my little ones bread!
‘They drove me out of my happy home
Under the greenwood tree,
And now I serve in the streets o’ Rome
The Lords of the Bread!’ said she.
Under the greenwood tree,
And now I serve in the streets o’ Rome
The Lords of the Bread!’ said she.
I lookt in her face and methought I dreamed—
She looked so weary and worn!
So like a painted woman she seem'd
Who in Fairyland was born!
She looked so weary and worn!
So like a painted woman she seem'd
Who in Fairyland was born!
‘Thy sisters and brethren, where are they?’
‘They are slaves of the Mart,’ she said,
‘For a crust or a blow, be it night or day,
They serve the Lords of the Bread!
‘They are slaves of the Mart,’ she said,
‘For a crust or a blow, be it night or day,
They serve the Lords of the Bread!
‘And it's O for the gladness that once we knew,
For the Dance and the Dream,’ said she,
‘For the soft moonlight and the morning dew
And the glamour of Faërie!’
For the Dance and the Dream,’ said she,
‘For the soft moonlight and the morning dew
And the glamour of Faërie!’
Weary and worn through the shadows grey
The weariful creature fled,
And I clench'd my hands as she vanish'd away,
And curst the Lords of the Bread!
The weariful creature fled,
And I clench'd my hands as she vanish'd away,
And curst the Lords of the Bread!
| The Complete Poetical Works of Robert Buchanan | |