Poetical fragments of the late Richard Alfred Millikin ::

An old Irish fable states that in a Danish intrenchment on the road between Cork and Middleton Knop a Fairy chief, kept his court; where often at night travellers who were not well acquainted with the road, were led astray by lights which were seen, and music which was heard, within the fort.

Knop, within thy cavern'd hall,
Where thou keep'st thy fairy court;
There attendant on thy call,
Airy chiefs and knights resort.—

There the festive roar of mirth,
Oft attracts unwary feet:
Feasts of momentary birth,
Nightly routs, and concerts sweet.—

Oft athwart the midnight gloom,
Lights alarm the fearful eye;
There the herdsman dreads his doom,
Within the bog or brake to lie.—

With hair erect, and hasty stride,
The cow-boy there pursues his way;
When heifers oft at evening tide,
By thee, O Knop, are led astray.—

The housewife, conscious of thy power,
Marks the taper burning blue;
While children dread the gloomy hour,
That thou thy airy flights pursue.—

What chance befel the sturdy wight,
Who in thy cave misguided fell:
All in a dark and dreary night,
Bewilder'd in a mazy dell.—

Deluded by a faithless sound,
He luckless left the beaten way;
And wand'ring, soon thy cavern found,
Directed by a glim'ring ray.—

‘Now save ye all,’—he boldly cried;
‘A lodging here I humbly crave;’
‘If men ye be who here abide,’
‘O, now a weary trav'ller save.’—

By hands unseen straightway compell'd,
He took his seat beside the board;
Whilst all in wonder he beheld
A table with rich viands stor'd.—

By hands unseen the dishes came,
The liquor flow'd. the goblets flew;
The torches blaze a brighter flame,
And sweeter still each object grew.—

Now swelling thro' the vaulted rooms,
The loud exulting harps resound;
The lute a softer tone assumes,
Till ev'ry sense in rapture's drown'd.—

The village cock gave note of day,
Up sprang in haste the airy throng;
The word went round, ‘Away, away,’
‘The night is short, the way is long.’—

The music died upon his ear,
The banquet vanish'd from his eyes;
The torches instant disappear,
And thro' the rock the uproar flies.—

But now the wight in wonder lost,
Beheld himself as fast to fly;
With equal speed the woods he cross'd,
And scamper'd over mountains high.—

And now fresh cause for wonder grew:
Between his legs a calf he spied!
A calf that over forests flew,
And cross'd deep vallies at a stride.—

Then to a river's side they came;
He quick was on the other shore:
‘Now, by my God!’ he cried, ‘the same
‘Was never done by calf before.’—

The sacred word was scarcely spoke,
When down he tumbled to the ground;
The vision fled, the spell was broke;
He woke, and all deceitful found.—

University of Virginia Library

KNOP.

—A FAIRY TALE.