660. Fairy Song

Winthrop Mackworth Praed. 1802-1839


HE has conn'd the lesson now;
  He has read the book of pain:
There are furrows on his brow;
  I must make it smooth again.

Lo! I knock the spurs away;
  Lo! I loosen belt and brand;
Hark! I hear the courser neigh
  For his stall in Fairy-land.

Bring the cap, and bring the vest;
  Buckle on his sandal shoon;
Fetch his memory from the chest
  In the treasury of the moon.

I have taught him to be wise
  For a little maiden's sake;--
Lo! he opens his glad eyes,
  Softly, slowly: Minstrel, wake!

The Oxford Book of English Verse, HTML edition