SONG III.

PUCKS NIGHT ADDRESS.

BY SHAKSPEARE.

Now the haughty lion roars,

And the wolf behowls the moon ; Whilst the heavy ploughman snores, All with weary task fordone.

Now the wasted brands do glow,

Whilst the screech-owl, screeching loud,

Puts the wretch, that lies in woe,

In remembrance of a shroud.

Now it is the time of night,

That the graves, all gaping wide,

Every one lets forth his sprite,

In the church-way path, to glide.

And we fairys, that do run,

By the triple Hecates team,
From the presence of the sun,

Following darkness like a dream,
Now are frolick; not a mouse
Shall disturb this hallow'd house :
I am sent, with broom, before,

To sweep the dust behind the door*.

SONG IV.

QUEEN MABS INVITATION.

COME follow, follow me,
Ye fairy elves that be

Light tripping o'er the green,

Come follow Mab your queen : Hand in hand we'll dance around, For this place is fairy-ground.

When mortals are at rest,
And snoring in their nest,
Unheard and unespied,

Through key-holes we do glide;

Over tables, stools, and shelves,

We trip it with our fairy elves.

And if the house be foul,
With platter, dish, or bowl,
Up stairs we nimbly creep,
And find the sluts asleep;

Then we pinch their arms and thighs; None us hears, and none us spies.

But if the house be swept,
And from uncleanness kept,

We praise the household maid,
And duly she is paid:

Every night before we go,
We drop a tester in her shoe.

Then o'er a mushrooms head
Our table-cloth we spread;
A grain of rye or wheat

The diet that we eat;

Pearly drops of dew we drink,
In acorn cups fill'd to the brink.

The grasshopper, gnat, and fly,
Serve for our minstrelsy;
Grace said, we dance awhile,

And so the time beguile :

And, if the moon doth hide her head, The glow-worm lights us home to bed.

O'er tops of dewy grass
So nimbly we do pass,

The young and tender stalk

Ne'er bends where we do walk;

Yet in the morning may be seen

Where we the night before have been.