I'll double my track, I'll run me back,

I'll pother the beagles someNow for my den I'll strain again, And gain my mountain home.

QUEEN.

Take off the spell-take off the spell!
We torment, but not destroy-
And await the things the next elf brings,
To please him or annoy.

Re-enter fifth Fairy, singing—

I come from cold skies,
Where the leaf earliest dies,
And the bleak moon enshrouds
Her horns in folding clouds,
Listening to the piping winds,
As round her horns she winds
The wreaths of snow;

And from the wild goose in her flight,
Through the dark blue starry arch of night,
Beneath her breezy wing

I plucked the plume I bring,
Its dreams to know.

QUEEN.

O, try ye the charm, my gentle sprites!
He's a moody fay, we know;

But then each change hath its delights,

And constant pleasure is woe.

From the tickling plume let the wild goose fume

Disturb the dreamer's nose.

Say, dreamer, now what visions grow

Up in your deep repose.

BARD, in his dreams

Lakes, pools, and rivers far extending!-
Marshy ilses and sedgy shores!-
And feathered nations language blending
From all the freckled floods and moors!

But I am now all weary growing,

Of this wild jar and checkered sight;

192

Snow-whispering breezes too are blowing,
And long and weary grows the night.

I think but of the green bananas,
The tepid coves and cany brakes;
I long to feed on flowered savannas,

And curve my neck o'er glassy lakes.
Come, children, let us up and follow-
Toward the fount of summer fly-

Lo! here above the clouds we halloo,

Our clamorous march now streaks the sky

BARD, in his dreams

My brain is hot-I am a shot,

And Carolina's pride;

Come blood and strife, this State's my life

I have no country beside.

Accursed tariff!-Let us swear if

We cannot end this evil,

*This was written while South Carolina Nullification was in full blaze.

We'll dwell in Turkey or hell all murky-
The slaves of Turk or devil.

QUEEN.

Take off the tuft, thou wanton fay-
Why didst thou bring it here?
We can't one hour's such hell repay
With the joy of a total year.
Come, gentles, chase from off his face

All these distortions dire,

Soothe his torn breast, then let him rest,
Or gentler air respire.

But dreamer, say, what visions play
Before your spirit's eye,

Whilst off each limb distortions grim

From fairy fingers fly.

BARD, in his dreams—

Who quenches there the volcano's glare?
Who lays those billows smooth?
Who drives to the flood yon fiery brood,

And does the tempest soothe?

The lightnings flee, and the bright'ning sea

Lies all one glassy plain;

The sun stands still o'er the flower-crowned hill,

And Nature smiles again.

QUEEN.

Now, gentle fays, we'll change the sport,

And faintly awaken the soul;

So that each charm will fall something short
Of rousing the mind in the whole;
Then shalt thou see what phantoms there be,

That are short of the charm in its power; How the maiden so blithe, that shall be his wife, Shall bloom like the lily's sweet flower.

Re-enter seventh Fairy, singing

And here I bring, and here I bring,
A charm from a maiden bright;

I dropped on her sleep with gentle wing, Nor broke her slumber light.

She breathed a sigh-I caught it on high, And here with the prize I slip.

QUEEN.

Well done, my sprite, restrain its might, And gently touch his lip.

BARD, in his dreams

Soul-soothing balm! this fragrant breeze
Comes like the breath of heaven,
Or gales of Eden, to whose trees
Celestial flowers are given.
Ah! beauteous forms and hues,

And walks that flowers adorn!
I see ye now, spangled with dews,
The jewels of the morn!
See rills descending,
Rainbows bending
Over yon lily's bloom.
Centre of glory!

All things adore thee,

And live in thy sweet perfume.

Thou star of this Eden!

From thee is deriven

All the forms of beauty around;
Thou hast a strange being,

That I nearly am seeing,
But mysteries my vision confound.

QUEEN.

Take off the spell-another sprite
Is coming upon the wing;
I feel I feel it brings the spite
Of some offensive thing.

Re-enter eighth Fairy, singing

The lock of foe, its dreams to know,
The lock of robber grim,

Who couchant lay, in wait for his prey,
Cursing the moonlight dim.

QUEEN.

Take heed, my fairy, don't press it too hard,
But gently tickle his nose;

If pressed too hard his sleep will be marred
By visions of human foes.

BARD, in his dreams—

Rushes and fens !-Wolves and dens!

And vapors rank and snaky!

Bogs and brakes, bristling with snakes,

And alligators flaky!

Earth sinks beneath me, my footsteps deceive me,

And reptiles are stealing around;

Some huge anaconda towers fiercely beyond me,
And trails his vast orbs out of ground!

QUEEN.

Stay! stay the charm, my gentle fay!
Well has its power been shown;
For hate undefined will ever array
The simplest forms its own.
The soul of man will ever fan

The fire that in her warms;

Her every feeling is ever stealing
To its symbolic forms.

Such, fairies, then, is the soul of man;

It hath high laws its own,

As matter coarse hath those whose force
Is in each motion shown.

Let motion begin, and the soul within

Doth in wild concert play;

And straight each cause, from loftier laws,

Doth strange effects display.

But hark! the cock begins to crow

Hear ye, the chattering jay!

And lo! the morn begins to throw

O'er the steep her silvery ray.

We'll leave the bard to the matin beams,

And, breaking up our school,

We'll dive into his world of dreams,

And sleep in his waking soul.

[Exeunt Fairies.