a whisper from fairy land.
171
Gay and lightsome, 'till a foe,
Came to work us fear and woe.
Hideous was the monster grim,
Strange alike in face and limb;
Wheresoe'er he chanced to roam,
There did wonderous changes come.
Hard it were for me to tell
All the harm which then befell,
As before his giant sway
Fled the frightened elves away.
Soon our magic ring gave place
To the courser's flying race;
Swiftly through the land there came
Steedless chariots urged by flame,
Hissing with such horrid tone
As they rushed all madly on,
That the fays in great affright
Feared to tempt the summer night.
Came to work us fear and woe.
Hideous was the monster grim,
Strange alike in face and limb;
Wheresoe'er he chanced to roam,
There did wonderous changes come.
Hard it were for me to tell
All the harm which then befell,
As before his giant sway
Fled the frightened elves away.
Soon our magic ring gave place
To the courser's flying race;
Swiftly through the land there came
Steedless chariots urged by flame,
Hissing with such horrid tone
As they rushed all madly on,
That the fays in great affright
Feared to tempt the summer night.
"Soon the groves were borne to earth,
Once resounding with our mirth;
Nature's children, faint at heart,
Fled before the steps of Art.
Once resounding with our mirth;
Nature's children, faint at heart,
Fled before the steps of Art.
