TO
ELSPETH ANGELA CAMPBELL.
Too late they come, too late for you,
These old friends that are ever new,
Enchanted in our volume blue,
These old friends that are ever new,
Enchanted in our volume blue,
For you ere now have wandered o’er
A world of tales untold of yore,
And learned the later fairy-lore!
A world of tales untold of yore,
And learned the later fairy-lore!
Nay, as within her briery brake
The Sleeping Beauty did awake,
Old tales may rouse them for your sake,
The Sleeping Beauty did awake,
Old tales may rouse them for your sake,
And you once more may voyage through
The forests that of old we knew,
The fairy forests deep in dew,
The forests that of old we knew,
The fairy forests deep in dew,
Where you, resuming childish things,
Shall listen when the Blue Bird sings,
And sit at feast with fairy Kings,
Shall listen when the Blue Bird sings,
And sit at feast with fairy Kings,
And taste their wine, ere all be done,
And face more welcome shall be none
Among the guests of Oberon.
And face more welcome shall be none
Among the guests of Oberon.
Ay, of that feast shall tales be told,
The marvels of that world of gold,
To children young, when you are old.
The marvels of that world of gold,
To children young, when you are old.
When you are old! Ah, dateless ‘when,’
For youth shall perish among men,
And Spring herself be ancient then!
For youth shall perish among men,
And Spring herself be ancient then!
