The Fairy Rade.

I.     Ai me! why stood I on the bent      When Summer wept o'er dying June!     I saw the Fairy Folk ride faint          Aneath the moon.              II.     The haw-trees hedged the russet lea      Where cuckoo-buds waxed rich with gold;     The wealthy corn rose yellowly          Endlong the wold.              III.     Betwixt the haw-trees and the mead      "The Fairy Rade" came glimmering on;     A creamy cavalcade did speed          O'er the green lawn.              IV.     The night was ringing with their reins;      Loud laughed they till the cricket hushed;     The whistles on their coursers' manes          Shrill music gushed.              V.     The whistles tagged their horses' manes      All crystal clear; on these a wind     Forever played, and waked the plains          Before, behind.              VI.     These flute-notes and the Fairy song      Took the dim holts with many a qualm,     And eke their silver bridles rung          A far-off psalm.              VII.     All rid upon pale ouphen steeds      With flying tails, uncouthly seen;     Each wore a scarf athwart his weeds          Of freshest green.              VIII.     And aye a beam of silver light      Fairer than moonshine danced aboon,     And shook their locks - a glimmering white          Not of the moon.              IX.     Small were they that the hare-bell's blue      Had helmeted each tiny head;     Save one damsel, who, tall as two,          The Faeries led.              X.     Long tresses floated from a tire      Of diamond sparks, which cast a light,     And o'er her white sark shook, in fire          Rippling the night.              XI.     I would have thrown me 'neath her feet,      And told her all my dole and pain,     There while her rein was jingling sweet          O'er all the plain.              XII.     Alas! a black and thwarting cock      Crew from the thatch with long-necked cry -     The Elfin queen and her wee flock          In the night did die.