Ne with sly Lemans in the scorner’s chair;
But after water-brooks this Pilgrim’s soul
Panted, and all his food was woodland air
Though he would oft-times feast on gilliflowers rare.
3
Tipping the wink to him was heathen Greek;
He sipp’d no olden Tom or ruin blue,
Or nantz or cherry-brandy drank full meek
By many a damsel brave and rouge of cheek;
Nor did he know each aged watchman’s beat,
Nor in obscured purlieus would he seek
For curled Jewesses, with ankles neat,
Who as they walk abroad make tinkling with their feet.
Ballad
La Belle Dame Sans Merci
Alone and palely loitering?
The sedge has wither’d from the lake,
And no birds sing.
So haggard and so woe-begone?
The squirrel’s granary is full,
And the harvest’s done.
With anguish moist and fever dew,
And on thy cheeks a fading rose
Fast withereth too.
Full beautiful—a faery’s child,
Her hair was long, her foot was light,
And her eyes were wild.
And bracelets too, and fragrant zone;
She look’d at me as she did love,
And made sweet moan.
And nothing else saw all day long,
For sidelong would she bend, and sing
A faery’s song.
And honey wild, and manna dew,
And sure in language strange she said—
“I love thee true!”
And there she wept and sigh’d full sore,
And there I shut her wild, wild eyes
With kisses four.
And there I dream’d—ah! woe betide!
The latest dream I ever dream’d
On the cold hill’s side.
Pale warriors, death-pale were they all;
They cried—“La Belle Dame sans Merci
Hath thee in thrall!”
With horrid warning gaped wide,
And I awoke and found me here,
On the cold hill’s side.
Alone and palely loitering,
Though the sedge is wither’d from the lake,
And no birds sing.
Song of Four Fairies
Fire, Air, Earth, and Water, Salamander, Zephyr, Dusketha, and Breama.
Zep. Fragrant air! delicious light!
Dus. Let me to my glooms retire!
Bre. I
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