Book 10 — BALLADE OF THE HAUNTED STREAM
Reading edition
EDWARD G. BENEDICT '82
Like some fair girl who hastes to meet her swain, Yet hesitates each step with maiden fear, So the still stream glides downward to the main, Pausing at times in fern-set pools,—and here, Where bend the willow branches to the clear Deep pool beneath, and where the forest hoar Seems whispering old tales of magic lore, They say by night the fairies dance in glee, And on the moss beside the curving shore The Queen of Elfland holds her revelry.
From beds in purple buds where they have lain Until the mystic midnight time drew near, To chimes of hare-bells and the far-off strain Of forest melodies, the elves appear In all the gorgeousness of goblin gear. With brilliant dress the golden-beetle wore, With scarlet plumes the humming-bird once bore, They come in troops from every flower and tree, And 'round the fairy throne in concourse pour,— The Queen of Elfland holds her revelry.
Yet mortal eyes see not the goblin train Whose bells sound faintly on the passer's ear,— Who dares attempt a secret sight to gain Feels the sharp prick of many an elfin spear, And hears, too late, the low, malicious jeer, As long thorn-javelins his body gore, Until, defeated, breathless, bruised, and sore, He turns him from the haunted ground to flee, And murmurs low, as grace he doth implore, "The Queen of Elfland holds her revelry!"
ENVOI
Sweet mortal maid, that fairy world of yore Has vanished, with the midnights that are o'er; Yet come and sit beside the stream with me, That I, beholding thee, may say, "Once more The Queen of Elfland holds her revelry."
Argo, 1882.