Elsie; Flights to Fairyland, etc

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London, 1864 - 247 pages

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Page 179 - But doubt not aught from mine array. Thou art my guest; I pledged my word As far as Coilantogle ford : Nor would I call a clansman's brand For aid against one valiant hand, Though on our strife lay every vale Rent by the Saxon from the Gael. So move we on; I only meant To show the reed on which you leant, Deeming this path you might pursue Without a pass from Roderick Dhu.
Page 165 - Died on his lips, and their motion revealed what his tongue would have spoken. Vainly he strove to rise ; and Evangeline, kneeling beside him, Kissed his dying lips, and laid his head on her bosom. Sweet was the light of his eyes ; but it suddenly sank into darkness, As when a lamp is blown out by a gust of wind at a casement.
Page 141 - In peace, Love tunes the shepherd's reed; In war, he mounts the warrior's steed; In halls, in gay attire is seen; In hamlets, dances on the green. Love rules the court, the camp, the grove, And men below, and saints above ; For love is heaven, and heaven is love.
Page 69 - A sad tale's best for winter. I have one of sprites and goblins. Her. Let's have that, good sir. Come on, sit down. — Come on, and do your best To fright me with your sprites : you're powerful at it. Mam. There was a man, — Her. Nay, come, sit down ; then on. Mam. Dwelt by a churchyard ; — I will tell it softly ; Yon crickets shall not hear it.
Page 194 - Still, however, she retained the faculty of seeing with her medicated eye, every thing that was done, any where in her presence, by the deceptive art of the order. One day, amidst a throng of people, she chanced to observe the Shi'ich, or man of peace, in whose possession she had left her child, though to every other eye invisible. Prompted by maternal affection, she inadvertently accosted him, and began to inquire after the welfare of her child. The man of peace, astonished at thns being recognised...
Page 160 - I restore me. Once on a time— I won't say when — Aroint thee, witch — my new-made pen Was striving to digress again— There lived within a shady glen. Some distance from the haunts of men (Where strangers came but now and then), A widow who had pass'd her prime ; And on whose brow were thickly cast Those searing finger-marks of Time That link the Present to the Past. Bed-ridden, old, decrepid, blind, She lay, whilst dreary years passed by ; For ever patient and resigned, Her only fixed desire...
Page 162 - Her sister — but hold ! I can never unfold The depths of her heart, 'twas so callous and cold— . To her shame be it told She was spiteful and bold, As Sycorax, Caliban's mother, of old. Her head Was red, Or rather her hair. If you saw her you could not help saying a prayer, Her swivel-eyes cast forth so fiendish a glare. She was stunted in growth, Like a perjurer's oath, And very much given to scolding and sloth ; In fact, she was somewhat too fond of them both. Her sister she hated, And constantly...
Page 171 - ... glowworm's lamp shall lend thee light, And the bee, with its busy hum, Shall lead thee forth where the sun shines bright, And the rarest flowers enchant the sight ; Where day is day — but they know not night— For their hours are spent in pure delight. Then come with the fairy, come 1...
Page 166 - ... for the hair on her head Was also with silver besprinkled. The old woman blessed her, And would have caressed her, But thus in her soft dulcet tones Anne addressed her : " I love silver hairs, They are emblems of cares, The snow-flakes that age in its infancy wears — For the old are twice infants, and honour is theirs. On your brow rests sublime Those deep furrows, which Time Delves deeply, as vouchers of virtue or crime ; But crime bears a chronicle harsher than yours, Like the brand set on...
Page 167 - Just then Sycorax, With tongue saucy and lax, And bold as are duns, for unpaid income-tax, (They're bold, for they bore with the law at their backs) Stepped into the porch, and commenced — " Filthy hag, Move on, or I'll not on your bones leave a rag — Tip ! — up ! hoary trollop — be off with your bag.

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