PART II.

Ask not the Bard to lift the veil That hides the Fairy's bridal bower; If thou art young, go seek the glade, And win thyself some fairy maid; And rosy lips shall tell the tale In some enchanted hour.

"Farewell!" as by the greenwood tree, The Fairy clasp'd the Mortal's hand-- "Our laws forbid thee to delay-- Not ours the life of every day!-- And Man, alas! may rarely be The Guest of Fairy-land.

"Back to thy Prince's halls depart, The stateliest of his stately train: Henceforth thy wish shall be thy mine-- Each toy that gold can purchase, thine-- A fairy's coffers are the heart A mortal cannot drain."

"Talk not of wealth--that dream is o'er!-- These sunny looks be all my gold!" "Nay! if in courts thy thoughts can stray Along the fairy-forest way, Wish but to see thy bride once more-- Thy bride thou shalt behold.

"Yet hear the law on which must rest Thy union with thine elfin bride; If ever by a word--a tone-- Thou mak'st our tender secret known, The spell will vanish from thy breast-- The Fairy from thy side.

"If thou but boast to mortal ear The meanest charm thou find'st in me, If"--here his lips the sweet lips seal, Low-murmuring, "Love can ne'er reveal-- It cannot breathe to mortal ear The charms it finds in thee!"