The fairy Queene. Her invitation to those elves, that in the night doe sport themselves, of them a just character here, decipher'd is as't shall appeare. To the tune of, The Spanish gypsies.

The fairy Queene. Her invitation to those elves, that in the night doe sport themselves, of them a just character here, decipher'd is as't shall appeare. To the tune of, The Spanish gypsies.

Table of contents

§

The Fairy Queene.

Being the Pastimes and other Slights, Of Will-with-a-wispe, and other mad Sprights.

§

§

[Page]

The Fairy Queene.

Her invitation to those Elves,

That in the night doe sport themselves,

Of them a just Character here,

Decipher'd is as't shall appeare.

To the tune of, The Spanish Gypsies.

[figure]

[figure]

COme follow follow me,

You Fairy Elves that be,

That trip it on the Green,

Come circle me your Queen,

Hand in hand wee'l dance a round,

For this place is Fairy ground.

Vpon the dewy grasse,

So nimbly we can passe,

Your young and tender stalke,

Nere bends when we doe walke,

Yet in the morne it may be seene,

Where we the night before have been,

When mortalls ar at rest,

And snorting in their nest,

Through Key-holes close we slide,

Vnheard or unespy'd:

Over Tables stooles, and shelves,

We trip it with our Fairy Elves.

And if the house be foule,

Either platter, dish, or bowle,

Vp staires we nimbly creep,

And finde the sluts asléepe:

There we pinch them armes and thighs,

None doth heare, nor none espies.

But if the house be swept,

And all things cleanly kept,

We praise the houshold Maid,

And surely she is paid;

For 'tis our use before we goe,

To leave a Tester in her shooe.

Vpon a Moshrompe head,

Our Table-cloth we spread,

The manchet that we eate,

Is a graine of Rye or wheat:

The pearly drops of dew we drinke,

In Acorne cups fill'd to the brinke.

The braines of Nightingales,

With the unctious dew of Snales,

Between two Nutshels stew'd,

Is meat that's easily chew'd:

The brains of Wrens, the brests of Mice

Doth make us feasts of wondrous price

The Grashopper, Gnat, and Fly,

Our Minstrels playes supply,

And with that a while,

We doe the time beguile:

And when the Moon doth hide her head[?],

The Gloe-worme lights us to our bed[?],

Being the Pastimes and other Slights,

Of Will-with-a-wispe, and other mad Sprights.

[figure]

YOu Airy sprights not a few,

Of Robin-good-fellowes crew,

Let's our old sports renew,

Vntill the sky look blew:

That mortall men may know and see,

What cuning, merry, mad blades we be.

Ignis Fatuus first,

Among the Fairies nurst,

By Travellers often curst,

By putting them to the worst:

But they shall with amazement sée,

What cunning, merry, &c.

Full many a joviall sparke,

I put beside his marke,

As he walkes home ith' darke,

Through Forrest Grove, or Parke;

He by a fained fire may see,

What cunning, &c.

A small deluding light,

Presents it selfe in sight,

And leads him with delight,

Through uncouth paths all night,

All weary rent, and torn hée'l see,

What cunning, &c.

'Tis called Will with a wispe,

But terme it what you list,

It is most manifest

That many men have mist,

Their way thereby, and thus you sée,

What cunning, &c.

Old Robin-good-fellow likewise,

In many a strange disguise,

Playes many an enterprize,

To blind the peoples eyes,

In sundry shapes he'l let you see,

What cunning, &c.

Your gallants that venture faire,

To steale either horse or Mare,

Them in that shape he'l bearse

Through water, earth and mire,

In wet and dirty case they see,

What cunning &c.

Sometimes to them he appeares,

A fat Weather, which he that beares,

Were as good to loose his eares,

For with tormenting feares

The burthens vanisht then they sée,

What cunning, &c.

Sometimes he subtly jeeres,

Night-walking wastcoatéeres,

When like a man he appeares,

And them to the Constable beares,

Then in Bride-well they féele and sée,

What cunning, &c,

Thus Robin and the rest,

Not néedfull to be exprest,

(In humane feature drest)

Play many a merry jest;

And Théeves upon the Gallowes sée,

What cunning, &c.

For when they have lost the game,

Then thus they doe exclaime,

The Devill ought me a shame,

And now he has paid the same;

All such as these with shame shall sée,

What cunning, &c.

These things and more beside,

Might here be specifi'd,

But let the case be try'd,

Our Pen-man hath not ly'd,

For mortals by experience see,

What cuning, merry, mad blades we be.

FINIS.

§

§

Printed for Edw. Wright in Giltspur-street.

Information about this book

Title statement

The fairy Queene. Her invitation to those elves, that in the night doe sport themselves, of them a just character here, decipher'd is as't shall appeare. To the tune of, The Spanish gypsies.

Edition statement

1648

Publication

Publisher

Text Creation Partnership,

Place of publication

Ann Arbor, MI ; Oxford (UK) :

Date

2009-10 (EEBO-TCP Phase 1).

ID [DLPS]

B03398

ID [STC]

Wing F257B

ID [STC]

Interim Tract Supplement Guide BR f 821.04 B49[13]

ID [EEBO-CITATION]

99887538

ID [PROQUEST]

ocm99887538

ID [VID]

182271

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Early English books online.

Notes

(EEBO-TCP ; phase 1, no. B03398)

Transcribed from: (Early English Books Online ; image set 182271)

Images scanned from microfilm: (Early English books; Tract supplement ; A3:3[15])

Source

— The fairy Queene. Her invitation to those elves, that in the night doe sport themselves, of them a just character here, decipher'd is as't shall appeare. To the tune of, The Spanish gypsies.,

Extent

1 sheet ([1] p.) : ill (woodcuts).

for Edw. Wright in Gilt-spur-street.,. [London] :: [1648?]. (Date of publication suggested by Wing.) (Verse: "Come follow follow me ...") (In two parts, printed side by side.) (At head of second part: Being the pastimes and other slights, of will-with-a-wispe, and other mad sprights.) (Reproduction of original in the British Library.)

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