Letitia Elizabeth Landon (L. E. L.) in Fisher's Drawing Room Scrap Book, 1835/The Fairy of the Fountains
86
THE FAIRY OF THE FOUNTAINS.
The Legend, on which this story is founded, is immediately taken from Mr. Thomas's most interesting collection. I have allowed myself some licence, in my arrangement of the story: but fairy tales have an old-established privilege of change; at least, if we judge by the various shapes which they assume in the progress of time, and by process of translation.
Why did she love her mother's so?
|
"Thy suspicion's vain endeavour,
|
She was tall;—a queen might wear
|
But, far off, a world more fair
|
Easy 'tis advice to give,
|
For the deed which she hath done,
|
Mortal lip nor mortal ear,
|
Then the maiden felt hot pain
PART II.
By a lovely river's side,
|
And a youthful warrior stands
|
Bear the roof—the snow-white floor
|
But she sees beside the gate,
|
Hidden from each mortal eye
|
To her lonely palace made
|
'Tis such grotto as might be,
|
Part as just the setting sun
|
With a low and moaning breath
|
* Raymond, first Lord of Lusignan, died as a hermit, at Monserrat. Melusina's was a yet harsher doom: fated to flit over the earth, in pain and sorrow, as a spectre. Only when one of the race of Lusignan was about to die, does she become visible,—and wanders wailing around the Castle. Tradition also represents her shadow as hovering over the Fountain of Thirst.—Thomas's Lays and Legends.