Vice-Admiral Sir JOHN MENNIS
or
Rev. JAMES SMITH.
King OBERON'S apparel.
[Musarum Delicue.]
When the monthly hornèd queen
Grew jealous, that the stars had seen
Her rising from ENDYMION'S arms;
In rage she threw her misty charms
Into the bosom of the night;
To dim their curious prying light.
Then did the dwarfish fairy elves—
Having first attired themselves—
Prepare to dress their OBERON, king,
In highest robes, for revelling.
In a cobweb shirt, more thin
Than ever spider since could spin;
Bleached by the whiteness of the snow,
As the stormy winds did blow
It in the vast and freezing air.
No shirt half so fine! so fair!
A rich waistcoat they did bring,
Made of the trout fly's gilded wing:
At that, his Elfship 'gan to fret,
Swearing it would make him sweat,
Even with its weight; and needs would wear
His waistcoat wove of downy hair
New shaven from an eunuch's chin.
That pleased him well; 'twas wondrous thin!
