CANTO IV.
THE PROPHECY.
163
"And I conjure thee, Dæmon elf,
By Him whom Dæmons fear,
To shew us whence thou art thyself?
And what thine errand here?"—
By Him whom Dæmons fear,
To shew us whence thou art thyself?
And what thine errand here?"—
XV.
Ballad continued.
"'Tis merry, 'tis merry, in Fairy land,
When fairy birds are singing,
When the court doth ride by their monarch's side,
With bit and bridle ringing:
Ballad continued.
"'Tis merry, 'tis merry, in Fairy land,
When fairy birds are singing,
When the court doth ride by their monarch's side,
With bit and bridle ringing:
"And gaily shines the Fairy land—
But all is glistening show,
Like the idle gleam that December's beam
Can dart on ice and snow.
But all is glistening show,
Like the idle gleam that December's beam
Can dart on ice and snow.
"And fading, like that varied gleam,
Is our inconstant shape,
Who now like knight and lady seem,
And now like dwarf and ape.
Is our inconstant shape,
Who now like knight and lady seem,
And now like dwarf and ape.
