8 QUEEN INA, OR THE 



gathered the trum])et-shaped flower of the honey- 

 suckle, and through that small clarion, wound a 

 mort, which, floating through the hollow grot, 

 awoke from their rest the slumbering fays of her 

 bright domain. Quick as thought the elfin sprites 

 joyfully bounded towards their queen, and hailed 

 her safe return. Forming themselves into a dance, 

 they commenced an airy round, when Ina again 

 restrained them.*' My children," she said (and her 

 tone was sad and melancholy), " our gaieties are 

 over, our joy is gone. No more will the sound of 

 your light laugh break the silence of the woody 

 glades. No more will your busy feet imprint the 

 springy turf. The dominion of the fairies is over. 

 I go to resign my crown." " Nay, nay," said one 

 of the fairy tribe, " leave us not sweet Ina, thy do- 

 main is safe ; thy frame is strong ; we shall never 

 be happy with another, leave us not sweet Ina, or if 

 thou goest, we will go with thee." The fairy queen 

 hung her head in silence, her hands were clasped 

 on her heaving breast; her graceful form shook 

 with emotion. Raising her head, she exclaimed, 

 "alas my little ones, will you follow to the shades 

 of death: will ye pass with me the vale of destruc- 

 tion ?" " Art thou not every thing to us Ina ? through 

 all we are thine," replied the loving fays. Over- 

 powered by their affection, Ina fled from the spot, 

 and mingled sweet and bitter tears with the waters 

 of the font. In a few moments she rejoined her 

 comrades, and, in her silvery tones, thanked them, 

 and bid them prepare to follow her. "Our journey 

 is long," she said, "I would depart with the coming 

 eve." 



The last rays of the sun had faded, and the sha- 

 dows of night fell before the fairies ventured to com- 

 mence their aerial flight. The stars came out, one 

 by one, and looked down with trembling radiance 

 on the elfin train, as on rapid wing they wound their 

 way amidst the golden spheres. Sometimes a wan- 

 dering fay rested on her radiant wing, and held 



h. 



