124 THE GLORY OF THE GARDEN 



put it into the glasse * ut supra,' and then put 

 therein the buds of Hollyhocks, the flowers of 

 Marygolde, the flowers of wild Thyme, the Buds 

 of Young Hazle; and the Thyme must be gathered 

 near the side of a hill where Fayries used to be, and 

 take some grasse from a Fayrie throne. Then put 

 these all with the oyle into the glasse, and sette it 

 to dissolve three dayes in the sunne and then keep 

 it for thy use, ' ut supra.' " 



^he Wood Sorrel, with its tiny white flowers 

 and delicate purple veins, is called by the Welsh, 

 " Fairy Bells," and it was said that the merry peals 

 which call the elves to moonlight dance and revelry 

 are sounded forth by these miniature bells : 



" These be the pretty genii of the flowers, 

 Daintily fed with honey and pure dew — 



Midsummer's phantoms in her dreaming hours, 

 King Oberon and all his merry crew, 

 The darling puppets of romance's view; 



Fairies and sprites, and goblin elves we call them. 

 Famous for patronage of lovers true. 



No harm they act, neither shall harm befall them, 



So do not thus with crabbed frowns appal them." 



According to the old pastoral poets, the fairies 

 are most wont to bestir themselves soon after 

 sunset, a time of indistinctness coupled with a sort 

 of silent mystic charm. , But it is at midnight that 

 the whole fairy kingdom is most thoroughly alive; 

 then it is that the faint music of the harebell is 

 heard ringing out the call for the assembly of fairies 

 and elves. 



** *Tis the hour of the Fairy ban and spell, 

 The wood-tick has kept the minutes well ; 

 He has counted them all with click and stroke. 

 Deep on the heart of the forest Oak. 



