THE GHOST-FLOWEB, AND CHILD. 343 



That might makes us happy, if happy we would 

 Since the good God came in that ancient flood ? 

 Tell me, gentle bird, tell it to me, 

 I long for thy lore so exceedingly. 



V. 



Elfin are wonders, and elfin are we 

 Elfin is everything under the sea : 



They come as an arrow, go as a thought ; 



Space is too narrow, when they would be sought. 



They come at no bidding, speed at no will 



Yet ever go ridding earth of some ill 1 



They bless and they curse they heal and destroy, 



Their good may seem worse than ill they employ ! 



From cavern's dark fountain, the spring on the lea 



From Eagle-kept mountain they never shall flee. 



Like a beautiful thing, 



"With golden wing, 

 That comes from where suns are lit ; 



Like a beautiful thing, 



With silver wing, 

 That comes from where moon-birds sit ; 



Like a shadowy thing, 



With dim-spread wing, 

 That comes from where dream-birds flit. 



Like an ominous thing, 



With boding wing, 

 That comes on plumes of the night, 



And yet doth bring, 



On boding wing, 

 A ray of the golden light ! 



Like a singing thing, 

 With purple wing, 



