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A moment and its lustre fell. 



But ere it met the billow blue. 

 He caught within his crimson bell, 



A droplet of its sparkling dew — 



y to thee. Fay ! tin- task is done, 

 Thy wings are pure, for the gem is won — 

 Cheerly ply thy dripping oar. 

 i haste away to the elfin shore. 



The first quest of the Culprit Fay is ended. 



The cricket calls the second hour of the night as the Fairy 

 starts heaven-ward, with wings now unstained., on his second 

 quest — that of the fiery spark with which alone he can re- 

 illumine his flame-wood lamp. Donning his accoutrements 

 for his second great adventure the Fay sets forth astride of 

 a fire-fly steed. 



Up to the vaulted firmament 

 His path the fire-fly courser bent, 

 And at every gallop on the wind, 

 He flung a glittering spark behind ; 



Through cold and drizzly mist, storm and darkness, evading 

 shadow}* hands that twitch at his rein, and flame-shot tongues 

 and fiendish eyes, he valiantly plunges onward, with his bent 

 grass blade in action, until he arrives at the milky-way and the 

 home of the sylph queen. 



But oh! how fair the shape that lay 



Beneath a rainbow bending bright. 

 She seemed to the entranced Fay 



The loveliest of the forms of light; 

 Her mantle was the purple rolled 



At twilight in the west afar : 

 'Twas tied with threads of dawning gold, 



-d buttoned with a sparkling star. 

 Her face was like the lily roon 



That veils the vestal planer's hue; 

 Her eyes, two beamlets from the moon, 



boating in the welkin blue. 

 Her hair is like the sunny beam, 



1 the diamond gems which round it gleam 

 Are the pure drops of dewy even 

 That ne'er have left their native heaven. 



