THE GHOST-FLOWER, 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 : 
Tliey 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 ! 
They bless and they cursC' — 'they heal and destroy, 
Their good may seem worse than ill they employ I 
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, 
