Fantasma, and other poems

Canto III 240 Notes . 262

4 CONTENTS.

WILD IRIS AND OTHER RHYMES.

Wild Iris 269

The River 270

To My Brother ..." 271

Amid the Corn 273

Ellen 275

The Lilly Queen 276

To Alice: A Reverie 281

Elizabeth Barrett Browning 284

The Silk Tree 286

In Darkness and the shadow of Death 287

Music in the Night 289

One in Ten 292

Indian Summer 294

A Comparison 295

Discontent 296

Fannie 298

Fidelity 299

My Brother 300

The Light of Other Days 301

Serenade 302

Rosa Senza Spinas 303

The Fairy Ring * . . . 304

The Jewel-Seeker 309

A FAIRY TALE, IX FIVE PARTS.

When f goe musing all alone,

Thinking of diverse things foreknowne,

When I builde castles in the ayre,

Voide of sorrow, voide of fear, Pleasing myself with fantasms sweele, Met/links the time runnes very fleete.

— BURTON.

Preface

TO ALICE.

O well-beloved ! whose heart, in other days, Beat to my own with full-responsive chime, When our young pulses thrilled to sounds sublime

Of the Great Singer's world-entrancing lays; —

Thou, who didst walk with me the woodland ways Of fair Virginia, harkening, many a time, My childish fancies clothed in simplest rhyme,

Crowning the youthful poet with thy praise — Receive this scroll, wherein the verse appears

Of recent days : and, if it seems too light,

Lacking the salt and bitter strength of tears, —

It is, that rose-winged Time has grown so bright,

And Faith has crowned, with blessings infinite, The joys and sorrows of my later years.

CHARACTERS OF THE STORY:

MORTALS.

BEAUCLERC, a Magician.

FLORIAN, a Poet.

DAN, Florian's Servant.

THE HERMIT.

Witches, Wizards, etc.

LUCIA, the Sister of Florian.

FAIRIES, SPIRITS, ETC.

FANTASMA, Queen of all Fairies. ROSEMARY, a Changeling.

EGLANTINE, the Fairy of Poesy.

LIGEIA, Queen of Sea-Nymphs.

ETHERIA Queen of the Sylphides. AUREOLE, King of Fire-Sprites.

LAVENDER, a Changeling.

PHANTASM OF A POET.

Fairies, Brownies, Fauns, Nymphs, etc.

Evil Spirits and Familiars.

FANTASMA.

Part First

SCENE I. — A lonely road through a Forest ; a deserted Church. BEAUCLERC enters, from the Wood.

BEAUCLERC.

The evening shadows thicken in the woods, And silence reigns in these dim solitudes, Night-peopled by wild sprite and glimmering ghost, And darker earthly shapes, with souls more lost. This night, whose first sweet shades are here at last, Will make amends for all my wretched past; This thrice-blest night, that brings the fated hour When fortune pours for me her golden shower, Crowns me with love, and sceptres me with power!

[A whippou'il cries. J

The signal-bird, calling the wood-sprites all To keep to-night the full-moon festival, Bids me take up yon fatal bough, that lies j FANTASMA.

On the worn steps that to the church-door rise — A pledge of help in this night's enterprise.

[Takes up a spray of mistletoe. What lovely maid is this, abroad so late?

Enter FANTASMA, like a young girl, richly attired. Too bright a bird are you, to lack a mate —

FANTASMA.

Wound not with ribald speech a spirit's ear! Unholy words are not for me to hear. I am a spirit whom thou long didst seek To bind with spells. Ah, mortal worse than weak ! Think'st thou, the soul of beauty can be thine ? Thou, less than man, /, child of the Divine ? Yet, I would warn thee: thou dost hope this night To set the wrong above the unchampioned right. Ah, blinded mortal, that shall never be ! Thou hast a foe — a powerful foe — in me !

BEAUCLERC.

Divine Fantasma! wilt thou ever be The untiring foe of him who worships thee ? Take hands with me ! this enmity forego — : To knowledge why should beauty be a foe ? Rouse from thy worship of a false Ideal, And I will teach thee how to know the Real ! The bondage thou dost call religion, leave, And the pure light of liberty receive.

FAN TASMA.

From Faith's insane delusions wert thou free, Freedom herself were proud to follow thee!

FANTASMA.

He who of Liberty so loudly raves Is to his goddess bound, a slave of slaves, To Freedom-and-Equality poor thrall — Equality, the tyrant worst of all! Alas ! what madness in that dream must be Of all impossible equality !

There is no freedom — heed the truth I speak — There is no freedom, such as you would seek ! Neither in spirit-realm nor world of sense Is freedom found : the law of consequence, Alone, has forged a chain that will not break.

0 hear and heed this truth for your own sake ! In the wide universe there is but ONE

Who is, or can be, free — for He alone

Is Strength and Love and Wisdom. — Child of clay!

Man's nature is, to trust, and to obey !

Vainly against this law wouldst thou rebel :

Servant of heaven, or else the slave of hell !

BEAUCLERC.

Spirit of loveliness ! I take thy warning !

1 give thee hate for hate and scorn for scorning ! I woo'd thee long, Fantasma the divine! Henceforth, I am thy foe, as thou art mine.

. FANTASMA.

Thou wild and frolic daughter of the woods,

The pet of Nature in her lightest moods,

With music-breathing lips and starlit eyes,

Untutored in earth's darker mysteries —

Thou succor the oppressed? Thou right the wrong?

Such deeds are not for thee, soft queen of song!

FANTASMA.

Vain mortal! I could almost pity thee. Show but one touch of true humanity, One gleam of mercy, and I yet will spare — Will save thee from the doom that thou dost dare!

BEAUCLERC.

Thou spare? What strength from beauty can proceed, Light as the wind, weak as a trembling reed ? Know, lovely phantom of the shining brow, I deal with spirits mightier far than thou, Before whose flames thy firefly light would fade, And thou shrink to the shadow of a shade! \The church windows shine from light within. Wild music. But, hark, the signal! Dare not thou, this night, A mortal, armed in more than mortal might! Stronger than thy soft arm the power must be That locks the rolling wheel of destiny.

\_He goes into the church.

FANTASMA.

That power lies in the strength of purity ! It has been promised me that I shall find

A helper, pure of heart and strong of mind: And, lo, the time is come, the steps draw near, And youth, and strength, and purity are here! And timid ignorance comes after him, Trembling at moonlight shapes and shadows dim. Enter FLORTAN and DAN.

FLORIAN.

Why, who is this fair girl, so late abroad, In this dark forest, on so lone a road?

DAN.

Don't you go for to speak to her, Mas' Flo. !

She come from dat ole graveyard, what you know?

Dat ar ole church is haunted anyhow.

When we was down de road a little ways,

I hearn de organ play, and seen de windows blaze.

FLORIAN.

Lady, what do you in this lonely wood ? They call it haunted, this dim solitude.

FANTASMA.

Sir,. I have lost my way, and hither strayed ; And now, to turn or to advance afraid, I trust your chivalry to give me aid.

FLORIAN.

So far as I have power, I pledge my word

I4 FANTASMA.

To aid you to the utmost, till restored To your own home, wherever that may be.

FANTASMA.

You pledge your word to this?

FLORIAN.

Most full and free!

FANTASMA.

I take the pledge! Before the morning's light You must redeem it as a faithful knight. Farewell — but ere the midnight hour shall fade, I summon thee to give the promised aid!

\Shc disappears.

DAN.

Dar, now ! what does you think o' dat, Mas' Flo. ? I knowed she was a witch; I tole you so!

FLORIAN.

'Tis more than strange, indeed ! I well might deem That figure but the illusion of a dream.

DAN.

O lord! What made you come dis way to-night? We'll be forever ha'nted by dat sprite!

FLORIAN.

Why should you tremble with such needless fear ? It was a most gentle ghost that met us here,

(If ghost it be), and a most lovely one: A fairer face I never looked upon ! You should be more astonished than afraid At this, the wild trick of some country maid.

DAN.

" Trick?" Yes, will bofe be tricked,2 dat's mighty clear! Is you bewitched, to stand a-gazin' here! Come on, Mas' Flo., and less git out o' dis. Come on; come on; I'm gwine for home, / is!

SCENE II. — A wild glade in the Forest. Enter ROSEMARY, JACK-O-LANTERN, and Fairies. FIRST FAIRY

I float upon the thistledown,

That light and merry rover!

The west-wind is my winged steed

To bear me far away, Above the tumult of the town, The deep-green country over !

More useful things may be, indeed, But few so light, and gay !

SECOND FAIRY.

I lead the train of lightning-flies

That twinkle in the twilight!

I wake the lilies from their dreams;

The roses all unfold; The tulips flaunt their brilliant dyes

Beneath my flashing fly-light; And the lightly-drooping fuchsia seems A fount of starry gold!

JACK-O LANTERN.

The bonny elfin-fire am I,

That glimmers in the gloaming!

The meadow-fays dance merrily

Beneath my fitful gleam; The forest-fairies follow me,

For all my willful roaming, Beneath my dancing light to see Their faces in the stream!

The lurking thief starts back to see

My rays beside him glancing !

Benighted men do I mislead,

And wile them from their way !

The merry wildfire flickers free,

O'er marsh and meadow dancing — Far truer lights there are, indeed, But none so wild and gay!

ROSEMARY.

Have you performed your task, and led astray Young Florian to the forest?

JACK O-LANTERN.

Far away

From their true path I led them; and full soon They will be here, wild-wandering by the moon. Was it well done, Rosemary?

ROSEMARY.

Truly, yes, —

But now it is mine hour of heaviness, When I my senses in light slumber steep: The air-born fairies on the wing may sleep, But I am but a changeling fay, at best, And slumber bows my head to the green breast Of earth, my mother, where I take my rest. Upon this bed of wood-moss I will lie Till time shall bring the wandering Florian nigh, Whose coming must arouse me. Quickly run, Light fairies! Tell our queen the task is done. [She sleeps. JACK.-O-LANTERN and the Fairies flit away.

Enter FLORIAN and DAN.

DAN.

Well, if I does git outen dis yere wood, i8 FANTASMA.

I'll just stay outen hit forebber mo ! O massy-sakes-alive ! What is dis yere ?

FLORIAN.

What is it, now? A child, and quite alone! What. chance is this, within the forest wild? Who and whence art thou, lone and lovely child?

ROSEMARY.

Rosemary, I am called. I've lost my way.

DAN.

Dat's jest what all the pesky goblins say.

FLORIAN.

Dan, go you now to yonder ruddy light That gleams so brightly from that distant height; 'Tis, doubtless, some lone house upon the hill, Or, haply, it may shine from Barksdale's mill — The ruined mill, where the good hermit lives : All — wandering, lost, or homeless — he receives. Whate'er it is, go, seek that light and say How we in this dim forest lost our way, And, therefore, ask for shelter, rest and food For us and this young child, lost in the wood.

DAN.

De debil fetch me, if I stirs dis night To follow any Jack-ma-Lanter's2 light !

Has you forgot when we fust lost de road, How like a lamp de Jack-ma-Lanter glowed ? You said de light was in some house you knowed. And den we followed dat deceitful fire Till I went plump into de black marsh-mire, And waist-deep in de mud an' rushes stuck, An' flopped an' floundered like a hurt wild-duck ; An' when I scrambled out, we bofe turned back, But, in de dark, of course, we lost de track. And somethin' come behind me wid a push, And pitched me headlong in a blackberry bush; And dis here nigger's skin got more'n one scratch 'Fore he got outen dat ole blackberry patch. And somethin' poked me awful in de ribs, And bofe my eyes was full of spider-webs; I hit a stump an' gin, my shins a rake, An' pretty nigh stepped on a moc'sin snake, An', last, I tumbled in de brook down yonder: An' ain't all this enough for onct, I wonder? Now, you must send me deeper in de wood To find dat light, shin in' from thick marsh-mud, Or risin' from some still, black, shiny pool, Or quakin' quicksand. Think ole Dan's a fool? I haint a-gwine to quit you till we go, Bofe of us, outen dis here woods, Mas' Flo. !

FLORIAN.

What, will you play the coward ? Yonder light

FANTASMA.

Is no wildfire; it glimmers from a height. There's neither marsh nor quicksand on a hill; That is some house, or else 'tis Barksdale's mill, Built where the stream leaps to the lake below. Shake off your childish fears, good Dan, and go ! Till you return, I will not quit this place.

DAN.

Nor / shant leave it, neither — here I stays Till I git out o' here by broad daylight. De ghosts haint pestered you dis livelong night ; But dere's a difference twixt us two, you see ; De ghosts an' goblins has a spite at me, An' till I fetch my head safe out o dis, I gwine to stick right close to you, I is !

FLORIAN.

Then, take the child, and I will lead the way. What now, sir ? Will you neither go nor stay ?

DAN.

I haint a-gwine to tetch dat chile, Mas' Flo. ! If taint a goblin hit's de debil, sho' ! Why don't she cry, as nat'rally she would If 'twas a human chile lost in de wood ? Look at her frock, as green as meadow-grass, And shiny all like specks of isin'-glass; Dem tangled curls is all in elf-locks tied — An' jest look at de creeter's eyes ! how wide

FANTASMA.

An' full of mischief! black an' shiny, too, As new ripe chinquapins all wet wid dew ! And, now, above her forehead, what's dat ar? Dat greenish light, a-tremblin' like a star — Pale fire, dat looks so like a fadin' spark, Same as de fox-fire,2 shinin' in de dark?

FLORIAN.

Most strange and beautiful! What may this be? Fair child, what art thou ?

ROSEMARY.

I am Rosemary.

DAN.

Tell you, you better drop dat chile, Mas' Flo. ! She hang you wid a grape-vine, fust you know, Or strangle you wid a young hazel-switch : For, if she ain't de debil, she's a witch.

FLORIAN.

Dan, listen ! you must either quickly go And find what is the light that's gleaming so, Or I shall go ! I have no mind to stay Within this forest till the dawn of day. I know not why you feel so much alarm; Thus far, the ghosts have done us little harm.

DAN.

Well, ef I mus', I mus' : I'm 'tween two fires; I mus' go chasin' through de brush and briers

FANTASMA.

Follerin' Jack-ma-Lanters, till I'm lost,

Or stay here wid dat chile; and hit's a ghost.

I'd jest as lief to go as .stay, Mas' Flo.,

For I'm afear'd either to stay or go.

Don't quit dis place, Mas' Flo., de debil's in it

If you don't see me back in half a minute !

[Exit.

ROSEMARY.

Yes, Florian ! Dan is right! Poor ignorance Stumbles on knowledge, by some guess or chance, Which culture misses.

FLORIAN.

You are not a ghost, Or elf, sweet child ?

ROSEMARY.

A changeling elf, at most ; A fairy child who loves the human kind. To mischief much, to mirth much more inclined. I can, upon occasion, put away Mischief and merriment. A household fay Am I; and therefore did the fairy queen Send me to be your guide — perhaps, your screen.

FLORIAN.

Sweet wonder! Wherefore sent your queen to me? What service to a fairy can there be In my bewildered wandering in this wood ?

ROSEMARY.

Ah, heretofore you have not understood. To-night, the witches hold their carnival, And a lost mortal, Satan's willing thrall, Will join them — not, indeed, to share their sport; He follows evil of a higher sort. There is a spirit-life, whose subtle thread Links the blind living to the enlightened dead, And in its viewless windings, fold on fold, Sphere within sphere, it doth creation hold; — The soul of the material universe, To which the eye of science cannot pierce, Nor reason demonstrate the how and why Of this, the Great Supreme's unuttered mystery. Sometimes, as though in mockery of the wise, The gates unclose to Superstition's eyes, But Ignorance stops, the threshold barely crossed, Trembling before a spectre or a ghost. But there are minds of a far higher sort, Yet lower, who the powers of darkness court For gain or glory, and with demons hold Converse, and so win pleasure, power or gold. Such scruple not to fling their souls away For the vain pageant of an earthly day. A soul may be so dark, so steeped in sense, It flies from light as from a pestilence, And, could it to the gates of heaven be sent, Would seek hell, as a lighter punishment.

Such were the powerful Magians of the eld, Who with the dead unhallowed converse held; And such a soul, although far less in power, Pollutes our grove in this, the witches' hour.

FLORIAN.

But what is this unhappy man to me? Can I, then, win him from his infamy ?

ROSEMARY.

Not so; but you can from like evil save A soul which he will otherwise enslave, — A maiden-spirit, beautiful and rare, White as a snowflake in the moonlit air ; Yet this man seeks her for a fatal power, A fairy-gift, and a most perilous dower — Clear-visioned soul and spirit-quickened eyes That pierce the veil of hidden mysteries. Whoever weds her, in that very hour The quickened sight is his, with doubled power ; But, if her love to this dark soul is given, The maid is lost at once to earth and heaven. Prevent this fatal marriage ! for it lies With you to slay or save the sacrifice !

FLORIAN.

Fairy ! From childhood even to this night My dreams have still been blessed with forms of light

Who breathed strange visions into my dim brain,

Heightened my bliss and soothed away my pain.

And, often in my musing solitude

In smiling lowlands or in bowery wood,

Glimpses I caught of forms unearthly fair,

And whispers thrilled the lulled and listening air

That promised me some unimagined bliss :

Surely, there is no greater joy than this,

To guard, to save, imperiled purity !

Such task the angels well might envy me !

ROSEMARY.

Come, then ! The sorcerer a spell has laid Upon this hapless and most innocent maid, That holds her in deep sleep. In her own room She lies, beneath the sheltering roof of home, Yet, ere the midnight passes, they will bring The enchanted maiden to the witches' ring. In such a contest, fairies are but weak, And yet we have much power. From you we seek The matchless strength of faith and purity; What more is needed, we can well supply. Victory in this is for the pure in heart, The gentle, faithful, brave : and such thou art !

Part Second

SCENE I. — The level Uplands overlooking a Lake in the Wood. Voices in the air of Unseen Spirits.

FIRST VOICE.

Come away ! come away !

SECOND VOICE.

Haste, oh! haste 1 No longer stay !

FIRST VOICE.

For the midnight hour is fleeting Which should see our joyous meeting.

SECOND VOICE.

Magic dews are softly falling;

FIRST VOICE.

Your familiar spirits calling ;

SECOND VOICE.

Nightshade here is rankly growing;

FIRST VOICE.

Hemlock deepest shadow throwing;

SECOND VOICE.

Here the wreathed snake is tracing;

FIRST VOICE.

Venomed laurels interlacing;

SECOND VOICE.

Deadly blooms their leaves unfurling;

FIRST VOICE.

Vapors from the marsh up-curling;

SECOND VOICE.

Here the shades of night come quickly ;

FIRST VOICE.

Here the rankest weeds grow thickly;

SECOND VOICE.

Here the muffled owl is sitting;

FIRST VOICE.

Here the leathern bats are flitting;

SECOND VOICE.

Here the shriveled toad is leaping;

FIRST VOICE.

Poison-vines are thickly creeping ;

SECOND VOICE.

Earth's untold and hideous evils Here are hoarded for your revels.

FIRST VOICE.

Ere the blooms of midnight wither, Daughters of the Night, come hither !

SECOND VOICE.

While the dews of midnight glitter On the nightshade black and bitter, Sons of Darkness, do not stay !

BOTH VOICES.

Come away ! come away !

Enter WITCHES and WIZARDS; to them, BEAUCLERC.

BEAUCLERC.

Ah, wild and wicked wanderers of the night! Our circle now is rounded and complete In number as the still and charmed hour Wherein gray morning clasps the hand of night.

FIRST WITCH.

Welcome! most welcome.

FIRST WIZARD.

Wherefore are you late?

SECOND WIZARD.

Where is the maiden you should bring with you ?

BEAUCLERC.

Be patient, all. —Ye know the ruined mill And the gray hermit dwelling there ?

FIRST VOICE.

Indeed, We know him, and with reason.

BEAUCLERC.

He, our foe,

Whom even the harmless wood-sprites fear and shun, He must be cast into profoundest sleep, Or else removed from the enchanted wood ; His presence here is fatal to our power, For he is one of those born torturers Who think to win that fabled heaven of theirs, (Hard as their hearts and narrow as their creed,) By making hell of earth. He, from the world Flying, because no worship now is paid To priests or kings as in the earth's young years, Dwells in this wood, a lonely self-tormentor, Vexing free nature with his prayers and groans. I say, this dotard's tongue must be kept still ; Ay, even all thought be banished from his brain, Or our familiars lose their wonted power.

3o FANTASMA.

FIRST WITCH.

Let two of us cast on him that strong spell That bound young Lucia. It has never failed.

BEAUCLERC.

Yes, go, and put the powerful charm to proof; But venture not beneath the hermit's roof. Remember, if he should awake, our pain Is profitless; our invocations vain.

\Exit ist Witch and ist Wizard.

Haste we to brighten this wild forest's gloom With beauty in its full and perfect bloom.

Spirits to my bidding rise ;

Spirits, beautiful and free, Hasten to the place where lies

The maiden, sleeping dreamlessly. Thither, on untiring wing

Through the shades of midnight sweep ; Sweep, with speed of thought, and bring

The maiden in her charmed sleep.

Two beautiful DEMONS descend, bearing LUCIA, asleep, veiled, and crowned with poppies. They place her in the midst of the Circle.

SECOND WIZARD.

O Beautiful !

THIRD WIZARD.

Most lovely, if the face Is half so fair as that exquisite form.

SECOND WITCH.

But wherefore does she wear that shining veil, And wreath of poppies, crimson and milkwhite ?

BEAUCLERC.

That garland brings forgetfulness; that veil — While shrouded in that veil, no voice but mine Has power to break her deep, entranced sleep. The hour is waning; join ye hand in hand; When she awakens, she will soulless be And mindless, as unconscious infancy.

CHANT.

By the strong, unhallowed power

Which is ours, in this wild hour, We, the ministers of hell,

Break thy magic garland's spell. Ere the witches' circle break,

Maiden, from thy sleep awake; Ere the hour of midnight flies,

Maiden, from thy trance arise !

LUCIA awakes and stands in the midst of the Ring.

FANTASMA.

BEAUCLERC (to the witches, etc.] Assume whatever shape best pleases you, To wait upon our Master, who, to-night Will join our revels at the ruined church. Then, till the dawning day, ye all have power To work your wills, so that you do no good.

THIRD WITCH.

I'll take the bright form of a humming bird, And (service to our Master done) will flit Through the spice-breathing groves of Florida.

SECOND WIZARD.

I, like a spotted snake, will coil in weeds, And strike the unwary who shall pass thereby.

BEAUCLERC.

Lucia, the stars are on the lake ;

Come, draw your veil aside, That hides the liquid light of eyes Softer than any star that lies

Upon the trembling tide.

The silver-rippling waves that break

Along the willowed shore, Sing like the music memories make

Of dreaming days of yore.

But speak ! The sighing wind will hush,

The listening lake lie still,

And mocking-bird and tender thrush, l Be silent on the hill!

LUCIA.

O beautiful, new world ! How strangely fair ; Could I not float upon the soft night air, Or dance upon the shining lake afar, Like the reflection of that lovely star ?

FOURTH WITCH.

The night-wind rushes, wild and free,

Down from the distant river !

The wayward wind, so fresh and free,

So fetterless and light !

O would that I those winds could be,

And rove the world forever, With none to curb or question me ;

With none to doubt my right.

(A strain of wild and melancholy music.)

BEAUCLERC.

Lucia, draw close your veil about your face, An enemy approaches — wJiat, I know not, Or mortal, or a spirit of the wood.

Enter FLORIAN ; ROSEMARY follows, invisible.

Depart ! and take our novice hence with you

' Witches and Wizards ascend with Lucia and vanish. )

FANTASMA.

Who are you, that durst break the witches' ring? You are not mortal ; else you have the aid Of those who are not !

FLORIAN.

O thou vile magician !

Where is the maid whom thy inhuman art Has blinded and beguiled ? Be sure of this, That from this forest thou shalt not depart Till thou hast freed her from thy cruel spells.

BEAUCLERC.

A face too girlish for a tongue so bold ! I know thee well, although thou knowest not me, Fair youth ; I'll try the power of that same art On thee, who durst so rudely challenge me. I charge thee, by this rod, and by its power, And by the Power that gives its magic strength — Stir not, nor leave the spot whereon thou standest, Till I release and tell thee to depart !

FLORIAN.

I laugh thee and thy power to scorn ! Thou seest, I move ; and I will try another power ; The strength that Nature gave me. — This is strange ! Something repels me, when I would approach ; Yet he had not the power to fetter me !

ROSEMARY (appearing).

Forbear ! He has no power on you, indeed, Nor have you power on him.

The weight of good and evil balance here.

FLORIAN.

That may not be, for Goodness is Supreme. If I but trusted in my own weak arm, I were already vanquished.

BEAUCLERC.

So thou art !

I know thee, and the power that is thy friend. A dewdrop shall the red volcano quench When thou and thine shall conquer mine or me !

{Exit.

FLORIAN.

And yet, he flies ! Nay, I will follow him ! Fairy, think not to turn or stay me, now.

ROSEMARY.

But you must hear me ! I have disobeyed The fairy-queen's commands to bring you here ; She bade me lead you to her woodland bower. This man is shielded by a dreadful Power ; And, Florian, good can never spring from ill; Success comes not to disobedience. Turn not away, nor bend impatient brows, For haste is still the parent of defeat,

And I have sinned, in that I disobeyed, For sin and disobedience are one.

FLORIAN.

Then haste we to your queen Fantasma's bower.

\_Exeunt.

SCENE II. Before the Hermit's Mill on the edge of the wood. Enter DAN.

DAN.

Well, here I is, at las', and dars de light Dat brought me here. Dis time Mas' Flo. was right ; Hits in de mill ; de ole man's still awake. I'll knock, and gin de do' a little shake To make him come de quicker. (Knocks.} I jes' feels As ef a dozen ghosts was at my heels. A nigger better be uncommon good Dat walks at midnight through dis fetched wood. Dis nigger'll never pester hit no mo,' Ef he gits outen it dis time, dat's sho' !

[Knocks.

Ole man ! Ole man ! Come, open dis here do' !

Enter from the Mill, the HERMIT.

HERMIT.

Who or what is it, visits me so late ?

t

DAN.

Hits me, Sir — Dan. You know me, Sir ?

HERMIT.

I think,

Indeed, I know you. Whither do you go, And whence come you, at this untimely hour ?

DAN.

I hain't abroad on my own business, Mahs' ; Niggers don't roam so late widout a pass, And, if dey does, dey don't make midnight ja'nts Through lonesome woods dat's all alive wid ha'nts.

HERMIT.

Tell me, in brief; stand you in need of help, Of food or lodging for the night ? Your wants, In either case, I gladly will supply, For, ''tis my duty, no less than my pleasure, To succor all who stand in need of help, And aid them to the limit of my power.

DAN.

Me and Mas' Flo., we done got los', we is, Fol'rin' a Jack-ma-lanter' through de woods.

HERMIT.

Hither, then, bring your master, whom I know. And any who may be with him. Return,

*

Nor stand thus idly, lest they further stray, And lose themselves yet deeper in the wood.

DAN.

O ! Sir, for pity's sake, don't send me back, Or, (if you does), go wid me ! Hits a fac', In daylight, I'm as brave as any man, But, dis here night has been too much for Dan ; Jack-o'-ma-lanters, fust, and den a witch ; And now, de night's done turned as black as pitch, Like as a storm was comin'. Sir, I know Dere's witches in dese woods — it's sartain, sho' ! If /goes back, for goodness sake, you go !