I
There were Faeries two or three,
And a high moon white as wool,
Or a bloom in Faery,
Where the star-thick blossoms be
Star-like beautiful.
II
There were Faeries two or three,
And a wind as fragrant as
Spicy wafts from Arcady
Rocked the sleeping honey bee
In the clover grass.
III
There were Faeries two or three,
Wee white caps and red wee shoon,
Buckles at each dainty knee,
"We are come to comfort thee,
With the silver moon."
IV
There were Faeries two or three,
Buttercups brimmed up with dew,
Winning faces sweet to see,
Then mine eyes closed heavily:
"Faeries, what would you?"
V
There were Faeries two or three,
And my babe was dreaming deep,
White as whitest ivory,
In its crib of ebony
Rocked and crooned on sleep.
VI
There were Faeries two or three
Standing in the mocking moon,
And mine eyes closed drowsily,
Drowsily and suddenly
There my babe was gone.
VII
Now no Faeries two or three
Loitered in the moon alone;
Jesu, Marie, comfort me!
What is this instead I see—
Ugly skin and bone.
VIII
There were Faeries two or three
Stood with buckles on red shoon,
But with evil sorcery
My sweet babe to Faery
They did steal right soon.