Classic and Contemporary Poetry
ANNA GREVILLE, COUNTESS TEMPLE, ... POET LAUREATE TO KING OF FAIRIES, by HORACE (HORATIO) WALPOLE Poet's Biography First Line: By these presents, be it known Last Line: The shortest night of the year. Alternate Author Name(s): Orford, 4th Earl Of Variant Title(s): Countess Temple Subject(s): Fairies; Elves | ||||||||
Br these presents, be it known To all who bend before our throne, Fays and Fairies, Elves and Sprites, Beauteous Dames and gallant Knights, That We, Oberon the Grand, Emperor of Fairy Land, King of Moonshine, Prince of Dreams, Lord of Aganippe's streams, Baron of the dimpled isles That lie in pretty maiden's smiles, Arch-Treasurer of all the graces Dispersed through fifty lovely faces, Sovereign of the Flipper's Order With all the rites thereon that border, Defender of the Sylphic Faith, Declare -- and thus your Monarch saith. Whereas there is a noble dame Whom mortals, Countess Temple name, To whom Ourself didst erst impart The choicest secrets of our art, Taught her to tune th' harmonious line To our own melody divine, Taught her the graceful negligence Which, scorning Art and veiling Sense, Achieves that conquest o'er the heart Sense seldom gains; and never Art. This Lady, 'tis our Royal Will Our Laureat's vacant seat should fill. A chaplet of immortal bays Shall crown her brows, and guard her Lays. Of Nectar-Sack an acorn cup Be, at her board, each year, filled up. And as each Quarter Feast comes round, A Silver Penny shall be found Within the compass of her shoe; And so We bid you all, Adieu! Given at our Palace of Cowslip Castle, The shortest night of the year. | Discover our Poem Explanations and Poet Analyses!Other Poems of Interest...THE FAERY FOREST by SARA TEASDALE THE LAND OF HEART'S DESIRE by WILLIAM BUTLER YEATS THE FAIRIES by WILLIAM ALLINGHAM THE FAIRY CHILD by JOHN ANSTER THE FORSAKEN MERMAN by MATTHEW ARNOLD THE LITTLE ELF-MAN by JOHN KENDRICK BANGS TAM O' SHANTER by ROBERT BURNS A BOOK OF AIRS: SONG 19. THE FAIRY QUEEN PROSERPINA by THOMAS CAMPION A PROPER NEW BALLAD [ENTITLED THE FAIRIES' FAREWELL] by RICHARD CORBET EPITAPH ON LADY OSSORY'S BULLFINCH by HORACE (HORATIO) WALPOLE LEFT ON THE DUCHESS OF QUEENSBURY'S TOILET, ... FINDING HER FROM HOME by HORACE (HORATIO) WALPOLE TO LADY ANNE FITZPATRICK, WHEN ABOUT FIVE YEARS OLD by HORACE (HORATIO) WALPOLE |
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