THE NIXES’ SONG.

Vague, vague‘ neath darkling waves,

With emerald-curving caves

For the arched skies,

Red-walled with dark dull gold

The Nixes’ city old

Deep-glimmering lies.

And thro’ the long green nights the spangling spars

Twinkle like milky stars.

Where the wind-ripple plays

On tufts of dipping sprays

Sparkling we rock;

With blooming fingers bare

Comb down our golden hair

In many a lock;

While, poured o'er naked ease of cool, moist limbs,

An amber glamour swims.

Or in the middle night

When cold damp fire-flies light

Pale flitting brands

Down all the woodland aisles,

With swift mysterious smiles

Link we white hands,

And where the moonlight haunts the drowsy lake

Bask in its silver wake.

Come join, come join our dance

While the warm starbeams glance,

And the kind moon

Spills all her flowers of light

At the dark feet of Night,

And soon, full soon,

Thou'lt sleep in shadowy halls where dim and cold

Our city's walled with gold.