_Inedited Lyric by Felicia Hemans_ (Vol. viii., p. 629.)--A surviving
relative of the authoress in question begs to answer to the correspondent
of "N. & Q." who has produced this lyric from an imperfect MS. original,
that the piece has not remained inedited, but is to be found in the several
complete editions of Mrs. Hemans's works published by Blackwood. The
playful signature of the letter alluded to, as well as the subject of the
lyric, it may be added, was suggested by some conversation respecting the
fanciful creatures of {651} fairy-land, with whose ideal queen the
authoress affected sportively to identify herself, and hence signed the
little poem, produced rather as a _jeu d'esprit_ than anything else, "Mab."
In its subsequently corrected form, as admitted in the editions of her
works, it is here subjoined:
_Water Lilies: A Fairy Song._
"Come away, Elves! while the dew is sweet,
Come to the dingles where fairies meet;
Know that the lilies have spread their bells
O'er all the pools in our forest dells;
Stilly and lightly their vases rest
On the quivering sleep of the water's breast,
Catching the sunshine through the leaves that throw
To their scented bosoms an emerald glow;
And a star from the depths of each pearly cup,
A golden star, unto heav'n looks up,
As if seeking its kindred where bright they lie,
Set in the blue of the summer sky.
Come away, under arching boughs we'll float,
Making those urns each a fairy boat;
We'll row them with reeds o'er the fountains free,
And a tall flag-leaf shall our streamer be.
And we'll send out wild music so sweet and low,
It shall seem from the bright flower's heart to flow;
As if 'twere a breeze with a flute's low sigh,
Or water-drops train'd into melody,
Come away! for the midsummer sun grows strong,
And the life of the lily may not be long."