Fairy

"No offence.-- The King your Father was a man of sense, A handsome man (but lived not to be old) And had a Nose cast in the common mould. Ev'n I myself, that now with age am grey, Was thought to have some beauty in my day, And am the Daughter of a King. Your sire In this poor face saw something to admire-- And I to shew my gratitude made shift-- Have stood his friend--and help'd him at a lift-- 'Twas I that, when his hopes began to fail, Shew'd him the spell that lurk'd in Minon's tail-- Perhaps you have heard--but come, Sir, you don't eat-- That Nose of yours requires both wine and meat-- Fall to, and welcome, without more ado-- You see your fare--what shall I help you to? This dish the tongues of nightingales contains; This, eyes of peacocks; and that, linnets' brains; That next you is a Bird of Paradise-- We fairies in our food are somewhat nice.-- And pray, Sir, while your hunger is supplied, Do lean your Nose a little on one side; The shadow, which it casts upon the meat, Darkens my plate, I see not what I eat "--

The Prince on dainty after dainty feeding, Felt inly shock'd at the old Fairy's breeding; And held it want of manners in the Dame, And did her country education blame. One thing he only wonder'd at,--what she So very comic in his nose could see. Hers, it must be confest, was somewhat short, And time and shrinking age accounted for't; But for his own, thank heaven, he could not tell That it was ever thought remarkable; A decent nose, of reasonable size, And handsome thought, rather than otherwise. But that which most of all his wonder paid, Was to observe the Fairy's waiting Maid; How at each word the aged Dame let fall She courtsied low, and smil'd assent to all; But chiefly when the rev'rend Grannam told Of conquests, which her beauty made of old.-- He smiled to see how Flattery sway'd the Dame, Nor knew himself was open to the same! He finds her raillery now increase so fast, That making hasty end of his repast, Glad to escape her tongue, he bids farewell To the old Fairy, and her friendly cell.

But his kind Hostess, who had vainly tried The force of ridicule to cure his pride, Fertile in plans, a surer method chose, To make him see the error of his nose; For till he view'd that feature with remorse, The Enchanter's direful spell must be in force.

Midway the road by which the Prince must pass, She rais'd by magic art a House of Glass; No mason's hand appear'd, nor work of wood; Compact of glass the wondrous fabric stood. Its stately pillars, glittering in the sun, Conspicuous from afar, like silver, shone. Here, snatch'd and rescued from th' Enchanter's might, She placed the beauteous Claribel in sight. The admiring Prince the chrystal dome survey'd, And sought access unto his lovely Maid; But, strange to tell, in all that mansion's bound, Nor door, nor casement, was there to be found. Enrag'd, he took up massy stones, and flung With such a force, that all the palace rung; But made no more impression on the glass, Than if the solid structure had been brass. To comfort his despair, the lovely maid Her snowy hand against her window laid; But when with eager haste he thought to kiss, His Nose stood out, and robb'd him of the bliss. Thrice he essay'd th' impracticable feat; The window and his lips can never meet.

The painful Truth, which Flattery long conceal'd, Rush'd on his mind, and "O!" he cried, "I yield; Wisest of Fairies, thou wert right, I wrong-- I own, I own, I have a Nose too long."

The frank confession was no sooner spoke, But into shivers all the palace broke, His Nose of monstrous length, to his surprise Shrunk to the limits of a common size; And Claribel with joy her Lover view'd, Now grown as beautiful as he was good. The aged Fairy in their presence stands, Confirms their mutual vows, and joins their hands. The Prince with rapture hails the happy hour, That rescued him from self-delusion's power; And trains of blessings crown the future life Of Dorus, and of Claribel, his wife.