And Fairy-like to pinch the unclean Knight,
And ask him why that hour of fairy revel
In their so sacred paths he dares to tread.
Fig. 41.—From Les Filigranes (Briquet, C. M.).
Fig. 42.—British. From A New Description of England and Wales (Anon., 1724).
The White May or Hawthorn which was so dear to the Elves was probably the symbol of that chastity and cleanliness which was proverbially an Elphin attribute. It is, for instance, said of Sir Thopas, when questing for the Fairy Queen, that—
... he was chaste and no lechour
And sweet as is the bramble flower,