Are freest and fondest when all by themselves.

No thought had they that in after time,

The Muse would echo their deeds in rhyme;

So gayly doffing light stocking and shoe,

They tripped o'er the meadow all dappled in dew.

III.

I could tell, if I would, some right merry tales,

Of unslippered fairies that danced in the vales—

But the lovers of scandal I leave in the lurch—

And, beside, these elves don't belong to the church.