The grashopper, gnat, and fly,
Serve for our minstrelsie;
Grace said, we dance a while,
And so the time beguile; 40
And if the moon doth hide her head,
The gloe-worm lights us home to bed.
On tops of dewie grasse
So nimbly do we passe,
The young and tender stalk 45
Ne'er bends when we do walk:
Yet in the morning may be seen
Where we the night before have been.
FOOTNOTES:
[419] [Puck's speech in Midsummer Night's Dream (act v. sc. 2)—
"I am sent with broom before
To sweep the dust behind the door,"
illustrates the delight of the fairies in cleanliness, which is dwelt upon in this and the following song.]
[420] [tester or teston=sixpence.]
[421] [best kind of white bread.]