The last fairy

There was a voice heard on the fell,

Crying so sadly, "All are gone,

And I must bid this earth farewell;

Oh why should I stay here alone?

Ealie, ealie, oh farewell!

*"I've sought the brake, I've sought the hill,

The haunted glen and swelling river;

I've sought the fountain, and the rill,

And all are left, and left for ever.

Ealie, ealie, oh farewell!

"Where'er the sunbeam tints the spray,

That rises o'er the falling waters,

I've needless, roamed the livelong day,

In search of some of Faerie's daughters.

Ealie, ealie, oh farewell!

Each heather bell, each budding flower,

That blooms in wold, or grassy lea,

Each bosky shaw, each leafy bower,

Is tenantless by all, save me.

Ealie, ealie, oh farewell!

*"No more now, through the moonlit night,

With tinkling bells, and sounds of mirth,

We hie, and scare the peasant wight,

With strains by far too sweet for earth,

Ealie, ealie, oh farewell!

*"The new-made mother need not fear

To leave ajar the cottage door;

Alas! we never shall come near,

To change the mortal's infant more.

Ealie, ealie, oh farewell!

"No more, when as the eddying wind

Shall whirl the autumn leaves in air,

Shall there be dread, that elfin fiend,

Or troop of wandering fays are there.

Ealie, ealie, oh farewell!

"In palaces beneath the lake,

Within the rock, or grassy hill,

No more the sounds of mirth we make,

But all are silent, sad, and still.

Ealie, ealie, oh farewell!

"Farewell the ring, where through the dance,

In winding maze, we deftly flew,

Whilst flowing hair, and dress, would glance

With sparkling gems of moonlit dew.

Ealie, ealie, oh farewell!

"We were ere mortals had their birth,

And long have watched their growing day;

The light now beams upon the earth,

And warns us that we must away.

Ealie, ealie, oh farewell!

*"Oh where are Thor and Woden now?

Where Elfin sprite and Duergar gone?

The great are fallen; we needs must bow,

I may not stay, not even alone.

Ealie, ealie, oh farewell!

"Ah me, the wandering summer breeze

Shall bear our sighs, where'er it goes,

Or floating 'mid the leafy trees,

Or stealing odours from the rose.

Ealie, ealie, oh farewell!

"These sighs, unknown shall touch the heart

And with a secret language speak;

To joy a soothing care impart;

Add tears to smiles on beauty's cheek.

Ealie, ealie, oh farewell!

"Farewell, farewell, for I must go

To other realms, to other spheres;

This mortal earth I leave with wo,

With grief, with wailing, and with tears."

Ealie, ealie, oh farewell!