The Fairy

'Come hither, my sparrows,
My little arrows.
If a tear or a smile
Will a man beguile,

If an amorous delay
Clouds a sunshiny day,
If the step of a foot
Smites the heart to its root,

'Tis the marriage ring —
Makes each fairy a king.'
So a fairy sung.
From the leaves I sprung;

He leap'd from the spray
To flee away;
But in my hat caught,
He soon shall be taught.

Let him laugh, let him cry,
He's my butterfly;
For I've pulled out the sting
Of the marriage ring.