Social Commentaries

The Fairy Queen’s Song

by W. S. Gilbert 1836–1911

From Songs of a Savoyard (1920 Macmillan Bab Ballads edition)

Social Commentaries

Oh, foolish fay,
Think you because
Man’s brave array
My bosom thaws
I’d disobey
Our fairy laws?
Because I fly
In realms above,
In tendency
To fall in love
Resemble I
The amorous dove?

Oh, amorous dove!
Type of Ovidius Naso!
This heart of mine
Is soft as thine,
Although I dare not say so!

On fire that glows
With heat intense
I turn the hose
Of Common Sense,
And out it goes
At small expense!
We must maintain
Our fairy law;
That is the main
On which to draw—
In that we gain
A Captain Shaw.

Oh, Captain Shaw!
Type of true love kept under!
Could thy Brigade
With cold cascade
Quench my great love, I wonder!

MLA

Gilbert, W. S. “The Fairy Queen’s Song.” Poetry Codex, poetrycodex.com/poem/gilbert/5/.

Chicago

Gilbert, W. S. “The Fairy Queen’s Song.” Poetry Codex. https://poetrycodex.com/poem/gilbert/5/.

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