Mythology & Folklore

Song of Fairies Robbing an Orchard

by Leigh Hunt 1784–1859

Translated by Leigh Hunt (1857) · From The Poetical Works of Leigh Hunt (1857)

Mythology & Folklore

We the Fairies, blithe and antic.
Of dimensions not gigantic,
Though the moonshine mostly keep us,
Oft in orchards frisk and peep us.

Stolen sweets are always sweeter,
Stolen kisses much completer.
Stolen looks are nice in chapels.
Stolen, stolen be your apples.

When to bed the world are bobbing,
Then 's the time for orchard robbing ;
Yet the fruit were scarce worth peeling
Were it not for stealing, stealing.

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Leigh Hunt's version of Latin verses in the old English drama Amyntas, or the Impossible Dowry (Randolph).

MLA

Hunt, Leigh. “Song of Fairies Robbing an Orchard.” Translated by Leigh Hunt. Poetry Codex, poetrycodex.com/poem/hunt/81/.

Chicago

Hunt, Leigh. “Song of Fairies Robbing an Orchard.” Translated by Leigh Hunt. Poetry Codex. https://poetrycodex.com/poem/hunt/81/.

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