Canto XXVI

In fairyland the winter is not known.
They live in everlasting springtide's zone;
No sunrise and no sunset has the day
Eternal dawn's soft scarlet hues at play.

The fays and fairies in enduring jog
Live lives which ills or death can not destroy.
They need no food, theirs is a ceaseless bliss
They only feed on love's inspiring kiss.

The grief here never weeps, it might be though
That joy makes now and then a tear to flow;
And if such joyful tear drops to the earth
It gives down there to a bright -diamond birth.

Blonde fairy maids a single yellow hair

Of theirs draw right across the earth, and there
These hairs become veins of that precious gold
Which greedy men as sources of joy hold.

The fairy children weave from beams of eyes
Of fairy maids the rainbows for the skies.
When of sufficient length, then from their home
Are taken to adorn fair heaven's dome.

The fairies have a couch of rose and vine,
Inebriate with joy thereon recline.
The perfumed zephyrs which soothingly blow,
Sweet slumbers bring to fairy fay and beau.

The fairest scene which mortal ever dreams,
Approaches not the splendor which here gleams.
When man the first time kisses maiden sweet:
Then in his dream he might like radiance greet.