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Home  »  The Oxford Book of English Verse  »  128. Fairy Land ii

Arthur Quiller-Couch, ed. 1919. The Oxford Book of English Verse: 1250–1900.

William Shakespeare. 1564–1616

128. Fairy Land ii

YOU spotted snakes with double tongue, 
  Thorny hedgehogs, be not seen; 
Newts and blind-worms, do no wrong; 
  Come not near our fairy queen. 
 
      Philomel, with melody,         5
      Sing in our sweet lullaby; 
    Lulla, lulla, lullaby; lulla, lulla, lullaby! 
        Never harm, 
        Nor spell nor charm, 
      Come our lovely lady nigh;  10
      So, good night, with lullaby. 
 
Weaving spiders, come not here; 
  Hence, you long-legg’d spinners, hence! 
Beetles black, approach not near; 
  Worm nor snail, do no offence.  15
 
      Philomel, with melody, 
      Sing in our sweet lullaby; 
    Lulla, lulla, lullaby; lulla, lulla, lullaby! 
        Never harm, 
        Nor spell nor charm,  20
      Come our lovely lady nigh; 
      So, good night, with lullaby.