"Her guardian dwelt abroad, and left
    His brother's lonely child
Yearning for friends till fairy love
    Bloom'd o'er the human wild.

"For, pleased to fill the wistful heart,
    Her unseen guest by day
Kiss'd the white lids at eve, and then
    In sleep she saw the fay;

"And roam'd through Fairy Land, and pluck'd
    Its beamy fruits at will,
In rippling crystal bathed her feet
    At ev'ry charméd rill.

"And floated her small hands in light
    'Neath each pure blossom's bell,
Whence a delicious melody
    Did tremulously well.

"With shimmering mists, and melting hues,
    And glancing joyous throng,
The marv'lous land seem'd only made
    Of odour, light, and song.

"Its wild'ring beauty steep'd her soul
    In ecstacy so deep,
Though pleasant was the day, she lived
    Her real life in sleep.

"Alone no more; the fay, she knew,
    Haunted her plant unseen;
Nought else could give its shadowing moss
    That glow of elfin green.

"E'en as it grew, each flushing flower
    Was touch'd with fairy bloom,
And the sprite answer'd while she talk'd
    With wreathings of perfume.

"But now the maiden's spirit thrill'd
    To human interest:
Compassion, like a pulse of Heaven,
    Stirr'd in the childish breast.

"For, on a couch that fill'd each morn
    The window o'er the way,
Lay a pale lady, grey and worn,
    In patient pain all day.

"A widow, for whose daily wants
    Toil'd hard her stripling son,
An unknown painter, whose bright hopes
    Died round him, one by one.

"A long and thoughtful gaze the child
    On her sweet rose-tree cast,
Till o'er the tearful smiling face
    A bright heart-rainbow pass'd.

"A tender trembling radiance lit
    The pitiful dark eye,
The soft mouth o'er the roses breathed,
    'Sweet fairy-world, good-bye!'

"The dimpled hands gave ev'ry leaf
    A last caressing touch,
Then it was borne, a precious gift,
    To the sick lady's couch.

"For, O, to watch its lovely growth
    Would pass the heavy day,
To feel the breath of living flowers
    Waft o'er her as she lay.

"Then that rich dream-life ev'ry night,
    To move and feel no pain:
Yea, she might find a fairy charm
    To give her health again.

"The grave son wept; the mother's lips
    That o'er the roses smiled
Shower'd kisses on the lovelier flower,
    The earnest blushing child."

Again the merry fairy-shout
    Arose with silv'ry sound,
For joy that such a loving heart
    Beat over earthly ground.

IV.

"That night the eager, hopeful fay
    Sped on her journey fleet,
And one red rose from Una's tree
    Laid at her sov'reign's feet.

"For well she knew, of such rare flowers,
    Her wreath an angel weaves,
The life-blood clear of charity
    Deepen'd its crimson leaves.

"To spirit senses, from its heart
    A subtle essence sprung,
And a celestial glory e'en
    O'er magic hues it flung.

"A tear it caught from Una's eye
    Was harden'd to a gem,
That lighted with its crystal lamp
    The royal diadem.

"The fairy power of deathless bloom
    Through the prized flower was sent,
And it became for ever more
    The queen's most sacred tent.

"'Thou hast thy freedom, faithful slave.'
    The fairy droop'd her head:
She loved a poet-fay that pined
    A freer life to lead.

"The gentle heart, she pray'd the queen
    His fetter first to break."
The fairies to each other smiled,
    For of himself he spake.

"'Take, then, thy wish of magic charm:
    Say what thy gift shall be?'
'A spell to make the child's fresh mind
    The mystic beauty see

"'That hides in all things like a soul.'
    'That this doth work her weal
Bring me sure token, thou shall win
    Thy freedom by thy zeal.'

V.

"But now beside the bed of pain
    Was Una's daily place;
Her presence like a freshening breeze
    Brighten'd the weary face.

"With childhood's blithesome changefulness,
    She laugh'd, and talk'd, and sung,
But many a holy lesson learnt
    From that pale lady's tongue.