Over hill, over dale, thorough bush, thorough brier, over park, over pale, though flood, thorough fire.
I do wander everywhere,swifter than the moon's sphere; and I serve the Fairy Queen to dew her orbs upon the green
The cowslips tall her pensioners be; in their gold coats spots you see, those be rubies, fairy favors: in those freckles live their savors.
I must go seek some dewdrops here, and hang a pearl in every cowslip's ear. Farewell, thou lob of spirits; I'll be gone.Our Queen and all her elves come here anon.
The King doth keep his revels here tonight. Take heed the Queen come not within his sight, for Oberon is passing fell and wrathbecause that she, as her attendant, hath a lovely boy stolen from an Indian king.
And now they never meet in grove or green,By fountain clear, or spangled starlight sheen,But they do square, that all their elves for fearCreep into acorn cups and hide them there.
She never had so sweet a changeling, and jealous Oberon would have the childKnight of his train, to trace the forests wild, but she perforce withholds the lovèd boy, crowns him with flowers and makes him all her joy.
Either I mistake your shape and making quite,or else you are that shrewd and knavish sprite called Robin Goodfellow.
Are not you he that frights the maidens of the villag’ry, skim milk, and sometimes labor in the quern, and bootless make the breathless housewife churn, and sometime make the drink to bear no barm
Thou speak'st aright;I am that merry wanderer of the night. I jest to Oberon and make him smile when I a fat and bean-fed horse beguile,Neighing in likeness of a filly foal.