Ægle and the elf, a fantasy

*** START OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK 69842 *** [Illustration: ÆGLE AND THE ELF] [Illustration: J. B. LIPPINCOTT COMPANY STEREOTYPERS AND PRINTERS] [Illustration] ÆGLE AND THE ELF. A FANTASY. BY M. B. M. TOLAND, AUTHOR OF “SIR RAE,” “IRIS,” “ONTI ORA,” “THE INCA PRINCESS,” ETC. ILLUSTRATED WITH PHOTOGRAVURES OF ORIGINAL DRAWINGS BY EMINENT ARTISTS. PHILADELPHIA: J. B. LIPPINCOTT COMPANY. LONDON: 10 HENRIETTA STREET, COVENT GARDEN. 1887. COPYRIGHT, 1886, BY J. B. LIPPINCOTT COMPANY. [Illustration: DESIGNS.] [Illustration: LIST OF DRAWINGS] THE NYMPH’S CAVERNED CELL _Frontispiece._ _Modelled by Theodor Baur._ THE MOONBEAMS WERE LIGHTING THE WATERY WAY PAGE 13 _Drawn by Wm. St. John Harper._ THE LOVELY YOUNG NAIADS WERE SWAYING THE TREE 17 _Drawn by H. Siddons Mowbray._ WHEN LO! A FAIR VISION AROSE ON THE TIDE 21 _Drawn by F. S. Church._ SURPRISING A YOUNG WOODLAND ELF 25 _Drawn by F. S. Church._ ON A TREE-TOP HE SAT, WITH A QUIZZICAL FACE 29 _Drawn by W. Hamilton Gibson._ SEEMED WAVING HER FORM FROM HIS SIGHT 33 _Drawn by Wm. St. John Harper._ THREE LOVELY YOUNG NAIADS AROSE ON THE TIDE 37 _Drawn by S. W. Van Schaick._ HE BLINDLY PLUNGED INTO THE TIDE 41 _Drawn by H. Siddons Mowbray._ THE NAIADS HAD VANISHED LIKE FLASHES OF LIGHT 45 _Drawn by Jessie Shepherd._ “YOUNG ELFIN, THYSELF IN THY ELEMENT KEEP!” 49 _Drawn by Jessie Shepherd._ ALL DRIPPING AND SKIPPING HE O’ER THE BANK SPED 53 _Drawn by W. Hamilton Gibson._ I SUDDENLY WOKE FROM MY NAP BY THE STREAM 57 _Drawn by Wm. St. John Harper._ DECORATIVE DESIGNS. _Drawn by René T. Quelin._ [Illustration: ÆGLE The moonbeams were lighting the watery way, That rimpled And dimpled,— The Nymphs were at play; ] [Illustration] [Illustration: ’Neath willows whose branches were kissing the stream So lightly And brightly, It almost would seem The lovely young Naiads were swaying the tree, To lash it And dash it, In frolicking glee. ] [Illustration] [Illustration: I rested my oars on my frail little boat, Still gliding, Dividing The cresses afloat. When lo! a fair vision arose on the tide; A maiden All laden With lilies to hide ] [Illustration] [Illustration: Her love-dimpled blushes from glances too bold; A daughter Of water, Like Venus of old. She stood for one moment admiring herself; Uprising, Surprising A young woodland Elf, ] [Illustration] [Illustration: Who left his own forest in mirth-loving glee, To ramble And gambol In wild ecstasy. On a tree-top he sat, with a quizzical face, Ne’er tiring Admiring The beauty and grace ] [Illustration] [Illustration: Of Ægle, who saw, mirrored close by her side, The young Elf By herself Impressed on the tide. She instantly sank amid ripples of light, That, laving, Seemed waving Her form from his sight. ] [Illustration] [Illustration: Three lovely young Naiads arose on the tide, While swimming Were trimming And drawing aside A budding branch, cedar, that shaded so well, Reposing, And closing The Nymph’s caverned cell. ] [Illustration] [Illustration: So charming she looked in her fairy-queen pride, And kindly, He blindly Plunged into the tide. The water was instantly lashed into spray; Half drowning, And frowning, The Elf got away. ] [Illustration] [Illustration: The Naiads had vanished like flashes of light; No daughter Of water Condoled his sad plight. But ripples of laughter were heard everywhere, With singing And ringing Of fairy-bells there. ] [Illustration] [Illustration: The echoes trilled back from the grottos down deep, “Young Elfin, Thyself in Thy element keep!” Then home to his wild-wood returned the young Elf Most gladly, Though madly, While drying himself. ] [Illustration] [Illustration: He plumed his gay cap on his queer little head, All dripping And skipping He o’er the bank sped. ] [Illustration] [Illustration: I suddenly woke from my nap by the stream, Astounded! Confounded! Behold! ’Twas a dream. ] [Illustration] *** END OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK 69842 ***