Fairy Tales, Now First Collected/Tale 20
TALE XX.
THE MOTHER, THE NURSE, AND THE FAIRY.
Give me a son. The blessing sent,Were ever parents more content?How partial are their doating eyes!No child is half so fair and wise. Wak'd to the mornings pleasing care,The mother rose, and sought her heir.She saw the nurse, like one possess'd,With wringing hands, and sobbing breast. Sure some disaster has befel:Speak, nurse; I hope the boy is well. Dear madam, think me not to blame;Invisible the fairy came:Your precious babe is hence convey'd,And in the place a changeling laid.Where are the fathers mouth and nose? .The mothers eyes, as black as sloes?See here, a shocking awkward creature,That speaks a fool in every feature. The woman's blind, the mother cries;I see wit sparkle in his eyes.Lord! madam, what a squinting leer!No doubt the fairy hath been here. Just as she spoke, a pigmy spritePops through the key-hole, swift as light;Perch'd on the cradles top he stands,And thus her folly reprimands. Whence sprung the vain, conceited lie,That we the world with fools supply?What! give our sprightly race away,For the dull helpless sons of clay!Besides, by partial fondness shown,Like you we doat upon our own.Where yet was ever found a mother,Who'd give her booby for another?And should we change with human breed,Well night we pass for fools indeed.[1]