Last Poems (Housman)/Fancy's Knell

by Alfred Edward Housman

XLI
Fancy's Knell

When lads were home from labour At Abdon under Clee,A man would call his neighbour And both would send for me.And where the light in lances Across the mead was laid,There to the dances I fetched my flute and played.

Ours were idle pleasures, Yet oh, content we were,The young to wind the measures, The old to heed the air;And I to lift with playing From tree and tower and steepThe light delaying, And flute the sun to sleep.

The youth toward his fancy Would turn his brow of tan,And Tom would pair with Nancy And Dick step off with Fan;The girl would lift her glances To his, and both be mute:Well went the dances At evening to the flute.

Wenlock Edge was umbered, And bright was Abdon Burf,And warm between them slumbered The smooth green miles of turf;Until from grass and clover The upshot beam would fade,And England over Advanced the lofty shade.

The lofty shade advances, I fetch my flute and play:Come, lads, and learn the dances And praise the tune to-day. To-morrow, more's the pity, Away we both must hie,To air the ditty, And to earth I.