102
NYMPHIDIA.
Quoth Puck, My liege, I'll never lin,But I will thorough thick and thin,Until at length I bring her in, My dearest lord, ne'er doubt it.Thorough brake, thorough brier,Thorough muck, thorough mier,Thorough water, thorough fier, And thus goes Puck about it.
This thing Nymphidia overhear'd,That on this mad king had a guard,Not doubting of a great reward, For first this bus'ness broaching:And through the air away doth go,Swift as an arrow from the bow,To let her sovereign Mab to know What peril was approaching.
The queen, bound with loves pow'rful'st charm,Sate with Pigwiggen arm in arm;Her merry maids, that thought no harm, About the room were skipping:A humble-bee, their minstrel, play'dUpon his hautbois, ev'ry maid,Fit for this revel, was array'd, The hornpipe neatly tripping.
