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ON FAIRIES.
to set a boll of milke before 'Incubus,' and his cousine Robin Good-fellow, for grinding of malt or mustard, and sweeping the house at midnight; and you have also heard that he would chafe exceedingly, if the maid or good-wife of the house, having compassion of his nakednes, laid anie clothes for him, beesides his messe of white bread and milke, which was his standing fee. For in that case he saith, What have we here?
Robin is thus characterised, in the Midsummer nights dream, by a female fairy:
"Either I mistake your shape and making quite,Or else you are that shrewd and knavish spriteCall'd Robin Good-fellow; are you not heThat fright the maidens of the villagery,Skim milk; and sometimes labour in the quern,And bootless make the breathless housewife churn;And sometime make the drink to bear ne barm,Mislead night-wanderers, laughing at their harm.Those that Hob-goblin call you and sweet Puck,[2]You do their work, and they shall have good luck."
To these questions Robin thus replies:
"Thou speak'st aright,I am that merry wanderer of the night.
