.

John-dories came tripping;
Dull hake, by their skipping,
To frisk it seem'd given;
Bright mackrel went springing,
Like small rainbows winging
Their flight up to heaven.

The whiting and haddock
Left salt water paddock
This dance to be put in;
Where skate with flat faces
Edged out some old plaices;
But soles kept their footing.

Sprats and herrings in powers
Of silvery showers
All number out-numbered;
And great ling so lengthy
Was there in such plenty
The shore was encumber'd.

The scollop and oyster
Their two shells did roister,
Like castanets flitting;
While limpets moved clearly,
And rocks very nearly
With laughter were splitting.

Never was such a hullabullo in this world, before or since; 'twas as if
heaven and earth were coming together; and all out of Maurice Connor's
wonderful tune!

In the height of all these doings, what should there be dancing among
the outlandish set of fishes but a beautiful young woman--as beautiful
as the dawn of day! She had a cocked hat upon her head; from under it
her long green hair--just the colour of the sea--fell down behind,
without hindrance to her dancing. Her teeth were like rows of pearls;
her lips for all the world looked like red coral; and she had a shining
gown pale green as the hollow of the wave, with little rows of purple
and red seaweeds settled out upon it; for you never yet saw a lady,
under the water or over the water, who had not a good notion of dressing
herself out.

Up she danced as last to Maurice, who was flinging his feet from under
him as fast as hops--for nothing in this world could keep still while
that tune of his was going on--and says she to him, chanting it out with
a voice as sweet as honey:

I'm a lady of honour
Who live in the sea;
Come down, Maurice Connor,
And be married to me.
Silver plates and gold dishes
You shall have, and shall be
The king of the fishes,
When you're married to me.

Drink was strong in Maurice's head, and out he chanted in return for her
great civility. It is not every lady, may-be, that would be after making
such an offer to a blind piper; therefore 'twas only right in him to
give her as good as she gave herself, so says Maurice:

I'm obliged to you, madam:
Off a gold dish or plate,
If a king, and I had 'em,
I could dine in g