been my habitation;
And now a child usurps my right,
Sleeping within its heart to-night;
Nor that alone, but dares to view
The mysteries of nature too.
And shall he go, unscath'd, away?
As Privy Counsellor, I say nay!
Else man will learn our secrets dread.
And higher raise his haughty head:
All nature soon would subject be,
Nor place be left us, on land or sea.
E'en now, prophetic, I see the day
When steam exerts resistless sway--
And iron monsters, with breath of flame,
Shall blot from earth the fairy name.
Then to the beasts that throng the wild,
Dread Queen, give up the intruding child!"

At this address, to which the wolves howled a dismal chorus of assent,
all eyes were turned upon the chamber in the ancient oak, in which
Rudolph sat, his heart quaking with terror at the thought of the fate
before him. But a sweet voice, clear and piercing, spoke his name, and
commanded him to descend, fearing nothing if his conscience was pure,
and if he had not obtruded through vain curiosity upon the revels of the
Queen of Fairy Land. Rudolph obeyed. The Queen was standing, with the
ladies of her court ranged on either side. They all were beautiful, but
she was like the brightness of the morning and the freshness of flowers.
Dazzling loveliness distinguished her, and a dignity to which all paid
obeisance. Upon her brow sparkled the evening star, her only diadem. She
gazed mildly, yet searchingly, upon the boy, as if she read his very
thoughts; and then she spoke:

"'Tis true, wise Counsellor, that according to our laws of Fairy Realm,
the child should die; and yet my heart yearns to the innocent, blue-eyed
boy. Does no one have compassion upon him? Have none a plea to offer for
his pardon? I solemnly declare that he shall be saved, were my very
crown and life endangered, if but one act of kindness and mercy shown by
him to weaker creatures, can be proved. For to the kind and merciful,
mercy should ever be shown; this law stands higher than any judicial
enactment."

As she spoke these words, a dove with gentle eyes and downy breast flew
to her feet, and thus timidly offered her prayer:

"I plead for mercy, gracious Queen,
I pray you to forgive!
And if my voice were silent now,
I were not fit to live.
One day, when absent from my nest,
A falcon, fierce and strong,
Se