THE ELIZABETHAN FAIRIES

198 THE FAIRIES OF SHAKESPEARE
. . . the light Fairies daunst vpon the flowers,
Hanging on euery leafe an orient pearle,
Which strooke together with the silken winde,
Of their loose mantels made a siluer chime.l16
The author of The Maydes Metamorphosis of 1600 11'
" As it hath bene sundrie times Acted by the Children of
Powles," designates the train of fairies again and again
by the adjective, little. They are " little vrchins " 'I8
who trip " Lightly as the little Bee " 'I9 to " Most daintie
musicke." 120 Their names are " Penny, Cricket, and
little, little Pricke," 121 and their concerns are with dew-
drops, flies and flowers :
I FAY. I do come about the coppes
Leaping vpon flowers toppes ;
Then I get vpon a Flie,
Shee carries me aboue the skie,
And trip and goe.
2 FAY. When a deaw drop falleth downe
And doth light vpon my crowne,
Then I shake my head and skip
And about I trip.
3 FAY. When I feele a girle a sleepe
Vnderneath her frock I peepe.
There to sport, and there I play,
Then I byte her like a flea;
And about I skip.122
The most interesting example of the irresistible charm
of the figures of the fairies of A Midsummer Night's
116 Act 111, 11. 349-352.
117 S. R., 1600.
"'Act 11, 1. 304.
'ls Act 11, 1. 305.
120 Act 11, 1. 313.
121 Act 11, 11. 22, 25, 28.
lZ2
Song, Act 11.