On Heroes: A Foible

  Sample Story from ‘Over the Hills and Far Away:’

  ‘Over the hills and far away,’

  thither lies the land of Fey,

  Of wandering brook and woodland glade,

  Golden meads and dappled shade.

  Where evening star is guide and stay

  And in the vales, mist doth play.

  Dryad, pixie, gnome dwell there,

  Griffons lurk and dragons lair.

  Songs of old live on there still,

  Legend treads on plain and hill.

  Beasts that talk and trees that sing,

  The poor be rich, a peasant King.

  If that land, you would gain,

  Take a child in your train,

  Let him lead you by the hand,

  And you will reach that far, fair land.

  ~Over the Hills and Far Away~

  Up the airy mountains,

  Down the rushy glen,

  We daren’t go a-hunting

  For fear of little men;

  Wee folk, good folk,

  Trooping all together;

  Green jacket, red cap,

  And white owl’s feather!

  ~William Allingham, ‘The Fairies’~