Fancy’s Knell

by A. E. Housman

    When lads were home from labour
    At Abdon under Clee,
    A man would call his neighbor
    And both would send for me.
    And where the light in lances
    Across the mead was laid,
    There to the dances
    I fetched my flute and played.

    Ours were idle pleasures,
    Yet oh, content we were,
    The young to wind the measures,
    The old to heed the air;
    And I to lift with playing
    From tree and tower and steep
    The light delaying,
    And flute the sun to sleep.

    The youth toward his fancy
    Would turn his brow of tan,
    And Tom would pair with Nancy
    And Dick step off with Fan;
    The girl would lift her glances
    To his, and both be mute:
    Well went the dances
    At evening to the flute.

    Wenlock Edge was umbered,
    And bright was Abdon Burf,
    And warm between them slumbered
    The smooth green miles of turf;
    Until from grass and clover
    The upshot beam would fade,
    And England over
    Advanced the lofty shade.

    The lofty shade advances,
    I fetch my flute and play:
    Come, lads, and learn the dances
    And praise the tune to-day.
    To-morrow, more’s the pity,
    Away we both must hie,
    To air the ditty,
    And to earth I.