Sir Charles2into3 my chamber coming in
When I was writing of my4 Fairy Queen,
“I pray,” said he, “when Queen Mab you do see,
Present my service to her Majesty,
And tell her I have heard Fame’s loud report, 5
Both of her beauty and her stately court.”
When I Queen Mab within my fancy viewed,
My thoughts bowed low, fearing I should be rude,
Kissing her garment thin, which fancy made,
Kneeling upon a thought, like one that prayed. 10
And then in5 whispers soft I did present
His humble service, which in mirth was sent.
Thus by imagination I have been
In Fairy Court, and seen the Fairy Queen,
For why imagination runs about 15
In every place, yet6 none can trace it out.
The nerves are France, and Italy, and Spain;
The liver, Brit’n;8 the narrow seas, the veins;9
The spleen is Ethiopia, wherein10
Is bred a peopl’of11 black and tawny skin;
The stomach, Egypt; the chylus, Nile, that flows12 5
Quite through the body, by which it fruitful grows.13
The heart and head, East and West Indies are;14
The South and Northern Pole is either ear.15
The lungs are rocks and caverns, whence rise winds,
Where16 life which passes through great danger finds. 10
The art’ries18 are the ocean deep and wide,
The blood the sea, which ebbs and flows in tide,
The nerves, the19 continent they travel through;
Muscles are cities, which20 they traffic to.
When they keep22 peace, and all do well agree,
Then is commerce in every kingdom free,
And through the nerves they travel without fear;
There are no thieves to rob them of their ware.
Those23 wares are several touches which they bring 5
Unto the senses, which24 buy everything.
But to the muscles they do much25 recourse,
For in those kingdoms trading hath great force,
Which kingdoms always26 join by two and two,
That they with ease may27 pass and repass through. 10
Sometimes these animal creatures, when they29 jar,
Then all their kingdoms rise up into30 war,
And when they fight we cramps,31 convulsions feel,
Gouts in our32 toes, and chilblains in our33 heel.
Those spirits which we animal do call
May men and women be, and creatures small,
And may the body into kingdoms wide34—
As muscles, nerves, veins, arteries—divide.35
The head and heart, East and West Indies be, 5
Which through the veins may traffic, as the sea;
In fevers may by shipwreck many die,36
For when the blood is hot, and vapors high37
Do rise, as waves they toss, and when they38 hit
Against rocks of obstructions, life doth39 split. 10
I’th’head, th’East Indies,40 spicy fancy grows;41
From oranges and lemons sharp satyr flows;42
I’th’heart,43 the West, where heat the blood refines,
The blood’s like gold, the heart like silver44 mines.
Those from the head, in ships their spice they fetch,45 15
And from the heart, the gold and silver rich.46
When we have pious thoughts and think of heaven,
Yet go about, not ask to be forgiven,
Perchance they’re47 preaching, or a chapter saying,
Or on their knees they are devoutly48 praying.
When we are sad, and know no reason why, 5
Perchance it is because some there do die,
And some place may i’th’head be49 hung with black,
Which makes us dull, yet know not what we lack.
Our fancies which in verse or prose we put
May pictures be, which they do draw or50 cut, 10
And when these fancies fine and thin do show,51
They may be graven in seal, for ought we know.52
When we have cross53 opinions in the mind,
Then we may them in schools disputing54 find.
When we of childish toys do think, a fair55 15
May be i’th’brain, where crowds of fairies are,56
And in each stall57 may all such knacks be sold,
As rattles, bells, or bracelets made58 of gold;
Pins, whistles, and the like may59 be bought there,
And thus within the head may be a fair. 20
And when60 our brain with amorous thoughts is stayed,61
Perhaps there is a bride and bridegroom made,62
And when our thoughts are merry, humours63 gay,
There may be64 dancing on their wedding day.
The city is the brain, encompassed in66
Double walls (dura mater, pia mater thin);67
It’s trenchèd round about with a thick skull,68
And faced without with wondrous art and skill.69
The forehead is the fort, which is built70 high, 5
And for the sentinels is either71 eye.
And that same72 place where memory lies73 in,
Is great King Oberon his magazine.74
The marketplace, the mouth; when full, begun
Is market day; when empty, market’s done. 10
The city conduit, where the water flows,
Is with75 two spouts, the nostrils of the nose,
And when these watery spouts are not stopped close,76
Then we do say it is a cold or pose.77
The gates are78 the two ears; when deaf they are, 15
Then those two city gates the fairies79 bar.
This city’s governed as most cities be,
By aldermen, and so by mayoralty.
And Ob’ron80 King dwells never anywhere
But in a royal head, whose court is there, 20
Which is the kernel of the brain; if seen,
We there might view him and his beauteous queen.
Sure that’s their court, and there they sit in state,
And noble lords and ladies on them wait.
Who knows, but that in every82 brain may dwell
Those creatures we call83 fairies—who can tell?
And by their several actions they may make84
Those forms and figures we for fancy take.85
And when we sleep, those visions dreams we call 5
May by their industry86 be raisèd all,
And all the objects which through senses get,
Within the brain they may in order set,
And some pack up, as merchants do each thing,87
Which they88 sometimes may to the mem’ry89 bring. 10
And thus,90 besides our own imaginations,
May fairies91 in our brain beget inventions.
If so, then th’eye’s the sea where, by the gale92
Of passions, on salt tears their ship doth sail,93
And when94 a tear doth break, as it doth fall 15
Or wiped away, they may a shipwreck call.
When95 from the stomach vapors do arise,
Fly up into96 the head (as to the skies),
And, as great storms,97 their houses down may blow,
Which98 by their fall the head may dizzy grow. 20
And when those houses they build up again,
With knocking they may99 put the head to pain.
When they dig deep, perchance a100 tooth may ache,
And from a tooth a quarry-bone may take,
Which they, like101 stone, may build their house withal; 25
If much took out, the tooth may rotten fall.
Those that dwell near the ears are very cool,
For they are both the South, and Northern Pole.
The eyes are sun and moon, which give them light:
When open, day; when shut, it is dark night. 30
In the 1653 edition, this poem is untitled, and is located near the end of the entire volume, among the poems reflecting on her poetic process.
In 1664 and 1668, Cavendish adds a note that reads, “Sir Charles Cavendish, my brother-in-law.” This note does not appear in 1653.
into] unto 1664, 1668
my] the 1664, 1668
And then in] In 1653
yet] but 1664, 1668
Similizing the Body to Many Countries] The Body Similized to many Countries. 1664; The Body similized to many Countreys. 1668
Brit’n;] Brittany, 1653; Britain; 1668
seas, the veins;] Sea each Vein; 1664; Sea, each Vein. 1668
wherein] which breeds in 1653
Is bred a peopl’of] A People that are 1653
Egypt; the chylus, Nile, that flows] is like Ægypt, and the Chyle 1664; is like Egypt; and the Chyle, 1668
Quite through the body, by which it fruitful grows.] Which through the Body flows, is as the Nile; 1664; Which through the Body flows, is as the Nile. 1668
heart and head, East and West Indies are;] Head and Heart both Indies are; each Ear 1664; Head and Heart, both Indies are: each Ear 1668
The South and Northern Pole is either ear.] Doth like the South and Northern-pole appear; 1664; Doth like the South and Northern-Pole appear. 1668
Where] And 1653
The Body Is the World of the Animal Spirits.] The description of their world, which is the Body. 1653
art’ries] Arteries 1653, 1668
the] great 1653
Muscles are cities, which] The Muscles Cities are 1664; The Muscles, Cities are, 1668
Peace betwixt Animal Spirits] Peace. 1653
they keep] there is 1653
Those] Their 1653
which] they 1653
do much] have great 1664, 1668
Which kingdoms always] Those Kingdomes 1653
That they with ease may] So they with ease doe 1653
the Animal Spirits] those Spirits. 1653
when they] they doe 1653
Then all their kingdoms rise up into] And then those Kingdomes all are up in 1653
cramps,] do 1664, 1668
Gouts in our] Cramps, Gouts in 1664; Cramps, Gouts, in 1668
our] the 1664, 1668
may the body into kingdoms wide] in the body Kingdoms may divide, 1653
From oranges and lemons sharp satyr flows;] Orange and Limon Satyr there doth Flow; 1664; Orange– and Lemon-Satyr there doth flow. 1668
I’th’heart,] The Heart 1653
The blood’s like gold, the heart like silver] Which bloud is gold, and silver heart the 1653
Those from the head, in ships their spice they fetch,] Thus from the Head in Ships are Spices brought, 1664; Thus, from the Head, in Ships are Spices brought; 1668
And from the heart, the gold and silver rich.] And in the Heart is Gold and Silver wrought. 1664; And, in the Heart, is Gold and Silver wrought. 1668
they’re] their 1653
they are devoutly] devoutly they are 1653
may i’th’head be] in the Head is 1653
May pictures be, which they do draw or] Are Pictures which they draw, or Figures 1653
these fancies fine and thin do show,] those fancies are both fine, and thin, 1653
They may be graven in seal, for ought we know.] Then they ingraven are in seale, or ring. 1653
cross] gross 1668
Then we may them in schools disputing] They in the Schooles disputing we shall 1653
a fair] upon, 1653
May be i’th’brain, where crowds of fairies are,] A Fayre may be whereto those people throng, 1653
each stall] those stalles 1653
rattles, bells, or bracelets made] Bels, and Rattles, or bracelets 1653
Pins, whistles, and the like may] Or Pins, Pipes, Whistles are to 1653
And when] When that 1653
is stayed,] doth run, 1653
Perhaps there is a bride and bridegroom made,] Are marrying there a Bride with her Bride-groom. 1653
are merry, humours] all Merry be and 1664; all merry be, and 1668
There may be] Then they are 1653
These Fairies is the Brain.] the Fairies. 1653
city is the brain, encompassed in] Fairy’s City in the Brain is found, 1664; Fairy’s City in the Brain is found, 1668
Double walls (dura mater, pia mater thin);] With Dur’ and Pia-mater Compass’d round; 1664; With Dur, and Pia-mater, compass’d round: 1668
It’s trenchèd round about with a thick skull,] With a thick Scul it’s Trenched all about, 1664; With a thick Scull it’s trenched all about; 1668
And faced without with wondrous art and skill.] And with great Art and Labour fac’d without; 1664; And, with great Art and Labour, fac’d without. 1668
which is built] that’s builded 1653
And for the sentinels is either] Instead of Centinels doth serve each 1664; Instead of Centinels, doth serve each 1668
that same] the 1653
lies] doth lye 1653
great King Oberon his magazine.] the great Magazine of Oberon King. 1653
with] through 1653
And when these watery spouts are not stopped close,] But when those watry spouts close stopt are not, 1653
do say it is a cold or pose.] say strait a Cold, or Pose have got. 1653
are] be 1664, 1668
Then those two city gates the fairies] It is when they those City Gates doe 1653
Ob’ron] Oberon 1653
Of Fairies in the Brain] Of small Creatures, such as we call Fairies. 1653
that in every] in the 1653
Those creatures we call] Little small 1653
make] frame 1664, 1668
we for fancy take.] which we Fancies name; 1664; which we Fancies name. 1668
May by their industry] By their industry may 1653
In the 1653 edition, a marginal note by line 9 reads, “All objects that the senses bring in, are as merchandises brought from foreign parts.” In 1664 and 1668 the note is identical, except for “that” they read “which” and for “as” they read “like.”
they] out 1653
mem’ry] Memory 1653
And thus,] Thus, 1653
May fairies] Fairies 1653
then th’eye’s the sea where, by the gale] the eye’s the sea they traffick in, 1653
Of passions, on salt tears their ship doth sail,] And on salt watry teares their ship doth swim. 1653
And when] But if 1653
When] There 1664, 1668
Fly up into] And fly up to 1664; And flye up to 1668