under the boughs

taken away from under the boughs, far from the sheltering glens, imprisoned by wizards to sing for a serpent, in the guise of a man, they come with teeth and tusks and talons, they come with horns and hooves and claws, a wailing cry is heard deep within the forest, a bestial host heeds the king stag's call, watch them come from lands all around, to hear the maiden in white, sing her songs of sorrow and love, in the hall of the king tonight, she was stolen from under the boughs, away from the sheltering glens, imprisoned by wizards to sing for a serpent, in the guise of a man, in a wood untouched by axes, creatures dwell unseen by men, songs are sung by a virgin princess, heard but once and never again, they come with teeth and tusks and talons, they come with horns and hooves and claws, a wailing cry is heard deep within the forest, the bestial host heeds the king stag's call, watch them come from lands all around, to hear the maiden in white, sings her songs of sorrow and love, in the hall of the king tonight, soon the herald shall sound the alarm, as the faery queen's armies draw near, and the maiden shall cease her lament, as the wicked men cry out in fear, in a wood untouched by axes, creatures dwelt unseen by men, songs were sung by a virgin princess, heard but once and never again