POEMS OLD AND NEW
Backwards up the mossy glen
Turned and trooped the goblin men •
With their shrill repeated cry,
cc Come buy, come buy."
When they reached where Laura was
They stood stock still upon the moss,
Leering at each other,
Brother with queer brother ;
Signalling each other,
Brother with sly brother. 10
One set his basket down,
One reared his plate ;
One began to weave a crown
Of tendrils, leaves, and rough nuts brown
(Men sell not such in any town) ;
One heaved the golden weight
Of dish and fruit to offer her :
" Come buy, come buy," was still their cry.
Laura stared but did not stir.
Longed but had no money : 20
The whisk-tailed merchant bade her taste
In tones as smooth as honey,
The cat-faced purr'd,
The rat-paced spoke a word
Of welcome, and the snail-paced even was heard ;
One parrot-voiced and jolly
Cried " Pretty Goblin " still for " Pretty Polly " ;—
One whistled like a bird.
But sweet-tooth Laura spoke in haste :
" Good folk, I have no coin ; 30
To take were to purloin :
I have no copper in my purse,
I have no silver either,
And all my gold is on the furze
That shakes in windy weather
Above the rusty heather."
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