 | Under Green Leaves |  |
216
THE MOCK JEWELS.
I
The Pedlar stood in the morning light,Fluent of speech and smooth was he,
And spread his wares in the public sight;—
Maranatha! and woe is me!
And he call'd to the people, surging along,
Like rolling billows when seas are strong,—
There came a dark cloud over the sky.
“Here are gauds for all to wear,
For men, for youths, for maidens fair,—
The time is passing, come and buy!”
Oh! the Pedlar!
The knavish Pedlar!
217
Selling and buying,
Cheating and lying:
Maranatha! and woe is me!
II
“Here's a Trinket! here's a gem!The Queen hath nothing more fair to see,
'Mid the sparkle and glow of her diadem!”
Maranatha! and woe is me!
“Buy it, and wear it, maiden fine,
Cheap love—bright love—love divine!”
There came a dark cloud over the sky!
The maiden bought it, and thought no sin;
But she found a broken heart within,
And the Pedlar cried, “Come buy! come buy!”
Oh! the Pedlar!
The knavish Pedlar!
218
Selling and buying,
Cheating and lying:
Maranatha! and woe is me!
III
“Here's a gaud for the young and bold—Made for the generous and the free,
Redder than ruby, richer than gold!”
Maranatha! and woe is me!
“Its name is Glory!”—A youth drew near,
And bought the jewel, nor thought it dear;
There came a dark cloud over the sky!
For ere he'd placed it on his breast,
He found he'd lost his Joy and Rest,
And barter'd life for a glittering lie!
Oh! the Pedlar!
The knavish Pedlar!
219
Selling and buying,
Cheating and lying:
Maranatha! and woe is me!
IV
“Here's a jewel without a flaw!Brighter and better none can be;
Win it and wear it, and give the law,”—
Maranatha! and woe is me!
“And its name is Riches!” With roar and shout
The people jostled and swarm'd about;
There came a dark cloud over the sky;
They bought the gem of worldly wealth,
And paid their Conscience and their Health—
While the Pedlar cried “Come buy! come buy!”
Oh! the Pedlar!
The knavish Pedlar!
220
Selling and buying,
Cheating and lying:
Maranatha! and woe is me!
V
In churchyards lone, in the wintry night,The ghastly Pedlar—dim to see,
Takes his stand on the gravestones white:
Maranatha! and woe is me!
And summons the ghosts from sod and tomb,
And chuckles and grins in the midnight gloom;
Dark are the clouds upon the sky;
And sells them again his shadowy wares,
Loves, Fames, Riches, and Despairs,—
“Jewels—jewels—come and buy!”
Oh! the Pedlar!
The mocking Pedlar!
221
Selling and buying,
Cheating and lying:
Maranatha! and woe is me!
| Under Green Leaves | |