BALLAD OF THE GOLD COUNTRY.
47
The gold came fast; the gold came free:
The seekers shouted as they ran,
"Now let us turn aside, and see
How fares that husbandman!"
The seekers shouted as they ran,
"Now let us turn aside, and see
How fares that husbandman!"
"Ho here! ho there! good man," they cried,
And tossed gold nuggets at his feet;
"Serve us with wine! Where is thy bride
That told thee tales so sweet?"
And tossed gold nuggets at his feet;
"Serve us with wine! Where is thy bride
That told thee tales so sweet?"
"No wine as yet, my friends, to sell;
No bride to show," he smiling said:
"But here is water from my well;
And here is wheaten bread."
No bride to show," he smiling said:
"But here is water from my well;
And here is wheaten bread."
"Is this thy tale?" they jeering cried;
"Who was it followed luring shapes?
And who has won? It seems she lied,
Thy maid of purple grapes!"
"Who was it followed luring shapes?
And who has won? It seems she lied,
Thy maid of purple grapes!"
"When years have counted up to ten,"
He answered gayly, smiling still,
"Come back once more, my merry men,
And you shall have your fill
He answered gayly, smiling still,
"Come back once more, my merry men,
And you shall have your fill
"Of purple grapes and sparkling wine,
And figs, and nectarines like flames,
And sweeter eyes than maids' shall shine
In welcome at your names."
And figs, and nectarines like flames,
And sweeter eyes than maids' shall shine
In welcome at your names."
In scorn they heard; to scorn they laughed
The water and the wheaten bread;
"We'll wait until a better draught
For thy bride's health," they said.
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The water and the wheaten bread;
"We'll wait until a better draught
For thy bride's health," they said.
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