'BUY, -- who'll buy?' In the market-place, Out of the market din and clatter, The quack with his puckered persuasive face Patters away in the ancient patter. 'Buy, -- who'll buy? In this flask I hold -- In this little flask that I tap with my stick, sir -- Is the famed, infallible Water of Gold, -- The One, Original, True Elixir! 'Buy, -- who'll buy? There's a maiden there, -- She with the ell-long flaxen tresses, -- Here is a draught that will make you fair, Fit for an Emperor's own caresses! 'Buy, -- who'll buy? Are you old and gray? Drink but of this, and in less than a minute, Lo! you will dance like the flowers in May, Chirp and chirk like a new-fledged linnet! 'Buy, -- who'll buy? Is a baby ill? Drop but a drop of this in his throttle, Straight he will gossip and gorge his fill, Brisk as a burgher over a bottle! 'Here is wealth for your life, -- if you will but ask; Here is health for your limb, without lint or lotion; Here is all that you lack, in this tiny flask; And the price is a couple of silver groschen! 'Buy, -- who'll buy?' So the tale runs on: And still in the Great World's market-places The Quack, with his quack catholicon, Finds ever his crowd of upturned faces; For he plays on our hearts with his pipe and drum, On our vague regret, on our weary yearning; For he sells the thing that never can come, Or the thing that has vanished, past returning. | Discover our Poem Explanations and Poet Analyses!Other Poems of Interest...THE TRUTH by WILLIAM HENRY DAVIES A DIALOGUE ANTHEM by GEORGE HERBERT A MAY NIGHT by JOHANNA AMBROSIUS THE RAJPOOT WIFE by EDWIN ARNOLD GLOW OF DAWN by ELIDA PATTISON BENTLEY THE LOVE SONNETS OF PROTEUS: 31. TO ONE WHO LOVED HIM by WILFRID SCAWEN BLUNT |