Brave thought, brave thought—a shining thought of mine! She now no more may bribe the poor—no more Cheat our great master of his merchandise, While our heels dangle at the house in the woods, And grass grows on the threshold, and snails crawl Along the window-pane and the mud floor. Brother, where wander all these dwarfish folk, Hostile to men, the people of the tides? SECOND MERCHANT. [_Going to the door._] They are gone. They have already wandered away, Unwilling labourers. FIRST MERCHANT. I will call them hither. [_He opens the window._ Come hither, hither, hither, water-folk: Come, all you elemental populace; Leave lonely the long-hoarding surges: leave The cymbals of the waves to clash alone, And, shaking the sea-tangles from your hair, Gather about us. [_After a pause._ I can hear a sound As from waves beating upon distant strands; And the sea-creatures, like a surf of light, Pour eddying through the pathways of the oaks; And as they come, the sentient grass and leaves Bow towards them, and the tall, drouth-jaded oaks Fondle the murmur of their flying feet. SECOND MERCHANT. The green things love unknotted hearts and minds; And neither one with angels or with us, Nor risen in arms with evil nor with good, In laughter roves the litter of the waves. [_A crowd of faces fill up the darkness outside the window. A figure separates from the others and speaks._ THE SPIRIT. We come unwillingly, for she whose gold We must now carry to the house in the woods Is dear to all our race. On the green plain, Beside the sea, a hundred shepherds live To mind her sheep; and when the nightfall comes They leave a hundred pans of white ewes’ milk Outside their doors, to feed us when the dawn Has driven us out of Finbar’s ancient house, And broken the long dance under the hill. FIRST MERCHANT. [_Making a sign upon the air._] Obey! I make a sign upon your hearts. THE SPIRIT. The sign of evil burns upon our hearts, And we obey. [_They crowd through the window, and take out of the bags a small bag each. They are dressed in green robes and have ruddy hair. They are a little less than the size of men and women._ FIRST MERCHANT. And now begone—begone! [_They go._ I bid them go, for, being garrulous And flighty creatures, they had soon begun To deafen us with their sea-gossip. Now We must go bring more money. Brother, brother, I long to see my master’s face again, For I turn homesick. SECOND MERCHANT. I too tire of toil. [_They go out, and return as before, with their bags full._ SECOND MERCHANT. [_Pointing to the oratory._]