Pray take them, too, as read."

But when the Auction did begin,
Bidders, alack! were lacking;
Back numbers hove in sight in shoals,
Yet seemed to have no backing.

"Then this," quoth he, "appears to be
The dismal situation;
Though from these speeches statesmen quote,
For them there's no quotation.

"The eye has 'heavenly rhetoric,'
Hear WILLIAM SHAKSPEARE cry;
But heavenly rhetoric now, 'tis plain,
Itself is all my eye.

"A penny! Really such a bid
I can't allow to pass;
A man who'd offer coppers here
Must be composed of brass.

"'Progress' I cannot well 'report,'
Unless this lot is bought in;
The only progress seems to be,
When there'll be no reportin'.

"Such priceless gems, such wretched bids!"
The hammer-man did shout;
"If you desire, I knock them down--