Page:The Bab Ballads.djvu/138

 And as they exercised their joints,
 * Promoting quick digestion,

They talked on several curious points,
 * And raised this delicate question:

"Which of us two is Number One—
 * The ghostie, or the goblin?"

And o'er the point they raised in fun
 * They fairly fell a-squabblin'.

They'd barely speak, and each, in fine,
 * Grew more and more reflective,

Each thought his own particular line
 * By chalks the more effective.

At length they settled someone should
 * By each of them be haunted,

And so arrange that either could
 * Exert his prowess vaunted.

"The Quaint against the Statuesque"—
 * By competition lawful—

The goblin backed the Quaint Grotesque,
 * The ghost the Grandly Awful.

"Now," said the goblin, "here's my plan—
 * In attitude commanding,

I see a stalwart Englishman
 * By yonder tailor's standing.