The old man contemplated the tablet a long while, and said: "My son, my heart quite shudders as I view the aspect of these stones, and foreboding guess the meaning of this inscription. See here, how cold they sparkle, what cruel looks they cast up, bloodthirsty, like the red eye of the tiger! Throw away this writing, which makes thee cold and cruel, which will turn thy heart to stone. See the tender flowers beaming, As from out themselves they waken; Like as children from their dreaming, In smiling loveliness are taken. Their various hues in playful bliss All turn they to the golden sun; And when they feel his burning kiss, 'Tis then their happiness is won. And on his kisses so to languish, To pine in love and melancholy; Then smiling in their dearest anguish, Soon fade in soft tranquillity. This is to them the highest joy, The fond delight they love to cherish; Themselves in death to glorify, Beneath their lover's glance to perish. Then all around their perfum'd treasure They profluent pour in raptur'd calm; Until the air grows drunk with pleasure, Enliven'd with the odorous balm. Love comes all human hearts approving, Responsive touching every chord; Well may the conscious soul record, 'Now I know the due reward, The gladness, sadness, pain of loving.'" "Wonderful incalculable treasures," answered the son, "must there still be in the depths of the earth! Could some one but explore them, raise them up, and snatch them to himself! Could he but so press to his bosom the earth as a beloved bride, that in anguish and love she would willingly grant to him what she had most precious! The Woodwoman has called me; I go to seek her. Close by is an old ruined shaft, which centuries ago some miner has dug open; perhaps there I shall find her." He hastened forward. In vain the old man strove to detain him; he soon vanished from his sight. Some hours afterwards, the father, with much exertion, arrived at the old shaft: he saw footsteps impressed on the sand at the entrance; and returned in tears, convinced that his son had, in his madness, gone in, and been drowned in the depths of the old collected waters.