There's only one thing I desire to hear Again, and sure, dear mother, never yet Have you explained how 'twas the little men Lived in the hills, and how, all through the year, They sported round the country here, and gave Marks of their kindness. For you'll ne'er persuade Me to believe that barely, one by one, They wandered in the valleys, and appeared Unto the people, and bestowed their gifts: So, come now, tell at once, how 'twas the Dwarfs Lived all together in society. GERTRUDE. 'Tis plain, however, of itself, and well Wise folks can see, that such an active race Would never with their hands before them sit. Ah! a right merry lively thing, and full Of roguish tricks, the little Hill-man is, And quickly too he gets into a rage, If you behave not toward him mannerly, And be not frank and delicate in your acts. But, above all things, they delight to dwell, Quiet and peaceful, in the secret clefts Of hills and mountains, evermore concealed. All through the winter, when with icy rind The frost doth cover o'er the earth, the wise And prudent little people keep them warm By their fine fires, many a fathom down Within the inmost rocks. Pure native gold, And the rock-crystals shaped like towers, clear, Transparent, gleam with colours thousandfold Through the fair palace, and the Little-folk, So happy and so gay, amuse themselves Sometimes with singing--Oh, so sweet! 'twould charm The heart of any one who heard it sound. Sometimes with dancing, when they jump and spring Like the young skipping kids in the Alp-grass. Then when the spring is come, and in the fields The flowers are blooming, with sweet May's approach, They bolts and bars take from their doors and gates, That early ere the hind or hunter stirs, In the cool morning, they may sport and play; Or ramble in the evening, when the moon Lights up the plains. Seldom hath mortal man Beheld them with his eyes; but should one chance To see them, it betokens suffering And a bad year, if bent in woe they glide Through woods and thickets; but the sight proclaims Joy and good luck, when social, in a ring, On the green meads and fields, their hair adorned With flowers, they shout and whirl their merry rounds. Abundance then they joyously announce For barn, for cellar, and for granary, And a blest year to men, to herds, and game. Thus they do constantly foreshow what will Befall to-morrow and hereafter; now Sighing, and still, by their lamenting tones, A furious tempest; and again, with sweet And smiling lips, and shouting, clear bright skies.[306] Chief to the poor and good, they love to show