Thesurging，violentcrowdnowcriedaround。”Back，peasants，back！Dohimnoharm！”
SuddenexclaimedaMonsieur，speakingwithalarm；
Thepeasantsmovedaside，andthengaveplaceToMontluc，glitteringwithgoldenlace；
ItwastheBaronofRoquefort！
Thefrightenedgirls，likehuntedhares，Atoncedispers’d，flewhereandthere。
Theshepherds，butamomentafter，Withthrillingfifeandbeaminglaughter，ThebraveandgoodPascalattendedonhisway，Untohishumblehome，as’twerehisnuptialday。
ButMarcel，furious，madwithrage，exclaimed，”Oh！couldIstabandkillthem！ButI’mmaimed！”
OnlyagestureofhislordRestrainedhim，handuponhissword。
Thendidhegrindhisteeth，ashelaybattered，Andinalowandbrokenvoicehemuttered：”Theyloveeachother，anddespisemykindness，Shefavourshim，andsheadmireshisfondness；
Ah，well！byMarcel’spatron，I’llnottarryTomakethemsmart，andFranconnetteNootherhusbandthanmyselfshallmarry！”
SECONDPART。
TheEnamouredBlacksmith——HisFretfulMother——TheBuskingSoiree——Pascal’sSong——TheSorcereroftheBlackForest——
TheGirlSoldtotheDemon。
SinceRoquefortfete，one，two，threemonthshavefled；
Thedancingfrolic，withtheharvestended；
Theout-doorsportsarebanished——
Forwintercomes；theairissadandcold，itsighsUnderthevaultedskies。
Atfallofnight，noneriskstowalkacrossthefields，Foreachone，sadandcheerless，beeldsBeforethegreatfiresblazing，Ortalksofwolfishfiends[3]amazing；
Andsorcerers——tomakeoneshudderwithaffright——
Thatwalkaroundthecotssowight，Or’neaththegloomyelms，andbyfarmyardsatnight。
ButnowatlasthasChristmascome，AndlittleJack，whobeatsthedrum，Criesroundthehamlet，withhisbeamingface：”Comebriskenup，youmaidensfair，Amerrybusking[4]shalltakeplaceOnFriday，firstnightoftheyear！”
Ah！nowthehappyyouthsandmaidensfairProclaimedthedrummer’swords，sobrightandrare。
ThenewswerecarriedfarandnearLightasabirdmostfleetWithwingstocarrythoughtssosweet。
Thesun，withbeamingrays，hadscarcelyshoneEreeverywherethejoyousnewshadflown；
Ateveryfiresidetheywereknown，Byeveryhearth，inconversekeen，Thebuskingwasthetheme。
ButwhentheFridaycame，afrozendewwasraining，Andbyafirelessforgeamothersatcomplaining；
Andtoherson，whosatthereby，Shespokeatlastentreatingly：”Hastthouforgotthesummerday，myboy，whenthoudidstcomeAllbleedingfromthefuriousfray，tothesoundofmusichome?
HowIhavesufferedforyoursorrow，Andallthatyouhavehadtogothrough。
LonghaveItroubledforyourarm！Formercy’ssakeOh！gonotforthto-night！Idreamtofflowersagain，Andwhatmeansthat，Pascal，butsomuchtearsandpain！””Nowartthoucraven，mother！andsee’stthatlife’sallblack，Butwhereforetremble，sinceMarcelhasgone，andcomesnotback！””Ohyet，myson，doyoutakeheed，Ipray！
ForthewizardoftheBlackWoodisroamingroundthisway；
Thesamewhowroughtsuchhavoc，’twasbutayearagone，Theytellmeonewasseentocomefrom’scaveatdawnButtwodayspast——itwasasoldier；nowWhatifthiswereMarcel?Oh，mychild，dotakecare！
Eachmothergiveshercharmsuntohersons；dothouTakemine；butIbeseech，gonotforthanywhere！””Justforonelittlehour，mineeyestosetOnmyfriendThomas，whomI’mboundtomeet！””Thyfriend，indeed！Nay，nay！ThoumeanestFranconnette，Whomthoulovesdearly！Iwishthou’dlovesomeothermaid！
Oh，yes！Ireaditinthineeyes！
Thoughthousing’st，artgay，thysecretbravelykeeping，ThatImaynotbesad，yetallalonethou’rtweeping——
Myheadachesforthymisery；
Yetleaveher，forthineowngood，mydearPascal；
Shewouldsogreatlyscornaworkingsmithlikethee，Withmotheroldinpenury；
Forpoorweare——thouknowesttruly。”Howwehavesoldandsoldfillscarceascytheremains。
Oh，darkthedaysthishousehathseenSince，Pascal，thousoillhastbeen；
Nowthouartwell，arouse！dosomethingforourgainsOrrestthee，ifthouwilt；withsufferingwecanfight；
But，forGod’slove，oh！gonotforthto-night！”
Andthepoormother，quiteundone，Cried，whilethuspleadingwithherson，Who，leaningonhisblacksmith’sforgeThestiflingsobsquelledinhisgorge。”’Tisverytrue，”hesaid，”thatwearepoor，ButhadIthatforgot?……Igotowork，mymother，now，besure！”
Nosoonersaidthandone；forinablinkWasheardtheanvil’sclink，Thesparksflewfromtheblacksmith’sfireHigherandstillhigher！
Theforgemanstruckthemoltenirondead，Hammerinhand，asifhehadahundredinhishead！
Butnow，theBuskingwasapace，Andsoon，fromeverycornerplaceThegirlscamewiththeskeinoftheirownmakingTowindupatthissweethearts’merrymeeting。
Inthelargechamber，wheretheysatandwindedThethreads，alldoublygarnished，Thegirls，thelads，pliedhardtheirfinger，AndswiftlywoundtogetherTheclewsoflintsofair，Asfineasanyhair。
Thewindingnowwasdone；andthewhitewine，andrhymsters，Cameforthwithripplingglassandporringers，AndbroughttheirvividvapoursTobrightenuptheircapers——
Ah！iftheprettiestwerethebest，withprideIwouldmyFranconnettedescribe。
Thoughqueenofgames，shewasthelast，notworst，Itisnotthatshereignedatpresent，yetwasfirst。”Hold！Hold！”shecried，thebrown-hairedmaid，Nowshedirectedthemfromsidetoside——
Threewomenmergedinone，theysaid——
Shedances，speaks，sings，allbewitching，Bymaiden’swilesshewassorichin；
Shesingswithsoulofturtle-dove，Shespeakswithgraceangelic；
Shedancesonthewingsoflove——
Sings，speaks，anddances，inaguiseMorethanenoughtoturntheheadmostwise！
Hertriumphiscomplete；alleyesarefixeduponher，Thoughheradorersarebutpeasants；
Hereyesarebeaming，Blazingandsparkling，Andquitebewitching；
Nowonderthatthesweetheartladsareravishedwithher！
ThenThomasroseand，onthecoquettefixingHisardenteyes，thoughblushing，Inlanguagefullofneatness，Andtonesoflute-likesweetness，Thissongbegantosing：
THESYRENWITHAHEARTOFICE。”Oh，tellus，charmingSyren，Withheartoficeunmoved，WhenshallwehearthesoundOfbellsthatringaround，Tosaythatyouhaveloved?
Alwayssofreeandgay，Thosewingsofdazzlingray，Arespreadtoeveryair——
Andallyourfavourshare；
AttractedbytheirlightAllfollowinyourflight。
Butah！believeme，’tisnotbliss，Suchtriumphsdobutpurchasepain；
Whatisittobelovedlikethis，Toherwhocannotloveagain?”You’veseenhowfullofjoyWe’vemarkedthesunarise；
EvensoeachSundaymornWhenyou，beforeoureyes，Bringussuchsweetsurprise。
Withusnewlifeisborn：
Weloveyourangelface，Yourstepsodebonnaire，Yourmienofmaidengrace，Yourvoice，yourlips，yourhair，Youreyesofgentlefire，Allthesewenowadmire！
Butah！believeme，’tisnotbliss，Suchtriumphsdobutpurchasepain；
Whatisittobelovedlikethis，Toherwhocannotloveagain?”Alas！ourgrovesaredullWhenwidowedofthysight，AndneitherhedgenorfieldTheirperfumeseemtoyield；
TheblueskyisnotbrightWhenyoureturnoncemore，Allthatwassadisgone，Allnatureyourestore，Webreatheinyoualone；
WecouldyourrosyfingerscoverWithkissesofdelightallover！
Butah！believeme，’tisnotbliss，Suchtriumphsdobutpurchasepain；
Whatisittobelovedlikethis，Toherwhocannotloveagain?